Chapter 127: Subduing Demons
Chapter 127: Subduing Demons
Ding Le ended up attending college after all. His mother’s constant worries kept him from resting at home during summer break. Most days she dragged him to visit Master Jie Ming, who supposedly secured his admission to Southeast University.
“Master, I leave my son in your care.”
“Today I guide him. Tomorrow he guides me.”
Master Jie Ming pressed his palms together solemnly.
This marked Wang Mei’s tenth visit to Bailong Temple. Each visit deepened her awe of the master. Compared to his profound wisdom, ordinary folk like them seemed like ants crawling through dirt. She gradually understood: her son Ding Le and Aunt Ma’s grandson Zhou Shang shared some karmic bond with the master. Though skeptical about past lives, Wang Mei respected him deeply. Even Zuo Meng, the university professor, treated Master Jie Ming with reverence. How else would such an educated man be fooled without genuine skill? That’s how Wang Mei saw it.
After many visits, both mothers finally enrolled their boys as lay disciples.
Aunt Ma cared less about wisdom than connections. She’d noticed only wealthy elites visited the master’s quarters. Even if the boys learned nothing, accessing high society through his network after graduation made it worthwhile. Wang Mei partly agreed with this reasoning.
“We’re grateful, Master.”
Wang Mei bowed Buddhist-style before leaving. Little chubby Ding Le remained slumped against the wall, fighting sleep. Nearby stood Zhou Shang, delivered at dawn by Aunt Ma. Both boys had spent countless hours in this room listening to sutras.
“Wu Nian.”
The monk finally spoke after endless wooden fish taps, just as Ding Le’s legs threatened to give out.
_Creak._
An old monk with white whiskers entered through the wooden door.
“Master.”
He bowed to Jie Ming.
“These two are now your junior disciples. Show them around and assign their tasks.”
_Junior disciples?_
The old monk eyed the boys. Master Jie Ming hadn’t accepted students in years – a near-saintly figure in temple lore. Why break tradition now?
“Understood.”
He gestured to the boys despite his doubts. “Follow me, junior disciples.”
Under old monk Wu Nian’s guidance, Ding Le and Zhou Shang became temple members without shaving heads – lay disciples from day one.
“Master Uncle.”
Even white-bearded monks bowed to the boys, their status inflated by direct lineage to Master Jie Ming.
“Think he’s a scammer?” Zhou Shang whispered. “Granny’s probably getting conned.”
“He didn’t charge my mom anything,” Ding Le mumbled. Though hating temple life, he respected the man who’d secured his college spot.
“That’s how they hook you! I’ll expose him before Granny loses money.”
Zhou Shang vowed to uncover the truth.
Night
“Ding Le. Wake up.”
Zhou Shang nudged the sleeping little chubby Ding Le awake.
“Zhou Shang?”
Little chubby Ding Le’s head felt foggy and heavy. He’d just fallen asleep and entered the state where he felt like the Creator himself, but before he could get used to it, someone had woken him. His thoughts remained tangled for a while.
“Shh!”
Zhou Shang whispered sharply, gesturing for Ding Le to follow.
“Come.”
Ding Le hesitated but finally dragged himself up, shoved his feet into slippers, and followed. The moment they stepped outside, Ding Le nearly screamed—Zhou Shang clamped a hand over his mouth just in time.
Outside the temple loomed a centipede the height of three buildings, rearing like a cobra with an ear-splitting screech. Its body bore severe wounds, clearly from a prolonged battle.
Across from it stood Master Jie Ming in white robes. He uttered a Buddhist chant, and a golden Buddha materialized behind him. The Buddha’s palm slammed downward.
_Boom!_
The colossal centipede burst apart without resistance.
“Amitabha.”
Master Jie Ming withdrew his aura. The golden Buddha figure slowly faded as the divine monk drifted back to earth. Peace returned to Bailong Temple.
The night sky hung unchanged, making the earlier scene feel like a dream.
“The Buddha!”
“Master’s a true divine monk—a living Buddha!”
Zhou Shang, once doubtful, became Master Jie Ming’s most fervent disciple instantly. Even little chubby Ding Le stared wide-eyed—this was immortal methods, real and tangible, nothing like dreams.
Both boys buzzed with excitement, all doubts about Bailong Temple’s divine monk erased. Now disciples, they lay awake imagining their futures.
“I’ve got an immortal master! This is my chance—I can’t waste it!”
“I’ll learn true immortal methods and show divine power in the real world!”
That night, both Zhou Shang and Ding Le silently vowed their goals.
Next Morning
“Master.”
Ding Le and Zhou Shang entered with brooms, bowing to the white-robed monk’s back. Their morning sweeping duty was done.
“Scriptures copied?”
Master Jie Ming asked mildly, as if last night meant nothing. Truthfully, he’d staged the centipede attack—using magic to accelerate the creature’s growth. It looked fearsome, but any ability user could’ve crushed it. The spectacle served its purpose: awe made disciples obedient.
He remained the dignified master, untouchable and wise.
“Copied.”
Both replied quickly, eager to please after witnessing his power. They craved those immortal methods.
“School starts soon. Don’t slack in your training after leaving.”
Master Jie Ming had sized them up: Zhou Shang’s quick mind but short patience versus Ding Le’s slow grit—the boy would drill basic cultivation methods all day without complaint.
“Yes.”
They’d decided—even after school began, they’d keep returning to boost their Favorability. They wouldn’t quit until those immortal methods were theirs!