Chapter 1005: Purple Gold Means! (5k2, two-in-one)

Long Binglin stroked his forehead.

Among the younger generation of the clan, only the three of them had the best bloodline talents.

Long Yanrui was the youngest, having followed him and Long Eying since childhood. The three elders were also a bit more lenient with the youngest; it wasn't that he was under no pressure, but he had a certain air of being detached from worldly affairs. It was rare for him to go on a long journey, and the way he handled things was indescribably strange.

Amidst the marketplace, the noisy arguments drew countless gazes.

Within Hantai Prefecture, the vast majority of villagers revered the monks of the Lotus Sect. Even if they couldn't understand the meaning of Long Yanrui's Mandarin, they could still hear the provocative tone within it!

This person actually dared to be disrespectful to the monks!

The "Great Collection Sutra" says: Those who slight the shramana shall fall into hell for a hundred kalpas!

The "Dharma Code" says: Those who slander the Sangha shall have their tongues cut; those who insult the elders shall have their hands and feet severed!

The Snow Mountain Dharma Code couldn't reach into the Great Shun territory, but based on the regulations alone, it was enough to make people fearful.

Passersby lowered their heads, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

Human blood was not easy to wash off.

The two monks actually hadn't expected that one of their targets, Long Yanrui, would be so sharp; even a secret, wary glance would be discovered. They pressed their palms together and lowered their heads to explain a few words.

"What kind of bird language are you speaking!" Long Yanrui, emboldened by being in the right, pressed his tall frame closer, full of pressure. "Are you insulting my mother!"

The monks kept their mouths shut and remained silent.

The two dogs tucked their tails, not daring to bark at the formidable figures.

Seeing that communication was impossible and the atmosphere was explosive, fearing that an unnecessary conflict would be triggered in broad daylight, Rege pulled his companion, led the two dogs, bowed in a salute, and without further entanglement, hurried away from the market.

Long Yanrui swallowed the second half of his insult toward their father, unable to unleash what he had learned, and felt quite regretful in his heart.

"Master—left?"

"Careful, don't look, you'll offend the masters."

"Bad luck."

Passersby clicked their tongues in wonder, but whenever they encountered Long Yanrui, they all took a detour, as if worried about having bad luck on them.

Watching the monks disappear.

"Ha, Big Brother, it's done!" Long Yanrui excitedly turned into a corner of the alley, his face full of excitement. "Quite a few people on the street saw it; they are all witnesses. Even if the Snow Mountain Sect sends people later, they won't be able to say anything. The Moon Spring Temple sent people to monitor, and they also polluted the Moon Spring—the evidence is ironclad!"

"Yes, the evidence is ironclad." Long Binglin pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Big Brother, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, just a bit of a mood."

Long Yanrui didn't press further: "What are we doing next? Are we still going to 'bump into' them?"

Long Binglin shook his head: "If we 'bump into' them again, it will be too obvious. You and I should return to the inn first. They shouldn't easily give up the chance to meet. We'll continue to scout for information. As long as they linger nearby, we'll find another chance to make eye contact with them and strengthen the impression—"

"Big Brother is amazing! Now they've got yellow mud in their crotch!"

"The words aren't wrong, but why does it sound so strange—forget it."

Not long after.

"What, not renting?"

The innkeeper didn't dare to raise his head. Facing such tall, sturdy men, he was truly terrified. He returned the silver money in the cabinet in full and added two small nickels, totaling four taels, and advised the Dragon People in broken Mandarin.

"The two of you don't know, you just offended the Lotus Sect masters. This small shop truly cannot accommodate such big Buddhas."

There would actually be such an influence?

The two were surprised.

The Lotus Sect's influence was too great. Although Hantai was located on a plateau, it was still Great Shun territory. Because of a disrespectful encounter, others didn't even dare to do business.

Long Binglin didn't go to take that bit of broken silver. He refused to believe this evil and backhanded another large gold ingot onto the counter.

