Urban Martial Saint

”Was Patriarch Bodhidharma also a person of Brahmanism?” Ye Qing was even more astonished; this was even more shocking than the previous matter. Ever since the incident with those Brahmin monks, Ye Qing had harbored some hostility towards Brahmanism. In his view, Brahmanism could hardly be considered a branch of Buddhism; their doctrines were too peculiar, even somewhat demonic.

Who could have thought that Patriarch Bodhidharma, whom Huaxia highly revered, was also from Brahmanism? It must be understood that legends about Patriarch Bodhidharma in history portray him as a compassionate enlightened monk who played a very important role in the promotion and expansion of Buddhism in Huaxia. But how could such an enlightened monk be a person of Brahmanism? His compassion contrasted greatly with the tenets of Brahmanism.

Shen Tianjun noticed Ye Qing’s confusion and explained, ”When Patriarch Bodhidharma entered Huaxia, it was at a time when the Great Forest Temple of Tianzhu was being destroyed, and the entire Buddhism of Tianzhu suffered greatly, almost becoming lost. Fortunately, a branch of the Great Forest Temple, which was Brahmanism, survived and continues to this day. And it was in such circumstances that Patriarch Bodhidharma entered Huaxia to spread doctrine to prevent the Buddhist doctrine of the Great Forest Temple from being lost. Therefore, what he propagated in Huaxia was the Buddhist teachings of the Great Forest Temple, not those of Brahmanism. This is why the legends about him are quite different from the doctrines of Brahmanism. And the Buddhist doctrine of the Great Forest Temple is actually not far from that of our Xiaolin Temple, which is why he was able to spread it here.”

”So that’s how it is.” Ye Qing suddenly understood, realizing what had happened with Shen Tianjun’s explanation. It seemed that this was how the legends about Patriarch Bodhidharma came to be. Moreover, his views on Brahmanism were not incorrect; the doctrinal differences between Brahmanism and Orthodox Buddhism were significant.

”The greatest contribution of Patriarch Bodhidharma entering Huaxia is not the doctrines he propagated but the martial arts he left in Huaxia,” Shen Tianjun said. ”Patriarch Bodhidharma was absolutely a martial arts genius who elevated Huaxia’s martial arts to a new height, leaving behind numerous ultimate techniques in Xiaolin Temple. Any one of these ultimate techniques could create a top martial artist. Among the ultimate techniques he left behind, there is one set of martial arts that is the most powerful, said to be an ultimate technique Bodhidharma comprehended after nine years of meditation, with extraordinary power. And ’A Stone’s Throw Away’ is one move within this martial art.”

”Was the nine-year meditation of Patriarch Bodhidharma also real?” Ye Qing was amazed, meditating for nine years is not something ordinary people can achieve. What kind of determination and great perseverance must Patriarch Bodhidharma have to meditate for nine years without distraction?

Shen Tianjun said, ”The nine-year meditation of Patriarch Bodhidharma is an undisputed fact. However, some rumors about his meditation may not be entirely accurate.”

”What rumors?” Ye Qing asked.

Shen Tianjun was silent for a moment and then said, ”It is said that during these nine years of meditation, Patriarch Bodhidharma not only did not leave that cave for a single step but also did not eat anything or drink a drop of water.”

”What!?” Ye Qing’s eyes widened; this legend sounded too false, right? Not eating or drinking for nine years, wouldn’t that lead to starvation?

Shen Tianjun shrugged and said, ”This is what people say, but there are no specific records of it. However, some indeed questioned it because the place where Patriarch Bodhidharma meditated was on the Upper Peak of the Middle Peak of the Five Breasts Peak of the Western Foothills of Song Mountain, which was extremely steep. Nowadays, there are mountain roads built, making it easier, but in ancient times, it was a place very difficult for people to climb. Moreover, the cave where Patriarch Bodhidharma meditated is near the acme in a natural cave with only one entrance at the top, about ten meters above the ground. Anyone wishing to descend there must use a rope to climb, and even for a martial artist, unless you are a top expert, you can jump in, it is almost impossible to enter. Because of this location, some have raised questions; whoever wanted to deliver food to Patriarch Bodhidharma would find it no easy task. Thus, some suspect that during these nine years of meditation, Patriarch Bodhidharma might really not have eaten anything.”

”This... is this possible?” Ye Qing only felt as if his worldview was about to change. Scratching his head, he said, ”Who could live for so long without eating in this world?”

”I also think it’s impossible,” Shen Tianjun nodded and said. ”However, in ancient times, there indeed were people who could survive for a long time without eating or drinking. For example, the legendary Zhang Sanfeng, when he was over one hundred and ninety years old, could go ten days without a meal.”

Ye Qing had heard of Zhang Sanfeng’s story from others before, but he always treated it as legends people passed around and did not take it seriously. This time, however, Shen Tianjun brought it up, implying that Shen Tianjun believed in it. Could there really have been ancients who could go long periods without eating? But even if so, the legend of Patriarch Bodhidharma is too far-fetched. Not eating for nine years is utterly impossible!

