Chapter 292: Meeting Doesn't Necessarily Mean Acquaintance

Above the altar of Xi Tu Shen Shan, streams of light swirled and shifted. After a moment, Jing Yan and Yu Liu's eyes lit up as a young man in a jade crown emerged from the glow. His expression was somewhat aloof, but his gaze swept over the two women, making their hearts flutter with shy excitement.

Yu Liu said softly, "Xu Gong Zi, Qiao Xing Jun has ordered us four sisters to assist you in eliminating the new emperor. Yao Hua and Qing Ying have already gone ahead to Lou Lan Huang Jin Gong to gather intelligence on the new emperor."

Yu Liu continued gently, "Gong Zi, shall we go meet up with them now?"

Xu Sheng Hua nodded lightly. "Let's handle this matter quickly. I need to return to Shang Cang. The mortal world and its distractions are no place to linger."

Jing Yan laughed. "Gong Zi, the mortal world still has its share of remarkable figures, not to be underestimated. The emperor is an enemy of Shang Cang, having opposed us for so many years—he won't be easy to eliminate."

Xu Sheng Hua, dressed in spotless white robes, walked toward the mountain path. "The mortal world does have its wonders—places like Xiao Yu Jing, Da Lei Yin, Dao Men, Tian Sheng Jiao, and Zhong Tu's so-called holy sites, with their masters who are no weaker than those in Xi Tu. I haven't underestimated them, nor the emperor. I'd like to see for myself the places that make those beings wary, but the mortal realm doesn't align with my nature. So, the sooner we go, the sooner we return."

The two women hurried to follow him.

"Since we're here, we should visit a few of Zhong Tu's holy sites," Xu Sheng Hua said.

He added, "I want to see how far their divine arts have progressed. And Yan Kang's reforms are in full swing—I need to check that out. My master, Yu Jun, was sent to bring disaster to Yan Kang but was injured by that so-called once-in-five-hundred-years sage. I'm curious to see what this sage is really like."

The two women exchanged glances, looking somewhat worried.

In He Zhou city, an official said hastily, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has learned that Qin Jiao Zhu is out of danger and has already left to handle affairs in other states and counties."

Ling Yu Xiu asked, "Which state or county did he go to?"

The official replied, "His Highness was originally heading to Si State, but he's been gone for some time now. I don't know exactly where he is."

Qin Mu nodded. "I'll have my disciples in the cult gather information. We should know soon enough."

They rested briefly in He Zhou, grabbing some food to tide them over. Before long, disciples from the Heavenly Demon Cult in He Zhou reported, "His Highness has arrived in Qu State."

Qin Mu unrolled a map of Yan Kang's geography and glanced at it. "Then his next stop must be Ning State, right beside Qu State. He's moving quickly."

Ling Yu Shu had first gone south to Jiang Ling, then west along the Jin River, likely to manage the waterways along the way.

Though Ling Yu Shu lacked the bold ambition of Yan Feng Di, he was skilled at handling local water systems and transportation. With officials from the Ministry of Works assisting him, his progress was swift. Unlike the former crown prince, Ling Yu Xia, he didn't seize power, which put Yan Feng Di at ease.

With Fan Yun Xiao's help, Ling Yu Shu's speed increased even more. By the time Qin Mu and the two women caught up, more than half a month had passed, and Ling Yu Shu had already left Ning State for the western Bo State.

Bo State was not far from Da Lei Yin Temple—just over a thousand li to the west.

Upon reaching Bo State, Ling Yu Xiu finally saw her brother and couldn't help but tear up. Clearly, Ling Yu Shu had been working tirelessly and had lost a lot of weight.

Ling Yu Shu quietly asked her, "Qin Mu hasn't done anything to you, has he?"

Ling Yu Xiu, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed, huffed, "Brother, what are you thinking? Saintess Xiang is still here!"

Ling Yu Shu chuckled awkwardly. "I'm just worried about your safety. Qin Mu..."

