Chapter 140: Western Venom Sits Buddha Head
Datong, in the early Northern Wei dynasty, once served as its capital for over a century. At that time, it was known as Pingcheng. During the Tang dynasty, it was designated Yunzhou, and after the Liao dynasty, it became Datong Prefecture.
“Glazed screen with nine coiled dragons, soaring through clouds in a trance.” This refers to Datong’s Huayan Temple, built during the Chongxi era of the Liao dynasty. Zhou Yan visited this temple during his university days.
A new rain reveals the green mountains, sunlight filters through clouds to sprinkle upon the human world.
As the rain began to fall, Zhou Yan happened to be passing by Huayan Temple, so he took shelter from the rain and took the opportunity to admire it.
There were not many pilgrims in the temple, and the environment was serene. As he walked, ancient trees towered overhead, casting deep shade. He reached the Mahavira Hall and lit three sticks of incense.
The Buddha statue was solemn and magnificent, with a compassionate face and soft contours. Its hands were in a flat-holding mudra, with the index fingers slightly raised. As the temple was not built very long ago, the Buddha’s body was richly painted, unlike what one might see in another lifetime.
After paying his respects to the great Buddha, Zhou Yan strolled around, observing everything.
Outside the temple, Ouyang Feng dismounted from his camel and strolled over.
The Ouyang uncle and nephew, along with Yang Kang, arrived at the Changfeng Escort Agency, and Helian Zhantai naturally offered them attentive hospitality.
The Western Venom was in Zhongdu. The Prince’s Manor had winding paths leading to secluded spots, and he could remain seated in the study. The Changfeng Escort Agency was bustling with people inside and out, which he disliked. He did not greet Ouyang Ke or Yang Kang, and instead left the Changfeng Escort Agency to wander to Huayan Temple.
Ouyang Feng was admiring the view from the Sutra Depository. Following the scale-like arrangement of the temple’s buildings, he arrived at the Mahavira Hall. He entered the hall and saw that it was spacious and empty, with a gentle breeze entering. Thousands of green lotus longevity lamps, arranged from low to high, swayed gently as if the lotuses were moving, creating a scene unlike the human world, as if he were in the Pure Land bathed in Buddha’s light. He suddenly felt refreshed and at ease, and the anger that had been building in his heart from Hong Qigong’s teasing dissipated considerably.
There were very few pilgrims in the hall. Ouyang Feng’s gaze swept around slightly and he saw Zhou Yan’s back. It felt very familiar.
Ouyang Feng had no friends from the Western Regions, and he was a very suspicious person, so he walked towards Zhou Yan.
“Young brother, are you looking at the Buddha without burning incense?”
Ouyang Feng’s voice, like broken cymbals, fell upon Zhou Yan’s ears, sounding like thunder.
He secretly lamented, how could he encounter the Western Venom everywhere he went.
In the blink of an eye, Zhou Yan weighed his options. He knew Ouyang Feng was ruthless and quite suspicious, so if he came forward to greet him, it was likely because he had some suspicions.
Ouyang Feng had not seen his face, but they had fought before. If he were to turn around and respond verbally, within a few sentences, the other party would be able to discern his features from his facial contours. With the Western Venom’s sharp eyes, it would not be difficult to recognize him. Not only would he lose the initiative, but being cornered in the Mahavira Hall would leave him with no chance of survival.
Within the hall, ancient Buddhas and green lamps.
Outside, birds sang melodiously.
Cold sweat had already seeped into Zhou Yan’s back.
In life, there are too many unpredictable things. This current situation was perhaps the most dangerous moment since his transmigration. Zhou Yan exhaled lightly, controlled his heartbeat, calmed his breathing, and tried his best to maintain a natural state.
The moment he turned, his right hand delved into his bosom.
From the moment he turned until his profile appeared in Ouyang Feng’s line of sight, Zhou Yan gathered his strength from his limbs inward, his external posture and internal energy converging simultaneously. Suddenly, white powder billowed out, covering Ouyang Feng head-on.
In the Mahavira Hall of Huayan Temple, Ouyang Feng let out a roar, his body whistling and soaring at high speed. In an instant, he forced the dust-filled air to roll outwards like a tidal wave. A sinister white grin appeared on his face, and he propelled his internal energy, his sleeves like Monk Lingzhi’s bronze cymbals smashing towards Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan pushed out his palms with “Riding the Six Dragons,” the most kingly move among the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms.
“Bang”
Dust swirled, ripples appeared.
Zhou Yan’s feet dragged two straight lines on the ground as he slid back several zhang, crashing into the offering table. Behind him, the green lotus longevity lamps fell like rain.
Ouyang Feng’s white figure also emerged from the lime powder dust in an instant.
Zhou Yan spun his body and used the Whirlwind Sweeping Leaves Leg, his legs and feet connected in a series of rapid, alternating movements. In an instant, he sprang forward, and the green lotus lamps shot out like arrows towards Ouyang Feng.
In the Mahavira Hall, streams of light danced. Ouyang Feng’s vision blurred. His sleeves, like an opened iron fan, swung, and for a moment, the green lamps exploded, splashing lamp oil everywhere.
Flames landed on Ouyang Feng’s body, and the Western Venom’s clothes suddenly caught fire.
Suddenly, a “Gah” sound echoed in the hall. Ouyang Feng’s toad stance power, which was as formidable as a demon’s, was unleashed with both palms.
