Volume One: The Young Monk Returns to the Secular World Chapter Fifty-Seven: Guarding the Outhouse!

"Xiao Yan! Come out and face me! Today you must hand over the Chen Family Sword Technique, and you must also demolish the latrine! Otherwise..."
Chen Budiao stood at the gates of Golden Mountain Temple, shouting loudly.
This time, he had come up the mountain alone, determined to avenge his humiliation.
Ever since Xiao Yan had beaten him into a mess outside the latrine last time, his reputation in the martial world had gained a new nickname...
Now, the martial artists called him the Deadly Latrine Man—Chen Budiao.
He had no idea who had started this moniker, but it was already spreading far and wide...
It was said that storytellers had created several versions of his tale...
The whole ordeal had left Chen Budiao so furious that he couldn't eat for days.
Just a few days ago, after his wounds had healed, Chen Budiao had eagerly attended a gathering of peers for a martial arts exchange.
But when it came time to announce his name, things got awkward...
"I am Chen Budiao of the Chen Sword Sect!"
No sooner had he spoken than a nearby swordsman reflexively replied, "Ah, so you are the famed Deadly Latrine Hero. I've heard much of you."
...
Even though Chen Budiao had sent that swordsman flying with a punch,
During discussions, some martial artists would slip up and blurt things out, like,
"Latrine Brother! I think here you should... ah... Latrine Brother, mercy... not the face... ah..."
...
Thus, today,
Chen Budiao climbed the mountain with resolve, ready to die if necessary to avenge his shame.
"Brother Budiao, my master is not at Golden Mountain Temple... you should return,"
Lin Dong stepped out from the crowd, politely responding.
Lin Chen, watching from among the crowd, admired Lin Dong's courage—at least it was worthy of praise.
"So Xiao Yan wishes to hide like a turtle?" Chen Budiao snorted coldly, his sword drawn.
He could not descend the mountain without revenge; too many people in the martial world had seen him come up.
To leave just because someone said Xiao Yan wasn't there?
Impossible!
Since Xiao Yan was absent, there was no way Chen Budiao would let this opportunity slip by.
Truthfully, he had no confidence in defeating Xiao Yan.
During their previous fight, he'd used the Chen Sword Move—Burning Life.
Though this technique was overbearing, raising his inner strength from twenty to twenty-five layers, the side effects were severe...
His inner strength had now dropped to fifteen layers over these months.
With such strength, facing Xiao Yan would be like being scooped up with a ladle.
So, really, it was better that Xiao Yan was not present!
"Today, there must be a reckoning! Since your master is absent, you will answer for him! Hand over the Chen Family Sword Technique, cough... and stop using it to wipe yourselves... and the latrine must be demolished!"
"But, Brother Budiao, if you demolish the temple's latrine, where will we relieve ourselves?" Lin Dong frowned.
"That... I don't care!" Chen Budiao, hearing this, actually found Lin Dong's reasoning sound.
Yet, he couldn't lose face now, so he had to push back.
"If Master is absent, then I will defend the latrine!" Lin Dong stood firm, righteous and resolute.
"Haha... Why bother? Over a mere latrine..."
With a sweep of his sword, Chen Budiao pointed its tip at Lin Dong.
A faint aura of intimidation spread from him; even with only fifteen layers of inner strength, it was enough to awe those present.
Many monks and pilgrims trembled, subdued by this pressure...

