Chapter 135: The Petition of the People Is a Lie, the Daoist Registry Is Also a Lie—Stop Making Trouble

A small square table made of rosewood, three round-backed armchairs.

On the table, a small red clay stove was warming a pot of water. Steam bubbled "gurgle-gurgle" from the copper kettle's spout, misting the room with a warm fog.

"Please have a seat, Master Uncle."

Shen Shulan's voice, much like her person, carried a touch of cool clarity, yet the warmth from the stove unconsciously softened its edge.

Lu Yuan sat down with ease.

Across from him sat Shen Jizhou, cradling the ritual sword, his spirit seemingly about to be sucked right into it.

Shen Shulan walked to the table, picked up a cotton cloth, and unhurriedly began wiping the tea tray.

Her every movement exuded a deeply ingrained composure and refinement.

She wasn't in a hurry to handle the tea leaves. Her clear, bright eyes first swept over her father's enraptured profile before turning to Lu Yuan, her voice lowered considerably.

As she spoke, she pinched some tea leaves from a small blue-and-white jar painted with ink bamboo.

The tea leaves were tightly twisted, dark and glossy in color, emitting a unique aroma of pine smoke.

Lu Yuan smiled, his gaze resting on the ritual sword in Shen Jizhou's hands, his tone relaxed.

"I originally intended it for Senior Sister."

"But then it occurred to me, this thing carries too heavy a killing aura, it doesn't match Senior Sister's refined elegance. So, I had no choice but to ask Master Uncle to examine and appreciate it on my behalf."

The fingertips Shen Shulan used to pinch the tea leaves paused slightly.

She blinked in some surprise, her gaze involuntarily drifting back towards her father.

She knew better than anyone what kind of man her father was.

A ritual sword that could make him lose his composure like this was undoubtedly a top-grade treasure among ritual tools.

Originally... it was meant for her?

For a moment, a strange emotion flitted across Shen Shulan's heart.

Something so precious...

She collected her thoughts, placed the tea leaves into the pot, and while warming the cups, softly explained:

"This is last year's Zhengshan Xiaozhong sent from Wuyi Mountain. The rocky mineral notes aren't prominent, but it excels in mellowness and harmony, most suitable for warming the body in winter."

Her fingers were slender and pale, her wrist extremely steady as she held the pot and poured water. A straight stream of water poured into the purple clay teapot without a single splash.

Rinsing the tea, awakening the tea, brewing it.

Every movement flowed like clouds and water, a pleasure to behold.

The first infusion of tea was poured into the fairness cup. The orange-yellow, translucent liquid gently swayed within the white porcelain, rising wisps of white steam.

Shen Shulan first picked up a cup, held it with both hands, and placed it before Shen Jizhou.

"Father, have some tea."

Shen Jizhou didn't even look up, uttering a vague "Hmm" from his throat.

His left hand subconsciously reached for the teacup, but his eyes seemed glued to that sword, not leaving it for a single moment.

Seeing her father like this, Shen Shulan said nothing more, merely pushing the teacup a bit closer to his hand.

Only then did she pick up another cup, offering it to Lu Yuan with both hands.

"Master Uncle, please have some tea."

Lu Yuan hurriedly accepted it. The teacup was warm, the heat spreading through his fingertips.

He took a small sip. The tea broth was mellow, soft, and full-bodied. The unique dried longan aroma and pine smoke flavor melted on his tongue, a warm current flowing straight to his organs.

"Excellent tea."

Lu Yuan praised sincerely.

"Senior Sister Shulan's skill is truly admirable."

She poured a cup for herself, sat down in the round-backed armchair beside Lu Yuan, held the teacup with both hands, lowered her gaze, and took small sips.

For a time, the quiet room held only the "crackle" of charcoal sparks and the faint sound of water boiling in the copper kettle.

And, of course, the occasional, barely suppressed, almost dreamlike exclamations of admiration from Shen Jizhou's side.

Lu Yuan hadn't planned to stay long.

Delivering the item was his main purpose. Although he couldn't hand it directly to Shen Shulan, delivering it to Shen Jizhou here was just as good.

Now, he should go to Master Uncle He Xun to discuss the serious matter concerning the villagers outside the city.

Who knew that Shen Shulan's invitation to stay meant he had to wait until after finishing this cup of tea before leaving.

The silence didn't last too long.

