The Beggars' Sect Chief Fei Jin and his companions made their way up to Shaolin Temple. From the Mountain Gate to the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas, the monastery consisted of seven successive courtyards, including the Residential Compound, the Pagoda Forest, and the First Patriarch's Hermitage. Along the central axis of the Residential Compound, from south to north, stood the Mountain Gate, the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Sutra Library (which also served as the Dharma Hall), the Abbot's Quarters, the Snow-Standing Pavilion, and finally the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas. To the west lay the Pagoda Forest; to the north were the First Patriarch's Hermitage, Bodhidharma's Cave, and the Sweet Dew Terrace; to the southwest stood the Second Patriarch's Hermitage; and to the northeast, Guanghui Hermitage.
Although it was still early in the morning, a long queue had already formed outside the temple gates. At the entrance stood a ticket booth, flanked on both sides by donation chests. Anyone wishing to pay respects to the Holy Monk was asked to contribute a modest offering of one qian, after which they could offer incense and express their reverence for Master Liaoyin.
As the ancient temple bell echoed through the mountain, the visitors entered Shaolin Temple one after another. Master Liaoyin's gilded body had been enshrined in a meditation chamber beside the Hall of the Heavenly Kings. Several Shaolin monks stood inside and outside the chamber, solemnly chanting:
"Among all Buddhas throughout the ten directions and the three ages, Amitabha is foremost.Through the Nine Grades He ferries all sentient beings; His majestic virtue is boundless.I now take wholehearted refuge and repent the sins of body, speech, and mind.Whatever merits and wholesome deeds I have accumulated, I sincerely dedicate them to all.May all who recite the Buddha's name receive His compassionate response.At life's final moment, may the Western Pure Land appear clearly before us.May all who see or hear this teaching diligently advance together and be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.Seeing the Buddha, may we transcend birth and death, and, like the Buddha, deliver all beings.May endless afflictions be extinguished, countless Dharma gates be cultivated, and all sentient beings be liberated.May we all ultimately attain Buddhahood.Though empty space may one day come to an end, my vows shall never cease.Sentient and insentient beings alike, may all perfect the wisdom of enlightenment.Homage to all Buddhas of the ten directions and the three ages; homage to all great Bodhisattvas; homage to Mahāprajñāpāramitā."
This was the Vow Verse of the Great Compassion Bodhisattva.
Amid the solemn chanting, Fei Jin and his companions quietly followed the stream of worshippers into the meditation chamber.
There, Master Liaoyin's golden body sat peacefully upon its seat. Entirely covered in gold leaf, his sacred form radiated majesty and serenity. His features were lifelike beyond compare, as though he merely rested in meditation with his eyes gently closed. Though silent, the gilded Buddha seemed to gaze compassionately upon all living beings. One by one, the faithful stepped forward to burn incense and bow in devotion.
It was truly as the verse proclaimed:
Majestic stands the Buddha of this age;His holy name forever shines untarnished.His boundless vows extend beyond all worlds;With endless compassion, he protects all beings.
As the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra teaches:
"One who perceives the Buddha-nature is no longer called an ordinary being; one who fails to perceive the Buddha-nature is called an ordinary being."
After leaving the meditation chamber, the group proceeded toward the Mahavira Hall.
Master Zhenkong had never been fortunate enough to meet Master Liaoyin during his lifetime. Looking back upon the past, he felt profound sorrow. Now the two were forever separated by life and death.
He sighed deeply.
"Master Liaoyin sacrificed himself for the Dharma and devoted his life to spreading the Buddha's teachings. At this very moment... he has truly attained Buddhahood."
Just then, a monk approached with palms pressed together.
"Could you be Master Zhenkong? And Daoist Master Baimei?"
The monk was Yuantong, the Rear Hall Steward of Shaolin Temple.
He hurried forward and bowed respectfully.
"Chief Fei, welcome to Shaolin Temple. You have traveled a long way. Please forgive this humble monk for failing to receive you sooner."
