Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Page 91

"You're so stupid, you won't believe me. Given the current relationship between Mingjian Villa and Shaolin, shouldn't Mingjian Villa at least have given Master Yin a gift?"

"You mean he was kicked out? Hiss, he went to Mingjian Manor for help?"

"Very likely, I can't think of anything else besides this!"

"So, Mingjian Manor rejected him?"

"Isn't it obvious? Have you forgotten about the attack on Young Master Yi back then? It's said that Shaolin was responsible! Although no one says it outright and there's no evidence, Mingjian Manor is probably just hoping to see Shaolin Temple make a fool of itself."

"No wonder...no wonder they said this news came from the Famous Sword Manor! This is a deliberate slap in the face!"

"Hush, you don't want to live anymore, daring to slander Famous Sword Manor..."

"Shut up! Shut up!"

"Yeah, let's get back to the treasure!"

"Speaking of treasures, I've heard that just a ten-ounce gold brick could fill half of the main hall! There are also countless antiques, paintings, agates, pearls, gemstones and jade."

"So many?"

"Of course! Don't you think about it? Shaolin Temple has been a dominant force on Mount Song for so many years. Which of the farmers, merchants, security escort agencies, restaurants, and inns in that area isn't connected to it?"

"It seems that's really true. Over the past few hundred years, they've become incredibly wealthy! These bald monks are just too damn rich!"

"You're telling me, isn't Mingjian Manor tempted?"

"Hehe, Mingjian Manor has been a stronghold on Taihu Lake for three hundred years! Pearl-diving boats collect countless pearls every year, and there are countless caravans that have even ventured beyond the Great Wall. I'm afraid Young Master Yi wouldn't even look at them."

"They're all fucking rich!"

"Money is useless. Not to mention Elder Yi, even Young Master Yi from many years ago was not someone we could defeat. Now, so many years have passed, his martial arts skills... are unspeakable, unspeakable."

"That's true. In recent years, those who wanted to become famous by riding on Young Master Yi's popularity couldn't even get past Young Master Yi, let alone the Seventeen Sword Attendants."

"Nowadays, Young Master Yi is even more mysterious. Everyone says that his martial arts skills are no less than those of the former martial arts alliance leader, Senior Yi."

"With a good family background and privileged upbringing, it's simply unfair that God keeps feeding them!"

"Forget it, they're the chosen ones, destined to be famous throughout the martial arts world. Let's be realistic!"

"That's true. The wealth of Mingjian Manor is owned by someone. But the treasure of Shaolin is different. Whoever can snatch it from the carefree king can keep it."

"That's right. Even Shaolin cannot go against the code of chivalry. We are also doing our part to preserve the heritage of the Central Plains martial arts world."

"But I heard that the treasure contains Shaolin's secret techniques. It is said that the Holy Monk was defeated by the Prince of Xiaoyao and knew that he could not protect Shaolin, so he hid them in the hope of reviving Shaolin in the future."

"That's not right. I heard that the treasure contains Bodhidharma relics and Bodhidharma gold leaf, which are the mantle passed down by Bodhidharma, the founder of Buddhism. Whoever gets it will be the future abbot of Shaolin!"

"Who says there can only be one type of treasure?"

"Hiss...you mean...the treasure has several layers?"

"I didn't say that, don't talk nonsense!"

"I understand, I understand. I get it..."

"No, what do you know? You know."

"hey-hey……"

"Hehe... We're all brothers, don't get red in the face, come on, let's drink this up!"

"Dry……"

"Dry……"

Within a few days, news spread throughout the country about the Shaolin Temple treasure; the carefree king would send his men to enter the pass to plot against Shaolin; the Shaolin treasure was divided into several layers, containing gold and silver treasures, martial arts manuals, the legacy of Bodhidharma, and so on.

Everyone was secretly rubbing their hands together, keeping a close eye on their surroundings to see if any strangers, especially those from the Western Regions, would suddenly intrude.

………………

Mingjian Manor.

Yi Yuchen sat behind his desk, listening quietly to Yi Liang's report, and couldn't help but smile.

“Young Master Sun, rumors are flying everywhere and we can’t stop them! But as you instructed, the rumors are all being directed at the Shaolin Temple!” Yi Liang said, bowing.

Yi Yuchen nodded indifferently and said, "In that case, there's no need for our people to be mixed in. It wouldn't be good if we were discovered."

Yi Liang nodded, indicating that he would go and bring everyone back shortly.

Yi Yuchen had an idea and smiled, "Go and find a few literati who have been to Shaolin Temple and ask them about the layout of Shaolin Temple."

"What does Young Master want?" Yi Liang asked uncertainly.

Yi Yuchen laughed and said...

"Since we've already brought up the Shaolin Temple treasure map, we have to get a copy of it."

"Find some people to learn about the layout of Shaolin Temple, concoct some dubious incantations, and hide the treasure underground in Shaolin Temple!"

