Emperor Taizong, having narrowly escaped death, was still shaken. At this moment he let out a long breath and saw that the person standing in front of him had silver hair and white robes, with dignified and elegant bearing—it was Tang Lici. The assassin on the opposite rooftop saw the commotion and that he would be surrounded by the Imperial Guards in moments. Gritting his teeth, he drew from his sleeve a strangely colored, mottled long arrow and with a “whoosh” shot it with full force toward Emperor Taizong’s head.
The arrow broke through the air with a sharp whistle. Tang Lici’s mouth curved slightly with a smile that was neither quite a smile nor not, sweeping his sleeve to block horizontally. Unexpectedly, when the long arrow touched his sleeve, with a “chi” sound it actually corroded the sleeve and pierced through from within. Emperor Taizong was greatly alarmed. Tang Lici reacted with extraordinary speed—his left hand grabbed and pulled, causing Emperor Taizong to tilt left. The long arrow “whooshed” over his head. He felt his head lighten as several pearls fell to the dust. The arrow “thudded” as it shot into the bodhi tree behind them, penetrating two feet into the wood!
“Capture the assassin! Protect the Emperor!” The Imperial Guards swarmed forward and in moments subdued this villain who had attempted to assassinate the Emperor. However, with such strict security within the imperial palace, how had this person managed to infiltrate to Ciyuan Hall, and how did he know the Emperor would pass through here? Although they had captured the assassin, everyone felt ice-cold in their hearts. If the Emperor blamed them, they could not escape the responsibility of dereliction of duty.
Emperor Taizong glared as everyone bound the assassin with ropes, then looked at Tang Lici who had saved his life. His heart was still filled with alarm, and he opened his mouth several times but could not speak. Tang Lici steadied him and transmitted some inner energy to help his blood circulation flow smoothly and calm his shock. After quite a while, Emperor Taizong finally said, “Take him away and hand him over to the Court of Judicial Review for careful interrogation. This matter must give me an explanation. If the cause and reason cannot be found, all those on duty today will have their punishment increased by one degree!” The arriving guards all knelt down and said in unison, “Yes!” Emperor Taizong gripped Tang Lici’s hand tightly. The little eunuch behind him, still shaken, hurriedly picked up the pearls that had fallen to the ground. Several people hastily left the garden and headed to Funing Palace.
Upon entering the main gate of Funing Palace, without waiting for Emperor Taizong’s orders, guards were added both inside and outside. Emperor Taizong sat down and drank some tea, only then taking a good look at Tang Lici and breathing a sigh of relief. “National Uncle, your martial arts are superb and you have merit in saving the Emperor. What do you think I should reward you with?” Tang Lici smiled and bowed, “Your subject merely happened to be there by coincidence. I dare not claim credit, much less dare to seek reward.” Emperor Taizong couldn’t help but smile, “Whatever I reward you with, I’m afraid you wouldn’t take it to heart. How about this—I’ll reward you with two words: ‘leisurely retirement.’ How about that?” Tang Lici bowed and expressed thanks. Emperor Taizong said, “Don’t you want to know what ‘leisurely retirement’ means?” Tang Lici said gently, “Your Majesty is teasing your subject.” Emperor Taizong laughed heartily, “Romantic and carefree, with leisure and no duties you can travel the world. With leisure you can admire flowers and smell willows, cultivate mysterious arts, and only then have the ability to save the Emperor just now. Am I wrong in saying this?” Tang Lici bowed deeply, “What happened just now was merely coincidence.” Emperor Taizong patted him, “I understand you have no intention to harm me, and that’s enough. Heaven has bestowed you upon me, so there must be divine will. Perhaps Heaven’s will is for you to assist me.” Tang Lici smiled faintly and answered humbly. Emperor Taizong laughed more and more joyfully, almost forgetting the crisis from moments before.
Grand Eunuch Wang Ji’en helped Emperor Taizong remove the ceremonial crown worn at court. Several pearls had fallen from the crown—all rare treasures, but affected by the arrow’s energy and hitting the ground, several pearls had scratches on their surface and were no longer smooth and bright. Wang Ji’en placed the damaged pearls in another box, had the Imperial Household Department match new pearls of exactly the same color and shape as the old ones, instructed a little eunuch to deliver the box to the Imperial Household Department, and personally helped the Emperor change clothes.
In the imperial prison, the Court of Judicial Review immediately interrogated the assassin. After just one hour, they delivered the general results. It turned out the assassin was from Liao, having infiltrated the imperial palace to assassinate Emperor Taizong due to grievances from the Song-Liao wars. But when asked how he had entered, how he knew the Emperor would pass through Ciyuan Hall, and where the poisoned arrow came from, he could not explain clearly. He only said he had planned this for a long time but could never find a way to enter the palace. Last night, someone suddenly sent him a letter with a map of the palace and gave him this poisoned arrow. Since the letter was written in Liao script, the mastermind was most likely a Liao person. Emperor Taizong was quite furious, but since the Song Dynasty had never gained advantage in the Song-Liao wars, despite his great anger, he could do nothing about it. He immediately ordered additional guards to protect the palace’s security. If today’s assassination attempt were to spread outside, it would be punishable by immediate execution!
