From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 310 Light
According to the previous agreement with Jie Kaiping regarding the porridge and jelly, Jie Kaiping must first reveal her whereabouts before luring Ding Chonglou out.

Then they laid an ambush and killed Ding Chonglou silently.

Of course, there are several difficulties involved.

Firstly, although Jie Kaiping is skilled in stealth techniques, he is not good at fighting. He might be captured as soon as he lured Ding Chonglou out, or even be converted by him.

In reality, if Ding Chonglou were to invite many experts, he might as well not do it at all.

Meng Yuan and Jie Kaiping had discussed this issue. These past few days, everyone has been keeping an eye on Lanruo Temple. Experts at the sixth rank and above are probably not keen to go out, while those at the same level might be able to get invited.

However, Jie Kaiping was very confident. He said he was confident he could play the long game and make his move when Ding Chonglou questioned him, rather than when Ding Chonglou closed the net.

"My master is the Holy King of Light, formerly known as Qing Guangzi! I'm used to doing this kind of thing. I'm not good at seducing women, but I'm very good at seducing evil people!"

At that time, after untying the screen, he said this.

Meng Yuan had always admired Jie Kaiping's abilities. Of course, Jie Kaiping was, after all, a bald monk, and while he was good with words, Meng Yuan could only remain skeptical.

Now that the message has been sent through the unlocked screen, it means he is ready and just waiting to close the net and capture the thief!

Meng Yuan painstakingly fooled Jing Shan, spending ten taels of silver in the process, finally dissuading Jing Shan from his idea of ​​robbing the rich to help the poor.

"Why are you wearing a Taoist robe too?" Jing Shan had received ten taels of silver and felt he had completed his task, so he started chatting with Meng Yuan again.

Just mentioning this makes me angry. Ever since Mingyue gave Lin Yan a lecture, Lin Yan has been intentionally or unintentionally advising Meng Yuan to restrain himself these past two days. Even Zhou Ying's gaze towards Meng Yuan is constantly furrowed, as if she is looking at something filthy.

Even Xiao Taotao offered Meng Yuan a few words of advice, spouting some youthful nonsense about romance.

"Then I'll wear a cassock next time?" Meng Yuan said irritably, having been caught in the crossfire.

"That works too." Jingshan readily agreed, then seemed to remember something, "Oh, right! Sister Suwen from Yunshan Temple asked about you!"

How did you find out about me? Although the little nun Suwen was quite beautiful, Meng Yuan had no interest in her. He was only interested in her because he knew that she practiced the now-extinct medical path.

"What did you ask me?" Meng Yuan was not a desperate person. He had met Su Wen several times and knew that Su Wen had no intention of returning to secular life. He was a truly pure and simple person.

"She said your constitution seems different and she wants to learn from you." Jingshan said nonchalantly, adding, "Master is seducing nuns at Yunshan Temple, don't you dare follow his example!"

"..." Upon hearing this, Meng Yuan asked, "Then why didn't I hear her mention it before?"

“She’s shy and doesn’t know how to talk,” Jingshan explained. “It was her senior sister, Suqiu, who asked me to ask her.”

"I see." Meng Yuan nodded in agreement and said, "Let's go down the mountain now and meet the little nun!"

The two were overjoyed and were about to descend the mountain hand in hand when Wang Buyi came looking for them.

"Is Qianhu going down the mountain again?" Wang Buyi's eyes were strange. "The snow has been falling non-stop these past few days. The battle between Wusheng Luohan and Lanruo Temple is probably about to come to a conclusion."

Wang Buyi whispered, "The governor said that young people should be wary of lust. Commander, you must not ruin your future."

"What is all this nonsense?" Meng Yuan sighed helplessly and said, "I'm going down the mountain to find the nun!"

“They are nuns from Yunshan Temple!” Jingshan emphasized.

Wang Buyi's eyes widened. "Yunshan Temple has the strictest rules. They forbid begging for alms, forbid receiving religious services, and forbid persuading people to enter the monastic order. They..."

