The Kyokugen-ryu duo follows the monks to a parking lot, where they get in one of the jeeps that carry the tourist to Shaolin Temple.

"Why did that monk not join us?", Ryo asks as he remembers that one monk who ran up the mountain by himself. "I feel a bit guilty for sitting comfortably here while he has to run like that."

"You don't need to worry, Mr. Sakazaki.", Yuanjing, the monk in charge of communicating with them, replies. "Junior Yuanzhi has powerful legs, he can run up and down this mountain within 20 minutes. Because you visit us so suddenly, this is the only way we can make preparation for your arrival in time."

"You don't need to be so formal.", Ryo says. "I only come here to discuss a personal favor."

"It is an honor to have "The Invincible Dragon" visiting our establishment.", Yuanjing says. "Our temple would like to our best to greet you with proper manner."

"Are you preparing to greet us or ambush us?", Anh Thư suddenly says. The girl does not have good impression of people from Shaolin school, her mother is supposed to be prisoned by them and these monks did try to drive the Kyokugen-ryu father and daughter a moment earlier.

"Don't be rude, kid.", Ryo scolds the girl, then turns to the monks to apologize. "I am very sorry for her lack of manners."

"It was our fault for not greeting you properly.", Yuanjing says.

After an hour, they have arrived at the main entrance of Shaolin Temple. Yuanjing tells the other monks that have been following them to dismiss while he continues leading the Sakazakies. Behind the entrance is a big field surrounded with Buddhism structures. In this field, there are hundred of tourists and guides, as well as groups of Shaolin monks and disciples performing their martial arts. As Shaolin Temple has become a famous tourist destination, the holy ground of Chinese martial art looks more like a festival than a place to practise Buddhism.

However, their business is not at this joyful field. Yuanjing, Ryo and Anh Thư enter a more isolated section, where the noise of tourists does not reach. This is where the monks live and practise their religion. They do not stop here either. The trio continue walking, until they reach another field. This is where the monks train their martial arts. Yuanjing leads the guests pass the monks refining their skills, to an isolated temple. The giant field they see after passing the entrance is the only place tourists are allowed to enter, aside from that field the Shaolin Monasty has 3 different isolated structures, one to meet the government authorities, one for religious guests, while the one Ryo and Anh Thư are about to enter is to greet characters of the martial art world.

As the guests have arrived at the temple's gate, Yuanjing condenses Qi into his Lower Tanden and announces in English with a slow yet powerful voice:

"Kyokugen-ryu Karate's Ryo Sakazaki and his disciple would like to meet the Abbott and senior monks."

"They are just behind the door, you don't need to spend that much effort.", Ryo thinks. "These Shaolin people must be trying to discourage me by showing off the prowess of their internal energy."

Realizing that, the Karateka's competitiveness suddenly raises. He also channels Ki into his Lower Tanden and says , his voice is even more fierce than Yuanjing's:

"As a martial artist, it is an honor to meet the monks of Shaolin Temple."

"The reputation of Kyokugen-ryu Karate is real.", a gentle yet pressuring voice echos from within the temple. "You don't need to be so humble. Please, come in."

Within that speech implemented a powerful Ki, yet it does not show any ferocity. It is the highest form of Ki manipulation, the person who just raised his voice must possess prominent internal energy and be extremely skilled in controlling it. Ryo is so impressed that he almost forgot the reason of this journey.

Yuanjing opens the door for Ryo and Anh Thư to enter. He then closes the door and quietly leaves the place.

Ryo looks around the place he has just entered. Inside the temple is a big room. From the entrance, there are 2 lines of metal chairs by the side, between every 2 chairs is a giant Arhat statue and a monk holding a wooden long staff guarding the statue. There are 18 Arhat statues and 18 between monks in total. Between the lines is an empty space for martial artists to show off their skills. At the end of the lines is a dais facing the door, there is no chair on that dais, only about 10 old monks standing before a giant Buddha statue.

Ryo formally introduces himself:

"I am Ryo Sakazaki of Kyokugen-ryu Karate. This is Bùi Thị Anh Thư, she is my eldest daughter and latest disciple."

From the information in the martial art world, the monks have expected that the current Mr. Karate to be an Asian man with powerful physique. However, they did not know that he had a daughter this old, and they are even more surprised at the fact that her name is not one of Japanese, English or French. One of the old monks comes forward and introduces himself in English:

"I am the Abbott of this Buddhist establishment, my Dharma name is Huican."

"It's a pleasure to meet you.", Ryo replies.

"This person is the disciple of my master's senior, Senior Huikong.", Abbott Huican points to an old monk with long grey beard. Ryo lowers his head to greet that person and Huikong formally greets him back. The Abbott continues the introduction until Ryo finishes greeting every old monk.

