Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Chen Zhan slowed his pace, walking alongside Zhao Qingtan and Gu Yu. He looked towards the southern horizon and slowly said, "Putuo Temple is a sacred Buddhist site in the south, and together with Shaolin, it is known as one of the two sacred sites in the north and south. It holds a prestigious position. Qingtan should be very clear about this."

"Yes."

Zhao Qingtan nodded in agreement, her tone somewhat solemn: "Putuo Temple has an even longer history than Shaolin Temple. What's even more remarkable is that the Buddhist sects of the North and South have always been united. The two temples not only do not fight each other, but also exchange knowledge and skills in martial arts and Buddhism year after year."

"In recent decades, its reputation has grown day by day, and it is showing signs of surpassing Shaolin. In the hearts of the people in the south, its status is comparable to that of a god."

"Is this why Putuo Temple needs to collude with the Murong family?"

Zhao Qingtan changed the subject and voiced her doubts.

Putuo Temple already possesses such scale and prestige, what is it after in colluding with the Murong family?
"A bunch of monks who live a life of quiet contemplation and meditation, surely they don't dream of becoming emperors?"

That makes sense, and Gu Yu nodded slightly, then was enlightened by Chen Zhan's words.

"That makes sense, but although the Murong family has a family tradition of learning from many sources, it's still a bit hard to explain how they could so easily obtain top-level Buddhist techniques."

"Correct!"

Gu Yu immediately chimed in, a sharp glint in her eyes: "Murong Bo is proficient in at least five Buddhist martial arts. Not to mention the seventy-two Shaolin arts, he can also perform the Chantuo Palm and Weituo Finger techniques of Putuo Temple with unparalleled skill, far beyond what can be achieved by merely learning the superficial aspects."

The more Gu Yu thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. She continued, "Moreover, the top-level techniques of Buddhism are always kept secret. If an outsider were to steal them, how could they possibly let it go?"

"Putuo Temple knew that Murong Bo possessed the temple's unique skills, yet not only did they not come to demand an explanation, they also allowed the Murong family to develop freely in the south. Moreover, the Murong family was plotting a rebellion!"

"As the largest sect in the south and a sacred Buddhist site, their failure to report to the imperial court is a serious offense of harboring a criminal."

Chen Zhan and Zhao Qingtan both nodded in agreement.

After such a thorough analysis, Putuo Temple must be implicated. The remaining question is how deep their collusion with the Murong family is, and how much scheming lies behind it.

"drive!"

"drive!"

The three spurred their horses and galloped away in silence, soon entering the territory of Zhoushan.

Putuoshan is located on an island in the sea, and you need to take a boat from the ferry terminal to get there.

Along the way, you can see many pilgrims, all with devout expressions, walking towards the ferry.

Putuo Island's good reputation has long spread throughout Jiangnan, and Putuo Mountain is revered as a sacred mountain by countless people, attracting a constant stream of pilgrims year-round.

Dozens of ferry boats were moored at the ferry crossing, and the old men punting them were all doing their jobs, calling out to the pilgrims in loud voices.

Five coins per person for a one-way trip, no bargaining.

Left with no other option, the three had to leave their horses at an inn near the ferry crossing and board a ferry boat among the pilgrims.

The ship was not small, and there were about a dozen people standing on the deck, most of them simply dressed devout believers, holding incense and candles in their hands, and whispering words of prayer.

As soon as the boat left the shore, a middle-aged woman dressed in fine silk and satin noticed Chen Zhan and his companions.

Although the three had changed into casual clothes, their upright posture and composed demeanor set them apart from the devout worshippers around them, clearly indicating that they were not ordinary people.

The woman hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and asked softly, "Are you three also coming to the Buddhist Kingdom seeking medical treatment?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhan turned around and looked at the woman.

She was in her early thirties, with a very poor complexion, pale lips, and a somewhat sallow face, clearly indicating that she had been suffering from illness for a long time.

However, their clothes were luxurious and made of fine materials, and they were accompanied by two capable servants, which made it clear that they came from a wealthy family.

Upon hearing the words "Buddhist Kingdom," Zhao Qingtan's eyes flashed with surprise and doubt. He stepped forward and pressed for an answer:

"You just mentioned the Buddhist Kingdom?"

The middle-aged woman nodded, her expression a mixture of awe and unease: "Calling it the Buddhist Kingdom may be a bit disrespectful, but it is indeed a popular saying. Putuo Island is known as the 'Buddhist Kingdom by the Sea,' but I didn't come up with that name; it's what the people in the surrounding counties call it."

This statement might be somewhat inappropriate for the imperial court, but given the open-mindedness of the people in the Song Dynasty, it would not be used to convict them.

"Buddhist Kingdom by the Sea"

Zhao Qingtan murmured these four words repeatedly, her brows furrowed tightly.

As a high-ranking official in the imperial court, she was extremely sensitive to such titles.

Within the territory of the Song Dynasty, anyone who dared to call themselves a "country" was considered to have a disloyal heart.