Shen Shulan set down her teacup, actively breaking the quiet. Her clear eyes looked towards Lu Yuan.

"Does Master Uncle have important matters to attend to later?"

Lu Yuan snapped back to attention, met her gaze, and nodded with a smile.

"Indeed. I was just planning to pay a visit to Master Uncle He Xun."

Shen Shulan understood.

"For the matter concerning those villagers outside the city?"

This matter had been causing quite a stir these past few days. It wasn't strange that she had heard about it.

Lu Yuan didn't hide it either, his expression turning a bit more serious.

"Yes. We must find a way for the villagers to finish casting their jade beans and return home earlier."

"So many people clogging the area outside the city, in this bitter cold, is not a good situation."

"Besides, this is just the beginning. The people coming later will likely be even more numerous."

Shen Shulan nodded lightly, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the smooth rim of the warm teacup.

"This matter is truly rare. Never before have so many common folk from villages and market towns gathered to vote on such a large scale."

She raised her eyes, her gaze carrying a trace of inquiry and admiration.

"Master Uncle has only been practicing the Dao for a year, yet you already possess such prestige. It's truly remarkable."

"You must have truly taken the people's affairs to heart, exerting yourself fully for them. That's how you earned this genuine sincerity that not even a hundred miles of wind and snow could stop."

"This is Master Uncle's karmic reward."

Listening to this flattery, Lu Yuan felt a bit suspicious in his heart.

Given their relationship, why bother with such formal pleasantries?

He could only manage a bitter smile and sighed.

"While that may be so, if the current situation isn't handled properly, firstly, it will chill the villagers' hearts."

"Secondly, I'm afraid Zhenlong Temple stands to lose quite a few jade beans for nothing at the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony."

At this point, his voice lowered.

"Ultimately, over these years, Zhenlong Temple's foundation has only been in the mountain villages and hamlets. The only ones who can support us are these simple, honest folks..."

Shen Shulan listened with extreme seriousness, nodding repeatedly.

Suddenly, she looked up, her gaze sharp as it swept towards Shen Jizhou, who was still entranced by the ritual sword.

The gentleness faded from her face, her brows furrowing.

Finally, Shen Shulan seemed unable to bear it any longer.

She set down her teacup, her knuckles rapping "knock-knock" on the rosewood table surface, her voice full of reproach!

"Father!"

"I've been talking for so long, were you even listening?!"

Shen Jizhou jolted all over, as if waking from a dream. He looked up blankly, looking at his daughter, then at Lu Yuan.

"Huh?"

"What?"

Clearly, his utterly clueless appearance completely dissipated the good mood Shen Shulan had just been cultivating.

She pursed her lips in anger, simply deciding not to repeat herself, instead directing that fire straight at the root of the problem!

Her beautiful eyes glared, fixed on her father. Her voice suddenly rose, clear and cold, carrying an undeniable tone of questioning:

"Father! So many villagers are freezing outside the city, just to cast a single jade bean for Zhenlong Temple. How long does the Daoist community plan to just watch this?!"

"Do we have to wait until the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony begins, letting Master Uncle's supporters make a wasted trip, letting Zhenlong Temple become the laughingstock of the entire region beyond the Great Wall?!"

"Such an unprecedented event has occurred. Instead of adapting, the Daoist community stands idly by. What kind of logic is that?!"

A series of questions, like rapid-fire, made Shen Jizhou's face flush with embarrassment.

He glanced awkwardly at his daughter, then subconsciously glanced at Lu Yuan beside him.

Lu Yuan quickly lowered his head, holding his teacup, eyes observing his nose, nose observing his heart, minimizing his presence as much as possible.

Actually, Lu Yuan was thinking along the same lines.

Shouldn't the Daoist community immediately discuss solutions for this kind of thing?

It's as if Zhenlong Temple isn't part of the Daoist community beyond the Great Wall!

Shen Jizhou finally looked at his daughter, his face wearing a helpless expression.

As the head of the number one Daoist temple beyond the Great Wall, the reigning Celestial Master, he should, in principle, be the first to step forward and uphold justice.

Only...

This session of the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony, his Wuqing Temple had already taken too much action.

They had overstepped boundaries and broken rules too many times.

It really wasn't suitable to be the one to stick their neck out again and propose any reforms...

Shen Jizhou's idea was for the other two of the Upper Three Gates to come forward with a proposal. Wuqing Temple would immediately agree and follow suit.