Thud.

"Fifty taels, rent!"

"The two of you—"

Thud.

"One hundred taels!"

Gulp.

Thud.

"Fifty taels, per day, rent for three days first."

"The two of you, please, please."

This faith.

It wasn't that sincere.

Long Binglin used Liang Qu's money to smash open the shop door.

Separated by a street.

The two monks soothed the dogs' necks, silently calculating in their hearts, and exchanged a glance.

"The Dragon People are here; Great Shun's Baron Xingyi should also be here. Perhaps we can meet him and get a portrait."

"Rege, you're right, let's—"

"Are you reconciled?"

"Not reconciled." The companion was crisp and decisive.

"Then let's not rush to leave, wait a while!" Rege's eyes were bright.

If the information they scouted out was favorable enough, the Ten Thousand Temples had stated that they could keep a few dogs as a reward.

Once the dogs were kept, the abbot of Moon Spring Temple would also give benefits. The two of them might be able to apprentice under the elders of the East and West Halls. In the future, at the very least, they could be disciplinary monks in the temple. If they worked hard, becoming a temple elder wasn't out of the question. When luck turns, once the opportunity arrives—

As the saying goes: a monk who doesn't want to become a Master is not a good novice.

Rege must consider if this is the only opportunity of his life!

Two flowers bloom.

Liang Qu has enough subordinates to let the Bai family and Yuequan Temple advance side by side.

High in the sky.

The little Xiao Xiao Shenlong grabs the Abyss Wood Bow, circling around, looking down at the entire Bai family courtyard, searching one by one for the stronghold of the clan leader, Bai Mingzhe.

"My lord, high above in the sky, there is a little white dragon, the pet beast raised by that Earl Xingyi, hovering for a long time with a bow and arrow, seemingly looking for something. Should we shoot it down?" Hedeban asks.

"Do not act rashly!" For the past two months, Bai Mingzhe has been busy and overwhelmed, truly not wanting to add more trouble, so he hurriedly interrupts Hedeban, "You say, it is hovering and searching?"

"Yes!"

"Where is it now?"

"It is flying right above our house."

Bai Mingzhe thinks for a moment and walks out quickly.

Creak.

"Haha, it came out, it came out!"

The little Xiao Xiao Shenlong spits out white mist, transforms into Liang Qu's appearance, nocks the arrow containing the note, and finally draws the bow, shooting it out in a crooked manner.

Bai Mingzhe sees with his own eyes that the arrow is veering off to who knows where, about to fall into the backyard and disturb the female relatives,

so he hurriedly takes action, using a gale of true qi to roll the arrow over.

"Item delivered! Leaving now, leaving now."

Witnessing Bai Mingzhe get the note, without a second thought, the little Xiao Xiao Shenlong grabs the Abyss Wood Bow, swooshes high into the sky, and disappears without a trace.

With such a display, Bai Mingzhe does not pursue; he holds the arrow shaft, sees the seam between the arrowhead and the shaft, and unscrews it,

poking out the note.

"Yuequan Water—·Advance by retreating?"

His eyes flicker.

Midnight.

Frosty white moonlight flows over the stone slabs.

Two monks from Yuequan Temple, disguised as if by accident, pass by on the street again, slightly raising their heads, meeting a pair of bright black eyes, their hearts jumping; they shift their gaze, not daring to look more.

Bad luck!

Twice spying, and actually caught both times?

In the middle of the night, don't they sleep?

Just as the two face the Dragon-man, not knowing how to explain, at the end of the street, Hedeban shouts from afar.

"Are you two monks from Yuequan Temple?"

"You are—"

"Hedeban, steward of the Bai family." Hedeban jumps off the carriage, blocking Long Yanrui's gaze, "I heard that the Masters of Yuequan Temple are holding a grand celebration for the Auspicious Day. My Bai family has many female relatives and wishes to purchase some Yuequan original pulp. Coincidentally hearing that two Masters have crossed Blue Lake to get here, there is no need to look far."

