Time: 2013-03-19 11:18 Source: "Chinese Legend" Author: Zhang Caixing\1\ In the southern part of Chenzhou, Hunan Province, there is a thousand-year-old ancient temple called Xiangshan Temple. It was first built during the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty and is named after the fragrant spring and ancient fragrant flowers on the mountain. Since ancient times, it has attracted many pious men and women from Hunan and Guangdong provinces to burn incense and pray for blessings.\ It was early March, and the weather was gradually warming. According to local custom, people would go out for spring outings around the Qingming Festival. Xiangshan Temple, located just south of the city, was especially lively at this time, bustling from morning till night. On the tenth day of the month, as soon as the temple gates opened, people flocked in, praying inside the halls and playing outside, filling the entire temple with noise and excitement.\ Among the crowd was a noticeable young couple. They lived in Liujiazhuang, seven li southwest of Xiangshan Temple. The man was named Liu Qiusheng, a successful scholar known as Liu Xiucai; the woman was Cheng Fenglian, a modest and elegant young lady who could read a few characters. The couple walked slowly, first paying respects to Maitreya and Weituo in the front hall, then moving to the Bell Hall, which was the most crowded.\ Inside the Bell Hall, the noise of people was overwhelming. Liu Xiucai looked up and saw a large bell hanging high above, very magnificent, and couldn't help exclaiming, “A masterpiece of divine skill, perfectly harmonious with nature. Let me strike it a few times.” He took out a string of copper coins and placed them in the offering basket, then went over to the post for striking the bell and called out, “Fenglian, listen, I'm going to strike it!” But there was no response from his wife. Liu Xiucai turned his head to look for her, and his eyes widened in shock as anger surged through him. Cheng Fenglian was being harassed by two people, her face full of anger, lips tightly pressed, and arms and legs awkwardly flailing.\ Liu Xiucai quickly let go of the post and rushed over, putting his body in front of his beloved wife, shouting, “Do not be rude!”\ The two people harassing Cheng Fenglian were a master and his servant. The master was He Sanbao, in his early forties, broad-shouldered and stout, with a fierce appearance. Over the years, he had practiced lifting stones, carrying stone weights, wielding knives and spears, mastering martial arts. In the village, he relied on his power and martial skills to bully men and women and commit all sorts of evildoings.\ That day, He Sanbao had nothing to do and took his servant Ma Xiaowu to Xiangshan Temple for a stroll. In the Maitreya Hall, he immediately noticed Cheng Fenglian kneeling and burning incense, thinking to himself: This young woman is indeed beautiful! Her eyebrows perfect, her eyes lovely, and her figure as graceful as a willow branch.\ When Liu Xiucai and Cheng Fenglian went to the Bell Hall, He Sanbao and Ma Xiaowu closely followed them.Next to the big bell, he pressed close to Chen Fenglian, and taking advantage of Liu Xiucai going to strike the bell, he reached out to grope her chest, grinning widely and chuckling.\ Chen Fenglian was caught off guard and was genuinely startled. When she realized what was happening, she couldn't help but blush. She wanted to avoid him, but with He Sanbao in front and Ma Xiaowu behind, twisting left and dodging right couldn't free her. Just at that awkward moment, Liu Xiucai noticed and quickly stepped in to protect her.\ He Sanbao tilted his head and put his hands on his hips, saying, “I'm just joking with this little woman, none of your business! Get lost!”\ “She is my wife; you are not allowed to bully her!” Liu Xiucai glared at the two of them with fiery anger.\ “Not allowed? Whatever I want to do, who dares to stop me?” He Sanbao spat as he spoke.\ Ma Xiaowu also spoke in a sharp, strange tone: “You don't even need to inquire; how could Master He be afraid of some poor scholar like you?”\ Liu Xiucai was filled with indignation and scolded, “No matter who it is, everyone should know the law and observe etiquette. Why harass common women and mistreat the people in broad daylight?”\ “Damn it! You dare say I'm bullying someone? Today I'll…” He Sanbao clenched his fists and was about to raise them, but suddenly stopped. He saw that the onlookers nearby were all indignant, and then he shifted his eyes and said, “Alright, let's make a bet. If you win, we'll leave immediately; if you lose, you have to leave her here. How about that? Fair and reasonable, right?”\ Ma Xiaowu didn't let Liu Xiucai answer and interjected, “Master, what are you betting on?”\ He Sanbao pointed to the large hanging bell and said, “If he can strike the bell three times, he wins.”\ “Everyone, did you hear that? If this kid can strike the big bell three times, our master will consider him the winner—fairer than fair. Everyone, step back and watch!” Ma Xiaowu said as he spread his arms and pushed people back. A space immediately opened up next to the bell, leaving only He Sanbao and the Liu Xiucai couple.