Chapter 1902

Hu Xiaotian said, "The power of faith!" He turned his gaze toward distant Fan Yin Shan, seeing golden light shining brightly on Fan Yin Shan, and softly said, "What is that glittering thing?"

The Golden Summit Hall is the most solemn and mysterious place of Fan Yin Si.

Hu Xiaotian nodded; in the distance a cavalry approached their position, the cavalry entirely made up of warriors in brown leather armor, the leader's appearance suggesting wealth or nobility. Hu Xiaotian and Xia Zhangming quietly stepped aside; on the road, most of the kneeling, prostrating believers rose to dodge, yet one person lay there motionless, oblivious to the cavalry coming from behind.

The cavalry's speed did not lessen; Hu Xiaotian watched, unable not to worry for that believer—if the cavalry kept moving, wouldn't it trample the believer into pulp? He looked at the leader warrior, but saw the warrior's face grim and cold; evidently he had already seen the believer on the ground, yet had no intention of stopping.

Just as the cavalry was about to trample the believer, a green shadow flashed in the crowd—it was an old monk in coarse cloth monk's robes blocking the cavalry's path; he intoned a Buddhist chant: "Amitabha! Good! Good!"

Upon seeing that old monk, Hu Xiaotian's heart filled with sudden delight—it turned out the old monk was actually Master Yuanmu of Tianlong Temple.

The leading Black Hu warrior coldly stared at the old monk before him; the Black Hu people believed in Buddhism, but their Buddhism differed from that of the Central Plains, so seeing Master Yuanmu, their first reaction was not special respect. He also did not understand Central Plains speech, shouting at Yuanmu in gibberish; Yuanmu also couldn't understand him, turned and went to the believer lying prostrate on the ground, lifting him up from the ground—actually the believer wasn't unwilling to rise, but had fainted from the cold.

Seeing Master Yuanmu, this scrawny little old man effortlessly lift the big man on the ground, the Black Hu warrior felt strange; he gritted his teeth, spurred his horse forward, and lashed the whip in his hand hard at Yuanmu's back.

Although Hu Xiaotian silently cursed the Black Hu warrior for his rudeness, he also had no intention of intervening; given Master Yuanmu's skill, the Black Hu warrior, blind as he was, would almost certainly suffer a big loss.

As expected, before Yuanmu could act, another person rushed out from the crowd, grabbed the Black Hu warrior's whip in one hand, shook his arm, and the warrior's huge frame was dragged off his horse; this person wore a yellow monk's robe, a foreign monk with a bald head, flowing beard, high nose and deep-set eyes, his deep blue eyes flashing coldly, showing no serenity of a Buddhist disciple; the Black Hu warrior fell at his feet, and the foreign monk kicked him in the face, this kick leaving the warrior's face bloody and swollen.

Just as a great battle was about to erupt, a clear, bell-like angry shout came from behind; a youthful noble in white fur robes rode a white horse from the rear, lashing his whip at the group of Black Hu warriors; Hu Xiaotian saw clearly that this white-clad youthful noble was actually the Black Hu Princess Xima—truly, one meets old acquaintances everywhere; who would have thought that in this distant Black Hu heartland he would also encounter her by fate. Hu Xiaotian's delight lay in the fact that Xima was an extremely vulnerable link on the Black Hu side, perhaps useful to him.

As a great battle was about to erupt, a clear, bell-like angry shout came from behind; a young lord in a white fur robe rode up from behind on a white horse, raised his whip and lashed out fiercely at the group of Black Hu warriors. Hu Xiaotian saw it clearly—this white-clad young lord was actually the Black Hu princess Xima. Indeed, life brings unexpected meetings; who would have thought that, having come to this faraway Black Hu heartland, I would also be destined to meet her. Hu Xiaotian's joy lay in the fact that Xima was an extremely vulnerable link on the Black Hu side; perhaps she might still be useful to me.

Hu Xiaotian and Xia Zhangming watched from the crowd; after Xima's cavalry departed, Hu Xiaotian gave Xia Zhangming a look, Xia Zhangming immediately understood and followed the cavalry to see where they would settle.

Hu Xiaotian then found Master Yuanmu; Master Yuanmu brought the fainted believer to a sheltered spot, the bearded foreign monk had someone bring a bowl of hot soup, Master Yuanmu rubbed the believer a few times to help him regain consciousness, then gave him several sips of hot soup; the believer gradually came to, his face regaining some color, the bearded monk exchanged a few unintelligible words with him. The believer rose and bowed to Master Yuanmu, who quickly helped him up.

Hu Xiaotian watched from afar and deduced that the bearded foreign monk was likely an interpreter specially hired by Master Yuanmu.

Master Yuanmu seemed to sense something, lifted his head and looked toward Hu Xiaotian's direction, only to see a strange man in the distance smiling faintly at him; that smile carried a hint of familiarity. Master Yuanmu, profound in cultivation and perceptive of worldly affairs, almost immediately guessed who this man was—in fact, it had to do with Hu Xiaotian wanting to deliberately reveal his identity; if he didn't want Yuanmu to recognize him, he wouldn't have shown that signature smile.

Yuanmu said a few words to the bearded foreign monk, then rose and walked toward Hu Xiaotian; Hu Xiaotian went to meet Yuanmu respectfully, saying, "Master, how have you been?"

Yuanmu smiled faintly and said, "Benefactor, your myriad transformations are truly admirable."

"All changes remain within the same essence; even Sun Wukong, though myriad in transformation, ultimately cannot escape the Buddha's palm."