"Very good, very good."

Worried about being found by the Dragon-man in the inn and causing trouble, and just happening to have the Bai family come to provide cover, Rege couldn't ask for more; he drags his companion and hurriedly boards the carriage to leave.

The rolling wheels crush the stone slabs.

Above the eaves, the hedgehog bathes in moonlight, watching the monks leave, tossing the small wild fruit in its hand, one bite at a time,

shaking its head: "Hehe, planning within the tent, winning a thousand miles away.

Leaving Mount Weihu, this young master has a wider sky. Just made a move, ah, Dragon Lord, you're back, want to eat a fruit? It's clean!"

"!"

The little Xiao Xiao Shenlong snorts from its nostrils, folds its arms without a word, flies around the hedgehog, extends two claws, points inside at its own eyes, then pokes outward at the hedgehog's eyes, and flies back into the bedroom.

"Phew~"

The hedgehog wipes away cold sweat, sticks the half-fruit backward onto the spikes on its butt, jumps down along the roof ridge, burdened with worries.

The Old King picked his troops, and it was able to leave the back mountain of Fulong Temple; the hedgehog's stage is broader, but there are many treacherous officials and cruel bureaucrats, especially one little dragon and one Blackie, and most belong to the Water Beast faction, united tightly. As a Land Beast faction member,

wanting to get ahead is truly not easy.

Alas, the wild boar is foolish, the bat only knows how to repeat, the Little King only knows—·

Sigh, better not say it.

The plan is methodical.

June 8th.

Rege, having gathered enough information, leads the dogs and takes the Bai family personnel, crossing Blue Lake diagonally to return to Yuequan Temple.

The news of the Bai family purchasing Yuequan Water spreads like wildfire.

For a time, it sparks controversy again.

The Bai family's major affairs are not finished; the deceased old clan leader Bai Chenfeng and clan elder Bai Chenhonglang have yet to be buried, lying in the ice cave on Mount Bingjing for nearly two months. Does the clan leader Bai Mingzhe actually have the time to go buy women's supplies?

Saying it's for the Auspicious Day celebration is even more unreasonable.

What is the scale of Yuequan Temple?

What is the scale of the Bai family?

Yuequan Temple is just a small temple, with one Master abbot, plus East and West courtyard elders and a Discipline elder, only a few Hunting Tiger realm cultivators. Can they move the Hantai Bai family?

Bai Mingzhe is pushed to the forefront of the storm again.

Ling Xuan and the others also watch the changes quietly.

They know that Yuequan Temple sent people, and the changes here definitely cannot be separated from Liang Qu's handiwork!

But since Liang Qu doesn't say anything, they won't interfere.

"By the way," Liu Jingxuan asks, "Ling Xuan, did you give Bai Mingzhe what he wanted?"

"I gave it." Ling Xuan's mouth corners curl up involuntarily, "I don't know how lively the Bai family will become. Investigating since three years ago really took me quite a bit of effort."

"Boss, boss, the two monks are back! The little monk also said the medicinal water is ready."

Remote communication via spiritual link.

Liang Qu, resting at home, receives the little Xiao Xiao Shenlong's message, estimates the time, and takes Long Eying back to the Snow Mountain Domain,

picking up the several bottles of medicinal water prepared by Master Huai Kong, totaling a good few dozen jin.

Opening them, there is a faint herbal fragrance, the color slightly yellow, with a bit of an amber quality.

"How is this used? Will it change color?"

Master Huai Kong puts his hands together.

"Mix the small bottles with Yuequan Water, and the large bottles with Yuquan Water. The ratio for Yuequan is between one to one hundred and one hundred and fifty, and for Yuquan between one thousand five hundred and two thousand. The medicinal liquid has a slight color, but it will disappear after mixing, and the naked eye cannot distinguish it.

After use, the effect is immediate; the skin will become sallow and withered for a period of time. If one makes expressions, many wrinkles will appear. Eating more green leafy plants can alleviate this, and it will return to normal after half a month of metabolism."