"Over the years, how could Shaolin Temple really not have any treasures? Not to mention Shaolin, even the Taihu Duo secretly bought two houses in Wuxi as a backup plan."

"So it's definitely true that Shaolin has a treasure map. But since we don't have the real one, let's just make a fake one!"

"As for whether it's real or fake, does it really matter? Even if there's no treasure, there's still the library!"

Yi Liang nodded. It really wasn't important! As long as people entered Shaolin, they would think of the Shaolin Sutra Repository, a temptation that no martial artist could resist.

Yi Yuchen added...

"The treasure map is ready. Don't leave it in the Central Plains. Find a way to have a caravan take it to the Western Regions! Whether it falls into the hands of the Carefree King or flows back to the Central Plains, it's none of our business!"

"If we can use this opportunity to lure the Carefree King to Mount Song in the north, I think that old fellow, the Holy Monk, will definitely be anxious. It wouldn't be a bad thing to take this opportunity to see Shaolin Temple's trump cards."

"If it falls into the hands of martial arts practitioners in the Central Plains, then you should try to make a few more copies to earn some hard-earned money, which can also prevent a martial arts battle."

"But Shaolin is going to suffer! I wonder what kind of expression Abbot Hui will have when he finds out!"

"Oh, right! Please write a letter for me to Shaolin Temple, telling them about these rumors circulating in the martial arts world, and expressing that Mingjian Villa will stand with Shaolin in times of trouble."

"We need to make it a big show of it in a subtle way, letting everyone in the martial arts world know that we care about the safety of Shaolin, understand?"

Yi Liang nodded to show that he understood: "We need to clear our name of the rumors and the Famous Sword Manor. At least on the surface, we need to let everyone know the Famous Sword Manor's determination to uphold justice in the martial arts world."

"It's also an opportunity to warn those troublemakers to calm down. With Mingjian Villa and Shaolin Temple supporting each other from the south and north, those martial arts practitioners won't be used by the Prince of Xiaoyao's spies," Yi Yuchen said, waving his hand dismissively.

Yi Liang bowed respectfully and went to make the arrangements with heartfelt gratitude.

Chapter 185 A secret is no longer a secret if too many people know it.

Only after Yi Liang left did Yi Yuchen have time to look at the system's narration...

Your fabricated story about Shaolin's treasure has successfully attracted the attention of both Shaolin Temple and Zhang Qiqiao.

Zhang Qiqiao had been trying to break free from the control of the Carefree King, and he was very interested in the treasure of Shaolin Temple.

The Shaolin treasure map you fabricated will unintentionally fall into the hands of a retainer in Wanyan Chang's household after you leave the pass.

The Shaolin treasure map fell into the hands of the Liao and Southern Song dynasties. Some believe it's fake, others believe it's real. Congratulations, your fabricated treasure map has correctly guessed part of the location of the real Shaolin treasure!

During the secret transfer of the treasure, Shaolin Temple was discovered by both the Southern Song Dynasty's Imperial City Guard and the Liao Dynasty's Night Rain Pavilion. Shaolin was forced to reveal some of its trump cards in advance and kill the royal spies.

You've successfully diverted the Prince of Leisure's attention from you, and he's now interested in the Shaolin treasure.

"This is truly... an unexpected stroke of luck!" Yi Yuchen chuckled as he read the system's narration.

However, these are all minor matters. Before Qin Hui returns to the court, stirring up the martial arts world might not be a bad thing.

Compared to the overall situation, these things were insignificant, so Yi Yuchen thought about it and put them aside. What was important now was to focus on the layout in Lüliang.

………………

Shaolin Temple.

Shaolin lay disciples are found all over the world, in scholars, farmers, merchants, and even in the imperial court.

Therefore, Shaolin Temple already knew about the rumors when they first started. Initially, Shaolin, believing that rumors would stop with the wise, did not interfere.

However, as time went on, the rumors not only did not stop, but intensified, and even reached the point where everyone in the world knew about them.

As a result, the Shaolin Temple, which had been deliberately keeping a low profile, attracted the attention of both the Southern Song court and Wanyan Chang of the Later Jin Dynasty.

After all, such a large sum of gold and silver, if real, would require a huge amount of military spending. How many weapons could it produce? Even if each person only got a small share, it would be enough to last three generations of a family, right?

At this moment, the head masters of all the halls and temples of Shaolin Temple had gathered in the meditation room where Abbot Liaohui was staying.

"There are so many rumors going around. What are your opinions, fellow disciples?" Abbot Liaohui, who was seated at the head of the table, asked.

“I still maintain that rumors stop with the wise. Rumors are rampant now, but there is no real treasure map. If they are spread without any results, those people will naturally stop!” said Abbot Liaoyin.

“Senior brother, what you said is inappropriate. Are you suggesting we let those martial arts practitioners roam freely in Mount Song?” said Liao Fan, the head of the Arhat Hall.

Liaoyin clasped his hands together and chanted "Amitabha," then said, "It's better to remain still than to act! This matter has already attracted the attention of the Southern Song and Liao dynasties. If we act now, wouldn't we be confirming the existence of the treasure?"

