The Reticent Blade
Chapter 325 - Lesser Arhat Temple

Chapter 325 - Lesser Arhat Temple

In truth, the gang of young beggars hadn’t suffered any injuries. They were scared silly the moment they saw the old monk casually cause the earth to tremble with a stomp.

Never in their lives had the young beggars seen such a spectacle. Their legs gave out beneath them, and they collapsed onto the ground. After a moment of stunned silence, they let out terrified screams, scattering like frightened birds.

The old monk silently murmured an apology in his heart before shifting his gaze toward the only one still standing—the leader of the gang.

The leader of the beggars shivered the moment the old monk’s sharp, angular eyes locked onto him, but he refused to back down and instead spat out, "You bald donkey! So you’ve got some skills! Consider yourself lucky today! I won’t let you off next time!"

With that, he turned and bolted toward the trees.

"Young benefactor, hold on—"

The old monk made a move as he spoke.

The little beggar had barely taken two steps before he felt a firm grip at the back of his neck, lifting him clean off the ground. Twisting his head around in shock, he found himself staring right into the face of the old monk.

The young beggar panicked and started struggling wildly. "You damned bald donkey! Let me go! Once I, the Unbound Third Master, get free, I swear I’ll strip that monk’s robe of yours and burn it!"

"‘Unbound Third Master’?" The old monk chuckled. "Then who is the First Master and Second Master?"

The little beggar tilted his head back arrogantly and snorted. "First are the Boundless Heavens, Second is the Endless Earth—between heaven and earth, I, Unbound Third Master, stand tall and unshakable!"

The old monk threw his head back in laughter. "You foolish child, what audacity!"

The little beggar flailed his fists and kicked wildly, but he was too small to land a single hit. Frustrated, he resorted to cursing. "Laugh all you want, you old bastard! I know you’re from that rundown temple. Just you wait—tomorrow, I’ll have my boys burn it to the ground!"

The old monk remained unfazed. Tilting his head slightly, he asked, "Little one, who are your parents?"

The beggar snorted again. "I, Unbound Third Master, was born of heaven and earth, with no parents!"

The old monk continued, "May I ask for your esteemed name?"

The beggar seemed quite pleased with the monk’s respectful questioning and lifted his chin proudly. "Heh, no need for formalities! I was born nameless, but with my fists and feet, I carved out a reputation. People call me ‘Unbound Tiger Cub.’"

"Then... you’re still quite young. Why do all the beggars in town listen to you?"

The beggar lifted his chin even higher. "Anyone who doesn’t listen gets beaten up by me!"

"With that scrawny body of yours, who could you possibly beat?" The old monk grinned.

The little beggar’s eyes darted around as he chuckled slyly. "I was born with divine strength, enough to shake mountains and rivers! If you don’t believe me, put me down, and we’ll have a match—one move is all I need to take you down!"

The old monk narrowed his eyes and lifted the beggar closer. "You’re a clever little rascal, aren’t you? I suppose you’re the one teaching the town’s beggars how to steal and swindle. And now you’ve even taken to robbing travelers? From the way you run your mouth, this can’t be your first time."

Seeing that the monk wasn’t falling for his trick, the little beggar grew angry and snapped, "If I, the Unbound Third Master, want to do something, I do it! It's none of your business, old monk!"

The old monk let out a cold snort. "You’re already so wicked at such a young age—what will you become when you grow up? Perhaps it would be best to end you here and now in this desolate wilderness."

The little beggar’s breath hitched. There was no mistaking the murderous intent in the old monk’s voice. It didn’t sound like an empty threat. He stammered, "Y-you damned bald donkey! Y-you dare kill someone?! Aren’t you afraid your Buddha will punish you? Cast you into hell? Throw you into a boiling cauldron and stir you around a few times?!"

The old monk squinted his eyes and smiled, but his words were laced with a bone-chilling coldness. "Young benefactor, you jest. If I killed a wretched soul like you, I am afraid Buddha might even commend me and lead me straight to Nirvana."

"HAHH!" The little beggar suddenly let out a loud shout!

Seeing the old monk lean in closer, the little beggar acted on instinct—he rammed his forehead straight into the monk’s!

Bam!