This matter could be considered a big deal or a small deal. If it was just something that was casually spread among the people, the imperial court would indeed find it difficult to convict someone. However, if Putuo Temple had tacitly approved of it or even encouraged it, then it would be considered as establishing a state within a state, and the death penalty would not be excessive.

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhan smiled gently and asked the middle-aged woman, "How should I address you, young lady?"

"I am Chen Mengshi, sir. You may call me Mengniang."

The woman bowed slightly, her manners impeccable. Having frequented wealthy households for many years, she possessed a keen eye far exceeding that of ordinary people, and at a glance, she could tell that Chen Zhan and his companions were no ordinary worshippers.

“The three of you have extraordinary bearing and must be important figures. There’s no need to be so polite to me.”

"Judging from Meng Niang's complexion, she seems to be unwell. Is she going to Putuo Temple for medical treatment?" Chen Zhan nodded and followed up with a question.

"Sir, you have a good eye."

Chen Mengniang sighed softly and pressed her hand to her chest: "That's right. The eminent monks of Putuo Temple are known as divine healers, especially the abbots, who are said to have the ability to bring the dead back to life and heal flesh and bone. My illness came on suddenly, and I searched for famous doctors everywhere without success. Hearing of the miracles here, I came here specifically to try my luck."

As she spoke, her gaze swept to the other side of the deck, where an elderly man with white hair was coughing violently, his face flushed. A middle-aged man beside him hurriedly handed him a water bag and gently patted the old man's back; he was probably the old man's son.

"As you can see, most of the people on this ship are here for the medical skills of Putuo Temple."

Chen Zhan followed her gaze and saw that many people on the deck looked sickly, some pale, some hunched over, but all had a look of longing for Putuo Temple in their eyes.

He nodded slightly. Medicine and martial arts are inseparable. Many sects in the martial arts world have miraculous healing medicines. Shaolin's healing skills are famous throughout the world. It is not surprising that monks know medicine.

However, the saying "to bring the dead back to life and to heal flesh and bones" is far too exaggerated.
Zhao Qingtan also sensed something was wrong and stepped forward to ask, "Has Meng Niang personally seen that flesh and bone of life and death?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Mengniang laughed and waved her hand, "Haha, how could I possibly have seen that? The high monks of Putuo Temple treat patients in private, and it is impossible for outsiders to peek into their practice."

"However, there have been too many rumors about them over the years, and the people who have been cured are all over the states in Jiangnan. With word of mouth, naturally no one doubts it."

That is true.

The reputation of a miracle doctor is always built up through word of mouth; in any era, very few people have actually witnessed the skills of a miracle doctor.

If they weren't desperate, who would travel thousands of miles to this island in the sea seeking medical treatment?
Most of the pilgrims on the deck shared this sentiment. "How long has the reputation of the miraculous healer of Putuo Temple been circulating in the martial arts world?" Chen Zhan pressed, already having some guesses in his mind.

Chen Mengniang frowned, thought carefully for a moment, and then said:
"I don't know the exact time. About ten years ago, there were scattered rumors in the Jiangnan area that the monks of Putuo Temple could cure diseases."

"But back then, it wasn't unusual for monks to know medicine, and not many people cared. It was only in the last five or six years that this reputation truly spread throughout Jiangnan and became known to everyone."

Chen Zhan's doubts deepened. After a moment of silence, he used telepathy to give Gu Yu a few instructions.

After hearing this, Gu Yu pouted, clearly somewhat unwilling.

But she dared not disobey her master's orders and could only nod in agreement.

With a swift movement, she leaped from the boat like a graceful swallow and plunged straight into the water.

By this time, the ferry was hundreds of meters from the shore. The sea was azure, and although the waves were small, they were still enough to drown an ordinary person.

But after Gu Yu fell into the water, she lightly touched the surface with her feet and began to walk on water as if on flat ground, quickly moving towards the shore.

The pilgrims on the deck were stunned by what they saw. They stopped what they were doing and looked at Gu Yu's departing figure, marveling at the sight.

Chen Mengniang was also stunned, and it took her a while to come back to her senses. She said to Chen Zhan, "Sir, your companion is such a master?"

Chen Zhan smiled but did not answer, only gazing in the direction where Gu Yu had gone.

Zhao Qingtan was puzzled and turned to look at him, her eyes full of doubt.

Chen Zhan noticed her gaze and explained, "No rush, we can make a decision after Gu Yu returns. Right now, I'm not entirely sure either."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingtan stopped asking questions and stood quietly to the side. The ferry continued to travel on the water, and after about an hour, it finally arrived at the pier of Putuo Island.

Several other ferry boats arrived around the same time as them, each filled with pilgrims seeking medical treatment or prayers.

The dock was crowded with people, many of whom were clearly devout pilgrims, holding incense and candles in their hands with solemn expressions.

But most people, like Meng Niang, came seeking medical treatment and medicine, their faces etched with illness.

Chen Zhan and Zhao Qingtan followed the crowd out of the dock and headed towards Mount Putuo.

