Behind the mountain.
Next to a sign that read “Tourists Stop Here” stood a path paved with natural bluestone. A gray figure moved swiftly through the forest.
It was the young monk who had just saved someone in the Mahavira Hall.
His Buddhist name was Baoyu, the same as the character in Dream of the Red Chamber, though their surnames differed. He was 21 years old this year.
He shouldn’t have been here, because he didn’t originally belong to this world…
Three years ago, an accident mysteriously brought him to this world, where he was reborn as a young monk in Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou.
In his previous life, he was called Gu Baoyu, an ordinary young man who had just graduated from university and worked for only two years.
As a youth of the 21st century, raised amidst internet culture, he was well-versed in stories of transmigration and reincarnation.
However, when it happened to him, it took a long time for him to accept the reality…
From the first day he arrived in this world, he realized it was completely different from his original one.
…
After all, in the previous world, who had ever seen a monk fight with martial arts?
And yet, from the very first day in this world, he witnessed it firsthand…
He distinctly remembered that sunny afternoon three years ago. Newly arrived in this world, he tried to sneak down the mountain with the tourists…
But unfortunately, he was caught by his senior brother, Monk Baowen, leading to an unforgettable experience…
Senior Brother Baowen’s face, fierce like a wrathful deity, his bulky frame, and his large, calloused hands were forever etched in Baoyu’s memory…
Striking Palm!
Great Compassion Hand!
And… the Crow Sitting Move?
Damn!
Senior monks beat junior monks with martial arts…
Each punch and kick was powerful!
Each move was executed with precision!!
Baowen chased him all over the back of the mountain until he radiated a golden protective aura and kicked a massive tree in half…
Only then did Baoyu realize this world was far beyond his understanding.
Moreover…
It wasn’t just Senior Brother Baowen. After adapting to his new body, Baoyu found that his abilities were nothing to scoff at…
A strong energy flowed through his meridians, surging like a rushing river!
He could release a golden swastika-shaped legend with one palm, snapping branches and scattering leaves…
Could any ordinary monk from the original world do this?
…
Suddenly, a phone rang, startlingly loud in the quiet forest.
“Shit, who’s calling me?”
Baoyu stopped, grumbling as he pulled a tattered phone from his oversized monk robes.
Caller ID: Great Monk Baowen.
“Speak of the devil!”
He answered the call…
A rough voice came through: “Baoyu, stop wandering around the front mountain. Did you finish today’s practice? Always thinking of slacking off. Hurry back! The master has something to discuss with you.”
The loud voice made the young monk pull the phone away from his ear.
“I’ll get right on it, senior brother. Just about to start… Senior Brother, what does the master need me for?”
There was a brief pause on the other end before Baowen replied, “You’ll find out when you get back.”
“Got it, Senior Brother Baowen. I’ll be there soon!”
“…”
Baoyu hung up the phone, his mind racing. He was always observant and had caught the brief change in Baowen’s tone.
Given his senior brother’s usual straightforward nature, that shift was unusual.
Baoyu couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious. Could something have happened to their master?
He quickened his pace…
…
Baoyu’s master, Master Xiekong, was the current abbot of Lingyin Temple and a standing member of the Zhejiang Buddhist Association.
But Master Xiekong’s identity seemed to go beyond that. Baoyu had seen some mysterious people come to the back mountain to meet with his master to discuss certain matters.
These meetings were highly secretive, and they never allowed Baoyu to know what was going on, piquing his curiosity…
Once, while delivering tea, he overheard fragments of their conversation.
They mentioned things like “Ten Elders”…
And “Tianxia Society”…
…
These names sounded vaguely familiar to Baoyu, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall where he’d heard them before!
He even searched online but found no related information or reports.
In the end, he let it go…
Now, concerned, Baoyu sped up even more. The ancient trees’ overhanging branches were blown off by the gust of wind he created, scattering leaves all around.
Soon, Baoyu reached the end of the path, where an ancient, tranquil Zen courtyard awaited him.
Several old, rustic meditation rooms were positioned at the four corners of the courtyard, surrounding a small courtyard paved with bluestone. In the center stood a peach tree, its lush branches full of leaves as the flowering season had already passed.
Sitting cross-legged under the tree was the large figure of Baowen, who had just called him.
As Baoyu stepped over the sill, Baowen slowly opened his eyes and, in his rough voice, said, “Kid, you’ve been messing around on the front mountain again, haven’t you? If I hadn’t called, you wouldn’t have come back. Did you finish your practice today?”
