Although Xing Chi's Buddhist name contained the character for 'late', he was quite efficient in his actions.
After Li Miao handled the traces of the battle and Zhu Zai departed with the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), Xing Chi immediately dispatched Shaolin disciples to various locations to invite martial arts practitioners from all over the world to witness the ceremony of passing on the abbotship to Yongjie.
Given Shaolin's status and Xing Chi's reputation, this matter quickly spread throughout the martial arts world.
By that afternoon, many martial artists had already arrived.
Li Miao originally did not want to enter Shaolin Temple; it was crowded and chaotic inside, and if he and Yin Minjun were seen arriving at Shaolin early, it would inevitably be a flaw.
However, as more and more martial artists arrived, Shaolin's guest rooms gradually became insufficient, and more and more martial artists ended up sleeping in the wilderness around Shaolin.
How does one generalize the group of martial artists?
In essence, they were very much like the thirteen or fourteen-year-old troublemakers in schools from Li Miao's previous life—lacking money, obsessed with reputation, fond of fighting, prone to posturing, and full of energy.
When such people gathered, greeting each other and forging connections, constantly moving about, it was inevitable that they would run into Li Miao and Yin Minjun.
Although Li Miao could also 'create' new faces for himself and Yin Minjun, doing so would make it even more unnecessary to endure the discomfort of the wilderness. So, Li Miao found Yongjie and had him arrange a quiet residence within Shaolin for the two of them to stay.
That night, Li Miao discussed the Dao with Xing Chi, benefiting greatly, and he also quite liked this open-minded and cheerful old man.
For the past two days, he had been spending time at Xing Chi's place.
At this moment, Li Miao was reclining on a rocking chair, his left leg crossed under his right, his right leg hanging down, and his hands clasped behind his head, swaying idly. Yin Minjun sat beside him, occasionally handing Li Miao some food.
Yongjie sat cross-legged nearby, adjusting his meridians and stabilizing his mind.
Xing Chi remained seated cross-legged on the mat, playing with the little girl. However, his complexion was increasingly pale, gradually losing his former healthy appearance.
Each had their own things to do, and it looked quite harmonious.
However, places where Li Miao was present generally did not remain harmonious for too long.
"Speaking of which, there's something I've always wanted to ask."
Li Miao began.
"Shaolin doesn't allow female dependents inside, does it? How come you're raising a little girl?"
"The current abbot coaxes children, and the next abbot raises daughters. That's quite interesting."
After these two days of interaction, Li Miao had become much more familiar with Xing Chi, so he was less careful with his words, gradually revealing his true nature of not respecting elders or cherishing the young. His words were full of sarcasm and mockery; anyone unfamiliar with his character would be ready to fight him after just a few sentences.
Angering old men, teasing children, and fighting middle-aged men were Li Miao's three favorite things to do.
However, Xing Chi was, after all, a highly accomplished monk. In terms of self-restraint, he could leave Zhu Zai far behind.
Hearing Li Miao's question, Xing Chi was not offended and laughed cheerfully.
"Regarding these precepts, this monk even delivered babies in the temple back in the day."
"A human life is always more important than rules, isn't that right, Ling'er?"
After speaking, he used his foot-long eyebrows to tease the little girl, making her giggle with laughter.
"Were it not for Ling'er, my unworthy disciple might not have converted to Buddhism back then."
Xing Chi glanced at Yongjie and said.
Yongjie, who seemed to be closing his eyes and sorting out his meridians, opened his eyes and gave a wry smile: "Master, I truly converted."
"Do your work! If you don't regulate your meridians properly and I let you waste all this true qi, I'll haunt your dreams and beat you!"
Xing Chi gave him no quarter.
Li Miao also understood that both Xing Chi and Yongjie did not want to discuss this matter and had deliberately changed the subject.
He had only asked casually, so he did not press for more details.
When night fell, after they had eaten their vegetarian meal, they bid farewell to Xing Chi and Yongjie and returned with Yin Minjun to the secluded small courtyard to rest.
Li Miao nodded to Yin Minjun and then went back to his room to rest.
Yin Minjun, however, did not move for a moment. She stood in the courtyard, her hand clenching and unclenching the corner of her clothing, her lips pressed together as she looked towards Li Miao's room.
Tomorrow was the abbotship transfer ceremony.
Li Miao had told her clearly that after the matter at Shaolin was concluded, he would go to deal with the Ming Cult's affairs, and then he would not return. Yin Minjun also had to return to Hengshan Sect.
After today, they would be in different parts of the world, perhaps never to meet again.
Yin Minjun could sit in the second-highest position of Hengshan Sect; her character, martial arts, and loyalty to Hengshan Sect had all been tested.
There was no way she could abandon her sect and follow Li Miao.
But to let it go so lightly, as if she had only served as a passerby in Li Miao's experience, she was unwilling.
Yet, when it came to actually doing something, she couldn't muster the courage.
After a long while, Yin Minjun raised her hand and pounded her chest, muttering to herself.
"The sword must be straight and true, and one must not go against one's heart's desire."
"If I leave a flaw in my heart's state today, and my moves cannot be perfected in the future, how can I support Hengshan Sect?"
"I am unmarried, he is unattached. We are martial artists, why seek permanence?"
"What's wrong with it... what's wrong with it?"
"What's wrong with it!"
Having found an excuse for herself, Yin Minjun's eyes suddenly sharpened.
With a movement of her feet, she was about to walk to Li Miao's door.
This is the one-to-one, no-mistakes version!
Just as Yin Minjun finally made up her mind, about to cast aside her maidenly modesty and do something significant.
She heard a soft sound behind her.
"Don't move, don't look back. Move, and you die."
A hoarse voice, clearly suppressed, rang out.
In an instant, Yin Minjun felt several chilling, substantial killing intents lock onto her body.
She also felt a fierce sword intent pressing against her back.
"A peak expert!"
Yin Minjun was also a sword master; how could she not understand what that sword intent represented?
If she made even the slightest movement, a sword would pierce her back.
Yin Minjun did not move and said, "What do you want, sir?"
"I am merely staying at Shaolin. If you have questions or seek revenge, you don't need to find me."
The person, however, laughed hoarsely.
"Sir, your words are too naive."
"Master Xing Chi has seen you often these past few days, hasn't he? I've been watching in secret the whole time."
"Master Xing Chi is about to pass on the abbotship tomorrow, and at such a crucial moment, he spends all his time with you. You say you're just staying here, who would believe that?"
He looked towards the room beside them and said.
"Where's your male companion? Tell him to acupoint himself and roll out."
Yin Minjun, however, suddenly smiled.
She had been startled when a sword was suddenly pressed against her back, momentarily panicking and forgetting that Li Miao was also there, and she had actually become afraid.
What was a peak expert compared to Lord Li?
The person noticed Yin Minjun's smile, his eyebrows furrowed tightly, and he demanded sharply.
"What are you laughing at!?"
"She's remembering something happy."
The door opened, and Li Miao slowly walked out from inside, chuckling as he glanced at Yin Minjun, then looked at the peak expert.
Yin Minjun's face, however, flushed crimson, and she was at a loss, not daring to look at the chuckling Li Miao.
"What happy thing?" The person asked with a frown.
"Her wife gave birth... Sigh, never mind, you wouldn't understand even if I told you."
Li Miao looked at him and said indifferently.
"What's your name, where do you live, why are you here? Tell me everything."
"Once you've finished, I'll let you die quickly."