329: Chapter 109 The Sweeping Monk

"Then why didn't he return to secular life back then?"

Duan Yanqing's rhetorical question left Ye Erniang silent.

Before she could think of a reasonable explanation, Third Elder Yue added fuel to the fire: "That's right, Second Mother, the Boss is right. If that bald donkey Abbot Xuan Ci really loved you, why didn't he return to secular life back then? You even bore him a child."

"Could it be that being a monk is more important than a wife and child?"

Ye Erniang felt as if her heart had been stabbed, and her desire to commit suicide for love wavered slightly.

Then, Duan Yanqing said: "If you die, what will happen to your son?"

Ye Erniang was shaken. She subconsciously looked at Xu Zhu, seeing him still lying on the ground, clearly still suffering from the poison. She quickly retrieved the antidote to help him detoxify.

Seeing that Ye Erniang had been persuaded, Duan Yanqing continued: "He has spent over twenty years without a father or mother. Now that he has finally found his parents, his father is dead."

"If you take your own life, he will be without a mother again."

"Don't you think that is too cruel to him?"

Hearing this, Ye Erniang looked at Xu Zhu, who was meditating to recover. She felt immense heartache and guilt, tears streaming down her face, and her suicidal thoughts nearly vanished.

Duan Yanqing added: "Furthermore, his background is now known to everyone. He certainly won't be able to stay in the Shaolin Monastery anymore. Once he goes outside, if people find out he is Ye Erniang's son, he will inevitably be hunted down by those seeking revenge."

"With his Martial Arts, how long do you think he can survive?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Erniang completely abandoned the idea of suicide.

She muttered: "I won't seek death anymore. I must protect my son. I owe him too much, and I must spend the rest of my life making up for it."

Third Elder Yue immediately laughed: "That's the way. It's not worth dying for an old bald donkey."

Duan Yanqing did not say anything more, turning his head to look at Duan Zhengchun and the others.

On the other side, Meng Li, who was watching the drama from the shadows, felt something strange.

Duan Yanqing stopping Ye Erniang from committing suicide?

He sensed some juicy gossip.

A Zi, who was leaning in his arms, felt the same.

She quietly leaned into his ear and whispered: "Young Master, Master, the relationship between these two ugly monsters seems unusual."

"Could it be that they are having an affair?"

"It's possible." Meng Li replied softly.

The relationship between Duan Yanqing and Ye Erniang was not explored much in the original work or the show; they seemed to be merely accomplices.

But in reality, it would be normal for there to be something between them.

Although Duan Yanqing had physical disabilities, he was still capable of reproduction, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to father Duan Yu.

And Ye Erniang was only disfigured.

Since both of their physiological functions were normal, they would naturally have needs.

They were notorious, so the probability of finding others to satisfy their needs was low; it was more likely that they helped each other.

Furthermore, Crane in the Clouds was lecherous, and Third Elder Yue was obsessed with improving his ranking, but neither of them had ever made a move on Ye Erniang. While Ye Erniang's Martial Arts being superior to theirs was a factor, it would make more sense if Duan Yanqing was also a factor.

Just as Meng Li was following the trail of gossip to speculate about the relationship between Duan Yanqing and Ye Erniang, a figure fled from the Shaolin Monastery as if escaping.

This figure was none other than the previously impatient Jiumozhi.

However, he was currently in a disheveled state, his breathing unstable, and his face wore a look of lingering fear.

This situation left everyone at the scene feeling confused.

Even Duan Yanqing, who was walking towards Duan Zhengchun and the others, paused.

Third Elder Yue asked curiously: "Big monk, weren't you impatient to go in and take the Shaolin Secret Manual? Why did you come out so quickly and look so disheveled? Where are the people who went in with you? Why don't I see them coming out?"

Jiumozhi took a deep breath and replied: "Inside the Shaolin Scripture Pavilion, there is an unfathomable, peerless divine monk. This Monk is far from his match and was invited out."

"As for the people who went in with This Monk, I fear they have all been sent to the afterlife."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked.

