Chapter 490 - 238: Fighting Zhang Junyi

Chapter 490: Chapter 238: Fighting Zhang Junyi

Behind the small Daoist temple, there was a bamboo forest. In the middle of the forest was a large clearing, which appeared to be used by the temple’s Daoists for their daily training.

Xie Yuan was now standing in the center of the clearing, with the two "Tea Daoists" from the teahouse at his side.

One was, of course, Zhang Junyi, who was staying at the temple. He had already told Xie Yuan where he was lodging.

The other "Daoist" had fair skin and an innocent face. He wore a small cap to cover his large, bald head—it was none other than Monk Huie Jue.

Xie Yuan looked at Huie Jue, torn between laughter and exasperation:

"Monk, it’s not like you don’t have a place of your own. How did you end up staying in someone else’s Daoist temple?"

Huie Jue took off his cap, revealing he was still wearing a Daoist robe. He placed his palms together and recited a Buddhist chant:

"Amitabha! All cultivators under heaven are one family. Brother Zhang has a compassionate heart and took this humble monk in."

Zhang Junyi looked disgusted:

"This monk is like a piece of sticky toffee—he insisted on coming and I couldn’t get him to leave. What Daoist here can stand the sight of a monk? I just made him wear a cap, and surprisingly, no one else has said a word."

Although Buddhism and Daoism coexisted in relative harmony these days, they were by no means friendly. To say nothing of their battle for the title of state religion back when the Great Li was founded, for the past millennium, their history was one of incessant conflict. It was a state of affairs where mortal Martial Artists fought mortal Martial Artists, and those beyond the mundane world fought amongst themselves.

Overall, while the two faiths were evenly matched and neither could ever truly subdue the other—at times even working together to comprehend the Great Dao—history was rife with instances where one, in a position of power, would launch wars to "Exterminate Buddhism" or "Eradicate Daoism." Such campaigns had led to mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

So for Xie Yuan, seeing Huie Jue staying in a Daoist temple was strange enough, but seeing him dressed in a Daoist robe was just bizarre.

’I wonder what Zen Monk Ziling, a titan of the Zen world and hailed as a Descent Arhat, would think if he saw this?’

He looked at Huie Jue and chuckled.

"Monk, aren’t you afraid of being branded a traitor to your master and faith for wearing that getup?"

Huie Jue shook his head, his expression one of pure innocence.

"Benefactor Xie, you’re getting attached to appearances again. This mortal coil is but a stinking sack of flesh, to say nothing of the clothes we wear on the outside. Forget a Daoist robe; this humble monk could wear an emperor’s regalia, a palace gown, or even a young lady’s dress."

’He had a point, a Buddhist one at that.’ Xie Yuan had no intention of debating scripture with a high-ranking monk from the Bodhi Institute, so he just chuckled and said casually,

"Whatever you say. If you’ve got the guts, wear it on your next trip back to Prajna Temple."

Huie Jue retorted,

"Will Benefactor Xie accompany me to bear witness? If you don’t, how will you know if I wear it or not?"

Zhang Junyi cut in.

"Brother Xie, don’t mind this damn monk. His constant chatter is enough to drive a man insane. I’d love to just shut him up with my sword!"

Xie Yuan nodded in solemn agreement.

"True. I have no idea how the Daoists here put up with him."

"Daoist Wang is deaf."

Zhang Junyi stated succinctly.

The three of them exchanged a smile.

Zhang Junyi turned to Xie Yuan and performed a formal Daoist salute.

"Brother Xie, thank you for your aid. Without it, I’m afraid this humble Daoist would never have left Jianzhen Lake alive."

Xie Yuan shook his head.

"Not at all. I’m sure that the esteemed Closed-door Disciple of Master Yuxu would not have been fazed by a scene like that, even without my help. In fact, I should be thanking you, Daoist, for suppressing the Water-Stabilizing Pearl and helping me kill Qian Yangsheng. That pearl would have been a real headache otherwise."

’If Zhang Junyi hadn’t been there to help suppress the Water-Stabilizing Pearl, my only chance against Qian Yangsheng on his home turf would have been the Sword Intent from Li Xingtuo. I still don’t know how powerful that little sword is. With only one shot, facing an opponent wielding the Water-Stabilizing Pearl, I would have had to be exceedingly careful to seize that single opportunity for survival. Thankfully, the Yao family’s meddling didn’t manage to drive Zhang Junyi away. With his help, and after using up a Divine Talisman to finally bring the Water-Stabilizing Pearl under control, we were able to slay an enemy whose cultivation far surpassed our own. As for the treasure itself... naturally, it belongs to the one who did the work to get it.’

As the two of them bowed to each other, Huie Jue, standing between them, also placed his palms together.

"Amitabha! Since neither of you wishes to take credit, then ’if I do not enter hell, who will?’ You can both just thank this monk! Please, rise, both of you. There’s no need for such courtesy, all these empty formalities."

Seeing Huie Jue make a mock gesture of lifting them up, Xie Yuan was once again both amused and annoyed.

"Monk, what does this have to do with you?"

"Benefactor Xie, your words are so hurtful. If this monk hadn’t brought everyone together, how could this meeting have ever taken place?"

Huie Jue looked aggrieved.

"Besides, while this humble monk may have been on the sidelines, my heart was with you both. I was praying for you day and night."

Xie Yuan thought for a moment, then nodded.

"I suppose you have a point there."

Zhang Junyi looked baffled and grumbled,

"Brother Xie, don’t let this Demon Monk talk you in circles."

Huie Jue froze for a second, then his face broke into a wide grin as he shot a sidelong glance at Zhang Junyi.

"See? Benefactor Xie has true enlightenment. And look at you! You practice the Daoist arts, yet your spiritual state and magnanimity are leagues behind his. You should just renounce your vows and return to the mortal world already!"

’Though Xie Yuan felt the monk was full of nonsense, he suspected his words might not be entirely false. He had been the one to seek me out in Jinling, and then he’d found Zhang Junyi. If he hadn’t connected the two of us, none of this would have happened. Huie Jue seemed deceptively mischievous, but he was actually quite mysterious. Could he have orchestrated all of this intentionally?’

Seeing the monk and the Daoist start bickering again, looking as if they were one wrong word away from trading blows, Xie Yuan held up a hand to stop them. He looked at Zhang Junyi, his eyes shining with intensity.

"Daoist, I was planning to leave right away, but we made a deal. We agreed to have a proper sparring match after all this was over."

Zhang Junyi’s expression brightened, and he looked eager to begin.

"Indeed! Brother Xie, your Divine Skill is incredible. This humble Daoist has long wished to properly test my skills against yours."

"How about now?"