40 – Deciding the Trial

I looked at the Abbot seated before me. Other than the massive horizontal scar cutting across his forehead, his robes were noticeably simpler than everyone else’s.

I glanced at his emotional halo. Did I see that correctly? His halo turned entirely black in hate or hostility for a split second there when I entered. Now it was completely serene again, matching the gentle monk smiling on my left that welcomed me. While the burly, thug-like monk on my right, however, was almost entirely red with barely suppressed rage.

The abbot has his eyes closed while the rest are looking straight at me. As if waiting for something. Even Fumo on my right is sitting in silence. Should I say something? I decided to start positively.

“I like what you did with the mountain,” I began with a compliment.

In an instant, every halo in the room flared red with anger, except the Abbot’s and the smiling monk’s.

“It must have taken tremendous effort,” I continued, still confused. “Flattening the mountaintop and building such a beautiful temple on it…”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Fumo’s eyes widen in horror. Every breath bated. The room fell deathly silent except for the sound of gritted teeth coming from the monk on my right.

“Perfectly flat… and smooth… truly impressive work…” With every word, the anger in the hall thickened. Even the previously smiling monk had stopped smiling. “I… think I’ll stop here.”

Fuck.

The realization hit me. They didn’t flatten the mountain. Did… did my old man do this? That was the only explanation that made sense.

The Abbot slowly opened his eyes. His voice was calm and steady as he spoke.

“He does not yet understand the weight of his words, nor the history behind them. I ask all of you to be patient and understanding with our guest.”

I blinked in surprise. The Abbot? I had expected Fumo to speak up for me, not the very person whose halo had flashed with murderous hatred just moments ago. Still, I kept my mouth shut.

The Abbot turned his gaze directly toward me.

“Xuan Danxing,” he said, his tone measured. “As a guest of Lingshan Temple, I invite you to undergo the same trial that every Foundation Establishment disciple of our temple must face.”

“Hmmm…” I thought for a moment. “No.”

A heavy silence fell over the hall. No one seemed to have expected such an immediate and casual refusal.

“May I ask why?” the Abbot inquired calmly.

“I came here for a vacation,” I replied honestly. “After helping save an entire kingdom, I thought I deserved at least that much.” I glanced at Fumo, who had remained unusually quiet. “The whole guidance thing was Fumo’s suggestion. If you’re not interested, that’s fine.”

The burly monk slammed his palm onto the floor. The impact cracked the stone tiles and sent a powerful shockwave rippling outward. I quickly raised my AT field, shielding both myself and the surprised Fumo beside me. 

His Golden Core aura erupted like a raging tsunami. An overwhelming pressure slammed down on me, the heaviest thing I have ever carried. Even with my AT field reinforced by my powerful soul, the suppression was suffocating. My bones creaked. My vision blurred at the edges. Breathing became difficult, as if an invisible hand was slowly crushing my lungs. Cold sweat broke out across my body as I fought to hold my ground, every fiber of my being screaming under the immense force of a true Golden Core cultivator’s fury.

My deer skull twisted with a sickening crack, bones shifting and reforming into the snarling wolf skull as rage surged through me. So this is how you want to play! I forced my divine sense outward. If I am to die, I will take at least one shot at the bastard! Or better yet… my head turned into the serpent’s head. Should I kill as many as I can?

I spread my divine sense further, preparing to drop railgun fire above every bald head in the hall.

Before I could project a single weapon, a second Golden Core aura rose. This one from the previously smiling monk.

His Golden Core aura bloomed like a gentle yet unstoppable tide of warm light. It flowed outward with serene authority, wrapping around Jianglong’s crushing, wrathful pressure and steadily neutralizing it. The suffocating mountain-like weight on my body lightened, the sharp killing intent dissolved, and the air itself seemed to grow calmer. His aura carried a profound sense of compassion and restraint, gently but firmly pressing down on his senior brother’s explosive fury without clashing violently against it.

“Senior Brother,” Chánshèng said calmly, “Danxing has already learned his lesson. Besides, our master did not take his words as an insult.”

“If Master does not take it as an insult, then I will!” Jianglong roared. “Not only did he lead our youngest brother into sin, now he dares to take advantage of our hospitality!”

I glanced sideways at Fumo. He stayed silent, head lowered in shame. What sin? Omitting my surname? That was all I could think of. What was the big deal?

“I wouldn’t exactly call being surrounded by hostile monks the moment I walked in ‘hospitality’,” I added dryly. Which enrages the burly monk even more.

“If no one else will act, then let me drag this beast outside and kill him myself!” Jianglong bellowed in indignation

“That’s enough.” 

The Abbot’s voice was calm, yet it carried far more authority than Jianglong’s thunderous roar. Both disciples instantly fell silent. If the Abbot had spoken even a second later, it looked like the two of them would have started fighting each other. They forced themselves to calm down and sat back in their places which I found funny. 

“Have you had enough fun?” the Abbot asked me, his eyes now fully open.

I shrugged. “Not as much as all of you seemed to be having while discussing how to kill me before I arrived.”

“Tell me,” the Abbot continued, “has your father told you anything?”

“Nope,” I replied. “I was only adopted about a month ago. Before that, I was just a mortal. Not even from this world. I’m sure Fumo already told you most of this.”

“And? Did he ever speak of his past?”

“Not yet. He was supposed to once I finished my mission and returned. But then Fumo invited me here, and I didn’t have any reason to refuse.”

The Abbot’s gaze sharpened. “Then… Why did he adopt you?”

Every ear in the hall seemed to perk up at the question.

