The Martial Doctor

"For me?"

"Nonsense, I’m not a monk. What would I do with this Buddhist scripture?" Lin Miao lifted the teacup, taking a sip. The tea from Shanglin Temple was indeed quite good.

"Where did it come from?"

"I bought it. I saw it at Heaven-Dominating Tower’s auction and thought it was a Buddhist scripture you might like, so I bought it."

"Lin, do you know how much this ’Mahayana Nirvana Scripture’ means to me?" Fahai asked excitedly.

"How would I know?"

"Lin, do you know that this ’Mahayana Nirvana Scripture’ was written by a Buddha named Ba Su?" Fahai asked.

Lin Miao nodded. When he bought it, the auctioneer at Heaven-Dominating Tower had introduced it, so he naturally knew.

"Ba Su Buddha was born a slave, later joining Honmonji Temple to practice Buddhism. He detested evil, appeared to practice Buddhism, yet killed countless people, which led to his expulsion from Honmonji Temple..."

Fahai spoke with familiarity about Ba Su Buddha’s past, getting emotional to the point where his eyes slightly reddened.

After listening, Lin Miao also held great respect for this Ba Su Buddha. Ba Su was not one of those monks who just chanted in the temple, living off the people’s support while growing fat.

He traveled around the world all his life, punishing the wicked and encouraging the good. While he killed many, they were all great evildoers, thus he also saved many lives.

Fahai was, in terms of seniority, the sixth-generation disciple-grandson of this Ba Su Buddha.

Ba Su left a lineage in Honmonji Temple, and the old monk Lingsu, who inducted Fahai, was a descendant of this line, practicing the Vajra Demon Suppression Path.

However, although Ba Su left his lineage, his most dominant technique, the "Vajra Demon Suppressing Pestle," was not passed down. Legend has it that Ba Su left a ’Mahayana Nirvana Scripture’ which might contain clues to the "Vajra Demon Suppressing Pestle."

The problem was, this ’Mahayana Nirvana Scripture’ had appeared several times, yet always missed by Honmonji Temple. Once collected by someone, it was naturally not for sale.

After several centuries of circling around, this ’Mahayana Nirvana Scripture’ finally returned to the hands of his sixth-generation disciple-grandson.

Could this be the will of heaven?

Moreover, this Ba Su lineage only reached the Buddha realm with Fahai; others stopped at the Meridian Passage Realm.

This is like a cycle.

Fahai is a monk of Honmonji Temple, and it seems he must have been at odds with Honmonji Temple, which led him to transfer to Shanglin Temple. It seems Honmonji Temple did not favor disciples who used killing to stop killing like Fahai.

The secret in the ’Mahayana Nirvana Scripture’ was something Lin Miao initially did not intend to tell Fahai. But after listening to Fahai’s recount,

he felt that this secret should be told to Fahai.

"Monk, you’re right. This ’Mahayana Nirvana Scripture’ indeed contains the secrets of Ba Su Buddha, but I’m not sure it’s the ’Vajra Buddha Demon Pestle’ you mentioned."

"Lin, you deciphered the secret in the ’Mahayana Nirvana Scripture’?" Fahai was taken aback.

"Hmm." Lin Miao nodded, "In fact, perhaps someone deciphered the secret a long time ago; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to buy it at the auction."

"Hmm, what you said makes sense, but I still wish to know what the secret is inside?" Fahai asked excitedly.

"The knowledge I have left is hidden beneath the 164th pagoda of Honmonji Temple."

"The 164th pagoda of Honmonji Temple..." Fahai recalled. During his years at Honmonji Temple, there were thousands of pagodas in the temple; not all monks, after sitting in meditation, had the chance to be buried under a pagoda.

At least a monk needed to have certain achievements to qualify.

Number 164, this number is quite at the forefront. It is at least the burial site of an ancient highly competent monk from Honmonji Temple.

"I remember now, this is the pagoda of Ancestor Master Basi Buddha’s master, Sang Mo. Sang Mo passed away while traveling to the Western lands, only bringing back a Kasaya and wooden fish. They were then placed into the 164th pagoda. Unexpectedly, Ancestor Master Basi Buddha placed his important inheritance into the pagoda of Master Sang Mo, which is truly surprising." Fahai sighed.

"Monk, I think you must surely want to check out the pagoda of Honmonji Temple now. Coincidentally, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Hmm?" Fahai sounded surprised; Lin Miao had accurately guessed his thoughts.