A dull thud echoed, and the little beggar’s head tilted to the side as he knocked himself unconscious.

The old monk rubbed his forehead, where a barely visible red mark had appeared. Looking down at the unconscious beggar he was holding, he muttered, "He’s got some strength... and a solid foundation..."

"Well then..." The old monk shook his head slightly. "I just so happen to be in need of an attendant to pour water and serve tea..."

The old monk unceremoniously hoisted the unconscious beggar and carried him up the mountain.

***

By the time Unbound Tiger Cub woke up again, he was already at the Lesser Arhat Temple.

It was said that the Lesser Arhat Temple was once quite prosperous a few years ago. However, after a series of tiger attacks on the mountain and the establishment of a Golden Buddha Temple on the western side of Hongfeng Town, the Temple gradually declined.

Now, it was just as Unbound Tiger Cub had described—nothing more than a forsaken, incense-less ruin.

With no more incense offerings to sustain them, the monks had either returned to secular life or left to join Golden Buddha Temple. After Abbot Huide passed away two years ago, Master Zhishan was the only one left in the Lesser Arhat Temple.

Calling it a temple was generous—it was little more than a few lonely buildings. A front courtyard, a Buddhist worship hall, and a back courtyard where the monks once resided.

In the front courtyard stood a Welcoming Pine, its sprawling branches lush and full.

It was under this Welcoming Pine that Unbound Tiger Cub woke up.

The old monk hadn’t been kind enough to place him in a bed in the back courtyard. The old man had tossed him directly onto the ground instead.

The moment Unbound Tiger Cub woke up, he saw the old monk reclining in a lounge chair in the front courtyard, seemingly dozing. At once, he started cursing again.

"You damned bald donkey! What kind of sorcery did you use? Do you dare face me, the Unbound Third Master, in a fair fight?!"

The old monk smiled faintly and shook his head. "I won't fight."

"Pah—" Unbound Tiger Cub spat on the ground. "With such cowardice, you’re no true man!"

The old monk raised a hand and pointed. "How about this? If you can lift that object, I will concede defeat and let you do as you wish."

Unbound Tiger Cub followed his gaze and saw a lone gourd lying in the center of the courtyard. Despite its central location, it was undeniably ugly. Its dull gray surface pockmarked with numerous small dents, and looked as if it had been cast from impure iron.

Unbound Tiger Cub was overjoyed. "You mean it?!"

The old monk nodded with a smile. "I do."

Unbound Tiger Cub grinned from ear to ear, rubbing his hands together as he strode toward the gourd, ready to grab it.

"Watch carefully, you old bald donkey! I, the Unbound Third Master, was born with divine strength! Forget this ugly gourd, I could even lift a young bull if I... huh?"

A puzzled sound escaped his lips as he attempted to lift the gourd with one hand—yet it did not budge. It remained firmly in place as if rooted to the ground.

"Hmm?" The old monk continued smiling, watching him. "You were saying?"

Unbound Tiger Cub’s dirt-streaked face flushed slightly. "I wasn’t being serious yet! Watch again!"

With that, he spat into his palms, rubbed them on his clothes, and grabbed the gourd with both hands.

Unbound Tiger Cub exerted all his strength and let out a great shout.

"Hah!"

The gourd seemed to tremble slightly.

The old monk’s expression tightened, and his smile faded.

"Ah!" Unbound Tiger Cub’s face turned bright red from exertion. Losing his grip, he tumbled backward, landing on his rear.

The old monk secretly sighed in relief. He stood up and walked over. "So?"

Unbound Tiger Cub cursed. "You tricked me, old monk! This thing is clearly stuck to the ground! I bet there’s a whole chunk of it buried underneath!"

The old monk shook his head. Walking up to the gourd, he casually picked it up with one hand, as if it weighed nothing.

"Come inside."

Unbound Tiger Cub started, looking dumbfounded. "What kind of sorcery is that?!"

"It’s not sorcery." The old monk weighed the gourd in his hand. "It’s just that you’re too weak."

Unbound Tiger Cub scrambled up from the ground, still unwilling to admit defeat. "Pah! That’s just because I, Third Master, haven’t eaten yet!"

The old monk gestured toward the temple. "Then come in for a meal. We’ll try again after you’ve eaten."