Chapter 271

“Oh no, are you alright, monk?”

Qing crouched down in front of the collapsed Wolbong.

Qing’s eyes curved beautifully. Perhaps they could be considered mischievous or cunning.

“I’m, uh, fine. Really, I’m fine.”

“Then why don’t you get up? Come on.”

Qing straightened up and reached out a hand.

Wolbong obediently grabbed her hand and stood up—

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, Wolbong jerked her hand away and averted her gaze, looking utterly devastated and embarrassed. It seemed like his attempt to stand had turned awkward, leaving him frozen in place.

“Monk?”

“You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

Thinking he was embarrassed for falling during his graceful movement, Qing swiftly followed the Shaolin monks who had already distanced themselves, their light footsteps echoing behind her.

“Haha, that guy. Just don’t tease him too much. Being in the mountains all the time, he probably doesn’t know how to act around women. Don’t be angry, it’s just natural.”

Is it really natural to be a clumsy fool?

Qing tilted her head in confusion, but Great Master Muhak just chuckled playfully, giving a nod of endorsement for his twelve fierce disciples and mumbling some ominous words.

But twelve fierce disciples mean they’re working all day, right? Even a master would need to pray for them given that much work.

“By the way, can we just leave that bodhisattva alone?”

One companion who barely qualified as a companion trailed behind, keeping her eyes fixed on Qing while maintaining a respectful distance.

“Hmm. Wherever she goes, it’s Seoliri’s freedom as she pleases, so there shouldn’t be a problem with that, right?”

“Isn’t it common to ask for company? She’s a peculiar character.”

Usually, following someone without being detected is the norm, like hiding in the shadows like a ninja.

But perhaps she thought she couldn’t escape the attention of the Number One in the World, or maybe she refused to play by anyone else’s rules, boldly trailing behind Qing.

Either way, looking from Gaebok, Shung-san isn’t that far. It’s not even three hundred li away.

Even the scrawny young folks with no inner strength or muscles could manage to carry a heavy load for about a hundred li in Qing’s hometown.

So for masters, covering three hundred li isn’t really a big deal.

In fact, it doesn’t even count as a proper distance; if you leisurely run for half a day, you’ll arrive just when you start sweating a bit and feeling your muscles stretch.

Of course, that’s if you are a supreme martial artist or have confidence in your light footwork.

Thanks to this, Seoliri gradually drifted away from them, along with the once piercing gaze that began to dwindle over the hill behind.

Yet, Seoliri maintained a rather ambiguous attitude that didn’t ring true to the group vibe.

So, it really was awkward to worry about her. Since their destination was Mount Shung-san, a massive mountain that can’t just run away, she would eventually catch up, right?

Thus, onwards to Shung-san!

There are five renowned mountains in the Central Plain, known as the Five Great Mountains. Even the classification and indexing spirit of the Central Plains can’t escape this mountain theme.

So, in order from east to west, there are Taishan, Huashan, Hengshan, and Hengshan.

Famous mountains are always home to martial arts factions, here represented by the sword-wielding sect known as the Four Directional Sword Seekers.

And amidst these is Shung-san, the Middle Mountain, right in the center.

If Shaolin even wielded swords, then all martial arts of the Five Great Mountains might have turned into swordsmanship, but due to the clueless clods, it eventually fizzled out.

And so we reach Shaolin Temple!

The most prestigious monastery in the Central Plain; it is also the heart of Zhengpai, the most sought-after martial sect of the world.

First, from Shaolin’s entrance, the mountain gate is truly imposing. It resembles more of a military fortress than a temple, and one can’t help but be awed by its grand stature.

Once inside, you find the famous guest hall of Shaolin Temple, along with regulations of the Eight Great Hall, the Heavenly Kings Hall, and the Great Hero Hall. But Qing is oblivious to it all.

Not only is she unaware, but she also does not need to know.