The mountain road is gentle, lined with evergreen pines and cypresses, and you can see small temples with incense burning from time to time.

Strangely, not a single monk or administrator from Putuo Temple could be seen along the entire route. Yet all the pilgrims were orderly, with no one stopping or making a fuss, and all heading straight towards the core area of ​​Putuo Temple.

"To be so well-organized without needing dedicated management, Putuo Temple certainly has some tricks up its sleeve," Zhao Qingtan said softly.

Chen Zhan glanced at her and smiled, "This is no longer the Putuo Temple you remember?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingtan's eyes dimmed slightly, and she sighed softly, "That's definitely not the case anymore."

Chen Zhan had known Zhao Qingtan for many years and was naturally aware of her past entanglements with Putuo Temple.

The girl who traveled the world with him more than ten years ago had just defected from Putuo Temple.

As the younger sister of the late emperor, Zhao Qingtan was granted the title of princess from a young age, but she disliked the constraints of the inner palace and was obsessed with learning literature and martial arts.

At that time, the most famous martial arts holy sites in the martial arts world were the North and South Temples, and she ultimately chose to enter Mount Putuo to learn martial arts.

Given her status as the legitimate daughter of the royal family, Putuo Temple naturally had no reason to refuse.

No one expected that Zhao Qingtan's martial arts talent far surpassed that of ordinary people. In just a few years, she mastered the basic martial arts of Putuo Temple to perfection, and by her teens, she was already able to access the core techniques of the sect.

What's even more remarkable is that she is calm and composed, and has extremely high comprehension, which has earned her the high regard of Master Zhikong, the head of the Discipline Hall.

Despite the objections of the other monks in the temple, Master Zhikong overruled their objections and passed on to her the sacred text of Putuo Temple, the "Lantuo Sutra".

This martial art, along with Shaolin's Yi Jin Jing, is known as one of the two major Buddhist martial arts techniques, possessing immense power and profound mysteries. It is the foundation upon which Putuo Temple stands in the martial arts world.

After learning the Rando Sutra, Zhao Qingtan's martial arts skills improved by leaps and bounds, and he quickly became one of the top masters in the martial arts world.

After reaching adulthood, she followed her heart and traveled the world, wanting to broaden her horizons and hone her martial arts skills.

However, not long after she left the temple, a great tragedy occurred at Putuo Temple. Master Zhikong was killed by his enemies, several eminent monks in the temple also perished, and the Sutra Pavilion was broken into, resulting in the loss of many martial arts classics.

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Qingtan rushed back to Putuo Temple overnight, wanting to find out the truth.

However, Abbot Zhihong only gave the excuse that "the master was killed by his enemies seeking revenge." No matter how she pressed him for details, he refused to reveal any specific information about his enemies, and even refused to let her inspect the scene.

Zhao Qingtan knew that Master Zhikong had always been a chivalrous and righteous man. Although he had enemies, none of them had the ability to kill several high monks at the same time and break into the Sutra Repository.

The abbot's deliberate concealment aroused her suspicions. In the ensuing argument, she angrily left Putuo Temple, determined to investigate the matter herself.

The princess's defection from the Buddhist holy land was a major event that would shake the entire martial arts world.

Putuo Temple, however, remained unusually low-key, never sending anyone to hunt them down or making any public accusations, as if the incident had never happened.

Putuo Temple may have chosen to settle the matter peacefully out of consideration for the imperial family and to avoid antagonizing the court.

She herself met Chen Zhan while investigating the truth behind Master Zhikong's murder in the martial arts world.

However, after years of investigation, nothing has been found.

As they walked and talked, memories of past entanglements flooded back, and Zhao Qingtan's expression gradually calmed down.

Before we knew it, we had reached the mountainside. In the distance, we could vaguely see the magnificent hall with its upturned eaves, which was the core area of ​​Putuo Temple.

Just then, the road split in two, forming a fork in the road. Several young monks dressed in gray robes were standing at the intersection, waiting and guiding the pilgrims one by one.

Before Chen Zhan could step forward, he heard a young monk put his hands together and chant Buddhist prayers: "Amitabha. If you wish to offer incense and pray for blessings, please take the left path; if you are seeking medical treatment, please take the right path. Those who wish to seek medical treatment, please hand over your incense tokens for this humble monk to verify."

Men and women passing by stopped to watch, and many took out a wooden incense token from their pockets and handed it to the young monk for inspection.

After carefully checking, the young monk would nod and let them pass, allowing them to walk along the path on the right.

A few people hesitated, seemingly because they didn't have incense tokens, and could only turn away dejectedly and head towards the incense offering path on the left.

"The donor stays."

A young monk stopped a middle-aged man, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "These incense tokens, if they are counterfeit, don't count."

The middle-aged man's face flushed instantly. He scratched his head awkwardly, his lips moved, but in the end he didn't dare to argue. He lowered his head and turned to leave the fork in the road.

The surrounding worshippers saw this but didn't say anything, as if they were already used to it. (End of Chapter)