Chapter 741: Holy Land Encounter

The sea is flowing blue glaze, the cliff is solidified wave.

Zhenhai Palace rests on the wave's crest, glazed tiles flowing with molten gold light, in the sunrise a golden halo appears, the whole palace looks like a red carp about to fly.

The vermilion gate is ajar, copper nails in nine rows, Yan Hao taps lightly, the echo is cool.

The Han white jade lotus pedestal supports the Three Pure Ones; the bronze crane incense burner shakes its wings, ready to rise; green smoke trickles faintly from its beak, forming a pale purple arc in midair.

On the left side of the hall stands a bronze ancient bell, its body cast with cloud‑thunder patterns; when struck, its sound is like muffled thunder rolling over the sea, startling the seabirds perched on the reefs. On the right side stands a two‑zhang‑high jade chime; one strike yields a clear, tinkling tone, like ice cracking, or like moonlight shattering on porcelain.

Bell and chime face each other—one hard, one soft, one deep, one clear—played at high tide, silenced at low tide. How wonderful.

After passing the mountain gate hall, an old Daoist stands by the rail, wearing a blue Daoist robe, slowly clasping his hands. "Long separated from mist and clouds, an old friend suddenly arrives. What a fine day."

Green smoke wreaths the beams; it feels as if entering the Great Void.

Yan Hao and Qing Xu sit opposite each other under the tree, discussing the Dao. When he lifts his head, sunlight pours over the corridor pillars, and he sees a white‑clad youth walking leisurely over, his features like richly inked watercolor, his flying headband exuding a youthful vigor that rushes over him.

Yan Hao glanced and said, "Moon rises over the cloud‑filled hills, pine……"

He hadn't finished his praise when the Great King spoke.

That guy flicked open his folding fan with a swish, as if flipping some switch, his steps becoming arrogantly reckless, ignoring all kin. As he walked, his gaze swept quickly around, and he snorted, "What use is exquisite architecture? This incense offering is no good either!"

Yan Hao instantly swallowed the latter half of his sentence back.

Qing Xu looked at the Great King's little expression, twitching the corner of his mouth. Yan Hao raised his head, glanced at him in surprise, "How come, you know him?" It was the first time he saw Qing Xu so unsettled.

Qing Xu continued smiling without speaking; after laughing enough, he said, "There's writing on his face—look again. Are you sure you don't know him?"

The Great King, accompanied by Wei Shen and Ling Yin, had already turned a corner. Yan Hao turned his head to look closely; the Great King's proud little face still bore a hint of disdain. To others, the Zhenhai Palace built by Meng Meng is truly an otherworldly immortal retreat, a holy ground of the Xuan Men. But in the Great King's view… what a desolate, miserable, ruined hovel! It's far too deserted. As the actual owner of this property, never mind how long it'll take to break even—spreading the Dao is out of the question. There's not a soul around!

Yan Hao nodded after looking, "The writing on his face is real, and there's quite a bit of it."

Qing Xu curiously asked what the characters were; Yan Hao enunciated each word, "I see all beings as fools."

Qing Xu laughed, "Isn't it dragon countenance and phoenix bones, destined master of the Purple Star, beyond precious?"

Upon hearing that, Yan Hao turned his head a second time to scrutinize the Great King, lost in thought.

The Great King, with Wei Shen and Ling Yin, had already circled the Zhenhai Palace; accustomed to the Ziwei Palace, he didn't think this Daoist architectural complex was all that good, feeling only regret.

Such a vast place has hardly anyone; leaving it empty is such a waste!

"It would be perfect for housing refugees—could accommodate several hundred." Zhang the Minister of Agriculture has piled up applications for refugee relief funds.

Wei Shen: ……

Seeing the Great King arrive in plain clothes, Qing Xu, being tactful, didn't expose him in front of the few new disciples.

"This is the Drunk Stone Mountain person, an old friend of the Daoist, who has traveled to Youzhou and come especially to Zhenhai Palace to catch up."

The Great King winked at the wide‑sleeved, beautiful‑bearded gentleman, gave a greeting, then privately muttered to Qing Xu, "Drunk Stone Mountain person, drunk and lying on stones? His courtesy name matches his bearing perfectly. This young master sees the sir as extraordinary in demeanor, certainly learned! Daoist, would this friend of yours like to come teach at our Northern Border Academy?"

Qing Xu: ……

"I fear disappointing the young master; this old Daoist friend, setting out to wander now, is also rushing about in troubled times. He once went to personally persuade the Prince of Guangling and sought an audience with the Prince of Jing, but both attempts came to nothing. After surveying Youzhou he will return to his hometown."

The Great King naturally knows whose stone that is—his people have been tailing him since yesterday. Now hearing that Yan Hao actually went to persuade Old Two to abandon rebellion, and even went to Jingzhou to seek an audience with Old Four, he is quite surprised.

"I didn't expect your friend to be such a warm‑hearted sort. Not bad—I, the young master, just like warm‑hearted people." Embarrassed, he's become even more interested and can't let him go.

Qing Xu listened, feeling worried and anxious.

The Great King glanced and thought he was worrying too soon. "I, the young master, haven't even spoken to you yet—how can this Zhenhai Palace be so deserted? Such a fine Daoist temple, shouldn't it be put to use? You lot should be spreading the Dao!"

Qing Xu: ……

"Your…… Highness doesn't know, the Northern Border has no thoroughfares; spreading the Dao is a long, drawn‑out process, blah blah…" hearing this made the Great King feel dizzy.

The Great King thought it was all excuses, he hated that iron wouldn't become steel. "Let me send you to study at Chang'an's Great State‑Protecting Temple or whatever monastic school—pick up some scriptures, no disgrace. They can rise quickly in Chang'an, with followers everywhere, which shows they have something worthwhile. They've even popularized handheld prayer beads; nowadays many scholars carry a string when walking or sitting—surely they have some special quality."

Qing Xu's face furrowed further; he also felt that cultivating in such a fine Daoist temple yet achieving nothing truly betrayed the Great King's trust. But!

"Young master, we are a Daoist temple; you're talking about a Buddhist monastery." Not a single thing learned.

Great King: ……

He quickly changed the subject, "You're not skilled in medicine, are you? No problem—you could study Zhang Tonghe, bring your disciples to give free clinics to the populace, and when you encounter a spirit‑official's birthday, use it as an excuse to dispense medicine. If the faithful don't come in, won't you go out?"

Go out!?

Qing Xu felt enlightened. "The young master is clever!"

The Great King's face showed indescribable feelings; the child strained to let out a sigh.

"It's been a long time since I heard such praise; it would be great if the master also thought so."

Qing Xu: ……

After leaving Zhenhai Palace, the Great King told Wei Shen, "Listen to that epithet, Drunk Stone Mountain person—it seems Yan Hao is a wild, unconstrained arrogant type."

"That long‑bearded old man really is Yan Hao? As a descendant of worthies, his bearing is indeed fine—you can tell he's learned… but… he restrains you!"

The Great King flicked his fan twice, innocently asking, "How do you know? Does just touring a Daoist temple make you able to tell fortunes?"

Wei Shen declared righteously, "Such a high‑caliber scholar would certainly suppress illiterates!"

The Great King drew a deep breath.

Ling Yin reined in his horse, even stepping back two paces. The next instant the Great King drew a knife from his saddle bags, "Draw your blade!"