Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

The Song Dynasty was a time of outlaw bandits, and there were quite a few famous monks among them.

But the name of Lu Zhishen, the Flowery Monk, is definitely the most famous among them.

After this former military commander of the Western Army became a monk, he truly shone brightly in the circle of monks.

When Deng Yuanjue was still at the Shaolin Temple in Putian, he had already heard the story of Lu Zhishen.

His thought at the time was that one day he would definitely have to exchange a few moves with Lu Zhishen.

I never expected the opportunity to come so quickly.

This time, he set off north from his lodgings after receiving an invitation from a benefactor named Fang in his hometown of Shezhou, who said he was going to give a lecture on Buddhism.

But he knew that this benefactor Fang's background was not so simple.

So he didn't go back so quickly, but instead strolled around slowly.

And then... we actually ran into another monk!

The moment Deng Yuanjue engaged Lu Zhishen in combat, he realized that this renowned monk was indeed formidable.

Although it was just a clash of fists and feet, the pressure Lu Zhishen brought was no less than when they used weapons!

"Bingbingbingbingbing!"

The two monks were only exchanging blows, but it felt like weapons were clashing!

As expected of someone from the Western Army, Lu Zhishen's boxing style was full of the killing intent of the battlefield.

With bold and unrestrained movements, and a surge of energy, Lu Zhishen even managed to suppress Deng Yuanjue in the first twenty rounds!

Deng Yuanjue relied on his resilience to withstand Lu Zhishen's relentless onslaught for twenty rounds before gradually reversing his momentum.

"Wow, that's impressive, Commander!"

Mi Sheng waited in his post, watching this rare duel between monks in the Song Dynasty's outlaw world, and he was truly thrilled.

He even considered doing it himself!

"Brother, this monk is really something else."

Shi Bao had caught his breath and, looking at the situation on the battlefield, he spoke to Ren Yuan.

"This monk is no worse than the military commander, but look at his fighting style, which is very aggressive and unrestrained. There are almost no other monks in the world who can gain the upper hand against him."

Yes, even though Deng Yuanjue gradually turned the tide, it still seemed that Lu Zhishen was in control.

"Ping!"

Two fists the size of sandbags collided heavily, and the two burly men were thrown apart by the force of the impact.

Ren Yuan, who had been observing the two men, noticed that Lu Zhishen took three steps back and Deng Yuanjue took four steps back.

Hmm, as expected, our Master Lu is still more powerful.

"That was great! That was great! Come on, again!"

Lu Zhishen hadn't had such a satisfying fight with someone he was evenly matched with in a long time. Although the brothers on the mountain were also highly skilled in martial arts, they always held back when sparring.

It's rare to see a game this satisfying as today.

"and many more."

Ren Yuan called a halt to the competition.

Lu Zhishen was somewhat surprised, but since it was Ren Yuan who called for a halt, he was willing to stop for a while.

"Master Yuanjue, I wonder if my senior brother's martial arts skills are up to your standards?"

“Amitabha, benefactor, if you say that, then this humble monk is truly ashamed.”

Deng Yuanjue no longer dared to be arrogant. He could vaguely sense that the leader was no less powerful than Lu Zhishen, who had just fought him. Furthermore, there were also experts watching from the north and south sides of the restaurant.

Add to that the first young man he faced; if he hadn't been in poor physical condition, it's uncertain whether he could have won.

"Master Yuanjue, can we sit down and have a proper talk now?"

Ren Yuan pulled up a chair and sat down. Shi Bao and Lu Zhishen exchanged a glance, and the two of them stood behind Ren Yuan in perfect unison, like two protectors.

Deng Yuanjue gave a bitter smile, then picked up a chair and slowly sat down. Now that he was besieged on all sides, could he say no?

"Master Yuanjue was from Shezhou, right? Why did he become a monk in Putian?"

In conversations like this, Ren Yuan usually tells stories to reminisce about his childhood, saying that in the past, if a romantic relationship could make someone cry, then it was considered a success.

"Some stories from the past... are best left unmentioned."

"Then let me tell you a story, Master?"

Here we go, Ren Yuan is about to begin his performance.

"Donor, please tell me."

"Once upon a time, there was a young man who was obsessed with martial arts. He got married, but because he was too engrossed in martial arts, he neglected the feelings of his new wife."

As soon as Ren Yuan began to speak, Deng Yuanjue sat up abruptly!

"In the year or so since they got married, this man has only touched his wife a handful of times. He is often away for a month or two at a time because he goes out to learn martial arts."

"Then one day, when he came home, he found that his wife was sleeping in the same bed with a strange man!"

"That man was the son of the county magistrate, the most notorious playboy in the county. He loved to seduce newlywed women who were left alone at home. This man ignored his wife's feelings and went out to learn martial arts, so it was natural that someone would take advantage of him."

"Then, the man killed his wife and the playboy on the spot, and was then wanted by the county magistrate throughout the county."

A flicker of pain crossed Deng Yuanjue's face, as if he were recalling something.

"Then, to escape being hunted down, this guy went to his brother's house, but little did he know that he would bring utter destruction upon his brother..."

"Yes, and then his brother, sister-in-law, and mother all died."

Deng Yuanjue suddenly raised his head, interrupting Ren Yuan, and continued the story.

"Later, he fled all the way to a faraway place and became a monk. After mastering martial arts, he returned home and killed the entire family of the county magistrate who had harmed him. He was then wanted again. In order not to implicate the temple, he left and began to wander the world."

"Yes, Master Yuanjue, how could a man who was living a good life end up like this?"

"It seems you know me well. If you hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten these past events."

Deng Yuanjue's tiger eyes were slightly red. Ren Yuan's sudden recollection of the past had truly touched his heart.

The things that I had sealed away in my heart resurfaced in my mind.

"Do you think that if that man hadn't become obsessed with martial arts and had instead lived a good life with his wife, wouldn't everything have been different? He would have been happy with his wife, and his brother and sister-in-law, and his mother would all be doing well?"

"I do not know."

Deng Yuanjue shook his head; he had never dared to answer this question directly.

Because he had also thought that it was possible that his youthful stubbornness had ruined his whole family.

The thought of that made it even harder for him to forgive himself.

Therefore, he could only try to stop thinking about it, transform himself into a monk, and attempt to forget everything.

“Forgetting all this is not a good approach, Master Yuanjue. I know a monk who has experienced life and death and has his own detached perspective on these things. If you have no objections, why don’t you come to my place and we can discuss Buddhism?”

Deng Yuanjue suddenly looked up at Ren Yuan, his expression complex.

"Although you are using the name of the Chai family, you are definitely not a member of the Chai family. May I ask your name, sir?"

"Haha, Master Yuanjue has a good eye. I am Ren Yuan. My friends in the martial arts world have given me the nickname Optimus Prime."

Ren Yuan approached Deng Yuanjue and spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

“I believe that Master Yuanjue will receive more Buddhist teachings from me than he did from Fang Shisan!”

"How about it? Master Yuanjue? Or rather, Brother Deng Biao?"

P.S.: On a few side notes, some readers commented that Li Qingzhao should be the female lead. However, the book is set in 1112, while Li Qingzhao married in 1101. You guys are actually going after someone who's been married for 11 years? That's like Cao Cao's behavior... hahaha. Other readers commented that we should include Xin Qiji and Lu You! But again, this is 1112. Lu You's father was still a child, and as for Xin Qiji, his father was probably still in his mother's womb...