The Shaolin Abbot Born in the 1980s

Chapter 22: Defending the Dignity of Shaolin

The tiger’s appearance felt like a catastrophe striking; no one was prepared for it—including Huo Yuanzhen. Now Huo Yuanzhen was beginning to regret having built the temple gates so large. The massive, gold-lacquered iron gates stood over one zhang tall and weighed over a thousand jin; closing them was a Herculean task that required moving them slowly. It was certainly imposing, but in an emergency, it proved rather inconvenient. There was a side gate next to the main gate, but because so many people had arrived over the past two days, they’d left the main gate wide open—a gesture meant to welcome visitors. But who could have imagined that a ferocious beast like a tiger would actually appear in the Shaoshi Mountain? Based on past experience, even the sight of a wild boar was considered quite rare. Moreover, this tiger was far too large—its body measured a full four meters in length, its eyes were as big as bells, its four claws were like hooks, and its tail, over a meter long, swung back and forth, exuding an air of majesty. Although Huo Yuanzhen possessed some inner energy, his actual combat ability was all show; even if Yijing and the others attacked together, they probably wouldn’t be enough to satisfy this tiger’s appetite. The only option now was to close the gate as quickly as possible. Huo Yuanzhen and the others pushed the iron gate with all their might, hoping the tiger wouldn’t charge at them just yet. In their panic, the iron gate moved excruciatingly slowly. Fortunately, the tiger simply stood there and did not charge forward, giving Huo Yuanzhen and the others a glimmer of hope. Just as the iron gate was about to close, a huge hand suddenly grabbed the gate from the outside. Huo Yuanzhen and Yijing pushed one panel, while Yikong, Huizhen Huiming pushed the other. The large hand had grabbed the very panel that Yikong and the others were pushing. The palm was as large as a palm-leaf fan; once it gripped the gate, even the combined strength of Yikong and his two companions was completely unable to budge it. The hand gave a sharp tug outward, and the iron gate swung wide open again, causing Yikong and the others to stumble backward. When they looked outside, they were even more shocked to see a giant of a man standing before them, over two meters tall. By Huo Yuanzhen’s estimate, this giant’s height rivaled Yao Ming’s, and his physique far surpassed Yao Ming’s—his body was incredibly robust. He wore a black animal-skin vest, and the muscles on his exposed arms bulged, clearly indicating immense strength. “Is this tiger the giant’s?” The thought suddenly occurred to Huo Yuanzhen, and he relaxed. Since the tiger was the giant’s pet, things would be much easier—without its master’s command, the tiger wouldn’t harm anyone. Dealing with a reasonable person was far better than dealing with a tiger. “May I ask what brings you to Shaolin at this hour?” Huo Yuanzhen said nothing, but gestured for Yikong to ask the question. The giant did not answer. Just as Yikong was puzzling over this, another voice suddenly came from behind them. “Buddhism opens its doors to all; how could we possibly refuse a pilgrim coming to pay their respects?” The voice was clear and melodious, like a nightingale’s song or a pearl falling onto a jade plate—it was, surprisingly, the sweet, delicate voice of a young woman. The burly man stepped aside, and the tiger obediently followed him to the back, revealing two women behind them. A young girl in green, with delicate features, was supporting a slender girl in white as they walked gracefully toward the gate. “Iron Ox, you and your Dahuang, move over a bit. You two are so big—you’re blocking the entire mountain path. How is the young lady supposed to get through?” The girl in green was quick-witted, and to his surprise, the burly man actually listened to her, stepping back a bit with Tiger in tow. “Miss, let’s go. The temple gates are still open—thank goodness we arrived just in time.” The girl in white was not only dressed entirely in white but also wore a white veil over her face; her figure alone was so beautiful it couldn’t help but spark the imagination. A waft of incense drifted toward them as the two young women approached the temple gate. Seeing the five monks still standing at the temple entrance, the girl in green couldn’t help but wrinkle her little nose and say, “Hey, what’s the matter with you monks? Can’t you see our young lady has come to burn incense and pay respects to the Buddha? Move out of the way right now!” Yikong glanced at Huo Yuanzhen and said, “Ladies, we’re about to close. If you’d like to offer incense, please come earlier tomorrow…” “Shut up! You’re such an annoying monk. It’s your good fortune that our young mistress has come here to burn incense. We’ll just give you a little extra offering later. If you keep nagging, I’ll have Dahuang bite you.” “Xiao Cui, you’re getting more and more outspoken.” The girl in white rebuked the girl in green. That simple remark alone filled everyone present—including Huo Yuanzhen—with a sense of sheer delight; such is the magic of a beauty. Although he couldn’t see her face, Huo Yuanzhen was certain that beneath the veil lay a face of breathtaking beauty, enough to captivate a nation. The green-clad girl named Xiao Cui stuck out her tongue and dared not say another word. The girl in white turned her head to look at Huo Yuanzhen and the other four, asking, “I wonder if there is an Abbot among you five masters?” Huo Yuanzhen had no choice but to step forward and say, “Amitabha Buddha. Lady, This Humble Monk is indeed the abbot of this temple.” The young woman in white seemed somewhat surprised. She had originally assumed the abbot would be Yikong or Huizhen, but never expected it to be this young, handsome monk standing before her—it was truly unexpected. Nevertheless, she curtsied slightly: “Abbot, I apologize for disturbing you at this hour. There were simply too many pilgrims during the day, and as I have always preferred quiet, I was unaware that your temple would