Chapter 29: Xingxiu

In Buddhism, the "Five Decays of Heaven and Man" refers to the various ominous signs that appear when a celestial being’s lifespan is nearing its end. These include the defilement of their garments, the wilting of their floral crown, sweat pouring from their armpits, the emanation of a foul odor from their body, and a profound restlessness upon their seat. Its arrival signifies an inexorable march toward death.

Once an individual attains a level beyond the pinnacle, they are immediately afflicted by these "Five Decays." From that moment on, their remaining lifespan is measured in mere moments. The higher their martial prowess, the faster they perish.

Take Li Miao as an example. He has attained three paths beyond the pinnacle, yet he deliberately stopped one step short on each. Thus, his attainments are "false," stripped of their miraculous power, which is the only reason he is able to leap about so freely. During the battle on Mount Tai, in order to face Yun Zelin, he forced his "Diamond Body" to reach completion. While it seemed he only suffered the whitening of his hair, if he had not retreated from that state, the "Five Decays" would have intensified over time. Within a day, Li Miao would have died.

However, the man commanding Zhu Zai to bombard Shaolin exhibited a leisurely, unhurried demeanor that hardly suggested he had less than a day left to live. Although the signs of the "Five Decays" on him were more severe than those Li Miao had displayed on Mount Tai, they appeared to have been arrested by some unknown means, showing no intention of progressing further.

Li Miao smiled silently. During his time at the Shuntian Prefecture, he rarely displayed his true martial strength. Even before Zhu Zai, he avoided discussing his own progress, all to guard against these hidden figures and forces lurking in the shadows. Those who rely on their own uniqueness, deeming themselves the darlings of heaven and acting recklessly, only end up dying in obscurity, much like Zuo Lishan.

The essence of martial arts is violence, and all power is built upon that foundation. The one who consumes the most may not be the most righteous, nor the most popular, but they are invariably the most capable of killing. The Great Shuo imperial court has ruled for nearly two hundred years, holding sway over the four corners of the world; it would be truly bizarre if they had not mastered the secrets beyond the pinnacle.

After the man gave the order, Zhu Zai commanded his subordinates to fire a few salvos as a test. Just as the Embroidered Uniform Guards were dragging the cannons forward, ready to blast open the gates of Shaolin, the doors slowly creaked open. An old monk stepped out. Seeing the numerous guards and the lit fuses of the cannons, he remained calm, pressed his palms together, and bowed to Zhu Zai.

"Lord Zhu."

Zhu Zai abruptly raised his hand in a fist, signaling the guards to halt, and returned the bow. "Master Xingxiu."

"The imperial court received reports that Shaolin was being besieged by the rebels of the Ming Cult and has come specifically to offer aid. Have the rebels retreated?"

The old monk who walked out was the junior brother of the contemporary Shaolin Abbot, Master Xingchi, and one of the only two remaining high monks of the "Xing" generation. Shaolin and Wudang are known as the twin pillars of the martial world, so they naturally have frequent dealings with the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Zhu Zai had visited Shaolin before and was acquainted with him.

"Yes. We are deeply grateful for the court’s concern."

"Since you have traveled so far, Lord, why not come inside to rest and partake in some tea and vegetarian food?" Xingxiu invited.

Zhu Zai glanced at the man afflicted with the "Five Decays." "Elder brother, what do you think?"

The man chuckled. "Since Shaolin is safe, I shall return. I am weary." He added, "Go inquire about the situation that day and submit a report; there is no need to report back to me." With that, he turned and returned to his palanquin, slowly departing.

Zhu Zai gave orders for the guards to camp outside the temple, then selected a few trusted aides to follow Xingxiu inside. Upon entering, Zhu Zai noticed the ground was stained with unwashed blood, though no corpses were to be found. The surrounding buildings were largely collapsed, with only a few remote prayer halls remaining intact. Zhu Zai nodded to himself. It seemed the intelligence received by the court was accurate; given Shaolin’s deep foundation, the Ming Cult must have poured out their entire force to reduce the temple to such a state.

He turned to Xingxiu and asked, "How is Master Xingchi?"

Xingxiu did not slow his pace. "My senior brother is severely wounded. He has but three days to live."

Zhu Zai stopped in his tracks. "Is that so... With your temple’s resources, who could have wounded Master Xingchi to such a degree?"

"Benefactor Ji of the Ming Cult."

"Impossible," Zhu Zai said firmly. "He is dead. He died in the Miao territories. I saw it with my own eyes."

"To prevent the sorcery of the voodoo arts, we dismembered his body, placed it in a box made of raw iron, and transported it to Shuntian. We had it dissected thoroughly, and finally, I personally burned it to charcoal and scattered it into the river."

"No matter how high his martial arts were, he was still human. No matter how sinister voodoo is, it cannot bring the dead back to life."

Xingxiu replied calmly, "I have never practiced martial arts; I have only focused on the Dharma. My senior brother had me hide that day, so I did not witness the situation myself."

"For all further details, you may ask my senior brother when you see him."

With that, he led Zhu Zai toward the main hall.

Seeing the temple gates slowly close, Li Miao descended lightly from the treetops. He stood there, rubbing his fingers in thought for a moment. Shaolin did not seem to be in total ruin, which did not surprise him. Shaolin had endured for a thousand years; how could they not possess extraordinary means? Over the past millennium, many prodigies beyond the pinnacle had emerged. If a mere Ji Tianrui could destroy Shaolin, then their thousand-year legacy would be a joke. He wondered, however, what the Ming Cult’s true objective was in attacking the temple.

Li Miao turned and left to find Yin Minjun and Yongjie.

"Elder Yin, take my medallion and find the Commander of the Hundred I spoke to earlier. Tell him I will meet the Commander-in-Chief at midnight. If that man is there, have him hang one lantern outside the tent; if he is not, hang two."

"Yes, my Lord." Yin Minjun took the medallion and left.

Li Miao turned to Yongjie. "Master, judging by the situation, Shaolin should be safe. You may go now. You are a disciple of Master Xingchi; the guards will not stop you. Just do not reveal any information regarding me."

"If you see Master Xingchi, ask him a question on my behalf. Tell him that a humble student named Li Miao has a grievance with the Ming Cult and is willing to seek justice for your temple. However, I have some questions I wish to consult him about."

"I will come to the temple tonight to find you. Let us agree on a meeting place. If Master Xingchi is willing to see me, I would appreciate your help in arranging it."

Yongjie nodded, agreed on a meeting spot with Li Miao, and walked toward the mountain gate. After being stopped and questioned by the guards, he was allowed entry.

Li Miao stood alone, gazing from afar at the thousand-year-old temple, saying nothing, lost in his own thoughts.