At this point, Wang Buyi stopped talking and got down to business, "The Grand Eunuch has come out and wants you to come over."

Wang Er and Abbot Zhiguan of Lanruo Temple accompanied Wusheng Luohan and discussed the Dao with two eminent monks from Lanruo Temple. They were not seen for several days.

Unexpectedly, Wang Er suddenly appeared without a sound.

"Wait for me here!" Knowing that Wang Er must have something to teach him, Meng Yuan quickly left Jingshan and went to find Wang Er with Wang Buyi.

Upon arriving at a courtyard of the Zen Meditation Monastery, one sees that the snow in the courtyard has not been moved, and an old jujube tree is mottled and crooked, with no green leaves on it, only withered branches covered with snow.

Wang Er stood under the old jujube tree, his hands behind his back, his face expressionless.

At this moment, a number of people had gathered in the courtyard. In addition to Xiao Taotao and Ding Chonglou, there were nine other sixth-rank commanders, including Lin Yan. As for the lower-ranking commanders, they were unable to enter.

After not seeing her for many days, Wang Er remained as elegant as ever. She looked around at everyone and nodded slightly.

"Only three days in the mountains, but a thousand years have passed at the foot of the mountain," Wang Er said slowly once everyone had arrived.

"Master, has the duel finally decided who is superior?" Lin Yan, always carefree and unconcerned about status, stepped forward and asked curiously.

This is also what everyone cares about most.

The snow shows no signs of stopping, so the warriors of the Demon Suppression Division are naturally unharmed, and the food stored in Lanruo Temple is sufficient to last them.

Despite daily snow removal efforts, the north wind persisted, and the snow at the foot of the mountain had already reached waist-deep, making the clearing a difficult task for the locals.

Moreover, if things continue like this, there's no hope of a harvest around Ping'an Prefecture. People are already dying of cold and starvation, not even waiting for the summer and autumn famine.

"Although the outcome is not yet decided, Wusheng Luohan has already won." Wang Er made his judgment with his hands behind his back. "Lanruo Temple has grown from a small mountain temple to a Buddhist giant over thousands of years, but now only two old monks can support it. It is truly interesting to see them discard the old and embrace the new, clinging to the old and guarding the new."

"Two people can't beat one?" Xiao Taotao asked, frowning.

“They don’t fight for their lives, they compete with their hearts,” Wang Er said.

Upon hearing this, everyone was utterly bewildered, having no idea what it meant.

"How do you compare them?" Lin Yan asked curiously.

"I don't know." Wang Er spread his hands. "What do you think a fourth-rank martial artist is? At that time, I was between paradise and the underworld, experiencing both bitterness and sweetness. I was kicked out as soon as I opened my eyes."

This is as if a fourth-rank martial artist is insignificant in front of a third-rank Arhat.

"Where is Abbot Zhiguan?" Ding Chonglou asked.

“He is still immersed in the past and has not yet woken up,” Wang Er said calmly.

Upon hearing this, everyone realized that Wang Er was being modest. Even Master Zhiguan, the abbot of Lanruo Temple, was deeply mired in chaotic thoughts, while you managed to break free; this shows your ability.

"Master, is it true that a fourth-rank martial artist has absolutely no power to resist a third-rank Arhat?" Meng Yuan asked as well.

Wang Er glanced at Meng Yuan, a hint of a smile in his eyes, and said, "It's not that I can't do it, but that I'm unwilling to."

She didn't offer any further explanation, but simply waved her hand, looked around at everyone, and asked, "How has Lanruo Temple been these past few days? Has anything unusual happened?"

There's not much to say about this. With Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist masters gathered at Lanruo Temple, Ping'an Prefecture was truly peaceful. Even if there were evil people, they all hid and rarely showed themselves. Everyone reported one by one, starting with Elder Hua and Elder Miaoyin from the Demon Kingdom, to Master Jiujie's discussion of Taoism with Juesheng, and even Master Zhihe's attack and death at Baoquan Temple.

