Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 5 is also difficult to cultivate.

Zhan Zhao's bed was right next to the door.

The worst position.

There was nothing he could do; he arrived late, and all the other beds were already occupied.

Dingming, the monk in charge of the Dizang Temple, actually wanted to force a change, but seeing that his junior uncle's reaction was indifferent, he was worried that flattery would backfire, so he did not take any action.

Zhan Zhao didn't care.

His entry into Buddhism was due to a combination of factors.

There was no pure enjoyment among them.

But at this moment, back in the meditation room, Zhan Zhao's expression darkened as he glanced around.

The sword hanging above the bed had been touched.

The cabinets next to the beds, where each novice monk stored his personal belongings, showed signs of having been opened.

Even a corner of their clothes was sticking out, quite conspicuous, as if they didn't bother to hide it.

"Oh! The Sweeping Monk is back?"

At the same time, the gazes of the rest of the monks' quarters also converged on him, piercing his face.

Zhan Zhao's appearance and temperament were truly remarkable. When he first entered the monks' quarters, everyone wanted to befriend him.

However, at that time he was studying the Pure Mind Technique, so his reaction was indifferent. He just buried his head in the scriptures and muttered incantations.

When everyone glanced at the scripture again, their lips immediately curled into a sneer.

What are you pretending for?
It's just the "Pure Tathagatagarbha" that everyone has a copy of!

It's like there's some kind of unparalleled martial arts technique inside!
When he went out to sweep the floor every day without moving, Zhan Zhao's nickname soon became "Sweeping Monk," a satirical reference to a young novice monk's ambition to become a monk through sweeping.

However, while others laughed behind his back, the one shouting to his face was the owner of that shrill voice.

This man was named Hu Xiba. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and his features were not bad, but his left eyebrow was broken into two pieces and the corners of his mouth were slightly downturned, which gave him a cold and mean temperament. At this moment, he had taken off his monk's robe, leaned against the headboard with his legs crossed, and looked over with his eyes slanted.

Zhan Zhao's gaze fell on the man: "Living in the same room and not peeping at each other's private belongings is a precept of the Ksitigarbha Temple. Are you aware of it?"

Hu Xiba raised his eyebrows sharply: "What do you mean? Are you saying I went through your things?"

Zhan Zhao said calmly, "During these five morning lessons, you sat in the southwest corner. After finishing your vegetarian meal, you would rush out of the hall. When assigning the day's chores, you would choose the easiest tasks. Therefore, you were always the first to return to your room."

As he spoke, he looked at the other novices: "All of you are dressed in your robes, except for this one who is barefoot and leaning against the couch. It is clear that he was the first one to return to his quarters today, is that right?"

Meeting the gaze, someone instinctively answered, "Brother Hu came back first..."

After saying that, he realized what he had said and his expression changed immediately. He looked at the head of the monks' quarters with some unease.

Zhan Zhao turned around and continued to ask, "Since you were the first to return today, what did you see?"

"I didn't see anything, maybe someone else came in..."

Hu Xiba was halfway through his answer when he realized something was wrong. He straightened up and sprang from the bed, his expression turning ferocious: "Kid, who do you think you are, daring to interrogate me? Even the constables of the Six Doors have no jurisdiction over the people of our Great Xiangguo Temple!"

“Then I will go and find someone who can ask you questions.”

Zhan Zhao was decisive and turned to walk out the door.

Hu Xiba clenched his fist, but considering where he was, he only shook it slightly and said sternly, "You're just sweeping the floor, don't make a big deal out of nothing!"

"Yes! I was the one who touched those things, so what! I didn't steal your belongings, I just saw the chests and cabinets were open and helped you tidy them up, and you're going to accuse me of violating the monastery's rules? With such domineering attitude, what kind of Buddhist practice is this?"

"If the academy finds out, do you think those senior brothers will respect you? Do you still want to find a good master to teach you superior martial arts in the future?"

The other novices also began to advise, "We're all in the same monastery, why make such a fuss over such a small matter?" "Come on, come on!" "Calm down... calm down!"

"What's the fuss about?"

Just then, a shout came from outside the door, and two figures walked in one after the other.

The one in the lead was Dingming, an official of the Ksitigarbha Temple.

Following behind was a novice monk from the same monastery, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a high nose bridge, slightly thin lips, and a jawline as sharp as a fine brushstroke; he was quite handsome.

After the handsome novice monk entered, he pointed at Hu Xiba and said, "Reporting to the steward, this is the man!"

“He would always boast that he had connections to introduce us to a master so we could learn superior martial arts, and then he would make us fawn over him so he could bully us and order us around!”

"When I returned today, I saw Hu Xiba ransacking this young brother's chest and cabinet. When I discovered this, he was completely unconcerned and even threatened to deliberately humiliate him when he returned. Such blatant bullying of a fellow disciple is truly despicable. I hope you will make a decision!"

"Chen Xiuhan! You...you're spouting nonsense!"