Ling Yu Xiu glared at him. "He's the Holy Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult. He killed the previous crown prince so you could take the position. If you call him a beast, watch out—he might hear you and kill you too, then put me on the throne instead."

Ling Yu Shu said sheepishly, "You're already defending him before you're even married, and now you're fierce with your own brother. By the way, up ahead is Da Lei Yin Temple. I've ordered that their lands be reclaimed by the state. We're close to the temple, so we need to be careful. Lately, monks have been coming to beg me for donations."

Ling Yu Xiu's eyes flickered. "Are they trying to get the land back?"

Ling Yu Shu nodded. "Da Lei Yin Temple's land is the best fertile soil around. They rebelled and plotted to kill the emperor to install their own, so I just seized their land—I didn't wipe them out. Now they're coming repeatedly to beg. Hmm... I'm out here to manage water systems and public welfare. In other places, I fix things and move on, but I'll have to stay here a while."

As he spoke, a voice called from outside, "This humble monk comes to beg for alms!"

Ling Yu Shu smiled wryly and went out, with Qin Mu following. They saw a tall, gaunt monk with a sallow face sitting there, holding a demon-subduing bowl. Several soldiers tried to lift him but couldn't budge him.

The monk said with lowered eyes, "This humble monk only begs for one bowl of earth. I beseech the Crown Prince for this charity."

Ling Yu Shu sneered. "Is that the demon-subduing bowl from the previous Ru Lai of Da Lei Yin Temple? In any other sect, it would be a treasure that guards the teachings. One bowl of earth might just cover your temple's entire territory—hundreds of li. You're no ordinary monk, or you wouldn't be carrying a treasure of that level."

The monk was about to speak when he suddenly noticed Qin Mu, his eyebrows raising. "Heavenly Demon Cult Leader!"

Qin Mu smiled in acknowledgment. The monk's face darkened. The battle at the imperial altar had left Da Lei Yin Temple and Dao Men with heavy losses, nearly half their top experts slaughtered by the Heavenly Demon Cult, including many at the Shen Qiao realm. It had severely weakened them.

If not for that, how could Ling Yu Shu dare to reclaim their land?

The sallow-faced monk said nothing more and hurried away.

Ling Yu Shu turned to Qin Mu and whispered, "That monk left without begging. He's probably going back to rally people against you. You should be careful."

Qin Mu shook his head. "Don't worry. The Ru Lai won't pay attention to him."

The sallow-faced monk raced back to Da Lei Yin Temple. Upon reaching the golden peak, he found it solemn and reverent. The abbots of various halls were gathered at the summit, some looking somber, with figures like the Poor Scholar observing the rites.

The old Ru Lai was conducting a ceremony, removing his robe, sandals, and all his treasures, leaving himself unburdened.

Mirror Ming, the old monk, stood silently behind him.

The sallow-faced monk's heart shook. The old Ru Lai turned to him with a smile. "Nan Ye, my time is near. I've stepped down as Ru Lai, feeling light and free. I'm going out to wander and await great enlightenment and nirvana. Once I achieve it, Mirror Ming will bring my body back to continue guarding Da Lei Yin Temple and spreading the Buddha's teachings."

Nan Ye's heart ached, but he didn't show it. "Ru Lai is a realm that can't be refused or relinquished."

The old Ru Lai laughed. "What I'm relinquishing is the title of World Honored One of Da Lei Yin Temple."

Nan Ye asked, "Who will succeed as Ru Lai?"

The old Ru Lai pointed to the World Honored One's seat and said with a smile, "Whoever is Ru Lai will sit there. If not Ru Lai, no one can sit. Don't worry—there will be a Ru Lai to take the seat. My old friends have come for me. I'm leaving!"

As Nan Ye tried to ask more, the old Ru Lai strode down the mountain.

Nan Ye stood stunned, looking at the empty seat.

