“Bastard!”
The disciple of the East Sea Dragon Palace flew into a rage, grabbed Li Lingsu by the neck, and was about to hit him.
“Spare me, sir, spare me, sir!”
Li Lingsu raised his hands to ward off the blows, begging for mercy in a hoarse voice while cursing Xu Qian in his heart, calling him an old man without honour.
His begging was of no use, the disciple of the East Sea Dragon Palace punched him to the ground. Li Lingsu immediately curled up, shielding his head, putting on a silent display of enduring the beating.
Another disciple joined in the beating, teaching a lesson to this guy who dared to barge into their ranks.
The commotion only made Dongfang Wanrong and Dongfang Wanqing turn their heads for a glance before withdrawing their gaze, neither stopping their disciples nor adding fuel to the fire.
After a few punches and kicks, the two disciples caught up with the main group, leaving behind the dust-covered, hunched Li Lingsu, as well as Xu Qi’an, who stood nearby, leading a horse and spectating.
“That was close, that was close…”
Li Lingsu climbed up, rubbing his waist, brushing the dust off his body, his mouth twitching as he said,
“Senior, why did you set me up just now?”
Xu Qi’an’s expression was blank. “I wanted to test the effect of the disguise. It seems to have worked well.”
…Li Lingsu eyed him suspiciously. As the Holy Son of the Heaven Sect, he possessed extraordinary wisdom and would not lose his judgement merely because Xu Qian was his senior.
He suspected Xu Qian had acted deliberately just now, but he had no proof.
It shouldn’t be the case. I haven’t offended him… Li Lingsu suddenly looked as if he understood something.
He must know his wife is always sneaking peeks at me, like a young girl overcome with longing. Oh, my damned charm…
I feel much better! Xu Qi’an breathed a long sigh of relief in his heart, and considered himself to be a man of justice, because he despised scumbags.
After walking for a while, a sparrow flew over and landed on Xu Qi’an’s shoulder. It chirped for a bit, then flapped its wings and left.
Li Lingsu saw Xu Qian’s expression darken slightly.
“The Dongfang sisters have entered Sanhua Temple,” he said.
At once, Li Lingsu understood why this centuries-old monster’s mood had shifted so abruptly.
Sanhua Temple had shut its doors to all guests; no outsiders were allowed in. Yet the East Sea Dragon Palace, an affiliate of the Church of the Warlock God, had managed to enter?
This was enough to show there must be some shady dealings between the two parties.
In that case, my plan to secretly stir up conflict and profit from it has failed completely… Xu Qi’an thought.
Li Lingsu stroked his chin and said, “I never heard Sister Rong mention any collusion between the Church of the Warlock God and the Buddhist sect.”
Xu Qi’an ignored him, leading his horse on alone, deep in thought.
…
Inside Sanhua Temple, in a meditation room.
Led by a monk, Dongfang Wanrong and Dongfang Wanqing entered the chamber.
Inside sat a Vajra, cross-legged. He was bare-chested, with a tiger skin wrapped around his lower body, his complexion pale gold, beardless and browless, as if moulded from golden water.
He was ten feet tall. Though not burly, his body radiated strength, and a ring of fire blazed behind his head.
The moment they entered, the Dongfang sisters felt a surge of heat, as if the cold of early winter had given way to the sweltering summer sun.
A third-rank Vajra Protector, his aura was the very essence of strength and masculinity. His mere presence kept all evil at bay within this meditation chamber.
Standing to his right was a young, powerfully built warrior monk whose muscles filled out his robes, with thick eyebrows and eyes like copper bells, eyes that glared as he looked at people.
“Greetings, Protector Vajra!”
The Dongfang sisters bowed their heads respectfully, behaviour meek.
The Protector Vajra, his eyes half-open and half-closed, spoke slowly:
“Is it Irbu, or Uda Batu who has come?”
His voice was as calm as possible, but to the Dongfang sisters it sounded like thunder, making their ears ring.
This was a manifestation of the Buddhist Lion’s Roar practice taken to a high level.
Had it been an ordinary person, their mind would have been in chaos, seized by terror.
If heard by one monstrous or evil, he would be quaking as if facing the end days.
Dongfang Wanrong bowed her head. “It is Elder Irbu.”
She paused, then added, “On the way, Elder Irbu was intercepted by Sun Xuanji of the Sitianjian. They fought, and both were wounded.”