They had all witnessed Jiumozhi's Martial Arts, which surpassed those of Xuan Ji and Xuan Sheng; he could be considered a top-tier expert in the Jianghu.

To be able to beat him until he fled in defeat, and for him to admit he was far from a match—just how strong must this person be?

Helian Tieshu, Duan Yanqing, and the others couldn't help but feel their hearts sink.

Xuan Ji, Xuan Sheng, and the other Shaolin monks were pleasantly surprised.

The other Jianghu figures secretly sighed: Shaolin Monastery truly deserves its reputation as the titan of the Martial Forest; its Sect foundation is indeed profound. They had originally thought the Xuan-generation monks were the ceiling, but they didn't expect there to be experts hidden in the shadows—no, they should be supreme experts.

Only Xiao Yuanshan was filled with doubt and suspicion.

There is a peerless divine monk in the Shaolin Scripture Pavilion?

He had been lurking for so many years, so how had he not noticed anything? He had encountered a masked man, but that person had hair and was not a monk; he was also stealing Shaolin ultimate skills, and his Martial Arts were similar to his own, at most a notch higher than Jiumozhi's.

Therefore, this peerless divine monk must be someone else.

But if there really were such an expert in the Scripture Pavilion, they would surely have discovered him and that masked man stealing Shaolin ultimate skills.

Then why didn't the other party stop them?

Something is wrong!

Very wrong!

Either Jiumozhi is lying, or Shaolin Monastery has a conspiracy.

But Jiumozhi didn't look like he was lying, and he had no need to lie, so...

Shaolin Monastery has a conspiracy!

Thinking that for all these years he thought he was undetected, but in reality, a pair of eyes had been watching him from behind, Xiao Yuanshan couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle.

Just at this moment, a monk wearing grey-blue monk robes and looking unremarkable walked out of the Shaolin Monastery carrying a broom.

"That is him."

Upon seeing the monk, Jiumozhi called out a warning, subconsciously retreating with fear on his face.

This performance made Helian Tieshu, Duan Yanqing, and the others marvel.

Third Elder Yue said: "This Monk doesn't look like anything special. Even if you can't beat him, there's no need to be this scared."

"Could it be that he's going to eat you?"

"He won't eat This Monk, but he almost sent This Monk to the Western Paradise to meet the Buddha just now!"

Replying in his heart, Jiumozhi pressed his palms together and respectfully bowed to the Sweeping Monk: "This Monk will take his leave. Great Divine Monk, please stay."

Having said that, he turned around and used his Lightness Skill to run away.

Can't beat this big Buddha, can't afford to provoke him, time to run, time to run!

Seeing Jiumozhi like this, Duan Yanqing, Third Elder Yue, and the others also felt a bit apprehensive.

At this time, the Sweeping Monk swept his gaze over the crowd and said to Helian Tieshu: "Benefactor, the Buddha's gate is a place of purity, and it is not appropriate to wield weapons recklessly. Such a scene is also unseemly. Please leave the antidote and take your men down the mountain."

From Jiumozhi's reaction, Helian Tieshu could see that the Sweeping Monk was likely a great expert, and he did not want to provoke him, but things had already reached this point, and he was unwilling to let all his previous efforts go to waste.

Therefore, he gritted his teeth and said: "Great Master wants the antidote? Very well, trade it for the Secret Manual of Martial Arts from the Shaolin Scripture Pavilion."

The Sweeping Monk shook his head: "The Dharma is not lightly transmitted, and Buddha saves those who are fated; Benefactor has no fate with my Buddha. If you remain obsessed and do not repent, This Monk will have no choice but to display the Vajra's wrath."

Helian Tieshu said in a deep voice: "Great Master's Martial Arts are supreme, but this General also has capable and extraordinary people under his command, as well as hundreds of soldiers. My military force is not to be trifled with."

After speaking, he ordered the Three Great Evils: "Duan Yanqing, Ye Erniang, Third Elder Yue, you all go together and ask the Great Master for guidance."