Who let him join the Sword Sect?!
Chapter 72: Don’t worry, benefactor, I’ll handle him

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Don’t worry, benefactor, I’ll handle him

Regarding the appearance of Arabic numerals in the Four Continents, and their widespread recognition in the land of Cyan Thorn.

Although Zhang Ze was the instigator.

Lily also bears half the responsibility.

When Zhang Ze was updating "Taoist Path to Heaven" earlier, he found it convenient to use these numbers while writing.

After writing, he realized that no one in this world should understand them, but he was too lazy to change the text, so he concocted a story to pass it off as extra content.

He said these symbols originated from ancient phoenix race scripts and corresponded to numbers, containing profound mysteries.

There were still some Arhats, but no phoenixes to be found, so Zhang Ze could make up whatever he wanted.

When Lily saw them, she found the symbols’ writing interesting and noted them down.

A few days later, in the products of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion and the accompanying instructions, all numeric parts were replaced.

Lily’s explanation was.

"These phoenix race scripts look like high-class stuff."

"By adding them to the Thousand Mechanism Tools, I can raise the price with justified arrogance."

Anyway, now in the land of Cyan Thorn, everyone who has read Zhang Ze’s book or used the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion’s tools recognizes these so-called phoenix race scripts.

And understands their meanings.

"What are these two young monks doing with three 6s?"

"Is this some kind of Zen language?" Chen Qin was puzzled.

Zhang Ze thought that this ’666’ meme should be known to no one except him.

And ’6’ flipped is ’9’.....

So, Zhang Ze asked.

"9? Does it mean save? You want us to save you?"

The arrangement of the Buddha beads changed again, ’666’ disappeared, and this time ’444’ appeared.

Of course, from the perspectives of Zhang Ze and Chen Qin, they were still upside down.

Looking up at the little monk playing with wordplay, Zhang Ze asked.

"Which one is you?"

Although he didn’t know why the little monk’s doppelganger was different from Chen Qin’s, one of these two monks was definitely fake.

Upon hearing Zhang Ze’s question, the Buddha beads were about to roll again, but they were shattered by a burst of energy before forming any pattern.

The Buddha beads scattered, with no possibility of forming a pattern again.

The little monk on the right suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Zhang Ze.

His gaze was clear, his mind as serene as a mysterious lake. The little monk didn’t speak, but a gentle voice echoed in Zhang Ze’s ears.

"Donor, you’ve become attached."

Hearing this, Zhang Ze raised an eyebrow, but when the little monk spoke the second sentence, he knew this one was fake.

This one was too cultured.

"As a true void mirror, stay distant from all worldly appearances, incapable of showing..."

The little monk’s voice seemed to carry a kind of magic, compelling people to listen carefully.

"Stating a truth that is not empty. All worldly phenomena, appear within it..."

And Zhang Ze’s expression changed from surprise to confusion, eventually showing neither sorrow nor joy, as he stepped toward the little monk with one hand held behind his back.

By his expression, he seemed enlightened and intended to become a monk someday.

Not knowing the details, Chen Qin became anxious, wondering what she would do if her senior brother became a monk.

She didn’t understand why her senior brother had changed so much with just a look from the little monk.

Just as Chen Qin wanted to step forward and pull her senior brother back, she saw Zhang Ze make a gesture behind his back.

It was a secret signal between them.

The gesture meant, don’t worry, I’m bluffing.

"I have a great vow to help the world, but today I am lost in the mirror, unable to be free," the little monk continued to entice Zhang Ze.

"Please, donor..."

As the little monk said this, Zhang Ze had already walked up to him.

Zhang Ze smiled at the little monk, with an expression that seemed to have embraced the Buddhist sect.

"Little Master...," Zhang Ze began.

The little monk also smiled, then heard the second half of Zhang Ze’s sentence.

"Eat shit you!"

Suddenly a thing appeared in Zhang Ze’s hand, which was previously hidden. He lifted it and slammed it directly onto the little monk’s head, perfectly plugging the hole.

It was the longevity peach, or one might say, a buttock or the Mountain-worshiping Taisui.

Mountain-worshiping Taisui, devourer of lives, soul-swallowing.

Taisui, born from a yin spring, also the utmost glutton for evil thoughts.

This was the nemesis of such a thing.

This was originally something Zhang Ze planned to use against his own doppelganger.

Unexpectedly, it came in handy now.

