Hong Kong films: Starting from Shaolin Temple

Page 224

Those withered and broken branches seemed to be infused with magical power, beginning to regain their resilience, and tiny, emerald-green buds sprouted from their tips.

This...this is simply a miracle! It's a true resurrection!

Long Yan saw things more clearly than Wang Xian'er. Under his "divine eye," the "source of life" within Huan Ji's body, as pure as green crystal, was being slowly activated.

This primordial power from another dimension possesses a miraculous ability akin to "creation." It doesn't simply heal the tree, but rather, in an extremely gentle way, "awakens" the life imprints dormant within the tree for many years, reweaving the tree's life rules.

"Buzz—!" As Huanji injected more and more "source of life", the originally withered medicinal tree sprouted new branches and buds in just a few minutes, growing a tree full of lush green leaves. A rich and refreshing herbal fragrance instantly filled the entire back mountain.

"My God..." Wang Xian'er covered her mouth, exclaiming in disbelief, "Huan Ji...you, you are simply amazing!"

Having accomplished all this, Huan Ji's face turned somewhat pale, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her body swayed slightly.

Clearly, reversing life and death, even from just a tree, would be a huge drain on her.

Just as her body was about to give way, a warm and powerful hand gently supported her shoulder. At the same time, a golden Buddhist power, extremely yang yet incredibly gentle, slowly flowed into her body. This Buddhist power, like a warm spring, instantly flowed through her limbs and bones, quickly replenishing the energy she had just consumed and soothing her weary spirit.

Huanji looked up and saw Longyan's gentle gaze, full of approval and concern.

“Thank you… Master Longyan…” she said weakly.

“No need to be so polite.” Long Yan smiled and shook his head. “You did a great job. You showed this humble monk the most fundamental compassion and beauty of life.” He looked up at the medicinal tree that had been completely revived and was full of vitality, and a look of enlightenment flashed in his eyes: “All things have a spirit. Saving a tree and saving a person are no different in their merits.”

Wang Xian'er also ran over, tenderly supporting Huan Ji's other arm, and scolded her, "You're pushing yourself too hard! Don't be so stubborn next time!"

Looking at the two people beside her who genuinely cared for her, the last trace of gloom from her escape vanished completely. She gave a bright, pure smile and nodded vigorously, "Yes!"

Under the sunlight, the figures of the three people and the revitalized medicinal tree created an incredibly harmonious and heartwarming scene.

However, none of them noticed that atop a skyscraper several kilometers away from Wulongyuan.

The man, whose figure was like a ghost and whose aura was as cold as a venomous snake, was none other than the Ghost Clan.

"Everything is ready; it's time to put my plan into action."

Chapter 198 There's a demonic aura! Uncle Da drooled; this is a fairy sister!

"Master! Long Yan! We're back—!!"

A loud, energetic shout, yet tinged with a slightly slick tone, came from afar outside the mountain gate, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

Immediately following was the cheerful commotion of two children playing and complaining.

"Senior Brother, slow down! You're going to shake my brand new game console to pieces!"

"You stinky Wen, you're too fat to walk! Look at Xiao Long, he's carrying such a big bag and he's still faster than you!"

Huanji was startled by the sudden commotion. Like a frightened deer, she instinctively hid behind Longyan, peeking out half her head and looking at the entrance of the courtyard with curiosity and vigilance.

Uncle Da led Xiao Long and Chou Pi Wen in from outside, all bustling about.

The three men were covered in dust, clearly having just returned from begging for alms in the bustling city center.

Uncle Da was carrying a roast goose wrapped in oil paper, its mouth still glistening with oil.

The cocky Wen was holding a brand-new game console, but he looked extremely unhappy.

Only Xiaolong was like a diligent little bee, carrying a large sack on his shoulder that was taller than him and filled with all sorts of daily necessities.

"Oh dear, I'm exhausted!" As soon as Uncle Da entered the courtyard, he put the roast goose on the stone table, slumped onto the stone bench, and fanned himself with his coat open without any regard for appearances. "The city is great in every way, except there are too many people, it's so crowded! Our Wulong Courtyard is so much quieter... Hmm?"

