I am Zhao Zhijing, a poor Taoist priest, and I have disciples all over the world.

Chapter 150: Touching the Gold Captain
Monk Wu Se brought master and disciple Zhao Zhi Jing all the way to the back mountain of Shaolin Temple.

It was late October, a time of clear and crisp autumn weather. Leaving the majestic temple buildings behind, the mountain scenery gave people a sense of openness and clarity.

The open space on the back mountain that Zen Master Tianming mentioned is surrounded by tall and straight ancient pines. The autumn wind occasionally blows up a few fallen leaves, which flutter slowly.

A few tits were chirping and foraging not far away, adding a touch of liveliness to the tranquil autumn scenery.

Who would have thought that Ding Chunqiu, the old monster from the starry sky who was despised by the people in the martial arts world, could enjoy such an isolated paradise after his death?

Guan Man'er seemed to think that this scene was quite similar to the Jade Maiden Peak of Mount Huashan. She pulled Zhao Zhijing's sleeve and said, "Master, when are we going back?"

"Come on, come on."

It has been exactly ten days since I left Zuowang Temple. As long as I finish my work today, I can go back.

Zhao Zhijing looked around and saw that the open space in the back mountain that Zen Master Tianming mentioned was where those who had repented in Shaolin Temple were buried. Naturally, it was not just Ding Chunqiu.

Those who repented and converted to Buddhism would be burned after death, while those who did not repent would be imprisoned for life and buried underground after death.

"Master Zhao, look over here!"

Monk Wu Se called out and stopped in front of a tombstone. On the tombstone was engraved "Ding Gong Chunqiu", which must be the place where Ding Chunqiu was buried.

Zhao Zhijing came closer and looked at the traces left by wind and rain. It must have been quite a while, so he nodded silently.

"Master Wu Se, this shovel in your hand."

If one wants to find out whether Ding Chunqiu is buried underground for a long time, one must dig up the grave. Zhao Zhijing was originally thinking about how to explain it.

Unexpectedly, the Colorless Monk seemed to be familiar with the route and had picked up a convenient shovel used for practicing martial arts, which was exclusive to the Shaolin Temple, on his way here.

Moreover, he looked eager to try and was about to start working.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Taoist Zhao."

Monk Wu Se grinned and said with some embarrassment: "Before I entered Shaolin Temple, I was living among the outlaws."

"At that time, the Song and Mongolia joined forces to destroy the Jin Dynasty. The Central Plains was in chaos. It was not easy to support the hundreds of brothers under my command and their families."

"Fortunately, there are many ancient tombs of emperors from past dynasties around Luoyang. Rather than making money from living people, I prefer to find some unowned businesses, so I learned this craft."

Zhao Zhijing sighed in his heart, "Those who are loyal are mostly butchers, and those who are unfaithful are mostly scholars." Perhaps it is because of the existence of heroes like Master Wu Se, the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, and He Sanqi who are among the grassroots that the word "hero" has been passed down for thousands of years in the martial arts world.

Then he thought that in a sacred Buddhist place like Shaolin Temple, which has a solemn atmosphere, he was actually going to dig graves. This was probably unprecedented and would never happen again.

"Master Wu Se, let me do it."

Zhao Zhijing took the shovel from the monk Wu Se, took a deep breath, and dug down with the shovel.

Monk Wu Se was standing by as a technical advisor, giving occasional reminders.

"Master Wu Se."

When they had dug about halfway, Zhao Zhijing suddenly remembered something and asked, "During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Han Prime Minister Cao Mengde had a team that specialized in searching for tombs and taking money to supplement the military pay."

"Since the master has also served as the General of the Fa Qiu, I am a little curious."

"Is it true that you can't touch gold until the cock crows and the lights go out, and you can take it three times and not take it three times?"

Monk Wu Se touched his bald head out of habit and said, "Anyway, I have never heard of a monk like that. He can't even take care of the living, so how can he take care of the dead?"

