“Monk Puzhu,” Fang Pingzhai stared intently at the copper plaque for a long time, then suddenly said, “I won’t compete.” He who had the strongest desire to compete for Shaolin Temple’s abbot position now said he wouldn’t compete? Could it be that Wanyu Yuedan’s supernatural strike had frightened him? Everyone stared at his face, seeing his expression was grave, completely lacking his previous composed and leisurely demeanor. Though countless eyes were on him, he still stared firmly at that copper plaque, not knowing what he saw there. Liu Yan’s pupils contracted. That copper plaque’s swaying clearly wasn’t due to Wanyu Yuedan’s profound internal force. Looking at the Biluo Palace people, they too showed surprise – it wasn’t arranged by Biluo Palace beforehand. Yet Wanyu Yuedan appeared composed, as if everything was within his expectations. What was going on?
Fang Pingzhai slowly walked back to his original position, no longer waving his red fan. Yu Tuan’er tugged his sleeve. “What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you competing?” Fang Pingzhai stared at the copper plaque. “This… because—” But hearing a crisp “clang,” the copper coin in Master Dacheng’s hand fell to the ground again. Master Puzhu, unaffected by Fang Pingzhai’s withdrawal, sent out his Flower-Plucking finger force. The copper plaque rose in response, about to sway when it suddenly froze stiffly, motionless. All was silent. Everyone stared dumbfounded at this strange sight. The Shaolin people all stood up together. “Amitabha, this…”
Clearly someone was secretly helping Wanyu Yuedan, clearly someone was interfering! Wanyu Yuedan stepped forward, his robes fluttering, declaring loudly, “I, Wanyu Yuedan, have won this round. If Shaolin Temple keeps its word, at this moment, I am Shaolin’s abbot!” He turned around to face the Vairocana Buddha in the Thousand Buddha Hall. “Who wishes to receive Wanyu Yuedan’s three kowtows? Please come out! Since you have the supreme martial arts to manipulate the copper plaque from three zhang away, why hide? Please come out and show yourself!”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the back of the Vairocana Buddha. They saw a figure slowly slide out from behind the Vairocana Buddha like the Buddha’s shadow. The person wore a human skin mask deliberately made to look exactly like Vairocana Buddha, dressed entirely in black tight clothing, appearing both sinister and strange. “Haha…” That person laughed lowly, his voice extremely bizarre, as if his throat had once been cut with a blade and reassembled. “I originally only wanted to receive three kowtows from Shaolin Temple’s abbot, but unexpectedly I can also trample Biluo Palace Master underfoot. How satisfying…”
The Shaolin monks were quite agitated. Young novice Sanjie angrily said, “Who are you? What are you doing hiding behind Vairocana Buddha? So sneaky…” Master Dacheng chanted the Buddha’s name, interrupting him. “Shaolin Temple didn’t know the benefactor was hiding behind. We’ve failed our founding masters. Sin, sin.” Master Puzhu focused on the black-clothed man. “Who are you?”
“Me?” That person smiled sinisterly, moving the Vairocana Buddha mask, making his smile look extremely eerie. “I’m just someone who hates Shaolin Temple and the martial world.” His strange head turned toward Fang Pingzhai’s direction. “Sixth Brother, long time no see. You’re still clever. If you had acted, I absolutely wouldn’t have stopped you.” Fang Pingzhai sighed. “I understand that compared to watching Wanyu Yuedan kowtow, you prefer watching me kowtow, so—rest assured, I immediately gave up. It’s just that after all these years, your habit of enjoying watching people kowtow remains unchanged. It’s not that your Sixth Brother always speaks alarmingly to dampen your spirits, but life may require following one’s heart, but being too willful, reckless, and dreaming wildly will eventually lead to capsizing.”
“Is that so?” The black-clothed man wasn’t angry, saying eerily, “Coming from you, these words are completely inappropriate.” His gaze turned to Wanyu Yuedan. “Kowtow. After kowtowing, compose a poem for me within seven steps, otherwise—” he said coldly, “I’ll kill you with one palm!”
“Kowtowing is acceptable,” Wanyu Yuedan slowly walked before the black-clothed man, “but please tell me Liu Yan’s whereabouts.”
