Transmigrating into Murong Fu, may you have many children and much happiness.

Chapter 120 Xuanci's Death, Kumārajīva's Question

The Shaolin monks' expressions changed upon hearing Xiao Yuanshan's words; they hadn't expected him to have secretly learned Shaolin's secret techniques.

Thinking of Kumārajīva and Pārajīva, they were secretly anxious: what if their martial arts were to spread to India, Tibet, or the Liao Dynasty?

What should we do?

We must keep them all here today, but... we can't even handle Kumārajīva, and Xiao Yuanshan seems to be just as strong as Kumārajīva...

Qiao Feng suddenly realized that he had always thought someone had impersonated him to commit murder and frame him, but he never expected that his father was still alive. Many ideas suddenly came together, so he said, "Father, Master Zhiguang, Zhao Qiansun, and... my master, were they all Father...?"

Xiao Yuanshan laughed and said, "That's right, my child. I killed all these people. They killed your mother and many of my servants without any explanation back then, which was already a death sentence for them."

It's a pity that the scoundrel Wang Jiantong died young from illness, but it's all for the best. He spared Xuanci's life so that he could be utterly disgraced in front of the Central Plains people!

Qiao Feng felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing this and said, "Father, my master Xuan Ku was not involved... Why, Father..."

'

Xiao Yuanshan raised his hand and said, "You are my own child. How happy I should be to have my family reunited."

But these Southern Dynasty warriors treated us Khitans like pigs and dogs, slaughtering us at the drop of a hat. After my wife died...

They even snatched my child and gave him to someone else to raise as their own.

Not only is Xuan Ku wrong, but those Qiao couple, impersonating your parents, not only robbed me of my family happiness but also refused to tell you the truth. They deserve to die.

That day, I intended to kill the Qiao couple first, then Xuan Ku, but unfortunately, the Murong family brat ruined my plans...

Qiao Feng's thoughts were suddenly pulled back to reality. He remembered the last time he came to Shaoshi Mountain with Murong Fu, Murong Fu said he had something to take care of, and when he turned around, he saw him sitting in his adoptive parents' house...

In this sense, this brother not only saved the life of his mentor Xuan Ku, but also the lives of his adoptive parents.

When I went to Canhe Village, I witnessed the Murong family's intelligence-gathering methods, but I never expected it to have come to this...

But, do Brother Murong know that my father is still alive?

He has his own reasons for whatever he does:

Alas, Qiao Feng could never repay the kindness of Brother Murong in his entire life!

Suddenly, Qiao Feng heard a familiar voice:

"So, it turns out that Shaolin Temple is actually a place where lewdness and depravity are hidden?!"

The abbot is indeed a master of Buddhist principles, having led Shaolin for decades. Who would have thought that his Buddhist practice would result in a son!

This humble monk has truly broadened his horizons today!

It turned out to be Kumārajīva, who, after learning of Xuanci's shameful deeds, never missed an opportunity to strike at Shaolin.

As soon as he uttered these words, hundreds of angry gazes were shot at him. But Kumārajīva, skilled and bold, was not afraid at all.

Undeterred by the angry glares of many high-ranking monks, he slowly spoke with a smile:

"Why are you monks looking at me like that? I have no son."

Xuanci ignored Kumārajīva and said loudly, "Old Ne has violated a major Buddhist precept and tarnished the reputation of Shaolin. He is willing to accept punishment."

"Brother Xuanji, according to the temple's precepts, how should he be punished?"

Xuanji said, "Hmm—Senior Brother—"

Xuan Ci said, "A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Every sect, gang, clan, and temple has its unworthy disciples."

Preserving one's reputation and honor does not mean ensuring that no one ever breaks the rules, but rather that every matter is punished according to the law without any leniency.

Disciples and abbots are all the same.

Xuanci continued, "Xuanci has broken the precept against lust. As the abbot, his punishment should be doubled to serve as a warning to his disciples."

The monks who enforced the law punished the monks with two hundred strokes of the rod; the reputation of Shaolin Temple was at stake, and no favoritism or corruption was permitted.

As he spoke, he knelt down on the ground, facing the Buddha statue in the Great Hall of Shaolin Temple, and put on his monk's robe, revealing his back.

