Sword drawn from the constellations, poison as its edge.

Chapter 113 Skilled in Several Styles of Martial Arts

Shaolin Temple has produced numerous masters throughout history, making it a truly important and influential force in the martial arts world.

When Mu Wanqing heard that he was a Shaolin monk, she was very surprised and couldn't help but turn around and look at him a few times.

One of the four middle-aged monks glared at her and shouted, "Young lady, it is disrespectful for a woman to enter and leave the monastery. Hurry up and eat your meal and leave. What are you looking around for?"

Another monk coldly said, "At such a young age, you're already playing tricks. Don't you dare show your true face even under the Buddha's nose?"

It turns out that Mu Wanqing wore a mask the rest of the time, except when she was alone with Jiang Mingzhe. Even when eating noodles, she would lift a little bit with her left hand and eat with chopsticks in her right hand.

The old monk put down his teacup and said in a low voice, "Say less, everyone. Once you've had your tea, go to your meditation room and sit in meditation. What kind of behavior is it for a monk to get angry with a layman?"

One of the monks argued, "Master, these two are clearly skilled martial artists. They seem suspicious to me; they might be henchmen of the Four Evils."

Earlier, when the monk introduced them as Shaolin monks, Jiang Mingzhe hadn't thought much of it. But now that the monk mentioned the Four Evils, Jiang Mingzhe suddenly remembered that in the earlier chapters of the original novel, there was a passage where Shaolin Temple learned that the Four Evils were going to Dali and sent a powerful monk with his disciples to Dali to help the Duan family.

Unexpectedly, the monk was killed on the way, using his own most proficient martial arts. The four characters "Murong of Gusu" and the saying "to repay someone with their own methods" seem to have made their official debut in this part of the story.

He tried to recall the original text, but couldn't remember the specific details of the matter. Then he heard the old monk say, "Stop talking, stop talking."

He got up and left with four middle-aged monks. The two monks who had spoken earlier seemed to be extremely disapproving of the "woman entering the temple," and kept sneering as they passed by the two men.

Jiang Mingzhe chuckled. Coming from a sales background, he naturally understood human nature and knew that there were many people in this world who used their own perceptions as a yardstick to measure everything, and would make wild pronouncements if anything did not meet their expectations.

Another issue is that many people's consciousness is trapped in information cocoons, and they always believe that what they know is the truth.

For example, these Shaolin monks, Shaolin Temple is the leading sect in the martial arts world. As members of it, if their knowledge and cultivation are slightly low, they will inevitably think that they have a natural mission to rectify the martial arts world and protect morality, and they will use the various rules of Shaolin Temple to judge all other temples in the world.

It should be noted that the rule of not allowing women to enter the Shaolin Temple still existed more than a hundred years later when Guo Xiang went to Shaolin. At that time, Shaolin had experienced the upheaval caused by the Fire-Worker Monk and was greatly weakened. If they still acted in this way, how much more so during the Tianlong era when they were at the height of their power?

What a pity! Jiang Mingzhe thought to himself: It's one thing for you to provoke others, but why did you have to provoke the hot-tempered Mu Wanqing?
As he thought this, he looked at Mu Wanqing, fully expecting that this woman was about to jump up and challenge the Shaolin monks.

Unexpectedly, when he turned his head, he saw Mu Wanqing sitting still, her big eyes half angry and half restrained, showing no intention of arguing.

Jiang Mingzhe initially thought she was intimidated by the power of Shaolin, but then he realized that this woman in the original novel dared to kill Dao Baifeng in front of Duan Zhengchun, showing that she was fearless. The reason she was keeping quiet at this moment was not because Shaolin Temple had a great reputation, but because she was afraid of causing trouble for him by being with him!
Jiang Mingzhe blinked and asked Mu Wanqing in a low voice, "These monks are so rude, how come you've become so good-natured?"

Mu Wanqing pouted and fumed for a moment, then sighed helplessly, "Fine, a little patience will calm things down. You still have important business to attend to in Suzhou, let's not cause any trouble."

It really was for me!

Jiang Mingzhe sighed inwardly, then couldn't help but reach out and ruffle her hair, laughing, "I don't like bullying people, but we can't let others bully us either, right?"

After saying that, he stood up, picked up the unfinished bowl of noodles, and threw it at the bald head of a middle-aged monk.

Hearing the whoosh of wind behind him, the monk swiftly turned around, reached out with his left hand and grabbed the bowl, displaying remarkable agility.

Unfortunately, he couldn't catch the soup and noodles in the bowl, and they splashed all over his head and face, scalding him and causing him to scream. The monks all turned around, their faces showing anger. The white-bearded old monk, who had been walking in front, suddenly stepped past the other four monks and raised his arms to block them.

He looked at Jiang Mingzhe and said, "Benefactor, you threw a bowl at my disciple for no reason. This is not only impolite, but also a waste of food. I would like to ask what your intention is?"