"This is the end for Lin Dong... Looks like Chen Budiao is about to strike... Lin Dong only has five layers of inner strength..."
"Chen Budiao is a renowned hero... and Lin Dong spends all his days cleaning latrines, I've never seen him practice martial arts..."
"What should we do? Should someone notify the abbot? Otherwise, Lin Dong is doomed..."
In truth, Lin Dong was well liked among the temple residents. Unlike Xiao Yan, he was humble, diligent, and gentle with others.
So, not only did the monks not kick him while he was down, they were actually worried for him.
A few young monks prone to stomach troubles, good friends of Lin Dong, hurried toward the abbot's chamber, though hesitantly... pausing every few steps to look back...
Recently, Lin Dong had surprised them all...
For example, those martial artists who needed the latrine—most were no match for Lin Dong...
But still, this was Chen Budiao, a true master...
Even Lin Dong's father, Lin Chen, in the crowd, could only nod in silent admiration.
From his aura alone, one could see Chen Budiao's solid foundation in inner strength—such depth could not be faked...
But at that moment, Lin Dong drew a ladle from a nearby wooden bucket, and assumed the opening stance of a sword technique.
His posture was identical to Chen Budiao's.
"Come, but do not insult my master... or I will not hold back," Lin Dong said calmly, his inner strength beginning to flow.
Five layers of inner strength!
Lin Dong was straightforward by nature, never considering the gap in strength.
He simply followed his feelings—if he sensed a fight, he would face it head-on.
Just as when he met Zhuge Yixiu on the mountain, he sensed no ill intent, only sincerity.
And so, naively, he became a monk.
...
"Heh... then take this!" Chen Budiao wasted no more words, launching a sword strike like a dragon diving into the sea.
Though his power had lessened, his mastery of sword techniques remained undiminished, and paired with the Chen Sword Moves...
Chen Budiao was confident—unbeatable below fifteen layers!
If he couldn't beat the master, surely he could defeat the disciple?
Was the Chen Sword Sect truly without talent?
He did not regard Lin Dong at all.
Clang—
The sound of weapon striking ladle.
The difference wasn't just in strength—the wooden ladle snapped in two...
Lin Dong staggered back several steps, then tumbled to the ground.
His fate uncertain.
Indeed, the difference in strength was overwhelming.
Chen Budiao, by contrast, stood firm, unshaken.
He looked at Lin Dong calmly, and spoke: "You are without a weapon. Will you still resist? If you promise to level the temple latrine, for the sake of Uncle Lin, I will let this go."
"Give up, Lin Dong... if you keep fighting, you'll die," a monk said with concern.
"Impossible." Lin Dong spat out a mouthful of blood, slowly stood, speaking plainly, and drew a golden ladle from his robe.
This was a gift from Xiao Yan, who had commissioned Zhuge Yixiu to forge it over ten days.
Indestructible, a treasure for cleaning latrines.
Lin Dong had never dared use it until now.
As the golden ladle appeared, the crowd gasped.
Many had heard that Zhuge Yixiu had spent days in seclusion forging something, and that the method was unique—even Elder Huiqi was amazed.
It was said that a certain amount of "carbon" was added to the material, making the weapon incredibly hard.
Finally, it was colored with molten copper; Xiao Yan called this method "electroplating."

Of course, none of them truly believed it.
They were convinced that only weapons forged by Elder Huiqi himself were the best.
Zhuge Yixiu?
He was once a failure who couldn't even forge farm tools; with Xiao Yan's amateur methods, how good could it be?
But they had to admit, the golden ladle was visually impressive—its shine surpassed other weapons by far.
"Come again..." Lin Dong wiped the blood from his mouth, speaking quietly.
He was determined to defend the latrine left by his master.
"Heh..." Chen Budiao paid no heed; regardless of the weapon's quality, it was still just a ladle.
His own weapon was forged from ancient black iron—a great sword capable of slicing through metal like clay.
...
Clang—
Weapons clashed again, sparks flying...
Crunch—
This time, there was a strange sound, as if metal was breaking.
Lin Dong was predictably thrown back more than ten steps, crashing into a tree and spitting blood...
...
But in the next moment, the crowd stared in shock, drawing in cold breaths.
Their eyes were filled with disbelief, as if witnessing a sow climb a tree.
Chen Budiao's great sword now sported a semicircular notch...
"This... impossible..."
Chen Budiao's eyes widened.
Yet there was no time to hesitate, as Lin Dong was already struggling to stand again.
Chen Budiao's expression grew tense. If this continued, he'd be left without a weapon.
He must finish this quickly!
Chen Sword Technique Opening—Swallow's Return!
He'd learned this move from watching Xiao Yan; while recuperating at home, he'd pondered it until mastering it.
With absolute confidence, he believed this exquisite sword move, paired with deep inner strength, would utterly defeat Lin Dong.
A single fatal strike!
Whisssh—
Chen Budiao's great sword shot out, swift as a swallow, flying toward Lin Dong.
Such a move was beyond Lin Dong's abilities...
Yet no one noticed the faint smile at Lin Dong's lips, a deliberate imitation of Xiao Yan's smile.
At that moment, Xiao Yan's voice from yesterday echoed: "The Chen Sword Move—Swallow's Return has a fatal flaw! Watch closely, I'll show you how to counter it..."
Xiao Yan's figure shifted, executing a brilliant sword move naturally.
"Master, what is this move called?"
"Latrine Sword Technique—Swallow's Departure!"
Lin Dong's mind cleared, his eyes filled with resolve.
His inner strength surged to its limit... though he had a move to counter, he was still uncertain of victory...
A double defeat was possible...