Baoyu scratched his bald head with a sheepish grin and quickly approached, “I’ll get to it right away, senior brother.”
“Man, you’re so dedicated, always practicing and refining your Great Compassion Hand! You must have mastered it by now!”
Baowen’s thick eyebrows twitched as his eyes widened, “Hmph, you lazy brat! I’ll deal with you later. The master is inside waiting for you. Go on.”
“Got it, senior brother! I’ll head in now!” Baoyu bowed and hurried toward the central meditation room.
…
The ancient wooden door creaked open.
Sitting at the edge of a plain monk’s bed was an elderly monk, his legs dangling over the side.
The old monk had white eyebrows and a bald head, marked with six incense scars. He wore a red kasaya, with a string of brown prayer beads hanging around his neck, giving him the serene aura of a wise, enlightened monk.
Yet, at that moment, this enlightened master was holding a bowl of Master Kong’s braised beef instant noodles in one hand and using a fork to slurp the noodles with gusto…
“Slurp…”
A large bunch of golden noodles, with a few beef chunks attached, disappeared into his mouth.
“Master… You’re eating instant noodles again, and they’ve got beef! You’re breaking your vows!” Baoyu said, poking his head in through the door.
The old monk looked up from his noodles. His face was wrinkled, his large nose prominent, and his drooping white eyebrows framed eyes that, though clouded with age, sparkled with the wisdom of one who had seen it all.
The old monk swallowed his noodles and said, “Hmph! You and your brothers still lack wisdom, but I’ve seen through it all in this life. I live with a clear conscience, so breaking a vow is no big deal.”
“Yes, master, you’re right. What did you need to talk to me about?” Baoyu said, grinning as he walked in and sat down.
The old monk set the noodles aside and grew serious, “Baoyu, do you want to go down the mountain?”
Baoyu nearly jumped out of his seat…
“Master, I don’t want to leave the mountain! I’ve long since abandoned worldly desires and dedicated myself to the way of Buddha. Plus, I still need to take care of you! Why are you suddenly saying this?”
The old monk chuckled, “You’re naturally lively. Three years ago, you snuck down the mountain and came back like a lost soul after who knows what happened. If your senior brother hadn’t found you, who knows what would’ve become of you! And now you claim to be detached from worldly desires?”
“Master, can we not bring up my senior brother…”
Baoyu looked embarrassed, recalling how, after his first transmigration, Baowen had given him a brutal beating, leaving his butt so swollen he couldn’t sit or lie down for days—a traumatic memory indeed!
That was probably the world’s gift to him upon transmigration…
But now, even though his so-called “dedication to Buddha” was questionable, his desire to stay on the mountain, train in martial arts, and care for his master was genuine.
He had no desire to leave the mountain. Since arriving in this world, he had no ties or attachments.
In these three years, Lingyin Temple had become his home, and Master Xiekong and Senior Brother Baowen were like family.
Moreover, in this place, he encountered internal martial arts and the mystical energy known as qi!
Each day was spent nourishing his heart through Buddhist practice and improving his body through martial arts…
Life as a monk on the mountain was peaceful and fulfilling.
Here, in this world filled with mysterious powers and skilled individuals, he had found contentment in his path of self-improvement.
Master Xiekong’s voice interrupted his thoughts…
“Baoyu, you’re 21 now and have taken full ordination. You’re qualified to descend the mountain openly. I called you here because I need you to go down the mountain on my behalf and take care of some matters.”
“Master, it’s not because the temple is too poor to afford instant noodles anymore, is it? Are you kicking me out?”
The old monk’s face twitched…
Baoyu, having joked enough, straightened up, “Master, where do you want me to go?”
“To Jiangxi, Mount Longhu.”
“Jiangxi’s Mount Longhu? Master, why are you sending me there? Isn’t that a place for Taoists?”
Master Xiekong gently rotated the prayer beads in his hand and spoke calmly.
“On Mount Longhu, I have an old friend, the current Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei. He’s hosting a grand event there—the Luotian Dajiao. He invited our Lingyin Temple to send someone to attend, and you, Baoyu, are the most suitable person for the task, so…”
“….”
Baoyu stood there, completely stunned.
His mind felt like it had been struck by lightning, leaving it blank, unable to comprehend the rest of his master’s words!
Jiangxi’s Mount Longhu!
Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei!
The Luotian Dajiao!
These names flashed through his mind like a bolt of lightning.
After three years of secluded training on the mountain, he hadn’t fully grasped what kind of world he had ended up in.
But now, he finally understood.
This world is…
The world of “The Outcast”!
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152