White-Robed Chief

Chu Li saw Su Ru out and when he returned, most of the dishes were taken away with only two left to go with the wine.

Xue Ling had taken away the dishes to warm them up again.

Chu Li smiled and shook his head. Xue Ling may come across as cold and proud, but she was truly meticulous and good in her work. This left him speechless but all in all, he could only adapt to it.

Shortly, Xue Ling served up the piping hot dishes once more and they smelled good.

Chu Li put down his wine cup and started eating.

While he ate, he kept thinking about the Sentient Menace.

As Xue Ling returned to his side after she washed up the plates, Chu Li suddenly asked her, “Xue Ling, do you have any dharmic base?”

“No, I don’t.” Xue Ling shook her head.

“Can you read then?”

“Yes, of course!”

“Can you read Buddhist Scriptures?”

“I should be?” Xue Ling nodded her head. “Though, Master, I don’t believe in Buddhism!”

Ever since her father was killed, she had stopped believing in Buddha even though her mother was a religious Buddhist. Her mother even prayed to Buddha at home, burnt incense, and recited Buddhist scriptures on a daily basis.

However, Xue Ling had never batted an eye nor did she bother at all. If Buddha was really great and magical, He would not have let someone as good-willed as her father die a violent death. People say that karma worked in a way where kindness would always beget kindness and there would be retribution for your evil-doing, but these were all nonsense to her!

Chu Li said, “Get me a copy of the Titanium Scripture.”

“Alright.” Xue Ling was puzzled, but she did not pry further.

In today’s world, the art of martial skills was flourishing, yet those who practiced Buddhism was said to be thriving as well. More so, they were catching up fast and overtaking the Taoists. The Green Deer Cliff’s martial art skills were mysterious and difficult to comprehend, while The Tempest Temple was better famed for knowing no bounds!

Due to that, there were many Buddhists out there and acquiring a copy of the Titanium Scripture should be easy. So, she left the courtyard and with just one trip around the island, she found a copy.

When she returned to the gazebo, she handed the scripture to Chu Li with both hands.

Accepting it, Chu Li took a glance at it and nodded — this was indeed a very common scripture that could be found easily. He gave it back to Xue Ling. “Hold this, and read it to me.”

Xue Ling looked at him blankly as she took the scripture and started to read from it.

“Just like what I’ve heard…”

Chu Li listened quietly as she read it fluently and was steady in her speed. Her voice was clear and melodious, an enjoyable voice to listen to.

When she was done with reading it over once, Chu Li revealed a smile. “Not bad at all!”

Xue Ling gave him a puzzled look — she did not understand what he was trying to say.

“Xue Ling, please stand aside and read out the scripture for me when I cultivate later.”

“Wouldn’t that disturb you?”

“Don’t worry, just read it!”

Xue Ling nodded her head lightly in acknowledgment.

Chu Li smiled and continued, “Why don’t you prepare some spirit herbs and make some tea to soothe your throat later?”

“Will do.” Xue Ling got up and left to look for some soothing spirit herbs.

She returned half an hour later with a small bag of spirit herbs and proceeded to boil water to make tea. “Shall we start, Master?”

“Yes!” said Chu Li.

He stood up, walked out of the gazebo, and started to cultivate the Sentient Menace. With Xue Ling reading the scripture on the side, he practiced the 72 forms repeatedly. Most importantly, she read at a steady pace, calmly, and peacefully.

Xue Ling had never read a Buddhist scripture before, but she had heard her mother’s chants. As she read it, she felt as if she sounded just like her mother.

However, she was not in a hurry because it was not about how many times she read it. She knew that once Chu Li started cultivating, he would take at least half a day for it and she would need to read for that amount of time too. So, there was no need to rush — it was better if she read slowly anyway.

She tried to memorize the scripture as she read it. Constantly staring at the book was tiring for her eyes and to ease her fatigue, it may be better to memorize it.

With the accompaniment of the scripture chanting, Chu Li’s frame of mind started to change. It was as if he was placed in a Buddhist rite. Suddenly, his heart was calm and he was one with the Titanium Scripture, forsaking all conceptions of form. As his attention left his body, he completely merged with the scripture to develop the enlightened mind.

He was free from the concept of time and burden of space, letting go of this mortal world and the six senses. The only thing remained was his subconsciousness that was cultivating the Sentient Menace.

When he finally awoke from his thoughts, Xue Ling was staring at him quietly. She had stopped chanting the scripture for quite a while now.

“What is it?” Chu Li noted her weird expression.

She pointed at the sky. “Master, look at the sky.”

Chu Li looked up and realized that dusk was setting in; the lanterns around were being lit. Under his absent mind, a day had passed by.

Xue Ling explained, “Master, you were cultivating so intensely that I did not dare to interrupt you!”

Chu Ling nodded. “You did the right thing!”

Instead, he felt energized with no trace of fatigue. He felt very exuberant as if he could punch a hole in the sky with one shot. In fact, today’s cultivation had improved tremendously compared to the past few days — it seemed like he had found the correct way to practice.

When combining the dharmic base and martial arts, there was a separation between the spirit and the body. Yet while the spirit corresponded with the dharmic base, the physical body cultivated the Sentient Menace. It was unsure whether the disciples of the Tempest Temple cultivated as such, but above and beyond profound meditation skills, a very determined frame of mind and spirit was required to do so to comprehend the true essence of Buddhism. This was not a feat that could be easily achieved by anybody.