Jiang Mingzhe said calmly, "It's not without reason, but out of good intentions, to teach these bald monks who are spreading bad karma a lesson for you."

The old monk said unhappily, “Since you can utter the words ‘speech karma,’ you are not entirely ignorant of Buddhism. Since you know Buddhism, why do you still slander monks? Don’t you know that the sin of slandering monks is the same as slandering the Buddha? Those who slander will surely fall into the Avici Hell and suffer great retribution, with no hope of liberation? Benefactor, it is nothing for my disciples to be scolded by you, but you yourself must pay for the evil karma you have created. The Buddha is merciful, and this humble monk has to remind you of this.”

Jiang Mingzhe laughed and said, "The old monk is very reasonable. Then let me explain my reasoning with you—"

He stepped out from behind the table with a smile and stared intently into the old monk's eyes: "My sister and I entered the temple to worship Buddha. We were completely respectful and courteous. When we kowtowed and offered incense, we were sincere. My sister only had a few taels of silver on her, which she used to pay for the incense. I don't think we did anything wrong. Otherwise, this guest monk wouldn't have received us so warmly. Isn't that the truth?"

Before anyone could answer, his expression changed drastically, and he said solemnly, "We were sincerely devoted to Buddhism, yet you and your bald monks openly discussed us, spoke rudely, and even falsely accused us of being some kind of evil gang. What kind of logic is this? Does having a shaved head mean you can speak recklessly? That you can arbitrarily frame people? You say slandering monks is a crime, haha, I'd like to ask—"

He pointed at the several middle-aged monks behind the old monk and said sternly, "These bald monks have no virtue and don't understand Buddhism. What kind of monks are they? They're just a few long-tongued bald monks. I've exposed their true colors, and you say I'm slandering monks as if I were slandering the Buddha. What, so your understanding of the Dharma is that these long-tongued donkeys are on the same level as the Buddha?"

Monks often hold debates on Buddhist scriptures, where participants cite scriptures and challenge each other, thus cultivating many eloquent and persuasive monks.

The old monk had debated scriptures with others before, but this was the first time he had encountered such a sharp question. With just a few words, the old monk was rendered speechless, taking a step back in shock. Perhaps from drinking the hot tea too quickly, beads of sweat covered his bald head as he repeatedly stammered, "Nonsense! You're talking nonsense..."

Several middle-aged monks revealed ferocious expressions. One monk shouted, "Master, there's no reasoning with this sharp-tongued fellow. Let your disciple teach him a lesson!"

Jiang Mingzhe laughed loudly: "Hahahaha, well said! Monks pursue the emptiness of the four elements, but you guys insist on practicing martial arts and being brave and fierce. Isn't that all for this moment? You can't reason with me, but you're certainly good at fists and feet? What a coincidence! It's not just you bald monks who have the skills to practice. I'm also quite proficient in a few styles of fists and feet. Since you don't want to reason with me, let's see who has the stronger fist. That would be a good thing!"

Upon hearing about the martial arts contest, the old monk's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He spread his arms and forcefully pushed his four disciples back a few steps, then solemnly said, "Amitabha, this humble monk is Xuanbei of Shaolin. May I ask which school this benefactor belongs to? Perhaps this old monk knows your master, but we must not damage our harmony."

Jiang Mingzhe proudly declared, "My master is the Starry Sky Immortal Ding Chunqiu. As for me, hehe, I am Zhaixingzi, the top disciple of the Starry Sky Sect!"

The old monk exclaimed in shock, "A demon from the Xingxiu Sect!"

Jiang Mingzhe scoffed, "A demon? Old monk, tell me, is the one who honestly worships Buddha and eats noodles a demon, or is the long-tongued donkey who immediately frames people, rashly scolds young girls, and resorts to violence when he can't reason with them a demon?"

The monk who had just pointed out that Jiang and Mu might be henchmen of the Four Evils turned red-faced and said sternly, "What's impossible about the Star Constellation Demon colluding with the Four Evils?"

Jiang Mingzhe sneered, "If that's the case, then it's not impossible that your Shaolin abbot, a dignified man, would find a woman and have a child."

The monk flew into a rage, shouting, "How dare you insult Shaolin! You shall be sent to the hell of having your tongue pulled out!"

After saying that, he charged forward, throwing two punches in quick succession to the face, and then sweeping his leg like an iron rod. His movements were swift and fierce. Mu Wanqing exclaimed, "Jiang Lang, be careful!"

Jiang Mingzhe laughed and said, "Don't be afraid, my Xingxiu Sect also has divine skills!"

With a swift movement to the side, the Three Yin Centipede Claws unleashed the "Waist-Breaking Strike," its three fingers tearing through the wind as it went straight for the opponent's kidneys!
(End of this chapter)