"Wonderful, worthy of being a high disciple of Xuankong Temple!" Liang Qu gives a thumbs up.

He has also studied medicine, and treating external injuries is fine, but he is far from being as capable as Master Huai Kong.

"Amitabha."

Returning to Yuequan Temple.

Midnight.

Once the 【Vortex God Armor】 covers him, the light and shadow change.

Liang Qu walks leisurely through the courtyard.

High walls on all four sides, a small lake in the center.

In the center of the lake is a pedestal built layer by layer with stone bricks.

The pedestal has seven layers, each layer about a foot high, forming a small high platform protruding from the ground. The so-called Cold Ice Spring is located right in the middle of the small high platform, bubbling with cold currents, shining with white jade luster under the moonlight.

The monks hold clean small jade bottles, carefully drawing out the crystal-clear water liquid like milk, sending it out without spilling a drop,

matching the color of the jade bottles, quite appetizing, truly like a pool of milk like sweet spring water; mixed with some honey, one could drink it in big gulps.

Liang Qu stands to the side; every time someone draws a bottle and hands it over to be poured into a larger barrel, he picks up the medicinal water prepared by Master Huai Kong, points his index finger, and drips a string into it.

The small amount of medicinal water is almost transparent, and stirred while pouring, no one can discover it at all.

The line stretches long.

Passing it on in turn.

The crowd of monks has no idea that while they are painstakingly fetching and transporting Yuequan Water, someone is squatting on the side of the line, adding things to it with a small bottle.

It is all stored Yuequan Water, drawn all at once in the last few days, appearing quite grand in scale.

Until dawn.

The Cold Ice Spring stops bubbling, and the monks cover the small high platform with a jade lid.

"Can it only be drawn at night? No wonder it's called Yuequan Water."

Liang Qu is thoughtful, looking at the remaining few bottles of medicinal water, deciding to come two more times.

June 11th.

On the high platform, the white mist is gone, and only after a long time does the spring water have a bit of jade-white luster.

The monk turns back: "Elder, there is no more, we have to wait for it to accumulate."

"Has the amount from these few days all been weighed?"

"Reporting to Elder, it has been weighed. The Discipline Elder said it is a bumper harvest; the last three days have yielded several dozen jin more than in previous years."

"Several dozen jin more?"

The East Courtyard Elder is overjoyed upon hearing this.

In just three days, actually several dozen jin more?

A good omen!

Wait.

Could it be that the West Courtyard Elder, who was previously responsible for guarding the Cold Ice Spring, embezzled it privately?

Several dozen jin of Yuequan Water is not a small amount, accumulating over time...

The East Courtyard Elder's mind turns a hundred times, but it is not easy to directly find someone to confront: "According to previous requirements, send out what should be sent out. Keep one thousand jin of the remainder to be used at the Auspicious Day celebration. Rege returned yesterday and brought the steward of the Hantai Bai family. The Master specifically instructed to move another one thousand jin and leave it for the Hantai Bai family."

"Understood."

In front of Yuequan Temple, a large group is ready to set off, loading the goods and sending them to the port.

Famous temples are lined up in the Snow Mountain Domain, and the powerful big lords naturally won't come to small temples to worship Buddha. The remaining small lords cannot sell their goods at high prices, so Yuequan Temple, which is adjacent to Blue Lake, prefers to sell special goods to Hantai on the opposite side.

The Bai family is the largest force in all of Hantai, and the clan leader sent a steward to purchase, so they naturally cannot be stingy.

One trip back and forth.

Yuequan Temple simultaneously sends people to Ten Thousand Temples to report and inquire about news.

One selling, one sending.

Boom!

At the clan elder meeting, the Bai family explodes.

