Chapter 803: Shishi

There is also a Daohuisisi in Jingshi.

The official in charge is a fifth-rank Daoist Official, subordinate to the Honglu Temple, and holds the duty of managing the Monk Certificates of all Taoists under heaven.

On this day.

A Taoist arrived at the entrance of the Daohuisisi.

The two yamen runners guarding the gate were startled when they saw a White Tiger swaggering through the streets toward them.

Aaron flipped down from the tiger's back and said to the two runners, "This poor Daoist is Xulingzi, seeking an audience with the Daoist in charge of this office..."

"This Daoist Master, please wait a moment..."

The reason for this is naturally that the women here are the most exquisite; not only are they beauties of national renown, but they are also highly skilled in poetry, songs, and music, capable of singing in harmony with the guests.

'After all, no official will give a guarantee when handling matters; as long as they don't refuse, the matter is sixty percent done!'

"Greetings, Senior Brother Huoyun!"

'But with the Chongming Tao, there seems to be no other way... I set my heart toward the bright moon, yet the bright moon shines upon the drainage ditch...'

"Previously, the Emperor said that we must select the virtuous and capable from all regions, and not let bright pearls be left outside... Looking at it this way, it is possible that there were some oversights in various places. Fortunately, my General Office can fully make up for it..."

There are countless brothels and pleasure houses in Jingshi, and the most famous one today is still Fanlou.

"What of a Hidden Dragon? That Military Governor Zhang from several years ago, whose purple-blue Qi formed a canopy, was also a flood dragon... He even had a certain degree of certainty of becoming a True Dragon, yet what was his end?"

"Heh... once one enters the gate of the True Cultivator, there is a sensing of Heavenly Secret; mortals might be able to cut ties cleanly, but how can we?"

Wumingzi invited Aaron into an office, the two sat down, and a young Daoist acolyte came to serve tea.

'After all... the supernatural in this world is too weak. It is said that even a Taoist Master, if surrounded by fifty armored soldiers, would have to lose his head under strong bows and hard crossbows!'

"Hmm... Dajingang Temple giving me this news also has unfathomable motives... It is eighty percent likely they still want me to go and challenge the Chongming Tao, laughing as they watch the internal strife of the Taoist Gate... But I still have to accept this favor."

Huoyunzi sneered: "Heavenly Secret Backlash, as long as one has cultivation, it is karma... Mortals are instead not afraid of this, having to wait until death for retribution; this is the rule of heaven and earth. If it could be separated early... why wouldn't the Grandmasters and Masters do it?"

A Daoist in red robes walked into the office and, seeing Wumingzi handling official business, could not help but laugh: "Junior Brother Wulongzi..."

Huoyunzi laughed: "As long as we rely on the True Dragon of the Great Song, we can still suppress them and slowly whittle them away... We can also take their Qi Luck to increase the Daoist arts of the Masters in our sect, and at the same time, extend the national destiny of the Great Song."

The next day.

By this time, he had become quite familiar with the monks at the barbecue stall, and they greeted each other with smiles.

A yamen runner took the calling card and, looking at the White Tiger, did not dare to say anything; he even forgot to extort a red envelope and went straight inside the office to report.

"The sect naturally has a plan long since prepared..." Huoyunzi sighed; the Xuanwu Lake in the south is only the worst-case scenario.

At this moment, arriving in the courtyard, he saw a young novice monk come over, quickly hand him a slip of paper, and then immediately run away.

"Hmm?"

Tong Jing, a former Eunuch, once served as a regional Military Governor, thus holding military power and having some war achievements; later, he managed the Privy Council, known as 'Chancellor Tong', and is also one of the bigwigs of the current Imperial Court.

This request did not exceed his expectations: "The Daohuisisi in every region has the power of recommendation, and the General Office in Jingshi naturally has it too. Since you, fellow Daoist, can subdue a White Tiger, you are naturally one with true Daoist attainments... It is just that..."

The chief official of the Daohuisisi is fifth-rank and is actually held by a Civil Official; however, the several clerks below, although low in rank, all have some true cultivation.

Aaron naturally also knew that his current situation was a bit dangerous.

Aaron let Xiaoyu wait at the entrance and walked into the yamen himself.

Through his connection with Dajingang Temple, Aaron finally knew who was blocking him.

"Please, fellow Daoist!"

The big monk grilling meat smiled: "Amitabha... Daoist Master, your supernatural powers are extraordinary, you will naturally have your day of success..."

Not long after, a Daoist wearing a crane cloak came out, and seeing the White Tiger, he was slightly surprised and performed a Daoist salute: "This poor Daoist is Wumingzi, greetings fellow Daoist, please!"

Therefore, he just sneered and turned to leave.

"Yes... if the matter cannot be accomplished, this poor Daoist can only return to the countryside to cultivate in peace. Sigh... I don't know if I will be able to eat the barbecue you make in the future."

Huoyunzi refused without a second thought; the great fortune of a Hidden Dragon is something that the more people who know about it, the more people there are to share in it.

"Daoist Master Xulingzi, here to eat barbecue again."

Immediately, seeing him ride the tiger away, he was even more amazed and could not help but ponder.

