Volume Two: Inheriting the Legacy, Blood on the Brocade Robe Chapter 123: You Are No Match for Me

Yang Ning suddenly flared up. Zhenming was stunned for a moment before asking, "Junior Brother Ning, they are our seniors. Since they said that eating less cultivates the mind, it must be for a reason. Why are you getting angry?"

"Tell me, little monk, are you dense?" Yang Ning retorted irritably. "It’s obvious they’re just bullying you because you're small. Do you really think there’s any damn sense in what they said?"

"Amitabha," Zhenming quickly pressed his palms together and said, "Junior Brother Ning, you must not speak so recklessly."

Though he was only thirteen or fourteen years old, his demeanor was mature beyond his years. However, Yang Ning felt a sense of awkwardness being addressed as "Junior Brother" by this little monk. He asked, "By the way, what is the name of this peak?"

"The summit of Tianbao Mountain Peak," Zhenming answered readily. "The three peaks of Purple Gold Mountain—North Peak, Lesser Mao Peak, and Tianbao Mountain Peak—are arranged like a brush rest...!"

Yang Ning raised a hand to stop him. "No need to be so detailed. I’m asking you, are we the only two people left in this courtyard?"

"Master is away, so yes, it is just the two of us," Zhenming replied.

"And what do you mean by the 'Morning Bell' you mentioned?" Yang Ning pointed outside. "Are you talking about that big, clumsy bell by the cliff?"

Zhenming found this new junior brother rather difficult to deal with; the man spoke without any restraint. He could only advise, "Junior Brother Ning, you must be careful with your words in the temple. It’s fine since it’s just you and me, but if anyone else in the temple heard you, they would surely drag you to Uncle-Master Jingneng."

"Uncle-Master Jingneng?"

Zhenming explained, "Uncle-Master Jingneng is the Head of the Discipline Hall. He manages the commandments of the Great Brightness Temple. Whoever breaks the temple rules must be sent to the Discipline Hall for punishment."

"We’re talking here; no one will hear us," Yang Ning said. "Don't stray from the topic. What’s the meaning of the Morning Bell?"

"Oh, each of the three peaks of Purple Gold Mountain has a giant bell. Ours is the Morning Bell. Every day at 3:15 AM, it must be struck, and everyone in the temple wakes up for morning prayers upon hearing it," Zhenming explained. "When the bell at Lesser Mao Peak rings, it is time for midday prayers, and when the bell at North Peak rings, it is time for evening prayers. At 9:15 PM, all three bells ring in unison, and it is time to extinguish the lamps and sleep."

"So, you’re the first to ring the bell in the morning and the last to ring it at night, and yet you eat so little?" Yang Ning said with dissatisfaction. "Didn't you say your master is one of the Thirteen Monks of Brightness? His status in the temple should be quite high, right?"

Zhenming quickly added, "Everyone in the temple respects Master."

"Then I find it strange. How could a high monk like him end up in such a place?" Yang Ning wondered. "Why choose to be here? You look frail; surely you can't be the one ringing that giant bell outside. Your master must be the one getting up early and working late to ring it. Is he really willing to do such a thing?"

Zhenming shook his head. "I have been ringing the bell alone since I was eight years old. I handle both the morning and evening sessions."

Yang Ning was taken aback. He looked the boy over carefully. The little monk had delicate features and a slight frame; it was hard to believe such a frail-looking boy could toll that massive bell. However, the little monk seemed honest and didn't look like he was bragging.

"That’s good," Yang Ning sighed in relief. "I was only worried that since your master is away, I’d be the one forced to ring it every day."

Zhenming asked curiously, "Are you unwilling?"

"Of course I'm unwilling," Yang Ning replied. "Wait, does that mean you haven't left the Great Brightness Temple for a single day since you were eight? You ring it twice a day—what would happen if you weren't here?"

"I only need to stay here; there is nowhere else I need to go," Zhenming said.

Yang Ning thought to himself that the little monk was truly naive, but to stay in one place for so many years without going stir-crazy—if it were him, he could never endure it.

"Junior Brother Ning, before Master left, he instructed that once you woke up, I should teach you the 'Scripture of Clarity.' How are you feeling now?" Zhenming asked earnestly. "If you are able, I shall begin teaching you the chants starting today."

"Scripture of Clarity?" Yang Ning asked, puzzled. "What is that? Is it a Buddhist scripture?"

Zhenming nodded. "When I was six, Master taught me the chants for the Scripture of Clarity. It was the first Buddhist scripture I ever learned."

Yang Ning frowned. "I have no intention of becoming a monk, so there’s no need for me to learn these Buddhist scriptures."

"Junior Brother Ning, that won't do. Since Master gave the instruction, we must follow it," Zhenming said with great seriousness. "I see you can eat and walk, which means you have met Master's requirements. It is almost time for midday prayers...!" Before he could finish his sentence, Yang Ning heard a low, deep tolling of a bell.

The sound was deep, echoing through the quiet mountain ranges. Even here at Tianbao Mountain Peak, it was heard with perfect clarity.

After the eighth strike, Zhenming stood up immediately and headed for the door. "Junior Brother Ning, it is time for midday prayers. Let us go...!" He looked back, saw that Yang Ning hadn't moved, and paused, asking, "Why aren't you getting up, Junior Brother?"

