"Resolve enmity? With you?"
The Grand Eunuch smiled, "Little Master Yuan Dian, some matters cannot be resolved with your eloquent tongue."
"Amitabha, I am aware of that," Yuan Dian said. "I understand that today's matter can only be settled by fighting. Therefore, I have invited a helper."
His implication was clear: if you refuse to reason, then I will fight until you do.
The Grand Eunuch sneered, "Little Master Yuan Dian, I am truly curious to see what kind of helper you could find."
Yuan Dian smiled slightly and called down, "Junior Brother Yuan Chen, please come up!"
*Thud—*
A muffled sound echoed from the stairs, and the entire hall trembled.
*Thud, thud, thud...* Heavy footsteps, rhythmic and steady, approached.
Simultaneously, a clanging sound, like chains colliding, filled the air.
Shortly after, a monk, with chains and shackles on his hands and feet, ascended the stairs and appeared before everyone.
The monk had a gaunt face, was sallow and thin, with a circle of curly beard on his chin. His monastic robes were washed to a pale white.
However, the most striking feature about him was the heavy, thick handcuffs and shackles.
The chains, as thick as a thumb, were made of an unknown material, but at first glance, they exuded a cold metallic sheen, clearly indicating a very sturdy substance.
The monk was so emaciated that his features were distorted, perhaps burdened by the weight of the chains.
"Yuan Chen? Who exactly is he?"
The Grand Eunuch stared at the monk, his eyes filled with surprise and suspicion.
He recalled someone, but the appearance of this monk, Yuan Chen, did not quite match the person in his mind.
"Grand Eunuch, he is the old acquaintance you are thinking of," Master Yuan Dian said with a smile.
"What?"
The Grand Eunuch's face paled with shock. "He is that mad monk?"
"No, no, that mad monk back then was plump and big-eared, not like this!"
The Grand Eunuch shook his head, denying it.
"People change."
The one who replied was not Master Yuan Dian, but the mad monk Yuan Chen. "Grand Eunuch, it has been a long time."
"It really is you!"
The Grand Eunuch could finally confirm that the emaciated monk before him was indeed the mad monk from twenty-four years ago!
Upon confirming this, the Grand Eunuch's expression turned grim. He gritted his teeth and said, "I never imagined you would break through the seal!"
"A mere seal could not contain me," Yuan Chen said calmly, showing no trace of the mad monk's former demeanor.
"Are you truly the mad monk from back then?"
The Grand Eunuch's pupils contracted. He was certain this Yuan Chen was the mad monk.
However, Yuan Chen's personality was vastly different from the mad monk of the past!
That mad monk back then had never spoken with such composure.
"Heh heh, Junior Brother Yuan Chen has been enlightened by Buddhist teachings, shedding all his obsessions. He is no longer the person he once was," Master Yuan Dian explained with a benevolent smile.
"Enlightened by Buddhist teachings..."
The Grand Eunuch's expression was peculiar as he watched Yuan Chen warily, as if constantly on guard.
"Very well. Since Master Yuan Dian believes your Buddhist teachings can resolve this enmity, then proceed. My Imperial City's Embroidered Uniform Guard will not interfere!"
The Grand Eunuch waved his hand, but did not leave. Instead, he adopted a stance of watching the spectacle.
As for Zheng Tianpeng's earlier insult calling him an eunuch, he naturally let it slide.
"Amitabha, good, good!"
Master Yuan Dian clasped his hands together and nodded slightly at the Grand Eunuch, showing great courtesy.
Having dealt with the Grand Eunuch, Master Yuan Dian did not forget the true protagonists of the day.
He looked at Chen Xiao and Li Ziqing. "You must be Benefactor Chen and Benefactor Li, correct?"
"I am Chen Xiao. Master, what guidance do you have for me?"
Chen Xiao was not an unreasonable ruffian. Since Yuan Dian was polite to him, there was no need for him to be aggressive.
"Guidance is too much to ask. This humble monk merely wishes to resolve the grievances between you benefactors." Master Yuan Dian said calmly, "When will the cycle of vengeance end? It is better to let go of your grudges early and seek peace."
"Master, what you say is quite interesting. 'When will the cycle of vengeance end?' So, according to you, if people have enemies, they shouldn't seek revenge? Should one passively accept it if someone kills your parents, and just smile it away for the sake of peace?" Chen Xiao retorted with a sneer.
Master Yuan Dian did not get angry. He replied calmly, "Benefactor Chen, that is where you are mistaken. If someone kills my parents, and I then kill them to avenge my parents, what about their sons and grandsons? Will they not seek revenge against me? If they kill me, will my disciples and their descendants not seek revenge against the children and grandchildren of my enemies? Therefore, when will the cycle of vengeance end? It is better to let go of your grudges early..."
"No, no, no." Chen Xiao waved his hand. "Master, you are mistaken. As long as I cut the weeds and remove the roots, killing all the descendants of my enemies, then our enmity will end there. Therefore, there will be no 'cycle of vengeance'."
Upon hearing this, the members of the four great families all had dark lines on their foreheads, but they also trembled.
After all, while others might say such things jokingly, this person here would truly act on his words.
Master Yuan Dian was momentarily speechless. After a while, he retorted, "Then, Benefactor, you would inevitably harm innocent people. What wrong have your enemies' children and grandchildren done?"
"They have done nothing wrong," Chen Xiao said coldly. "If they are to blame, they can only blame themselves for being born into the wrong family."
Master Yuan Dian was again rendered speechless. He realized that trying to reason with this overbearing young man was perhaps not a wise choice.
At this moment, Chen Xiao suddenly asked, "Master, let me ask you one question: why have you come today?"
"I was asked by a friend to come and resolve this enmity."
As a monk does not lie, Master Yuan Dian answered truthfully.
"Since that is the case, you are here to support your friend. What standing do you have to urge peace?" Chen Xiao retorted with a cold smile. "Your friend committed evil deeds, and you come for him, making you merely his accomplice."
"You are an accomplice, so do not pretend to be neutral, because the blood on the killer's hands has already splashed onto you."
"You cannot even grasp such a simple and obvious truth. It seems you are not a high monk after all. Those few calls of 'Master' were undeserved."
Yuan Dian sighed, looking helpless.
However, Chen Xiao's words were all logical, and even if he were truly eloquent, he could not refute them.
"Since that is the case, then this humble monk can only resort to fighting to end the fight."
The old monk Yuan Dian revealed his true intentions and looked at the mad monk Yuan Chen. "Yuan Chen, take Benefactor Chen back to the temple. Let him listen to Buddhist scriptures and experience the true meaning of Buddhist principles..."