When the Martial Demon suddenly saw Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng of the Holy Church of the West arrive with her followers, he too was startled. Yet when he heard that Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng was openly speaking in his defense, delight rose in his heart. He could not help but clap his hands in approval and laugh loudly.
"What the Holy Mother of the West says is entirely true—it echoes my own heart exactly!"
Hearing the Martial Demon's words, Holy Maiden Peach Blossom stepped forward with measured grace. She bowed respectfully and said:
"Your sins are grave. By order of the Holy Church of the West, Holy Maiden Peach Blossom invites Your Excellency to join our faith."
At these words, everyone in the square was struck dumb with astonishment.
Then the other three Holy Maidens—Plum Blossom, Peony, and Orchid—stepped to Peach Blossom's side. The Four Holy Maidens exchanged a glance, their minds united as one, and together they intoned:
"Hear the sacred name of the Holy Mother of the West,
Behold the holy form of the Holy Mother of the West.
May all who hear and see ascend the Prajna vessel;
May all who return and revere enter the fearless grove of mercy."
When their chant ended, the Martial Demon looked distinctly awkward. After all, this was hardly the right moment to join the Holy Church of the West. The Justice Alliance, which he himself had built with one hand, would never willingly see its leader submit beneath the authority of the Holy Church.
So he gave a hearty laugh and said:
"As for the doctrine of the Holy Church of the West, I still do not understand it clearly. When I have first learned your teachings, I shall decide whether or not to enter your faith."
Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng was a master of calculation. She glided forward with lotus steps and said:
"In the first half of your life, you killed and harmed without count. In the second half, how could you hope for a good end? Today the Luminous Faith, Fire Worship Sect, Manichaean Faith, and Shaolin Temple have joined forces to destroy you—what karmic retribution do you think this is? Do you still lack all self-awareness?"
The Martial Demon felt a chill in his heart.
"This Holy Mother of the West is formidable indeed," he thought. "This woman is dangerous. Better to play along for now."
So he put on a courteous smile and answered with feigned politeness:
"Today I have heard the sacred name of the Holy Mother of the West and beheld her holy form—what fortune could exceed it? Yet my blessings are shallow. Another day, when time permits, I shall study your doctrine more carefully. Today is simply not the right moment."
Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng's expression darkened.
"The ancients said: misfortune and blessing have no gate—one summons them oneself. Great calamity stands over your head this very day, and still you do not awaken?"
The Martial Demon only smiled.
"If I gain it, it is my fortune. If I do not, it is my fate. That is all."
At this, Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng pressed her palms together, her face solemn and majestic.
"The Holy Church of the West delivers all living beings. By this root of goodness, may we share merit with all sentient beings. May all beings in every Buddha-land attain Mahāprajñāpāramitā."
"Prajñāpāramitā" may be rendered as "to cross by the wisdom of the Buddha-Dharma unto the farther shore of liberation." It signifies progressing from learning through words and doctrine to personally realizing transcendent wisdom—surpassing the sea of suffering, birth, and death, and reaching the ultimate liberation beyond arising and perishing.
Just then, Master Liaoyin of Shaolin stepped forward and declared:
"Amitābha! The Holy Church of the West borrows the name of the Buddha to deceive the ignorant masses. Its intentions are sinister. It is no righteous sect."
When Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng heard Master Liaoyin openly slander the Holy Church, it was beneath her dignity to rebuke him personally. She merely cast a glance, and Holy Maiden Peony immediately stepped forward.
"This venerable master," Peony said coolly, "may we ask your honored name?"
Master Liaoyin stepped forward and answered:
"This poor monk is known by the Dharma name Liaoyin."
Holy Maiden Peony smiled faintly.
"So it is Master Liaoyin. A pleasure indeed. You accuse our faith of deceiving the ignorant masses, of harboring sinister designs, and of being no righteous sect. Have you any proof?"
