Hong Kong films: Starting from Shaolin Temple

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Boss B's face turned ashen, and he was about to explode.

Just then, a clear, cold voice drifted from the direction of the back mountain.

"The Hung Hing Society, what a grand display of power! It is an honor to have two hall masters grace us with their presence. This humble monk has failed to greet you properly."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Long Yan, dressed in a blue monk's robe, walking slowly down the mountain path with his hands behind his back.

With each step he took, his imposing and unyielding aura grew stronger. When he reached the mountain gate, the entire Wulong Temple seemed to fall silent.

Whether it was the arrogant Liang Kun or the domineering Boss B, they both felt a strange sense of unease when facing Long Yan's calm and unwavering eyes.

A dramatic clash between the underworld and the legitimate world, sparked by a box office frenzy, is about to unfold before this ancient temple!

Chapter 134 An Olive Branch from the Underworld

Long Yan's voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to possess a peculiar magic, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present. The previously noisy area in front of the mountain gate instantly fell silent.

The eyes of more than a dozen Hung Hing gangsters were all focused on the young monk who was walking down the mountain path.

He looked to be no more than twenty years old, with a handsome face and eyes as calm as a bottomless ancient well. Wearing a simple blue monk's robe, he possessed an extraordinary and refined air. Although he was alone, he instilled an unprecedented pressure in the dozen or so burly men wielding knives and clubs.

"You are Long Yan?"

It was Liang Kun who spoke first. He pushed aside his bodyguard and looked Long Yan up and down with great interest, as if admiring a rare commodity. His eyes were filled with greed and possessiveness.

"I heard you're a great fighter and can even turn into a golden body?" Handsome Kun tapped his temple with his finger and said in a flippant tone, "Little master, what's the point of guarding this dilapidated temple? Come work for me! I guarantee you'll live the high life. I can't guarantee you'll have the Governor's daughter, but you can pick any hottest girl in all of Hong Kong! Money, women, status—whatever you want, Handsome Kun can give you!"

This blatant recruitment was utterly insulting. Uncle Da's face flushed with anger, and he was about to unleash a torrent of curses when Long Yan stopped him with a single glance.

Long Yan looked at Liang Kun without any change in expression, and said calmly, "Benefactor, I am a person outside the secular world. To me, worldly affairs are all illusions. The money and beauty you speak of will be nothing but skeletons and white bones a hundred years from now, fleeting clouds."

His voice was calm, yet it seemed to carry the power of Buddhism, causing Liang Kun's restless heart to inexplicably calm down.

"Hey, you stinking monk, you're asking for it, aren't you?" Handsome Kun snapped out of his daze and immediately flew into a rage. "Who do you think you are? Just a lousy actor who knows a few basic kung fu tricks? I'm telling you right now, either you come with me, or I'll tear down this dilapidated temple of yours!"

"Go! Give this master chef a break!" With a command from Liang Kun, several of his trusted henchmen grinned maliciously, brandishing steel pipes and water hoses, and moved toward Long Yan.

"Handsome Kun! How dare you!"

Big Boss B's expression changed drastically. He abruptly stood up and blocked Long Yan's path. He shouted to his men, "Stop! Anyone who dares to make a move in this sacred Buddhist sanctuary, don't blame me, Wu Zhixiong, for showing no brotherly loyalty!"

Although Boss B's men were outnumbered, they immediately drew their weapons and confronted Liang Kun's men, and the situation was on the verge of breaking out.

Just then, Long Yan reached out a hand and gently placed it on Boss B's shoulder.

“Benefactor Wu, I appreciate your kindness.” Long Yan nodded slightly to Boss B, then walked past him and faced Liang Kun and his men alone, calmly saying, “Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. Since Benefactor Liang Kun wishes to experience my skills, then I will settle this matter myself.”

"Haha! What audacity!" Liang Kun seemed to have heard the funniest joke. "Brothers, did you hear that? The master is going to personally instruct us! Go get him, break his legs, let's see how he transforms into a golden body now!"

The henchmen closed in again, their steel pipes whistling through the air as they smashed towards Long Yan's head and limbs!

Standing not far away, Xiao Zhen's heart leaped into her throat. She instinctively wanted to rush forward to help, but seeing Long Yan's steady back, she stopped herself in her tracks. She trusted him.

Faced with the powerful and heavy attack, Long Yan neither dodged nor avoided it.

