Chapter 56: Returning Home is the Best Destination

  Hui Chong Master carried Duan Hongde (Feng's family changed his name to Feng Xiaobao) on his back, and they went through the house and over the ridge, returning to that small inn.

  The night was deep, and the woman who "sold her son to bury her husband" had not rested yet. She didn't feel sleepy at all. She knew that the woodcutter-like man, although he promised to help bury her dead husband, was just a poor woodcutter, a good person, and his own affairs must have caused him a lot of trouble. He had been out for so long and still hadn't returned, definitely something was wrong. The woman thought wildly in the room.

  Suddenly, the door was pushed open and Master Hui Chong returned in a flurry. He called out to the woman, "Quickly, carry the child, we can't stay at this inn any longer, let's hurry and follow me." As he spoke, he led the way, jumping out of the back window of the inn, turning around several alleys, and arriving at a small grove.

  Hui Chong Master had just jumped out of the window when he heard someone kicking at the front door of the inn, shouting in a urgent voice. No need to ask, it must be Feng Fu's house slaves searching all over the city.

  In the small woods, Master Hui Chong threw the clothes of the female bodyguard he had picked up to the woman: "Sister-in-law, take a look, is there any money in the pocket of this dress, enough for you to bury your husband?"

  The woman unfolded the garment, searched through each pocket one by one, and indeed pulled out several large silver coins, put them together and weighed them, probably about five or six pieces, enough for her to hold a funeral for her husband.

  The woman knelt down to thank Master Hui Chong for his great kindness. Master Hui Chong quickly helped her up and asked her to speak, but the woman remained kneeling and said she had another request: she wanted to entrust her one-year-old son to Master Hui Chong because she knew he was a good person and would take care of the child, which made her feel at ease.

  Master Hui Chong pondered for a moment, then agreed to the woman's request: "I can raise this child for you until he grows up, but where will I find you afterwards? How will I find you? What is the child's name?"

  "Big brother, I'll tell you the truth, my husband was murdered, and I'm going to find the culprit and avenge his death. I probably won't be coming back, so don't let this child look for me when he grows up. I'll just go with his father. This child's name doesn't sound good either, so don't use his old name anymore. Give him a new name, and let him call you 'father'!" After saying that, she knocked her head three times in front of Master Hui Chong and left without looking back.

  Master Hui Chong gazed at her back, filled with emotion.

  Master Hui Chong was afraid of being searched by the imperial guards, so he returned to Biyuan Temple overnight.

  Master Hui Chong not only found Duan Hongde, who was left behind by Duan Yu, but also brought back a boy of similar age to Duan Hongde. Master Hui Chong gave the name Geng Yuan to Duan Hongde and Xin Yuan to the other boy. From then on, Geng Yuan and Xin Yuan followed Master Hui Chong to learn martial arts along with his six senior brothers, eventually becoming one of the most accomplished martial artists.

  Master Hui Chong feared that Qing Men City's Feng Ren Xiao would find Bi Yuan Temple, so he kept the truth about Gong Yuan's life a secret, except for his senior fellow monk Master Hui Ren. He was afraid that if the news leaked out, it would bring deadly disaster to Gong Yuan and Yao Fenglan, so Master Hui Chong hoped to wait until they grew up before telling them about their sibling relationship.

  Master Hui Chong returned, Master Hui Ren asked Master Hui Chong to bring Geng Yuan into his Zen room and carefully examined the green snake pattern on Geng Yuan's body. After Master Hui Ren finished looking, he pondered for a moment, recalling that matter he handled when Master Hui Chong was not at Biyuan Temple during his cloud wandering days. He had a premonition and said to Master Hui Chong: "Younger brother, you bringing Geng Yuan to Biyuan Temple will definitely sow calamity for Biyuan Temple. Younger brother, I suggest you send Geng Yuan away."

  Hui Chong Da Shi said, "I disguised myself as a woodcutter and went down the mountain. I didn't alarm anyone or let anyone recognize me. Naturally, no one suspected our Biyuan Temple either. Eldest Master Brother, you're being overly cautious."

