"Those who grow old without dying are villains!"
Before meeting Abbot Yansong in person, Yan Shouyi had imagined him to be a highly esteemed figure. Now that he had met him, he found the old bald donkey to be a shameless old rogue.
Did he really have to get involved with me?
Yet, this old bald donkey had a benevolent appearance, and every request he made was delivered with a cheerful smile. As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face. Yan Shouyi, being the junior, felt very awkward every time he refused.
Finally, Yan Shouyi could take it no longer and directly asked Abbot Yansong,
"Abbot, what exactly do you want?"
Abbot Yansong didn't beat around the bush and answered with a straightforward smile, "To find a reason not to kill you."
Yan Shouyi: "..."
Good heavens, I thought this was a question with an easy answer, but it turns out to be a life-or-death one!
His eye twitched as he said, "Hanshan Temple doesn't intend to get involved in this, do they?"
"When one is in the Jianghu, they are often not in control of their own destiny. This is even more true for Hanshan Temple," Abbot Yansong said. "Hanshan Temple also has spies from other factions. The news of your entry into Hanshan Temple has likely already spread, and now this old monk has to make a choice."
If he protected Yan Shouyi, Hanshan Temple would be targeted by other factions.
If he killed Yan Shouyi, Hanshan Temple would become an enemy of the folk sects.
Either outcome would be very unfavorable to Hanshan Temple. This was also why Master Benheng had been trying to drive Yan Shouyi away earlier – this guy was now a jinx; anyone who got close would have bad luck!
"Godfather."
Yan Shouyi decisively surrendered. Having another godfather wasn't a bad thing.
Moreover, by recognizing Abbot Yansong as his godfather, he would truly be of a senior generation to Master Benheng when he left later. Little did he know his words would come true!
"Amitabha!" Abbot Yansong smiled.
Yan Shouyi, however, sighed, "Hanshan Temple has never truly entered the fray. The future is unpredictable; can you truly remain neutral?"
Abbot Yansong replied, "As monks, we are bound by compassion. Hanshan Temple should not have been involved in this war from the beginning."
"But you've already declared your allegiance to the righteous sects."
"Although Hanshan Temple has now entered the fray, it's merely a statement of position, aimed at solidifying Hanshan Temple's status. If Hanshan Temple's status declines, the future situation will only worsen."
After a pause, Abbot Yansong asked Yan Shouyi, "As the central figure in this conflict, what are your thoughts on the matter?"
"What thoughts could I have? While I may be in the spotlight now, I am merely a pawn pushed into the whirlpool by Li Genmiao. I am largely acting against my will." Yan Shouyi had a clear understanding of his own position.
After instigating the conflict between the two factions, Li Genmiao had vanished with the Xin Xuan Mountain Sect.
He was waiting to watch the tigers fight, waiting for both sides to be mutually destructive before reappearing to unify the Xuanmen.
However, even though both sides knew the truth, the avalanche had already begun, and no one could turn back.
Abbot Yansong clasped his hands together. "Amitabha. Even so, you have benefited from misfortune, becoming a leader of one of the five major forces within the folk sects. Countless eyes are upon you. If anyone is most likely to break the current stalemate, it is you."
"So, this is why you want to protect me?"
"There are many reasons why this old monk protects you; it concerns Miao Ji, it concerns Chang Shan, it concerns the Grandmaster Zhang Yin, and it concerns many other secrets. But the most crucial reason is that this old monk does not wish to see rivers of blood between the two factions."
As he spoke, Abbot Yansong extended his hand and gently tapped Yan Shouyi's forehead.
A golden ripple appeared, and a wisp of black energy emerged from Yan Shouyi's brow.
"You have a heart demon within you. The heart demon amplifies your emotions and affects your judgment. It is detrimental to your efforts to mediate the conflict between the two factions. In fact, three months ago, it was precisely because of the heart demon that you were thrust to the forefront of the conflict between the two factions."
Yan Shouyi looked at the wisp of black energy before him, a sense of conflict arising within him.
Without the heart demon, he felt restricted everywhere, as if dancing with shackles on.
With the heart demon, he found many things easier to do, and he felt less pressure.
Most importantly, if the heart demon hadn't acted up back then, he probably would have truly handed over the child to Yu Lumen out of humiliation.
"This old monk cannot help you with anything else, but I can give you an opportunity – an opportunity to remove the heart demon. What do you think?"
Abbot Yansong gazed at Yan Shouyi with clear eyes, as if telling him: there is only one chance. Removing the heart demon would be beneficial for everyone.
...
The back mountain of Hanshan Temple.
Beneath the waterfall.
The cascading water carried immense force, almost like falling boulders, creating massive splashes in the pool below.
An ordinary person struck by such a current would feel their skin ache, with even the risk of bone fractures.
But Chang Shan sat in meditation under the waterfall, completely unfazed by the turbulent flow.
The water hitting his body was like countless rods pounding his muscles.
Chang Shan finished his cultivation and walked out of the waterfall. His well-defined muscles reflected an unusual sheen under the sunlight.
"Amitabha..."
He glanced at his master and senior brother, Miao You, who was sitting not far away, gazing at a wild flower with a melancholic expression.
Miao You was the youngest junior brother of the Miao Ji generation. When he descended the mountain to travel, he fell in love with a woman. They went through much together, but in the end, they were forced to part.
Afterward, Miao You returned to Hanshan Temple and could never truly let go of that relationship, continuing to stare at flowers in a daze even now.
"Master..."
Just as Chang Shan was about to greet his master, a wooden stick suddenly emerged from behind Miao You.
Huh? Where did that wooden stick come from???
Immediately after, the stick struck Miao You hard on the back of the head!
With a thud, Miao You fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Who goes there!" Chang Shan exclaimed in alarm.
From behind Miao You, a familiar figure emerged. Upon seeing the person's face, Chang Shan was greatly surprised.
"Brother Yan?!"
Why was Brother Yan at Hanshan Temple?
Shouldn't he be hiding in the Folk Research Association?
Wait... why did he knock out his master?!
Chang Shan's mind was filled with questions.
Yan Shouyi chuckled and ran to Chang Shan's side. "Aren't you surprised to see me? I heard you were under house arrest at Hanshan Temple. I was passing by Hanshan Temple and specifically came to rescue you from suffering! What identity did that bald donkey I just knocked out have? A guard monk? Hahaha, no one can control you now!"
Chang Shan hesitated for a moment and said, "That's Master Miao You."
"Uh..."
Yan Shouyi glanced back at the unconscious middle-aged monk and felt a pang of guilt.
He was Chang Shan's master, and Uncle Miao Ji's junior brother?
But that didn't matter anymore.
Chang Shan was a little anxious. He asked Yan Shouyi, "Brother Yan, why did you come to Hanshan Temple out of the blue? The righteous sects have issued a warrant for you. If outsiders discover you are at Hanshan Temple, they definitely won't let you go!"