The assembled heroes looked on in dismay as the abbot of Shaolin was publicly tortured—a truly horrifying and inhumane act.

Xuanji said, "Senior brother, you..."

Xuan Ci retorted sternly, "How can the thousand-year-old reputation of Shaolin Temple be tarnished by my hand?"

At this moment, Kumārajīva stepped forward with his hands clasped together and said, "If your temple is unwilling to inflict punishment on my senior brother, you may carry out the punishment within the temple and then inform the heroes outside the temple afterwards."

Xuanji knew that Kumārajīva was mocking their Shaolin Temple, so he ignored Kumārajīva and said with tears in his eyes, "Enforcement monks, step forward and administer the punishment."

Xuanji nodded. As the elder in charge of law enforcement, he knew that Shaolin's rules could not be violated, especially in front of heroes from all over the world, where strictness was preferred over leniency.

The abbot's senior brother's mistake, to put it bluntly, is a disgrace to Shaolin; to put it mildly, it's a case of personal folly. But if Shaolin doesn't punish him, or punishes him too leniently, then it's Shaolin Temple covering up for him. Shaolin's centuries-old reputation will be ruined in an instant.

Two monks who were enforcing the law stepped forward, then put their palms together, bowed, and said, "Abbot, please forgive us."

Then he straightened up, raised his wooden staff, and swung it down hard on Xuan Ci's back.

The two knew that the most unbearable part of Abbot Xuanci's punishment was being humiliated in public, rather than the physical pain.

If the two of them showed leniency, and others noticed, especially with the abbot's enemies present, they would surely point it out loud, giving others cause for gossip.

In this way, the abbot's humiliation had yielded no results, and might even have led to greater disgrace. Therefore, the blows continued.

The blows were loud and clear, and in a short while, Xuan Ci's back was covered with welts from the cane, and his monk's robe was splattered with blood.

Hearing the disciplined monks shouting and beating him with their sticks, the monks all lowered their heads and could not bear to watch, and silently chanted Buddhist prayers.

A crowd of heroes stood around, including some who were naturally curious, but most of them, who had always admired Abbot Xuanci, could not bear to watch.

Master Daoqing of Pudu Temple suddenly said, "Brother Xuanji, your temple respects the Buddhist precepts and the abbot was punished as well. I admire you greatly."

However, Senior Brother Xuanci is old and has not used his internal energy to protect himself; he certainly cannot withstand two hundred blows.

"This humble monk may be so bold as to plead for leniency. Eighty strokes have already been delivered; the remaining number will be recorded for now."

Many of the heroes in the crowd exclaimed, "That's right, that's right! Let's also ask for a favor and make a note of it for now."

Others chimed in, "What's the big deal about having a son? I've had plenty of sons!"

Upon closer inspection, everyone recognized him as Judge Shan, who had five sons.

Xiao Yuanshan then said, "Heh, having a son is naturally a matter of course, but this great monk, as the abbot, still has a son."

How come he gets all the good things in the world?

Moreover, Ye Erniang has lost her own son over the years, yet she has murdered another man's son. What kind of logic is that?

"What does Ye Erniang's murder have to do with Abbot Xuanci?"

Xiao Yuanshan countered, "Hehe, Ye Erniang was originally a commoner woman. Where did she get her martial arts skills from?"

Xuanci taught her martial arts, yet he allowed her to kill infants. She killed at least eight thousand, if not ten thousand. How many parents couldn't go on living after their children died?

Everyone says we Khitans are bloodthirsty, haha, but I, Xiao Yuanshan, am a peerless martial artist, and in the past thirty years I've killed no more than a handful of people.

How should this debt be settled? Shouldn't that old dog Xuanci be held responsible for these children?!

The crowd, remembering Ye Erniang's reputation, knew that everything she said was true, and fell silent for a moment.

Xuan Ci said loudly, "What Benefactor Xiao said is right... This humble monk has committed many sins, and what I have violated goes far beyond the precept against lust."

Many thanks for your kind offer, but the precepts are as imposing as a mountain, and this humble monk knows his sins are grave... He must not be lenient and must serve as a warning to his disciples.

"Enforcement monk, quickly use your staff!"

The two monks who were enforcing the law had already stopped the punishment, but hearing the abbot's resolute words, they had no choice but to continue beating the monks one by one.

