First Entry into the Spiritual Void Chapter 132: A Fortuitous Encounter with the Holy Nun

The old woman nodded and said, "However, the surrounding cliffs are so tall and steep that no matter how light and agile one's body is, it is impossible to climb them. One day, when I woke up, I found a white-haired elder beside me. When I opened my eyes and saw her, I felt both terrified and deeply affectionate toward her. I immediately scrambled up, knelt, and kowtowed several times, asking her if she was an immortal who had descended from the heavens."

She smiled and asked me, "How did you manage to get into this valley?"

I told her that I had fallen down here after being caught in an avalanche. She asked me again, "How many days have you been down here since the fall?"

I replied, "I really cannot remember the exact number of days, but it has probably been around seven."

She then asked me what I had been eating to stave off hunger.

I told her that I had accidentally dug up a large sweet potato and survived by eating it over the past few days.

She reached out, patted my shoulder, and smiled, "Child, this is your immense fortune. What you ate was not a sweet potato, but a millennium wild ginseng, something extremely rare that appears only once in a thousand years. I spent many years searching for such a ginseng in vain. Never did I expect that you would acquire it without any effort at all. This must be destiny."

I kowtowed to her again and pleaded, "Old grandmother, can you save me from this peril?"

She sighed and said, "Alas, I am someone who has taken a vow never to see another human being for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, if anyone discovers me, I must put them to death!"

Hearing this, I was terrified. Yet, if she refused to save me, there was no way for me to escape this danger. Gritting my teeth, I thought to myself, "I am doomed to die anyway. If she wants to kill me, let her kill me. Having my throat slit by a blade is far better than starving to death."

She paused, stroked my head, and continued, "The heavens have still blessed you by allowing you to obtain the millennium ginseng. If I were to kill you now, would I not be going against the will of heaven? I suppose I have no choice but to break my vow."

After the old grandmother saved me from danger, she led me all over the mountains to search for my father. We searched for several consecutive days, but still found no trace of him. Afterward, I knelt before her as my master and only then learned that she was the Tianshan Divine Nun.

Upon hearing the name of the Tianshan Divine Nun, everyone present could not help but shudder inwardly and feel a sense of gloom. The Tianshan Divine Nun's swordsmanship was peerless across the world, and her temperament was icy and ruthless. According to the seniors of the martial arts world, no matter how formidable one's martial arts might be, it was exceedingly difficult to withstand a single strike of her sword.

The old beggar asked, "Is your esteemed master still among the living?"

The old crone shook her head and replied, "Two months from today will be the centenary of her passing. I intend to celebrate my benefactor's anniversary in a grand fashion. However, every single action requires money, as you all know.

"The Zheluoni Nunnery is situated in a remote place where human footprints are rare, and it produces nothing. When my benefactor was alive, I had no idea how she managed to sustain herself. After she passed away and achieved nirvana, I returned home to pay my respects once every decade, relying entirely on the generous gifts of my nephew's generation. Nearly a hundred years have passed, and that is how I have survived."

Master Shuang said, "Great-Aunt is the only senior elder of our family's fortress, so showing filial piety is only right and proper. It is simply that the journey is too far, and we juniors are mere mortals, each burdened with family obligations, making it impossible to send offerings on time. We feel deeply ashamed in our hearts, yet we miss you terribly."

The old crone pointed at the hunchback and the shuttle-faced man, saying, "The usual offerings and daily necessities are delivered by these two brothers. A few months ago, they unearthed two century-old ginsengs and sold them to a merchant from Guangdong. That merchant purchased several bizarre treasures and entrusted these brothers to deliver them to Guangzhou. As long as they are safely delivered to the City of Five Rams, the reward is one thousand taels of gold. The brothers dared not shoulder such a heavy responsibility alone, so they sought the old nun's help. I readily agreed to travel south with them for two reasons: First, these brothers have usually cared greatly for the Zheluoni Nunnery, and even as a person of religion, one cannot cast aside loyalty and righteousness. Second, my scheduled return home was still two years away, but due to the expenses required for celebrating my benefactor's centenary memorial, I am taking this opportunity to return home early and collect oil money from my grandnephews."

Hearing her explain the entire sequence of events, everyone finally realized that the rumors circulating in the pugilistic world were not groundless falsehoods.

The divine nun turned her gaze to Luo Mingyuan and said, "Although the old divine nun dwells far away in the remote wilderness, I have still heard a thing or two about the figures in the Central Plains martial arts world. There is a ballad that goes: 'The Western Divine Nun and the Twin Lords, the Central Plains Monk Luo Mingyuan. The divine nun meditates in seclusion and minds not worldly affairs, while the monk indulges in wine and wild desires. Their martial attainments are each profound, awaiting the day they test who is weak and who is strong.'"