"Zhihe is dead?" Wang Er didn't pay much attention to other matters, but frowned slightly upon hearing of Zhihe's death. "How did he die? Do you know who did it?"

"It was the peacock Jie Kaiping, formerly under Qing Guangzi's command, who gathered a group of people and together killed Zhihe!" Ding Chonglou had been in charge of this matter and had been inquiring about Jie Kaiping's whereabouts recently.

That's why they said he was a clay bodhisattva after they untied the screen.

“There must have been a martial artist among them.” Ding Chonglou continued, “At that time, someone saw a surge of Buddhist light behind Baoquan Temple, with all sorts of brilliance. It can be seen that Master Zhihe was forced to use all his abilities, or even his ultimate skill of sacrificing himself to become a Buddha!”

"Sacrifice oneself to become a Buddha? Is this 'Buddha' from the Buddhist scriptures, or just a 'Buddha' he imagined?" Wang Er sneered. "How can a false practitioner see the true Buddha? He can't become a true Buddha even if he spends his whole life sacrificing himself to become a Buddha."

“The death of Master Zhihe is certainly not ordinary.” Ding Chonglou was quite certain. “Lanruo Temple is a gathering place for people from all directions, yet Zhihe remained indifferent, clearly showing that he did not care about what was happening here. For someone who was not involved to be killed for no reason must have a deeper meaning.”

Ding Chonglou looked at Meng Yuan and said, "Perhaps someone has already colluded with the Peacock."

“Commander Ding, you may speak my name directly,” Meng Yuan said, not one to yield to Ding Chonglou.

Wang Er glanced at Meng Yuan and said, "Meng Feiyuan doesn't seem to have been corrupted by the method of sacrificing oneself to become a Buddha."

“Then there must be others.” Ding Chonglou lowered his voice and said in a sinister tone, “The Ying family, like a centipede, still has many followers.”

"Are you afraid?" Meng Yuan asked.

Ding Chonglou, whose face was already gloomy, fell silent upon hearing this.

Wang Er smiled and asked, "Have you found the peacock?"

“We already have news about him.” Ding Chonglou looked at Ding Qianyun beside him.

Ding Qianyun, with a full beard, looked very serious and composed, clearly a capable person. He stepped forward, bowed to Wang Er, and said, "There's a shady doorman in a back alley outside the city who said that someone paid money but didn't sleep, and instead chanted scriptures to the doorman all night."

Everyone who heard this found it very interesting.

Meng Yuan, in particular, thought of Sister Hua. At that time, after Sister Hua reformed, she made a living selling tofu in Qingshui Town. Jie Kaiping even went to find Sister Hua and persuaded her to save all living beings and serve customers for all people. From then on, she attained the status of the Bodhisattva of Joy.

Unfortunately, Sister Hua only cares about money and not these superficial things. Even after removing the screen, there was nothing she could do, and he almost had his innocence defiled by Sister Hua.

This matter had already been recorded in the files, and everyone in the Demon Suppression Division was already well aware of the old story of Jie Kaiping. Upon hearing this, they naturally recalled the story as well.

Seeing that everyone enjoyed listening, Ding Qianyun continued, "The brothel owner said that although the customers looked dirty, they were very refined and always spoke of Buddhist scriptures."

"How can we be sure it's a peacock?" someone asked.

“Anmenzi said that some monks, though they might sneak in at night to spend the night, are all lustful ghosts, extremely eager for sex. But that person is not lustful at all; he only preaches the scriptures,” Ding Qianyun said.

"What scriptures are you going to preach?" Lin Yan asked.

"I don't know." Ding Qianyun shook his head slightly. "I don't remember that secret doorman. She fell asleep after listening to a few words, so she simply lay down, intending to let others do as they pleased. She didn't expect that when she woke up, it would be broad daylight."

"Didn't Peacock advise that secret doorman to welcome more guests this time?" someone asked with a smile.

Ding Qianyun shook his head and said, "I don't know why the peacock did that either."

