13 Chapter 13: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Translator: 549690339
Jinshan Temple.
Discipline Hall.
Xuan Ji didn’t stay with Liang Sheng for long before excusing himself to leave. As the Abbot of Discipline Hall, there were many matters to attend to. It was already a great expression of sincerity for him to personally receive Liang Sheng.
This was not because of Liang Sheng’s generous offerings, but because of the Liang Family behind him.
Jinshan Temple had some understanding of the changes in Jinzhou City, so Xuan Ji was a little worried about Liang Sheng’s purpose in staying for a few days. However, he didn’t show any emotion on his face, and after exchanging pleasantries, he said goodbye, leaving Liang Sheng to wait for more than an hour before finally meeting Liang Qi, whom he had not seen in years.
No, it should be said that he was now Master Hongzhi, a second-generation disciple of Jinshan Temple.
At this time, Hongzhi was clad in plain monk’s robes, his eyes as calm as water. Although his head was bald, his presence was striking at first sight.
What a transcendent figure, with the demeanor of a high monk. He was indeed remarkable, worthy of being the once-renowned young hero, second only to Liang Ying.
Liang Sheng couldn’t help but admire him inwardly. He really hadn’t expected Liang Qi to end up with such a demeanor.
Even more surprising was that Liang Qi had entered the Postnatal Sixth Realm, earning him the title of a young prodigy.
“Liang Jushi, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.”
Liang Qi held his hands together in a polite but firm greeting, and when he saw Liang Sheng, although there was some emotional turbulence, he remained calm with just a hint of ripples in his demeanor.
“Brother Qi, I didn’t expect to see you today and find you as elegant as ever, not losing any bit of your former demeanor.”
Liang Sheng responded with a smile, but Liang Qi shook his head and said, “Liang Jushi, Liang Qi is but a thing of the past, now only Hongzhi remains, who seeks detachment and freedom in this world.”
Seeing the clear and bright eyes of Liang Qi, no, Hongzhi, Liang Sheng didn’t dwell on the issue. Why argue over this?
“Master Hongzhi, it seems that you have managed to break free from the earthly desires and become a transcendental person. It is truly a cause for joy and congratulations.
Actually, I came here seeking something. I have been feeling uneasy lately, and I heard that copying Buddhist scriptures at Jinshan Temple can bring peace of mind, so I came here specifically to do so.”
Hongzhi listened and glanced at Liang Sheng’s expression, which didn’t seem to be deceptive. He naturally smiled and said, “Layman, there is no need to worry. As long as you have Buddha in your heart, peace will come naturally.”
After a few more sentences, the atmosphere became quiet, and for a short while, both did not know what to say. After all, Hongzhi had been a monk for a long time, and the two had not been in touch for many years.
In the end, it was Hongzhi who broke the awkward silence: “Since the layman wants to enter the Scripture Repository to copy the Buddhist scriptures, I don’t think there should be any problem.
I will talk to Elder Xuan Nian about this a little later. I think Elder Xuan Nian would not object to a layman’s sincere heart for Buddhism.”
Liang Sheng immediately expressed his gratitude and said that he would wait here for the good news. Hongzhi nodded in agreement and then took his leave.
When only Liang Sheng was left in the guest room, he couldn’t help but marvel. He hadn’t expected that he would make such an accidental discovery while hiding from possible unrest in Jinzhou City.
This Jinshan Temple was probably not simple. He had only met two Xuan Generation high monks in the temple so far, and both were high-level martial arts creatures.
With such strength, there was no rumor about Jinshan Temple in Jinzhou City, which showed how low-key Jinshan Temple was.
Now that Hongzhi could be so at ease as a monk, it seemed that his previous judgment had been somewhat presumptuous.
In the past, when Liang Qi became a monk, there was not much of a stir. He thought it was because, at the beginning, the Liang Family could not take care of him. Afterward, no serious consequences happened, so the Liang Family simply let it be.