Zhou Yan had considered withdrawing immediately, but Ouyang Feng’s attack was like a tiger’s, his body closing in like lightning.
He used the move “Shocking a Hundred Miles,” pushing his palms forward. This was an extremely powerful and fierce move from the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms.
“Boom”
Zhou Yan was sent flying backward, his body landing in the palm of the great Buddha.
“Pfft”
A mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth. Ouyang Feng, his body ablaze, had already emerged from beneath the Buddha’s palm.
Zhou Yan, exhausting all his potential, used the Quanzhen Sect’s Golden Goose Skill, his body rising like a goose. He landed on the Buddha’s head, his toes exerting force, and his body shot up again, striking the hall’s roof with “Dragon Fighting in the Wild.”
Sunlight poured into the city. The roof of the Mahavira Hall of Huayan Temple exploded, tiles scattering everywhere.
Zhou Yan’s figure shot out and landed above, and Ouyang Feng’s figure emerged at the same time.
He shook his body, his arm muscles and bones creaking, as crisp as a whip crack. The Fanzi Fist’s elbow strike descended.
Ouyang Feng caught it in mid-air, and his body suddenly sank. Zhou Yan rebounded, landing on the roof and rolling off along the tiles.
The Western Venom landed and sat on the Buddha’s head. His condition was actually much better than when Zhou Yan had tricked Ouyang Ke that day, but after a series of moves, he was inevitably affected. His eyes were burning, and his clothes were still on fire.
He couldn’t be bothered to pursue Zhou Yan. He flicked his sleeves twice, extinguishing the flames, and leaped down into the main hall to ask the monks for sesame oil to wash his eyes.
…
Blood continuously seeped from the corners of Zhou Yan’s mouth, his vision blurred, and everything around him seemed to be shrouded in a hazy mist. His entire body felt as if a weight of ten thousand jun was pressing down from all directions, making his body too heavy to bear.
He felt his breathing become rapid, and his meridians twitched and became numb.
The intense pain, however, sharpened his consciousness. He stumbled out of the temple gate and went towards the “Night-Shining Jade Lion.”
The horse, with its intelligence, snorted, its hooves tapping the ground as if making a summons.
The Jade Guanyin continuously emitted a gentle qi that entered his body, relaxing his muscles and activating his collaterals, nourishing his viscera. Zhou Yan took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom again and poured out a few “Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pills” given to him by Lu Chenfeng.
After returning to Zhongdu, these pills were given to Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, Yang Tiexin, and others. Upon smelling their fragrance, everyone knew they were precious and called them life-saving pills, not taking many. Therefore, Zhou Yan had some left.
He swallowed a few pills, untied the reins, and with difficulty climbed onto the horse’s back.
“Leave the city,” Zhou Yan turned the horse’s head.
The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” galloped out on its four hooves.
The horse ran both fast and steadily, but even so, with a slight jolt, Zhou Yan felt as if his insides were churning like a stormy sea. A mouthful of blood surged up, and he spat it out.
Zhou Yan lowered his body, crawling on the horse’s back like a gecko.
The wind howled, and the screams from the long street gradually faded into the distance. His consciousness gradually sank, and the blurry scene in his vision shifted, reaching the mountains and fields outside the city. He tugged lightly on the reins, and the “Night-Shining Jade Lion,” as if telepathically connected, darted into a small path.
After traveling a few more li, Zhou Yan’s mind roared. He tumbled off the horse’s back and fell into the woods on the side.
The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” neighed and followed.
…
A lone person, a single horse, a horned bow, a longsword.
Li Mochou dismounted at the restaurant.
“Please come in, honored guest.”
Li Mochou handed the reins to the shop assistant and stepped inside. There were eight or nine customers scattered around the restaurant, all Jianghu people with a rather ruffian air about them.
Why would she care about ordinary Jianghu figures now?
“What would you like, honored guest?”
“A few of your signature dishes and a pot of good tea.” Li Mochou removed her veil and ran her hand through her hair, which had been pressed for a long time.
Her hair was thick and smooth. The sunlight streaming in from the window illuminated her silky hair, which seemed like a solid light curtain. Her fingers combed through it without any obstruction.
“Why aren’t you going?”
“Right away.” The shop assistant, snapping back to attention, hurried towards the kitchen, thinking to himself that this young lady looked like an immortal, truly beautiful.
The afternoon sun was strong, and the temperature was not low, but Li Mochou’s inner feelings were like a cool day with heavy rain last year.
It was in this very restaurant that she had met Zhou Yan.
She was sitting in the same seat she had occupied before.
At the table where Zhou Yan had sat, there were four Jianghu people with lecherous eyes, who kept stealing glances at her.
She let out a soft snort, and her right hand lightly brushed.
The Jianghu man by the window couldn’t help but look at Li Mochou again.
With a “bang,” the teacup on the table shattered.
Scalding tea splashed onto him.
The four men jumped back in unison, looking at Li Mochou with complex expressions. They knew they had provoked an expert they couldn’t afford to offend and had trespassed. They hastily paid their bill and left.
Li Mochou chuckled, using her Jade Peak Needle to shatter the porcelain bowl, feeling a sense of Zhou Yan’s arrows like a continuous string, never missing their mark.
“I wonder if he’s arrived yet.”
Li Mochou murmured to herself.
