I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

Chapter 909: Chapter 910: Listened, but Not Fully Yet

“What’s your elder martial brother’s name?”

Li Xiaobai suspected he had heard wrong and confirmed once more.

“My elder martial brother is Li Xiaobai, a genius of the Eastern Continent, who is on good terms with my elder martial sister. This time, my elder martial sister asked him to escort me.”

Hu Meizi proudly said.

“Who is your elder martial sister?”

Li Xiaobai was utterly confused. Someone was impersonating him and swindling others in his name. How famous had he become?

“Ye Wushuang of the Five Poison Cult! She just joined a few months ago, and now she is already a True Disciple of the Five Poison Cult, directly taken as a disciple by the Supreme Elder. In terms of seniority, she is even on equal footing with the sect!”

As Hu Meizi mentioned Ye Wushuang, a hint of longing appeared in her eyes. Her elder martial sister was the example she strove to emulate.

However, upon hearing this, Li Xiaobai was even more bewildered. Ye Wushuang? His second elder martial sister?

So, there was also his elder martial sister’s story involved. But who exactly was this person impersonating him?

“Where is your elder martial brother now?”

Li Xiaobai looked at Hu Meizi and asked.

“Elder Brother Li has gone to the Great Grave. I snuck out. Do you know about the Great Grave? Why don’t we also go to the Great Grave? You’re such a big shot; surely there would be no problem. Perhaps you could even join forces with Elder Brother Li!”

Hu Meizi looked at Li Xiaobai and said.

“Has the Great Grave already been opened?”

“Not yet. Elder Brother Li went to scout the nearby area so that he can be among the first to enter it when it opens. He is always very cautious about these matters.”

“Take me to where you live. Let’s wait for your Elder Brother Li to return. I want to see who this mystery person is.”

Li Xiaobai picked up Hu Meizi, and his golden battle chariot turned into a streak of light, vanishing in an instant.

The journey was silent.

With Hu Meizi’s guidance, Li Xiaobai successfully avoided many detours and entered the city.

This was a rather remote city in the Western Continent, which had a peculiar structure. Standing at the city gate, one could see a huge Buddha statue in the distance, almost reaching into the clouds. Hu Meizi mentioned that it was Buddha Country, located right in the center of the Western Continent. It was a vast natural Pure Land, and the rest of the cities were built in a ring around Buddha Country. Compared to it, they were not only dilapidated but also remote, primarily serving as resting places for incoming cultivators.

The Great Grave was situated in the mountains on the border between Buddha Country and the city right below them, guarded by many skilled monks of the Buddhist Sect. It was a place where outsiders were forbidden.

The city walls bore the words Santian City, written flamboyantly, representing yesterday, today, and tomorrow, symbolizing the past, present, and future, quite in tune with the Zen spirit of the Buddhist Sect.

Putting away the golden battle chariot, Li Xiaobai entered the city with Hu Meizi, both maintaining a low profile without attracting the attention of the city gate guards or other observant individuals.

Hu Meizi and that fake Li Xiaobai lived in an inn within the city, but at this moment, that person had not yet returned.

Sitting down at a table in the inn, they quietly listened to the conversations of the crowd. Most of the cultivators in the city were here for the Great Grave, temporarily resting in this city until it opened.

“Ah, I just went to the boundary area to check. It’s entirely guarded by Buddhist disciples, led by monks from the Great Thunderclap Temple. They have completely sealed it off, not letting any cultivator get close. It seems like this opportunity is beyond our reach,” a rugged man said with regret on his face, somewhat indignant.

“No matter, they can only guard it temporarily. If the Great Grave really opens, those peerless masters will surely break in. At that time, this Buddhist defense will be nothing but a formality,” another added.

“Even so, it’s still fraught with danger. Even the high monks from the Great Thunderclap Temple have been deployed. One can only imagine how astonishing the origin of this Great Grave must be,” said a pessimistic bystander.