be closing so early. Please do not hold this against me.” “As the Buddha said, one cannot blame the ignorant. There’s no need for you to apologize, young lady.” “Thank you, Abbot. May I ask, then, if I may enter your temple to offer incense?” “Please, young lady.” Huo Yuanzhen did not refuse. Although the woman in white exuded an air of mystery, Huo Yuanzhen was not one to be overly curious; her agreement was largely out of respect for the tiger. Just as the woman in white was about to step through the door, the girl in green suddenly said, “Miss, please wait. Let Iron Ox and Dahuang go in first to check if there are any ambushes inside the temple. It wouldn’t be good if someone were there and startled you.” “Xiao Cui, what are you saying? Do I look like the timid type?” Although the woman in white spoke with a hint of reproach, she didn’t move a step, clearly agreeing with the girl in green. They didn’t seem to mind, but the monks standing with Huo Yuanzhen all looked rather displeased. Allowing a burly man to search the Shaolin Temple with a tiger in tow? What kind of behavior was this? It was nothing short of an insult to Shaolin! However, intimidated by the imposing presence of the giant and the tiger, the monks dared not intervene. Only Yijing was eager to step forward and prevent the giant from bringing the tiger into the temple. Before he could make a move, Huo Yuanzhen suddenly stepped in front of the doorway, blocking the giant man and the tiger’s path. “Excuse me, lady donor. If you’ve come to our temple to offer incense, This Humble Monk welcomes you. But if you think the Shaolin Temple is a den of iniquity and wish to conduct a search, then please, all of you, turn back!” Both the woman in white and the woman in green were taken aback; they hadn’t expected this young abbot to dare stand in the way of Iron Ox and Dahuang. After all, most people would likely go weak at the knees just at the sight of that pair—this abbot truly had guts. They remained silent, but the burly man grinned widely. “Little monk, you dare to block my path—I’m Iron Ox. You’re truly audacious. Dahuang, go on—show him what you’re made of.” At Iron Ox’s command, the tiger—as if it understood human speech—let out a furious roar at Huo Yuanzhen. The monks standing nearby were so shaken that their eardrums buzzed, and their faces all turned pale. But before the tiger’s roar had even faded, Huo Yuanzhen suddenly bellowed, “Wicked beast, stand down! The dignity of Shaolin must not be violated!” In this roar, Huo Yuanzhen employed the Lion’s Roar technique, combining it with his inner energy. He retained only a faint trace of energy within his dantian to keep from collapsing on the spot, channeling all his remaining inner energy into this single, powerful roar. In an instant, a rolling wave of sound surged forth, forcing the “Iron Ox” to stumble back a step. Caught off guard, he felt dizzy and disoriented, nearly losing his balance. As for the tiger, it was startled even more; it leaped backward violently, its massive body shuddering. When it looked at Huo Yuanzhen again, there was actually a hint of inexplicable fear in its eyes. In its mind, it was impossible to comprehend how Huo Yuanzhen—a mere human—could produce such a thunderous roar, one that even made the King of the Forest feel a twinge of fear. Huo Yuanzhen’s roar was directed at the Iron Ox and the tiger; the two women standing nearby at different angles were not directly affected, though the immense sound caused their eardrums to ring, leaving them unable to hear anything else for a moment. The monks behind them, having avoided the direct impact of the inner energy, did not feel the effects as strongly, though they were still genuinely startled by Huo Yuanzhen’s voice. After a moment, the woman in white had somewhat recovered and looked directly at Huo Yuanzhen. Although Huo Yuanzhen could not make out her features, he could still sense the stunned gaze behind her veil. This Humble Monk bowed slightly to the woman in white: “Lady Layperson, as the abbot, it is my duty to uphold the reputation of Shaolin. I cannot accept an unwarranted search of our temple.” He had expected the woman in white to become angry, but to his surprise, she bowed to Huo Yuanzhen once more: “Abbot, you are so young yet so profound—I misjudged you. I offer my sincere apologies and hope you will forgive my rashness.” Huo Yuanzhen could tell that the woman in white’s politeness earlier had been merely superficial; this time, however, she genuinely showed a hint of respect for him as the abbot. “It’s all right.” “I humbly ask you once more, Master, to allow me to enter the temple to offer incense.” “Please, lady donor.” This time, the woman in white had Iron Ox and the tiger wait outside the temple, and she and the girl in green, Xiao Cui, walked straight into the temple together. Yikong and the others looked at Huo Yuanzhen with admiration. This abbot really lived up to expectations—he’d actually managed to scare the tiger away with a single strange cry. That was a thrill! Following an abbot like this, at least life wouldn’t be a drag. Ever since these two women had arrived at Shaolin, whether in their demeanor or their actions, they’d carried an air of superiority that made the monks feel as though they were second-class citizens. But with Huo Yuanzhen’s roar, their own morale soared. Yikong, Yijing, and others—including Huizhen Huiming—felt a sense of vindication; even their usually steadfast Buddhist hearts were filled with joy. Huo Yuanzhen, however, waved his hand dismissively: “All is illusory, yet you have allowed anger to cloud your minds. You deserve punishment. Return to your quarters immediately and copy the Prajnaparamita Sutra ten times!” The monks felt a chill run down their spines, realizing they had lost their composure just now. The Abbot’s conduct was truly exemplary; each of them bowed to Huo Yuanzhen with genuine respect and returned to their quarters. Only after they had withdrawn did Huo Yuanzhen turn his gaze toward the two women walking toward the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda.