Chapter 158: Chapter 123: Finally Seeing the Cannibal Painting

’As long as I can’t hear it, I’ll be fine.’

"Wait."

The voice came from inside again.

Zheng Xiu’s hands, which had been moving to slap his own ears, froze.

Zheng Xiu was stunned.

Feng Bei, right behind him, actually took a second step, planting her foot firmly on the second stair.

"Wait."

Feng Bei’s movements froze.

A competitive urge rose in Feng Bei’s heart. Her long black hair began to drift though there was no wind, and a network of dark, vein-like markings spread out from her right eye, covering her entire body.

A fierce gale erupted. Feng Bei clenched her right hand, and an immense, towering shadow, invisible to the naked eye, slowly rose up behind her.

At the bottom of the steps, Chu Susu had no idea what was happening.

She was even less aware of the danger involved.

Feng Bei was on the verge of letting loose and destroying the temple.

Zheng Xiu, too, felt the sudden urge to unleash a Big Move.

All she saw was Feng Bei and Zheng Xiu each take one or two steps up the stairs before stopping, motionless.

"Stop!"

Ruchen rushed over, drenched in sweat. "Master, these two are my friends! They mean no harm!"

Hearing this, Feng Bei let out a soft sigh of relief. The gale abruptly died down, and her dancing black hair slowly settled.

Silence fell in the main hall.

Ruchen was kneeling on the steps.

For a moment, no one spoke.

A few breaths later, the old monk’s voice came from within, his hoarse tone speaking slowly. "My three esteemed guests have come from afar. This old monk has been remiss in his welcome. Please, come in."

Zheng Xiu and Feng Bei clasped their hands in a salute and said in unison, "Our apologies for the intrusion."

Without the old monk’s "Wait," Zheng Xiu and Feng Bei were finally able to walk up the stairs unimpeded.

Zheng Xiu couldn’t help but look back. His footprint was clearly visible, embedded in the first step.

They entered the main hall. The interior was sparse, with only a series of pillars and long, empty tables.

A single, lonely candle flame flickered on a long table. In the center of the hall were meditation cushions of various sizes. On the cushion closest to the inner chamber sat an old monk in simple blue robes. His white beard was ten feet long, untrimmed, and coiled on the floor beside him like a small mound.

The old monk’s face was a roadmap of deep, sharp wrinkles, his eye sockets sunken. When he opened his eyes, his two murky pupils were utterly devoid of spirit. If not for having personally experienced his "Wait and See Zen," no one would have guessed that this decrepit-looking monk was such a formidable figure.

The Monk whispered to Zheng Xiu from behind, "You weren’t actually thinking of destroying your own ears just now, were you?"

Zheng Xiu nodded.

The Monk’s face showed his shock. "You really are a madman!" After a moment, Ruchen shook his head and chuckled. "But did you really think it would be so easy to break my Master’s ’Wait and See Zen’? Did you see the footprints on the stairs?"

Zheng Xiu froze, then understanding dawned, and a chill ran through him.

In his haste, he had mistakenly believed that destroying his hearing would let him ignore the Miracle Technique. But thinking back, he realized it couldn’t be that simple.

The old monk’s "Wait and See Zen" could even hold back a fire, making the raging flames "wait." If you thought about it seriously, fire wasn’t a living thing. It had no "hearing," so how could "Wait and See Zen" possibly work on it?

In other words, the medium for "Wait and See Zen" wasn’t sound at all.

"Ruchen, show some respect."

The old monk chided softly.

Ruchen repeatedly bowed his head in assent. After leading the three of them into the main hall, he went out to prepare tea.

"Please, all three of you, have a seat."

The old monk lifted his gaze and gestured to the cushions before him.

Zheng Xiu and Feng Bei exchanged a look, nodded subtly, and each chose a cushion, sitting down properly.

Chu Susu seemed to have become invisible. She suppressed the urge to "steal" and, heeding the advice she’d been given, obediently sat down behind the other two.

"Feng Bei, it is an honor to meet you, Master."

"Zheng Shan, it is an honor to meet you, Master."

"Chu Susu, it is an honor to meet you, Master."

A strange expression crossed the old monk’s withered face. He opened his eyes and looked at Feng Bei.

Then at Zheng Xiu.

And finally, at Chu Susu.

His eyes were weathered and dull, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.

"Master," Zheng Xiu decided to be polite and began, "Feng Bei and I have heard..."

"Wait."

Zheng Xiu’s mouth snapped shut.

He clearly didn’t want to, but it was as if his mouth was no longer his own. The rest of his words refused to come out.

Feng Bei was about to speak, but the Master shook his head again. "Wait."

Feng Bei fell silent.

’Holy shit,’ Zheng Xiu cursed in his mind.

’Just how the hell does this ’Wait and See Zen’ Magic work?’

’Why is it so damn weird?’

In the quiet main hall, the candlelight flickered. Amidst the dead silence, beads of cold sweat began to form on Zheng Xiu’s back.

"Master, the tea is here."

The Playful Monk brought over several cups of tea, placing one before each person.