The Protector Vajra said in a deep voice, “As expected, the Sitianjian intervened. Arcanist methods are strange and hard to guard against. Warlocks are the predecessors of arcanists. With a Master of Wisdom intervening, and myself guarding outside the tower, things will be handled smoothly.”
Dongfang Wanrong said, “The Church of the Warlock God came here in all good faith, hoping the Buddhists will keep their word and release our teacher’s soul.”
“A monk speaks no lies. The Buddhist sect is not like the Great Feng, which does not keep faith. We will take the Dragon Qi, and you will take away Nalan’s soul. But how will you prove your sincerity? And how do you prove Nalan’s trustworthiness?”
The Protector Vajra opened his eyes. His molten gold pupils flashed, and behind him the ring of fire suddenly blazed high.
The Dongfang sisters trembled all over, faces turning even paler. Elder sister Dongfang Wanrong steadied herself with a breath:
“Our teacher’s soul has been suppressed for twenty years and is gravely weakened. Even were he were to want to go back on his word, it’s not in his power. As for Elder Irbu, he has promised to obey your arrangements.”
The Protector Vajra closed his eyes again.
Dongfang Wanrong let out her breath and relaxed. “Elder Irbu said, although those above fourth rank cannot enter the Stupa Tower, master must not forget that if the Sitianjian’s Sun Xuanji and Xu Qi’an work together-”
She hesitated, then spoke plainly: “Although Xu Qi’an is a new rising star, he is stronger and more terrifying than the Zhenbei King.”
What she meant was, perhaps even they might not be a match for Xu Qi’an.
But the other party was a Buddhist Protector Vajra, so she did not dare speak too bluntly, lest it be seen as blasphemy towards Buddhism.
The Protector Vajra, like a meditating old monk, said, “Xu Qi’an is now crippled. Do not worry about him.”
What! Xu Qi’an is crippled?
The Dongfang sisters were shocked and delighted, their pretty faces lighting up with happiness.
They had heard of Xu Qi’an’s renown; it was thunderous throughout the land. As an affiliate of the Church of the Warlock God, having such a formidable enemy made it hard to sleep at night.
That faithless and heartless man they had once known had often praised Xu Qi’an in front of them, so they had felt some admiration for Silver Gong Xu of the Great Feng.
But after Xu Qi’an faced off alone against eighty thousand rebels at Yuyang Pass, slain Emperor Yuanjing in the capital, and foiled the plot of the Great Warlock, they could no longer feel any admiration. They simply regarded Xu Qi’an as a terrifying enemy. The level of danger was on a completely different scale.
The Protector Vajra closed his eyes and said nothing more.
The Dongfang sisters bowed and left the meditation chamber. Welcomed by the cold air from outside, they breathed deeply, spirits lifted and bodies relaxed.
…
After the two left, the Protector Vajra said: “Jingyuan, summon Jingxin to see me.”
The burly young man at his side put his palms together, bowed, and exited the meditation room.
A moment later, he led Jingxin into the room. The latter put his palms together and saluted, “Master Du’nan.”
Vajra Du’nan kept his eyes closed, his voice buzzing:
“Jingxin, you belong to the lineage of the Dharmapara Bodhisattva, and resonate with his Dharma artefact. Eight days from now, you must ascend to the third floor and communicate with the spirit of the tower, so as to take control of the tower in the name of the Dharmapara Bodhisattva’s line.
“Nalan Tianlu is sealed on the second floor. His power fills the space there. Without help from the tower, to pass through, you can only rely on his personal favour. Therefore, you must first cooperate with the Church of the Warlock God’s people to break Nalan Tianlu’s seal.
“To prevent the Church of the Warlock God from going back on their word, take the Mirror Beast’s teardrop into the tower, so that I can observe what is happening inside. Jingyuan, you will go into the tower with Jingxin.”
“Yes!”
Jingyuan and Jingxin put their palms together. The latter asked, “Still no news from Grandmaster Dharmapara?”
Vajra Du’nan slowly shook his head.
The Stupa tower was categorised as a Dharma artefact, a rank above peerless divine weapons. Its owner was the Dharmapara Bodhisattva, one of the four great Buddhist Bodhisattvas.
Three hundred and sixty years ago, the Dharmapara Bodhisattva departed to travel and was never heard from again.
Every sixty years, the Vaidurya Bodhisattva would go out to search for Dharmapara Bodhisattva. In the three hundred and sixty years since, she had set out six times, all in vain.
