Chapter 592: What is sought

"Is this the place?"

Yang Chenghua looked at the temple in the distance, his expression somewhat strange.

Li Yan hurriedly asked, "Senior, is something amiss?"

The Daoist Qingyang Temple was the premier forest of Daoist temples in the Southwest; it had a long history, and in terms of status within the Mystic Sects, it was not the least bit inferior to Mount Qingcheng.

Li Yan had tried before; even using escape techniques, the incense gods within the temple could vaguely sense him. If he wanted to sneak in secretly, he could only ask Yang Chenghua for help.

Hearing Li Yan's question, Yang Chenghua shook his head slightly, a trace of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. "I lived here for three years last time. I wonder if those people from back then are still around..."

Li Yan was somewhat surprised. "Senior also studied here?"

Yang Chenghua's identity was sensitive; he dared not expose himself, nor did he have anyone to guide him. After leaving Guankou, he relied entirely on his astonishing talent to self-study or steal techniques.

He had once said that he had snuck into many Dharma lineages to learn in secret.

He hadn't expected that he hadn't missed the Daoist Qingyang Temple either.

"Mm."

Yang Chenghua laughed. "This Daoist Qingyang Temple is too much trouble. Three years of studying, three years of examinations, and you have to be well-versed in Daoist scriptures and familiar with rituals before you can be taught secret methods."

"I didn't have that much time, so I disguised myself as a fire-tending acolyte to blend in, stole techniques for two years, and then took my leave."

"So that's how it was."

Li Yan nodded and smiled. "The Daoist Qingyang Temple is heavily guarded now. Since Senior is familiar with the path and has secret methods, I truly found the right person."

Yang Chenghua shook his head slightly. "Entering the Daoist Qingyang Temple doesn't require that much trouble. Just follow me."

Having said that, he turned and walked away with Li Yan.

"Senior, where are we going?"

"You'll know when we get there."

Yang Chenghua was very interested in keeping him in suspense.

Li Yan was left between laughter and tears, having no choice but to follow closely behind.

Seeming to recall something interesting, a rare smile appeared on Yang Chenghua's face.

The area around the Daoist Qingyang Temple was not desolate.

After all, this was outside the city, and the city gates would close at dusk. The rooms within the Daoist Qingyang Temple were limited, so to accommodate pilgrims, some inns and teahouses had been built nearby, gradually forming a small street.

When he saw that street from afar, Yang Chenghua smiled and said, "Back when I was posing as a Daoist acolyte, I got to know a little fatty at the Daoist Qingyang Temple. He was greedy and dim-witted, following behind me all day long."

"It's a pity he truly had no talent. When I left, I left him some silver, considering it a way for him to settle down. There's a secret passage I discovered there."

As they spoke, the two arrived outside the small street.

Because the gates of Chengdu Prefecture were closed, there was no business, so the street was cold and desolate, with most shops not even opening their doors.

Yang Chenghua led Li Yan to a teahouse called "Scattered Flower Tower." He looked up and was clearly somewhat surprised, muttering, "They've done quite well. Could it be that this silly boy's property was seized?"

Having said that, he went straight up to knock on the door.

The main door was tightly shut, but there were people inside.

With a creak, an elderly shopkeeper opened a crack, looking at the two with full vigilance. "The shop is closed for business. My apologies to you both."

Slap!

Just as the old shopkeeper was about to close the door, Yang Chenghua pressed his hand against it and said coldly, "Who are you? Where is Fatty Wu?"

The old shopkeeper was stunned upon hearing this. He stared at Yang Chenghua for a long time, his eyes filled with both shock and joy. "Is the guest surnamed Yang? Yang Ergou?"

Yang Ergou?

What kind of name was that?

Li Yan almost laughed out loud.

Seeing Yang Chenghua nod, the old shopkeeper opened the door with a face full of joy. "Sir, this old man has waited for you for many years. I've finally waited for you. My health is poor, and I was afraid I wouldn't live to see it..."