“Speaking of the Great Thunderclap Temple, I heard that Master Wuhu will be preaching the Buddhist scriptures in Buddha Country in a few days, enlightening all beings. I wonder if we will have the chance to glimpse the mysteries within?” another speculated.

“Forget about it; Buddha Country is not an easy place to enter. One wrong step and you’ll be caught by Arhat Hall. It’s nowhere near as free as the outside world. Besides, to listen to the teachings of the master, you need an introductory letter from a monastery, not just anyone can go,” explained another.

At a nearby table, cultivators were drinking and venting their dissatisfaction; Li Xiaobai overheard plenty of useful information.

Seemingly caught up in his emotions, the burly looking cultivator suddenly slammed the table and shouted angrily,

“Hmph, I don’t think the Great Thunderclap Temple is all that impressive. Despite their high-and-mighty attitude in sealing off the tomb, their disciples were beaten up by Jiumozhi just recently! If Master Wuhu really decides to hold a sermon, many geniuses from the Buddhist Sect will attend, and Jiumozhi will not miss this chance to challenge them again!”

“At that time, the geniuses of the Great Thunderclap Temple might just lose all their dignity in front of all the cultivators!”

The burly man called out.

“Brother Wang! Be careful about what you say, and watch your step. We’re in the Western Continent, and you can’t just say anything!”

The people sitting nearby immediately grabbed the burly man, looking terrified. As the saying goes, walls have ears. This is the Western Continent, and speaking ill of monks in the territory of the Buddhist Sect; isn’t that asking for trouble?

The speaker might have no intention, but the listener might read into it.

Li Xiaobai’s eyes lit up, and he raised a cup of wine to the burly cultivator, saying, “The drinks for these gentlemen are on my table. I am Liu Jinshui; here’s a toast to the heroes. It’s good to make friends when abroad!”

“What a generous brother!”

“I’m Wang Datou, and I accept your friendship!”

The burly cultivator laughed heartily, apparently in much better spirits and sat down at Li Xiaobai’s table with his food and drinks. His eyes lit up when he saw Hu Meizi.

“What a beautiful girl! Is she your younger sister? Truly a match of talents and beauty, a pair of scholar and beauty indeed!”

Hu Meizi was about to explode, but Li Xiaobai kicked her.

“I gather from the heroic spirit of you gentlemen that you are also here for the tomb?” Li Xiaobai filled their cups and slowly spoke.

“Yes, we’ve all come to try our luck. But it’s not easy to strike it lucky; there are too many powerful competitors. Most likely, we will return empty-handed this time.”

Wang Datou glanced meaningfully at Li Xiaobai, clearly noting that he wasn’t as simple as he appeared. Those who could mingle in this environment were all sharp-minded, naturally not ready to bare their hearts over a table of drinks. His coming over was to probe Li Xiaobai.

“Brother Wang might be a bit too pessimistic. Even if the tomb is not meant for us, isn’t Master Wuhu from the Thunderclap Temple going to hold a sermon on understanding the Buddhist Law? We can still think of ways to attend, right?”

Li Xiaobai casually remarked.

“Heh, Brother Liu, you’re thinking too simply. Listening to the Buddhist sermons isn’t that easy. If you aren’t careful and get too involved, you’ll end up following the monks for life.”

Wang Datou snorted, shaking his head with amusement.

“What does that mean? Could it be that after listening to that master’s teachings, one will convert to the Buddhist Sect?”

“Exactly, after a sermon at least half of the audience will be so moved they’ll become followers of the Buddhist Sect, if not at the very least devout believers.”

“And why won’t the other half be affected?”

“Listening to monks has a technique.”

Wang Datou suddenly spoke mysteriously.

“Please enlighten me, Brother Wang!”

Li Xiaobai said earnestly.

Wang Datou nodded with satisfaction and enunciated carefully, “When you interact with monks in the Pure Land of Buddhism, remember this phrase: ‘Listen, but don’t listen fully!'”

“Once you master this technique, it’s not so easy to be converted into a disciple of the Buddhist Sect.”

Li Xiaobai: “…”