Yuanmu blinked slightly, evidently unaware of the story of Sun Wukong's battle with the Tathagata Buddha.

Hu Xiaotian was certain that Yuanmu had been invited by Ji Feihua to lend aid; since Yuanmu had come, Ji Feihua must be nearby. He smiled and asked, "Master, did you come alone?"

Yuanmu turned to glance at the bearded foreign monk and said, "That venerable monk is my old friend Master Xiangyin, whom I will introduce to you later."

"Great, great!" Hu Xiaotian silently sighed at the old monk's slipperiness; clearly he knew who I was asking about, yet deliberately talked about something else.

Yuanmu said, "I have just arrived here and still haven't found a place to rest."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If so, why not come to my place?"

Yuanmu also didn't stand on ceremony: "Then I'll impose." He asked for Hu Xiaotian's residence, not hurrying over, letting Hu Xiaotian go first; he and Master Xiangyin would come later.

Xia Zhangming had followed a circuit and returned to meet Hu Xiaotian; it turned out Xima was this time specially escorting several Black Hu high monks' Buddhist relics back to the temple. Hu Xiaotian secretly wondered: when the Xuanti Lei exploded, including Bu Bu Ma among the Black Hu's four top experts were all blown to ashes—where could the relics come from?

Xia Zhangming also didn't figure it out; Xima's party was staying today at the Buddha Heart Pavilion of Gu Ying Bao, with no immediate plans to enter Fan Yin Si.

They returned to the Huang Sha Inn; Xiong Tianba was cooking meat, a born non-chef, filling the kitchen with smoke and flame, making him tear up, his face covered in soot, tears mixing into a comical mess—extremely laughable—Xia Zhangming quickly took over his work.

Xiong Tianba coughed as he came into the hall, muttering, "This godforsaken place has no business to speak of; in the few days we've taken over, not a single guest..." Just as he spoke, two old monks knocked and entered.

Hu Xiaotian rose with a smile to greet them; Xiong Tianba scratched the back of his head, secretly thinking it was strange.

Just then, Xia Zhangming came out of the kitchen carrying a large plate of hot hand‑pulled lamb, seeing two more monks in the hall, he secretly thought it was offensive.

Unexpectedly, Master Xiangyin saw the plate of lamb, his eyes lit up, he pointed at the meat then at his mouth.

Yuanmu sighed and said, "You this impure‑six‑senses fellow are still as gluttonous; they're not outsiders, they understand Chinese."

Master Xiangyin burst out laughing, "Damn, I've been holding it in; this lamb is truly fucking fragrant!"

Xiong Tianba and Xia Zhangming both opened their mouths wide, nearly biting their tongues; Master Xiangyin rushed over like a gust of wind, eyes drooling at Xia Zhangming's face. Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Master, please eat at your leisure, no need to be polite."

Master Xiangyin waited for his greeting, then seized a lamb leg from the tray, unafraid of the heat, bit off a large chunk and began chewing; as he ate he muttered, "Fragrant, really fucking fragrant—having meat but no liquor seems missing something, kids, got any booze?"

Xiong Tianba nodded and went to fetch mare's milk wine; Master Xiangyin shook his head, saying, "I'm not used to that fishy smell, but it's better than nothing," then grabbed the wine sack and gulped it down.

Hu Xiaotian approached Yuanmu's side and smiled, asking, "Master, would you like some as well?"

Yuanmu shook his head, took a dry bun from his sleeve, and said, "This dry bun is enough for me."

Master Xiangyin glanced at him with disdain and said, "Hypocrite, you've eaten this before!"

Yuanmu felt rather embarrassed by that remark, while Hu Xiaotian and the others couldn't help but laugh.

Master Xiangyin was clearly far more entertaining than Yuanmu; in a short while he was getting along swimmingly with Hu Xiaotian and the two others, clinking cups with Xiong Tianba as brothers in arms. Yuanmu took his old friend's antics in stride, shaking his head with a mix of laughter and exasperation, then went alone to the stove to sit and silently bake his bun.

Master Xiangyin is obviously much more interesting than Yuanmu; after a short while he and Hu Xiaotian's three companions were fighting fiercely, and with Xiong Tianba he was even exchanging cups and calling each other brothers. Yuanmu, seeing his old friend's behavior, was also unsurprised, shaking his head helplessly, came alone to sit by the stove and silently baked his flatbread.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha remains in the heart; indeed, if one truly harbors the Buddha within, one wouldn't mind these details."

Yuanmu said, "Each to his own fate; I cannot attain Master Xiangyin's state." He took a bite of the flatbread, nodded, obviously pleased with its taste, and whispered, "Just now that cavalry was escorting the Black Hu princess."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "I've already looked into this matter."

Yuanmu said, "I heard they're staying at the Buddha Heart Pavilion."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Master, your information is just as well‑informed."

Yuanmu said, "Someone asked me to let you know: they invite you to go there together at midnight tonight to have a look."

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian felt both startled and delighted; the person Master Yuanmu mentioned who invited him to night‑visit the Buddha Heart Pavilion could only be Ji Feihua—she had indeed come to Gu Ying Bao, still her usual way of coming and going alone, appearing and disappearing mysteriously; no matter what, Hu Xiaotian's heart simply liked her.

Monthly Ticket is a bit low; please support with Monthly Ticket! (To be continued~^~)

Monthly Ticket is a bit low, please support with Monthly Ticket! (To be continued~^~)