Fei Jin replied,
"We have just finished paying our respects before Master Liaoyin's golden body. We were on our way to visit the Abbot."
Yuantong smiled.
"It is a great honor for Shaolin Temple to receive such distinguished guests. Please follow this humble monk."
Suddenly, loud shouting drifted over from the direction of the Mahavira Hall.
Everyone was startled.
Seeing the look of concern on Yuantong's face, Fei Jin said,
"Master, why don't we go and see what has happened?"
"Thank you for your assistance," Yuantong replied.
Without another word, the entire party hurried toward the commotion.
Meanwhile, monks throughout Shaolin Temple were rushing to the scene. Several agonized cries rang out, and a number of young monks lay sprawled upon the ground, defeated. It was immediately apparent that Shaolin had encountered an opponent of extraordinary skill.
At that very moment, a gray figure flashed across the courtyard.
A senior monk shouted,
"Stop!"
The newcomer was Yuanguang, the West Hall Steward of Shaolin Temple.
The young man who had been fighting merely turned his head and said coldly,
"So this is the famous Shaolin Temple? It amounts to nothing after all."
His words were astonishingly arrogant. Considering that he stood alone inside Shaolin Temple itself, such audacity bordered on recklessness.
Yuanguang fixed him with a stern gaze.
"Who are you? Why have you trespassed into our Sutra Library?"
The youth appeared to be only about twenty years old. His sharp eyes, hooked nose, and thin lips immediately suggested a calculating and sinister disposition. Yet he clearly possessed tremendous confidence in his martial arts. Daring to infiltrate Shaolin's Sutra Library, his purpose could only have been to steal its treasured scriptures and martial manuals.
Taking advantage of the crowds gathered to honor the Holy Monk, he had quietly slipped into the temple, waiting for the right opportunity before attempting the theft. Unfortunately for him, he had been discovered by the young warrior monks guarding the library.
The young man raised his chin proudly and answered,
"My name is Xiao Yi. I merely wished to take a look at your temple's collection of scriptures. Who would have thought Shaolin would treat a guest with such discourtesy?"
The surrounding monks exchanged puzzled glances, none of them recognizing his name.
Some martial artists watching from the crowd suddenly exclaimed,
"He's the disciple of Tiger-Grappling Hand Liu Zhong!"
"I've heard the boy is a once-in-a-generation martial arts prodigy!"
Yuanguang sighed softly.
"Amitabha. Allow this old monk to speak plainly. If you have come sincerely to seek the Buddha's teachings, Shaolin welcomes you wholeheartedly. But if you have come to steal our scriptures, I fear it will not be so easy."
Xiao Yi sneered.
"They're only a few worthless old books. I merely want to glance through them today. Surely that isn't too much for Shaolin to tolerate?"
The martial arts manuals preserved within Shaolin's Sutra Library were among the temple's greatest treasures. They were forbidden to outsiders, and even junior Shaolin disciples were not permitted to enter. Yet Xiao Yi dismissed these priceless secret manuals as though they were worthless scraps of paper.
As one of Shaolin's Four Chief Monastic Officers, Master Yuanguang could no longer contain his anger.
"You insolent wretch!"
he thundered.
"Enough idle words! Allow this old monk to test your skills!"
The moment he finished speaking, both palms shot forward. Fierce gusts of palm force roared through the air as his body exploded into motion like a meteor streaking across the heavens. His speed was breathtaking—swift as an arrow released from the bow.
The spectators scarcely had time to react, all believing the young man was doomed.
Yet Xiao Yi instantly shifted his footing.
His movement technique was astonishingly refined; his footwork was wonderfully elusive. He darted about with the speed of lightning and shooting stars, moving so swiftly that it defied belief. Although Master Yuanguang's attacks were sudden, fierce, and incomparably fast, every strike failed to touch him.
"The boy truly is a heaven-sent genius!"
The martial artists present could not help thinking the same thing.
At that moment, everyone was reminded once again that the martial world was vast indeed, and that hidden dragons and crouching tigers could be found everywhere.