After all, Shaolin is the sacred ground for women; it’s not like Qing would ever have a chance to confirm it in real life, so it’s knowledge that’s utterly useless.

However, there was quite a crowd gathered at the entrance of Shaolin, making a ruckus.

“How dare you! The Empress wishes to pass through; how can you ruffians obstruct her path! No matter the law, how can a child block the way for a mother!”

“Amitabha. You already know the rules of Shaolin, don’t you? Please, step aside.”

“What are you doing? Open the passage right now!”

By the time Qing arrived, the monks had formed a barrier against the not-so-intense but fierce standoff with the imperial guards trying to force their way through.

Using “not-so-intense” to describe the situation was indeed accurate.

The monks in Shaolin Temple sported outfits that just draped enough of a cover to expose their muscular, rock-like torsos, revealing themselves as inner and outer strength practitioners.

It’s widely known that Shaolin monks train both their inner and outer strength, meaning these masculine figures in Shaolin wouldn’t dare be challenged by the guards.

Meanwhile, the Shaolin monks had no desire for any bloodshed in this sacred place.

Thus, a somewhat theatrical spectacle unfolded as the imperial guards pretended to attack while the monks just pushed back gently.

“What the—what is this? Oh dear. Amitabha…”

Great Master Muhak muttered a brief chant but soon exclaimed—

“Roar!!!”

It was the iconic roar of a lion, synonymous with the term “Roar!” It represents scolding, akin to saying “would you look at you!”

He called out the roar instead of saying “you!” because a martial artist’s dignity shouldn’t be tarnished by randomly labeling someone as “you.”

Originally, the lion’s roar is referenced in the Buddhist sutras as a pledge that the Buddha’s sermons can defeat all demons, much like how all beasts submit to the lion’s cry. Thus, it’s a significant expression of the Buddha’s powerful words.

As for the Shaolin martial arts lion’s roar, it’s a deep mental exercise in both clarifying the mind and alleviating heightened emotions—almost like soothing music therapy.

The commotion abruptly ceased at that pure sound.

As the Number One in the World, this lion’s roar is undoubtedly the most powerful of its kind.

Yet, the one most influenced by the roar wasn’t a monk or a soldier but Qing herself.

In a split second, her mind became dizzy, a sharp pain twisted in her gut, and a bitter taste surged up her throat. What was that, indigestion? As she swallowed hard, her eyes sparkled brightly in the midst of the chaos.

“Namu Amitabha. Everyone, this is a sanctuary of the Buddhist temple. Though Shaolin may have leaned toward the secular world, it is fundamentally a place for monks to chant. How can we disturb the tranquility?”

“Abbot!” “Master!” “Great Master!”

At this proclamation, the monks had bright expressions.

It was a face like children who just spotted their dad while bickering with their peers.

What was surprising was that even the guards appeared relieved. Surely, they wouldn’t dare engage in a self-destructive charge with the Number One in the World present.

“Hmm.”

Then one of them made a motion with his chin. A subordinate waved a flag, and the guards backed away to form a line.

The one at the front looked arrogant and confident, but as he opened his mouth, his expression drastically changed.

“I am Manri Hyung, a lowly eunuch serving the Empress, the Mother of All People. The Empress wishes to offer her prayers to the foremost temple in the world for the next three months.”

While the tone lacked the sing-song quality of a eunuch, his somewhat girlish voice didn’t suit the angular features typical in men.

Nevertheless, the message carried weight as the eunuch brought news of the Empress’s direct arrival.

Indeed, behind him was an opulent carriage shining like gold, dazzling to the eyes.

“Ahem. Offering prayers is not determined by the size or fame of the temple. Even if Shaolin is the most renowned, it is famous for martial prowess, not for profound study of scriptures, which might overshadow our venerable monks. Your Excellency should reconsider the terms.”

What’s the big deal about offering prayers in a good temple? Why not find a more welcoming place instead of one that doesn’t seem keen to receive you?

