Upon realizing his scheme was exposed, Miaohua could no longer conceal it and could only nod in silence.
Master Benheng's expression darkened, and he sternly questioned:
"The Abbot repeatedly instructed us not to clash with the Folk Studies Association. Since you discovered Yan Shouyi, why didn't you report it? Why did you try to deal with him privately?!"
The current conflict between the two factions was a massive quagmire; anyone stepping into it would find it difficult to extricate themselves.
Minor sects didn't care, as they needed such chaotic times to thrive. Major sects, however, understood the intricate stakes and wouldn't easily get involved.
If Miaohua's pursuit of Yan Shouyi were to become known, wouldn't it be tantamount to announcing that Hanshan Temple also intended to oppose the Folk Studies Association?
What difference was there between that and pinning a dung bucket on oneself?
Miaohua lowered his head and, mustering his courage, replied, "Yan Shouyi possesses the Evil Buddha..."
"Stop using that nonsense as an excuse. Yan Shouyi is entangled in many matters; the Evil Buddha is hardly the primary issue!" Master Benheng became even angrier. He wasn't angry that Miaohua had deceived him, but that this fellow lacked any sense of the bigger picture.
Yan Shouyi watched the unfolding spectacle with amusement: "That's right, that's right. I have more than just the Evil Buddha; I also have the Asura inner demon. The Evil Buddha is hardly the primary issue?"
"What are you grinning about?" Master Benheng shot Yan Shouyi a glare.
Yan Shouyi immediately suppressed his smile. It was best not to provoke Master Benheng at this moment.
However, he also noticed that Master Benheng didn't harbor intense animosity towards him. His attitude was entirely different from Miaohua's, almost as if he viewed Yan Shouyi as a junior.
Was it because of Changshan, or Uncle Miaoji?
It couldn't possibly be because I'm his father, could it?
Cough, cough, cough... Yan Shouyi quickly banished that thought from his mind, feeling that such a notion would diminish his merit.
If there had been a wooden fish present, he would surely have picked it up and struck it a few times, hoping to recover some of his lost merit.
Master Benheng lectured Miaohua as if he were a piece of unachievable metal:
"How many times have I told you not to place too much importance on fleeting fame? Ascetics should have pure hearts and few desires. Look at yourself; how much karmic debt have you already accumulated through killing? Even if you had a thousand years of life, using it solely for meditation, chanting, and striking the wooden fish, you still couldn't clear your karmic debts! If you don't change, you will only end up reaping what you sow!"
Miaohua lowered his eyebrows and eyes, displaying a most sincere attitude of admitting fault.
However, Master Benheng could see that this fellow was merely "humbly accepting while resolutely refusing to change." This was because Miaohua's understanding of Buddhism differed from others; what he truly needed to change wasn't his ideas, but the Buddha within his heart.
Just as Master Benheng sighed, feeling guilty for not having taught Miaohua well,
Chang Ji returned to Hanshan Temple with Yong Yong, Jie Xuan, and Jie Jing. Master Benheng happened to encounter them.
The severed hands of the three were quite conspicuous, and Master Benheng saw them clearly.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Master Benheng roared in fury.
Miaohua, terrified, immediately knelt down: "Master, please quell your anger. Your disciple learned that Yan Shouyi planned to force his way into Hanshan Temple and feared that he couldn't handle him alone, so he called upon Yong Yong and the others to assist... Who knew this child Yan Shouyi was so ruthless and wicked..."
"Amitabha, an ascetic does not speak falsehoods!" Master Benheng suddenly interrupted.
A look of struggle appeared on Miaohua's face, but his mouth moved uncontrollably: "I ordered Chang Ji to track Yan Shouyi and find Yong Yong and the others as reinforcements, intending to intercept Yan Shouyi in Jinling. However, I didn't expect him to head straight for Hanshan Temple, so we blocked his path halfway up the mountain. Yan Shouyi's attack was vicious, directly severing the arms of Yong Yong and the others..."