"Moreover, there are too many traps in the tombs of emperors and generals. If you are not careful, you may even lose your life. Therefore, it is very rare to see the main tomb. It is enough to take some gold and silver treasures buried with the dead in the outer area."

organ
This sentence reminded Zhao Zhijing that if Ding Chunqiu really faked his death and escaped, there might be an ambush in the tomb. The two continued to talk about some anecdotes in the martial arts world, and they became more and more skilled in using the shovel in their hands. After another cup of tea, the outline of the coffin finally appeared in the soil.

Zhao Zhijing first used a shovel to pry a gap in the coffin, then he mobilized his internal strength and used the method of exerting force that he had taught Guan Man'er to push the coffin lid with his palm like wind.

"Boom!"

The coffin lid was pushed aside. Zhao Zhijing blocked Guan Man'er behind him and reminded Wu Se to wait for a moment.

Gusts of autumn wind blew by, but nothing unusual happened. Zhao Zhijing walked forward slowly, took a look into the coffin, and his heart sank suddenly.

There were only two gray snake bones inside, which were probably the mechanism left behind by Ding Chunqiu when he escaped. Other than that, there was nothing else.

"The Taoist priest is right!"

Monk Wu Se was also extremely shocked by the scene before him.

Ding Chunqiu's martial arts skills had been destroyed, and he was buried underground after dying from his injuries. What kind of means could have allowed him to hide the truth and escape from the custody of the Shaolin Temple?

"Master Wu Se, please report this matter to Zen Master Tian Ming as soon as possible, but do not mention it to anyone else."

Zhao Zhijing took a deep breath. The worst-case scenario he had expected had happened. All previous speculations would have to be overturned and started over again.

"Master, wait a moment. I will go find the abbot right away."

Monk Wu Se nodded, knowing that the matter was of great importance. He immediately used his Qing Kung skills to quickly return to the temple to find Zen Master Tian Ming.

Taking advantage of this time, Zhao Zhijing carefully examined the coffin lid again. In addition to the place where it had just been pried open, there were indeed other signs of movement.

It seems that Monk Xuchang was not the only one deceived by Ding Chunqiu at that time. He was able to avoid the eyes and ears of Shaolin Temple and rescue people. There was a high probability that there was an insider in the temple.

"Amitabha."

Not long after, Zen Master Tianming and Monk Wu Se arrived, looked at the situation in the coffin, and chanted a Buddhist name in a low voice.

"Our temple actually let this evil man escape and bring disaster to the world again. This is truly a sin."

Zhao Zhijing advised: "Master Abbot, there is no need to blame yourself. Ding Chunqiu's scheming is so deep that it is beyond everyone's expectations."

"When his martial arts were still intact, he should have made up his mind to deliberately provoke the majesty of Buddhism, because only an old man whose martial arts were abolished would be gradually neglected and it would be convenient for him to act."

"In the following years, he took great pains to use words to deceive the Shaolin disciples who came into contact with him. First, he made Xu Chang break his precepts and be expelled from the mountain gate, and then he faked his death and escaped."

The facts were already before his eyes, and Zen Master Tianming had no choice but to believe them.

From Huodu's foray into the mountains to Li Mochou's assassination attempt in the temple, and now old events from a hundred years ago have been dug up. Although the old monk has a deep level of cultivation, he still feels physically and mentally exhausted.

Seeing that the old abbot looked unusual, as if he had suddenly aged ten years, Monk Wu Se hurriedly tried to persuade him, "Master Abbot, even though Ding Chunqiu escaped from the temple, a hundred years have passed."

"No matter how sinister and treacherous he was, isn't he still buried underground now?"

"Master Wu Se, what you said makes sense. Master Abbot, please take care of yourself."

At this point, it was inconvenient for Zhao Zhijing to say anything more. After all, it happened too long ago, and it was meaningless to argue about what was right and wrong now.

However, Zhao Zhijing did not completely agree with Wu Se’s suggestion of being buried underground forever.

Although the possibility of Ding Chunqiu still being alive is extremely small, considering the various techniques of the Xiaoyao Sect that are similar to those of cultivating immortals.

Absolutely not.

(End of this chapter)