Chapter 755: ReplacementChapter 990: The Secret of Forgotten

Li Chen's words were clear and straightforward. While Jiewang was older, he did not have dementia, so he wisely chose to remain silent and avoid any conflict with the Crown Prince on this topic.

"Master, have you brought the person I requested" asked Li Chen.

Ji Wàng chanted a Buddhist invocation and then said, "Your Highness, the total number of formally ordained monks in both North and South Shaolin temples is less than three thousand. So it's not that Shaolin doesn't want to, but rather that they simply don't have the capacity to fulfill your request. However, there are a total of eight hundred skilled martial monks in both North and South Shaolin combined. As long as Your Highness gives an order, they can arrive in the capital within the shortest possible time."

Li Chen raised his eyebrows and said in an uninterested tone, "This palace requested three thousand people, but Master brought only eight hundred and called it good news"

"Your Highness, although Shaolin Temple is a thousand-year-old Buddhist temple, monks are divided into literary and martial. Not every monk is a martial arts practitioner. Martial monks are actually not the mainstream in the temple; they are only responsible for ensuring the safety of the temple. Moreover, under the pressure from the imperial court, if Shaolin could really come up with three thousand martial monks, it would have probably invited disaster long ago."

Therefore, Shaolin Temple in the North and South has always controlled the number of monks to no more than a thousand. Others merely learn some physical training for health and have no actual combat capability.

"This is not hard to verify, Your Highness. If you don't believe me, send someone to check."

Li Chen didn't respond.

Shaolin Temple couldn't possibly muster that many people, something Li Chen had known all along.

But this kind of thing is just like bargaining when you're buying and selling. You definitely have to start with a high enough offer so that you have enough room to negotiate downward.

If you just came clean and told us how much there is, then there wouldn't be any room for maneuver.

With a light tap of his finger on the table, Li Chen said, “Eight hundred people are indeed a bit too few. Why not become an attendant in the East Palace, Master One person can be worth ten thousand soldiers.”

A top expert at the Immortal Realm, the highest known level of combat power in this world. If Li Chen could get Jie Wang to work for him as a bodyguard, he'd think it was a worthwhile deal.

But to his surprise, Ji Wàng immediately shook his head at this request.

"It is not that I am unwilling, but that human effort cannot overcome fate."

Ji Wu looked at Li Chen, and slowly said, “Your Highness, this old monk's time is running out. I am about to pass away. Even if I wanted to agree to your request, I would be unable to serve you anymore.”

Upon hearing this, Li Chen's first reaction was disbelief.

Having lived over a hundred years, Jie Wang realized that his time was drawing near.

Li Chen frowned, his face full of distrust.

Ji Wang smiled wryly and said, "Your Highness hasn't studied martial arts, so it's normal that you can't tell. Why not call the woman from the White Lotus Sect here She'll know at a glance."

"The previous argument was also her intentional attempt to test the monk. If not so, how could she provoke him when she knew he was the stronger one"

Li Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.

"The master is a highly accomplished monk who naturally wouldn't lie, so there's no need to verify."

Li Chen said solemnly, "Master, how much time do you have left"

Jì Wàng smiled and said, “It won’t be longer than a month.”

Looking at his expression, it seemed like he wasn't saying that he would die in a month, but rather that he was going on vacation in a month. He looked relaxed and didn't show any fear or anxiety whatsoever.i, Li Chen slightly raised his head and said, "The time is almost here."As soon as the words left his mouth, the palace gate in Taimiao suddenly swung open.More than one hundred soldiers ran out.These...