"These 13 monks of Hui rank, including me, are in charge of managing the Shaolin Monastery.", Abbott Huican says. "There are also 5 monks of Xuan rank, which is the same rank as my master and are my master's seniors and juniors. These seniors of mine do not attend to worldly incidents anymore so they cannot meet you here. Please excuse them."

"I would not dare to trouble their training.", Ryo replies. He looks at these monks of Hui ranks, they are at least 50 years old, the oldest among them looks like he is in his 60s. That means the monks of Xuan rank must be in their 70s or 80s, demanding them to meet a sudden guest would be too unreasonable.

"The 18 monks you see in this room are our "18 Copper Luohans" in charge of guarding this temple, Luohan Mansion.", Abbott Huican says as he points at the monks in front of the Arhat statues. "They are the most execellent among our disciples of Kong rank. They also perform some Kungfu tricks if our guests demand."

"So they are the famous "Luohan Formation" of Shaolin school?", Ryo asks with great excitement.

"We are ashamed.", Abbott Huican humbly replies. "People exaggerate our matial art too much, I fear we cannot meet your expectation. Aside from the people I've just introduced, in this school there are also other monks of Xu, Kong and Yuan ranks. Xu-ranked monks are disciples of mine and my seniors and juniors of Hui rank. With their statuses, they are not worthy to meet a master of your caliber."

While Ryo is excited to learn about the Shaolin school, Anh Thư does not share the same interest. Unlike her father, she does not trust these monks, simply because there is a chance that her mother is being prisoned by them. The girl thinks:

"This baldy acts humble, but every word he has been saying is about how many and powerful they are. If they consider us as guests, why do they surround us with these "18 Copper Luohans". He said "They also perform some Kungfu tricks if our guests demand.", they are definitely threatening us not to challenge them."

Abbott Huican is busy talking with Ryo, he does not see how hostile the girl is toward his people. The monk turns to the nearest "Copper Luohan" and says:

"Kongji, show the guests their seat."

The monk Kongji does not leave his post, with a flick of his staff, 1 chair on his left and 1 on his right slide toward the Kyokugen-ryu duo and stop immediately behind them. Ryo cannot hide his admiration as he makes a quick remark: "Excellent skill."

"You are flattering us.", Abbott Huican says. "Please sit."

Ryo and Anh Thư quickly sit on the chairs behind them. Seeing the guests have sat comfortably, the old monks also sit down on the dais. Within this Shaolin school, there are 3 departments built for the purpose of meeting outsiders, but only this Luohan Mansion has solely chairs for guests. In this room that is to greet martial artists of other schools, the guests sit highly and comfortably on their chairs and the hosts sit lowly on the dais. This manner means to show that the humble monks do not want to challenge anyone.

"I believe you have been informed of the reason we visited your establishment.", Ryo says.

"Junior Yuanzhi told us that you wanted to discuss about a certain person here.", Abbott Huican replies. "May us know how do you have this information?"

"I have to admit, the source of this information is not very trustworthy.", Ryo says. "They said that a woman of Hizoku clan was captured by Shaolin monks. To be more specific, this woman can use "Yi Yang Finger" of Duan family."

"Why do you ask them directly like that?", Anh Thư suddenly interrupts her father's speech. "They will definitely deny it."

"These people are monks of great reputation. Within Buddha's vision, they cannot lie.", Ryo says as he points at the giant Buddha statue in front of him. Those words are not only to calm the girl down, his real intention is to threaten the monks not to lie.

"We did capture a woman of an unorthodox sect using "Yi Yang Finger" a few months ago.", Huican says. "Kyokugen-ryu Karate is one of the righteous sects in the Western world, we did not expect your school to have relations with an unorthodox sect of China."

Hearing that, Anh Thư immediately stands up. She yells: "You admited it then. Release her!"

"Calm down, kid!", Ryo scolds his daughter. The Karateka does not use his Ki to enhance the intimidation of his voice like he did earlier, however the tension in his tone is not less pressuring. That combined with his fierce glance stumbles some of the monks in Luohan Mansion. They remark that it is indeed as hearsay, "The Invincible Dragon" possesses both exceptional physical strength and powerful internal energy.

"Please excuse this stupid girl's rudeness.", Ryo turns to the old monks and says. "This is my personal affair and is not related to our Kyokugen-ryu school. The woman you captured was an acquaintance of mine, she is also this girl's mother."

The monks are speechless as Ryo reveals the relationship between him, Luan and their daughter. They could never have imagined the current chief of Kyokugen-ryu Karate to have a child with a Hizoku assassin. However, if what he said is true, then it is indeed only a personal affair of his. After all, the legitimate wife of Ryo Sakazaki who received the blessing from all Kyokugen-ryu members is King, not Luan. This means that if Ryo makes any demand on this matter, it is on his behalf, not the Kyokugen-ryu school's.