“These past few days have been snowing heavily, and the people inside and outside Ping’an Prefecture are having a hard time. The brothels in the alleys outside the city probably have to work day and night to get a decent meal. Peacock wants to offer them a place to rest for the night,” Meng Yuan said.

"Is that so?" Wang Er looked at Ding Qianyun.

Ding Qianyun was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "The other day, a pancake was all it took to sleep, but it's hard to say what will happen in the next couple of days. The people outside the city can't even get enough to eat or wear, yet they're still thinking about these things. It shows their ignorance and foolishness!"

“That is why Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism came into being.” Wang Er sighed. “Teaching, entering emptiness, seeking purity—but all of these are unattainable.”

"Ding Chonglou, go and capture the Peacock, preferably alive!" Wang Er ordered. "As for manpower, you can use the people you brought this time. Lanruo Temple also has a grudge against the Peacock, so you can also go and find the three academy leaders and ask them to send some people, preferably Buddhist practitioners."

Ding Chonglou had obviously thought about this beforehand. He said in a low voice, "What about Juesheng? He is at the fifth rank, similar to the Peacock, and his cultivation method is also similar. He will surely be able to restrain him."

The monk Juesheng was exceptionally talented and already very famous. When he debated with Master Jiujie about "relinquishment," although he was defeated, his fame only grew.

Of course, among those in Lanruo Temple who colluded with Qingguangzi was the monk Juesheng. However, Juesheng had been infected by a powerful person's spell, and even though his actions carried some of the madness that Qingguangzi had inherited, he had long forgotten about this matter and still regarded Qingguangzi as a disgrace to Buddhism.

Meng Yuan knew about this, Wang Er knew about it, and Ding Chonglou probably knew about it too.

Now that Ding Chonglou has asked the monk Juesheng to help him find the broken screen, he might be planning to do something else.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Wang Er looked at Ding Chonglou and nodded, "Who else do you need?"

“Meng Feiyuan is also an extraordinary person, and it is right for him to contribute,” Ding Chonglou said.

"Don't even think about it!" Before Meng Yuan could speak, Lin Yan immediately stepped forward and shouted, "Don't think I don't know that you and my junior brother have a grudge. You didn't intend to bring him back after you took him out!"

Ding Chonglou chuckled coldly a few times, but remained silent.

"Forget about Xiao Meng." Xiao Taotao had known Meng Yuan the longest and was considered an old subordinate. "He's recently gotten involved with a powerful figure, so it's not appropriate for him to do this kind of thing."

Upon hearing this, Wang Er first looked at Xiao Taotao, then frowned and looked at Meng Yuan.

Meng Yuan firmly shook his head to show his innocence.

“I trust you to handle things. However, Meng Feiyuan really cannot leave.” Wang Er smiled, looked at Ding Chonglou, and explained, “Although the competition among the eminent monks has not yet been decided, it does not prevent the juniors from competing. The martial arts competition comes first, followed by the literary competition. Juesheng can go with you for a few days, but Meng Feiyuan cannot go far.”

Before the Arhat Wusheng arrived, it was said that there would be both literary and martial arts battles, but it has been delayed until now and is finally about to begin.

"How should we compare?" Xiao Taotao asked, intrigued.

"Ten rounds of competition, let's see how many wins and losses there are between the two sides." Wang Er said with his hands behind his back, "The three Taoist sects will each send one person, Qingya Academy will send one person, Lanruo Temple is the host and will send three people, the other Buddhist temples in Ping'an Prefecture will send two people, and my Demon Suppression Division will send one person."

Upon hearing this, everyone recalled Wang Er's earlier words about keeping Meng Yuan in check, and knew that Meng Yuan was going to fight.

“Although there are many people, you are the only one who will fight as a martial artist.” Wang Er looked at Meng Yuan and said, “Originally, I was going to put you first, but I overruled everyone’s objections and let you go last.”

"When will the grand competition be held?" Meng Yuan asked.

"Tomorrow is the first show, and it'll be your turn on the third day," Wang Er said.

That's enough time! Meng Yuan immediately cupped his hands and said, "I dare not disobey!"

(End of this chapter)