Because of this, the Buddhists faced an awkward situation. The Dragon Qi was attached to the Stupa tower, which recognised only its owner, not others, unless one could reach the third floor and communicate with the spirit of the tower.
In these circumstances, there were only two ways to extract the Dragon Qi. One was to destroy the tower, leaving the Dragon Qi without an anchor so it would naturally leave. The Buddhist sect would not be able to directly control the Dragon Qi but could lure it to settle in a controlled host, then bring that person of great fortune back to the Western Region.
However, Dharma artefacts were exceedingly hard to destroy, requiring at least two first rank experts. Furthermore, the loss of a Dharma artefact was not something the Buddhists were willing to endure. Finally, to destroy the Stupa tower would be equivalent to releasing the severed arm of Shenshu.
If the Wanyao Kingdom found out, they would laugh even in their dreams.
The second way was to pass through the other two floors to reach the third, and have Jingxin, as the grand-disciple of Dharmapara Bodhisattva, temporarily master the tower and have it expel the Dragon Qi.
Being a Dharma artefact, the tower could actively eject the Dragon Qi, as this dissipated Dragon Qi did not belong to it; the two shared no karmic ties.
Unlike mortal emperors, who were so entangled with fortune that unless the country is destroyed, they could never free themselves from its entanglement.
Yet, that way, one could not avoid Nalan Tianlu, the Master of Rain.
If it were not for the Dragon Qi residing in the Stupa tower, no one would ascend to the second floor suffused with the Master of Rain’s power. For all eternity he could never escape, not until his primordial spirit was entirely worn away.
Jingxin sighed: “Compared to the Church of the Warlock God, I am more concerned about the Jianzheng. Will he tolerate our Buddhist sect taking such a crucial strand of Dragon Qi?”
Du’nan said: “You are the destined person chosen by the Buddhist sect. After the tower expels the Dragon Qi, it cannot leave the tower and can only choose to reside within you. In the past, the Jianzheng swore an oath to the Heavenly Dao: he must not enter the tower or destroy the array formations inside. Once you acquire the Dragon Qi, stay within the tower.
“Wait until the tense standoff in Ananda has eased somewhat, then naturally a Bodhisattva will come to retrieve you from the tower.”
Only then did Jingxin come to a realisation.
Vajra Du’nan continued, “There was a dispute outside the temple earlier.”
Jingxin replied, “It was people from the Leizhou government. Probably because the sudden closure of Sanhua Temple drew the authorities’ attention, and they sent men to investigate in secret. But rest assured, Senior Uncle, eight days will pass in a flash. By the time the jianghu men of the Great Feng react, it will all be over.”
Vajra Du’nan nodded.
…
The party from the East Sea Dragon Palace departed slowly beside their palanquin. Inside the spacious palanquin, Dongfang Wanqing whispered:
“Will the Buddhist sect keep their promise?”
“I do not know.” Dongfang Wanrong shook her head, pausing for a few seconds before adding, “But for them, keeping their promise is the best choice.”
“Why?”
“Heh, did you not see? Dragon Qi is vital. Just like our Church of the Warlock God, the Buddhist sect wishes to lay their hands on the Central Plains. The Dragon Qi is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But they sent only one Protector Vajra, not a single Arhat or Bodhisattva. Why do you think that is?” Dongfang Wanrong smiled sweetly.
Dongfang Wanqing frowned, pondering. Suddenly her eyes sparkled: “There’s infighting within Ananda.”
Dongfang Wanrong giggled, her ample chest quivering:
“That’s right, those stinking monks are at odds. The conflict between Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism has reached a knife’s edge, and no one dares to leave Ananda or the Western Regions, for fear the other side will seize the chance to denounce them as heretics.
“The only reason Buddhism hasn’t fully split is because the Buddha is still present. With the Buddha keeping order, not even the Bodhisattvas dare push for a schism.”
A faint smile appeared on Dongfang Wanqing’s icy face. “Why does the Buddha just watch coldly?”
“How would I know?” her bewitching elder sister rolled her eyes.
She immediately sighed, “The Buddhist contest at the start of the year was the beginning of this Mahayana-Hinayana strife. Sigh, that Silver Gong Xu was truly a peerless genius, a rare man indeed.”
Dongfang Wanqing said calmly, “Men like that are far removed from us. Let’s focus on bringing that heartless bastard back. Fortunately, we were well prepared and drained away all his strength. Otherwise, if he’d gone out and about, we’d have countless more sisters to contend with.”
