Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 176 - 160: Trampling the Bones of Courtiers on the Heavenly Street!

Chapter 176: Chapter 160: Trampling the Bones of Courtiers on the Heavenly Street!

"In the 46th year of Zhenjie of the Great Tang Dynasty, on the 20th of August, at the middle of You Hour (17:30), Flame Cloud Sect cultivator Xie Wenren fought to the death with True Buddha Temple’s Mahaparinirvana and Li Ping’an. In the end, Xie Wenren had his fingers and shoulder bone broken, but fortunately, there were no deaths. Finally, Flame Cloud Sect cultivator Xie Wenren admitted defeat..."

After the Night Traveler finished reading, the other three Night Travelers then asked:

"Do both parties recognize the outcome of this fight to the death?"

"We recognize it!"

Li Ping’an, the Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana, and Xie Wenren all responded in turn.

"Good, we have recorded the time, place, participants, course, and result. We will register these details in the main ledger once we return, so all of you behave yourselves. Do not stir up any more trouble, and especially do not involve your respective sects. Otherwise, it will be considered an opposition to the Imperial Court. Of course, if anyone is dissatisfied, aside from the Three Auxiliaries of Chang’an, you may fight to the death again after a month. We take our leave now!"

After the four Night Travelers spoke, they flew back to where they had come from, disappearing near the Fallen Dragon Pit.

In front of the Drunken Immortal Residence, only Li Ping’an, the Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana, the fallen Xie Wenren, and a crowd of idle followers and hooligans remained. However, these louts were too frightened to move, turning their heads away and avoiding the gazes of Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana, hoping they would leave quickly.

The Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana hurried to retrieve his weapon, an eighty-pound Water-Polished Zen Staff and the Buddhist Blade, holding them with one hand before returning to Li Ping’an’s side.

"Younger brother, I didn’t see it coming. Though I knew you were formidable, I didn’t expect you to be this powerful!"

Without wanting to bother the pitiful Xie Wenren any longer, the Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana walked towards the Drunken Immortal Residence with his arm around Li Ping’an, genuinely praising him along the way.

"What are you talking about, brother? If you hadn’t shattered that guy’s Life-bound Magic Treasure, the Yinrang Ring, earlier, how could I have defeated him so quickly? In the end, the credit still goes to you, brother!"

Li Ping’an had beaten Xie Wenren for the Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana today without getting entangled in other matters, naturally he was overjoyed and content as they entered the Drunken Immortal Residence.

The Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana:

"You sure have a sweet mouth, but there’s one thing you didn’t discuss with me!"

Li Ping’an, surprised:

"What’s that?"

The Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana, feeling helpless:

"Earlier, you mentioned that you defeated Xie Wenren on my behalf to impress Emperor Tathagata, but you thought wrong. The Emperor Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk isn’t someone who covets empty fame."

Li Ping’an, with some regret:

"Why didn’t you tell me earlier, brother? Now that I think about it, it seems I was meddling unnecessarily!"

The Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana waved his hand:

"You didn’t ask me either, younger brother. Oh well, what’s done is done. Let the matter be. Come, let’s continue drinking and not worry about these trifles!"

After entering the Drunken Immortal Residence, the Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana was the first to take his seat, while Li Ping’an quickly retrieved his bet money, also claiming the winnings from the shopkeeper and several diners, a total of forty taels of silver, enough for Li Ping’an’s food and drink for over ten days.

The shopkeeper and those diners did not dare to welsh on their bets, and only after Li Ping’an had collected the money did he take his seat again.

"Brother, today’s drinking hasn’t been pleasant, all because I caused trouble. Once I receive my monthly stipend from the True Buddha Temple, I’ll invite you for drinks!"

The Defrocked Monk Mahaparinirvana, feeling somewhat embarrassed, raised his cup to apologize to Li Ping’an.