Xue Ling said, “Master, let me warm up the food again!”

She dashed off into the kitchen to warm up the food. She could not stop thinking about Chu Li’s cultivation — it was very bizarre. It was as if his spirit had left his body and disappeared in this world, leaving an empty shell behind.

Chu Li was so famished that he swept up all the ten dishes very quickly, and drank one full jar of wine. When he was done, he sighed with contentment.

“Master, are we continuing this tomorrow?” Xue Ling asked as she put down the wine jar.

“We will continue this at night. How’s your throat?”

“It’s fine!” Xue Ling replied.

The spirit herb tea she made was helpful in terms of soothing and nourishing her throat. Along with her intentional efforts in preserving her energy, she did not even feel tired at all.

Chu Li looked at her. Although it seemed like she had a mouthful of things to complain about, she agreed to his saying without hesitation. This showed that she definitely has a good attitude.

Once again, he sensed the Glory’s Will Tree. However, he could not channel its spiritual force just yet as it was still weak. Perhaps in a few days’ time, he should be able to do so to help him cultivate the Sentient Menace and test out its effects.

After dinner, Chu Li rested for a while before he continued with his cultivation.

Xue Ling started to chant again but it was different this time — she had already memorized the scripture. Her voice remained clear, audible, and melodious just like before.

Very quickly, Chu Li entered into a new frame of mind again; he was one with the Titanium Scripture, leaving only a part of his subconsciousness to cultivate the Sentient Menace.

Xue Ling observed as his eyes started to turn blank. She knew that his mind was wandering out of his body again. It was marvelous that he was still able to cultivate the Sentient Menace in such a phase.

Suddenly, she found an interest in the Titanium Scripture. Without the scripture, Chu Li was not like this before. It was only when it was being chanted that he had become like this. So, it was obviously the Titanium Scripture’s doing. Is it true that there could be an indescribable power within the Titanium Scripture?

At this point, she thought of her mother and shook her head. Her mother had been chanting it for more than half of her life, yet she never realized any magical powers. Her character remained unchanged and she still nagged Xue Ling a lot.

Since Chu Li would not be able to hear her, Xue Ling believed that it did not matter whether she continued reciting the scripture or not. However, she refused to be lazy and continued with her recital.

In no time, the moon came up. It was large and round, shining brightly with its light that was gentle and soft.

Even though the lanterns in the gazebo were not lit, the moonlight made everything clearer.

Under the moonlight, Chu Li’s body was faintly emitting a golden glow, making him strange yet interesting. This was especially the case for both of his hands. They had a shiny glow as if they were carved out of actual gold.

Without taking a break, he cultivated till midnight before he finally awakened. By that time, Xue Ling had prepared supper for him as the long day of cultivation was truly draining. The Sentient Menace not only demanded inner energy, but also his Five Grains Energy.

Xue Ling had made a table full of dishes and she declined Chu Li’s invitation for her to sit down and dine with him.

So, Chu Li stopped being polite and ate up all the food.

Xue Ling looked up at the sky, stood up and walked out of the gazebo to cultivate her Eight Forms of Crescent Cryptic.

Chu Li observed for a while and shook his head, telling her, “Xue Ling, you’re still not gentle enough.”

Xue Ling stopped and looked at him helplessly.

She believed that she was very gentle. In fact, she was as soft as a baby. She did not even use an ounce of energy, but she was getting good results. She cultivated her Eight Forms, before proceeding with the Crescent Cryptic. In the process of it, her inner energy swirled around in her body, advancing her cultivation progress.

Chu Li said, “Go read some scriptures, it will help you.”

“Will do.” Xue Ling nodded.

Chu Li pondered for a while, stood up and said to her, “Actually… let me give you some help.”

He took out a long sword that was hanging on a red pole in the gazebo. After taking out the sword and placing it away, he held the scabbard and moved towards Xue Ling. “Let’s start practicing, shall we?”

Xue Ling looked at the scabbard and started practicing again.

‘Wham!’ Chu Li suddenly hit her on her waist with the scabbard, making a muffled ring.

She grunted in surprise at the sudden strike. When a sudden hot sensation passed through her body from her waist, she felt as if she was in a hot tub. At that moment, she relaxed and all her movements changed.

Chu Li said, “Remember that feeling!”

Xue Ling blushed. She was embarrassed with her grunt, but she quickly focused her concentration and tried to remember that feeling.

Chu Li shook his head. “You’re trying too hard; learn how to let things flow naturally. The harder you try, the more nervous you’ll get and you’ll never succeed.”

He raised the scabbard again and struck her on the shoulder. With that, Xue Ling’s movements softened. Once again, she could feel the warm sensation flowing through her body.

She could finally feel something in her soft movements, without using much energy.

Chu Li struck her again on her back at her tailbone.

She immediately blushed and tried her best to not fart. Due to the warm flow in her body, she had this urge to fart but she felt that it was indecent and rude. Hence, she tried her best to hold onto it, causing her face to turn beet-red but nothing was as cute as a pretty lady being bashful and shy.

Chu Li chuckled and did not say a word. He went back to the gazebo and kept away the scabbard before returning home. “Take your time, I’m going to sleep first!”