  "Junior brother, the green snake pattern on his back is a treasure map. People die for wealth and birds perish for food; many will surely search for him because of the treasure map on his body. Junior brother, you must understand that no matter how well you hide something, there's always a time when the truth will be revealed. When he turns 18, it's possible that a wave of searching for the treasure map will rise in Jianghu, and by then, it won't be possible to cover up the sky with one's palm. Junior brother, believe your senior brother and send him away." said Hui Ren Fang Zhang with a bitter tone.

  "Master, I have accepted someone's entrustment and am committed to this matter. I promised to raise Gongyuan until he grows up, I cannot abandon him halfway, such unrighteous things I will not do." Master Huichong still had a stubborn temper.

  "Junior brother, remember what I'm telling you, 'In the year of Gengyuan 18, disaster will strike'. When we are 18 years old, that is when our Biyuansi Temple will meet with great calamity."

  "If Master says so, then Hui Chong's guilt will be even greater. Alright, Master, for the safety of Biyuan Temple, I have decided to take Geng Yuan and leave Biyuan Temple." said Master Hui Chong.

  "Junior brother, who made you leave Biyuan Temple too? If you leave Biyuan Temple, who will be the master of those disciples, who will teach them to practice martial arts? Don't forget, they are all brought back by you. You are too stubborn, as long as you agree to send Gongyuan away, I won't bother you, I will arrange someone to take care of things for you, and guarantee that you will be satisfied." said Master Huiren.

  "Senior brother, no! I won't let Qingyuan leave alone. If he leaves, it will be with me by his side. I'll take him away from Biyuan Temple, lest someone say he'll bring calamity to the temple." Master Huichong's words were mixed with discontent.

  "Good! Good! Since my junior brother has said so, then everything will follow its natural course. Junior brother, you don't have to leave, and Gongyuan doesn't need to see you off either. Biyuansi Temple is Gongyuan's home, returning home is the best destination. I also have a home, and I should go back and take a look too." Master Huiren sighed, turned around and went back to his inner chamber.

  Huichong Master pondered on Huiren's words and stood there in a daze for half a day.

  Two days later, Master Hui Ren convened a grand assembly of all the monks in the temple. At this meeting, Master Hui Ren announced that he would hand over the position of Abbot of Biyuan Temple to Master Hui Chong. Master Hui Chong firmly declined but Master Hui Ren had already issued his resignation letter and quietly left Biyuan Temple for Gansu.

  Master Hui Chong caught up with Master Hui Ren, knelt down and begged Master Hui Ren to take back his order, but Master Hui Ren had already made up his mind. They hugged each other and parted in tears.

  Master Hui Chong did not catch up with Master Hui Ren and returned to Biyuan Temple in a state of despair.

  In Biyuan Temple, the elders began preparing for the celebration of Master Hui Chong's succession based on Master Hui Ren's proposal.

  Master Hui Chong firmly declined, the temple cannot be without an abbot for a day, the elders did not know what to do, and had no choice but to hold a meeting to discuss. At this meeting, Master Hui Chong proposed that his second senior brother, Master Hui Zhi, take over as the abbot of Biyuan Temple. Everyone couldn't find a more suitable candidate, so they elected Master Hui Zhi as the abbot of Biyuan Temple.

  Hui Chong Master was free from the daily chores of the temple, and he could devote his time and energy to concentrate on teaching his disciples martial arts, making them famous in the Jianghu, and being called "Biyuan Eight Golden Arhats" by the Jianghu.

  Master Hui Chong's own martial arts skills were constantly improving, and not only was the title of Eagle Claw King unmatched in the world, but he also devoted himself to studying the secret book left by his master - "Floating Infinity Fist". The routine of "Floating Infinity Fist" was already familiar to Master Hui Chong, but he felt that he could not bring this set of fist techniques to its ultimate level. Master Hui Chong had realized that his own understanding and knowledge were unable to control this supreme art, so he had to find a successor among his younger generation. He found that Xin Yuan's understanding and cultivation ranked first among his eight disciples, and he decided to give the secret book "Floating Infinity Fist" to Xin Yuan at the right time.