The pristine white snow fell inside the grey high walls.
The incense in the bronze furnace had burnt down to its end, but the blue smoke still wafted out.
Beside the arena, Taoists, monks, and literati whispered to each other, displaying a variety of expressions.
Bodhisattva Wuzhai no longer paid attention to Zhang Li, but instead, with the turning of his Prayer Beads, he softly said to Chen Ji, "Benefactor, you have prejudices against the Buddhist Sect. Perhaps if you understand more, you will be able to put down the ntal obstacle in your heart."
Chen Ji sat on the cushion, "Bodhisattva’s kindness is appreciated, but my six senses are not pure, I am not fit to enter the Buddhist Sect."
The literati focused their gaze towards the inside of the arena, all eyes converging on Chen Ji.
This young man had laid bare the issue that the Buddhist Sect does not equate to Buddhist studies, thereby committing a taboo of the Buddhist Sect. And now, he rejected the Buddhist Sect so directly, truly a fearless calf unafraid of a tiger.
At that mont, Chen Ji heard a voice gently say in his heart, "Benefactor, our Buddhist Sect has always treated people with sincerity, you simply need to convert to Buddhism and beco a layman, and this young monk will have a generous reward."
Chen Ji was slightly stunned, he did not see Wuzhai’s mouth move, but Wuzhai’s voice had indeed reached him.
He firmly looked towards Wuzhai, who gave him a slight smile, with his right hand turned outward and down, thumb lightly twisting his middle finger into the gesture of a "giving" mudra.
Is this... the Official Gateway? It could actually transmit sound directly into soone else’s heart.
Chen Ji pondered: a layman, that is, a disciple of the Buddhist Sect who has not renounced secular life, as long as he beca a Buddhist layman, then this debate would not be the Dao Court defeating the Buddhist Sect, but a person from the Buddhist Sect defeating one of their own, thus saving face.
However, after a long contemplation, Chen Ji turned his head towards the little Daoist by the Hong Bell, "Strike the bell."
Wuzhai’s smile gradually faded, "Benefactor, do you really not wish to join our Buddhist Sect?"
Chen Ji, sitting on the cushion, brushed the snow off his shoulders, "Bodhisattva. We braved the snow to co here, bringing with us a girl critically ill, seeking salvation. Upon entering, the young monk said we had no token, no invitation, and refused us entry."
He glanced at Bai Li and continued, "That girl caught a chill, had a fever for a whole day and night, and couldn’t even lift her eyelids. If Brother Zhang Li had not offered his help, I fear her life would have been lost. Although she now stands there well and fine, just thinking about the other possible outco terrifies . If even my friend cannot be saved by Buddha, then I cannot convert."
Chen Ji calmly said, "Strike the bell."
As his words fell, a gust of wind rose from nowhere and entered Lu Hun Manor, sweeping away half of the snow in the arena. In an instant, the snow around where Chen Ji sat dispersed, revealing the original dark Yin fish pattern on the ground around him.
Zhang Li, who had been sitting down and watching the excitent with a smile, suddenly stood up at this scene. After a mont, he relaxed, and with a laugh, looked towards Bai Li who was not far away, "Turns out, he was venting for you."
Bai Li looked towards the center of the arena, at Chen Ji’s silhouette.
The next mont, Zhang Li looked towards the little Daoist by the Hong Bell and cursed, "Are all in Laojun Mountain Dao Court fools? What are you waiting for? Strike the bell!"
"Oh, right," the little Daoist pushed aside the young monk beside him, pulled back the wooden hamr, and then pushed it heavily forward!
Dong!
The bell sound resonated, and Bodhisattva Wuzhai... was declared the loser!
The little Daoists of Laojun Mountain Dao Court were all smiles, though there was still one monk from the Buddhist Sect who had not yet taken the stage, they knew that Wuzhai couldn’t answer the question, and the monk who followed wouldn’t be able to either.
Finally, there was no need to beco monks!
The little Daoist looked at Zhang Li, "Brother, is this young lad really a Registered Disciple of Huangshan Dao Court? Next ti we debate with the Buddhist Sect, we must call upon him."