Hu Xiba never expected that his position as the head of the monks' quarters would be challenged so many times in such a short period of time. In his shock and anger, he quickly put on a smiling face and bowed to Dingming, saying, "Brother, please don't listen to their nonsense. I was originally a monk from Puji Temple. I was recommended to the temple by Master Jiechi. I have always been kind to people and never bullied anyone!"

'A mere novice monk, without even a Dharma name or seniority, who is your senior brother?' Dingming glanced coldly at Hu Xiba, his words unspoken but his eyes clearly conveying the meaning.

Then, looking at Zhan Zhao, her eyes immediately switched to apology: "Little..."

Before he could even utter the words "Uncle-Master," Zhan Zhao spoke up, "Please, Your Excellency, uphold justice!"

"That's how it should be! That's how it should be!"

Dingming turned back to Hu Xiba, his tone filled with undisguised disgust: "Our Great Xiangguo Temple has strict rules and will never tolerate those who violate them. No matter who recommends us, we will treat everyone the same! Hu Xiba, grab your luggage and come with me!"

"Huh? Senior brother! Senior brother!! You...you guys, say something for me!"

Seeing Dingming leave without looking back, Hu Xiba looked at the others.

But those who had just been speaking up for him all lowered their heads.

"Fine! Fine! You think you can just kick me out like that? Not so easy!"

Hu Xiba glared fiercely at everyone in the monks' quarters, his face filled with resentment: "If you have the guts, kill me, or this isn't over!"

As he walked out through gritted teeth, the novice monks in the dormitory exchanged glances. Several of them secretly spat, revealing their long-suppressed disgust. They then crowded around the handsome novice monk, saying, "Chen Xiuhan, you're really something! You actually managed to invite Steward Dingming!"

"That deacon is a very busy person in the Ksitigarbha Courtyard. I tried to talk to him several times, but he was always cold and never smiled!"

"As expected of Brother Chen, he is well-read and a man of both literary and martial talents!"

"Where, where..."

The handsome novice monk, surrounded by the crowd, simply clasped his hands in greeting. When he saw Zhan Zhao looking over, he even winked at him.

After those people left, Zhan Zhao came up to him and said, "Thank you."

"Oh! Brother, I absolutely cannot accept your thanks!"

The handsome novice monk leaned closer and whispered, "That day I overheard that Steward Dingming and another monk of considerable status calling you 'Junior Uncle' as they left, and I guessed that you were someone of great ability!"

"When I returned today, I saw Hu Xiba rummaging through your chests and cabinets, so I immediately went to find Steward Dingming. As soon as he heard this, he set off immediately."

"Otherwise, it's just a matter between us novices. Let alone going through our personal belongings, unless a fight actually breaks out, the senior monks in the temple won't interfere..."

Zhan Zhao had been studying the Clarity of Mind Technique these past few days, unaware that a simple address would attract so much attention from others.

He hadn't expected the novice monk to have such a low status, and the monks to be so indifferent, so he fell silent.

Fortunately, he thought the inner gate of the Great Xiangguo Temple was quite good, and that it would be better for his spiritual practice.

It turns out that it only applies to him.

It's not easy for ordinary people to cultivate...

The handsome novice monk was clearly happy: "This Hu Xiba is probably a local bully who preys on the villagers outside. I don't know how he managed to sneak in. Now we don't have to worry about being bullied!"

Zhan Zhao snapped out of his daze and casually remarked, "The name Xi Ba sounds like an insult."

"what?"

The handsome novice monk didn't understand, so he took off his monk's hat and scratched his head.

Upon seeing this, Zhan Zhao raised an eyebrow: "You haven't shaved your head?"

This monk, with his hair tied up, smiled and said, "Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents, so naturally we should practice Buddhism with our hair still intact."

Daxiangguo Temple is not strict about this. After all, novices are not considered formal monks. If they are unwilling to be ordained, they cannot obtain a certificate of ordination and become monks, which is their own fault.

If you don't want to be a monk, there are plenty of people eager to be one.

Among the group of bald men, two men with hair appeared and quickly became friends.

"My name is Chen Xiuhan, a native of Junzhou, Hubei Province, and I am seventeen years old."

"My name is Zhan Zhao, a native of Changzhou in Zhejiang Province, aged fifteen."

"Brother Zhan!"

"Brother Chen."

"Ha ha!"

The two exchanged a smile, and Chen Xiuhan asked curiously, "Brother, with your handsome appearance, why did you enter the Buddhist order?"

Zhan Zhao thought for a moment and said, "I have a connection with Buddhism, which is why I entered the temple to learn some martial arts. I will return to secular life someday."

"Then you and I are truly the same. I also plan to learn superior martial arts and then return to secular life to enter officialdom!"

Chen Xiuhan lay back with his hands behind his back, resting his head on his hands, his eyes filled with anticipation: "My ancestors once fought alongside the founding emperor on the battlefield, but unfortunately our family has fallen on hard times, and no one has held an official position for two generations. Once I have mastered the superior martial arts of the Great Xiangguo Temple, I will definitely take the martial arts exam and become the top martial arts scholar, making a name for myself and letting those snobbish people who look down on my Chen family know that it is better to bully an old man than a poor young man!"

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(End of this chapter)