Even the old monk who had been cultivating diligently for decades couldn't help but lose his composure at this moment.
For the past few decades, no matter where he went, even court officials had shown him deference.
At the very least, they would call him Master. Yet, after leaving the Crown Prince's mansion, he was successively insulted like this. Even with his good temper, he was starting to lose it.
"Master, are you alright!"
"Quick, help! There are three demonic monks here!"
The master and his two disciples had intended to turn the fellow over to the authorities, but they hadn't expected that as soon as the drunkard finished speaking, more than a dozen other drunkards would suddenly appear from nowhere.
Looking at their bleary-eyed appearances, even the old monk Dao Jian, despite his anger, dared not linger there any longer.
After all, these people were numerous, and they all looked stout and burly, with weapons at their waists.
Judging by their appearance alone, these individuals were most likely members of the Bianliang City garrison, and they were all completely intoxicated. If an argument were to break out with them, it was unlikely that the master and his disciples could win.
When he came to Bianliang City this time, he had indeed brought a few highly skilled disciples, but their appearances were too fierce. Since they were going to the Crown Prince's mansion today, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, he had no choice but to leave them at the temple.
However, he never expected that due to his own small oversight, he and his two disciples would be plunged into such a predicament today...
Finally back on the street, under the disdainful gazes of the crowd, the old monk, along with his two disciples, hired a carriage by paying several times the usual fare. After a good half hour of travel, they finally returned to the Xiangguo Temple.
"Master, are you alright? What happened to you?"
The old monk who had exuded an air of immortal grace when he left had returned with his head split open.
Seeing his blood-covered face, the remaining disciples at home were all terrified.
"Utter humiliation, truly utter humiliation! That damned Lin Ling Su, to dare use such underhanded tactics against this old monk!"
With the help of his disciples, after quickly treating his wounds, washing up, and changing his clothes, the old monk summoned all of his disciples.
Even after years of cultivating in the deep mountains, after being subjected to such a barrage, the old monk had completely lost his reason.
"By the way, which eminent monk in Bianliang City is called Fahai?"
After cursing Lin Ling Su, the old monk suddenly remembered Fahai, whom those people had cursed earlier.
However, his lineage of disciples followed the seniority poem: "Zhou Hong Pu Guang Zong, Dao Qing Tong Xuan Zu. Qing Jing Zhen Ru Hai, Zhan Ji Chun Zhen Su."
How could a monk of the "Fa" generation possibly appear?
"Master, that monk Fahai is from a storybook..."
As everyone looked at each other helplessly, the young monk holding the storybook quietly said.
"What did you say?"
The old monk was completely stunned.
A monk from a storybook?
This was utter nonsense!
Could things from storybooks be taken seriously? Were these people all bored and looking for trouble?
"Abbot, this is bad!"
Just as they were speaking, a young novice rushed in frantically.
"What is it that you are so flustered about? Do you not know I am entertaining distinguished guests?"
Although not of the same lineage, even Abbot Zhi Yuan, the abbot of the Xiangguo Temple, could only show deference to Dao Jian as a disciple.
"It's nothing, just go about your business!"
Dao Jian, seeing the young novice who appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, did not make things difficult for him and merely said to Zhi Yuan.
"This disciple takes his leave!"
Seeing that he was not to be blamed, Zhi Yuan then withdrew from the meditation room with the young novice.
"What exactly happened?"
"Some of our senior brothers were beaten while out purchasing supplies. One senior brother, because some fellow disciples were beaten, got into a scuffle with some drunkards and accidentally killed someone. He has now been arrested by the Kaifeng Prefecture!"
"What did you say?"
Hearing this news, the old monk was completely bewildered. What in the world was going on?
Even if the monks responsible for purchasing at the Xiangguo Temple were not originally from Bianliang, they had practically lived in Bianliang City for decades. How could they have gotten into a fight with someone for no reason, and even killed someone?
If this were during normal times, such a matter might have been resolved with a bit of money, but at this moment, Lin Ling Su wished he could assign a bodyguard to every monk in Bianliang City. If such an incident occurred, wouldn't it be handing him ammunition?
"The person has already been taken by the Kaifeng Prefecture. What do you think we should do now?"
"What should we do? How should I know what to do!"
Zhi Yuan felt as if his lungs were about to explode. Were these people all idiots?
At such a sensitive time, with such a serious incident occurring, if it were exploited by someone with ulterior motives, they would surely suffer a great loss.
To regain the advantage, Buddhism had spent a considerable sum and made a great effort. If their efforts were to be thwarted by such a minor incident, those furious eminent monks would surely drag him out, tear him apart, and sell him as relics!
"You wait here, I'll go in and explain first!"
—————
"I say, talented scholar Han, you're quite late today!"
After escorting Fan Zheng Guo to the Han Residence, Han Mo once again arrived at the Yu Xiang Lou. However, as soon as he entered, Li Shishi greeted him with a smile.
"As an official, I have no choice. I was forced to do so!"
Facing the beauty's gentle scolding, Han Mo smiled and replied.
"You left here just last night, and your storybook has already sold out across Bianliang City today. I heard that a life-and-death lawsuit has already broken out because of this!"
"A life-and-death lawsuit? Surely not!"
Li Shishi's words truly surprised Han Mo. Surely not, how could a storybook lead to a life-and-death lawsuit?
"Why not? I heard that the person has already been arrested by the Kaifeng Prefecture, and that just today, at least dozens of monks in Bianliang City have been beaten and insulted!"