Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 11: Huirulan of Shuiyue Temple

The mountain path down is clear.

The good news is that we can start our business and go down the mountain to rob.

The bad news is that when we go down the mountain, we are likely to be directly suppressed by the constables and yamen officials of the Fufeng Mansion.

Based on the results of Bai Jianxi and Han Jiulang's night patrol down the mountain last night, it is obvious that there are more constables at the foot of the mountain.

This situation is very bad!

Not only is it difficult for us to go down the mountain to rob, but the constables are also likely to actively come up the mountain to surround and suppress us!

After a while, in the middle of the dining table, Bai Jianxi used his chopsticks to dip the rice soup and drew a crooked "ghost talisman" map, and said with great imagination:

"If we avoid this road and detour to other mountains, we can go down the mountain to rob without anyone knowing."

"Not good, not good, it's too roundabout." Huang Dagui tapped the bowl, his face full of inexplicable boldness. "If we take a detour, we have to pass by Shuiyue Temple or Qiugong Pavilion. They will definitely not let us pass. Even if we are lucky enough to pass, we have to detour for about a hundred miles. The mountain road is difficult to travel, and we will become weak rabbits. How can we have the energy to rob?"

"What the third master said makes sense. We can't pass through other places, otherwise we would have gone long ago." Han Jiulang's little face was filled with bitterness. "I miss the days of robbing, I planted this tree, I opened this road..."

The three of them had been robbing for a while and were itching for action.

"We only know how to rob. Shouldn't we consider how to survive?" Han Qiniang took a bite of cabbage, puffed up her rosy lips, and chewed, looking quite enduring. "Not to mention the government, but the Tiger Mountain Bandits haven't had any news for the past few days. It's very likely that they are nearby, preparing to attack us!"

"Why are you so sure that the Tiger Mountain Bandits will definitely wipe us out? The situation at the foot of the mountain is not good now. Don't they have any concerns?" Xin Zhuo raised his own question.

Cui Ying'er wiped the corners of her mouth and sneered, "I, Fulongzhai, uphold justice in the world, and act righteously in the martial world. We only rob corrupt officials, unscrupulous merchants, and regardless of whether the Tiger Mountain Bandits are good or evil, if there are travelers passing by, they will definitely kill and rob. The old master can't stand it and often goes to teach them a lesson. The leader of the Tiger Mountain Bandits, 'Ghost Blood Knife' Sun Wu, has been beaten up by the old master many times. Sun Wu is a person who must seek revenge. He has always held a grudge. How can the old master leave without taking revenge on us? If the government takes us out first, how can he swallow that?"

"In my memory, grandfather did indeed only rob corrupt officials, unscrupulous merchants, and let poor families pass without taking a penny. This is also the direct reason why Fulongzhai is poor and destitute. After all, how many corrupt officials and unscrupulous merchants in the world happen to pass by this road?"

"So now, not only can we not go down the mountain to rob, but we are also facing the question of who will attack us first, the government or the Tiger Mountain Bandits?"

Robbing = 0.

Against the Tiger Mountain Bandits = 6 people vs. 800 people.

Against the government = 6 people vs. endless numbers.

What a terrible experience.

"Yes!"

Lady Baijianxi smiled and expressed her own opinion: "So, is it possible that when the Fierce Tiger Gang arrives, they will coincidentally encounter the officials and both sides will fight each other? I think it's very possible! No one knows them better than I do."

"There is a possibility, but we can't have any illusions."

Cui Ying'er said, "Those officials rely on official rations and extra rewards based on their achievements. When they encounter the Fierce Tiger Gang, they might just put up a fight, use us as a scapegoat, and gain some merit before doing anything. We need to find out the truth by questioning the captured bandits from the Wolf Gang who encountered the constables last night."

"Furthermore, it's fortunate that the Water Moon Temple and Autumn Palace haven't come to find fault with us, otherwise we would be in a desperate situation!"

The group of bandits looked at each other, as if they were back to a few days ago.

After destroying the Wolf Gang, it seemed like something had changed, yet at the same time, nothing had changed.

Huang Dagui, who had been feeling suffocated, shouted, "Let's march to the capital, behead the emperor's bird head, seize the emperor's bird seat, and let the leader sit on it!"

It was well known that the Third Leader's desire to behead the emperor's bird head was just a way to vent, but Xin Zhuo found it quite satisfying to listen to.

Unfortunately, the emperor was too far away. Even a constable from a county could wipe out their entire group.

"What determination! The leaders of the Fulong Gang truly have great determination!"

Suddenly, a gentle voice filled with a hint of ridicule came from outside, sounding like a flowing stream, refreshing to the heart, and although it carried a bit of mockery, it didn't sound unpleasant.

The bandits looked at each other and walked out of the meeting hall together.

Outside the mountain stronghold, in the maple forest, amidst the falling leaves, stood two nuns.

Their moon-white monk robes fluttered in the autumn wind. They were slender and in their twenties. Perhaps due to their long-term vegetarian diet and Buddhist practice, they had a peaceful and non-competitive demeanor. Both had faces as white as snow and gentle expressions.

Especially the one in front, elegant and virtuous, with curved eyebrows like willow leaves, her beautiful eyes resembling the silhouette of autumn water, carrying a hint of intoxicating charm.

Xin Zhuo recognized the nun behind her, the well-endowed nun Huixin who had been defeated by him before.

The one in front was unfamiliar, but a phrase inexplicably appeared in Xin Zhuo's mind: "Why did such a beautiful woman become a nun?"

"Just now, the Second Leader said that the Water Moon Temple hadn't come to find fault, and now they're here! How annoying, damn it."

Baijianxi muttered quietly.

Han Qiniang and the others also exchanged cold glances. It seemed that when it rains, it pours. The nuns from the Water Moon Temple had really arrived.