"What? One Profound Ice Soul Bead, thirty thousand taels of silver, three hundred jin of Yuequan Water, one thousand shi of Banner Iron, all given away for nothing to the Long clan? Bai Mingzhe, do you know what you are doing!? You are ruining the foundation of my Bai family! You are crushing the spirit of my Bai family! You are losing the face of my Bai family!"

A dozen or so old men argue noisily, their walking sticks tapping the floor.

Each clan elder has two to three Hunting Tiger realm juniors behind them, the backbone strength, and the hall is in chaos.

Bai Mingzhe raises his voice.

"Elders, this matter was originally Bai Xingwen's fault first—"

"I disagree!" The oldest clan elder, over three hundred years old, shakes his head in denial. He was originally a centrist, but even so, he cannot accept it, "Bai Mingzhe, don't be muddled. Even if it was a fault first, what about the lives of Bai Chenfeng and Bai Chenhonglang? Are they worth nothing?"

"Bai Mingzhe! I've waited for you for so long, and what kind of good fart have you come up with? I think you've been muddled in Nanzhili since you were small; you simply can't be considered a member of my Bai family!"

A clan elder raises his cane and scolds Bai Mingzhe directly to his nose.

There is a chorus of responses below.

"Right! Bai Mingzhe, if you really dare to do this, we will expel you from the genealogy! You can take whatever surname you like, anyway, you can't have the surname Bai anymore! My Bai family doesn't want you, this Jiang Zongshi. As long as the General is here, it's only a temporary loss. If we keep you, this Jiang Zongshi, I don't know what kind of disaster my Bai family will suffer!"

"That's right, Bai Mingzhe, if you are willing to send it, you can, step down! Expel from the genealogy! This little bit of stuff can be doubled, just consider it your farewell gift! Travel expenses to Nanzhili!"

Bai Mingzhe had long expected such a situation, glancing sideways.

Hedeban distributes several account books along the table.

"What is this?"

"Account books."

The clan elder, feeling fooled, has a vein on his forehead jump: "I'm not blind! Naturally, I know they are account books, I'm asking you what kind of account books they are!"

"The amount of corruption and gaps in each branch over the last ten years, the imperial taxes stolen. Besides that, there are some unimportant matters, stealing from the family, having affairs, raising mistresses—never mind that. My Bai family has many marriages; if it gets out, it's not a good thing. But everyone, rest assured, your own affairs are only in the account books in front of you; they won't run into others' account books."

Gack.

Everyone seems to have their necks pinched.

A dead silence.

Each clan elder glances down, then looks at others, quietly changing their sitting posture, implicitly having a stance of protecting the account books.

"I originally wanted to explain what 'advancing by retreating' is, but unfortunately, it's really giving me a headache to argue. The draft I prepared is all scattered, and I really can't summarize it clearly. But there is one thing, Mingzhe deeply agrees with, and also believes that the elders' teachings are correct."

Bai Mingzhe opens the thickest one in front of him, flipping through it with a rustle.

"As a member of the Bai family, I naturally won't harm the interests of the Bai family. Therefore, all the shares come from these gaps, and the Yuequan Water is also exchanged using materials from the gaps."

"Whatever income you privately lost, just know it in your own hearts; don't be too ostentatious. If it gets out—"

"This year, each branch should have whatever income it should have."

"As for whether to send the items or not, the elders don't need to insist. Whether you agree or not, as of last night, what I said has already reached the hands of Earl Xingyi's wife. Perhaps they have already used the Yuequan Water."

Came from the gaps?

The clan elder who scolded the loudest has his eye corner twitch. He doesn't even care about the words that the items have already been sent, looking around.

Who secretly had such a big appetite to steal a Profound Ice Soul Bead!

This thing is a great medicine; the entire Mount Bingjing only produces one every ten years. In terms of value alone, it's more expensive than everything that follows. How did Bai Mingzhe investigate it? How did he investigate it?

If he had this means and this manpower, why didn't he use it earlier?

Just as the hall is in dead silence.

A piercing female scream resounds from the backyard, drawing the curtain.

"My face! My face!"