Now it seemed that the truth might not be so. Instead, the Liang Family was somewhat afraid of Jinshan Temple, and it would not really be worthwhile to provoke them for just one of their juniors.
However, whatever hidden matters were going on in Jinshan Temple, they had nothing to do with him. He just needed to ignore it and pretend that he knew nothing.
He was just a refugee, so how could he have the energy to concern himself with the affairs of others?
Just as Liang Sheng decided not to pry into the secrets of Jinshan Temple, in the Abbot’s meditation room in Jinshan Temple, Xuan Nan was reporting to Abbot Xuankong about today’s events.
“Abbot Elder Brother, Hongzhi has already met Liang Sheng. Liang Sheng has come here just to seek peace of mind and copy Buddhist scriptures from the temple. I’ve also had someone inquire about him, and there should be no problems.”
Xuankong did not look up, only turning the prayer beads in his hand as he said indifferently, “Is this Liang Sheng really as useless as rumored?”
“Indeed, I have met him personally, and he is still at the Second Level of the Post-Natal Realm now. He is like rotten wood that cannot be carved.”
Xuan Nan shook his head directly, and his eyes were filled with contempt as he uttered the last word.
He didn’t know why Liang Sheng was so useless, while Hongzhi, who also had Liang Family blood, had such a different talent.
As for Hongzhi, Xuan Nan was extremely satisfied. Hongzhi had already reached the Sixth Realm in his martial arts cultivation at the age of thirty.
If he could break through the bottleneck and enter the Postnatal Sevenfold Realm, he would achieve high-level martial arts and become the number one person among the younger disciples of Jinshan Temple.
Of course, this bottleneck might only take one year for him to break through, but there was also a chance that he could get stuck in the Sixth Realm for ten years… no one could be sure.
The path of martial arts cultivation is full of obstacles, and many gifted children have made rapid progress in their youth but spent years stuck in the bottleneck and unable to advance.
No wonder when Liang Ying reached the Postnatal Seventh Realm at the age of thirty, the Liang Family Ancestor personally decided to let him inherit the position of the Patriarch.
Indeed, Liang Ying was incredibly talented and gifted. Unexpectedly, in ten or twenty years, the Liang family might have another Postnatal Nine-Realm martial artist, or even-
Hope for the innate level!
Upon hearing this, Abbot Xuankong still showed no emotions on his face, “In that case, let Elder Xuan Nian pay more attention to him. As long as he doesn’t go to the second floor of the Scripture Repository, he can browse through the scriptures on the first floor as he pleases.
As for whether he really came to our temple to copy Buddhist scriptures for peace of mind or if he had other motives, those are of no importance given his strength.”
“Yes, Abbot Elder Brother, I understand.”
By nightfall, not long after Liang Sheng and Ma San ate a vegetarian meal in the dining hall of Jinshan Temple, Hongzhi brought good news.
“Liang Jushi, Elder Xuan Nian has agreed to let you go to the Scripture Repository to copy Buddhist scriptures. You can go there tomorrow, but just don’t go to the second floor of the Scripture Repository.”
“I’m grateful for Master Hongzhi’s efforts on my behalf, otherwise, I may not have been able to enter the Scripture Repository so smoothly.”
“Layman, you joke. Today, I found out that you are a true believer in the Buddhas. Our Buddha is meant to help the predestined, so if Elder Xuan Nian has agreed, there’s no need to thank me. It’s because of your deep Buddhist affinity.”
After that, the two chatted briefly, and as it was getting late, Hongzhi left in accordance with temple rules.
Liang Sheng lay in bed, looking at the moonlight outside the window, and he couldn’t help but smile slightly. Today’s mission was completed.
As long as Jinzhou City wasn’t peaceful, he would stay in Jinshan Temple and not return for a day. Not to mention, the vegetarian meal at the temple tasted very good, which made Liang Sheng even more carefree about the future.
But who knew how many people would die in this chaos of Jinzhou City?
Amitabha.