"Ruchen, did you go practice ’heart-refining’ in secret again?"

Ruchen hesitated for a few seconds, but not daring to hide it, he nodded.

The old monk reprimanded Ruchen in a scolding tone, "Your master has warned you before. Refining the heart must be done spontaneously. You cannot force it, or it will backfire."

Ruchen lowered his head in shame, nodding emphatically. "This disciple knows his mistake."

The old monk sighed deeply. "Ruchen, you have gone down the wrong path."

Ruchen was taken aback. "This disciple does not know where he went wrong."

The old monk sighed again. "The fact that you do not know where you went wrong is precisely where you are wrong."

Hearing this, Ruchen was even more stunned.

Zheng Xiu couldn’t help but raise his hand. "Master, could we... have a private word? Please, no more ’waiting.’ Just allow me to finish a single sentence."

The old monk closed his eyes. "Yunliu Temple is humble and poor, unable to accommodate such esteemed guests. Please, finish your tea, and then return from whence you came."

Zheng Xiu was surprised. "Master, do you know why we have come?"

The old monk nodded.

Zheng Xiu pointed at Feng Bei. "And do you know who she is?"

The old monk said, "Ye Weiyang."

After a slight pause, the old monk continued, "It is precisely because this old one knows you are from Ye Weiyang that this painting must not fall into your hands."

Zheng Xiu pondered for a moment, then smiled. "So, they’ve already been here."

The old monk: "Yes."

Zheng Xiu: "And you made them ’wait’ as well."

The old monk: "Yes."

’No wonder Yue Yan left behind the phrase ’an unexpected complication.’ Yue Yan must have personally experienced the strange power of ’Wait and See Zen’ and didn’t dare let Feng Bei come up the mountain to take it by force. Besides, that wasn’t Ye Weiyang’s style anyway.’

Zheng Xiu spoke again. "It’s a long story. Master, since you’re unwilling to hand this painting over to Ye Weiyang... but I," Zheng Xiu pointed to himself, "I am not with Ye Weiyang."

"Then what is it that you seek?"

Zheng Xiu smiled and replied, "In this life, everyone seeks something. A starving Traveler seeks a full meal, a peerless Swordsman seeks a sharp and famous blade, a first-class Musician craves a legendary score. As a Painter, I have heard of Mr. Gongsun Mo’s fame as the ’Ghost Painter’ from two hundred years ago. And now, learning that a masterpiece of his has appeared in the world, it would be the regret of my lifetime if I could not see it with my own eyes! I only ask for a single look. I hope that you, old senior, will grant my wish!"

Ruchen was shocked, his face a mask of astonishment. "You’re a Painter?"

The old monk also showed a look of surprise. "A Painter?"

Chu Susu was stunned. "A Painter?"

The Mighty Man’s words seemed like a huge joke, but it was the truth.

The reactions from the crowd made Zheng Xiu a little awkward. He could only say, "The genuine article, I assure you."

Several of the wrinkles on the old monk’s face stretched straight.

He was lost in thought.

Zheng Xiu waited as well.

He didn’t expect his speech to move the old monk.

The old monk clearly had his reservations.

Zheng Xiu had his own reservations, too.

After a moment of silence, the old monk waved a weary arm. "Ruchen, see our guests out."

Ruchen froze. "Master?"

The old monk’s tone was firm. "See them out!"

"Can I see it? Just a glance. Even if you don’t unroll the scroll, just let me see it." Zheng Xiu’s eyes were fixed on the old monk. Right now, he just wanted to confirm if the painting was truly in the old monk’s possession. As for whether to take it by force, frankly, Zheng Xiu hadn’t made up his mind. To put it bluntly, he wasn’t part of Ye Weiyang at all. He had only accompanied Feng Bei to Shuzhou to investigate the Cannibal Painting because he was interested in it himself.

Now that the painting was right here in Yunliu Temple, so close he could almost touch it, Zheng Xiu would feel a deep sense of regret if he couldn’t see it with his own eyes.

It was just as he had said: a peerless Swordsman would covet a great sword, and a first-class Musician would crave a legendary score. It was as if this had become an instinct for him after becoming a Painter. The method of roleplaying... in the end, was Zheng Xiu intentionally playing the role of a Painter, or was the influence of the Path gradually turning him into a real one? For a moment, it was hard to say.

"...So be it!"

The old monk let out a long sigh, as if he had made up his mind. He looked at Chu Susu. "This does not concern you. Close your eyes."

Chu Susu was taken aback, but she covered her eyes with her hands anyway.

A tightly wrapped scroll slid out from the old monk’s sleeve. So, he had been carrying the "Cannibal Painting" with him all along.

The old monk, trembling, slowly unwrapped the waterproof oilcloth around the scroll, revealing the spindle within.

The back of the scroll was already yellowed with age. The old monk laid the scroll on the floor and, with slow, deliberate movements, began to unroll it.

Zheng Xiu and Feng Bei held their breath.

The Cannibal Painting, which they had pursued for so long, was about to reveal its true face before them.