“However, how is it proper to require the Empress to kneel in an ordinary nameless temple? Thanks to the Imperial Family, Shaolin’s merits abound. Isn’t it a good thing to share in that goodwill?”

Considering it’s the Empress, do you really want to act like this? And hey, wasn’t it the Imperial Family that granted you land? You felt mighty special when you received that land, so why pull back now just because it’s time to pray?

“But the Buddha orders that women must refrain from entering and meditate. This is a sign of the foolishness of those clinging tightly to the merits of women’s prayers. If you wish for the blessings of a female disciple, why not go to Sichuan where the mighty Amitabha resides?”

What can be gained from women praying in an all-male gathering? They should just go to Amita’s temple; that’s where the women belong.

“Of course, I recognize the significance of your words. However, these rules apply to monks and are not the laws of the secular world. How can those on the path of Buddhism harshly turn away the wandering souls?”

We both know you’re secretly letting them in.

Why not just let them in with some good words?

In truth, the ban on women’s entry isn’t a decree engraved stone-cold in the national law prohibiting all worldly women. The rules of Shaolin are guidelines the monks must adhere to, so it’s closer to saying don’t drag women into our sacred grounds.

Of course, this is Muhak’s more lenient interpretation.

In reality, every year, a handful of women disguise themselves as men and manage to get in. With the few caught, it’s conceivable that many slipped through the cracks unnoticed.

“Ahem.”

Great Master Muhak let out an uneasy sound.

For the ordinary commoners, coming with pure minds wasn’t a reason to expel them harshly, so he simply requested not to do it again.

Of course, it’s a different story for those of the martial world.

“Well, that’s true, but is it fitting for the Empress who wishes to pray to be making such a grand event with all these soldiers, revealing it to the world? Official Imposition of Non-Interference states that a holy mountain should not be misused in such a manner.”

If you were going to sneak in, why make such a fuss?

If you had come inconspicuously, you could’ve just snuck in and prayed quietly. It’s almost like you want the world to see Shaolin’s rules being broken.

Thus, a back-and-forth battle of pride between the two leaders dragged on in a meaningless war of words.

Of course, warriors shouldn’t engage in mere verbal disputes, but if they did, the guards wouldn’t stand a chance.

Moreover, things wouldn’t just end with Shaolin emerging victorious; history would repeat itself, reminding everyone of the sorrow that follows with such violent outcomes, so neither side could act recklessly.

Truth be told, Great Master Muhak had already sensed his defeat by this point.

No matter how much the belief in the Non-Interference doctrine stands, he couldn’t directly challenge the Emperor’s authority.

So it had turned unbearably twisted; it seemed the imperial family had revealed their ambitions toward the martial world like this, and he dreaded the prospect of bloodshed looming over the martial realm.

Just then, a click followed by a soft thud interrupted his thoughts.

But that tiny noise sent ripples throughout the hall that felt like a massive wave washing over the place—

“The Empress! The Empress is arriving! Make sure you show proper respect!”

The warriors, soldiers, and commoners all bowed deeply, many groveling with their foreheads to the ground, prostrating themselves along with their raised hands.

Qing hurriedly followed Great Master Muhak’s example, then realized, oh wait, this is the monk’s style, and naturally switched to kneeling and offering a deep bow.

Just then, Qing felt a poke in her side, and turning to see Seoliri kneeling gracefully, shaking her head as if to say, that’s not it.

Oh, is this not the proper way to bow? Following Seoliri’s lead, Qing awkwardly adjusted her gesture.

In truth, Seoliri wasn’t even entirely sure, so it didn’t really matter for either of them.

Each way to show respect varied by status, age, and gender, but one thing was clear.

Either way, the Empress is the Empress, the mother of all, so you dare not make direct eye contact.

Thus, before the mountain gate of Shaolin, where even the sound of ants crawling felt audible, only the faint sound of footsteps echoed.

What is this? Is it drawing nearer?

Then a voice rang out:

“Child. Please, lift your head and look at me?”