Yaoshitang Liaozhi said, "That makes sense! Those Jianghu people are just minor details and don't need to be taken seriously. On the contrary, the imperial courts on both sides are the most urgent matters. If they are not handled properly, it could lead to the extermination of an entire family."

Liao Fan snorted coldly and said, "This must be the work of Mingjian Manor. Such despicable behavior does not deserve the position of leader of the martial arts alliance."

Upon hearing this, everyone remained silent. Only Hui sighed, took out a letter from his robes, and said, "Today, the steward monk received a letter from Mingjian Villa, saying that rumors are rampant in the martial world, and Mingjian Villa is willing to stand with Shaolin."

After everyone had read the letter, Liao Hui placed it on the meditation couch beside him and said, "Don't repeat what Junior Brother Liao Fan said in the future. If it gets out, it will be seen as Shaolin not appreciating our good intentions."

"Amitabha!" Liaoyin sighed, "He has been meticulous in his work, and I'm afraid the contents of the letter have already spread throughout the martial arts world."

Liao Hui nodded and said...

"In this way, Mingjian Villa has already reached the pinnacle of chivalry, and Shaolin has no choice but to continue down this path."

"We must be careful when dealing with Famous Sword Manor in the future! That Young Master Yi is truly not to be underestimated!"

"However, this is also an opportunity to publish this letter and let those people in the martial arts world know the determination of Shaolin and Mingjian Villa to join forces. This will make them think twice and not act recklessly."

"Amitabha! This Young Master Yi is quite cunning! In this way, Shaolin Temple will have no choice but to accept the favor from Mingjian Manor. In the future, when we meet again, we will be at a disadvantage!"

"If the carefree king really comes to the Central Plains one day, Shaolin will no longer be able to compete for the position of martial arts alliance leader."

Upon hearing this, all the monks bowed their heads and chanted, "Amitabha!"

After much discussion, the Shaolin monks decided to wait and see. At this time, the eyes of the martial arts world, the imperial court, and powerful families were all on the Shaolin Temple, and every move they made would be deliberately magnified and interpreted.

After the other monks left, only Huihe and Master Liaozhi of the Medicine Buddha Hall remained in the meditation room.

Liao Zhi was silent for a moment, then said, "Now that things have come to this, I'm afraid that Young Master Yi still has a backup plan. Our plan to shift the blame and watch the situation develop is probably not going to work out!"

Abbot Liaohui lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before saying, "He must have a backup plan. If it were me, I wouldn't stop here either. I'm afraid that instead of diverting the trouble, I might end up getting burned myself."

Liao Zhi remained silent for a moment before asking, "Junior Brother, are you referring to the Carefree King?"

After a long silence, the two remained indifferent in the meditation room. Abbot Liaohui said in a low voice, "Senior brother, why don't you go to the Bodhidharma Cave? It's time to invite our senior uncles out of seclusion!"

"Sigh..." Liao Zhi sighed as he recalled his uncle who had sealed his life and death in the Bodhidharma Cave. This was a secret that Shaolin Temple could only activate after it suffered the annihilation of its entire sect.

………………

In a secluded room in a certain place in Jiangnan.

Three men and two women gathered silently in the secret room. The three men were dressed in a style reminiscent of the Northwest region, while the woman sitting next to them had a captivating and alluring gaze.

Another woman, dressed in Central Plains attire, sat opposite the four men, a sword in her arms, and looked at them with indifference.

The woman with the alluring look in her eyes blinked and said with a grin, "Oh! You really are a delicate little beauty, I absolutely adore you!"

The woman holding the sword sneered, "If you want to get a fever, go find a man outside!"

The woman opposite her slammed her hand on the table, pointed at her, and said, "Qin Sirong, don't think that just because someone... supports you, you're ungrateful! Do you think I'm a matchmaker who's done nothing!"

The woman named Qin Sirong, who was holding a sword, slapped the sword on the table, gripped the hilt, and said, "I don't know if you, Hongniang, are a vegetarian, but those three definitely know about your beauty. What, you didn't let them have a taste?"

"I'll beat you to death..." The woman from the Western Regions, named Hongniang, pulled out a soft whip from her waist and pointed it at Qin Sirong.

The other three sat aside, laughing and watching the show, not caring at all, and even hoping that the two would start fighting.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the secret passage leading to the secret chamber. A moment later, a man dressed in black with gold-threaded iron armor on his chest walked in.

He swept his gaze across the crowd and shouted, "What are you doing? Looking for death? Is it fun to see your own people fighting each other?"

Qin Sirong and Hongniang snorted coldly and sheathed their weapons. The man walked to the main seat and sat down, looking at the two of them and saying, "Both of you, sit down!"

Chapter 186 Night Raid on Famous Sword Manor

After the two women sat down, the last man to enter asked, "I've summoned you here today to ask what you think of the recent rumors."