268: Chapter 48 Kumārajīva, Duan Yu

Meng Li was momentarily perplexed by the situation: Duan Yu had lost his cheat ability and was brought to Canhe Village by Jiumozhi.

However, since everyone was already here and the timing was perfect, seeing him wouldn't hurt.

Thinking this, he turned to Wang Yuyan, A Bi, and the others, saying, "Those two people on the shore look strange; I'm going over to take a look. You all carry on."

With that, he placed his hands behind his back, sprang up, and moved with the wind, instantly covering several dozen feet, leaving the boat and entering the lake.

When he landed on the water's surface, his toes touched it lightly, like a dragonfly skimming water, and he glided in a straight line toward the shore.

From that initial touch to landing on the shore, Meng Li did not borrow any further leverage; he truly seemed like an immortal descending to the mortal realm, crossing the air without support.

This display caused the eyes of Wang Yuyan, A Bi, and the others on the boat to sparkle with wonder.

Since they had achieved some success in their own studies, Meng Li rarely showed his true strength.

This led them to know that Meng Li's Martial Arts were profound and that they were far from being his match, but they didn't know the specifics.

Now, witnessing Meng Li display his mastery of movement, they were instantly amazed.

Jiumozhi and Duan Yu on the shore were equally startled.

Jiumozhi's eyelids twitched, and he harbored secret suspicions about Meng Li's identity.

He guessed that Meng Li was Murong Bo's son, yet he dared not confirm it.

Because the power displayed by Meng Li's Lightness Skill already surpassed that of Murong Bo in his memory.

Although a tiger father does not sire a dog son, under normal circumstances, a tiger does not give birth to a dragon either.

Duan Yu sincerely exclaimed, "What magnificent Lightness Skill!"

As soon as the words fell, Meng Li floated gracefully before them.

Jiumozhi intended to greet him.

But Duan Yu spoke first: "I once heard that Shaolin's Ancestral Master Bodhidharma possessed profound cultivation, able to cross the great river with just a single reed. I always thought this was just a legend, but seeing the Young Master's skill of crossing the air without support today, I realize I was merely a frog in a well."

"Crossing the river on a single reed might not be beyond human capability."

Hearing this, Meng Li was momentarily stunned.

He hadn't expected that on their first meeting, Duan Yu would use Bodhidharma as an example to praise him profusely.

"This Young Master flatters me too much," Meng Li replied after regaining his composure, then cupped his hands: "I am Murong Fu. May I ask who you two are?"

Duan Yu returned the gesture: "I am Duan Yu. I have long admired the great name of Young Master Murong."

Jiumozhi's heart tightened upon hearing the name 'Murong Fu,' and he was a beat slow to react. He then performed a Buddhist salute with one hand: "This humble monk is Jiumozhi, and I was a close friend of your esteemed father, Murong Bo, in his lifetime. I was intending to visit Canhe Village today, and running into the Young Master halfway here is truly a coincidence."

Meng Li's eyebrows slightly raised, showing suspicion: "When my father passed away, I was still young and ignorant and never heard him mention a Great Master."

"If the Great Master claims to be a close friend of my father, is there any proof?"

Jiumozhi's expression faltered.

He and Murong Bo had known each other for a long time and were old friends, but their interactions involved more mutual benefit and transactions than genuine affection, with underlying schemes involved.

Therefore, the claim of being 'close friends' was merely putting it nicely; their actual bond was not that deep.

Moreover, since Murong Bo 'died' suddenly, Jiumozhi naturally had no token of proof.

Now that Meng Li asked, it genuinely stumped him.

But in an instant, Jiumozhi said: "This humble monk and the late Mr. Murong instantly felt like kindred spirits and found each other to be confidants, but our interactions were limited, and we never exchanged tokens."

"However, this humble monk once exchanged a form of Martial Arts with the old gentleman, called 'Flame Blade.'"

"It is this humble monk's unique Martial Art. I wonder if Young Master Murong has heard of it?"

Flame Blade? Meng Li had certainly heard of this Martial Art.

It was called 'Flame Blade,' but it was actually a palm technique that utilized the palm shaped like a blade to activate its power.

When practiced to a high level, the palm force was as scorching as fire, possessing a burning characteristic, and its power was exceptionally formidable.