That night the imperial palace was busy with activity. No one paid attention to the tray of pearls sent to the Imperial Household Department—one of them was no longer the Green Enchantment, but a sea pearl very similar to the Green Enchantment in color, size, and weight. Tang Lici accompanied Emperor Taizong until late at night before taking his leave. When departing, he heard that the Imperial Guards had accidentally killed the assassin, causing another great disturbance in the palace as they investigated who had accidentally killed the assassin.
The night wind was clear and bright, but dark clouds covered the moon overhead, making the moonlight appear less than gentle, carrying a trace of icy coldness. Tang Lici left the palace and boarded his carriage. The coachman drove toward Luoyang. The carriage swayed, and night wind penetrated through the curtains, bringing piercing cold. The late-night streets were empty of people, showing only this magnificent, lonely carriage moving hesitantly forward, the crisp sound of horse hooves carrying far like the dream of striking a cold anvil.
A person leaped onto a rooftop, watching this carriage depart. In the night wind his robes fluttered, and he watched for a long time before sighing softly. The person on the rooftop was Yang Guihua. How could the would-be assassin have suddenly obtained a map and poisoned arrow? And how did he suddenly die… He was not without suspicions, but this person acted too circuitously and cleanly, so experienced that he left no clues or evidence whatsoever. If it was him, why did he cause such a disturbance in the imperial court? To win the Emperor’s favor? Yang Guihua thought that was not it—so what was it really for? This required detailed investigation.
Tang Lici sat in the carriage, clearly aware that someone was following him from behind. Today’s events were a game-changing situation that could not escape the eyes of intelligent people. But Yang Guihua… he smiled slightly—not an opponent. The late-night mist drifted ethereally, seeping through the curtains. He raised his left hand—two wound marks on his wrist had not yet healed, and now a third was still bleeding.
Songshan Shaolin Temple.
Puzhu, newly appointed as abbot, had not emerged from his monk’s quarters for a full day. Da Cheng, Da Bao and the others thought nothing of it—Shaolin Temple was a place of quiet cultivation, and even if a monk did not leave his quarters for ten days or half a month, that was nothing unusual. Inside the monk’s quarters, Puzhu sat silently at the table in black robes with long hair, not saying a word, neither contemplating Buddhist teachings nor practicing martial arts.
Though no one else was in the room, a faint fragrance lingered. Puzhu’s face was gloomy as he stared at the unfinished chess game on the table. After a long time, he heaved a deep sigh.
“…You… are no longer a holy man…” In his daze, he remembered someone saying tenderly and gently in his ear, “Puzhu… Puzhu… do you know that from our first meeting at Willow Valley years ago, I knew you were not really suited for monastic life? Your heart is too warm, you have too much… attachment to this world… too active… and toward me also… too kind…” That pleasant voice became increasingly strange in his confusion, “You like me, you do like me… it’s the feeling of a man liking a woman…” He heard himself speaking, his voice very stiff, “But you—you are not actually a woman…”
“Hahaha… An abbot who is free from attachments and believes in the equality of all beings, would he also care about the distinction between male and female?” That person laughed softly, “Male monks and female monks are all Buddhist disciples.” He said in a low voice, “You—you—”
“I want you to help me with something…” the gentle voice said, “Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to do things against your conscience like killing and arson. I just want you… to lead Shaolin Temple to refrain from commenting on events that have already happened and will happen at the Central Plains Sword Assembly.” Puzhu said in a low voice, “You want Shaolin Temple to stay aloof from martial world turmoil?” That beautiful female voice said, “Temporarily, yes.” Puzhu’s voice grew cold, “What do you want to do at the Central Plains Sword Assembly?” The female voice said gently, “Puzhu…” her voice sweet and alluring, “Don’t you trust me?” Puzhu was stunned, “I…”
“Shh… I won’t do anything to harm Shaolin. Rest assured.” That female voice remained sweet and gentle, but to Puzhu’s ears it had a completely different flavor. She had not threatened him in any way, but Puzhu understood deeply that as the abbot of Shaolin Temple, he had actually done such improper things on the very night of becoming abbot, and the person who shared his bed was a man. If such scandalous affairs were to spread, not only would his own reputation be ruined, but Shaolin Temple’s pure reputation of hundreds of years would be destroyed instantly, becoming a laughingstock of the martial world. For the sake of Shaolin Temple, he could not resist. Moreover… moreover, toward this mysterious woman in peach robes… deep in his heart, he still hoped for an explanation.
Unconsciously, Puzhu slowly sighed. For the first time in his life, he felt helpless, unable to face himself, unable to face the future, and even more unable to face Shaolin. If strong enemies came to attack now, he would draw his sword and fight. If he could die in battle, that would be Heaven’s greatest mercy to him.