Aaron returned to Dajingang Temple and, as usual, cast a hexagram for himself.

"The other clerks also have important matters, as for the Daoist Official, he is a fifth-rank official..."

The yamen runner glanced at Aaron and answered with a sneer, the meaning of which was very obvious.

Every day, riding a White Tiger and swaggering through the streets, he did not know how much covetousness he had provoked, all relying on the possibility of participating in the Sissi Banquet, wearing a fake tiger skin.

Wumingzi saw the person coming and hurriedly stood up to salute; this was a True Disciple of the Chongming Tao, whose cultivation far exceeded his own: "Senior Brother, has the matter been handled?"

Watching that White Tiger leave, the two yamen runners also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Huoyunzi shook his head: "Your Daoism is shallow, and you do not cultivate the art of physiognomy and bone-reading, so you cannot see it... That Xulingzi has Qi Number on his person, I fear he is a key figure, and he is accustomed to seeking fame... If this person gets close to the Dragon Qi, I fear there will be a great disaster!"

Wumingzi stated the situation, and Huoyunzi rebuked him angrily: "Junior Brother... you are confused! How can this person be allowed to see the Emperor?"

Huoyunzi was excited in his heart.

He even felt that the other party was too pedantic and not a true Daoist.

The two looked at each other, both understood without words.

The more Aaron looked, the wider his eyes grew: 'Damn... if I really do this, I'll be on a proper demonic path...'

Wumingzi smiled and drank tea with Aaron for a while longer, only then sending Aaron out.

Aaron knew clearly and unobtrusively slipped over a banknote: "This poor Daoist naturally understands the rules and will not make things difficult for you, Daoist Master..."

If it were finally decided that he could not participate in the Sissi Banquet, then the fun would be huge; those coveting him from all sides would swarm up, and they might just swallow him alive!

"Naturally, it is that Privy Councilor Tong," Huoyunzi replied.

Three days later.

"Daoist Master Wulongzi is busy and not seeing guests today?"

"The Chongming Tao is the Daoist lineage most trusted by the Emperor, and several Masters are stationed in the palace to refine pills, which is no small matter... Besides that, Tong Jing is a former Eunuch and has many connections in the Imperial Palace, and he himself holds military power... With these two parties intending to blockade, even if it is just an attitude, it is very difficult for me to break through!"

When Aaron came to the Daoist Association Office again to inquire for news, he discovered that the situation was not right.

It must be said that this attitude made Aaron very satisfied.

Aaron felt a surge of anger in his heart; with things changing like this, something he did not know about must have happened.

The key was to find it in time, or to nip it in the bud, or to utilize it!

"If I can obtain the Hidden Dragon Qi, perhaps... the next one to ascend to True Person will be me."

And this hexagram obviously represented that things had taken a turn!

"And all of this seems to have started since I went to the Daoist Association Office; could it be that my horoscope is naturally at odds with this office?"

With such a big shot stepping in—or even without needing to step in, just by showing an attitude—Aaron's situation became very dangerous.

"But... the Hidden Dragon is difficult to influence. The Grandmaster's previous fortune-telling for Zhang Ye was also a matter of chance and timing... Should we also invite a True Person to calculate for Xulingzi?" Wulongzi felt it was somewhat unsafe.

Wulongzi asked again.

The future is not immutable!

He had known this for a long time.

Wumingzi looked around and lowered his voice.

Aaron picked up some lettuce to wrap the meat and sighed while saying.

"Coming here today is also Qi Luck, allowing me to see another person possessed of great Qi Luck!" Thinking of this, Huoyunzi revealed a smile: "Junior Brother, tell me carefully... this Xulingzi might also be a Hidden Dragon!"

He opened it to look, his eyes narrowing slightly: "Chongming Dao, Huoyunzi? Tong Jing?"

At this moment, he asked thoughtfully: "Who was that Daoist who just went out? What did he come to handle?"

In fact, he had long ago fallen into the schemes of the sect's Grandmaster, and was instead utilized to clear away the rebels of Zhongyuan for the Great Song, causing the flood dragons and pythons to slaughter each other; this act extended the Heavenly Mandate of the Great Song by at least twenty years!

Besides this, the Chongming Dao also reaped many benefits, and the ascension of at least two True Persons in the sect was related to this!

Furthermore, it also paid off a portion of the Dragon Qi karma.

What was more critical was that he had merit toward the Song, his temperament was unyielding, he was upright in character, and he had always looked down upon Buddha and Taoism.

That Regional Commander Zhang Ye was also like this.

It was just that, since the Chongming Dao and Tong Jing had both shown their attitudes, the Emperor could not act arbitrarily; after all, Aaron's appeal was still too small and not worth...

Walking out of the Daoist Association Office, a Daoist in red robes was hurrying in; upon seeing Aaron, he was startled for a moment.

Wumingzi was shocked.

The best of the few plans was to continue extending the life of the Great Song True Dragon!

"Previously heard reports from the south, it was a close call..."

Aaron gradually felt the atmosphere becoming even more wrong.