Zhang Li smacked the back of the little Daoist’s head, "This ti it cost two Purple Void Primordial Pills to get him into the debate, your Laojun Mountain Dao Court will have to bear one pill... no, both pills must co from you."
"Ah?" The little Daoist’s eyes widened, "We can’t be the master of this matter, the Purple Void Primordial Pills are precious."
Zhang Li said annoyedly, "They’re just external possessions, can you take elixirs into the grave with you?"
The little Daoist thought and then said, "Doesn’t that an every debate in the future will cost us two Purple Void Primordial Pills?"
Zhang Li lowered his voice, "Are you stupid? In future debates with the monks, just bring up this question, no need for the young man to personally participate! The Buddhist Sect used ’Laozi’s Transformation of the Barbarians’ to suppress us for three hundred years, now we can press them with this question for three hundred years!"
The little Daoist’s eyes lit up, "That’s true!"
...
Wuzhai sat on the cushion, his smile unfolding as if the past was the past, "Benefactor, if it were you, how would you answer this question, is the Redemption Ship still a Redemption Ship?"
Chen Ji shook his head, "I can’t answer either."
Wuzhai was puzzled, "Why?"
Chen Ji thought for a bit and then said, "I don’t care if it is still the Redemption Ship or not, as long as it can reach the other shore."
Wuzhai was silent for a long ti.
After a while, he changed the subject, "Benefactor, my side still has one person left. May I suggest another question for you to answer to decide the final outco?"
Chen Ji shook his head, "You could not answer my question, so this debate has already ended. We are rely passing through and must now leave."
Zhang Li exclaid admiringly, "Good rejection! Wuzhai must have prepared an extrely difficult question in order to turn the tables, but the young man didn’t give him the chance at all. Wuzhai punching cotton must be quite painful."
At that ti, Chen Ji had already stood up from the cushion and motioned for the Princely Heir, Bai Li, and Zhang Xia to depart.
Zhang Li pulled at him, "Why the hurry to leave? Stay and have so drinks; the wine cellar of Lu Hun Manor is stocked with plenty of good wine."
The Princely Heir’s eyes brightened, but then he heard Chen Ji decline, "No more drinking, many people are concerned about our safety, and we must hurry back to reassure them."
He whispered to the Princely Heir, "This place is fraught with conflict, those monks are not good to deal with, let’s leave quickly."
The Princely Heir responded with an "oh", no longer lingered.
As they walked towards the exit of Lu Hun Manor, they saw grey-robed monks rise and quietly block the way.
Chen Ji frowned, "What’s this? You wouldn’t let us in before, and now you won’t let us leave?"
Wuzhai slowly took a step forward, holding Prayer Beads, with hands joined in prayer, "This young monk has seen that the benefactor is wise. It has been a long ti since I have debated with soone like the benefactor. The hunt has aroused my interest, and I wish to debate another question."
Chen Ji counter-questioned, "If we don’t debate, we can’t leave?"
Wuzhai smiled without answering.
Zhang Li raised his eyebrows and led a group of little Daoists to surge forward, encircling Chen Ji and his companions, "This is the foot of Laojun Mountain Dao Court, and you dare to be presumptuous here? Scram!"
Wuzhai still smiled without answering, seemingly unbothered by Zhang Li and his party.
Chen Ji reached out to grab the handle of the Whale Blade held by the Princely Heir. Zhang Li’s eyes narrowed slightly, his right hand ford the Three Mountains Technique, and his Daoist robe fluttered without any wind.
The literati stepped back, afraid of blood splashing onto them.
A standoff ensued.
"Da."
"Da."
"Da."
Suddenly, clear iron hoofbeats echoed from the ’First-tier Sky Canyon,’ leading out from the Lu Hun Manor.
The hoofbeats were firm and deadly solemn, step by step, unhurried, as if royalty were approaching.
The monks turned their heads, only to see a line of Iron Cavalry passing through the gray-walled canyon. The leader rode a towering warhorse, clad in shining cast iron armor, wearing a Dragon Pattern Helt with a long white plu soaring skyward.
Behind him rode n on horseback, holding aloft an ochre Royal Banner embroidered with the character "Jing."