The old shopkeeper rambled on as he invited the two into the hall. Only then did Li Yan understand why the other party could recognize Yang Chenghua.

On the wall to the left of the main hall hung a painting of a youth with a blade of dogtail grass in his mouth, lying sideways on a hillside.

Although he was young, his brows and features were almost identical to Yang Chenghua's, and even his demeanor was not much different.

"Where is Fatty Wu?"

Yang Chenghua's brows furrowed slightly, his face showing displeasure.

He placed extreme importance on hiding his identity, drifting among the crowds as an observer for many years; it was only in his youth that he hadn't covered his tracks.

With so many people coming and going in the teahouse, and being so close to the Daoist Qingyang Temple, wasn't this just inviting trouble for him?

The old shopkeeper sighed. "The proprietor passed away three years ago..."

Yang Chenghua's body stiffened slightly. "What happened?"

The old shopkeeper lamented, "Over the years, the proprietor's business grew larger and larger, but his health wasn't very good. Plus, the Wu family's business was moving to Jinmen, so he handed the business over to his son and stayed here alone to guard this place."

Yang Chenghua frowned. "Why go to such lengths?"

The old shopkeeper shook his head. "The proprietor said that you would definitely return, and he asked this old man to pass on a message to you."

"'Wishing to buy osmanthus flowers to drink wine together, in the end, it is not like the travels of youth.' In his life of ups and downs, the happiest times were still those days spent stealing wine while following behind you..."

Upon hearing this, Yang Chenghua fell into silence.

The old shopkeeper, however, seemed afraid that he would run away, and hurriedly continued, "The proprietor left a room for you that no one is allowed to enter. He also left good wine and tea, saying his greatest wish was to treat you to a meal in return."

Having said that, he led the two to a corner room on the first floor, opened the copper lock, and invited them inside.

Li Yan looked around and saw that it was a windowless room with a very simple layout: just a soft couch, a square table, and two chairs.

On the table were teacups and a jar of wine.

On the opposite wall hung a painting of a little fatty in Daoist robes, holding a wine jar and smiling broadly, seemingly looking at them...

The old shopkeeper hurriedly said, "This old man will go stir-fry some dishes for you both..."

"No need."

Yang Chenghua didn't look back, waving his hand. "Let us stay by ourselves for a while. Also, we will be leaving afterward; don't ask too many questions."

"Rest assured, Sir."

The old shopkeeper smiled. "Do whatever you wish. This teahouse was left for you. This old man can consider himself to have fulfilled the proprietor's last wish."

"It's good, it's good, I've finally waited for you..."

Having said that, he lit a candle, turned, closed the door, and left.

Li Yan channeled his divine abilities and already knew the location of the secret passage.

Yang Chenghua, however, was in no rush to act, instead silently watching the portrait for a long time before suddenly speaking: "Fatty Wu wanted to follow me back then, but I was muddled myself; how could I bring along a burden..."

"People are strange things. Some seek fame, some seek profit. I just helped him out of convenience back then, yet Fatty Wu never forgot..."

"These days, the voices in my ears are growing more numerous, all like this, letting the inability to obtain what one seeks torment oneself."

"Life is but a fleeting hundred years. Whether one is a prince, a general, or a peddler, after death, all are but a handful of yellow earth, all vanity. Why be so attached?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment. "The sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy are all part of life. The Buddhist school says that only by letting go can one be at ease, but seeking ease—is that not also a form of seeking?"

"Living a lifetime, one must always seek something."

"It is just that what is sought is different."

Yang Chenghua was lost in thought, then shook his head. "Forget it. I can't figure it out even if I think about it. Let nature take its course."

Having said that, he broke the mud seal on the wine jar on the table, poured two bowls, picked up one, and drank it all in one gulp while facing the portrait. "This bowl of wine, I'll keep you company."

Afterward, he picked up the other bowl and poured it onto the ground.

The wine flowed along the cracks in the bricks, quickly revealing a difference: some places seeped through directly, while other places flowed in all directions.

Rumble!

Yang Chenghua lifted his foot and rubbed the ground.