But Shaolin Temple had not encountered strong enemies for hundreds of years. Even the masked man in black robes from the other day dared not enter Shaolin openly. Even if someone dared claim to be the best in the world, facing over a hundred Shaolin monks with considerable cultivation, a direct confrontation would have no chance of victory.
“Knock knock”—two light sounds. Someone was knocking on Puzhu’s monk’s quarters. Puzhu said in a low voice, “Come in.” A young novice monk entered, bowed to Abbot Puzhu, and said, “Abbot, someone outside the mountain gate sent a letter, saying it was for the Abbot to read.” Puzhu stood up and received the letter. The novice monk clasped his hands and withdrew. He smelled the faint fragrance in the room but did not think deeply about it.
The letter was from Shao Yanping, containing congratulatory words about his appointment as abbot. After a page of verbosity, Shao Yanping wrote, “If you encounter demonic obstacles, Shao Yanping sincerely sweeps the couch and awaits with clear tea for the Abbot to stay.” Puzhu’s brow furrowed slightly, his emotions surging and completely unable to calm down. In the past, his heart was like a clear mirror—no matter how many double meanings were on paper, he could ignore them all. But after that night, even the slightest undertone was enough to make his heart chaotic as tangled hemp. What did Shao Yanping mean by writing this? Could it be that he had long foreseen that he would encounter demonic obstacles? But no matter how wise Shao Yanping was, he could never imagine that he faced such a deadly trap… Suddenly, Puzhu broke out in cold sweat. Submitting obediently was definitely not a solution, and the matter could not be concealed forever. Should he confess honestly and let temple rules handle it, then commit suicide to atone? Or leave Shaolin to go to a place where no one knew him? Or—simply commit suicide quietly, abandoning the vast Shaolin Temple? No matter which method, all violated his principles as a monk and as a person. How to choose, how to give up?
“Abbot.” Someone outside the door spoke slowly, “May this old monk enter?” Puzhu trembled slightly—the speaker was Master Da Cheng. He immediately said in a low voice, “Master Da Cheng, please enter.” With a creaking sound, the door opened again. Master Da Cheng, tall in stature with a white beard under his chin, walked in. Seeing Puzhu holding Shao Yanping’s letter, his expression unchanged, he said slowly, “Abbot, you should move to the abbot’s meditation chamber. This place will be taken over by novice monks. The items you should take with you should already be packed, shouldn’t they?” Puzhu was slightly stunned and at a loss for words, “This…”
“Amitabha,” Master Da Cheng chanted a Buddha’s name, “If the Abbot is not at ease, this old monk can clean the monk’s quarters, and please give this letter to this old monk as well.” Puzhu’s face changed instantly, and he stood up abruptly, “You—” Master Da Cheng spoke slowly, his tone peaceful, “Did the Abbot forget what Benefactor Tao said? She wanted you to preserve the Shaolin lineage and not contact the Central Plains Sword Assembly. Have you forgotten?” Puzhu’s entire body trembled, his face alternating between green and white, “You—you—” Master Da Cheng clasped his hands, “This old monk absolutely means no disrespect to the Abbot. It’s just that if this old monk doesn’t mention some things, the Abbot must not forget them either, otherwise it would greatly harm Shaolin Temple. I hope the Abbot will think thrice.” Puzhu looked at him, looking at that wrinkled face with kind eyebrows and gentle eyes, unable to see that this highly respected Master Da Cheng was actually one of Xifang Tao’s party. She… when had she recruited Master Da Cheng? Could it be… could it be that she had also used seduction tactics? For a moment he didn’t know if it was shock, anger, madness, or jealous hatred—all sorts of emotions he had never experienced in over thirty years surged to his heart. His true energy reversed in his chest, and immediately he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood with a “wa” sound. Master Da Cheng watched him coldly, “The Abbot bears heavy responsibility. Please take care of your health.” He was about to bid farewell and leave.
“Wait!” Puzhu said sternly, “The matter of the abbot… was it also she who wanted you to assist me… assist me…” Master Da Cheng smiled slightly, “If not for this, with the Abbot’s past actions and deeds, to assume the position of Shaolin’s supreme leader and martial world’s great master would probably be difficult. Are Da Bao, Da Hui, and Da Shi truly inferior to the Abbot in any way? Amitabha, the Abbot may think thrice, and think thrice again.” He clasped his hands and withdrew. Puzhu was both shocked and angry, standing in the room as the world he had firmly believed in for over thirty years suddenly collapsed. So… so… so everything was like this… She, she… years of good friendship, countless joyful heart-to-heart talks under the moon—my friend, you set up such a sinister chess game, yet how can you expect me to trust you? Are you truly such a vicious person? Wanting Shaolin Temple to stand aside and watch, what exactly do you intend to do to the Central Plains Sword Assembly? What do you intend to do to Shaolin Temple? What do you intend to do to me?