Down the mountain, two Daoists—one old and one young—were resting at the gate.

The old Ru Lai and Mirror Ming approached and bowed. "Dao Master, Dao Zi."

Lin Xuan, the Dao Zi, and the old Dao Master quickly stood and returned the bow. The old Dao Master laughed. "Feeling lighter?"

The old Ru Lai nodded with a smile. "Much lighter. Let's go."

The leaders of the two great righteous sects exchanged smiles and said together, "You're getting old!"

The old Dao Master sighed. "I want to visit Xiao Yu Jing. I hear there are immortals there, living without worries, truly free and enlightened."

The old Ru Lai said, "I'd like to go to Da Xu first."

The old Dao Master glanced at him. "Even though you're no longer the World Honored One, you still can't let go of Da Lei Yin Temple."

The old Ru Lai replied, "And what about you? If you've stepped down as Dao Master, why bring the young Dao Master? Isn't it to guide him more before you seek immortality?"

The old Dao Master sighed. "Let's go to Da Xu first."

The four entered Da Xu.

Soon after they left, a young man arrived with four young women. The women, dressed in different colored skirts and carrying items like jade bottles, qins, swords, and pipas, approached the gate and said to the welcoming monk, "Xu Gong Zi from Shang Cang is here to visit the Ru Lai."

The monk's heart raced. "Shang Cang?"

He hurried up the mountain to report. Nan Ye and the others paled, panicking. "Someone from Shang Cang has come. What should we do? The Ru Lai's position is vacant—who's qualified to receive such a distinguished guest?"

Nan Ye said, "Don't panic yet. Invite this Xu Gong Zi up, and we'll discuss. Wait—let's go welcome him properly, so we don't show disrespect."

The monks rushed down the mountain and saw the young man and his four elegant companions standing at the gate. Nan Ye stepped forward. "Amitabha..."

Xu Sheng Hua's gaze pierced him. "You're not the Ru Lai?"

He shook his head. "No need for the Buddha's name. Where is the Ru Lai?"

Nan Ye hesitated. "The World Honored One has just stepped down. Da Lei Yin Temple has no Ru Lai now..."

Xu Sheng Hua turned and left, the four women following. They left the monks behind. Yu Liu, in green, asked, "Gong Zi, why didn't we go into Da Lei Yin Temple?"

Xu Sheng Hua shook his head. "The old Ru Lai stepped down without appointing a new one, which means he didn't think any of the monks on the mountain were worthy. If even the Ru Lai is dissatisfied with them, why should I bother seeing their skills?"

Qing Ying laughed. "So, Gong Zi looks down on them. We visited the witches at Lou Lan Huang Jin Gong, but there was nothing impressive— their great venerable was mediocre and avoided you without a fight. Now Da Lei Yin Temple has nothing noteworthy either. Shall we go to Dao Men next?"

Xu Sheng Hua nodded. "Dao Men has the Fourteen Dao Swords. My master said they're quite extraordinary, so they're worth seeing."

They arrived in Bo State, upstream on the Jin River, and boarded a boat to travel downstream. In the middle of the river, they saw a young man measuring the water's depth.

He used vital energy as a measure, waving his hand to send strands of energy straight into the river, then calling out the depths at various points. Officials nearby jotted it down.

Xu Sheng Hua stopped the boat and stood silently, watching the young man.

The young man seemed to sense him and looked over, flashing a bright smile with eight white teeth that made one feel warmly drawn to him.

Xu Sheng Hua felt his own mood lift and smiled back.

The four women at his side were captivated by his smile, their hearts melting.

"The Gong Zi actually smiled!" one whispered.

Xu Sheng Hua bowed to the young man in the river. "This fellow daoist, would you care to come aboard for a chat?"

The young man replied, "Just a moment, I need to finish measuring the water's data."

Xu Sheng Hua waited a while. Once the young man completed his work, he boarded the boat. The two exchanged bows and sat down.