Chapter 118: The Red Cloud Monk

Chapter 118: The Red Cloud Monk

It wasn’t surprising that the young monk didn’t recognize Su Mo, as no one had informed him of Su Mo’s name when they arrived.

Hearing the young monk’s words, Yang Xiaoyun instinctively grabbed the corner of Su Mo’s robe.

"The situation inside the temple is unpredictable. It’s hard to say what this Red Cloud Monk is up to..."

Yang Xiaoyun whispered, "I’ll go with you."

"It’s fine."

Su Mo gently patted Yang Xiaoyun’s hand and said, "We’ve already been impolite by not informing the host earlier. Now that we’ve been invited, it would be rude not to meet them. You need to take care of the escort agency, Xiaoyun. I’ll be back soon."

Yang Xiaoyun looked at Su Mo and tightened her grip on his sleeve.

Su Mo glanced at Yang Xiaoyun in surprise.

This girl was usually as brave as any man; why was she acting so clingy now?

"Are you worried that if this monk really has some method, I might actually become a monk?"

Yang Xiaoyun gazed into Su Mo’s eyes, filled with concern.

Su Mo found it amusing and whispered something in her ear. Yang Xiaoyun’s face turned red, and she glared at him with a mix of anger and embarrassment before letting go of his robe.

Su Mo chuckled, but before he could leave, Yang Xiaoyun whispered in his ear, "No matter what, if you really get bewitched by this monk, even if you become a monk, you have to come back to me."

"Hahaha."

Su Mo couldn’t help but burst out laughing, causing Yang Xiaoyun’s face to turn even redder.

The people from the escort agency and the guards had never seen Yang Xiaoyun act like this before. They exchanged glances, some amused, some smiling, and some nodding in approval. The older ones even sighed, "Ah, youth is beautiful."

Su Mo cleared his throat, and everyone returned to normal.

He glanced at Liu Mo, who seemed to maintain his silence regardless of the situation.

Su Mo softly said, "Liu Leader, I’ll leave things here to you."

"Head Escort Su, please go ahead."

Liu Mo nodded solemnly.

Su Mo waved his hand and said to the young monk, "Please lead the way, little master."

"Follow me, sir."

The young monk cheerfully led Su Mo through the door, leaving it open to show transparency.

At this moment, the courtyard showed signs of fighting and bloodstains, but the autumn rain quickly washed them away.

Su Mo followed the young monk straight into the main hall.

Many merchants were resting there, but their faces were clearly uneasy.

When they entered the main hall to seek shelter from the rain, they saw many fierce-looking monks and thought they had stumbled into a den of thieves, too afraid to speak loudly.

Halfday Wild had initially thought he had an opportunity.

But he never expected that despite his reputation, he was so useless that he was captured by the monks in mere moments.

Now, seeing Su Mo enter, they all looked at him hopefully, as if he were their last hope.

Su Mo smiled slightly at them, and the young monk led him past the main hall to the second courtyard.

There were meditation rooms and kitchens here. As Su Mo passed a room, he noticed a monk without a shirt kneeling on the ground, reciting scriptures while whipping himself viciously, drawing blood with each strike.

Su Mo glanced at the young monk with a hint of surprise. The young monk smiled and said:

"Senior Brother Huizhi has a history with the female bandit and wanted her to escape during the fight. Master saw everything and decided to punish him a bit. But don’t worry, Head Escort Su, it’s just physical pain, nothing serious."

Su Mo grimaced, unsure what to say.

These men were covered in blood, and any punishment would be justified. Yet, they had all transformed under the Red Cloud Monk’s influence, for reasons unknown...

As he pondered, a scream came from another room.

Su Mo recognized the voice as Halfday Wild Ning Wubian.

He screamed and cursed, "Damn it! You bastards, even if you beat me to death, I won’t become a monk... Ah! You damn scoundrels, how can you call yourselves monks with such cruelty?"

Seeing Su Mo’s curiosity, the young monk pulled him to the window of that room, slightly opening it, and both peeked inside.

Halfday Wild was bound tightly to a bloody ‘Y’-shaped rack. A fierce-looking monk stood in front of him, reciting scriptures while continuously striking him with his fingers, palms, and fists.

Each blow caused Halfday Wild to scream, yet there were no visible injuries, which was quite peculiar.

For someone like Halfday Wild, accustomed to living on the edge, mere pain would hardly faze him.

This monk's moves seemed gentle, yet they caused Halfday Wild to scream in agony, clearly indicating there was more to his technique.

Despite the continuous pain, Halfday Wild refused to yield and instead cursed even louder.

The monk paused his recitation of the Buddhist scriptures and sighed, "Layman, your violent aura is almost tangible. My cultivation is limited, and I fear I cannot enlighten you. We can only wait for my master to intervene."

"Even if it’s that Red Cloud baldy, do you think I’d be afraid of him?"

Upon hearing this, the young monk tugged at Su Mo's clothes, leading them out of the room. He sighed and said,

"He's in for it now. My master specializes in the Pain Sutra, which subdues all who resist. The monk in the room hasn't even learned a fraction of Master's skills, yet he could still make Halfday Wild scream. If Master were to step in, by the end of the night, even the most vicious bandit would submit to Buddha."