\ Liu Xiucai initially wanted to ignore it, but on second thought, if this stalemate continued, he wouldn't be able to free themselves. Besides, he assumed I couldn't even strike the bell—it was clearly underestimating me! Fine, I'll make this bet to prove them wrong. Liu Xiucai rolled up his sleeves and forcefully pulled up the hanging post, about to push it to strike the bell, when he suddenly noticed something unusual ahead and quickly grabbed the hanging post tightly. Looking closely, He Sanbao was standing with his legs apart like a tree stump, positioned between the big bell and the hanging post.Scholar Liu's head suddenly buzzed, and if he tried to push the hanging pillar with force, it would inevitably hit He Sanbao. It might even result in a fatal accident!\
"Kid, come on and hit me! If you've got guts, crash right into me!" He Sanbao loudly shouted in a rough, carefree voice, pounding his chest so hard that it went "bang bang."\
"I can't get tangled up with him any longer, I need to get away quickly!" Liu Scholars muttered to himself. He rushed in front of Chen Fenglian, pulled her out of the crowd, and in just a few quick steps, they reached the courtyard.\
"Where do you think you're running?" Ma Xiaowu and He Sanbao lunged from front and back. Ma Xiaowu grabbed Chen Fenglian's sleeve first. He Sanbao also seized Liu Scholars, yanking him so hard that he staggered, and shouted, "You lost the bet and are cheating!" Then he spread his fingers wide and slapped Liu Scholars across the face. Stars flashed before Liu Scholars' eyes, and he felt dizzy. He Sanbao then kicked him in the leg, and Liu Scholars immediately fell to the ground, unable to get up again.\
He Sanbao sneered at Chen Fenglian, saying, "Young lady, come with me, and I'll ensure you live in wealth and glory!" He reached out to embrace her, stretching his neck and squinting his eyes to get close to her face. But unexpectedly, his mouth touched something wet, slippery, and cold. Focusing his eyes, He Sanbao realized he had actually kissed a water-drawing gourd, and the person in his arms was a bald-headed monk.\
He Sanbao let out a shriek and released his grip.\
The monk, who was in his twenties, thin, wearing a half-worn monk's robe, stood energetic and full of vigour. Just as He Sanbao tried to embrace Chen Fenglian, he swiftly pushed her aside, stepped forward himself, and raised the water gourd to meet He Sanbao's mouth.\
Standing in the middle of the courtyard, the monk blocked Liu Scholars and Chen Fenglian, shaking the water gourd and tilting his head with a mischievous smile at He Sanbao.\
How could He Sanbao tolerate this mockery? With fierce momentum, he pointed at the monk and shouted, "Where did this rogue monk come from, daring to block me?"\
"I am indeed a monk, but not a 'rogue monk.' I am Huineng, a helper at the temple," the monk said.\
He Sanbao curled his lips and said, "Since you are just a helper, you should go do your chores. Trying to meddle in my affairs makes me impatient!"\
Huineng ignored his aggression and instead clasped his palms together, speaking with a gentle smile, "One should be kind and charitable. The Buddha has long taught this. Please, benefactor, allow these two to leave!"He Sanbao glared with his ringed eyes, and the flabby meat under his ribs twitched incessantly. He said, "Do you dare to lecture me, you stinky bald monk? This little woman, master is going to settle this." He waved to Ma Xiaowu, ordering him to grab her.\ Unexpectedly, just as Ma Xiaowu tried to rush forward, Huineng lightly tapped his feet, and like the wind, floated to his side. He stretched out his leg, tripping him so he fell flat on his face, then lightly jumped back to his original position. All of this happened in the blink of an eye. He Sanbao finally regained his senses and looked at Ma Xiaowu sprawled on the ground, his face flushed with rage like a pig's liver.\ Huineng then pressed his hands together and said, "Amitabha! Bullying the weak and violating justice will not be tolerated by heaven. Please, for the sake of this poor monk's modest face, let them go!"\ He Sanbao had long dominated the region; he would not stop just because of a few words from this nameless little monk! He shouted fiercely, "How much is your face worth? Today, master will teach you, little bald monk, a lesson, so that you think twice before meddling!" As he spoke, he converted his fist into a palm and swiftly struck toward Huineng's chest. His movement was fast, but Huineng's reaction was even faster; he lightly tapped his toes, leaped backward three steps, and the fist struck empty air.\ He Sanbao rushed again and threw a second punch, but Huineng sidestepped, dodging it once more. However, his face had already shown anger, and his eyes glared at He Sanbao lightning-like as he said, "Benefactor, repeatedly going against me is too much."\ He Sanbao arrogantly said, "If you've got guts, don't dodge! Master wants to see if you can withstand an iron fist." As he spoke, he delivered a third punch.