"Xulingzi of Jiangzhou... somehow subdued a White Tiger and wants to go to the Thousand Autumn Banquet; the person is still considered sensible."

More critically, upon entering, Aaron felt a wave of pure Qi rushing toward his face, and his whole body and mind could not help but feel refreshed; he immediately knew that the person who presided over the construction of the Daoist Association Office must be someone with cultivation.

And recently, the other party was very fond of visiting brothels, seeming very interested in a famous courtesan...

Huoyunzi sat down carelessly; he actually did not approve of Wumingzi's practice of letting worldly affairs delay his cultivation.

This was the merit of the Grandmaster's planning! And also the marvelous use of Daoist Technique!

There was not even a need to sow discord; as long as they knew of this person Xulingzi, they would inevitably target him.

It could be said that after Zhang Ye died, even if the Great Song were to perish, the Backlash caused to the Chongming Dao would not be great enough to reach the point of exterminating the Daoist Lineage!

"That may not be so!" Huoyunzi was confident: "The Emperor favors Taoism, and many officials are already dissatisfied; among them are many who are full of Righteous Qi and look down upon our Chongming Dao, not to mention such a person who tries to advance through opportunism. As long as the word is spread, this person will be watched by others sooner or later... Hehe, a White Tiger is an auspicious omen; do those powerful people really not feel tempted? They are just hindered by the Thousand Autumn Banquet and the Emperor's face, deliberately suppressing it for now... Once the dust settles, this person will inevitably be knocked into the mud."

He sipped some fragrant tea before asking: "Daoist friend, what is the purpose of your visit?"

"Hidden Dragon?!"

Wumingzi was one of them.

"Then I wonder who Senior Brother wants to find?"

The current Emperor is very fond of traveling in disguise, so he may not be unaware of these things.

After thinking it over, Aaron finally went out to continue eating roast pork.

Wumingzi stroked his beard.

Wumingzi was shocked, and then broke into a cold sweat: "I was indeed muddled... But some elders in our Daoist Gate have always felt that being too close to Dragon Qi is not good, so they have also silently pushed for the Thousand Autumn Banquet, also intending to go with the flow and silently divide it!"

He looked at the bailiff blocking him and asked another question: "Then may I see other deacons, or even the Daoist Official?"

He looked at the divination result, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

A moment later, watching Aaron's back disappear, he turned around and hurried into the Daoist Association Office.

"Why hasn't this Sword Control Technique been unsealed yet? I feel so insecure... And the Beast Taming Technique can't tame people, bad review!"

Aaron smiled slightly: "This poor Daoist previously strayed into the deep mountains, met a Strange Person, and cultivated Daoism... but I also want to contribute to the Imperial Court, and incidentally promote our Daoist Gate; encountering the Emperor's Thousand Autumn Banquet, I had to come..."

It was once again the time when the lanterns were first lit.

This reprimand was unceremonious, and Wumingzi was instantly stunned there.

Inside, the carved beams and painted rafters were extremely magnificent, and the sound of silk and bamboo instruments never ceased day or night; countless royal relatives, wealthy merchants, powerful families, and scholars came here to drink and feast.

If this reputation is ruined, then so be it...

"Then... what should we do?"

The True Dragon is unique; as long as the Great Song Heavenly Mandate remains, the Hidden Dragon will still be suppressed.

The things ordered from above naturally had to be done, but this Daoist was also not to be trifled with; if a conflict occurred and the White Tiger ate them, there would be nowhere to reason!

After Aaron left, the figures of Wulongzi and Huoyunzi walked out from the Taoist temple: "Senior Brother, this step has been taken, but how should we proceed with the second step? This Xulingzi rides a White Tiger through the streets every day and is already famous in Jingshi. This wind will blow into the palace one day... when that time comes, we won't be able to stop it either!"

Anyway, they are here to swindle the Qi Number; earning a living is nothing to be ashamed of!

However, they did provide an interesting piece of intelligence.

Therefore, the emergence of a Hidden Dragon is not terrifying.

Aaron muttered a complaint and looked at the very bottom of the note.

Dajingang Temple could not risk offending both sides to personally provide an introduction for Aaron.

"Great Ominous paired with Small Auspicious?"

There are many buildings within the Daohuisisi, and a fairly large garden has been built at the entrance, complete with small bridges, flowing water, bamboo pavilions, and high platforms... although not magnificent, it is very exquisite.

"Wait and see first."

After thinking for a moment, he cast a divination in his heart, and it was actually 'Great Auspicious', so he immediately made up his mind.

Among them, the most famous one is a renowned courtesan named 'Wang Shishi'...

Aaron abandoned the White Tiger and walked to the night market, only to see lanterns and colorful streamers everywhere, with fine horses and carved carriages filling the road; it was incredibly lively.

After turning into a street, the decadent music on both sides grew intense, with all kinds of brothels and pleasure houses, featuring beauties of every shape and size... arriving at the Fanlou in the very center, one could see it was built in a grand and imposing style, charming yet not vulgar, with green gauze curtains fluttering on both sides and a couplet hanging there—'Songs and dances of fairy maidens, romantic Flower Moon Leader'!

(End of this chapter)