I rested my elbow on my lap and propped my head on my palm, thinking. Did he ever actually give me a reason?

“Now I will ask,” I interrupted before anyone else could speak. “What exactly is the sin Fumo committed that is so serious?”

“He willfully omitted the truth about your origin,” the Abbot answered calmly. “I do not know how your faith views this, but here, such an omission is equivalent to the sin of lying.”

“That’s it?” I asked, genuinely baffled by the weight they were giving it. “Didn’t he come in first and tell you the truth anyway? This feels circumstantial at best. At worst, you’re condemning him before he even had the chance to explain.”

“Circumstances are irrelevant,” the Abbot replied. “Only intent and outcome matter.”

Alright. This guy is a motherfucker in my book.

“Now then,” the Abbot continued, his voice carrying an undeniable authority that silenced any further interruption. “Once again, I invite you to undergo the trial.”

“I cannot exactly refuse, can I?”

“If you refuse, you must swear an oath to the Heavens to abandon cultivation entirely and live as a mortal for the rest of your life.” But I get the other implied option which is death

“Damn,” I muttered. “You know, knowing Fumo, I expected better from this place. Guess life is cheap here, even for monks.”

“Our master has given you options,” the smiling monk spoke up. “What more do you want?”

At that moment, it fully sank in. No one here was truly on my side. Even Fumo has been put to silence.

“Well, there’s just one thing actually.”

“Speak,” the smiling monk said reassuringly. "We will listen.” 

I pointed directly at the Abbot. “I cannot trust you.”

“BE QUIET!” I roared, infusing my soul power and this Merit Essence before anyone could speak.

“You have spoken enough. Now I will speak and you will listen.” I pause, daring anyone to speak. Having enough to listen to all these motherfuckers speaking.

When no one speaks, I point at the burly monk. “You are insane. But you never lied once.”

Then I turned back to the Abbot. “But you, I saw you see me with hate and hostility. Yet you somehow mask it to be serene” Then I point at the smiling monk. “Just like him”

“Do you have anything to say?” I kept all six eyes locked on the Abbot’s halo, watching for any flicker.

“The hatred you claim to see exists only in your imagination. I have shown you nothing but patience and mercy. If you continue to accuse your host so baselessly, then perhaps you truly are the demon they say you are.” The Abbot’s halo remains serene. 

But he LIES! His lie taste very bitter to the mouth that I almost gag

“Lies? In your house of God?” I chuckle. “Even after you yourself declare that omission is the same as lying?”

“Our temple is a place for spiritual enlightenment,” the Abbot replied, his voice deep and resonant with calm authority. “We are not a house of the divine. We seek to cleanse the heart of defilements, sever the roots of suffering, and guide beings toward liberation.”

I tilted my head. “Then why did you call me a demon? Especially when everyone here was busy discussing how to kill me before I even stepped inside?” I shrugged. “Or maybe there’s some kind of spiritual enlightenment in planning murders.”

The Abbot’s expression remained perfectly tranquil, his halo steady and unreadable.

“Caution is not malice,” he answered smoothly. “And weighing the potential harm one may bring is not the same as plotting murder. You misinterpret our intentions.”

His answer was smooth, but I knew I had him on the backfoot.

“Then I’m simply being cautious,” I replied. “Especially when people were freely discussing how to kill me before I even walked in.” I pointed at the burly monk. “He literally said he wanted to drag me outside and kill me. So you can’t just kill me outright for some reason. Isn’t a trial with dubious intent the perfect way to do it with clean hands?”

“There’s nothing lethal within the trial.” The smiling monk answers. But I caught his eyebrows almost furrowing.

“But there is in the outcome,” I shot back. “Don’t pretend otherwise.”

“The trial has always been fair,” The burly monk defends.

I looked at him flatly. “I don’t think you ever have any say in this.”

He grit his teeth from my jab but it is true. No one here did except the Abbot. I turned back to him.

“How about this then?” I rubbed my chin. “Why don’t you swear to the Heavens? Swear that you bear me no malicious intent and have not already decided the outcome of the trial. Or at least that you will judge it fairly.”

“Haha! There’s no need for that!” The burly monk laughed. “Our master is just and righteous.” But I noticed him glancing at the Abbot.

“Friend,” The smiling monk doesn’t smile anymore. “You may not understand the gravity of swearing to the Heavens. There’s no need to blow this out of proportion.”

“But I have to swear to this Heavens if I fail the trial,” I countered. “Isn’t it only fair that the one issuing the trial does the same?”

Bingo. Legitimacy is always central for any spiritual institution. So does reputation. The burly monk has locked the Abbot in his reputation of being just and righteous. While the smiling monk has given me the perfect way to significantly question their legitimacy. Any other action than swearing will betray one or the other. Never thought my debate experience for my useless literature degree would work here but I am glad it did.

“A heart that is clear has no need for oaths,” the Abbot replied serenely. “Only those with hidden guilt fear the light of the Heavens.”

I tilted my head, six eyes locked onto him.

“Then my heart is clear and has no need for oaths either,” I said calmly. “If I succeed, I pass. If I fail, I can simply leave freely. After all, I am invited to undergo this trial as a guest.”

A heavy silence filled the hall.

The Abbot looked at me for a long moment, his expression unchanging. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, deep, and carried the unshakable weight of absolute authority.

“The Trial will begin in three days.” 

His words reverberated through the entire hall like a decree from the heavens.

As he stands, so does everyone in the entire hall except me and Fumo

Then he leaves without a word

Leaving the stunned disciples

“Damn. Never thought he would just take it and leave.”