Duan Zhengchun transmigrates to Yin Zhiping

After Liu Chuxuan's patient persuasion, Abbot Ku Hui finally invited them to stay at the temple for a few days. Liu Chuxuan readily agreed and, under Ku Chan's arrangement, led everyone to settle down. He also asked Shaolin Temple for some medicine to treat their injuries.

...

under night.

Duan Zhengchun came alone to a pavilion on the back mountain of Shaolin Temple. Perhaps it was the scenery that stirred up his memories, but he could never go back. Unfortunately, he had been reborn into this world that he did not yet fully understand.

The pavilion is located on the edge of a cliff, and the moonlight shines down from above, making it possible to vaguely see the clouds and mist swirling in the mountain stream under the night sky.

Lingyue Cliff soars into the clouds, and the path to the top is extremely rugged. Shaolin Temple sits atop the mountain, seemingly built amidst the clouds and mist, as if one could reach out and pluck the stars. Perhaps this is why the mountain is named after this.

Duan Zhengchun leaned against the railing, reached into his robes, pulled out a wine gourd, tilted his head back, and took a sip, his expression solemn.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind him, and Abbot Ku Hui walked slowly over, standing beside Duan Zhengchun. Gazing at the distant mist, he said softly, "Benefactor Yin seems to have many worries on his mind."

Duan Zhengchun smiled, still gazing into the distance, and said calmly, "In life, nothing is ever smooth sailing; there are always some things that don't go as planned."

"Among all the people in the world, who doesn't have some secrets that they can't tell outsiders?"

"Master's secret is probably related to your leaving the Central Plains and traveling all the way to this Western Regions, isn't it?"

In fact, he knew someone was coming even before the footsteps sounded, and he quickly guessed that it was Ku Hui. When they met today, he had already sensed that this old monk who had come from the Central Plains to the Western Regions to establish a sect was a master with profound internal strength and who kept his abilities hidden.

Upon hearing Duan Zhengchun's words, Abbot Ku Hui's expression clearly changed slightly. He then turned to look at Duan Zhengchun meaningfully, and couldn't help but nod slightly, a hint of approval flashing between his brows.

He had already seen the wine gourd in Duan Zhengchun's hand and smelled the faint aroma of wine in the air. He also knew that Duan Zhengchun, as a Taoist disciple, should not drink alcohol.

But he said nothing, as if he hadn't seen or smelled anything.

"I never imagined that Benefactor Yin, at such a young age, would be so meticulous and insightful."

"Indeed, the reason I came to this Western Regions and established the Western Regions Shaolin is indeed related to an event from the past."

Abbot Ku Hui hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and slowly spoke.

Duan Zhengchun tilted his head back and took another sip of wine, then said calmly, "If you are willing to speak, Master, I am willing to listen."

He wasn't curious about the old monk beside him; he just needed someone to talk to and wanted to get rid of the sense of loss he felt.

Abbot Ku Hui pondered for a while, then slowly sat down on the stone bench next to him, gazing at the distant clouds and mist, and slowly said: "Many years ago, there was a monk in the Shaolin Temple in the Central Plains who was a kitchen helper. He secretly learned martial arts because he could not bear being beaten by the monk in charge of the kitchen."

"Twenty years later, he finally achieved mastery and killed the head monk of the Shaolin Bodhidharma Hall and many other eminent monks during the annual trial at the Bodhidharma Hall of Shaolin Temple. After that, he broke out of the mountain gate and escaped from Shaolin."

"After this incident, Shaolin Temple was severely damaged and declined. It was no longer the number one sect in the martial arts world and gradually faded out of the martial arts world to recuperate."

"In order to find the Fire-Worker Monk and bring him back for punishment, I resolutely left the Central Plains and tracked him all the way to the Western Regions. This journey has lasted for decades!"

As he finished speaking, Abbot Ku Hui sighed, his brows furrowed with sorrow.

After decades of pursuing the murderer, he has gradually entered his sixties and is no longer the spirited man he once was.

"As the saying goes, all martial arts under heaven originated from Shaolin, which shows the profound heritage of Shaolin Temple. Its Seventy-Two Arts are famous throughout the world. I never imagined that there was such a little-known secret about it."

"Since you've been pursuing the culprit for decades, what about that monk? Has he been found?"

Duan Zhengchun shook his head and asked a question with a hint of regret.

In his memory, Shaolin Temple was indeed the number one sect in the world back then. No matter what sects such as Lingjiu Palace, Xingxiu Sect, Xixia Yipintang, or even the Beggars' Sect could compare with it.