He simply raised his right hand slowly, his fingers forming a sword shape, and made a light stroke in the air.

There was no earth-shattering roar, nor any dazzling brilliance.

Everyone felt a blur before their eyes, and an invisible, sharp aura seemed to appear out of thin air, instantly sweeping past the gangsters who were charging at the front.

"Puff puff!"

With a few soft sounds, those heavy steel pipes snapped cleanly in the middle as if they were made of paper! The cut was as smooth as a mirror!

Those gangsters felt an irresistible force coming from their chests, screamed, and flew seven or eight meters away, crashing to the ground unconscious.

There was a deathly silence in front of the mountain gate.

Everyone was stunned into silence by this bizarre and terrifying scene.

Cutting iron from a distance? What kind of skill is that? Is it some kind of sorcery?!

The arrogant smile on Liang Kun's face froze completely. His legs began to tremble uncontrollably, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He had been a scoundrel for over a decade, had killed people and seen blood, and considered himself incredibly audacious, but what was happening before his eyes was completely beyond his comprehension!

Boss B and his men were also utterly horrified. They had thought Long Yan was just a powerful character in the movies, but they never imagined that in real life he was...a hundred times more terrifying than in the films!

Long Yan withdrew his finger, still maintaining his calm and collected demeanor, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

His gaze fell on Liang Kun, whose face was deathly pale.

0 ······Requesting flowers·· ··

“Benefactor Liang Kun, do you still intend to demolish this temple of mine?”

"No... I wouldn't dare! Master! Master, spare my life!" With a "plop," Liang Kun knelt down and frantically kowtowed, begging for mercy. "I was blind to your greatness! I'm not human! I'll never dare to do it again!"

Faced with absolute, incomprehensible power, all his dignity and ruthlessness were shattered.

Long Yan shook his head and said calmly, "Get lost. Remember, those who do many evil deeds will surely perish."

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll get out! I'll get out right away!" As if granted a pardon, Liang Kun scrambled into his Rolls-Royce, stepped on the gas, and fled in a panic, not even caring about his unconscious subordinates.

With Liang Kun's departure, the tense atmosphere in front of the mountain gate finally dissipated.

... ... ....

Big Boss B took a deep breath, walked up to Long Yan, straightened his clothes, and then bowed respectfully at a ninety-degree angle to Long Yan.

"Master, your skills are unparalleled! I, Wu, am utterly in awe! Today's incident was caused by my Hung Hing's lax discipline, which has brought trouble upon you. Please rest assured, Master, I will severely punish Liang Kun upon my return and give you an explanation!"

Long Yan glanced at him and said, "Benefactor Wu, your heart is more righteous than his. But the path of the martial world is ultimately not the right one. You should take care of yourself."

Big Brother B gave a wry smile and nodded: "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Long Yan again, left a business card, and then left with his men and the unconscious Liang Kun's subordinates.

The area in front of Wulong Temple has finally returned to calm.

Uncle Da let out a long breath, feeling his back was soaked with sweat. He looked at Long Yan, his eyes filled with admiration and emotion: "Junior brother, you... have really brought great 'prestige' to our Wulong Academy."

Xiao Zhen also came over. She looked at Long Yan, her beautiful eyes sparkling with an unprecedented light.

"You've gotten yourself into big trouble again." A faint smile played on her lips, but her tone carried a hint of concern that she herself was unaware of.

Upon hearing this, Long Yan looked up at the distant sky, his eyes becoming somewhat profound.

"The real trouble, I'm afraid... has only just begun."

He had a premonition that as his fame grew, those who came knocking on his door would not be just these江湖草莽 (jianghu caomang, meaning rough and tumble people from the martial arts world).

Beneath the surface of this world's tranquility, the hidden undercurrents seem to be beginning to surge because of his appearance.

Chapter 135 Big Boss B

The turmoil in front of the mountain gate was like a pebble thrown into a lake; although it subsided temporarily, it rippled outwards in circles of invisible waves.

The news of Young Kun's hasty escape and Hung Hing Society boss B's respectful retreat spread like wildfire throughout Hong Kong's underworld and legitimate society overnight.

"Have you heard? Hung Hing's Brother Kun was so scared by a monk at the entrance of the Shaolin Temple that he knelt down and begged for mercy!"

"More than that! Big Boss B personally led a group there, and they bowed and paid their respects to that little monk named Long Yan, being extremely polite!"

