Chapter 54: Longxiang Past Events!

Coming out of the Library, it was already nearing evening.

Qin Shuo walked back to the courtyard on foot, and just after finishing dinner, Song Yan appeared in his courtyard.

"Senior Sister."

Seeing Song Yan arrive, Qin Shuo hurriedly rose to greet her.

"Junior Brother Qin."

Song Yan walked with lotus steps, having washed away the dust of travel and changed into fine clothes and splendid attire; her bearing changed greatly, appearing even more aloof and noble, so much that Qin Shuo almost failed to recognize her.

However, at this moment Song Yan's complexion was not good, as if she had just cried, her eyes somewhat red and swollen.

But out of consideration for Qin Shuo's feelings, she forced out a faint smile and said: "Junior Brother, how was your harvest in the Library?"

"The Buddhist scriptures are too profound; I cannot grasp them in a short while, so I still plan to go to the temple to ask a high monk." Qin Shuo spoke truthfully.

"I came for this very matter."

Song Yan showed a hint of apology on her face: "Originally I intended to personally take you to Dongling Temple to seek audience with Monk Ku He, but tomorrow the Song Family holds a family meeting, and I must attend..."

Saying this, the apology on Song Yan's face grew stronger, and she continued: "If Junior Brother you are not in a hurry, wait another day for me, and the day after tomorrow I will certainly..."

"Senior Sister, there's no need for such trouble."

Qin Shuo interrupted Song Yan's words, speaking earnestly: "Senior Sister, you only need to tell me the direction to Dongling Temple, and I can go find Monk Ku He myself."

"How could that do? Dongling Temple lies in the eastern suburbs, the journey is remote; if you go alone, you may not be able to find it.

This way, I will have Steward Luo arrange a few people to take you there; they are more familiar with the prefectural city, and can also show you around—what do you think?"

"Very well, then I will trouble Senior Sister."

Qin Shuo was not polite either, and gladly accepted Song Yan's kindness.

As for why Song Yan was crying, he did not ask further.

Every family has its own difficult sutra to recite.

If Song Yan wished to tell him, she would naturally speak up; now that she does not mention it, he naturally ought not to press further.

Given Song Yan's status and strength in the Song Family, even she cannot resolve this matter; this martial artist of Inner Strength Great Perfection, he, may not be of much use either.

He did not dwell too much on this matter.

After seeing Song Yan off, Qin Shuo began practicing the Arhat Stance in the courtyard.

This is a stance he learned from the Longxiang Golden Body Divine Intent Map; it can temper the physique, forge qi and blood, and aid in the cultivation of the Longxiang Golden Body.

For the Longxiang Golden Body was originally created by the Longxiang Monk through the fusion of the Arhat Golden Body and the Great Longxiang Force.

Therefore, when Qin Shuo refined the Longxiang Golden Body Divine Intent Map, he would see the scene of the young Longxiang Monk cultivating the Arhat Golden Body.

Hold the Longxiang intent in mind, stand in the Arhat Stance with the body.

Unbeknownst to him, an entire night passed just like that.

After a night of stance practice, Qin Shuo felt his qi and blood had condensed considerably.

If he had sufficient exotic beast meat and blood-strengthening elixirs, he could consider transforming Inner Strength into Qi and breaking through to the Tongmai Realm.

"After returning to Black Water City, I will have Wei Laotou step forward to help me buy a bottle of Blood Boosting Pill from the Sky Wolf Gang."

Qin Shuo silently calculated in his heart.

Back then, Yan Song was able to break through from Inner Strength Great Perfection to the Tongmai Realm precisely by relying on the Blood Boosting Pill he purchased from the Sky Wolf Gang.

If he too could take some similar elixirs, breaking through to the Tongmai Realm would merely be a matter of time.

"Perhaps, there's no need to wait until returning to Black Water City..." Qin Shuo pondered seriously.

He remembered that when Wei Laotou gave him the Peiyuan Pill, he had once said that there is a Wind and Thunder Pavilion in the prefectural city specializing in selling martial artist elixirs.

Earlier, when he exterminated the Black Dragon Stronghold, he had gained a considerable amount of silver and jewels, just right for visiting the Wind and Thunder Pavilion to have a look.

After breakfast, the fat steward Luo Wansong cheerfully came to the door: "Young Master Qin, the carriage to take you to Dongling Temple is ready; you may depart at any time."

"Good."

Qin Shuo followed Luo the Fat out of the Song Mansion; a green-clad young servant had already been waiting outside with the carriage.

"Young Master Qin, this is Xiao Liu, who will take you to Dongling Temple; he is a native of the prefectural city, familiar with all its scenic spots—if you wish to visit any place for leisure, just tell him." The fat steward introduced with a smile.

"Thank you, Steward Luo."

Qin Shuo clasped his hands in gratitude, did not linger in idle talk, and had Xiao Liu drive the carriage straight to Dongling Temple.

Luo Wansong watched Qin Shuo's carriage depart until it vanished from sight, then collected his smile.

He turned and walked back into the Song Mansion, summoned a trusted aide, and instructed: "Go inform Young Master Tian; the game he awaits has arrived on the mountain."

……

Dongling Temple is located on a low hill in the eastern suburbs of the prefectural city.

Qin Shuo rode in the carriage, traversing more than half of the prefectural city, and only reached the foot of Dongling Temple at noon.

Along the way, Qin Shuo kept his eyes closed, nurturing his spirit, contemplating the Longxiang in his heart, nurturing the Longxiang Divine Intent.

Until Xiao Liu told him they had arrived at the foot of Dongling Temple's mountain, did he open his eyes.

