[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-116":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2292079,4481,"Chapter 116","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-116",116,"\u003Cp>The old drunkard wiped his greasy hands casually on his clothes, took the scroll, and slowly unrolled it; a pair of pale blue eyes shimmered with light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s her. No mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang pressed: “Where did you see her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old drunkard slowly rolled the scroll back up, his face clouded with memory: “This woman was named Lita. More than ten years ago, she was the daughter of a noble in the Buddha Kingdom, and at the time, she was betrothed to the royal family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But for some reason, rumors suddenly spread that the royal heir and Lita had died together in a suicide pact, and a grand funeral was held.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dead more than ten years ago?” Lu Fang frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doubted whether the old drunkard was referring to Lu Ling’s mother—after all, Lu Ling should have just been born back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, maybe not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that was precisely why Lu Ling’s mother never returned to Da Zhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Lu Ling learned her biological parents had died together, she’d be heartbroken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old drunkard grinned crookedly: “I thought she was dead too—until the next year, in the Buddha Kingdom’s trial grounds, I saw Lita again, the one who was supposed to be dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She didn’t die? And she appeared in the Buddha Kingdom’s trial grounds?” Lu Fang was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the information he’d gathered before arriving, the Buddha Kingdom’s trial grounds were like a small upper realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could someone who had already died and been buried gain entry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old drunkard nodded vigorously: “At first, I thought she merely resembled her, or that I’d dreamed it—but the dream kept recurring, and I realized it was a sign.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dream?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang frowned tightly. By the old drunkard’s tone, he had seen Lita in a dream within the Buddha Kingdom’s trial grounds?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old drunkard noticed Lu Fang’s expression and gave a self-deprecating smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does it sound absurd? I thought so too. But to uncover the truth—or perhaps to find an opportunity—I finally found the entrance to the underground palace from my dream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was so thrilled I jumped up—can you imagine? Every sign in the dream was real.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, the old drunkard paused, swallowed hard, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I reached out and pushed open the crack of the underground palace’s door, a voice like a demon’s whisper echoed in my mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll never forget that feeling—it was as if a demon was staring at me from behind, freezing my blood, making even breathing agonizingly difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fear paralyzed me. Yes, I didn’t even close the door—I turned and ran.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But soon I regretted it, because in my dream I saw Lita being chased by a demon inside the underground palace; it paced endlessly by the window, emitting terrifying sounds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I could have gone in and saved her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m certain it was all real. Lita showed me how to sense the entrance—I felt her fear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But because of my own fear, I missed everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang listened, his expression thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lita, already dead, was trapped in an underground palace within the Buddha Kingdom’s trial grounds—a place resembling a small upper realm—with a demon prowling outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could only reach out for help through dreams, appearing to passersby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the old drunkard drunk, making up nonsense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Lu Fang asked: “Can you pinpoint exactly where in the Buddha Kingdom’s trial grounds you dreamed of her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old drunkard nodded: “It’s useless. Ever since I fled in fear from the entrance of the underground palace, I returned the next day—but the entrance was gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how hard I tried, I never dreamed of Lita again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only after I left the Buddha Kingdom’s trial grounds and told my master did he tell me it was my inner demon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I know it all happened. I can clearly recall the strange sensation of entering that place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thick, lingering mist. A deathly silence. Not a single living creature—not even a bird or insect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I first entered, I tried to leave—but I couldn’t. It was as if a formation had trapped me there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I fell asleep and began dreaming of Lita. After the entrance vanished, the mist disappeared, and I saw birds and insects again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why I’m certain it was real.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lu Fang’s skeptical look, the old drunkard smiled bitterly: “Maybe you don’t believe me—but even now, I still often dream of Lita begging for help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m filled with guilt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All my cultivation is meaningless. My mind is consumed by self-reproach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why alcohol is such a good thing—it lets you forget many unhappy things. If you don’t believe me, I won’t ask for the Bodhi Fruit wine back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’ll give up the thousand taels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If—if one day you truly rescue Lita from there, I think I’ll be happy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang fell silent for a moment, then nodded. After asking where the old drunkard had trained and about Lita’s family, he left with a thousand-tael banknote.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, he had a lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether true or false, he could ask others later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the road out of the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang did not reveal the lead—he knew the information from the old drunkard was too troubling, and telling Lu Ling would only cause her worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would only burden her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could wait until everything was confirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lu Fang and his group exited the city, they found the camel caravan preparing to depart. Their leader, Zhao Ya, smiled and greeted them: “I was just about to send you a message talisman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang nodded in acknowledgment. Seeing Zhao Ya seemed to have something to say, he told Lu Ling and the three women to return to their private carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ya nodded: “Ahead, our caravan will cross a vast desert, and we may encounter the infamous Sand Bandits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Young Master Fang, don’t worry—we have two fifth-rank experts guarding us, and we’ve traveled this route countless times. Even if we meet bandits, they rarely attack us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just wanted to warn you: if this happens, don’t panic. Just stay inside your carriage. Our people will handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to trouble you, Leader Zhao,” Lu Fang smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a third-rank Confucian scholar beside him—a being who could step into the Semi-Sage realm in an instant. Even if bandits appeared, he had no fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he had confidence in his own strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ya chuckled: “That’s right. You’re not carrying anything particularly valuable—if you were, I’d need to assess it beforehand, for your safety.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang shook his head: “Nothing important. We’re just traveling to the Buddha Kingdom to find family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ya exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>",1124,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d55297e22e435b7d1d7c87fc6ab9ecb1339001e0a37de94450fd7bc311541da9","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-117","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-115",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]