Bi Junxian listened to the conversation between the two, feeling increasingly impatient. Clearly, a few sentences could have explained everything, but they insisted on going around in circles. Weren't they tired?

However, if those people he extorted with photos or recordings heard this, they'd probably beat him to death.

Guan Huarong suffered a similar loss when he was young, so ever since then, he never let words he shouldn't say slip out, regardless of whether the other person was recording or not.

...

The winter days always seemed especially short.

It was just a little after four in the afternoon, and darkness was already looming.

Xiao Feng sat under the big tree, drinking tea. Two Martial Monks, not feeling tired, stood behind him. Every time Lin Jiaxuan tried to "accidentally" pass by, the two would move in to firmly guard the teacups on the stone table.

"Alright, the tea's gone cold, and it's getting dark, time for us to leave," Xiao Feng said, standing up.

Honestly, he was a bit disappointed.

Even though he made 24 million, Xiao Feng hadn't forgotten that the main purpose of his visit to Anping Temple was to pay respects to the former Abbot. Making money was just a side gig, like catching a rabbit while cutting grass.

Of course, that wasn't the main point.

The main point was that Xiao Feng originally thought, given the Abbot's usual style, there should be something left behind. But after searching through the entire house in the backyard, he found nothing of value.

However, just then, Lin Zhiyan suddenly said, "There's one more place we haven't searched."

"What place?" Xiao Feng immediately asked.

Lin Zhiyan looked up at the tree canopy above and said, "Remember I told you before that when I was trapped in the backyard and couldn't get out, a bamboo tube with a note fell from the tree?"

"You mean..."

"Is it possible there are other bamboo tubes in the tree?"

Xiao Feng's eyes lit up. It wasn't impossible.

"Hui Wu!"

"Brother Feng."

"Aren't you the best at climbing trees?" Xiao Feng pointed to the big tree next to them and ordered, "Go up and take a look."

"Okay."

Hui Wu agreed, stretched his limbs a bit, and, using both hands and feet, climbed up like a monkey.

After a while, Hui Wu rubbed his sore eyes and called down, "Brother Feng, there's nothing here."

"Nothing?"

This was not the answer Xiao Feng wanted to hear, so he asked, unwilling to give up, "Are you sure?"

"Sure," Hui Wu nodded affirmatively. "I checked every branch carefully, there are no bamboo tubes."

"Alright, come down then."

After calling Hui Wu down, Xiao Feng stroked his chin and started walking circles around the big tree.

Hui Er, as if he thought of something, asked, "Brother Feng, you're not thinking of digging up the tree, are you?"

"That's a good idea," Xiao Feng said, as if waiting for someone to suggest it. "Let's do as you said."

"..." Hui Er.

"Brother Feng, you can't!" the other Martial Monks quickly urged against it.

Xiao Feng was a bit puzzled, "Did your master specifically instruct that this tree can't be cut down?"

"Not really," Hui Wu, who had just climbed down the tree, explained, "But according to Master, this tree existed even before the temple was built, and every year it grows lush and verdant.

As the saying goes, 'Sweep the ground carefully to avoid harming the ants, cherish the moths fluttering around the lamp, don't fish the fish in the pond, often release the birds bought in cages.' Every plant and tree has its own spirit, Brother Feng. It provides shade, so let's not dig it up."

Xiao Feng looked at Hui Wu with an expression like he had discovered a new continent, surprised to find that not only was this kid good at climbing trees, but he was also very eloquent.

Of course, to say that isn't quite accurate, because among these eighteen people, none of them seem to be poor speakers.

"Brother Feng, we've been watering this tree every day since we were kids, sometimes even 'fertilizing' it at night, it'd be really hard for us to stomach cutting it down just like that," said Hui Shiba, the youngest.

The others quickly chimed in in agreement.

"Yeah, Brother Feng, let's not cut it down."

"People can move, but trees don't, this tree's been here for decades, it'd be such a waste to cut it down."

"Brother Feng, on behalf of our brotherhood, can't we wait until the tree dies naturally before we dig it up?"

Xiao Feng was suddenly dumbfounded. This conversation made it seem like what he was planning to do was something heinous.

"Alright, alright, let's not cut it down," Xiao Feng said impatiently, waving his hand to stop the Martial Monks' noise.

Just as they were about to leave the backyard, someone wearing a monk's robe, face covered by wide sleeves, walked out from the dormitory.

"Boss, please stay."

Xiao Feng was taken aback for a moment, then quickly recognized the voice as Hui Yi.

However, the term "Boss" sounded quite amusing.

In terms of age, Hui Yi was much older than Xiao Feng, so he couldn't call him "Brother Feng" like the younger disciples, but calling him "Brother Feng" also seemed inappropriate.

And calling him "Master Xiao" was a bit too formal, so after considering it, Hui Yi thought "Boss" was more suitable.

Zhao Guo'an and the others also had odd expressions at this moment, probably because they were used to seeing Hui Yi bare-chested, and now seeing him dressed seemed strangely uncomfortable.

Xiao Feng, on the other hand, felt relieved. He had been worried about what to do if these Martial Monks refused to wear their clothes.

Imagine walking around with over a dozen bare-chested, bald men following him. No matter how gentlemanly he was, people would mistake them for hooligans.

Now it seemed he didn't need to worry about this; the Martial Monks could wear clothes, they just preferred not to.

It's like how some people prefer to wear underwear while others prefer not to.

"What's up?" Xiao Feng asked.

"Not much, but there are some things I want to talk to you about alone," Hui Yi said.

Xiao Feng looked at the group and said, "Wait for me at the door."

The young girl and the others agreed and left the backyard.

Only until their footsteps could no longer be heard did Hui Yi lower his sleeve.

Xiao Feng was immediately startled, instinctively stepping back. Because given Hui Yi's appearance, if someone with a weaker constitution saw him, they might faint from fright.

Hui Yi had a big head to begin with, and now it looked even more swollen, both eye sockets were bruised, and his face was a mix of black and blue, as if he didn't need makeup to attend a Halloween event.

"How did you get beaten up like this?" Xiao Feng asked dumbly, "Did they hit you this hard, aiming for your face?"

"Don't mention it, it's all in the past," Hui Yi sighed, walking to the base of the big tree before saying, "I don't blame them."

Xiao Feng thought for a moment, thinking Hui Yi's reaction could be due to two possibilities.

The first possibility: he was truly magnanimous and didn't hold grudges.

The second possibility: his past actions were worse, and he felt he deserved it.

Between these two possibilities, Xiao Feng leaned towards the second.

Given Hui Yi's behavior in the past, would anyone believe if he said he was magnanimous?

"Boss, through this, I know our junior brothers can't be retained," Hui Yi said, looking up at the sky with his swollen eyes now just a slit.

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