Chapter 19: The Young Monk Daoji

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Since they had chosen to come at night, naturally, they had no intention of causing a commotion. After dealing with the guard dogs, Jiang Liu and Gaoyang quietly pried open the door latch of the main house and walked in.

In the master bedroom, Esquire Zhang was sound asleep, embracing a young and beautiful woman, while his legal wife was sleeping alone in the adjacent side bedroom.

Gaoyang made his move, putting both the wife and concubine into a deep slumber, and then woke Esquire Zhang.

Esquire Zhang, coming to his senses, realized that there were two strangers in his room. Shocked, he attempted to cry out loudly.

However, the cold touch of a Flying Dagger pressed against his throat while Gaoyang, with a low and intentionally fierce voice, said, "Don't yell, or my hand might just slip."

Feeling the icy sensation of the Flying Dagger at his throat, Esquire Zhang's heart skipped a beat. The words he had opened his mouth to shout were immediately swallowed back, his voice trembling, "Both of you, let's talk this out. If it's money you want, I'm willing to give five silver taels, no, ten..."

As Esquire Zhang spoke, Jiang Liu lit the oil lamp on the table, and the faint light dispersed the darkness within the room.

Lamp in hand, Jiang Liu approached Esquire Zhang.

"Jiang, Jiang Liu, is that you!?" Esquire Zhang exclaimed in alarm, seeing Jiang Liu approach with the lamp.

A Novice Monk that had grown up in Jinshan Temple, now breaking into his residence in the dead of night with a weapon—this was something Esquire Zhang had never imagined.

"It seems that Esquire Zhang's life isn't worth much," Jiang Liu said calmly as he held the lamp and moved closer to Esquire Zhang, "To catch me, you were willing to pay thirty silver taels and collude with bandits, but to save your own life, you're only willing to pay ten?"

"How, how did you..." Jiang Liu's words pierced right through his collusion with the bandits, leaving Esquire Zhang staring at him in astonishment.

Could it be that he had underestimated the fifteen-year-old boy?

Since Jiang Liu mentioned the thirty silver taels and the bandits, it was clear that he had already investigated thoroughly. Esquire Zhang realized it was pointless to deny it any further and quickly admitted his mistake.

"Master Jiang Liu, my apologies, I was blinded by greed. I beg your pardon; I am willing to give you the thirty silver taels to make amends for my fault. Monks are known for their compassion. Please, Master, on account of our being fellow townspeople, forgive me."

Esquire Zhang wept bitterly, the very picture of remorse as he begged for mercy.

His words appeared sincere, offering thirty silver taels and appealing to Jiang Liu's status in the Buddhist Sect while also playing the card of their shared hometown affiliation.

If one were slightly softer-hearted, seeing his tearful anguish might make it difficult to continue troubling him.

The thirty silver taels truly pained Esquire Zhang, but when faced with the threat to his life, the silver lost its value.

Esquire Zhang was aware of the situation at Jinshan Temple—thirty silver taels should be enough to sway the other party.

By offering money and admitting his error in earnest, as long as he could stabilize the situation, he should be fine, or so he thought. The immediate crisis was the primary concern.

For a fifteen-year-old youth, fiery with the vigour of youth, who knew what he might do in a real fury? Esquire Zhang had no intention of gambling with his life.

Yet, while Esquire Zhang's thoughts and choices weren't bad, Jiang Liu did not seem swayed at all.

"What, you think I'm here for the money?" Jiang Liu said.

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Jiang Liu was very clear about his purpose, he was here for revenge, not for wealth.

"You, do you really have to be so ruthless? Aren't you afraid that Senior Abbot Faming will punish you?" Jiang Liu's attitude startled Esquire Zhang, who had moved on from pleading to invoking Senior Abbot Faming's name.

Monks are compassionate at heart, even if they are at fault, a sincere apology, he believed, would surely not be met with approval from Faming for a vengeful killing, right?

"He who kills, will be killed in turn. Since you'd decided to collude with bandits against me, naturally, you should be prepared for the possibility of failure and my subsequent revenge. You are an adult now; everyone must take responsibility for their own actions," Jiang Liu said without any intention of wasting words, his gaze fixed on Esquire Zhang as he lifted the ebony stick beside him, murder intent emanating instantly.

"Amitabha, monks should harbor compassion. Since this benefactor has sincerely repented, why should this younger brother wallow in hatred? As the saying goes, 'Lay down the butcher knife, and you will achieve Buddhahood on the spot'."

However, before Jiang Liu could smash the ebony stick down, suddenly, a chant of Buddha's name sounded, and a young monk clothed in crescent white entered the scene.

Jiang Liu and this monk both looked very young, like teenagers around fifteen or sixteen years of age.

However, Jiang Liu was dressed in a tattered grey-white monk's robe, while the incoming monk wore an affluent crescent white robe that was quite imposing.

"Great master, save me!" Seeing the young monk enter, Esquire Zhang's eyes lit up, and he called out joyfully.

The image of the monk casually crushing a rock when he had sought lodging seemed just like yesterday; it seemed possible that he might be the one to save him.

"Who are you?" Jiang Liu frowned slightly as he watched the young monk step forward.

At first glance, the young monk exuded an extraordinary presence; handsome, well-dressed, and dignified, clearly not your average monk—probably from a major temple.

Compared to him, it seemed Jiang Liu's only advantage was his good looks.

"This humble monk is Daoji from Daming Temple. I am here for the annual Incense Offering Ceremony at Great Buddha Temple. Having overheard some of the grievances between you two, since this benefactor has sincerely repented, why not give him a chance?" spoke the young monk eloquently and politely.

"Daoji? Could this be Ji Gong?" Jiang Liu couldn't help but scoff inwardly.

Of course, that wasn't possible; the legendary monk Ji Gong wasn't from the Tang Dynasty.

"You are unreasonable. We both are participating in this year's Incense Offering Ceremony, so we should be peers. I grew up in a temple since childhood; who is the senior and who is the junior between us is still unclear."

Jiang Liu's gaze landed on the other party, pausing for a moment, then he continued, "Easier said than done, I understand the concept of achieving Buddhahood by laying down the butcher knife, and I also understand the compassionate heart of a monk; however, having not experienced another's suffering, don't be quick to preach magnanimity to them."

"Amitabha, it seems the younger brother is deeply entrenched in his obsession. Well, if you have a grudge against this benefactor and wish to seek vengeance, it cannot be considered unjust. But since this benefactor has shown me a kindness, I cannot just stand by idly. If that's the case, I am willing to engage in a match with the younger brother to see our respective demon subduing techniques."

"I've said it before, I am the senior!" Jiang Liu retorted as he raised the ebony stick in his hand, a dazzling golden light shining between his hands.

As the light merged into the ebony stick, he aimed it at his opponent, striking first to gain the upper hand.

"Amitabha, Arhat Fist? Excellent. This humble monk also has some knowledge of it..." Daoji murmured as he saw the golden light emanating from Jiang Liu's palms.

It was uncertain whether it was an illusion, but as the sound of a dragon's chant arose, the golden light in Daoji's palms subtly transformed into dragon-shaped phantoms, wrapping around his fists.

Confronting the ebony stick pointed by Jiang Liu, Daoji faced it head-on with his fists aglow with brilliant golden light.