"Alas, I don't know if this counts as a blessing in disguise."
Yan Shouyi, now calm, felt a complex mix of emotions.
Although the inner demon had helped him eliminate the evil Buddha and granted him new abilities, it had also absorbed the evil Buddha's power. This meant the inner demon's growth would accelerate even further.
Yan Shouyi had witnessed what Master Miaohui looked like after transforming into an Asura. He absolutely did not want to be controlled by his inner demon.
On the way to Changbai Mountain, he would likely need to find a way to deal with this inner demon.
Yan Shouyi cleaned himself up, changed into clean clothes from his backpack, and stepped out of the house. The rain had finally stopped.
Two martial monks had already cleaned up the scene, but the collapsed houses couldn't be tidied up anytime soon.
"Sir, have you finished cleaning?"
Abbot Haixin had been waiting outside the door like a loyal old servant.
Yan Shouyi nodded and said indifferently,
"I've taken care of the Tree Demon Abbot, and Ru Nan is dead. You should have no more worries now, right?"
Ru Nan's visit to the Tree Demon Abbot was not an honorable matter, so the people of Zhengde Temple should not know. Even if they discovered Ru Nan's disappearance in a few days, they wouldn't suspect Side Temple.
Abbot Haixin nodded repeatedly, thanking Yan Shouyi for his help in rescuing them from their predicament.
"Since that is the case, you should focus on chanting scriptures and saving souls from now on. If I find out you are doing evil deeds again, you know what your fate will be," Yan Shouyi threatened.
Abbot Haixin responded calmly, putting his palms together and saying, "Please rest assured, sir. We were all forced into it in the past. Now that we can finally return to our true selves, we are overjoyed!"
Yan Shouyi hoped the old bald donkey was telling the truth.
Without further ado, Yan Shouyi entered the room where Brother Yang was sleeping and woke him up.
Brother Yang woke up groggily, finding himself in an unfamiliar room, and was startled. "Where am I?"
Yan Shouyi casually fabricated a story:
"Brother Yang, you fainted from low blood sugar when you came to burn incense this afternoon. Abbot Haixin from the temple kindly took you in to rest. You slept until now."
"R-really? Why do I feel like I was kidnapped by three damned baldies?" Brother Yang asked in surprise.
Just then, Abbot Haixin arrived and stood at the doorway. Upon seeing him, Brother Yang immediately exclaimed, "It-it's this old bald donkey!"
"Amitabha!"
Abbot Haixin spoke unhurriedly, without blushing or faltering, "The benefactor must be hallucinating. We are monks; how could we kidnap you?"
Seeing Abbot Haixin's honest and upright demeanor, Brother Yang became unsure.
Were those memories just a dream?
If it was a dream, it felt too real.
Yan Shouyi glanced back at Abbot Haixin, wondering, "Didn't they say monks don't lie? How can Abbot Haixin lie so calmly?"
"Brother Yang, have you rested enough? Why don't you stay the night here?" Yan Shouyi asked deliberately.
Brother Yang felt his dream was too bizarre and dared not stay any longer at Side Temple. He immediately sprang out of bed, saying as he got up,
"No, no, we've wasted too much time. My daughter is still waiting for me at the hospital to pay the bills. Let's go, let's go quickly!"
Seeing Brother Yang rushing out in a hurry, Yan Shouyi smirked. This saved him the trouble of finding an excuse to urge Brother Yang to travel through the night.
Abbot Haixin wanted to invite Yan Shouyi to stay another night, but Brother Yang's resolute attitude made him abandon the idea.
The two bid farewell to Side Temple and returned to the car. Brother Yang occasionally rubbed his temples.
"Hiss… I keep feeling like this temple is strange."
"Don't think too much. Have a cigarette," Yan Shouyi said, tossing a cigarette to Brother Yang. After taking a puff, Brother Yang perked up.
He started the car and said cheerfully, "But I slept quite soundly. Never mind that, let's get back on the road!"
In the end, it was all thanks to the cigarette.
Smoking cigarettes, they drove their truck and slowly exited Qianlu Town.
Continuing towards Jinling.
...
Before dawn.
Abbot Haixin sat in the main hall of Side Temple, meditating and chanting before the statue of Maitreya Buddha, his expression devout.
After the morning prayers, Abbot Haixin took a deep breath, feeling refreshed.
It had been a long time since he had experienced such a relaxed morning.
With the abbot taken away, Abbot Haixin could continue to be a monk with a clear conscience, and Side Temple would return to its appearance from many years ago.
However, just as Abbot Haixin was filled with joy and preparing to personally ring the bell,
A group of uninvited guests suddenly entered Side Temple.
The leader wore a jade-green kasaya and held a six-ringed khakkhara. Although not tall, he possessed an imposing aura and immense power.
Behind him followed five martial monks in dark blue and light red kasayas, each appearing as proud as an Arhat or Vajra, far surpassing the two martial monks of Side Temple.
As soon as the leading Chan monk stood firm, a martial monk behind him shouted angrily,
"Where is the abbot of Side Temple!"
Abbot Haixin, who had just cleared his mind, was almost scared to death by the shout.
Clutching his chest, he stumbled out. Upon recognizing the visitors, he exclaimed in shock, "Hanshan Temple?!!"
The visitors were eminent monks from Hanshan Temple, including Miaohua. The five martial monks behind him were also renowned.
Years ago, when Abbot Haixin attended the Dharma assembly at Hanshan Temple, he had met Miaohua and others.
Miaohua winked, and a martial monk stepped forward, looking down at Abbot Haixin. "Are you the abbot of Side Temple?"
Abbot Haixin quickly shook his head and explained, "This old monk... this humble monk is the abbot of Side Temple, my dharma name is Haixin."
"Where is your abbot?"
It was clear that Miaohua and his group were looking for the abbot.
Abbot Haixin hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the truth.
In this moment of hesitation, the martial monks grew impatient. The five of them bypassed Abbot Haixin and entered Side Temple to search.
The two martial monks of Side Temple, unaware of what was happening, saw the unfamiliar martial monks intruding and their first reaction was to question them. However, the intruders showed no mercy and simply threw the two martial monks out.
"Mas-master, what's going on!" the two martial monks exclaimed in shock and anger.
Abbot Haixin quickly lowered his voice and said, "They are eminent monks from Hanshan Temple... This master also doesn't know their purpose, but regardless, let them have their way for now."
Sounds of smashing and crashing came from within Side Temple, but they quieted down shortly.
The five martial monks emerged from Side Temple and reported to Miaohua, "Martial Uncle, we didn't find the abbot, nor did we find Ru Nan."
They were indeed here for the abbot and Ru Nan! Abbot Haixin thought in alarm.
Then, the martial monk continued, "However, we found signs of a struggle inside the temple, one house collapsed, and there was a strong smell of blood."
Upon hearing this, Miaohua, who had been silent, suddenly glared with fury. He slammed the six-ringed khakkhara heavily on the ground, exuding immense pressure, and questioned Abbot Haixin,
"Evil monk Haixin, what have you done?!"