The more Master Benheng listened, the angrier he became. Finally, he raised his palm and delivered a resounding slap to Miaohua's face!
"Outrageous! Outrageous!"
It was one thing for Miaohua to seek trouble with Yan Shouyi himself, but he had even brought monks from other temples. Was he afraid that Hanshan Temple wasn't sinking deep enough?
What was even more unbearable to Master Benheng was that the four of them, working together, not only failed to capture Yan Shouyi but were instead crippled by him.
Yong Yong and the others had their hands severed, and Master Benheng's first reaction wasn't to be angry at Yan Shouyi, but rather to thank him.
This was because Yan Shouyi had the complete ability to kill Yong Yong and the others directly, yet he had spared their lives.
If the roles were reversed, Yong Yong and the others would likely not have shown such mercy to Yan Shouyi.
In this light, although Yan Shouyi was a madman, he was still far superior to his own foolish disciple!
"Uh... Senior Benheng, you are clinging to phenomena!" Yan Shouyi helpfully reminded Master Benheng.
"Scram!"
With a roar, Master Benheng directly blasted Yan Shouyi off the cliff.
To think I had developed a sliver of good feeling towards you just now!
Yan Shouyi didn't actually fall off the cliff; instead, he grabbed onto the rock face and climbed back up.
Given the current situation, descending the mountain would mean facing pursuit from powerful figures of the prominent sects. Staying at Hanshan Temple was the safest option.
Even if Master Benheng chased him away with a broom, he refused to leave.
Furious, Master Benheng instructed Chang Ji to properly accommodate Yong Yong and the others, then roared at Miaohua:
"You, go to the back mountain and face the wall. You are not permitted to come out without my permission!"
This command, imbued with potent disciplinary power, caused Miaohua to stand up mechanically and walk towards the back mountain without looking back.
Although Miaohua was unwilling and wanted to glare back at Yan Shouyi, he was still completely unable to defy Master Benheng's disciplinary force.
He's leaving just like that?
No more lengthy lectures?
Yan Shouyi tiptoed and watched Miaohua's retreating figure disappear, feeling a hint of regret.
Miaohua had caused the death of Abbot Haixin, and letting him simply go to face the wall was too lenient.
If it weren't for Master Benheng's immense power, Yan Shouyi would truly have wanted to provoke Miaohua further.
After punishing Miaohua, Master Benheng's gaze fell upon Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi grinned, cleared his throat, and shouted loudly: "Junior, President of the Folk Studies Association, holder of the Dragon Tiger Secret Texts, second place in the Luó Tiān Dà Jiào, proclaimed guardian of Rongcheng, descendant of Qin Shi Huang, possessor of true dragon purple qi, kept boy of the Sect Master of the Lüshan Sect, young master of the former Xuanshan Sect, good buddy of the contemporary Celestial Master Yu Luming... Yan Shouyi, pays respects to the senior!"
By the time Yan Shouyi finished his introduction, he found himself enveloped in a golden bell.
His voice echoed within the golden bell, and it seemed as if no sound could escape to the outside.
Master Benheng's lips twitched, and his voice penetrated the golden bell: "Don't play your tricks, kid. You want to drag Hanshan Temple into this? Not a chance!"
Yan Shouyi had precisely intended to let everyone know that he had come to Hanshan Temple, forcing Hanshan Temple into an awkward position from which it couldn't easily back down.
However, his little scheme was seen through by Master Benheng, who directly crushed his plan in its infancy.
Yan Shouyi smiled and said, "As expected of Senior Benheng, you are truly formidable. My humble stratagems cannot escape your discerning eye."
"Hmph!"
Master Benheng gnashed his teeth in anger, wishing he could just punch Yan Shouyi a few times.
Ultimately, he swallowed his frustration and said coldly, "Get out of Hanshan Temple. You are not welcome here!"