Chapter One Hundred Eleven: Fierce Battle

After the three had finished their meal, each retired to rest. By now, Li Chongyuan and Lin Qingli’s internal energy was profoundly deep; they required little sleep, mostly just closing their eyes to circulate their inner breath and smooth their meridians. In contrast, Lan Wutong slept soundly beside them.

At midnight, Lan Wutong suddenly heard a faint rustling in her sleep. Having long navigated the martial world and always alert, she instantly awoke, sprang up, and drew her curved blade.

Li Chongyuan smiled and waved her off softly. “Don’t be alarmed; perhaps someone is traveling late at night, merely passing by.”

Lin Qingli quietly slung her long sword behind her back and tidied her clothes.

Suddenly, a voice outside chanted a Buddhist mantra loudly: “Amitabha Buddha, Venerable Lin, Venerable Li, and Venerable Lan, please reveal yourselves.”

Lin Qingli shot Li Chongyuan a sharp glare. “It’s your mercy on women that’s brought this trouble!” she hissed, then stood and pushed open the door.

Under the moonlight stood a dozen or so monks clad in saffron robes. At their forefront was Xuan Fa, a venerable high monk of the Shaolin Temple’s Dharma Hall. His “Abhisaṃkramaṇa Three Calamities” technique had nearly cost Li Chongyuan his life, so he was remembered vividly. Behind him followed three elderly monks with white hair and beards, along with Hui Zhi and Zhizhu. Beyond them were unfamiliar monks, all aged yet without any signs of fatigue, standing with composure and formidable presence—clearly masters.

Li Chongyuan pulled Lin Qingli behind him and addressed the monks: “I wonder what honor brings such esteemed monks to visit me at this hour?”

Xuan Fa chuckled. “Venerable Li, the last time you exchanged blows with this humble monk, it was a joy unlike any since my fortieth year. I still often recall that battle by the river.”

By now, Li’s inner strength had surpassed that time severalfold, and he no longer feared Xuan Fa. “That was no great feat. I have diligently practiced these past two years and grown far stronger. I, too, wish to find worthy opponents to test my skills.”

Xuan Fa shook his head. “Not today. I have not come for you but for Venerable Lin.” He then pointed to Lin Qingli.

“Oh?” Lin Qingli sneered. “What merit or virtue could I possibly have to trouble the master?”

Xuan Fa said, “It is said that Venerable Lin wields the Shaolin Temple’s ‘Muscle/Tendon Change Classic’ skills. By decree of the abbot, you are requested to visit Shaolin Temple for a discussion.”

Lin Qingli retorted angrily, “Nonsense! How could a pure and innocent woman like me possibly understand Shaolin’s martial arts?”

Hui Zhi sneered coldly. “Venerable Lin, please control your anger. We have witnesses.” He turned and called, “Please, devotee Shenguang, come forward.”

The crowd parted, and a young man stepped forth.

Lan Wutong gasped, “Shenguang? You’re still alive!”

It was indeed Shenguang. He said coldly, “You’ve relentlessly pursued me. If I weren’t alive, how could I bear to die?”

During the battle at Tiger Tail Mountain, Shenguang had been driven to desperation, jumped from the mountain peak, and everyone thought he had died for his many crimes. Yet he was cunning. Knowing the mountain was easy to defend but hard to attack, and that there was only one path, if the entrance was taken, he would be trapped like a frog in a jar. So from the start, he had hidden a long rope over the cliff, covered with grass, a secret only he knew. That night, forced to the edge by Li Chongyuan, he jumped, caught the rope midair, arrested his fall, and climbed down to escape.

When destitute in the martial world, he met Monk Yuanhui. Now unable to return to the Demon-Subduing Temple, nearly reduced to begging, they had some prior acquaintance.

Shenguang had connections in the capital and came with Yuanhui to Chang’an to try their luck. When the Wei family was recruiting, they demonstrated their skills and were employed as martial world specialists.

The night Li Chongyuan’s group stormed Jialan Temple to rescue Li Zhongjun, Shenguang and Yuanhui guarded the temple. Yuanhui was killed on the spot by Lin Qingli’s Muscle/Tendon Change internal force, and Shenguang fled swiftly.

Lin Qingli had glimpsed a familiar young man but did not associate him with Shenguang. After dawn, when fighting ceased, Shenguang quietly returned to check and found Li Zhongjun missing. Knowing harboring a criminal was capital offense, he dared not return to the Ming Palace and fled.

Desperate and recalling Yuanhui’s dying words accusing him of stealing the Muscle/Tendon Change Classic, Shenguang connected the dots about Shaolin’s lost-and-found classic and sought refuge there.

Years ago, after Xuan Fa obtained the authentic Muscle/Tendon Change Classic from Li Chongyuan, he reported to Abbot Xuanjing, who suspected foul play but found no proof. When Li Duozuo finally emerged, the former Jialan monk had become a general of the Imperial Guard; no one dared question him.

This matter remained a thorn in Xuanjing’s mind. Hearing Shenguang’s account of Yuanhui’s last words, he immediately suspected Lin Qingli had secretly taken the Muscle/Tendon Change Classic. He ordered masters from the Arhat Hall and Dharma Courtyard, along with Shenguang, to search for Lin Qingli.

Fearing martial world conflicts, they avoided investigating at Tianshan Sect, instead searching the martial world. One day, passing through Shuzhou, they saw Tie Lin and his men beaten and dejected, eating at a teahouse.

Though Hui Zhi despised Tie Lin’s character, he acknowledged his martial prowess as a top expert. Seeing him in such a state, he approached to inquire.

Tie Lin bitterly accused Li Chongyuan of using evil martial arts, aided by a woman skilled in Shaolin’s Muscle/Tendon Change, who killed his junior apprentice. He had intended to provoke the Shaolin Sect to eliminate Li Chongyuan, the evil master.

Hui Zhi knew Li and Lin Qingli were inseparable, so he rejoiced and informed the elders of the Dharma Courtyard and Arhat Hall. The monks swiftly pursued.

They tracked their quarry through the night, arriving at a roadside inn by midnight.

Shenguang sneered, “That night at Jialan Temple, I saw you kill Master Yuanhui with Muscle/Tendon Change techniques. How dare you deny it now?”

Lan Wutong shouted, “Who is this Shenguang? A villainous thief and evildoer—how can you believe his words? You monks allowing such a scoundrel to manipulate you—doesn’t it shame the Buddha?”

Xuan Ye, head of the Arhat Hall, kowtowed and said, “Venerable Lan, please do not speak recklessly. Our sect treasures the Muscle/Tendon Change Classic profoundly. Such power is extraordinary. If it falls into ill-intentioned hands, it will bring chaos and suffering across the martial world. Our monks must act with utmost caution. We beg for your understanding.” (To be continued.)