Yang Ning raised a hand. "You go ahead to your prayers. I’m not a monk; I don't need to do those things." He pointed to the food on the table. "Since you aren't eating, I’ll just finish it off. Little monk, don't worry about me."

Zhenming walked over, looked at Yang Ning, and said, "Junior Brother Ning, one must not eat during the time of midday prayers. Do you not know the temple rules? Ah, you just arrived, so you truly do not know. It is my fault. But I will teach you the rules slowly; do not worry." Seeing that Yang Ning ignored him and reached for the chopsticks, Zhenming caught his wrist with a swift movement and said sternly, "Junior Brother Ning, I have already told you the rules. Why do you insist on breaking them knowingly?"

Yang Ning frowned. "Little Brother Zhenming, do you stay holed up here so much that you can't even understand what I'm saying?" He used his other hand to point at his own mouth. "Watch my lips: I don't want to learn, and I am not a monk of the Great Brightness Temple. I don't need to follow your rules."

Zhenming shook his head. "Once you enter the temple, you must follow the rules. Uncle-Master Jingneng said this himself. Anyone who breaks even one rule must be sent to the Discipline Hall for punishment. Before Master left, he said you were new and didn't understand, so I shouldn't be too harsh and didn't need to send you to the Discipline Hall, but... but you must learn the Scripture of Clarity."

"Enough with the nonsense." Yang Ning didn't care at all about the rules set by a little monk; in fact, he was annoyed. He shook off Zhenming’s hand. "Little monk, no one in the Great Brightness Temple can control me. You, a little kid, want to set rules for me? Go away!" He reached for the chopsticks again, but before his fingers touched them, his wrist was grabbed once more.

Yang Ning’s face darkened. He snapped, "Little monk, what are you doing? I’m telling you, I don't have a good temper. Don't think just because you're small, I won't be rude."

"You are going to attend midday prayers," Zhenming said, staring into Yang Ning’s eyes without backing down. "Otherwise, I have no choice but to drag you out."

"Oh? You’ve got some nerve," Yang Ning laughed. "Are you saying you want to fight me?"

He thought this little monk truly had no idea how high the sky was. Although Yang Ning didn't underestimate the boy entirely, Zhenming was only ten-something and frail. Yang Ning was an elite who had undergone specialized training; even three or five grown men couldn't get the better of him, let alone a little monk.

Zhenming didn't speak again. He applied force to his grip, intending to pull Yang Ning up. Yang Ning tried to shake him off, but this time he couldn't break free. Instead, the little monk applied even more pressure. Despite his age, his strength was not insignificant. Yang Ning felt his wrist being tightly clamped and turned hostile. "Little monk, don't push me any further. I’m really going to lose it. I’ll count to three—are you going to let go or not?"

"Junior Brother Ning, are you going to attend midday prayers or not?" the little monk asked. "If you refuse, I have no choice but to follow Master’s instructions and give you a small punishment."

Yang Ning laughed out loud at this. "A small punishment? You? Little monk, did you hear yourself? Hahaha... come on then, let’s see how you give me a small punishment." He blinked his eyes and said provocatively, "I love being punished by others, I can’t wait! Come on...!"

Before he could finish his sentence, he felt his arm tighten, and then his entire body felt weightless. Before he could react, with a "thud," he flew out the door and landed heavily on the ground outside.

The event was so sudden that Yang Ning had no mental preparation. After hitting the ground, he felt pain all over his body and was filled with shock. He looked up to see Zhenming standing at the doorway, palms together, looking apologetic. "Junior Brother Ning, I used too much force. Are you alright?"

Yang Ning scrambled to his feet. He had been tossed out so suddenly that he hadn't even grasped how the little monk had done it, and he was even more suspicious of how such a boy could possess such skill.

He sneered, glanced around, and said coldly, "Which expert is here? Why not show yourself?"

He simply refused to believe such a little monk had the ability to toss him out, convinced that someone must be meddling in the shadows, but there was no response.

"Junior Brother Ning, there is no one else," Zhenming said with a sincere expression. "I should be able to detect anyone approaching within three hundred paces."

Yang Ning opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Zhenming took two steps forward, stopped in front of Yang Ning, and said, "Junior Brother Ning, can we begin the midday prayers? We cannot delay any longer."

Yang Ning rolled his eyes and nodded. "Fine, I’ll learn with you."

Zhenming revealed a faint smile. "Don't worry, Junior Brother Ning, I will follow Master's instructions and teach you well." He turned and walked out of the courtyard. Only two steps later, Yang Ning lunged like a wolf, following closely behind. He placed a hand on Zhenming’s shoulder and sneered, "Little monk, you dare lay a hand on me? You're asking for death." He swept his leg, intending to make Zhenming fall face-first and wash away his earlier shame.

Before his leg could make contact, he saw Zhenming leap into the air, light as a cloud. With a backflip, the boy landed behind Yang Ning, simultaneously pulling Yang Ning’s arm backward. Then, Yang Ning felt his lower back go numb as if struck by a knee. His legs gave way, and he slumped to the ground.

The little monk pressed his palms together and said, "Junior Brother Ning, your... your martial arts seem quite poor. You are no match for me."

Yang Ning nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.