"We would like to hear your suggestion about this matter.", Abbout Huican says.

"Please excuse my rudeness.", Ryo replies. "But we wish you could release her."

The monks do not show any emotion as they have expected this demand. Obviously, the only reason Nidaime Mr. Karate would travel from South Town to Songshang is to rescue his mistress and the mother of his daughter. However, the fact that Shaolin monks are prisoning a Hizoku assassin has been kept a secret for 2 reasons, the Shaolin Temple is not legally authorized to prison a person, and they believe that Luan has stolen an important martial art manual, one would cause chaos to the martial art world if news of its missing is spreaded.

"Do you know the reason why we captured her?", Abbott Huican asks.

"I was informed that she tried to infiltrate your establishment.", Ryo answers.

"Do you know she had stolen one of our martial art manuals, Yijin Jing.", Huidu, a junior of Abbott Huican says. This monk has small yet muscular physique, his eyebrows are thick and his eyes shine like ones of a predator at night.

"I believe you have misunderstood the situation.", Ryo says. "That person is a Hizoku assassin who has trained in martial arts of West Venom. She should not be able to learn Ki practises from orthodox External Kungfu."

Months ago, when Anh Thư was badly injured while conditioning her Ki using Karate methods, Ryo was explained about the similarities and differences between different styles of Ki training. His understanding of the matter is not completed yet, however he is informed that Karate's internal energy is one of the orthodox styles and resembles that of External Kungfu schools of Shaolin lineage, while West Venom martial arts is the opposite, and these different types of Ki cannot co-exist. That means Luan, formerly trained by the Deva of West Venom, cannot master any Shaolin martial art.

"You are not wrong.", Abbott Huican says. "However, Yijin Jing is not an ordinary External Kungfu. Yijin Jing means "Muscle/Tendon Changing Manual", as its name suggests, this martial art can completely improve the quality of one's muscle and tendon. It can also alter the structure of the martial artist's bones and meridians as well as improve the functionality of their internal organs. If a person masters the skills in Yijin Jing, they can mix Qigong of orthodox and unorthodox sects without any drawbacks."

Ryo remembers Luan mentioned about Yijin Jing's power to enhance a person's physical body and internal energy, he did not know it can also be used to nullify the disadvantagouses of doing martial arts of opposite natures.

"I can guarantee you she did not steal Yijin Jing of your school.", Ryo says. "Months ago, she told me her intention, that she wanted to meet another assassin who was also prisoned in this establishment to interrogate him about the wheresabout of her enemies."

The old monks look at the Karateka with suspicious look. After a moment, another junior of the Abbott, monk Huijing calmly says:

"If that assassin you are talking about is the same one we caught a year ago, the woman who is your acquaintance come to rescue him. He then fled with our Yijin Jing."

"That is impossible.", Ryo disagrees. "A Song is a subordinate of her sworn enemy and is the one who would desire Yijin Jing the most. I know this because I have fought against them and I was the one who demolished his martial arts."

"Please excuse my rudeness, Master Sakazaki.", another monk of Hui rank, Huiyuan, says. "You are being delusioned by lust. Worldly desires only lead to sorrow, the sooner you are released from it, the sooner you can see the truth."

Huiyuan is the youngest among the monks of Hui rank, he was an orphan who was raised by Shaolin monks since birth and has never left this establishment. Without knowledge of how regular folks live, to him, Buddha's teachings is the absolute truth. The monk means no harm, as Buddhism teachs pacifism, however he is too naive and inflexible. His insensitive remarks anger Anh Thư, the daughter of Ryo and Luan. She roars fiercely: "I will shut that filthy mouth of yours!"

Ryo did not expect this turn of event, before he can stop his daughter from doing anything reckless, the girl has already charged forward Huiyuan. However, "18 Copper Luohan" have been paying attention to any sign of hostility from their guests. As soon as Anh Thư makes her move, the monks immediately surround the Kyokugen-ryu duo, their weapons are ready.

"Shaolin Temple is a place to practise Buddhism, please don't resort to violence.", Abbott Huican says.

Anh Thư has lost all her patience, she replies: "Is Shaolin Temple a place of Buddhism or bandits? Who gives you the authority to imprison someone?"

"As Buddhists, we encourage everyone to do good, regardless of their past.", Huijing says. "However, if one insists on the path of evil, we shall subdue them with force."

"As a martial artist, I have always admired the monks of Shaolin school.", Ryo says loudly. "As a sign of respect, I will fight you with everything I have. Let us see the brilliance of Shaolin Kungfu. Come."