Master Ben Heng saw very clearly that the Folk Research Society was now the last straw holding the two factions together. Many major sects only paid lip service to forming alliances out of respect for Yan Shouyi's reputation, refraining from a full-blown confrontation.
Even if Yan Shouyi presented himself at their doorstep, Hanshan Temple could not possibly accept such a problematic individual. Doing so would only invite more trouble.
The best outcome would be to immediately send Yan Shouyi down the mountain, as if nothing had happened, and pretend they had never encountered this madman.
However, Yan Shouyi, who had initially left a terrible impression on Master Ben Heng, suddenly became serious.
Standing within the Golden Bell Shield, he said to Master Ben Heng:
"My purpose in coming to Hanshan Temple is twofold: first, to seek refuge from the current turmoil by leveraging Hanshan Temple's influence. Second, I wish to seek justice."
Master Ben Heng furrowed his brows and stopped, asking, "What justice?"
Yan Shouyi said sternly, "Miaohua, with others, was searching for the whereabouts of the Evil Buddha. His investigation led him to Sided Temple. To extract information from me, he fatally struck down Abbot Haixin of Sided Temple. I would like to ask you, Senior Ben Heng, how you guide Miaohua. Miaohua, as a person of the Buddhist faith and a disciple of Hanshan Temple, committed a killing offense. Should he bear no responsibility for this?"
"This is the justice I seek!"
Although Yan Shouyi's acquaintance with Abbot Haixin was not deep, he could tell that Abbot Haixin was not a bad person.
Miaohua could represent the Buddhist order in punishing Haixin for aiding the wicked, but he certainly had no right to kill Abbot Haixin!
Compared to Abbot Haixin's inability to act otherwise, Miaohua, relying on his own strength, showed such disregard for another's life. Miaohua was the one who deserved punishment more!
Master Ben Heng remained silent for a moment.
He finally said, "I will send someone to investigate this matter. If the situation is confirmed, Hanshan Temple will punish Miaohua accordingly. You need not concern yourself with this further; please descend the mountain."
"I will not!"
"Amitabha, you brat, don't push your luck!"
Yan Shouyi stubbornly replied, "Miaohua committed murder. I don't believe you are unaware of this matter, yet he still roams free. If I leave now, Miaohua will only receive a token punishment.
"Hanshan Temple has its own rules, and it's not for an outsider like you to point fingers!" Master Ben Heng's temper flared again.
"Are Hanshan Temple's rules greater than the rules of Buddhism? A life for a life is only natural, especially for the Buddhist faith, which claims great compassion! Furthermore, if I descend the mountain now, you will soon release Miaohua, and when I don't seek him out, he will come looking for me. How can I find peace if he lives?"
Though Yan Shouyi stood within the Golden Bell Shield, making no progress forward, his questions were aggressive.
Master Ben Heng glared at him fiercely, unwilling to waste any more words. He resorted to threats:
"If you continue to refuse to leave, I will spread the news of your departure from Rongcheng and then expel you from the mountain. At that point, whether you live or die will be of no concern to Hanshan Temple."
"Hmph, since I have found a way to appear before you, Senior, I have countless ways to return to Hanshan Temple. Even if I die, I will die at Hanshan Temple, spitting blood in your faces and bringing you all bad luck!"
Madman!
Truly a madman!
Master Ben Heng was filled with impotent rage. In all his years, he had never felt so helpless before a junior.
Could this scoundrel truly not be dealt with?
Just as Master Ben Heng found himself in a dilemma, a voice, old yet vigorous, echoed from within Hanshan Temple:
"Ben Heng, let Yan Shouyi come in to see this old monk."
Upon hearing this voice, Ben Heng immediately clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully towards the temple.
After a few seconds of silence, Ben Heng waved his hand, dispelling the Golden Bell Shield, and said reluctantly, "The Abbot wishes to see you."
Yan Shouyi grinned, showing no fear, and walked straight ahead.
However, after only a few steps, he was pulled back by Ben Heng, who gravely instructed him:
"Abbot Yansong is advanced in years. You must not speak irresponsibly and anger him. If the Abbot is angered to the point of nirvana... I will send you down as well, to serve the Abbot!"
Yan Shouyi asked, "Do I look like someone who speaks carelessly?"
Master Ben Heng sneered. *So the person who kept calling me 'your father' just now wasn't you, was it?*
The two walked together, with Master Ben Heng leading Yan Shouyi deeper into the temple.
Along the way, Yan Shouyi wanted to greet the monks he passed and introduce himself, but Master Ben Heng's reminder of the monastic rule, "This is a sacred Buddhist ground, one must refrain from speaking carelessly," rendered him mute.
Helplessly, he held his tongue throughout the journey, finally arriving outside the main hall of Hanshan Temple.
Within the hall, Abbot Yansong sat leaning on a wooden staff, looking frail and motionless.
Yan Shouyi watched from outside the hall for a moment. Seeing that Abbot Yansong showed no reaction and finding that he could speak again, he asked Master Ben Heng, "Senior, why isn't Abbot Yansong moving? Could it be that he has passed away?"
"Silence!"
Master Ben Heng felt like slapping Yan Shouyi.
At that moment, Abbot Yansong finally "awoke," opening his eyes and appraising Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi noticed that Abbot Yansong's gaze was exceptionally clear, like that of a newborn child, filled with kindness and compassion.
In that instant, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if seeing the Celestial Master Zhang Yin.
The Celestial Master Zhang Yin and Abbot Yansong were contemporaries, and their cultivation was unfathomably deep. It was reasonable for them to possess similar qualities.
"Come in and speak," Abbot Yansong beckoned.
Yan Shouyi stepped over the high threshold and entered the hall, which was filled with Buddha statues and the scent of incense.
Master Ben Heng intended to follow, but Abbot Yansong stopped him: "Ben Heng, go and properly discipline Miaohua. This old monk shall speak with Benefactor Yan alone."
"Yes, Uncle-Master Ancestor," Ben Heng agreed, casting another worried glance at Yan Shouyi as a warning.
After Master Ben Heng departed, Yan Shouyi awkwardly scratched the back of his head:
"Abbot Yansong, I apologize for causing you trouble."
Abbot Yansong chuckled heartily, then shook his head, "It is nothing. Young Benefactor Yan is a person with a Buddhist heart and affinity for Buddhism. It is said that in Rongcheng, you displayed a noble and upright spirit. Having been chosen by the Dragon-Tiger Secret Script and blessed with the true dragon's purple qi, if you are interested, why not join our Buddhist sect?"
To be met with such an offer upon their first meeting, Yan Shouyi was momentarily taken aback.
He replied awkwardly, "Abbot, I'm afraid that won't be possible. I am the only male descendant in my family for three generations. My father is counting on me to continue the Yan family lineage."
"Have you considered becoming a lay disciple?"
"Even if I agreed, wouldn't the prominent sects object?"
"Amitabha, how about you privately take this old monk as your master?"
"Abbot, let me be frank. I am accustomed to a free and unrestrained life. I do not wish to become a monk who strikes the bell and chants sutras daily while observing a vegetarian diet."
"I see..." Abbot Yansong nodded in understanding and then added, "How about you acknowledge this old monk as your foster father? Or, if that is not feasible, a foster grandfather is also an option."