The black-clothed man threw back his head and laughed. “Hahahaha…”
Liu Yan still sat faintly in the crowd. In his heart, he wasn’t wondering whether this black-clothed man truly knew his whereabouts, nor thinking about why Fang Pingzhai would be this strange man’s “Sixth Brother.” His mind remained blank, thinking of nothing. Occasionally passing through his mind were only the overlapping faces of Wanyu Yuedan and Tang Lici. A’Li had possessed many things since childhood, but what he wanted, he could never obtain.
That was his retribution.
Liu Yan observed the martial world’s strange and indecipherable situation, yet his heart thought of completely irrelevant matters.
“I’m not a petty person who calculates every detail. One month from now, Liu Yan will appear at Beauty Residence in Jiaoyu Town. No matter who in the martial world wants to settle accounts with him, they can definitely find him at Beauty Residence. However—” the black-clothed man said sinisterly, “his legs have been crippled, his face destroyed, his martial arts scattered—he’s completely a waste. If you wanted to see the romantic guest’s flower-like beauty, it’s too late. You can’t see it anymore.” Everyone cried out in surprise. Liu Yan, with such martial arts and such romantic charm, was already a waste! The gentle wrinkles at the corners of Wanyu Yuedan’s eyes slightly opened. “How does Your Excellency know his news?” The black-clothed man laughed heartily. “In this martial world, who don’t I know about? Kowtow!”
Wanyu Yuedan waved his sleeve. Everyone secretly thought he was about to kneel, but they heard him say gently, “Tie Jing, bring Yingying here.” Tie Jing stood up, and before long, brought in a child of about five or six years old from outside. Everyone stared at this child—his head was shaved completely bald, wearing monk robes, with rosy cheeks, extremely cute, with round eyes looking around curiously, obviously understanding nothing. Seeing Wanyu Yuedan, he tottered over and grabbed his sleeve, very affectionately.
Who was this little child?
“Yingying, come,” Wanyu Yuedan took his small hand, saying gently, “Good boy.” He showed a tender, benevolent smile. “I’m now transferring Shaolin Temple’s abbot position to you. Is that good?” Everyone was shocked, angry, and amused. How could the dignified Shaolin Temple abbot position be treated so frivolously? Yet they heard the little child obediently respond “Good.” So Wanyu Yuedan led him to kneel before Vairocana Buddha, kowtowed several times, then pointed toward the black-clothed man’s direction. “Yingying, good boy, kowtow three times to this strange uncle.”
The little child timidly glanced at the strangely-featured black-clothed man, obediently knelt down, and kowtowed three times. Wanyu Yuedan patted his head. “Recite a poem for this strange uncle.” Yingying tightly gripped Wanyu Yuedan’s sleeve, reciting in his childish voice, “Goose, goose, goose, bending neck singing to heaven. White feathers float on green water, red webbed feet paddle clear waves.” Wanyu Yuedan smiled. “Very good.”
The Thousand Buddha Hall was silent. Suddenly Fang Pingzhai burst into hearty laughter, waving his red fan, laughing with extreme joy. “Hahahaha… truly wonderful, wonderful!” Following his laughter, waves of laughter arose. Everyone was both shocked and amused. This little abbot’s poem truly opened their eyes, making them not know whether to cry or laugh. Yu Tuan’er clutched Liu Yan’s sleeve, laughing until her whole body went soft. “Shaolin Temple’s little abbot…” Liu Yan’s drifting consciousness was gradually drawn back by the hall’s laughter, unconsciously pulling at the corners of his mouth.
The black-clothed man stared at Wanyu Yuedan, as if unable to believe he would do such a thing. After a long pause, he also laughed heartily. “Biluo Palace Master, what a Biluo Palace Master! One month from now, Beauty Residence in Jiaoyu Town—awaiting Palace Master’s instruction again!” He swept his sleeve and, under everyone’s gaze, strode out of the Thousand Buddha Hall, eyes seeing no one else, robes stirring dust, yet no one obstructed him.