But strangely...

You could say it's understandable that Riyue Temple, the other one of the Upper Three Gates, isn't speaking up about this.

After all...

The current head of Riyue Temple, back in the day, was...

But what's strange is that Tianlong Temple hasn't had any reaction these past two days either.

That old man He Xun is the most protective of his own.

Logically, this kind of matter should naturally be spearheaded by Celestial Master He Xun, gathering the Daoist community to discuss this issue.

Then allowing these villagers to cast their jade beans early.

As long as Celestial Master He Xun takes the lead, and Wuqing Temple here expresses agreement, going with the flow, this matter would basically be settled.

But strangely...

Tianlong Temple over there hasn't shown any reaction.

Of course, maybe they just haven't had time yet.

After all, this matter only came up two or three days ago. The first two days, it wasn't too serious, the crowd wasn't particularly large.

Later, more and more people came, conflicts arose.

Maybe today, Tianlong Temple has already prepared a letter and is in the process of sending it out.

"Let's wait. Tianlong Temple might have already sent people to deliver letters everywhere by now."

With that said, Shen Jizhou picked up the Profound Origin Evil-Slaying Edict again to examine it.

And just as Shen Jizhou finished speaking, a light sound came from the meditation room door. Someone bowed outside and said:

"Master, Tianlong Temple has sent a letter, requesting your presence at the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony venue to discuss the matter of the villagers gathered outside the city."

Inside a luxurious Celestial Master carriage.

Shen Jizhou sat upright in the very center, holding the ritual sword, his eyes still full of infatuation.

Lu Yuan and Shen Shulan sat on either side.

They were currently on their way to the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony venue, which was actually the same place where the previous Luotian Ceremony was held.

"Where did you get this thing?"

Shen Jizhou's gaze finally shifted from the ritual sword, landing on Lu Yuan with a scorching intensity of scrutiny.

"Did your master pass it down?"

Lu Yuan's heart stirred slightly.

If he said the old man gave it, it would make sense, but he had previously fabricated that it was obtained by chance.

He pondered for a moment, his expression unchanged as he replied:

"It was not bestowed by my master. I found it by chance while out on a job."

This lie was spun casually, but Shen Jizhou, hearing it, looked even more peculiar.

"Then... why are you so familiar with this sword?"

That was a good question.

Lu Yuan's thoughts raced, but a look of openness appeared on his face, even carrying a hint of naturalness.

"I've always had a particular fondness for this type of ancient ritual tool with a clear lineage of inheritance. Privately, I can be considered quite knowledgeable."

He hadn't wanted to say this, but then Lu Yuan thought about it. This seemed like a good reason to get closer to Shen Jizhou.

After all, in the future, if Lu Yuan wanted to visit again, he couldn't bring something every time, could he?

Although the Demon-Slaying System was powerful and gave many things, it couldn't withstand such treatment.

And these words, Lu Yuan naturally didn't say without reason.

Lu Yuan had the "Heavenly Craftsmanship," so he wasn't afraid of being exposed if Shen Jizhou really came to him later to study something.

Who knew, the moment Lu Yuan's words fell, Shen Jizhou raised an eyebrow, that peculiar face of his revealing an undisguised look of recognition.

"Quite the bold claim."

"Quite knowledgeable, you say?"

Lu Yuan knew that in front of elders who had lived long enough to become spirits, constant humility and deference would only earn contempt.

The more timid and submissive one was at such a time, the more the other would look down on them.

Lu Yuan not only didn't retreat, but instead met Shen Jizhou's gaze head-on, nodding seriously.

"Yes, very knowledgeable."

"If Master Uncle has any unresolved questions in the future, you might as well ask me."

Shen Jizhou: "????"

Wait!

You're really putting on an act now!!

Sitting opposite, Shen Shulan, looking at Lu Yuan's confident and full appearance, saw a ripple of curiosity stir in her clear, cold eyes.

Her father thought Lu Yuan was boasting.

Shen Shulan didn't think so.

From their interactions so far, in her mind, this Master Uncle Lu never spoke a single word of exaggeration, even being somewhat excessively modest.

When he said he was ten percent sure of something, the result often turned out to be twenty percent.

Which meant...

Her Master Uncle Lu Yuan really did understand.