Su Mo was speechless. "So this is how you convert them?"

"Yes."

The young monk nodded vigorously. "Isn’t it simple? Master says there are countless types of wicked people in this world, but all can be enlightened. If they can't be enlightened, it just means we haven't hit them hard enough..."

"You're right, Master."

Su Mo found himself at a loss for words.

He had initially thought the monk's methods were devious, but never imagined they would be so direct.

For a moment, he felt both amused and exasperated.

As for the Pain Sutra... Su Mo had heard of the Enlightenment Sutra, but the Pain Sutra was entirely new to him.

While pondering, the young monk led him to a meditation room. Before they could announce their arrival, the door opened.

An old monk sat cross-legged on a mat, smiling at Su Mo. "Layman Su Mo, please come in."

Su Mo nodded slightly and stepped inside.

The room was simply furnished, with a small table dividing the mat into two sections. On the table sat an incense burner and a teapot with two cups.

The old monk gestured with his arm. "Layman Su Mo, please sit down."

"Thank you."

Su Mo nodded and sat down without hesitation.

The Red Cloud monk then spoke, "I didn't expect Layman Su Mo to visit our Red Cloud Temple. Had I known earlier, I would have greeted you at the entrance. Please forgive me for this abrupt invitation."

As he spoke, he poured a cup of tea for Su Mo and gently pushed it towards him.

Su Mo smiled. "Master Red Cloud, you are too kind. I am merely a junior scholar, unworthy of such courtesy."

"You deserve it."

The Red Cloud monk sighed lightly, noticing that Su Mo hadn't touched the tea, but did not mind. He continued,

"Do you have any doubts about what you saw today?"

Su Mo looked at the monk with some surprise and smiled. "Your approach is unique and unexpected."

"Haha."

The Red Cloud monk chuckled and sighed. "Before I became a monk, I once witnessed a wicked person bullying the innocent. At that time, I had read many books of wisdom and believed that reason could persuade anyone. So, I argued with the wicked person..."

Hearing this, Su Mo looked thoughtful. The monk continued, "Later, I lay in bed for three months before I could barely get up."

"..."

This outcome was not surprising.

Su Mo shook his head lightly. "Some people don't understand reason."

"Yes."

The Red Cloud monk nodded. "So, I studied literature and sought martial arts masters. After ten years, whenever I saw wicked people bullying the innocent, I would beat them up and then teach them the wisdom of the sages."

"How did it go?"

Su Mo looked at the monk.

The monk paused. "He cried bitterly, regretting his actions. I felt relieved, believing my knowledge finally had a purpose. However, when I passed by that place again a month later, the house was deserted. Upon inquiry, I learned that after I left, the wicked person returned in anger and killed the innocent family of five."

"After that, I entered the world of martial arts, disappearing without a trace."

Su Mo fell silent. This was the essence of eradicating evil completely.

If one does not act decisively, mere punishment will not change hearts.

A lack of severity ultimately causes others to suffer.

"What happened next?"

Su Mo asked casually.

"Next... it took me thirteen years to find that person."

The old monk's face showed no sign of relief, only deeper confusion.

"He had reformed, living a peaceful life with a loving wife and children. If I killed him, his family would hate me, seeing me as the real villain. But if I didn't kill him, what about the innocent family of five?"

"This guilt... wouldn't it ultimately fall on me?"

He looked at Su Mo and said, "If it were you, would you kill him after seeing that person?"

"I would."

After a moment of thought, Su Mo replied, "Why should the murderer enjoy family bliss while the innocent die prematurely?"

"What about his wife and children?"

Su Mo gave him a peculiar look. "Is Master Buddha himself?"

"Of course not."

"Hmm, then are you a sage?"

"Naturally not."

"Neither am I."

"...This."

Monk Hongyun stared at Su Mo in astonishment, momentarily at a loss for words.

But after a while, he suddenly understood and sighed, "Indeed, this matter happened to me. If it were you, you probably wouldn't leave until you saw the evildoer repent."

Su Mo shook his head. "I might not have acted at all. There are too many injustices in this world; how could one possibly handle them all?"

The old monk pondered this, then heard Su Mo ask, "What did Master do back then?"

The old monk thought for a moment and said, "I... was unable to act."

"Quite understandable."

Su Mo nodded. This old monk had a bit of an inflexible personality and tended to get stuck in a rut when faced with problems.

As an outsider, he had no right to criticize.

The old monk sighed. "However, this matter has been a constant source of distress for me, lingering for years. I entered the monastic life to seek liberation. After many years, I finally found some understanding..."

"I'd like to hear more."

"It's the Sutra of Pain..."

Monk Hongyun sighed. "I entered the monastic life, delved into the profound mysteries of the body, and walked the path of asceticism, experiencing various sufferings. Eventually, I created a sutra called the Sutra of Pain. In the sea of suffering, the physical body is the boat, but all worldly troubles arise from the physical body. Therefore, to make someone truly repent, one must start with the physical body."

