Suddenly, a figure shot across the sky. The two men met in midair, their palms crashing together with a sharp bang. They landed separately, and only then did the onlookers recognize the gray-robed monk as Master Bentian.
Xiao Yi shouted sternly, "What is the meaning of this, Shaolin Temple?"
Pressing his palms together, Master Bentian replied, "Amitabha. Benefactor, you are burdened with karmic afflictions. You must remain at Shaolin Temple so that your misfortunes may be dispelled."
Master Bentian declared outright that Xiao Yi was weighed down by negative karma. Whether this was truly so was known only to the heavens; no ordinary mortal could judge such matters. What everyone did know, however, was that Shaolin Temple had never shown leniency toward outsiders who trespassed into the Sutra Repository. Those caught intruding into the Scripture Library were often subjected to severe punishment. The warrior monks would beat them with temple staffs, much like constables administering corporal punishment to commoners kneeling before a magistrate's court. After the flogging, the offenders would be expelled from Shaolin Temple. By comparison, Shaolin's punishment of Xiao Yi today was remarkably lenient—an act of exceptional mercy beyond the strict letter of its rules.
Xiao Yi's heart sank. Having exchanged palms with Master Bentian moments earlier, he knew full well that the monk's internal strength was no weaker than Master Yuanguang's and perhaps far superior. His proud expression softened as he asked respectfully, "Master, what will it take for Shaolin Temple to let this matter rest?"
Master Bentian answered, "Amitabha. Since you are burdened with karmic afflictions, remain at Shaolin Temple for three days to cultivate your heart and mind. Rise early, fetch water, and chop firewood. It will greatly benefit you."
Xiao Yi asked anxiously, "Master, is there no other way?"
"There is," replied Master Bentian. "Defeat me first."
As the highly respected elder of Shaolin's Discipline Court, Master Bentian's words carried unquestionable authority.
Xiao Yi's face darkened.
"In that case," he said in a deep voice, "forgive my offense."
Proud and arrogant by nature, Xiao Yi rarely regarded anyone as his equal. Yet he understood that if he wished to leave Shaolin Temple, he had only one option—to overcome Master Bentian.
Gathering his qi beneath his feet, Xiao Yi leaped into the air with a piercing whistle. Gusts of wind accompanied his swift advance toward the monk.
Master Bentian stood as immovable as a mountain. At the last instant, he shifted lightly aside, causing Xiao Yi's palm strike to miss completely. Possessing profound and refined Buddhist internal energy, the monk calmly raised one hand to parry. His arms then circled gracefully, locking Xiao Yi within their embrace.
"Shaolin Twin Circle Technique!" Xiao Yi exclaimed.
He immediately exerted his internal energy and broke free.
Master Bentian nodded. "Excellent eyesight, Benefactor. It is indeed the Shaolin Twin Circle Technique."
Xiao Yi inwardly cursed his luck. After only a few exchanges, anxiety overtook him. If he failed to escape now, he might never leave.
Without hesitation, he sprang several zhang through the air like a soaring bird, racing toward the mountain path.
Fast though he was, Master Bentian was even faster.
The monk flew ahead to intercept him and suddenly spun around, launching a palm strike with astonishing speed. Caught off guard, Xiao Yi had no choice but to meet it head-on.
Bang!
The tremendous force rebounded through Xiao Yi's arm, driving him several steps backward. Before he could recover, Master Bentian's palm wind swept toward him once more. Feeling the powerful gust rushing at his face, Xiao Yi hurriedly withdrew his right palm and leaped backward to evade it.
Yet Master Bentian advanced relentlessly in pursuit.
As Xiao Yi threw out another palm strike, the monk once again formed the Twin Circle Technique with both hands.
This time Xiao Yi could not break free.
Smack!
A palm struck his left shoulder.
Pain shot through him, causing him to bare his teeth as he staggered backward.
Master Bentian said calmly, "Benefactor, Shaolin Temple is asking only that you spend three days fetching water and chopping firewood. Do not fail to appreciate our kindness."
Even as he spoke, Xiao Yi turned to flee.
Smack!
Another palm landed squarely on the back of his right shoulder.
He was sent tumbling forward onto the ground, his mouth filling with dust. The arrogance he had displayed earlier had vanished completely.
Master Bentian joined his palms once more and said gently,
"Amitabha. Benefactor, do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty."
At that very moment, several figures flashed onto the scene.
Four newcomers arrived in the courtyard, and the entire crowd fell silent. The stillness was so complete that even the sound of falling leaves could have been heard.
The leader, a middle-aged Tibetan monk wearing a yellow monastic hat, radiated extraordinary presence. His sharp eyes swept across the crowd like blades.
"I am Dharma King Tashi Dorje of Tubo," he declared. "Having recently arrived in the Central Plains, I had hoped to exchange martial arts with the masters here. Along the way, however, I became acquainted with Young Hero Xiao, and we traveled together. Yesterday, I mentioned to him that I wished to have a look at Shaolin Temple's Yijin Jing..."
He paused, his expression darkening.
"I never imagined that my young friend from the Central Plains would risk his life alone and secretly enter Shaolin Temple's Sutra Repository on my behalf."
The Yijin Jing was Shaolin's most closely guarded martial scripture and was never to be passed on to outsiders.
Master Bentian replied, "This humble monk serves as the head of the Discipline Court. Young Hero Xiao trespassed into Shaolin Temple's Sutra Repository. Our temple has already shown exceptional mercy by sentencing him to only three days of fetching water and chopping firewood. Does Your Holiness truly consider this punishment excessive?"
Dharma King Tashi Dorje's face remained solemn.
"Your temple orders Young Hero Xiao to fetch water and chop firewood? A man of his status should not be subjected to such humiliation."
His resonant words immediately stirred anger among the Shaolin monks. An uproar broke out as they all regarded the Dharma King's remarks as outrageously disrespectful.
Master Bentian asked calmly, "Then how does Your Holiness believe the Discipline Court should deal with Young Hero Xiao?"
Turning toward Xiao Yi, Tashi Dorje asked, "Young Hero Xiao, are you willing to apologize to Shaolin Temple for accidentally entering the Sutra Repository?"
By now Xiao Yi had climbed back to his feet. Though disheveled and embarrassed, resentment filled his face.
"I sincerely admitted my mistake," he replied. "But Shaolin Temple acted tyrannically, insisting that I remain here to fetch water and chop firewood. Naturally, I refused and tried to leave. This very monk then beat me mercilessly."
Upon hearing this, Tashi Dorje's face grew as cold as frost.
"So Young Hero Xiao offered a sincere apology, yet Shaolin Temple still resorted to violence..."
His tone then turned resolute.
"Although Young Hero Xiao trespassed into the Sutra Repository, he has already expressed his remorse. It was Shaolin Temple that acted with arrogance afterward by assaulting him. In my judgment, this matter ends here."