Chapter 168: Show Sincerity

Chapter 168: Gauging Sincerity

Luohan Temple, Dharma Hall.

Inside the bright and translucent lecture hall, burly warrior monks sat cross-legged on meditation cushions, the cicatrice-like brain-machines atop their bald heads reflecting a faint metallic glint.

At this moment, the gazes of all the monks were fixed uniformly upon the Guest Master Monk Huitong standing in the center of the hall, and the unconscious youth at his feet.

"Huitong, what are you playing at? He's nothing but a reckless fool who doesn't know death; since he's caught, just kill him. Does a trifling matter like this really require disturbing the Dharma Hall?"

A warrior monk complained with slight dissatisfaction.

Just moments ago, he had been in the temple's Huangliang Buddha Realm, fighting bare-chested against a group of utterly wicked female Asuras.

Victory was within grasp, and he would have been able to ferry those desire-entwined wretches across, but he suddenly received an urgent alert from the Guest Master Monk, forcing him to log off prematurely.

Quite a few around him were in similar straits; a sea of resentment surged toward Huitong.

Huitong lowered his brows and eyes, palms pressed together in apology to all sides, "Please forgive me, fellow brothers. This junior brother also did not wish to disturb your cultivation of the Dharma, but this madman's identity is truly extraordinary; I dare not decide his fate on my own."

Hearing this, the warrior monks revealed surprise; the more hot-tempered among them immediately flipped off their cushions and leaped into the hall, hoisting Zhou You up like a chick to inspect his body back and forth.

Riiip!

That black robe was torn to shreds, revealing the youth's jury-rigged, deformed mechanical body.

"A pile of scrap copper and rotten iron, reeking to high heaven." A warrior monk spoke with disdain: "Even if he isn't killed by someone, he won't live much longer. What remarkable background could a small fry like this have?"

Monk Huitong explained in a low voice: "This senior brother is unaware; this youth is named Zhou You, a newly risen confidant under 'Tiger Head' He Zangjia."

"'Tiger Head' He Zangjia, the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Association?"

Though the warrior monks of Luohan Temple's Dharma Hall had natures like blazing fire, ready to glare like Vajras and ferry people by force at the slightest disagreement.

Yet upon hearing the name 'Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Association', they couldn't help but frown instinctively.

One must know that although Chongqing Prefecture boasts of being overgrown with grassroots heroes and teeming with local strongmen, in this territory surrounded by the powerful, the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Association absolutely counts as a major power.

Its leaders, the 'Eight Generals of a Thousand Gates', are even 'Property Holders' of the Gold and Silver Towers of Hongya Mountain; their strength and status are no small matter.

If this youth truly belonged to the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Association, it was no wonder Monk Huitong only dared capture him alive, not daring to kill him rashly.

"How much merit debt does this person owe the temple?"

On the closely packed meditation cushions, a clear-headed warrior monk spoke up to ask.

After restraining Zhou You in the Buddha Realm, Huitong immediately pulled up his contracts and files, replying at once: "Replying to Senior Brother, the amount isn't much, just three to four hundred thousand treasure notes, and it was already paid off not long ago."

The questioner wore a puzzled look, "Since it's paid off, why did this youth still barge into the temple to seize someone?"

No sooner had the words fallen than someone nearby sneered: "What else could it be? It must be that those stupid, pig-brained Guest Monks didn't investigate his background before harboring thoughts of wiping him out completely."

"Damn it all!"

A warrior monk cursed, "Huitong, how do you manage your subordinates? One by one they're incompetent at their jobs, spending all day causing trouble for the temple!"

"Blame me? If it weren't for you lot crying and screaming that the share was too small during the year-end dividend distribution among the halls, making the conditions to enter the Buddha Realm stricter and stricter, would my Guest Monks have been forced to take such desperate risks for bad money?!"

Monk Huitong cursed incessantly in his heart, yet his expression grew ever more servile; he bowed his body and said not a word.

Seeing him like this, the warrior monks couldn't press him further; they clamored in a babble, raising a huge ruckus.

"Looks like we were in the wrong first. If we kill him now, it'll damage Luohan Temple's reputation if word gets out."

"Then release him?"

"How is that possible! Although we tried to wipe him out first, at most it counts as Junior Brother Huitong's failure to discipline. But this brat actually dared take a Guest Monk hostage and enter the temple to seize someone—this is a provocation of the Dharma Hall's dignity, a heinous crime!"

To hell with your 'failure to discipline'!

The brow-lowering, eye-dropping Huitong cursed inwardly.

"Right, if we let him off lightly this time, everyone will follow suit; how will our Dharma Hall collect those overdue incense-money debts in the future?"

"But the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Association isn't easy to provoke either; if they really come knocking, we won't be in the right."

"In my view, the burden the Abbot presses on the Reception Hall and Dharma Hall is too heavy; with so much merit to fulfill every year, the people below are bound to resort to extreme measures. Thus, bad debts increase, and the pressure on our Dharma Hall grows."

Huitong's brows twitched. Huh, which senior brother is this, to actually be so reasonable.

"What use is complaining now? Do you dare go tell the Abbot to lower this year's merit quota?"

"I'm just saying, why are you so anxious."

Resonant voices went back and forth in the hall, boiling over into a deafening clamor, making one's head swell from the noise.

"Enough, all of you shut up!"

Just as the situation grew increasingly chaotic, the First Seat of the Dharma Hall, seated in the central position, finally spoke, settling the matter with final authority.

"The man absolutely cannot be released!"

The First Seat opened a pair of leopard eyes, scanning the crowd, and said in a deep voice: "This concerns the face of Luohan Temple; even if this boy is from the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Association, he cannot be lightly forgiven."

Huitong took up the conversation, asking softly: "What is the First Seat's meaning?"

"Detain him for a night first, see the Gambling Association's reaction. If someone of 'Eight Generals' level comes to intercede, granting them face isn't impossible. If no one shows up."

The First Seat revealed a trace of ferocity, "Then remove his brain and plug it into the Buddha Realm, to serve as a warning to others!"

The monks pressed their palms together, praising in unison: "The First Seat is wise."

Right at this moment, Monk Huitong suddenly made a gesture of tilting his head to listen, his face immediately showing surprise.

"Huitong, what has happened?"

Hearing the First Seat's inquiry, Huitong raised his face with a fawning smile: "The First Seat truly predicts things like a god; the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Association has sent someone."

The First Seat frowned, "There really is an 'Eight General' coming to speak for him?! Which one is it?"

"Not an 'Eight General', but this madman's master, 'Tiger Head' He Zangjia."

"This First Seat hasn't even pursued his responsibility yet he dares come seek mercy," the First Seat snorted coldly, "This small-time player has quite the nerve!"

The First Seat waved his hand impatiently, "Tell him to scram. Tell He Zangjia he has no standing to speak on this matter."

"His standing is indeed unworthy of seeking mercy," Huitong chuckled lightly: "However, this He Zangjia says he brought a gift."

"How much?"

Huitong retracted the index finger and thumb of the single palm held before him, "This much."

"In that case."

The First Seat nodded, "Then bring him in, let's see if this 'Tiger Head's' attitude is sincere enough."

"I obey the First Seat's decree."

Huitong pressed his palms together.

At that very moment, the lecture hall suddenly rang with the explosive cracks of moving tendons and bones and the hum of machinery.

Atop each bald head, faces turned ferocious, exuding a spine-chilling coldness.