A whole iron plate connected to the bricks was lifted directly, revealing a pitch-black hole underneath.

Yang Chenghua jumped in, and Li Yan followed closely behind.

This tunnel was very deep. At first, it was somewhat inconspicuous, but after descending more than ten meters and walking for a distance, they suddenly saw underground rocks and a subterranean river. A path carved by human hands followed the steep stone wall beside the underground river, heading toward the Daoist Qingyang Temple.

Looking at the age of the chisel marks, it was definitely not from this era.

"This is an ancient path from the Warring States period..."

Yang Chenghua explained as he walked: "Back when Qin attacked the Shu region, the Daoists of the Daoist Qingyang Temple dug it to seek refuge. Later, it was abandoned and no one knew of it. I found it by chance and often brought Fatty Wu through the secret passage to sneak out and drink wine." The two moved at high speed and before long arrived at the end of the secret passage. They saw that above was a vertical shaft with a thick hemp rope hanging down, which had already somewhat rotted.

Naturally, they had no use for this object. They leaped up, supported themselves with their hands against the walls and their feet bracing against the sides, quickly reaching the top.

Yang Chenghua first used his ears to listen, then gently pushed with his hand, and the sound of firewood rolling tumbled down from above.

After coming out, they had actually arrived at the firewood room in the side courtyard of the Daoist Qingyang Temple.

When Li Yan had escaped back then, he had been near here. Across the high courtyard wall, outside was a large expanse of medicinal fields.

"Command!"

Yang Chenghua pinched a seal with two fingers, and a gentle breeze immediately swirled around them, masking their presence.

This reincarnation of Erlang Zhenjun was extremely cautious. Only after masking their presence did he once again cast an invisibility technique.

After the wind passed, the figures of the two had completely vanished.

They had chosen to sneak in at dusk. After passing through the secret passage, night had already fallen.

Although there were flickering candlelight, they could not hear the sound of Daoists performing evening lessons. Instead, there were groups of three or five, holding sharp blades, patrolling within the temple.

!

Li Yan had witnessed the capabilities of the Daoist Qingyang Temple.

First was the sword formation, which could not compare to Mount Qingcheng but was still full of power.

Second was the ability to cast spells by borrowing incense and fire, which was extremely brilliant.

If it were an ordinary escape technique, it would inevitably be discovered.

But Yang Chenghua happened to be constantly absorbing the incense and fire of Erlang Zhenjun at this moment, merging it with his spells, becoming extremely strange.

He was even more adept at dealing with this kind of incense and fire power.

The two walked along the pebble path within the temple. Occasionally encountering patrols, they would step aside, and the other party, even at arm's length, could not discover them.

At the same time, Li Yan also saw some oddities.

These Daoists were extremely vigilant, clearly guarding against, or even fearing, something. However, their attention was not outside the temple, but rather directed toward each of the great halls.

All the great halls were tightly locked with iron chains.

Pitch black, it seemed as if some monster was hidden inside...

Soon, they arrived before the Doumu Hall.

Li Yan frowned and stopped.

He saw that on the bluestone square outside the Doumu Hall, a towering Dharma altar stood erect.

He had seen many Dharma altars; each Dharma lineage had unique forms, coordinated with their own secret methods.

But the one before his eyes was clearly not right.

The Dharma altar was over five zhang high. Each log was pierced and fixed by thick iron nails, and they were bound with red silk.

These logs formed an eighty-one-level staircase leading straight to the top of the Dharma altar, and densely packed characters were carved upon them:

"Formerly in the Beginning Green Heaven, the Empty Song of the Azure Fall, the Great Floating Li Earth. Receiving the Beginning's Salvation of People, Immeasurable Superior Grade, the Beginning Heavenly Venerable, when speaking of this scripture..."

This was the "Scripture of Salvation," common in the Mystic Sects.

But these scriptures had their handwriting inverted, seeping with a cold chill.

On the other three sides of the Dharma altar hung huge scrolls of gods and immortals, depicting rolling river waters, with an old dragon tearing at a small dragon.