But this wasn’t difficult to guess. Anyone with some logical thinking could guess what Fahai was thinking.

"The Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort are leaving for Li Jing today, I have a somewhat bad premonition that they might encounter some issues on their journey. Monk, since you’ll be passing by Honmonji Temple anyway, can you look after them along the way?"

"Why are you getting involved in court affairs?" Fahai asked in surprise.

"The Crown Prince revealed his identity to me. Should something happen to him, I cannot shirk responsibility. As long as he safely returns to Li Jing, it’s no longer my concern thereafter," Lin Miao said.

"Did he reveal his identity to you to recruit you under his command?"

"Why would he recruit someone like me who only knows medicine? What else could I do but treat patients?" Lin Miao laughed heartily.

"Don’t underestimate your medical skills. If you’re willing, doesn’t every family have a few patients?" Fahai said.

"I have no plans to enter the capital any time soon. The political waters there are too murky to see, so I’ll have to trouble you with this matter."

"Okay, I’ll apply for leave from the Abbot Brother and then make the trip," Fahai nodded; it was on the way, after all.

Besides, Lin Miao had returned the lifelong wish of his teacher’s sect. Such a great favor, Fahai must repay.

"Monk, it’s best to leave quietly — too much commotion isn’t good."

"Alright, I’ll take your advice," Fahai laughed aloud. Now that he was a Yuanshi-level master, every move of his would naturally attract special attention.

So keeping a low profile did no harm.

...

After coming out of Shanglin Temple, Lin Miao wandered alone on Shanglin Street for a while, before getting into the carriage to return home.

Wen Ruyu had arrived.

Of course, she came alongside Xia Zhu to bum a meal. Previously, when Lin Miao wasn’t home, Xia Zhu only occasionally visited the Lin residence.

Now that her teacher was back, Xia Zhu naturally also returned with her.

Not only did she have lunch at the Lin residence, but she also stayed there to sleep at night. Xia Yuan only enjoyed a few days of her daughter serving her, and they disappeared just like that.

"Xia Zhu, let’s take a break from tonight’s lesson. We’ll start again tomorrow night. I’ll organize what needs to be taught. The day after tomorrow, I’ll sit for consultations at Yongning Hall, hang the sign out as before: thirty numbers in the morning and the same in the afternoon, with the possibility of adding emergency appointments."

"Yes, Mr. Lin."

"In next year’s physician exam, you and your senior sister should both sign up. With your current level, passing shouldn’t be a problem," Lin Miao said.

Dongshan Prefecture now has ten slots; the increased passing rate is undoubtedly good news for many medical students.

"When do you plan to disclose your relationship with Wen Ruyu?"

Xia Zhu blushed.

Although they’re already in a relationship, it’s not publicly announced yet. After all, she had just broken off the engagement with Shen Haidong.

If they announced it now, outsiders might overthink.

"As for the Wen Family, your teacher can’t help you there. However, with Mr. Fu, I could write a letter explaining your and Wen Ruyu’s situation in detail. I’m sure he won’t oppose your marriage," Lin Miao chuckled.

Xia Zhu nodded with a red face. Actually, Wen Ruyu could talk to Mr. Fu herself, but if Lin Miao mentioned it, it would be even better.

If she married Xia Zhu, Lin Miao would be considered an elder.

"Then I’ll write a letter to Mr. Fu and settle the two of yours’ matter." Lin Miao immediately understood. Finding Xia Zhu her own happiness made him, as the teacher, naturally happy.

...

"Junior Brother, today I visited the Xu residence and heard that Xu An is seriously ill." Sun Youwei returned from outside.

The first thing she did was come to see him.

"Mr. Xu is seriously ill? Wasn’t his health always fine? How did he suddenly become so ill?" Lin Miao asked, puzzled.

"It’s said that he was angered by his unfilial son," Sun Youwei sighed.

A mad has trouble with a wayward wife or unfilial son at times. Mr. Xu’s wife was fine, just excessively doting on their child. Xu An’s son, Xu Lin, was nearly fifty, yet learned nothing of his father’s skills, turning from a spoiled youth into an old debauchee.

If he’d quietly been a parasite, that would be one thing, but he couldn’t keep still — gambling, frequenting flower parlors, visiting the Qin Lou. No amount of savings could withstand his squandering.