Suddenly, Uncle Da's previously relaxed expression froze. He sniffed hard, looking just like a vigilant hunting dog.

"Something's not right!" He sat up abruptly, his expression turning serious. "Why does this courtyard... have such an unusual smell?"

"What's that smell, Senior Brother?" Wen, the stinky guy, sniffed curiously. "I can only smell the aroma of roast goose and the stench of your sweat."

"Go away! What do you know!" Uncle Da waved his hand impatiently, his eyes scanning the courtyard. He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "This is... demonic energy!"

"A demonic aura?!" Wen was so startled that he jumped up and dropped his game console.

He scrambled and crawled behind Uncle Da, peeking out his little head and shouting in terror, "Where's the monster?! Is it coming to eat this delicate little kid like me?!"

Xiao Long put down the sack on his shoulder, nodded solemnly, and said earnestly in a Henan accent, "Senior Brother is right. This demonic energy is very powerful, but... it seems different from those we've encountered before. It... is very pure, without any harmful evil intentions."

"Who cares if it's pure or not! If it's a demon, we must eliminate it!" Uncle Da immediately went into "battle mode".

He casually grabbed a bamboo pole used for drying clothes from the corner of the wall and used it as a demon-slaying staff. He struck what he thought was a majestic pose and shouted towards the back mountain: "What kind of demon dares to trespass on my Buddhist sanctuary! Show yourself at once so your grandfather can deliver you from suffering!"

Just then, Master Long Eyebrows also came out of the meditation room.

He looked at his three lively and mischievous apprentices and shook his head helplessly.

Just as Uncle Da was getting ready to go to the back mountain to "exorcise demons," Long Yan led Huan Ji out slowly from the path in the herb garden.

At that moment, the entire Wulong Temple seemed to fall silent.

Uncle Da, Wen Chou Pi, and Xiao Long stood frozen in place, as if they had been frozen in place.

Uncle Da dropped the bamboo pole from his hand with a thud. His face, which had been filled with righteous indignation as he "exorcised demons," was instantly replaced by extreme fascination and shock. His mouth was agape, wide enough to fit an egg, and saliva involuntarily dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Forgetting his fear, Wen took off his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes hard, seemingly unable to believe what he was seeing.

Xiao Long's cheeks flushed slightly, and he lowered his head somewhat embarrassed.

What a scene they witnessed...

The gentle glow of the setting sun fell upon Huanji, casting a dreamlike halo over her elegant white dress.

Her beauty was otherworldly, possessing an ethereal and fragile quality, as if she were a fairy descended from the moon palace.

Especially her clear, unblemished eyes, which were looking at them with a mixture of timidity and curiosity.

"Fairy... Fairy..."

Uncle Da's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, muttering to himself. His instincts as a seasoned "womanizer" were instantly activated to their peak!

He threw away the bamboo pole, quickly straightened his already messy clothes, haphazardly ran his fingers through his hair, and then forced out what he considered to be his most dashing and charming smile before striding towards Huan Ji.

"Ahem!" He cleared his throat and spoke in a magnetic, what he considered to be a very gentle voice: "This... fairy, may I ask your name? Why have you descended upon my mortal Wulong Temple? Could it be that you have been moved by this humble monk's virtuous cultivation and have come to... forge a bond between immortals and mortals?"

His words were greasy and full of narcissism.

Huan Ji had never seen such a scene before, and she shrank back behind Long Yan in fright.

"Senior Brother." Long Yan stepped forward, subtly blocking Huan Ji's path. His tone was calm and even, yet carried an undeniable aura. "You must not be rude to our distinguished guest."

He then formally introduced her to everyone: "This is Miss Huanji. She encountered some trouble at the foot of the mountain a few days ago and is currently staying at our Wulong Temple. You should treat her with courtesy in the future."

"Oh—! So you're a guest!" Uncle Da suddenly realized, then flashed that lecherous grin again. "Miss Huanji, hello, hello! My name is Ada, I'm Long Yan's senior brother! Don't worry, with me here, no one in Wulong Academy will dare to bully you!"

“Pretty sister, my name is Xiaowen! I can recite many of the Three Hundred Tang Poems!” The smug Wen followed suit and came up to her.