Just at this moment, Yang Chenghua suddenly pressed his shoulder, pointing his hand toward the seven huge lotus lamps offered above the Dharma altar.

"Look at the Dipper handle."

Yang Chenghua reminded him coldly.

Li Yan looked carefully again and discovered that the positions of the Big Dipper had also been reversed, and the lamp flames presented an eerie ink-green color.

Crackle!

Whenever

the lamp flower at the Greedy Wolf position crackled, the doors of the surrounding great halls would rattle.

So that's how it was...

Li Yan immediately understood the plan of these Daoists.

That big dragon and small dragon symbolized the Great Lord Jiang Shen and the Dragon Lady.

The rituals performed by these Daoists of the Daoist Qingyang Temple were to help the Great Lord Jiang Shen reclaim the divine charm absorbed by the Dragon Lady...

Yang Chenghua gave him another look, led him before the Three Pure Ones Hall, and seeing no one around, led Li Yan to jump onto the dougong of the great hall, tore open the carved window, and jumped inside.

All around was pitch black, but the two could see clearly.

They saw that the statues of the Three Pure Ones above, along with the Dharma-protecting divine generals, were all wrapped into cocoons by yellow talismans, covered in cinnabar talismans.

"Seal the divine orifices, cut off the incense and fire."

Yang Chenghua's brows furrowed slightly, an instinctive revulsion rising.

Lost in thought, his fingertips brushed over the talisman cloth.

Rattle!

The cloth suddenly shook violently, seeping out dark red blood beads.

"These bull-nosed ones are crazy!"

Yang Chenghua said coldly: "They are using secret methods to blind the divine orifices and extract the incense and fire divine power to supply the Dharma altar outside."

"If they succeed, the Daoist Qingyang Temple can be considered to have had its roots cut..."

"Senior, is there a way to break it?"

Li Yan hurriedly asked.

"Simple."

Yang Chenghua looked at the divine statues above and said sternly: "This is a type of forbidden technique. I haven't learned it, but I do know some things."

"Extracting incense and fire divine power inevitably requires the use of the 'Confuse God Method.' The cost of this method is not small. When breaking the method, as long as these restrictive talismans are torn off simultaneously, those bull-nosed ones will inevitably suffer a backlash."

"Remember, it must be simultaneous. No matter how high our cultivation is, there are only two of us; we must find more people to help."

"No rush."

Li Yan was lost in thought. "Acting now might alert the enemy. Since we know the weakness, on the fifteenth, during the Daoist Qingyang Temple's Flower Festival, we'll catch them off guard."

After clarifying the cause, the two left along the secret passage again.

"You go first."

Just after exiting the secret passage of the Scattered Flower Tower teahouse, Yang Chenghua suddenly said: "I'll stay in this teahouse. If there's anything, come here to find me."

"As Senior wishes."

Li Yan didn't waste words, turning and cupping his hands to take his leave.

When he stepped out the door, he inadvertently turned his head to look.

He saw Yang Chenghua sitting before the table, drinking by himself while facing the portrait, looking extremely lonely.

At this moment, Li Yan suddenly no longer felt envy.

Although Yang Chenghua was the reincarnation of Erlang Zhenjun, destined to ascend to godhood and become an immortal, he had drifted outside the mortal world since childhood and had missed too much.

Everyone in this life has something they seek.

What is sought is always that which has not yet been obtained...

…………

Dujiangyan, the night color was like ink.

The bright moon shone, and thousands of crimson lanterns floated on the river surface.

More than thirty grain transport ships were moored in an interlocking fashion at the main branch of the Min River. The masts formed undulating peaks, and the pine torches hanging from the prows burned the river surface into patches of golden scales.

Figures moved about on the decks, and the shouts of moving cargo drifted intermittently, wrapped in the river wind—a scene of bustling activity.

On the high mountains in the distance, figures flashed within the forest, mostly wearing Daoist robes and carrying sharp swords on their backs.

The people of Mount Qingcheng had finally arrived at Dujiangyan...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 593 =====