"Young Master Qin, there are no eateries on the mountain; we can only have lunch down here before ascending."

Xiao Liu is a lanky youth, very clever; otherwise Luo Wansong would not have let him guide Qin Shuo.

"Very well, you choose the place; as long as it's good to eat."

Qin Shuo was quite casual; following Xiao Liu's lead, he entered a restaurant.

Pa!

Just as they entered the door, the two heard a clear, bright slap on the table.

Qin Shuo followed the sound and saw on the high platform erected in the center of the restaurant hall, a person wearing a thin long robe, with a goat beard, heavily slamming down something conspicuous.

A storyteller?

Qin Shuo's eyes lit up; this was the first time in this world he had encountered this profession.

"Young Master Qin, the storyteller at this Jingfo Building is unmatched in the prefectural city; many gentlemen in town, when idle, come here to listen to tales."

Xiao Liu saw Qin Shuo drawn to the storyteller and hurried to explain.

At that moment, a waiter from the teahouse smiled and approached, asking what the two would like to eat.

Qin Shuo ordered a plate of roasted chicken, a serving of braised beef, a soup, and two cold dishes; the waiter, holding the menu, wore a strained smile as he left.

Pa!

Just as the teahouse waiter departed, the storyteller on the high platform struck the wooden clapper again with force; the previously lively teahouse fell instantly silent.

Even those who had just been ordering food lowered their voices under the glares of the surrounding audience.

"Last time, I spoke of how the Demon King Xiaoyue committed a heinous bloodbath in Yunzhou, slaughtering Fengyang City in a single night, shocking Yunzhou. The Dalong Temple dispatched the Longxiang Monk down the mountain to subdue demons, and he battled Xiaoyue Yaowang for three days and three nights at Baishi Mountain."

"In that battle, heaven and earth lost their color, sun and moon dimmed; countless mountain ridges were flattened, mountain beasts fled in terror, nearly causing a beastly calamity."

"The Longxiang Monk of Dalong Temple was once a common beggar, who, by chance, entered Dalong Temple, shaved his head, and became a novice monk."

This man possessed extraordinary talent; by eighteen, he had achieved the Golden Body, ranking first among the Eighteen Arhats in Dalong Temple's Arhat Hall.

At twenty-four, he descended the mountain to travel; first subduing and slaying a vicious tiger on Mang Mountain, then suppressing a great white serpent demon on Qingshan Lake, establishing his reputation as the Dragon-Subduing Arhat throughout Yunzhou.

Thereafter, he returned to the mountain, abandoned martial pursuits for scholarly study, and devoted himself to researching the Vajra Buddhist Dharma—this research spanning twenty long years!

On the day Xiaoyue slaughtered the city, all living beings suffered.

The Longxiang Monk, seated on his futon, seemed to sense something in his heart, and suddenly opened his eyes.

His eyes gleamed like molten gold, piercing and radiant; behind him, Buddhist light surged like a vast sea, from which a golden dragon leapt forth, while a white elephant trumpeted, bursting from the light in a furious charge.

"Having this day comprehended the meaning of Longxiang, I shall now transform the Buddha's realm to suppress the heavenly demon!"

Only then did the Longxiang Monk let out a great shout, his aura rising steadily, until one foot had stepped into the Grandmaster realm.

At that very moment, a novice arrived to report: Xiaoyue had slaughtered the city, blood flowing like drifting rafts.

The Longxiang Monk roared in anger, and the earth beneath his feet cracked inch by inch.

Only then was he seen leaping into the air, transforming into a five-clawed golden dragon that shot into the heavens, vanishing into the vast night sky under the astonished gaze of the young novice.

The storyteller's skill was superb; his vivid narration left the audience so enthralled they dared not breathe.

Even though Qin Shuo had heard much crosstalk in his past life and watched countless variety shows, he too was captivated by the storyteller, listening with rapt attention.

Most importantly, the Longxiang Monk mentioned by the storyteller was no stranger to him—the monk's kasaya was, at that very moment, inside his Taotie Cauldron.

Huā~

The storyteller unfolded his fan, pinched his goat beard, and smiled at the crowd, actually ceasing to speak further.

At that moment, a young servant stepped forward holding a bamboo basket, weaving between tables, bowing and scraping, smiling as he asked for tips.

"You thieving little bird, all you know is to ask for money."

"Hurry up, speak quickly—give the masters an enjoyable listen, or else you'll get no tip?"

"Exactly, exactly, you fellow, always keeping us in suspense—how unpleasant!"

Some impatient audience members protested, but most simply complied silently, producing copper coins or broken silver to toss into the bamboo basket.

When it came to Qin Shuo's table, Qin Shuo was not stingy either, placing five copper coins into the basket—not many, not few, placing him in the lower-middle range among the audience.

Xiao Liu, beside him, seeing this, felt a slight disappointment.

Originally, he had imagined that this Young Master Qin would be a lavish spender, throwing money freely, so that he himself might earn a bit more today.

Now it seemed that this trip of his would truly be merely accompanying the crown prince in study, with no profit to be gained.

With that thought, even the formerly delicious roasted chicken seemed to have lost a bit of its flavor.

Qin Shuo, having lived two lives, could not fail to notice Xiao Liu's contempt and disappointment in his eyes, yet he paid it no mind.

It was merely listening to a story—no need for extravagance; after all, he himself was not wealthy, and had no need to slap his face to look fat.

Ke~ ke~

Seeing that the servant below had nearly finished collecting, the storyteller with the goat beard took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and struck the wooden clapper once more.

Pa!

The entire hall fell silent!