Following the Royal Banner, rows of densely packed cavalryn marched three abreast, each holding a chill-inducing lance, orderly advancing through the canyon.
"It’s Prince Jing!"
"It’s the Thousand-year Army!"
Chen Ji finally saw clearly, the person in the lead was none other than Prince Jing!
Prince Jing reined in his horse, arriving before them all with the armor on his body rattling.
He looked down from his commanding height at the monks and Daoists, exuding an aura of natural authority. Zhang Li was surprised; was this the usually affable Prince Jing?
Prince Jing calmly inquired, "Why do you not bow when you see the prince?"
His voice carried an imperial might that unconsciously made people bend their knees, as if his words were the imperial law itself.
The literati were the first to kneel, followed by the monks who ca to their senses and then knelt, and finally, the pressure forced even the little Daoists to their knees. Only Zhang Li remained upright, performing a salute with his hands clasped.
Prince Jing looked at him, "Why do you not bow?"
Zhang Li smiled, "If one’s conscience is clear, there’s no need to bow."
"You!" Wuzhai, kneeling on the ground, suddenly turned to glare at him with fury.
Prince Jing did not take issue with Zhang Li, but dismounted, pushing through the crowd to Bai Li, expressing his concern, "I heard news you might be here and also heard you’d fallen severely ill..."
Chen Ji knew that it must be Jin Zhu and Heavenly Horse who had returned to the city and stumbled upon the Thousand-year Army, indicating the way to Prince Jing.
Bai Li softly explained, "Father, Chen Ji saved us from an assassin. And just now, he traded with Daoist Master Zhang Li of Huangshan Dao Court for two Purple Void Primordial Pills, which cured ."
The literati knelt on the ground, exchanging looks of mutual surprise, unaware of what had transpired outside the gates of Lu Hun Manor, only knowing that soone had defeated the Buddhist Sect in debate.
Only now did they realize that this was Prince Jing Mansion’s Princely Heir and the Commandery Princess, who had escaped an assassination attempt and sought refuge here!
Prince Jing’s voice was indifferent as he looked towards the monks, "Why did you block the way just now?"
Wuzhai stood up, palms together in explanation, "This young man beside the Commandery Princess had just won a debate against this humble monk, and I was keen to challenge him to another question."
From among the Iron Cavalry, a man moved forward on horseback, "No need to trouble my direct disciple, debate with instead."
The literati suddenly grew excited, "Mr. Wang! We were just wondering why you hadn’t arrived yet, turns out you ca with Prince Jing!"
"So this young man is your direct disciple, no wonder he could win!"
Wuzhai looked up in astonishnt to see Wang Daosheng seated on his horse, also clad in armor.
He hastily bowed, "This humble monk dares not."
Mr. Wang spoke calmly, "If you dare not, then step aside."
Wuzhai hesitated for a mont, but ultimately stepped aside, clearing the way.
Prince Jing led his horse to Chen Ji, "You saved both my children, a debt of great gratitude. Mount up, I will accompany you ho."
Chen Ji looked at Prince Jing, then at the quietly standing warhorse. Prince Jing was holding a horse for him?
After a mont of thought, he turned to pull Bai Li over, helping her onto the warhorse.
Chen Ji then took the reins from Prince Jing and led the warhorse out towards the exterior of Lu Hun Manor. Prince Jing’s stern face finally relaxed slightly.
Zhang Li watched his departing figure and called out loudly, "Co visit at Huangshan whenever you have ti!"
Chen Ji paused, rembered the matter about Xuanyuan Cave Mansion, and waved his hand in response, "Certainly!"
He led the way holding the reins, while Bai Li sat quietly on the warhorse, following him through the long, dim canyon, erging to bright daylight outside.
Outside Lu Hun Manor, the black mass of the Thousand-year Army stood solemnly, their red tassels blowing in the wind, stretching endlessly like an impassable mountain range.
Chen Ji took the warhorse gifted by Mr. Feng from the anxious young monk’s hands, mounting it.
Holding the reins of Bai Li’s horse, he lightly squeezed the horse’s belly with his legs, leading the way through the ranks of the Thousand-year Army, beginning their journey ho.
"Going ho."
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