Chapter 688: Chapter 44: Tit for Tat
The name of the Magpie Mountain Temple is still quite renowned, and generally speaking, most players maintain a sense of awe towards it.
More importantly, the number of monks from this temple is quite large, with temples in many main cities. Once you end up on their blacklist, you’re likely to be targeted no matter where you go.
The scarred monk smiled kindly and said lightly, "Take care of yourself, benefactor. Those who speak recklessly won’t go far."
After saying that, he turned around and prepared to leave with the other monks.
"What’s wrong? Since when couldn’t we even speak to you monks? Didn’t the Buddha ever mention the importance of listening to advice?"
A very loud voice came from behind.
The scarred monk’s expression suddenly turned grim as he turned his head to see someone in the distance. On the rooftop stood someone dressed in strange white clothing and wearing a peculiar mask.
It was Su Changxing, wearing a hazmat suit and a clown mask, making for a rather bizarre sight.
However, he didn’t care, as his image was no longer important.
Others in the square also began to look over.
"Is it him?" The abbot standing under Thundercloud Tower immediately recognized Su Changxing, primarily because the hazmat suit was too conspicuous.
"He doesn’t know his own limitations," he murmured to himself.
Unexpectedly.
They hadn’t gone looking for trouble with Su Changxing, and yet he had foolishly come looking for trouble with them, like a chicken going to the weasel to wish it a Happy New Year.
So, what do these monks care most about?
First is Buddha Nature, which directly correlates with their strength.
Second is others’ perceptions of them, indirectly related to their strength.
This is why they put so much effort into maintaining their image.
Buddhist Techniques were originally a distinct path of pure cultivation, but as more worlds became game-oriented and more players appeared, it became part of the mainstream path.
Thus arose the path of using extraordinary methods to cultivate Buddhist Techniques.
At the same time.
The monks found that this path advanced rather quickly and might even lead to becoming a Buddha, while their previous methods seemed lesser.
Once the first monk became a player, there was a second, then a third, and so on.
These player monks even built temples in various worlds, drawing blood from players in return.
"I wonder what sort of opinions the benefactor has about our Magpie Mountain Temple?" the scarred monk looked up at Su Changxing and spoke calmly, though the coldness in his eyes could not be hidden.
This was a monk enveloped in a bloody aura, likely having killed many people.
Su Changxing knew that these monks couldn’t do anything to him in the main city, so he relaxed quite a bit. "How could I dare to have any opinions? I’m just expressing some sentiments."
Then, his body transformed into a flash of lightning, flying over the crowd and arriving at the steps of Thundercloud Tower.
Su Changxing looked at the abbot of Magpie Mountain Temple, who was not far from him, and shouted, "You old bald-head! It hasn’t even been a night; you should still remember me, right?"
Such blatant insults made many people turn their heads to see who was so bold.
The abbot of Magpie Mountain Temple was extremely powerful and well-respected, whether human or ghost, everyone had to show some respect.
Insulting him so openly was akin to slapping him in the face.
The abbot’s face darkened, then he managed a slight grin, refraining from speaking to Su Changxing. Instead, he turned to the crowd in the square below and said:
"This is the person who was openly committing violent acts in our Magpie Mountain Temple yesterday, killing our young monks without reason. Truly detestable."
"In the city, we can do nothing to him, but anyone who can capture him and deliver him to our Magpie Mountain Temple will be rewarded with a great opportunity from us."
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted into a commotion of discussions.
"Looks like this guy really pissed off Magpie Mountain Temple, to the point they would make such bold promises. Do they really think they can act without consequence in this world just because they can’t die?"
"Wow, could the opportunity they mentioned be that one?"
"It should be. I heard Magpie Mountain Temple has the ability to promote people directionally, but it’s unimaginable for them to offer such an opportunity to outsiders."
"That’s why I said earlier that they must be crazy."
To make such a promise in the public eye, Magpie Mountain Temple definitely wouldn’t lie; many eyes turned red with greed as they looked at Su Changxing.