Then he grabbed the stick again and struck Xuan Ci more than forty times. Xuan Ci did not use his internal energy to resist, and he could not hold on any longer. His hands, which were supporting him on the ground, went limp, and his head was covered in dust.

Ye Erniang cried out, "This matter is not the abbot's fault; it is all my fault!"

It was my youthful ignorance and the pain of love that led me to deliberately seduce the abbot.

I killed all the children... I was possessed by a demon. You who seek to subdue demons and deliver from calamity, then subdue me instead...:

"I'll take the rest of the blows!"

She cried and wailed, wanting to lie on Xuanci's body and take the beating in his place.

Xuan Ci pointed a finger with his left hand, and with a soft click, sealed her acupoints. He smiled and said:

"Foolish man, you are not a Buddhist nun, so what crime have you committed if you cannot see through love and desire?"

I taught you martial arts back then, but I failed to discipline you properly. You deserve your own tribulations, but I...: Alas, this is my just deserts.

Ye Erniang stood there, unable to move, tears streaming down her face.

Xuan Ci shouted, "Strike with the staff!" After finally finishing two hundred strikes, blood flowed everywhere. Xuan Ci barely managed to gather his inner energy to protect his heart.

To avoid fainting from the pain.

The two monks who were enforcing the law raised their rods and shouted to Xuanji, "Reporting to the head monk, Abbot Xuanci has received all two hundred strokes of the rod."

Xuanji nodded, but didn't know what to say.

Xuan Ci struggled to his feet and pointed a finger at Ye Erniang, trying to release her pressure points. However, due to his severe injuries, he was unable to gather his true energy, and the finger did not work.

She could only manage a bitter smile. Instead, Yue Laosan rushed over and released Ye Erniang from her acupoints.

Ye Erniang and Xuzhu rushed to Xuanci's side. Seeing that the old monk was almost out of breath, both of them wept.

Xuan Ci reached out, grasped Ye Erniang's wrist with his right hand and Xu Zhu with his left, and said:

"For the past twenty-four years, I have been thinking of you and your son day and night. I know I have broken a great precept, but I dare not repent to the monks. Today I am freed from this precept and will no longer have any fear of being imprisoned. I am at peace."

He recited a verse: "Life in this world is filled with desires and loves, bringing much suffering and afflictions; liberation is the true joy!"

After saying that, he slowly closed his eyes, a peaceful smile on his face.

Neither Ye Erniang nor Xu Zhu dared to move, wondering what else he might say, but they felt his hands growing colder and colder. Ye Erniang was shocked and reached out to check his breath; he was already dead. Her face paled, and she cried out:

"You—you—for more than twenty years I have waited bitterly to be recognized, but today the family is reunited, how could you leave me?"

Having said that, he took out a sharp blade from his bosom and, before anyone could react, he had already committed suicide, his body falling beside Xuan Ci's body.

Xu Zhu, who had just recognized his parents, was overwhelmed with grief when he saw them die in front of him. He could barely breathe and fainted.

The monks rushed forward and found that the two had already lost their breath and there was nothing they could do to save them.

He then carried Xu Zhu inside to rest and collected the bones of the two men.

The crowd was deeply saddened by this, and they all thought that if he received two hundred strokes of the cane, it would at least make up for his momentary lapse.

Unexpectedly, after being tortured, he immediately severed his own meridians. There is a saying in the martial arts world that one's debts are settled upon death. Xuanci's decision to endure the humiliation and beating to uphold the reputation of Shaolin Temple before dying is truly the act of a hero.

However, some people believe that Xuan Ci's indulgence of Ye Erniang's evil deeds is truly unforgivable, especially since all the martial arts experts present today...

Those who haven't had their children snatched by Ye Erniang, but does that mean innocent civilians and ordinary families deserve to have their children snatched and killed by her?

If the teaching is not strict, the teacher is lazy.

Since Xuanci taught Ye Erniang martial arts, he should have strictly disciplined her. Having a son is nothing compared to the fact that he condoned his lover's murder.

As a result, some people offered sacrifices while others hurl insults, making the scene even more chaotic.

But then Kumārajīva said, "Benefactor Xiao, now that the chief culprit has been eliminated, I'm afraid the Shaolin monks will not let you off so easily."

What are your plans?