At this, elder sister Dongfang Wanrong gnashed her teeth.
…
Xu Qi’an and Li Lingsu spurred their horses on and hurried back to Leizhou City, arriving a day later. After changing into fresh clothes, he took Li Lingsu with him to find Wenren Qianrou.
In Wenren Qianrou’s study, Xu Qi’an held a cup, pondering as he spoke:
“Miss Wenren, there is something I would like to ask of you.”
“Please speak, Brother Xu,” replied Wenren Qianrou.
Li Lingsu, standing to the side, grimaced. He had not yet had the chance to tell his little lover that the man before them was an old monster who had lived for hundreds of years, and calling him brother would shorten his lifespan.
“I would like you to spread some news, say that there is a mysterious treasure in Sanhua Temple, which will appear in seven days, and whoever obtains it will have a chance to transcend mortality. Also, I hope you can have a good talk with the Leizhou authorities and persuade them to get involved.”
This was a plan he had finalised on the road, much like how the Daoists of the Earth Sect deliberately leaked information to draw jianghu folk and the Wulin Alliance to fight for the lotus seeds.
He could use the same trick again to stir up chaos.
“Well… Leizhou is right next to the Western Regions. The authorities here are unlikely to get too involved, Heaven is high and the Emperor is far away, while the Buddhist sect is close at hand. Moreover, if we spread this matter without a credible and influential person to corroborate it, few would believe it, and those who come might be nothing but rabble,” Wenren Qianrou said insightfully, pointing out the problems straight away.
“We don’t need the authorities to be enemies of the Buddhists. As for the other problem…”
Xu Qi’an looked Li Lingsu up and down, his smile inscrutable.
Li Lingsu felt a chill run through his heart under Xu Qi’an’s gaze, his brows knitting. “I, I don’t have any reputation in the martial world.”
Xu Qi’an smiled and said, “But you have a most famous junior sister.”
”…”
Li Lingsu stared at him in disbelief.
…
That afternoon, dressed in Daoist robes, the renowned Lady Flying Swallow, of long-standing repute, stumbled into Leizhou City, covered in blood.
She happened to be spotted by the young lady of the Leizhou Merchants’ Association, who promptly carried Lady Flying Swallow onto her carriage before the eyes of all.
Soon after, word spread from the Leizhou Merchants’ Association that there was a mysterious treasure in Sanhua Temple that would soon appear, and whoever obtained it could transcend mortality.
Lady Flying Swallow, it was said, had been wounded by monks from Sanhua Temple while fighting over the treasure.
Thanks to the Leizhou Merchants’ Association’s publicity, all of Leizhou city was thrown into an uproar.
“I heard there’s a treasure showing up at Sanhua Temple?”
“Yeah, I asked a city guard myself, he indeed saw a beautiful Daoist nun, covered in blood, fleeing into the city.”
“No wonder Sanhua Temple has suddenly closed its doors lately. The tower is clearly about to open, yet no one is allowed entry to seize their fortune.”
“The Buddhist sect is true to form, not one of our kind. They talk nicely when there’s nothing at stake, but when a treasure appears, they lock their doors and keep it all to themselves.”
“Ah, Lady Flying Swallow, I think I’ve heard that name before.”
“You really are ignorant, brother. You hardly look like a bookish man who pays no heed to the world’s affairs.”
There were also sceptics, especially among the prominent figures of the jianghu. That very day, some used the excuse of visiting Lady Flying Swallow to pay a call to Wenren Manor.
They were granted their wish, meeting Lady Flying Swallow in person and obtaining the answers they sought.
Armed with the correct answers, they acted as couriers, spreading the news far and wide.
Of course, some kept it to themselves. When asked, they even denied the truth of the rumours, but quietly slipped out of Leizhou City and made their way to Sanhua Temple.
…
Late at night.
Xu Qi’an sat at the table, lounging in the big chair, pondering how best to muddy the waters and how to slip into the Stupa tower. He also considered how to retreat, whether he succeeded or failed.
Suddenly, there was a tap at the window, “knock knock”.
He stood up, walked to the window, undid the latch, and opened it. A fluffy, snow-white fox was perched on the sill, its bright, black-pearl eyes fixed on him. Its throat vibrated, and in a voice like a silver bell, a childish girl’s tone rang out:
“Oh! I’ve finally met the legendary Silver Gong Xu.”
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