Abbot Ku Hui shook his head and said, "This is the obsession that I have never been able to let go of. Although I have been searching for him for decades, I have never been able to find his whereabouts. It was during this period that the Western Region Shaolin Temple was established."

“I have sworn an oath before the Buddha that if I cannot find him, I will never return to the Central Plains in this lifetime.”

Duan Zhengchun frowned slightly, turned his head to look at Ku Hui, who was sitting on the stone bench with a slightly solemn expression, and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

It is said that Buddhist monks are free from desires and have a pure mind, but it is unexpected that even a highly accomplished monk like Ku Hui could not escape worldly affairs and is still entangled in them to this day.

"Perhaps this is all fate. Everything in the world has a cause and effect cycle. If he had not been deceived, the subsequent events would not have happened. If the master had found him and punished him severely according to the temple rules, it might have been the cause of another result."

"Perhaps this is a cultivation opportunity left by Buddha for you, Master. Otherwise, it would not have been possible to build such a temple on Lingyue Cliff, and I would not have met you, Master, and eventually come to Lingyue Cliff, where I was taken in by you."

Duan Zhengchun looked up at the stars and moon in the distant sky and said with emotion.

Upon hearing this, Abbot Ku Hui turned to look at Duan Zhengchun again, a profound meaning appearing in his eyes, as if he had suddenly realized something.

“There is something I must apologize to the master for. In fact, we have been evading the pursuit of the Vajra Sect in the Western Regions on our way back. One of the reasons why my master insisted on personally returning that relic was to use your temple to temporarily avoid their sharp edge.”

With an apologetic look on his face, Duan Zhengchun turned to Abbot Ku Hui and spoke frankly.

"Since Benefactor Yin has already said that this is due to cause and effect, why feel apologetic? It only shows that Shaolin Temple is indeed destined to meet you all, and Benefactor Yin and I are destined to meet frankly in this pavilion."

Ku Hui smiled and began to speak casually, seemingly unconcerned.

Duan Zhengchun paused for a moment, then shook his head and gave a bitter smile. Only then did he realize that Abbot Ku Hui had already seen through everything.

"In any case, I will remember your kindness, Master. If you ever need my help in the future, please send someone to deliver a message. No matter when or where, I will definitely come over mountains and rivers without hesitation!"

Duan Zhengchun tilted his head back, took a sip of wine, and said with unwavering resolve.

He didn't want to bring trouble to the Shaolin Temple in the Western Regions, and he didn't want innocent people to be caught up in the killing because of him.

He knew all along that the Vajra Sect would not give up easily and would not abandon their pursuit just because they were about to leave the Western Regions, but he had kept quiet about it to avoid causing panic among everyone.

From this day forward, he will owe the Shaolin Temple a favor, which he will surely repay in the future.

After hearing all this, Abbot Ku Hui said nothing, but shook his head with a kind smile on his lips.

“Master, you are different from some monks I have met before. Knowing that I am a Taoist, you disregarded the precepts and drank heavily in front of you, but you pretended not to see anything.”

Duan Zhengchun hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

Living in this unfamiliar world, he was not used to easily developing admiration or liking for someone, but Abbot Ku Hui was one of them.

Ku Hui clasped his hands together and slowly said, “Benefactor Yin, you hold righteous thoughts and aspire to enlightenment. You are not bound by trivialities and your actions, though unconventional, are still on the right path. The key lies in the right awareness of your heart and the steadfastness of the Way, rather than being bound by formalities.”

"Perhaps Benefactor Yin deviates somewhat from the norm in his conduct, but he has a righteous heart and is not swayed by worldly affairs. In this vast world, there are very few people who can do that."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun couldn't help but shake his head with a smile and joked, "Master is the best at praising people I've ever met. It's a pity that my two senior uncles and senior masters are not as open-minded as you. No matter how fragrant this fine wine is, I can only sneak here to drink it."

Ku Hui turned to look at Duan Zhengchun and said earnestly, "Benefactor Yin is naturally intelligent, and his aura shows signs of great potential. He is like a pearl covered in dust, which, though in a predicament, cannot hide his brilliance."

"Given time, he will surely break through the shackles, leap over the dragon gate, and soar to the heavens. He is no ordinary talent who can be confined by any pond. He is a man of great talent who can save the world, a dragon among men, and his future is limitless."

His words were full of praise, and he nodded frequently...