"Really? Just who is this Long Yan? Does he have three heads and six arms?"

"What three heads and six arms? He's a reincarnated Arhat! I heard the golden Arhat in the movie is real!"

Rumors spread like wildfire, growing ever more fantastical. In Hong Kong's underworld, the "637" gang, the name Long Yan had become a taboo, a symbol of mystery and terror. No longer did any foolish gang dare to cause trouble on Wulongyuan's territory.

Inside the Wulong Temple, life seemed to have returned to its usual tranquility.

Uncle Da carefully placed the pure gold business card left by Boss B on his bedside table, wiping it three times a day as if it were some priceless treasure.

Xiao Zhen became even more silent and worked even harder.

The shock she felt from Long Yan's seemingly effortless finger strike that severed iron from a distance was far greater than the shock of him shattering the Eighteen Bronze Men with a single punch. It was no longer a mere martial arts technique, but rather an almost embodied manifestation of the "Tao."

"Your heart is calmer than before."

That evening, Xiao Zhen was practicing her horse stance in the courtyard when Long Yan appeared in front of her without her noticing.

Xiao Zhen opened her eyes, exhaling a long, deep breath, far more powerful than before. She stood up, stretched her slightly sore and numb legs, looked at Long Yan, and asked, "What exactly was that move?"

She knew that Long Yan understood what she was asking.

“That’s not a technique, but the application of ‘qi’.” Long Yan looked at her with a hint of approval in his eyes. “Everything has qi. Mountains have the qi of mountains, water has the qi of water, and people naturally have the qi of people. The demonic art you practiced before was to stimulate and squeeze your own qi. Although it was very powerful in the short term, it was like draining the pond to catch all the fish, which damaged your foundation.”

He paused, then continued, "The superior mental cultivation methods of Buddhism and Taoism emphasize 'cultivating qi.' Calming the mind is the first step in cultivating qi. When you can sink your mind into your dantian and feel that warm flow of qi, you have entered the door."

"Feel... an airflow?" Xiao Zhen seemed to understand something. These words opened a door to a whole new world for her.

“Your mind is now stable. Starting tomorrow, in addition to horse stance, I will teach you a set of ‘turtle breathing techniques’,” Long Yan said.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhen was overjoyed, but she pretended to be calm on the surface, simply nodding and giving a faint "hmm." However, the slight upturn of her lips and the glint in her eyes betrayed her inner excitement.

Looking at her insincere expression, Long Yan's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.

Just then, Master Longbrow's voice came from the main hall: "Long Yan, Xiao Zhen, come here for a moment."

The two arrived at the main hall, where they saw the Long-Browed Master and another old Zen master with white beard and eyebrows sitting cross-legged in front of the Buddha, both with solemn expressions.

“Master.” Long Yan bowed.

Master Long Eyebrows pointed to the old Zen master beside him and introduced him: "This is Master Zhihui of Baolian Temple, my senior brother."

"Master Zhihui," Long Yan and Xiao Zhen greeted in unison.

The Master of Wisdom nodded to the two of them, his gaze lingering on Long Yan for a long time, his eyes filled with amazement and curiosity.

Master Longmei sighed and slowly said, "Long Yan, your sudden rise to fame has probably alarmed some... people who shouldn't have been alarmed."

"Who is Master?"

"The martial arts world, the mystical sects," Master Longbrow said, emphasizing each word. "This world is far more complex than it appears on the surface. Besides the martial arts gangs you know, there are many reclusive martial arts families and mystical practitioners. They may live in seclusion in the mountains or in bustling cities, remaining unassuming in their daily lives, but their power is far beyond what the likes of Hung Hing can match."

The wise master continued, “Your finger that severed iron from a distance contained incomparably pure ‘innate qi,’ which is a rare sight even in this Dharma-ending Age. Furthermore, your Arhat Golden Body is a legendary Dharma-protecting power in Buddhism. The simultaneous presence of these two powers in one person is enough to make any reclusive sect take notice.”

"What does Senior Brother mean..." Master Long Eyebrows looked worried.

The wise master's gaze turned incredibly serious: "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime. Your existence has disrupted a certain balance. Those who covet the secrets within you will soon... come knocking on your door."

His words had barely left his lips, as if to confirm his prophecy.

A young novice monk rushed in from outside, looking flustered, and said breathlessly, "Abbot! Abbot! There's...there's a very strange person outside!"