Volume One: The Young Monk Returns to Secular Life Chapter Forty-Four: You Cannot Take Him as Your Master

"Um... thank you."
Chen Shuwan’s cheeks were flushed as she walked over to the young monk, her voice barely above a whisper.
But seeing that the young monk was still meditating with his eyes closed, she couldn’t help but ask with concern, "Are... are you alright?"
Just then, the young monk slowly opened his eyes, a slight smile curling his lips as he gazed at Chen Shuwan’s beautiful face and spoke slowly, "Heh, there’s no need for words between benefactors. No need to thank me. If you really want to repay me, you can just devote yourself to me..."
"Scoundrel!" Chen Shuwan scolded, her face even redder.
But the young monk added, "Forget it. I’m not fond of flat-chested girls..."
The young lady was instantly petrified.
...
"You..." Chen Shuwan’s face darkened at once, so furious she nearly drew her sword to strike him.
Yet, strangely, she felt a faint disappointment in her heart. Was it because she was being dismissed?
If only that part of her was a bit bigger...
What am I thinking?!
Chen Shuwan was immediately filled with shame and guilt, hurriedly correcting her thoughts. The person before her was a monk—how could he ever take a wife...
...
At this moment, Chen Buqun slowly stood up. He glanced at the young monk, hesitated for a moment, then walked over.
But, in the next second, Chen Buqun’s actions caught everyone off guard.
Thud... thud, thud, thud...
Suddenly, Chen Buqun knelt down and kowtowed nine times before the young monk...
The sound of his head striking the floor echoed loudly even in the noisy brothel.
This was the highest form of respect, equivalent to the bow one would give their parents.
"I am Chen Buqun. For the great favor you have shown me today, I will never forget it as long as I live. Hereafter, if you but utter a word, I will lay down my life for you..."
After the nine kowtows, Chen Buqun looked at the young monk with deep gratitude.
Throughout the entire process of the young monk channeling his inner power to stabilize his energy, Chen Buqun had been perfectly aware of the danger involved. He still remembered the terror of almost dying—his mind had not yet recovered from skirting the edge of death.
Both of them had wandered the borders of the underworld several times, nearly unable to return.
To think he had originally intended to kill the young monk, only for his enemy to repay enmity with virtue.
Such magnanimity—which hero today could match it?
At the very least, he had never encountered such a hero before.
Others nearby had gathered to watch the commotion.
"Chen Buqun is kneeling? And to someone else... the ninefold kowtow, no less..."
It was known that in the past, Chen Buqun had been unbending and proud. Except before the heavens, the earth, and his parents, he would never kneel to anyone. Yet now, he had knelt.
It was said that once, a notorious bandit had placed a blade at Chen Buqun’s throat, demanding he kneel and beg for mercy.
At the time, Chen Buqun hadn’t even blinked. He simply replied, "Kill me!"
Seeing this, Chen Shuwan also walked over with great solemnity, knelt beside Chen Buqun, and performed the ninefold kowtow as well. "My brother’s benefactor is mine as well."

...

"Haha... please, it’s nothing..."
Now it was the young monk’s turn to feel awkward and a bit embarrassed.
Just then, a voice rang out loudly, "Hero! Hero!..."
The young monk followed the sound and saw it was the storyteller he had just saved.
The storyteller clapped vigorously, shouting as he did.
Perhaps his cries, combined with the monk’s deeds, had moved those present, for many others began to clap and cheer as well. "Hero! Hero!..."

...

Half an hour later, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Chen Buqun cupped his hands in farewell, preparing to leave. Though his Ren and Du meridians had been opened, he had suffered internal injuries from the near deviation and needed to return quickly for treatment.
Chen Shuwan, however, kept glancing back at every step, her eyes full of reluctance.
"Hey, Chen Buqun..."
The young monk suddenly called out, as if remembering something.
"Hmm?"
"This is for you."
The young monk drew a book from his robe and tossed it to Chen Buqun.
Chen Buqun caught it, glanced at the cover, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Chen Shuwan curiously poked her head over to see what it was.
On the cover, bold characters announced:
The Dung-Shoveling Sword Technique.
"Wow... what a crude name... Is this really a sword technique?"
Chen Shuwan’s face contorted in distaste, and she muttered quietly.
"It’s a sword technique."
Chen Buqun’s eyes widened in disbelief, his hands trembling as he gripped the book.
This was the very sword art his elder brother had dreamed of seizing, and yet it was being handed to him just like that?
He didn’t know whether to feel excited or overwhelmed. Back at Jinshan Temple, he had already noticed, when watching Lin Dong perform the technique, that it was in no way inferior to the Chen family’s own sword art.
But for something so precious...
"Brother... what’s wrong? Are your injuries acting up?" Chen Shuwan asked with concern.
"It’s nothing. This sword technique... is simply too valuable..." Chen Buqun shook his head with a wry smile.
"Uh???"
Chen Shuwan was utterly bewildered.
Chen Buqun quickly turned around, cupped his hands, and said, "Benefactor, I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot accept this sword technique..."
"Why not?" the young monk asked, puzzled.

...

"This sword art is a secret never to be passed outside the family. Besides, we are not master and disciple. Such a gift is too great for me to accept..." Chen Buqun said, clearly conflicted.
Though he coveted the technique, he could not in good conscience take advantage of someone, especially a benefactor who had saved his life.
"Haha... so that’s it. No problem at all. In truth, the Dung-Shoveling Sword Technique was originally adapted from the Lin family’s sword art, so it’s really your Chen family’s to begin with," the young monk said with a smile.
"But..."
Chen Buqun still looked constipated with uncertainty.
"In that case, why not simply become my disciple..."
Where Chen Buqun couldn’t see, the young monk’s lips curled into a sly smile.
Fahai: You little rascal, so this was your plan all along? What a schemer you are.
‘Schemer’ was a term the young monk had taught Fahai, but he hadn’t expected Fahai to use it so deftly...
"Well..." Chen Buqun hesitated. After all, the young monk seemed even younger than himself...
"Are you looking down on me? Never mind then..." The young monk shook his head mournfully.
"I... very well, Master..."
After a moment’s thought, and recalling the young monk’s life-saving favor, Chen Buqun finally nodded.
But as soon as he spoke the word, he felt somewhat shortchanged. Lin Dong was the young monk’s disciple as well... Did that make him Lin Dong’s junior?
This was...
Just then, Chen Shuwan dashed over frantically, shouting, "No! Brother... you mustn’t take him as your master..."
"Why not?"
The young monk and Chen Buqun both asked in surprise.
Chen Shuwan stammered, "He’s a monk. If you take him as your master, you’ll have to become a monk yourself..."
Of course, the real reason she didn’t say aloud. If her second brother became the young monk’s disciple, she would be a generation lower than him. That was unacceptable...
If her brother truly became the young monk’s disciple, and she ever wanted to marry the young monk... wouldn’t that be chaos?
Absolutely not...
...
"Oh..."
The young monk frowned slightly.
But Chen Buqun, noticing something, teased, "Shuwan... could it be you like..."
"Brother!"
Chen Shuwan quickly cut him off, but in the next instant her expression changed. Her pretty brows furrowed and she whispered, "Someone’s here..."
"Hmm?"
Chen Buqun was puzzled.
Chen Shuwan slowly stood up and called out loudly, "Which hero lurks in the shadows? There’s no need to hide—show yourself!"