331: Chapter 111 Shaolin Conspiracy

The moment they saw the Sweeping Monk assume the Incarnation of the Thousand-Handed Arhat to launch his attack, Helian Tieshu and the surrounding soldiers felt as if they saw the Buddha beckoning to them.

This was no illusion, for when the dust settled from that dense wave of attacks, they had all been sent by the Sweeping Monk to the Western Heaven to meet the Buddha.

The remaining Western Xia soldiers, seeing Helian Tieshu and many of their comrades killed, were filled with shock and rage. They shouted to avenge General Helian and charged at the Sweeping Monk, weapons in hand.

Duan Yanqing, watching from afar, secretly thought they were a bunch of fools. He then tapped his iron crutch against the ground and turned to flee.

Ye Erniang likewise grabbed Xu Zhu and slipped away.

Third Elder Yue, having been beaten until he lost his ability to fight by a single sweep of the Sweeping Monk's broom, struggled to crawl up from the ground and hurriedly followed.

Quan Guanqing, who was hiding among the Beggars Sect crowd and feigning death, also wanted to run. But upon second thought, realizing he hadn't been exposed, running might actually cause problems, so he suppressed the urge and continued to play dead.

The Sweeping Monk noticed the departure of the four—Duan Yanqing and the others—but paid it no mind. Instead, he tossed the antidote Helian Tieshu had just given him to Xuan Ji, then softly recited a Buddhist chant and met the Western Xia soldiers charging at him.

Palm strikes, punches, leg sweeps, kicks...

Still the simplest Moves, still extreme speed, still a completely one-sided situation.

In only a moment, more than half of the charging Western Xia soldiers had fallen.

The remaining ones, seeing this, realized completely that the Sweeping Monk was not someone they could contend with. Filled with fear and thoughts of retreat, they screamed and fled in all directions.

Seeing this, the Sweeping Monk ceased his actions, pressed his palms together, and softly said, "My Buddha is merciful," exiting his Vajra-glaring state and returning to his originally ordinary and peaceful appearance.

He then walked slowly toward Xiao Yuanshan and Qiao Feng, asking, "Might the two lay Buddhists enter the monastery for a talk?"

Xiao Yuanshan had just been thinking deeply and feeling terrified, suspecting that the Shaolin Monastery harbored a conspiracy. Hearing this, he refused without a second thought: "If the Divine Monk has something to say, feel free to speak plainly; entering the monastery is unnecessary."

The Sweeping Monk said, "Has the old lay Buddhist recently felt a dull pain in the Liangmen and Taiyi acupoints on your lower abdomen?"

Xiao Yuanshan was startled: "How does the Divine Monk know?"

The Sweeping Monk did not answer but asked instead, "The numbness at your Guanyuan acupoint is also becoming more severe, is it not?"

Xiao Yuanshan's face immediately showed shock and suspicion, and he replied, "That is correct. Ten years ago, the painful area was only as big as a little finger, but now it is as large as a bowl mouth."

Hearing this, Qiao Feng did not say a word before kneeling before the Sweeping Monk. He then pressed his palms together and pleaded with a sincere face, "Since the Divine Monk knows the root of my father's illness, I hope you will show great mercy and take action to save him."

The Sweeping Monk raised his hand in a gesture of support and said, "Please rise, benefactor."

After Qiao Feng rose, he explained, "This is not an illness for your esteemed father, but rather a Karmic Obstruction created by secretly practicing Shaolin unique skills and entering the Demonic Path."

"For Buddhist Disciples, learning Martial Arts is intended for strengthening the body, protecting the Dharma, and subduing demons; one must always keep a heart of compassion when practicing any Martial Arts."

"If one does not use Buddhist studies as a foundation, practicing Martial Arts will inevitably injure oneself."

"This Monk remembers that the first time Old Lay Buddhist Xiao came to this monastery to borrow a book, it was the Formless Finger manual. From that moment on, he entered the Demonic Path."

"The second time, the lay Buddhist came to secretly read the Prajna Palm technique. Seeing this, This Monk knew he was sinking deeper and deeper, and my heart could not bear it. Thus, I placed a Lotus Sutra and a Samyukta Agama Sutra where he usually retrieved books, hoping he would borrow them to study and contemplate, and return to the Righteous Path."

"Unexpectedly, the lay Buddhist was obsessed with Martial Arts and ignored the authentic Buddhist teachings, casting these two scriptures aside and finding a Demon-Subduing Staff technique instead, leaving with it joyfully."