Murong Bo had mentioned it, saying he traded many Shaolin secret techniques to acquire it, and the corresponding Secret Manual was placed separately in the Huanshi Shuige.

Meng Li had learned it incidentally when studying the Martial Arts in the Huanshi Shuige.

So, he nodded: "I have heard my father mention it."

"That is good," Jiumozhi said with a smile, then extended his palm, forming it into a blade shape, channeling his True Qi to gather in his hand using the Flame Blade method.

In a short while, red and yellow light emerged from his palm, as if flames were rising.

Immediately, Jiumozhi struck toward a nearby tree about the thickness of a bowl.

The scorching palm force shot out from his hand, radiating heat as it cut through the air, striking the tree.

The tree was instantly split, and simultaneously burst into flames.

"Great Master has formidable palm power," Meng Li praised with a smile, then shifted the topic: "However, there are many trees here; it would be better to extinguish this fire."

Saying this, he raised his hand, summoning the lake water by remotely guiding it with his own Qi.

Instantly, a stream of water leaped up from the lake, as if it had come alive, transforming into the shape of a Dragon and pouncing on the flames, quickly extinguishing them.

After the fire was put out, the water dragon coiled and swam in the air, returning to the lake, and peace was restored.

Duan Yu was completely dumbfounded.

Jiumozhi's heart also trembled, and his face showed shock.

The layman watches the excitement, but the expert watches the essence.

Duan Yu might only find it magical, but Jiumozhi knew how profound Meng Li's methods were.

Not to mention the ability to summon water from a distance and the control to make the water take form, just the Qi that Meng Li emitted gave him a feeling of unfathomable depth.

Almost instantly, Jiumozhi determined that he could not defeat the Meng Li before him.

Therefore, his attitude became even more humble and polite, clasping his hands together: "What Young Master Murong said is absolutely correct; it was this humble monk's oversight."

Immediately after, Jiumozhi made a request: "This humble monk wishes to pay respects at your father's tomb. I wonder if Young Master Murong could grant this convenience now?"

Meng Li smiled: "My father once mentioned the Flame Blade to me, saying he exchanged it long ago with a certain eminent monk. Besides that eminent monk, few people in the world know it. Master's mastery of the Flame Blade is profound; your identity must be genuine."

"Since Master is an old friend of my father, I have no reason to refuse his request to pay respects."

Jiumozhi was delighted upon hearing this.

But before he could show a smile, Meng Li turned his attention to Duan Yu: "Young Master Duan, may I ask what brings you here?"

"I was brought here by..."

As Duan Yu was about to speak, Jiumozhi struck his acupoints.

Meng Li frowned instantly, his eyes showing suspicion.

Seeing this, Jiumozhi quickly smiled and explained: "This Young Master Duan was specially invited by this humble monk; the circumstances involve an agreement this humble monk once had with your esteemed father."

With that, he briefly recounted the agreement between himself and Murong Bo to exchange the Six Veins Divine Sword manual for an opportunity to enter the Huanshi Shuige.

Only then did Meng Li feign sudden understanding, then asked: "My father never mentioned this agreement to me. Does Master have any proof?"

Jiumozhi's expression stiffened because he had no proof.

Murong Bo's Shaolin secret techniques were stolen, and having Jiumozhi plot to seize the Six Veins Divine Sword also contained hidden calculations.

Regardless of which matter, leaving proof would easily create leverage.

Murong Bo, as the greatest schemer in the Tianlong era, would naturally not leave himself vulnerable.

Jiumozhi's Martial Arts were not yet fully developed at the time, and seizing the Six Veins Divine Sword required long-term planning, so he didn't think to draw up proof.

Moreover, in his estimation, since Murong Bo wanted the Six Veins Divine Sword, as long as he obtained the sword manual, the other party would happily honor the agreement; there was no need to write it down.

Most importantly, the prevailing atmosphere in the Jianghu at that time was 'a promise must be kept, and a word must be followed.'

Any prominent figure, even with just a verbal agreement, would not go back on their word unless absolutely necessary.

But Murong Bo was already 'dead,' so there was no one to verify against.

Jiumozhi also didn't know if Murong Bo had mentioned this agreement to Meng Li.

Facing Meng Li's questioning based on feigned ignorance, he was momentarily at a loss.