Luo Mingyuan burst into loud laughter and said, "As for striving to be the number one martial artist in the world, this monk has no interest whatsoever."

The old divine nun smiled faintly and said, "You certainly seem interested in the millennium ginseng and the bizarre treasures, however."

Luo Mingyuan said, "That is correct."

The old divine nun said, "But we must first determine whose martial arts are superior."

Luo Mingyuan said, "Out of respect for the fortress rules of the Shuang Family Fortress, as long as this old harridan leaves the fortress, this monk will come and take them at any time."

The old divine nun said, "Aside from this matter, there is yet another score to settle. The old nun also wishes to champion justice on behalf of another and demand a fair reckoning from the monk."

The old divine nun pointed at the young girl sitting beside her and said, "This young girl is the flesh and blood of Chief Duan Duan Wu of the Kunming Yuanwei Escort Agency, who narrowly escaped death. You are not a stranger to her, are you?"

Luo Mingyuan said, "I remember it exceptionally clearly. Thirteen years ago, with my own hands, I slaughtered thirty-six people—men, women, young, and old—belonging to the chief, escorts, and staff of the Yuanwei Escort Agency. At that time, this girl was not even a full month old. I spared her life and tossed her into a nightstool. The fact that she was not drowned shows she has a long life ahead of her."

Hearing him confess to such a cruel and inhuman act while still feeling a sense of smug self-satisfaction, everyone was filled with boiling rage and indignation.

The old divine nun said, "Since you remember it so clearly, how shall we settle this account?"

Luo Mingyuan said, "As you please. The women I have encountered in my lifetime are numerous, alongside countless rare treasures. No matter how beautiful or precious they may be, my affection for them has always been fleeting; I have never truly considered them my own possessions. Every person must eventually die. Just think, what in this world truly belongs to oneself? Therefore, when the whim strikes, I take them to play with; when the whim fades, I cast them aside."

The old divine nun asked, "What about the treasures you plundered from the Yuanwei Escort Agency?"

Luo Mingyuan said, "They are all in Tongbai Mountain. If the old harridan can hold onto this batch of rare treasures, then naturally you win, and you may go and take them yourselves. If she cannot protect the bizarre treasures, then she need not return to Tianshan, and there will be no need to exert yourself taking treasures on behalf of others!"

With those words, he stood up, leaped across the table, and landed in the courtyard by the well.

Master Shuang gave a deep shout and ordered, "Light the firecrackers to send off the guest."

As soon as his voice fell, a deafening sound of popping firecrackers—"pop-pop-crack-crack"—erupted from the eaves, the main entrance, and the corridors.

Luo Mingyuan had a premonition that the Shuang Family Fortress would not let him come and go as he pleased, yet he had no way of knowing what methods they would use to block him. Fearing traps if he left through the main gate, he paused in the spacious courtyard for a moment before leaping toward the rooftop. Just as his body surged onto the eaves, he caught a whiff of gunpowder and felt a sudden dizziness. Unable to control his body, he tumbled down from the roof into the courtyard, snapping the branches of a cluster of flowering trees.

As it turned out, the firecracker powder had been mixed with a potent fainting drug. As the firecrackers exploded, the powder scattered on the wind. No matter how high one's lightness kung fu might be, it was impossible to evade the soul-stealing fragrance drifting from all directions.

Luo Mingyuan tumbled down from the roof, his consciousness not yet lost, though his limbs were entirely devoid of strength. He could not move even if he wanted to, and could only lie there with wide-open eyes.

Master Shuang led four fortress guards right up to his side and said, "The Shuang Family Fortress is not a place where you can come and go whenever you wish."

Luo Mingyuan let out a cold snort and said, "Despicable!"

Master Shuang smiled and said, "Has everything you done in your life been honorable and aboveboard?"

Luo Mingyuan said angrily, "Just tell me what you intend to do with me!"

Master Shuang said, "My old aunt has a scheduled duel with you. If I were to slaughter you now, others would say that my old aunt's skills are inferior to yours."

Luo Mingyuan said, "When the time comes, you will find out. I am afraid the Shuang Family Fortress will soon be flattened into the Flat Family Fortress."

One of the fortress guards raised his leg and delivered a vicious kick to him, cursing angrily, "What kind of thing do you think you are?"

Master Shuang commanded, "Throw him into the pool and let him roll away himself!"