<img data-ywcc-imgId="10017369" data-ywcc-path="/imgChapter/20580431908756101/27691534702072604/10017369/5570e4e31f1f7a8fbeea6426478e1206II1U8ksIR8NMSUJ.jpg">

"I love that temperament of yours, brother. From now on, let’s not speak of such things. Here’s a toast!"

"Come, let’s drink up!"

After a cup of drink, Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, looked at Li Ping’an and said earnestly again:

"Younger Brother, today you took action on my behalf, and although your considerations were not pure, your intentions were good. It shows that you truly regard me as a brother. Now, I owe you a great favor. Rest assured, if you ever need my help in the future, just say the word!"

"Good!"

All the efforts Li Ping’an had made up to this point were to secure these words from Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts. Although it was just a sentence, the weight behind it was substantial—hidden within were vows of aid, fearless of fire and water!

Both men then drank three more cups in succession, watching the distant sunset tucked between the mountains as it wearily sank. Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, then got up and parted ways with Li Ping’an.

"Boss, we brothers have devoured everything else, but not a single bite of this roasted leg of lamb. Once I’ve gone to True Buddha Temple, I won’t have the chance to eat meat again. Come on, pack it up for me, and oh, the remaining ale too. Pour it all into my leather wine bag!"

"Alright, Sir, just a moment!"

After the roasted leg of lamb and remaining ale were packed up, Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, finally left the Drunken Immortal Residence.

Standing outside the entrance of the Drunken Immortal Residence, Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, looked unwillingly at Li Ping’an and said:

"Younger Brother, where do you live? If I get bored in the monastery, I’ll come find you for a drink and good time!"

Li Ping’an pointed towards the entrance of Fallen Dragon Pit and honestly said:

"Brother, I live in an abandoned dwelling at Fallen Dragon Pit, right next to the Dragon Locking Well in the middle of the pit. Come find me at night when you’re free; I have other matters to attend to during the day."

"Good! I shall head to True Buddha Temple now, and this is where we part!"

"Farewell, Brother!"

Li Ping’an watched as Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, departed.

"All the past prosperity is now buried; with every glance, desolation and no relics remain. The imperial treasury has burnt to ashes resembling brocade, while the bones of nobles and officials are trampled in the streets! Given the choice, I would be like Huang Chao, or at least roam freely in the mountains and forests. But alas, this world is filled with too many rules and needless chatter! How difficult, how difficult!"

<img data-ywcc-imgId="10017044" data-ywcc-path="/imgChapter/20580431908756101/27691534702072604/10017044/fa5ba26fa639d6f35663645a0310fdddEVel2574RP70Ply.jpg">

Reciting the verse with endless sighs, Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, walked into the twilight and vanished from Li Ping’an’s sight.

Li Ping’an, too, felt moved after hearing those words, and then he went to Niu Ji Blacksmith’s Shop to pick up his custom weapon.

As soon as Li Ping’an had left, that gang of local bullies and idle followers finally dared to move. Chilled to the bone by the lingering imposing presence of Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, they immediately intended to abandon Xie Wenren, who was lying motionless on the ground, and leave. It was right then that Iron Staff Wang Lang arrived, hitching up his trousers.

"Hold it, hold it, all of you. First, carry Immortal Xie back, and then we can talk!"

"Where the hell were you when we were nearly scared to death just now, roaming Jianghu?"

"Enough, enough! Let’s carry Immortal Xie back first!"

Under the command of Iron Staff Wang Lang, the group, whose courage had been shattered by Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, dared to return to the site.

"Immortal Xie, are you alright?"

Iron Staff Wang Lang and the surrounding bunch of idle followers and local bullies gathered around Xie Wenren, who lay on the ground with his eyes closed and a face of despair. But even after Iron Staff Wang Lang called out several times, Xie Wenren did not respond.

"Could this fellow be dead?"

"Who cares if he’s dead or not, they’re all charlatans who play at ghost-talking, ending up less useful than us toughs."

"Indeed, at least we stood up for Young Master Cen for a moment, unlike you guys—one of you disappeared in fear, one got beaten half to death. Now it seems we’ve completely disgraced Lord Cen!"