"Pain the physical body externally and study Buddhism internally—only then is there a possibility of true enlightenment."

"A possibility?"

The corner of Su Mo's mouth twitched.

"Exactly so."

The old monk gave a bitter smile and sighed. "How can physical pain truly convince someone? All I can do is keep them in the temple, using it as an invisible shackle, turning the temple into a prison. I hope that over time, the teachings of Buddhism and reason will gradually erase their evil thoughts and violent tendencies."

"Master's efforts are truly admirable."

Su Mo clasped his fists in respect.

The old monk shook his head. "There's nothing admirable about it; it's merely a desperate measure. I've spent my entire life searching for the true solution to this problem, but to no avail. I once heard a passerby mention your actions in Profound Theory Valley and was greatly impressed."

"The reason I admire you is not because of your extraordinary martial prowess in slaying evildoers."

"But rather, despite having the ability to kill them, you prioritize protecting the majority."

"This great feat of defeating Youquan Cult in the southwest without significant losses among the righteous experts shows both wisdom and bravery, far surpassing mine."

"Today, meeting you..."

"Has Master been disappointed?"

Su Mo asked with a smile.

The old monk shook his head. "Indeed, you are outstanding, giving me new insights."

"..."

Su Mo's lips twitched. The old monk's insights seemed somewhat dangerous.

His previous insight led to the creation of the Sutra of Pain, causing havoc among the bandit leaders.

Now, with another insight, who knows who would be the next victim...

Muttering to himself, he then asked out of curiosity:

"Master has been here for a long time, so why only now are you taking action on this matter?"

He was referring to capturing these bandit leaders and implementing the Sutra of Pain.

Monk Hongyun did not hide anything. "Previously, I doubted my ability to defeat these numerous evildoers, but now my martial arts have improved..."

Su Mo understood. He couldn't win before, but now he could.

Then, the old monk suddenly took out a thin booklet from his robe and handed it over.

After a brief hesitation, Su Mo reached out to take it.

The booklet contained no text, just a few pages. Flipping through it, it seemed to contain three martial arts techniques.

"What is this?"

Su Mo looked at the old monk in surprise.

The Red Cloud Monk smiled gently. "Sir, you are a rare young talent in the southwest, wise and brave, with a sense of righteousness that reaches the heavens."

"Today, having the honor to meet you, I cannot let you leave empty-handed. This small booklet records three finger techniques that I have comprehended from the Pain Sutra, named: Three Days of Pain."

"This method uses a special way of channeling energy to strike the acupoints, causing unbearable pain to the victim."

"Even if one tries to calm their internal energy, it is difficult to endure."

"Since you run an escort agency, you will inevitably encounter more bandits and ruthless individuals who kill and plunder using their martial arts."

"But you cannot always resort to lethal force. Therefore, I offer you these Three Days of Pain techniques for punishing evildoers."

"..."

Su Mo was speechless for a moment and could only say, "I am meeting you for the first time, Master. How can I accept such a generous gift without reason?"

"This item has a connection with you, Sir. Please do not refuse it."

The old monk closed his eyes after saying this and no longer spoke.

The young monk outside then said, "Sir, the rain has stopped. You should be on your way now."

Su Mo felt helpless but stood up and gave a solemn bow. "Thank you, Master, for your generous gift."

The old monk seemed as if he had entered nirvana, bowing his head with barely perceptible breathing, entering deep meditation.

Su Mo had no choice but to turn and leave, guided by the young monk.

As they passed through the courtyard, he saw the back door open, with several fierce-looking monks walking in. The one leading them casually carried a person by the scruff, who turned out to be one of the subordinates of the Half Day Gang who had escaped earlier.

Behind him, other monks dragged several people in various directions, showing no mercy even though they were covered in blood.

Su Mo glanced at the young monk leading the way, who simply smiled and ignored everything, clearly accustomed to it.

As for the merchants in the main hall, they were also ready to leave once the rain stopped. The Red Cloud Temple did not intend to keep them, so they were allowed to depart.

For a while, the temple entrance was bustling with carriages and horses being readied to leave.

When Su Mo came out, he saw Yang Xiaoyun and Liu Mo eagerly waiting.

Seeing Su Mo, they relaxed.

Yang Xiaoyun stepped forward and examined Su Mo. "Did that old monk give you any trouble?"

"...No."

Recalling today's events, Su Mo still found it somewhat absurd and could only say, "The rain has stopped. Let's go. It's not far from here to Wufangji. I'll tell you about the old monk on the way."

Yang Xiaoyun was not particularly curious about the old monk; she was relieved that Su Mo returned unharmed, which was all that mattered.

She nodded in agreement, and Liu Mo directed the convoy to turn around. Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun mounted their horses. Before leaving, Su Mo couldn't help but look back at the temple, feeling a mix of emotions about the old monk.

Seeing this, Yang Xiaoyun couldn't help but worry, wondering why Su Mo seemed so attached to the Red Cloud Temple...