Master Long Eyebrows also walked over, leaning on his staff. He looked at the girl before him, who was as beautiful as a fairy, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes, followed by a clear understanding.

"Amitabha." He murmured a Buddhist chant and smiled gently at Huan Ji. "Miss, since you are someone brought back by Long Yan, you are a guest of my Wulong Academy. I am the abbot here. If you don't mind, please feel free to stay."

Master Changmei's words were the final word.

Looking at the monks in front of her, who seemed somewhat "strange" but whose eyes held no malice, Huanji finally let down her guard.

She stepped out from behind Long Yan, bowed gracefully to the crowd, and softly said in a clear and melodious voice:

"Huanji greets Master Changmei and all her senior brothers."

That one "Senior Brother" made Uncle Da's bones melt.

The tense atmosphere in the courtyard was instantly replaced by a burst of cheerful laughter.

Chapter 199 The Witch Xiao Zhen Tests Huan Ji! Long Yan: Stop fooling around!

The days at Wulong Temple seem to be stretched out by the morning mist and the afterglow of the setting sun in the mountains.

The suffocating sense of urgency in the city is quietly dispelled here by the rings of the old Bodhi tree in the courtyard and the long, drawn-out breathing of Master Changmei.

Huanji gradually fell in love with this feeling as well.

She was no longer the fugitive shivering in the neon-lit, filthy back alleys.

At Wulong Temple, she found a sense of belonging called "home".

In the early morning, she and Long Yan would tend to the herbs in the herb garden on the back mountain, which had been reawakened by her "source of life".

She has an innate talent for understanding the "language" of plants, and knows exactly which herbs need more sunlight and which roots are lacking water.

She would gently brush the dust off the leaves of the herbs, humming ancient songs from her world.

Long Yan would sit quietly in meditation not far away, or practice a set of seemingly simple but actually powerful fist techniques. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on the two of them, creating a tranquil yet vibrant scene.

Daytime is the busiest time at Wulong Temple.

"Sister Huanji, look how cool my 'Dragon Tail Swing' move is!" Xiaolonghui enthusiastically showed off his already quite skilled Shaolin boxing in front of her.

His small body contained a powerful strength beyond his years, and every punch and kick he threw was powerful and swift.

Although Huanji couldn't understand the moves, she could feel the pure, masculine energy emanating from Xiaolong. She would clap her hands earnestly and praise him in a clear, ethereal voice, "Xiaolong, you're amazing."

Xiao Long's cheeks would always flush slightly when he received praise, which would make him practice even more vigorously.

"Hmph, what's so great about practicing martial arts? Sister Huanji, shall I recite a love poem I just wrote for you?" The smug Wen Hui, wearing his signature little sunglasses, swayed his head and approached Huanji, trying to attract the attention of this beautiful older sister with his childlike "talent".

His poems were often poorly written and lacked rhythm, yet they always managed to make Huanji giggle.

She liked this pure, unadulterated childlike admiration.

Uncle Da would appear by Huanji's side from time to time, acting as an "experienced person," trying to discuss some "philosophies of life" with her.

“Phantom Princess, look, life is like this bowl of vegetarian food. It may seem bland and tasteless, but if you savor it carefully, you can still taste some sweetness.” As he spoke, he would secretly drip a few drops of sesame oil, which he had gotten from who-knows-where, into his bowl, and then eat it with relish.

Huanji couldn't understand his "philosophical" insights full of worldly wisdom, but she could sense that beneath Uncle Da's seemingly cynical exterior lay a kind and warm heart.

As for Master Changmei, he would mostly sit on the meditation cushion in the meditation room or on the stone bench in the backyard, quietly watching all of this.

His eyes, which seemed to see through the vicissitudes of life, always carried a faint smile of satisfaction.

He knew that this girl from another world was slowly integrating into this big family full of laughter and warmth with her pure soul.

However, beneath this peaceful facade, there were still some unrest.

That afternoon, Huanji was watering a newly grown Ganoderma lucidum in the herb garden.

The witch Xiaozhen walked over with a smile, carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit.

"Little sister Huanji, you've been busy for so long, you must be tired. Here, have some fruit to quench your thirst." Her voice was sweet and kind, just like a good older sister who truly cares about her younger sister.