He was indeed a prize.
More importantly, they could roughly sense that Su Changxing was probably around Tier Seven, his strength likely not very high.
Some people began planning on whether to wait for him at the city gates, or find a way to drug him into unconsciousness within the city.
Su Changxing, wearing his clown mask, laughed hoarsely, "You actually believe those baldies? They’re just a bunch of bandits dressed as monks."
The abbot did not bother arguing back with Su Changxing, as doing so would only lower his own standing. He stated calmly, "This is the place where the Futu takes place. Even if you have grievances with our temple, you shouldn’t cause trouble in such a place."
Su Changxing crossed his hands over his chest, speaking leisurely, "What, only you’re allowed to participate, but I’m not?"
The abbot furrowed his brows upon hearing this and said, "You cannot participate, your strength is too weak; entering would only lead to certain death."
Su Changxing realized that the monks preferred to capture him alive. If he died, he would have no value, so he laughed aloud, "What if I just want to die, what business is it of yours?"
The abbot coldly stared at Su Changxing and said calmly, "Since the benefactor wishes for death, I won’t interfere, let fate take its course."
"I’m not leaving it to fate; I want to find death," Su Changxing replied.
In the end, they engaged in a war of words, as neither party could take action here. Only verbal sparring remained, and whoever had a sharper tongue was the victor.
But generally speaking, rarely could anyone out-argue these monks standing on the moral high ground.
Only, Su Changxing acted like a madman, ignoring everything, just causing a ruckus, leaving the abbot filled with anger.
The Buddha Son standing next to the abbot had remained silent all along, merely smiling slightly at Su Changxing.
"What are you smiling at? You won’t be smiling in a minute after I beat you," Su Changxing pointed at the Buddha Son’s nose, full of bravado.
"..." the Buddha Son blinked, feeling wronged.
The abbot standing in front of Su Changxing turned to the Buddha Son and several monks intending to participate in the Futu and said, "Go on inside first, and make sure to keep your distance from this guy."
At a nearby pavilion, Wang An and Vivian were sitting by the window, sipping tea. They had changed their attire, both wearing gray outfits and hats.
Wang An took a sip of the steaming tea, deeply inhaled, and said:
"That big brother is something else, daring to confront the abbot of Magpie Mountain Temple head-on. A bold man indeed."
Wei Wei’an, sitting by the window, saw Su Changxing under Thundercloud Tower and shook her head, saying:
"It doesn’t make sense; if he goes into the Futu, he’ll die inside. No matter how we see it, he’s just a naive newcomer, unaware that this Futu is entirely different from before."
A smirk appeared on Wang An’s lips: "I’m not so sure; he must have something extraordinary about him, or those monks at Magpie Mountain Temple wouldn’t go to such lengths to capture him."
Vivian glanced at Wang An and remained silent. She never disputed Wang An’s words, being accustomed to it.
Meanwhile.
The forum was also abuzz with opinions on this situation, though most people didn’t think highly of Su Changxing.
"He’s merely a Tier Seven extraordinary; he’s not going to survive. Just another fool gambling with his life."
"That’s not necessarily true. I’m right on the scene, and I sense something strong from him. He might have some skills, but making it out alive is going to be tough."
"Even if he’s skilled, I doubt he’ll survive. This time the Futu has many formidable players; it’s different from before."
"What’s different? Do you have insider information?"
"I heard the number is much larger than before, not just a thousand, but I don’t know the exact figure."
Immediately after.
Someone named "Blue Worm" posted with their ID, "Is it possible that his luck is good enough, accidentally managing to come out alive?"
Someone below responded.
"Impossible, you must be new here, holding on to hope. From years of observation, only strength is real, never have I seen any lucky survivors."
"Impossible."
"Impossible."
...
"Blue Worm," seemingly truly a novice player, began to argue logically, "But according to probability, there will always be lucky ones. Disregarding the facts, he should have a chance."
"Disregarding the facts, what you’re saying makes sense."
"Indeed."
"Indeed."
...