Moreover, Shen Shulan also remembered that night when Lu Yuan suddenly brought out some extremely powerful, top-grade ritual tools.

Although some top-grade ritual tools weren't used, her Master Uncle really did have many.

For a moment, Shen Shulan looked at Shen Jizhou beside her and nodded seriously, saying:

"Father, if you don't understand something, don't tinker blindly by yourself. You can ask Master Uncle Lu Yuan."

Shen Jizhou: "????"

Wait!!

What do you mean I tinker blindly?!

What nonsense are you talking about?!

In the entire Daoist community beyond the Great Wall, who could be above him, Shen Jizhou, when it came to insights on top-grade ritual tools?!

This elbow... how could it bend so righteously!

A breath of air choked in Shen Jizhou's chest, yet he couldn't vent it.

After all, the one saying this was his own daughter, whom he treasured like the apple of his eye.

He could only let out a heavy "hmph," his face dark, no longer paying attention to the two who were "singing in harmony," and refocused his attention on the ritual sword in his hands.

The carriage interior fell into silence once more.

The carriage rocked and swayed along the snow-covered official road. The wheels crushed over frozen ruts, making a dull, rhythmic "creak-creak" sound.

The carriage interior was lined with thick felt carpets. A spirit meat charcoal brazier in the corner burned brightly, keeping the winter chill at bay.

For a while, the carriage was quiet, holding only the sound of the wheels, the faint crackle of charcoal, and Shen Jizhou's occasional murmurs.

Lu Yuan sat upright, his gaze looking to the right at Shen Jizhou's infatuated old face.

Lu Yuan watched for a while, found it somewhat boring, and slightly lowered his eyelids, staring at the patch of his robe over his knees, warmed to a yellowish hue by the charcoal fire.

But before long, Lu Yuan's gaze uncontrollably, stealthily lifted to look.

Shen Shulan was looking down at her own hands, folded on her lap.

The moon-white sleeves of her Daoist robe were embroidered with extremely faint cloud patterns, making those hands appear even more pale, slender, and long.

Her face appeared especially soft in the faint light of the charcoal fire.

The curve of her nose, the line of her jaw, seemed as if drawn stroke by stroke with the finest brush.

The wheels rolled over a deep rut, the carriage rocking slightly.

Shen Shulan slightly raised her eyelids, her gaze inadvertently sweeping across the opposite side.

Lu Yuan was sitting ramrod straight, looking at his own self, but when their gazes met, Lu Yuan immediately lowered his head.

Eyes observing his nose, nose observing his heart.

Shen Shulan was first taken aback, the corner of her mouth curling almost imperceptibly, then she lowered her eyelids again, still staring at her own hands.

Lu Yuan lowered his head, pondering for a while, though it was unclear what he was pondering.

When Lu Yuan looked up again, his gaze and Shen Shulan's collided squarely in the air.

At some point, Shen Shulan had started looking at Lu Yuan again.

Lu Yuan was stunned, instinctively wanting to shift his gaze away.

But Shen Shulan didn't avoid it.

She just looked at Lu Yuan, her clear, cold eyes holding something indescribable.

No questioning, no shyness, only a kind of... quiet, calm gaze.

Lu Yuan was somewhat dazed by this gaze, momentarily forgetting to look away.

The two of them looked at each other like this.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

The charcoal fire gave a crisp "crack," shattering this frozen tableau.

And at that very moment, Shen Jizhou's cold and abrupt voice, like a massive rock thrown into a calm lake, sounded:

"You want to fight for this year's reigning Celestial Master position for your master, don't you?"

Lu Yuan jolted awake, turning in shock towards Shen Jizhou beside him.

At some point, Shen Jizhou had already laid that ritual sword horizontally across his knees and was staring at him with an unprecedented seriousness.

"I can tell you clearly, it's absolutely impossible!"

"Even if your Petition of Ten Thousand People collects all the jade beans under heaven, it still won't work!"

Shen Jizhou's voice wasn't loud, but each word struck like a hammer.

"The jade beans are utterly useless."

"That's a lie!"

Lu Yuan's pupils abruptly contracted, his face full of disbelief.

Shen Jizhou, looking at his shocked expression, word by word, unveiled that most cruel truth.

"The Petition of Ten Thousand People is a lie... the Daoist Disc is equally a lie."

"What truly decides the succession of the reigning Celestial Master has always been, from start to finish, only that closed-door meeting of twenty people."