According to their temperaments, they would just swing their swords and attack, but the old leader often taught them to treat monks and nuns with gentleness and not to reason with them using common sense.

"Little nun, who are you? Why are you here?"

Huang Dagui didn't have so many concerns. He swung his wooden knife forcefully and cut off the newly sprouted green leaves of the potato in Baijianxi's hand. "Do you see the knife in my hand?"

"Nun Huirulan, a martial arts nun from Shuiyue Temple, the knife in the donor's hand is indeed sharp. If you kill me, you can let go of the resentment in your heart. What do I care about this stinky body?"

The leading beautiful nun clasped her palms together, recited a Buddhist chant, and opened her vermilion lips, pleasing to the eye.

"But you said so!"

Huang Dagui approached with the knife, looking at the opponent's righteous and fearless demeanor in her beautiful eyes. Then he quickly turned around and returned, his face full of shame. "I feel like I can't beat her!"

Cui Ying'er frowned and took a step forward. "What is the little nun here for? Let's not talk about the same old routine!"

Huirulan said, "I heard that there was a dispute between your village and the Wolf Gang yesterday, and you killed Chongtian Cannon and Chai Donghu?"

"So what?"

"All of you are unfortunate people. Why kill each other and bear the guilt? The dead suffer, and the killers are guilty. It's better to put down your weapons and leave the mountain. The new governor is magnanimous and will surely protect your lives and provide for your clothing and food."

The same old argument again, Cui Ying'er frowned in silence.

True, Holy Mother!

Xin Zhuo finally understood the "compassionate heart" of the Holy Mother. Regardless of whether it was reasonable or not, he was somewhat presumptuous. If the government cuts down their people, who can they reason with?

At this moment, his pride as a keyboard warrior from his past life in Zaun emerged. He waved his hand to signal Cui Ying'er and the others to enter the house, leaving this place to him.

Cui Ying'er and the others looked at him in surprise and obediently entered the house.

Huirulan finally looked at Xin Zhuo attentively. She seemed to have seen this handsome young man once before, but never paid much attention. Upon careful observation, she didn't expect him to be so good-looking.

Tall figure, face like jade, lips like vermilion, eyes like lacquer, smiling with dimples.

Most importantly, he didn't have any bandit-like aura, the killing intent, coarseness, and impulsiveness that bandits usually had.

Just like a handsome young man next door!

A beauty like you, why become a thief?

This phrase instinctively came to her mind.

"Who is the donor? What is your name?" she asked softly.

"It doesn't matter who I am or what my name is. It's just a code. What matters is, who are you? What are you here for?" Xin Zhuo stood with his hands folded, his expression serious.

Such a strange way of speaking. Huirulan chuckled softly, "I am Nun Huirulan, as I just mentioned. I am here to persuade you all to let go..."

Xin Zhuo immediately interrupted, "What identity do you have to persuade us to put down our weapons? Why can you make us put down our weapons?"

Huirulan was somewhat stunned. "I am a nun, a disciple of the Buddhist sect. I have the heart to save all beings. It is my responsibility to advise the donor to do good!"

"Why should disciples of the Buddhist sect be the only ones to advise people to do good? Are mountain bandits like me incapable of doing so? How do you know that mountain bandits like me are not doing good? Can't mountain bandits save sentient beings too?"

"What mountain bandits do is nothing more than robbery and unlawful acts. These are great sins. Yesterday, our esteemed stronghold killed two leaders of the Hungry Wolf Gang, which proves it!"

"When have you ever seen our Fulong Stronghold engage in robbery? The people of the Hungry Wolf Gang are filled with evil and their crimes are heinous. We are merely helping them put down their weapons and attain enlightenment!"

Without a doubt, the two leaders of the Hungry Wolf Gang are already in the Pure Land, at the feet of the Buddha, redeeming their sins!

This is a great meritorious deed. Therefore, we not only have goodness in our hearts, but also great goodness!"

"...Absurd! You are twisting the truth!"

"What do you mean by twisting the truth? It's just that you think I'm wrong, so you believe I'm twisting the truth!

On the contrary, can't I also think that you, Junior Sister, are twisting the truth?

In this world, who dares to say that they are always right and others are always wrong?

You advise me to do good, can't I also advise you to do good and give the mountain bandits a way out? Are you pushing me so hard, is it for evil or for good?"

"Buddha..."

"Don't mention the Buddha to me. Why did you become a nun? You abandoned worldly desires and disregarded filial piety. You easily shaved your head, showing no respect for your parents. Is that what the Buddha approves of?

Similarly, why do I become a bandit? Am I inherently evil? I have no stable livelihood, no clothes to wear, and no food to eat. I hide in the mountains, barely surviving. Are the emperor and the officials not at fault?"

"I..." Huirulan's face turned pale, speechless, forgetting to refer to herself as "this humble nun."

Xin Zhuo scolded loudly, "You call yourself 'I'? I also call myself 'I'. What's the difference between you and me? What's the difference between a mountain bandit and a nun?

Mountain bandits are evil, but what about nuns?

Who is this 'I' that you speak of? Is the 'I' you're talking about the true self or the ego? Have you realized it?

Where did I come from at birth, and where will I go after death? Why was I born into this world, and what meaning does my existence have for this world? Did the world choose me, or did I choose the world?

Does good and evil have an end? Does time have length or brevity? Where do good people ultimately go? Where do evil people ultimately go?

Where does the past time disappear to? Where does the future time stop?

What is good and what is evil, have you understood?"

"This..." Huirulan's face turned pale for a moment.

"Ah... I... I seem to have understood!"

Behind her, Huanxi, who had been listening dryly for a long time, had an unsettled chest and a face that alternated between confusion and determination.

(End of this chapter)