The four fortress guards answered in unison, "Yes!" Each grabbing a limb as if carrying a dead pig, they marched outward. Reaching the edge of the deep pool, one of them shouted, "One, two, three, toss!"

With a high-speed heave and a loud "splash," he plunged into the water.

Hearing Master Shuang order the guards to throw Luo Mingyuan into the pool, Gao Yunxiang sprang to his feet and said, "Let's go! Let's go beat a drowning dog!"

Shuang Mengwen rose right after him and said, "Good, follow me!" He led them out via a secret path to lie in ambush at a strategic crossroads.

To return to Luo Mingyuan: after being tossed into the pool by the fortress guards, the medicinal potency instantly dissipated, and his limbs regained their normal mobility. Those possessed of profound martial arts were naturally adept at swimming. He paddled to the bank, climbed ashore, looked back, and cursed with venomous hatred, "As long as I draw breath, I will raze your stinking fortress to the ground."

With his head hung low, he walked forward in low spirits, thinking to himself: I have run amok in the pugilistic world for a full century and a half, always getting things my own way, yet lately I keep stumbling. Am I truly cursed by a run of bad luck?

Just as he was vexed over his ill fortune, he suddenly heard a deep voice shout, "Halt!" Following that, a rustling sound erupted from the grass on both sides, and a dozen or so young men suddenly appeared.

Luo Mingyuan halted his steps, swept his gaze across them, and felt a mixture of fury and rage. He roared angrily, "You are courting death!"

Mo Dao chuckled and said, "Would it not be a regret not to beat a drowning dog when it's right in front of us?"

Luo Mingyuan said coldly, "I was just looking for you!"

Mo Dao replied indifferently, "And I was just looking for you."

Luo Mingyuan bellowed angrily, "Are you looking for me to seek your own demise?"

Mo Dao smiled faintly and said, "If the flying knife embedded in your abdomen cannot be pulled out, I can tell you a secret recipe to get it out. Even swallowing embroidery needles is effective."

Pausing slightly, he continued, "Burn wood into charcoal, boil a pot of thin porridge, mix the wood charcoal ash evenly into the porridge, and drink it down. The embroidery needle will be wrapped in the charcoal ash and passed out."

Luo Mingyuan raged, "As if I need a stinking brat like you meddling in my business!"

Mo Dao smiled and said, "You were the one who told me to get lost earlier; from now on, you are not allowed to look for me!"

Luo Mingyuan suddenly thought of his human-skin treasure robe, which was currently in their possession. The outcome of his duel with the divine nun hinged entirely on that robe. He barked, "Hold on, return my human-skin treasure robe to me."

"Old monk, you are at such an advanced age, why are you still so naive? How many treasures have you plundered from others? Have you ever returned them?"

Luo Mingyuan raised his hand, spreading his five fingers like a winnowing basket, thrusting his palm forward with the speed of a falling star to fiercely grab at Mo Dao's chest.

Mo Dao sidestepped by a step, dodging his claw-like grasp, and swept his palms outward, intending to counterattack. Suddenly, a figure flashed—Li Hao rushed forward ahead of the others and struck Luo Mingyuan with a palm, while Gao Yunxiang launched a rapid, overlapping flurry of punches, palms, and kicks from the flank.

Luo Mingyuan let out a hum and said, "You stinking brats also wish to beat a drowning dog? You underestimate this wine-and-meat monk far too much."

Mid-sentence, he unleashed a Cleaving Monument Palm, forcing Li Hao's palm momentum back and sending him staggering several steps. With a reverse palm strike styled "Severing All Ties with the Earth," he completely sealed off Gao Yunxiang's onslaught.

Although Li Hao had been repelled two steps, he was uninjured and lunged forward again with a palm strike.

Meng Biyun and Jie Qingzi, seeing that Li Hao was no match for Luo Mingyuan and fearing that the monk might grow desperate in his fury, simultaneously drew their swords and attacked.

Formidable as Luo Mingyuan's martial arts undoubtedly were, under the joint siege of so many opponents, any attempt to kill a specific person would require taking desperate risks, raising the distinct possibility of sustaining injuries himself. Since he had a pact with the divine nun, this was not the time to take such risks. With sweeping palms and slashing kicks, his fierce palm winds and leg force drove Gao Yunxiang and the others far back. Crouching his waist, he prepared to vault upward, skimming over the heads of the crowd with a rushing whoosh.

The fleeting instant when his body was suspended in mid-air presented a golden opportunity for Li Hao and Feng Jiezhen to scatter their poison. Both simultaneously waved their writing brushes and showered him with toxins.