\ This time, Huineng did not dodge. He stood firm in a horse stance and took the punch head-on. Unexpectedly, the powerful, wind-swept fist, like a tiger and a monk's iron bowl, hit as if striking a cotton bundle, its force vanishing without a trace. He Sanbao continued flinging punches one after another. Huineng took them all calmly, without shaking his body or moving his shoulders, keeping his face unchanged, and even smiling faintly. He Sanbao was stunned, staring at him dazedly.\ "Benefactor, finished yet? There is a saying: one must return a favor. The poor monk will only return three palm strikes to you." Huineng slightly furrowed his brows, drew in energy to his dantian, surged forward, and swung out his left palm. The palm seemed light and casual, floating without force. Its form appeared fleeting, yet it contained hidden power. A loud "bang" echoed as it hit He Sanbao's chest, shaking him backward several paces with a thud, almost causing him to fall to the ground.He let out a strange cry of 'Ah,' suddenly feeling his blood surge, his face hot and head dizzy, unable to help gulping in deep, rough breaths.\ The crowd around him cheered loudly. It turned out they had long been angered, hoping to see He Sanbao make a fool of himself, and seeing the monk's palm land effectively, they all felt relieved.\ Huineng gave He Sanbao a cold smile and said, "Good skills, please accept the second palm." Saying that, he floated out his right palm again.\ He Sanbao no longer dared to be reckless, hurriedly dodging, but the palm came too fast, hitting his shoulder squarely. He Sanbao immediately felt a tearing pain in his shoulder, his body involuntarily falling sideways, suddenly seeing a stone lion in front of him, and desperately grabbed onto it to avoid falling.\ The crowd cheered again: "Good skills!"\ Huineng looked at He Sanbao with contempt, letting out a soft 'humph,' and said, "Thank you, now please receive the third palm, good sir." Saying this, he strengthened his legs, leapt into the air, showing his single palm, like splitting Mount Hua, aimed at He Sanbao's head.\ He Sanbao muttered “Oh no” in his heart, no longer caring about face or status, rolled eighteen times on the ground, barely dodging the palm. Before he could recover, he heard a huge 'boom' behind him; Huineng's palm had struck a stone lion, shattering the lion's head into pieces with stone fragments flying everywhere.\ He Sanbao was terrified, his courage shattered, lying on the ground, afraid to move. He knew very clearly: in these three palms, the monk had held back. By his years of martial arts experience, he could judge that the first two palms, though causing flesh wounds, had not touched his internal organs or bones. Especially the third palm—the monk deliberately slowed his movement, unlike the previous two which were fierce and agile, clearly leaving him a way out; otherwise, his brain would likely have been splattered by now.\ Just as the crowd cheered once more, a sudden stern shout came from outside: "Huineng, enough of this rudeness!" An elder monk entered the crowd; he was Abbot Qingmu of Xiangshan Temple. Huineng couldn't help frowning slightly, lowering his head and joining his hands in respect.\ Abbot Qingmu scolded, "How can you be so reckless to a patron? Hurry and help the patron up, and apologize!"\ Huineng dared not disobey, stepping forward to help He Sanbao up, saying, "This monk has offended you, please forgive me!"\ He Sanbao, still fearful, his face purple and red, couldn't say a word.Master Qingmu then turned to him and said, 'May I invite the benefactor to step this way? This old monk has some herbal medicine to offer you for recuperation; it will certainly do no harm.'
He Sanbao thought to himself: I have really made a huge fool of myself; I cannot stand here and make a scene. So he followed the abbot. Ma Xiaowu, who had been hiding on the side, saw his master leave and also slinked along behind him like a cowardly dog.
Scholar Liu personally witnessed the previous scene and was naturally very grateful. With Chen Fenglian's support, he walked up to Huineng and said, 'Many thanks to the venerable monk for your assistance!' Saying this, he was about to bow in respect.
Huineng hurriedly steadied him, shook his head, and said, 'You are too kind, you are too kind. Please take good care of your health when you return.'
Scholar Liu and his wife expressed their profound thanks once more before taking their leave.
At this moment, a young monk came over and called out, 'Senior brother, Master is calling you!' Huineng quickly followed him to the back.
**Chapter Two**
Upon leaving Xiangshan Temple, He Sanbao pondered that he could not let things end there; sooner or later, he would have to find an opportunity for revenge. He then tasked Ma Xiaowu with two things: first, to find out Huineng's residence, since he was no match in the open, he would plan a 'stealth attack,' hitting him at night; second, to investigate Scholar Liu's residence, looking for a way to get that beautiful woman into his hands and thus fulfill his desire.
As the sun leaned westward, Ma Xiaowu hurriedly returned to report, 'Master, I have already…'