”Not eating or drinking for nine years, wouldn’t you become a god?” Ye Qing muttered.

Shen Tianjun sighed lightly. Indeed, with martial arts practiced to his level, he often pondered whether gods truly existed in this world.

Ye Qing didn’t know what Shen Tianjun was thinking. He asked, ”By the way, Uncle Shen, when General Helian fought with that Yin Xianzi, Yin Xianzi asked whether that move was the Taoist Sect’s Earth Shrinking Skill. What exactly is this Earth Shrinking Skill?”

”Hehe...” Shen Tianjun chuckled lightly and said, ”Her asking such a question is appropriate. According to legend, that move ’A Stone’s Throw Away’ indeed originates from the Taoist Sect’s Earth Shrinking Skill. Because before Bodhidharma’s meditation, he had entered the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates.”

”Ah?” Ye Qing was once again stunned. Patriarch Bodhidharma had also entered the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates? What on earth happened in that era? As a person of the Buddhist Sect, why would Patriarch Bodhidharma enter the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates left by the Great Sage Guiguzi of the Taoist Sect?

”Not many people know about these secrets; it was Divine Doctor An Shiping who told my grandfather,” Shen Tianjun said. ”Back then, after Divine Doctor An Shiping entered the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, he discovered inscriptions left by Patriarch Bodhidharma inside.”

”This is actually true?” Ye Qing couldn’t help but exclaim. What Divine Doctor An Shiping said could not be false.

”What did Patriarch Bodhidharma inscribe inside?” Ye Qing asked curiously.

Shen Tianjun thought for a moment and said, ”’Earth Shrinking Skill, so it is merely a small trick and...’

”And what?” Ye Qing quickly asked.

”There was nothing further,” Shen Tianjun said.

”Nothing further?” Ye Qing asked strangely. ”It’s clear he didn’t finish his words, how could there be nothing further?”

Shen Tianjun said, ”That’s what Divine Doctor An Shiping told me. I was also puzzled and specifically asked him. Divine Doctor An Shiping told me those were the only words he saw, and there were no more words after that. Which means the inscription of Bodhidharma was not completed. Judging by the context, he probably intended to say ’and nothing more,’ or something similar.”

”That’s a lot to inscribe, and he left off with just an ’and?’ He didn’t finish it?” Ye Qing said in surprise.

”That’s the strangest part,” Shen Tianjun said. ”At the time, Divine Doctor An Shiping concluded that perhaps Bodhidharma left in haste due to some unforeseen situation, which might explain why he left the inscription unfinished.”

Ye Qing said, ”What kind of situation could there be inside the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates? There’s no one else inside, is there?”

”That, I don’t know either,” Shen Tianjun said. ”This incident is probably only clear to those who were there. Others can only enter those Heaven Earth Man Three Gates to see the specific circumstances inside to speculate what happened at that time. However, one thing is very certain that after Bodhidharma came out of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, he immediately meditated for nine years and created a new ultimate technique. So, we have reason to suspect that his move ’A Stone’s Throw Away’ was actually created from the Taoist Earth Shrinking Skill.”

”The Earth Shrinking Skill?” Ye Qing asked, astonished. ”What kind of martial art is it exactly?”

”It is said to be a closely guarded secret of the Taoist Sect, possessing very mysterious abilities. For instance, take the Stone Formation outside; if someone who does not understand formations walks inside, even a small Stone Formation could trap them for a lifetime. This Earth Shrinking Skill is probably an application of formation theories, and it’s highly unlikely it could actually enable someone to walk a thousand miles in a single step, which is practically impossible.” Without any historical account records of such things, they are not worth believing.

Having heard Shen Tianjun explain, Ye Qing, however, could understand a bit. After all, he had practiced the stepping technique of the Heavenly Gangs and Northern Dipper formation and very well knew the wonders of the Taoist Formation. Even if it was just a step away, it was still enough for countless transformations, making defense difficult. Therefore, the Earth Shrinking Skill was most probably an application of formation techniques and could not literally allow anyone to walk a thousand miles in a single step, which is simply impossible.

Having heard Shen Tianjun explain it this way, Ye Qing could somewhat understand. After all, he practiced the Heavenly Gangs and Northern Dipper Stepping Technique and was well aware of the mysteriousness of Taoist formations. Even if it was just a stone throw away, that alone was enough to change infinitely, making it difficult for anyone to defend against. Thus, the ’A Stone’s Throw Away’ is most likely created from the Earth Shrinking Skill technique of the Taoist Sect.

”Does this martial art created by Patriarch Bodhidharma have any other techniques?” Ye Qing asked.

”I don’t know the specific situation. However, according to Divine Doctor An Shiping, even Patriarch Bodhidharma’s Crossing the River with a Reed qinggong is one of the techniques in this martial art,” Shen Tianjun thought and said.