"Our faith is founded upon benevolence. How can we permit your slander? Today it is Shaolin that has marched with armed force, already violating the very taboos of the Buddhist path. Our church came here precisely because beneath the robes of monks, men's hearts are no longer what they once were. Shaolin monks borrow the Buddha's name while pursuing profit in practice. By what right do you accuse our faith?"
At Peony's words, many of the gathered heroes thought to themselves:
"This woman does not speak without reason."
The men of the Justice Alliance loudly voiced their approval.
One shouted, "The old monk preaches only to embarrass himself!"
Another cried, "The lady speaks with reason!"
Master Liaoyin had been turned back by Holy Maiden Peony's rebuttal and found himself speechless, standing rigid in place.
The Martial Demon, seeing one of the old enemies who had besieged him twenty years ago, found his hatred hard to suppress. In a sour tone he sneered:
"Master Liaoyin, after all these years of fasting and chanting, you still have not attained enlightenment. How then do you expect to behold the true face of the Buddha of the Western Heaven?"
His words openly mocked Liaoyin for spending years in Buddhist practice without enlightenment, while also slyly suggesting that perhaps Liaoyin should hurry on to the Western Pure Land himself.
Unexpectedly, Master Liaoyin answered in a calm and even voice:
"Martial Demon, the Western Demon Mother speaks true in this much: in the first half of your life you killed and harmed without count; in the second half, you shall not meet a good end. My Buddha is compassionate and saves all beings. If you wish to repay the karmic debts of this life, better that you take refuge in the Buddha. Better still—shave your head and enter the path this very moment. This poor monk can tonsure you personally. Cultivate diligently, trust that the Buddha's words do not deceive, vow for rebirth, and when death comes, the Buddha himself shall come to guide you peacefully into the Pure Land."
The Martial Demon's face darkened in fury.
"You bald old donkey! Every word from your mouth is 'my Buddha is compassionate'—is this not just another way of cursing me?"
At the same moment, one of the Four Holy Maidens sprang forward—it was Holy Maiden Plum Blossom.
Pointing at Master Liaoyin, she shouted:
"The Holy Mother of the West bears Heaven's mandate and has entered the world to spread salvation and succor the living. Today she has come to guide the Martial Demon through his tribulation, yet you dare slander her as a 'Demon Mother'? Old monk, come out and face death!"
Plum Blossom was enraged beyond restraint at Master Liaoyin's disrespectful words.
Yet Master Liaoyin remained calm.
"Young lady, leave this demonic cult while you still can. Do not mislead the people with heresy."
Another of the Four Holy Maidens sprang forth—Holy Maiden Peach Blossom.
Pointing at Master Liaoyin, she scolded:
"You false monk! Again and again you slander the Holy Church of the West—what evil intent drives you?"
At that moment, Tan Wei stepped forward to mediate.
"Ladies, please calm yourselves. Forgive Master Liaoyin his careless words. Let both sides part ways here today."
But just then, Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng declared coldly:
"Little girl, do not interfere. Shaolin believes itself mighty in skill, and so dares to slander our faith time and again. Since matters have come to this, there is no need for further courtesy. Today we settle this by the law of the martial world—we decide victory by combat!"
At these words, the gathered heroes were stunned. Then, after a brief silence, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Settle it by combat!"
"Shaolin may not win!"
"Settle it by combat!"
Truly, no crowd ever tires of seeing chaos grow greater.
Li Jian thought bitterly to himself that he had only just managed to settle the conflict between the sects and the Justice Alliance—could Shaolin really be about to drag everyone into fresh trouble?
At once he called out loudly:
"Heroes, there may yet be some misunderstanding in this matter—"
But Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng cut him off sharply.
"Boy, do not interfere! This matter shall be decided by the law of the martial world—combat shall decide the victor! Let neither side waste breath in argument. The strong shall prevail!"
The crowd immediately roared in approval.
"Settle it by combat!"
"Shaolin may not win!"
"Settle it by combat!"