"This monk comes from a place very far away. To me, this is a completely different world." Huiguang looked up at the sky, his eyes and tone revealing a sense of bewilderment.
"No wonder your manners and behavior are a bit out of place," Shangguan Youran said with a smile.
"By the way, Huiguang, I don't sense any spiritual energy fluctuations from you. Are you an ordinary mortal?" Shangguan Youran asked, puzzled.
Huiguang had originally wanted to say that he was a practitioner of the Buddhist Sect, but remembering Shangguan Youran's dramatic descent from the sky, he instantly understood the implication behind her question.
"This monk knows a little bit of martial arts and self-defense."
"Since you know martial arts, how could you let that vendor beat you?" Shangguan Youran asked, looking completely perplexed.
"This monk ate his meat pie without paying. Taking a beating from him was only right."
"Besides, this monk has practiced body-protecting techniques, so the fists and kicks of ordinary people cannot harm me," Huiguang explained, before putting his palms together and chanting, "Amitabha."
"Not bad, you are a kind person."
"However, this is a world where the strong prey upon the weak and martial prowess is supreme. Being too kind is not a good thing. Knowing how to survive is the ultimate truth," Shangguan Youran reminded him.
"Well, I should be going now. We shall meet again if fate allows."
Just as Shangguan Youran was about to leave, a terrifying wave of pressure suddenly descended from the sky. Immediately afterward, a handsome man in his thirties with long black hair and a treasured sword strapped to his back fluttered down gracefully, landing just three meters away from Shangguan Youran.
This man in black had a tall figure and handsome features, but his brow betrayed a hint of sinister ruthlessness.
"Youran, come back with me. Uncle Shangguan and my parents are all waiting for you at my home." Although the man in black spoke in a gentle tone, his words carried an undeniable, coercive command.
"Lin Moran, you and I are impossible. You don't need to waste your time on me." Shangguan Youran looked at the man in black before her with utter disgust.
"Shangguan Youran, our marriage has already been decided by our parents; it is not something you or I can control." Lin Moran wore a smile, but his eyes carried a trace of cold malice.
"That was a decision made by my father and your father, not mine. If you want to marry someone, go find my father." Shangguan Youran cast a sidelong glance at Lin Moran, then turned and started to walk away.
"Shangguan Youran, the Lin Family is also a prominent and respected family in Wushuang City. If you refuse to marry me, you are causing my Lin Family to lose face. And if my Lin Family loses face, your Shangguan Family will not have an easy time of it," Lin Moran suddenly raised his voice.
"Are you threatening me?" Shangguan Youran clenched her fists, furious.
"And if I am... so what?" A flash of murderous intent crossed Lin Moran's eyes.
"You..." Consumed by anger, Shangguan Youran drew her sword and lunged at Lin Moran, only to be driven back by a single palm strike from him.
"Shangguan Youran, you and I are both in the Minor Dao Realm, and our strengths are evenly matched. You cannot hurt me." Lin Moran brushed off his sleeves, looking rather arrogant.
"So, if I want to leave, you can't stop me either!" Shangguan Youran also smiled.
"Hahaha, I knew I couldn't stop you by myself, which is why I didn't come alone!"
Hearing Lin Moran's words, Shangguan Youran frowned slightly.
At the sound of Lin Moran's applause, another terrifying wave of pressure descended from the sky. This time, the figure appearing in Shangguan Youran's sight was a middle-aged man with a towering build and sharp, hawk-like eyes.
"Dao Master Realm?" Shangguan Youran's heart instantly tightened.
"Young Master, what would you have me do?" the burly man asked in a cold voice, his tone booming like a bell.
"Uncle Jiang, I want to take Miss Shangguan back to the manor," Lin Moran said coldly.
"Very well!" The burly man nodded, his body instantly transforming into a blurred afterimage as he appeared right in front of Shangguan Youran. "Miss Shangguan, please!" The burly man made a gesture indicating the way.
"Senior Jiang, you are a senior expert after all. Are you really going to stoop to forcing someone against their will?" Shangguan Youran's expression suddenly turned ugly.
"Miss Shangguan, this old man is merely Young Master Lin's retainer, taking orders and acting accordingly. I hope Miss Shangguan can understand," the burly man said in a deep voice.
"And what if I refuse?" Shangguan Youran tightened her grip on her sword.
"Then I'm afraid I'll have to use rough methods to bring you back to the Lin Family."
Just as the burly man reached out to grab Shangguan Youran's arm, Huiguang stepped forward with a stride to block him.
"Amitabha! Benefactor Jiang, since Miss Shangguan is unwilling to go with you, why must you force her?" Huiguang said leisurely with his palms pressed together.
"Amitabha?" Lin Moran stared at Huiguang in utter bewilderment.
The burly man paid no attention to the Buddhist chant, his hawk-like eyes instantly looking Huiguang up and down from head to toe.
"You are not a cultivator. I have no wish to harm you, but I also don't like busybodies. Scram!" The burly man looked at Huiguang with utter disdain.
"As Buddhism says: one living in this world must maintain a kind heart and must never commit acts of bullying the weak with strength." Completely ignoring the burly man's threat, Huiguang instead began to preach Buddhist principles.
"Huiguang, move aside!" Seeing this ordinary mortal stand up for her, a wave of warmth suddenly welled up in Shangguan Youran's heart.
"Did your Buddha ever say that meddling in other people's business might court disaster and cost you your life?" the burly man retorted.
"Buddha also says that when encountering injustice, one must step forward to uphold righteousness. If I can awaken the kindness within Benefactor's heart, even if this monk loses his life, it will be a meritorious deed!" Forgetting Shangguan Youran's warning, Huiguang said pedantically.
"Ami...tabha!" With those words, Huiguang chanted another Buddhist title.
"Hahaha, interesting, truly interesting!"
"I have traveled the martial world for many years, and this is the first time I've heard the word 'Buddha', the first time I've heard the word 'monk', the first time I've heard the term 'benefactor', and also the first time I've witnessed someone willing to sacrifice their life for so-called righteousness."
"Kid, are you truly not afraid of death?" Murderous intent flickered in the burly man's eyes as his patience seemed to wear thin.
"To this monk, death is merely going to the Land of Ultimate Bliss, so naturally I am not afraid." Huiguang looked completely tranquil.
"In that case... then I shall send you to your so-called Land of Ultimate Bliss first."
"It's just a pity that you are throwing your life away for nothing. After you die, Miss Shangguan will still be coming with me." As the burly man spoke, a chilling murderous aura emanated from him.
Huiguang let out a sigh, then brought his palms together and sat down right in front of the burly man. "Benefactor Jiang, there is a sea of bitterness between us. Once you step over my body, you too will sink into an endless sea of bitterness. The sea of bitterness is boundless, turn back and the shore is at hand!"
"Amitabha!" After chanting the Buddhist title, Huiguang closed his eyes and began to softly recite scriptures.
"Uncle Jiang, he's just a madman without a speck of spiritual energy. There's no need to waste any more time with him; taking Shangguan Youran back is what matters," Lin Moran spoke up at this moment.
"Understood!" The next instant, Old Jiang raised his right hand and brought it crashing down toward Huiguang's forehead.