Doppelganger, formed by greed and infatuation. As soon as it met the Taisui, a wisp of black qi was immediately sucked away, revealing its true form.

Similarly pitch-black, only similar in height to the little monk, and with no facial features.

At this moment, the doppelganger was devoid of any Buddhist nature, releasing a beast-like roar.

Struggling to remove the Taisui trapped on its head, but to no avail, as the Taisui absorbed it even tighter.

With a flick of his right hand, Zhang Ze produced a hammer made of refined gold, which he brought down on the doppelganger’s chest.

Just as he was about to swing the second strike, the true little monk spoke up.

His words were still as biting.

"Donor, don’t rush."

This was a rich, stable male bass, as if the Tathagata from the 86 version of Journey to the West was speaking in Zhang Ze’s ear.

"Let me do him!"

The male bass turned into a child’s voice, clear and loud.

The true little monk, or the Bag Arhat, opened his eyes.

Behind him, a golden light shone brightly, and the visage of a benevolent, fat Arhat holding a bag manifested out of thin air.

The Arhat untied the bag in his hand, releasing toothless golden serpents which swam out.

The serpents intertwined, enveloping and devouring the doppelganger formed from greed and infatuation.

The ethereal sound of Sanskrit filled the air, resonating throughout the space.

As the serpents transformed into countless golden sparks and disappeared, the Taisui naturally fell to the ground with a thud.

While Chen Qin still hadn’t clearly made out the Taisui’s shape, Zhang Ze immediately retrieved it into his Hundred Treasures Bag.

"This thing mustn’t be seen clearly by the junior sister."

Fortunately, Chen Qin’s attention was focused on the Arhat’s golden body and not on his side.

The golden body of the Arhat faded away, and the little monk’s face turned pale, seemingly having exhausted much energy. Yet, without needing Zhang Ze’s support, he stood up by himself.

The little monk clasped his hands together in salute to Zhang Ze, "Thank you, donor, for helping out."

"How did you discern he was fake, donor?"

This was the thing he was most curious about now.

Zhang Ze thought for a moment but didn’t reveal that the doppelganger had a level of literacy too high to be anything but fake.

He felt it was still necessary to show some respect to the Bag Arhat.

Zhang Ze replied seriously, "Great master’s Buddhist technique is profound; today, with just three sentences, you awakened me, unlike that impostor who spoke so much nonsense."

"Indeed," the little monk felt Zhang Ze’s words made sense, aligning deeply with his sentiments.

"Donor, you needn’t call me great master. In this life, my religious name is Hui Xuan, so you can refer to this humble monk as Hui Xuan."

"I am Zhang Ze, and this is my junior sister Chen Qin."

After exchanging names, Zhang Ze also raised the question on his mind.

"I too have a matter I don’t understand; might Master Hui Xuan enlighten me?"

"Please speak, Donor Zhang."

"Did Master Hui Xuan enter this secret realm also for the matter of Cold City?"

"Is there something about Cold City?" Hui Xuan was slightly taken aback by Zhang Ze’s words.

"Then how did you come here?" Zhang Ze was baffled.

"Dropped while walking, didn’t you?" Hui Xuan responded.

Chen Qin and Zhang Ze shook their heads.

Zhang Ze felt it was somewhat ridiculous, unsure if this Arhat was being serious or just joking with him. He continued asking.

"But didn’t you just give me Zen advice this morning?"

"Which one?" Hui Xuan touched his bald head, unable to recall.

"Life is but a floating dream," Zhang Ze reminded him.

"When advising others, I say that to everyone," Hui Xuan replied.

"So, the only thing you genuinely wanted to tell me at that time was?" Zhang Ze’s eyelid twitched.

Hui Xuan clasped his hands together and soberly said, "Only the very last line: Don’t overthink. If dissatisfied, just act."

"That’s all there is."

"No more?" Zhang Ze asked.

"No more," Hui Xuan answered.

"Then how did you discern that I had doubts and needed enlightenment?"

Upon hearing this question, Hui Xuan patiently explained, "In my last life, I had a mishap, was taken to Dragon Tiger Mountain, and became a Daoist for a few years."

"Although during the second year of my training down the mountain, I ended up dying outside due to my meddling."

"But this humble monk still learned some Taoist Techniques on observing qi and facial features and hasn’t completely forgotten them."

"This morning, I perceived there was something odd in the donor’s appearance, which is why I said those words."

"Alright," Zhang Ze nodded.

"May I ask another question?"

"Feel free, feel free, Donor, please speak."