Chapter Forty: A Journey of Hardship

The monk escaped swiftly, utilizing his light-footed skills to put hundreds of meters between himself and He Zhixing in an instant. He Zhixing could not allow the monk to disappear from his sight; immediately, he stretched his form and summoned all his strength to pursue the old monk, determined to narrow the distance between them.

Descending the mountain to a crossroads, the monk suddenly began to run wildly along the roadside. At that moment, the street was busy with vehicles. He reached a bus stop and spotted a bus on Route 12 heading to Lian Z District, quickly boarding it. By the time He Zhixing caught up, the monk was already seated on the bus, disappearing into the distance.

He Zhixing stomped his foot in frustration. After waiting a minute or so, another Route 12 bus arrived. Without hesitation, He Zhixing boarded, choosing a seat beside the driver and fixing his gaze intently on the Route 12 bus ahead, watching to see if the monk would get off.

The monk alighted at the stop for Puxinwei Village and walked into the village. A minute later, He Zhixing hurriedly followed, tracing the monk’s footsteps.

There were not many pedestrians by the village entrance. Both sides of the road were lined with lush trees and vibrant flowers, the winding path adding charm. Few skyscrapers stood here—just low, ancient-style buildings, some renovated to preserve their classic character. The monk’s figure quickly vanished through the gate of a courtyard.

He Zhixing was about to step onto the stairs of the courtyard gate when, unexpectedly, a powerful gust attacked from a blind angle. The monk ambushed him, his palms already pressing forcefully against He Zhixing.

He Zhixing raised his arms to block, but with a resounding “bang,” he was knocked back by the force, sent flying. As he steadied himself, the monk launched a second wave of attacks, swift and relentless. Dizzy from the barrage, He Zhixing had no chance to catch his breath; the monk struck and retreated, leaving He Zhixing puzzled—why did the monk, so dominant in his momentum, choose to withdraw?

When He Zhixing tried to pursue, the monk had already entered the courtyard. Someone appeared inside, seemingly to greet the monk and ushered him in.

He Zhixing was also welcomed inside after buying a small ticket. Within, a whole new world revealed itself—a grand opera stage, where performers sang opera amid the clang of gongs and drums. Below, a crowd’s shouts of approval echoed incessantly. He Zhixing took a seat beside the monk, silently vowing, “This time, I won’t let you escape again!”

The opera being performed was “Lin Chong.” Amid the booming percussion, a performer dressed as Lin Chong sang and leapt, enacting classic scenes such as “Fighting with Rattan Shields,” “Crossing the Mountains,” and “Chaotic Mansion,” captivating the audience, whose cheers and applause soared. The performer vividly brought Lin Chong’s character to life, his unique style earning wave after wave of acclaim. For a moment, He Zhixing forgot everything else—forgot his pursuit of the monk, simply immersing himself in the power of art.

He didn’t know when the show ended; only as people began to file past him did he search for the monk, discovering him at the exit, tossing a sly smile in He Zhixing’s direction.

He Zhixing was startled: “You wily monk, trying to sneak away without a word? Not a chance!”

He caught up with the monk just as he entered a secluded path, where wildflowers flourished beside patches of protected greenery. The monk stopped, smiling knowingly at him.

“Benefactor, you are too stubborn. Prepare yourself.”

This time, the monk didn’t even bother with formalities, launching straight into attack. In that instant, He Zhixing was utterly overwhelmed. The monk seemed transformed, his sudden momentum and unfamiliar techniques catching He Zhixing completely off guard.

No matter which angle He Zhixing blocked from, he was struck. The moves felt oddly familiar, yet there was nothing he could do.

Wasn’t the monk using the spear techniques from the opera “Lin Chong”? How bizarre! Could Lin Chong’s spearwork really carry such force?

To turn opera choreography into lethal techniques—this was remarkable. To be able to grasp the essence of a stage character’s moves just by watching a performance, it seemed the monk possessed some extraordinary, hidden talent. In the final flurry, the monk struck He Zhixing with such force that he coughed blood, collapsing to the ground, unable to rise.

The monk turned and walked away slowly, leaving a final message: “Benefactor, we shall meet at the Flying Waterfalls and the Drifting River in X City…”

He Zhixing, miserable beyond words, could only accept his fate.