"From then on, he sank into the sea of suffering, unable to extricate himself."

Speaking to this point, the Sweeping Monk paused and looked at Xiao Yuanshan: "Old Lay Buddhist, to this day you have killed many people, causing much harm to the innocent. People like the Qiao Sanhuai couple and Great Master Xuanku should not have been killed."

Qiao Feng nodded secretly upon hearing this; he held the same opinion.

Xiao Yuanshan, however, said, "This old man knows he suffers from internal injuries, but I am over sixty, and my only son has grown to adulthood."

"Death is nothing to be feared for this old man."

"But if the Divine Monk wants this old man to admit his mistakes and repent, that is absolutely impossible."

The Sweeping Monk smiled peacefully, shook his head, and said, "This Monk does not dare to ask the old lay Buddhist to admit mistakes or repent; it is just that your internal injuries were caused by practicing Shaolin Martial Arts. If you wish to find a way to resolve them, you must seek it within Buddhist teachings."

Xiao Yuanshan's expression changed slightly.

Seek a resolution within Buddhist teachings? Isn't that just asking him to become a monk!

In an instant, he felt as if he knew what Shaolin Monastery's conspiracy was.

The Martial Arts in the Shaolin Scripture Pavilion were problematic!

People who were not from Shaolin would find it hard to detect if they secretly practiced them. Once the type and level of the practiced Martial Arts reached a certain degree, hidden injuries would occur. The deeper one practiced the Martial Arts later on, the more severe the hidden injuries would become, causing pain and torment to the person.

To resolve them, one would have to become a monk at Shaolin, or seek help from Shaolin people, paying a price and owing favors.

That was why the monk before him knew he was stealing those unique skills yet did not stop him.

That was why Shaolin was not very concerned about unique skills that had fallen into the hands of others.

Because this was a trap from the very beginning!

Using Martial Arts unique skills as bait, casting a wide net, waiting for the fish to come—those willing would take the bait!

Realizing this, Xiao Yuanshan felt a chill in his heart. After thinking for a moment, he did not speak it out loud.

Because he had no evidence.

At the same time, the Sweeping Monk had just said that cultivating Shaolin Martial Arts required Buddhist teachings as a foundation, which was tantamount to implicitly admitting that there were problems with them.

With this premise, even if he exposed the truth now, it would not have much impact.

Not to mention that he had secretly learned the Martial Arts; he had no firm ground to criticize this matter.

Most importantly, the martial prowess displayed by the Sweeping Monk was too strong. Even if he joined forces with his son Qiao Feng, he was not confident they could win.

If they tore off the mask of civility, it would be disadvantageous.

It was better to politely decline for now, leave this place of trouble, and deal with the internal injuries later.

In a flash, a hundred thoughts raced through Xiao Yuanshan's mind, and he made up his mind.

However, before he could speak, the Sweeping Monk turned and walked toward Meng Li's direction.

Seeing the Sweeping Monk walking this way, Meng Li patted A Zi's head, signaling her to get up, and then stood up straight.

Wang Yuyan, A Bi, and the others also stood up.

At this moment, the effects of the Sorrowful Crisp Breeze Poison began to fade, and many people on the field were gradually able to Move, so their rising did not arouse suspicion.

"Benefactor Murong, might you enter the monastery for a talk with This Monk?"

Walking up close, the Sweeping Monk extended an invitation.

Wang Yuyan, A Zi, A Bi, and the others immediately showed expressions of nervousness.

Just a moment ago, Meng Li had severely injured Abbot Xuan Ci, causing him to pass away. Although it was justified and hard to criticize, he had nonetheless formed a grudge with Shaolin.

The Sweeping Monk was from Shaolin, his Martial Arts were unfathomable, and just now, his Vajra-glaring state had killed quite a few people. Now, asking Meng Li to enter Shaolin, it was hard to guarantee this wasn't inviting him into a trap, intending to do him harm.

"Husband."

"Master, Young Master."

"Young Master."

"Li Lang."

Meng Li raised his hand and smiled, "It is fine. Wait here for a moment; I will return shortly."

After speaking, he stepped forward to follow the Sweeping Monk, who had turned and was walking toward Shaolin Monastery.

Before long, the two entered Shaolin Monastery.

Upon reaching the Martial Arts training grounds, the Sweeping Monk stopped, turned, and asked, "Is Old Lay Buddhist Murong Bo well these days?"