Liu Yan blinked. Only now did his consciousness suddenly clear. One month later at Beauty Residence in Jiaoyu Town—how could this person be certain he would definitely go there in a month? How could he know his whereabouts? Unless— his gaze turned to Fang Pingzhai. Fang Pingzhai waved his red fan and laughed heartily. Liu Yan said in a low voice, “You…” Fang Pingzhai said, “I’ve always known. Master, you—truly have never been someone skilled in scheming. Walking the martial world like this is very dangerous. You could really be deceived anytime, anywhere. Fortunately, your disciple currently has no intention of harming you, otherwise…” He sighed, covering his forehead with his fan. “If I sold you out, you’d really help me count the money.” Yu Tuan’er blocked Liu Yan’s front, asking in a low voice, “Hey! What do you mean? What do you know?” Fang Pingzhai smiled all over his face, patting Yu Tuan’er’s head with his red fan. “My dear master is a great villain greatly hated by the martial world, especially one who devours good family women—didn’t you know?” Yu Tuan’er frowned. “I know he’s a great villain. So what?” Fang Pingzhai lowered his voice, whispering in her ear, “You’ve traveled the martial world for many days. Along the way, haven’t you heard that everyone in the martial world is seeking the whereabouts of a great villain with handsome features, high martial arts, and skilled in sonic killing techniques? Even if you’re deaf and didn’t hear, just now Wanyu Yuedan risked the danger of three kowtows and insisted on becoming Shaolin’s abbot—what was it for? Didn’t you see?”
Yu Tuan’er also whispered back, “For Liu Yan! You just mentioned Liu Yan, right?” Fang Pingzhai tapped her head with his red fan. “Silly! I mean my dear master, your beloved, is this great villain and lecher that the martial world must kill, the romantic guest Liu Yan.” Yu Tuan’er said in a low voice, “Oh!” She didn’t really care what Liu Yan’s identity was, but said, “So you knew who he was all along. Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Fang Pingzhai whispered, “This… naturally there are many, many reasons.” Yu Tuan’er glared. “You just want to learn sonic killing! You’re also a great villain. That strange uncle just said he knows Liu Yan’s whereabouts—you must have told him! You’re also terribly bad!” Fang Pingzhai shook his head repeatedly. “You’re wronging me. I swear I’ve never told anyone master’s whereabouts. I’m with you every day—when would I have time to contact others outside? He knows Liu Yan’s whereabouts because he must have sent people to follow me and incidentally learned master’s information.” Yu Tuan’er glanced at him. “Who is that strange uncle? Why does he call you Sixth Brother?” Fang Pingzhai sighed. “He—he’s called Gui Mudan. Even after being brothers for ten years, I don’t know his real name.” Yu Tuan’er said in a low voice, “You’re so stupid!” Fang Pingzhai said, “Yes, yes, yes, I’m very stupid—hopelessly stupid.” Yu Tuan’er said, “Hey! One month from now, don’t let Liu Yan go to any Beauty Residence in Jiaoyu Town. We’ll go somewhere else. I don’t care what your strange brother wants to do.” Fang Pingzhai’s face showed a bitter smile, sighing deeply. “I’ll try, but—” Liu Yan suddenly said faintly, “I’ll go.” Yu Tuan’er glared at him angrily. “If you don’t behave, I’ll hit you!”
While the three were discussing in low voices, Wanyu Yuedan took Yingying’s hand, saying gently, “Yingying, good boy, transfer the abbot position to this monk brother, okay?” Yingying looked up at the black-haired Master Puzhu, still timidly saying “Okay.” Master Puzhu’s face was rigid. The Shaolin monks looked at each other. They saw Yingying reach out to pull Master Puzhu’s hand, tottering as he tried to pull him to kneel before the Buddha statue. Master Puzhu stood motionless. Wanyu Yuedan said gently, “Master Puzhu, would you really have Shaolin Temple honor this child as abbot? I’ve offended Shaolin and am willing to accept punishment, but I hope Master won’t refuse the abbot position. This is what everyone expects—it cannot be otherwise.” Master Puzhu’s face was deathly pale, still standing motionless. Master Dacheng suddenly pressed his palms together. “Amitabha, Nephew Puzhu, personal reputation and Shaolin Temple’s lineage—which is more important?” When Master Dacheng spoke these words, all the Shaolin monks chanted Buddha’s name in unison. Master Puzhu’s body trembled slightly, finally bowing down with Yingying. This incredible abbot assembly reached a result that was, despite everything, within expectations.