Wanyu Yuedan turned around and bowed deeply to Master Puzhu. “Wanyu Yuedan has greatly offended Shaolin today. Whatever punishment Shaolin Temple sets, Wanyu Yuedan will bear it alone.” Master Puzhu said coldly, “You treated the abbot position like child’s play, dishonoring Shaolin Temple’s hundred-year reputation. Even though you’ve relinquished the abbot position, you should still be punished according to temple rules with the fire rod penalty.” Wanyu Yuedan smiled slightly. “Then please bring the fire rods.”
The so-called “fire rods” were red-hot iron staffs. The red-hot iron staffs were struck against the back, leaving a brand mark with each blow. This was originally a form of ascetic practice for Shaolin’s austere monks. Since Wanyu Yuedan knew no martial arts, if these red-hot iron staffs struck his body, he would likely lose seven or eight-tenths of his life immediately. Everyone looked at each other – Wanyu Yuedan was unwilling to kowtow to the black-clothed man, yet preferred to accept punishment at Shaolin Temple. Master Puzhu’s expression didn’t change. “Bring the fire rods.” Two disciples immediately ran out of the hall. Moments later, they returned carrying two iron staffs four feet long and thick as a child’s arm. The iron staffs were coated with some substance, still blazing with flames, their tips burned red-hot and glowing.
Seeing this, Tie Jing and He Yan’er changed color. Wanyu Yuedan didn’t know martial arts – if these things truly struck his body and something happened to him, what would Biluo Palace do? The two stood up together, saying in unison, “Palace Master, let us receive the fire rod punishment in your place!” Wanyu Yuedan shook his head. “Before the high monks of Shaolin Temple, how can we be so frivolous?” He knelt before Vairocana Buddha. “Please proceed with the punishment.”
“Execute the punishment.” At Master Puzhu’s command, the two disciples swung their fire rods together. With a whooshing sound, the blue robe on Wanyu Yuedan’s back shattered and scattered in response to the rods. The two fire rods crossed over his back, the flames igniting the flying cloth fragments, yet they didn’t harm his skin in the slightest. Everyone saw bits of flame drift down, while Wanyu Yuedan’s back remained clean and snow-white, without the slightest wound. The two Shaolin disciples withdrew their fire rods and saluted Master Puzhu with pressed palms. “The punishment has been completed.” Master Puzhu nodded, asking them to withdraw, and pressed his palms together. “Amitabha. Shaolin Temple’s great matter is concluded. We no longer receive guests here. All benefactors, please return.”
Everyone stood up to bid farewell and leave, all secretly thinking today’s abbot assembly had been extremely exciting – if they had secretly slipped away a few days ago, they would have regretted it for life. The Biluo Palace people draped an outer robe over Wanyu Yuedan. Wanyu Yuedan took Yingying’s hand, raised his head, and exhaled slowly. “Let’s go. We need to travel tonight.” He Yan’er looked at the little child. This child was the son of Biluo Palace maid Yan Xiu. The Palace Master had borrowed him specifically to play the role of Shaolin’s little abbot. No wonder when Yan Xiu asked why he was bringing Yingying along, the Palace Master always smiled without explaining! Sometimes the Palace Master’s actions were truly… He rubbed his head – so childish.
The various colorful characters in the Thousand Buddha Hall gradually dispersed. Master Puzhu kept his attention on the yellow-robed, red-fan-wielding Fang Pingzhai, seeing him chatting and laughing with a young woman and a black-cloth-masked guest who had come with him, walking away slowly like ordinary people. This person had intended to compete for the abbot position, but for unknown reasons suddenly gave up. After giving up, he acted as if nothing had happened, able to take up and let go – though his speech was verbose and annoying, he didn’t lack grace. He said he had once seen his own Flower-Plucking Formless Sword at a sword assembly years ago – who exactly was this person? And the black-clothed man who had just learned Liu Yan’s whereabouts called him “Sixth Brother,” suggesting the two were allies, yet they departed separately – what was the true situation? These two must represent an undercurrent in the martial world that couldn’t be ignored and must be guarded against.