Chapter 147: The Current Celestial Master, Take Him Down!

Celestial Master He Xun was full of question marks on his face now.

No way...

You brat?!

This is just like when you handled Shen Jizhou back then, that flawless suite of moves.

This and that again!

And now when it’s He Ming’s turn, you tell me you have no plan at all?

Coming back to his senses, He Xun glared at Lu Yuan and said,

“Then if you have no plan, why did you pick He Ming!!”

At this, Lu Yuan blinked, then let out a quiet chuckle and stayed silent.

“You brat, what exactly are you thinking? Say it!”

“What’s there between you and me that we can’t tell each other!”

Listening to He Xun, Lu Yuan was silent for a few seconds, then he turned serious and looked at He Xun:

“I think...”

“Maybe He Ming will deliberately throw the match the day after tomorrow.”

The moment those words came out, He Xun stared at Lu Yuan in complete bewilderment and said,

“How is that possible?”

“You know full well what happened between your master and He Ming!”

“Back then, your master almost boiled with rage over what He Ming did. Who would let that go? He Ming certainly won’t!”

Lu Yuan slightly shook his head at He Xun’s words and said,

“I think He Ming might throw it. Compared to those old grudges, perhaps...”

Lu Yuan paused, then looked at He Xun with a solemn expression and continued,

“Perhaps there’s been someone hanging over his head for decades, constantly pressing on him, and that bothers He Ming more.”

Lu Yuan’s words made He Xun pause. For a moment He Xun blinked, wanted to say something, but stopped.

Put that way...

That actually makes sense.

He Xun knew He Ming better than anyone.

On the surface he seemed indifferent, detached from the world.

But in truth, that man’s heart was rotten.

And the gap between He Ming and Shen Jizhou wasn’t that large.

At least in an earlier period, He Ming had even seemed to have the momentum to surpass Shen Jizhou.

But later, Wuqing Temple pulled ahead.

He Ming wouldn’t be willing to accept that quietly.

Now, Lu Yuan had already won...

No, to be precise, the hardest part for Zhenlong Temple—the Shen Jizhou problem—was already over.

And it was obvious to everyone that if Zhenlong Temple succeeded in the challenge, they would replace Shen Jizhou.

So...

It wouldn’t be impossible for He Ming to throw it.

Still...

All of this was conjecture; only He Ming himself knew for sure.

To be honest, Lu Yuan didn’t need to do these convoluted things.

He could have just chosen He Cheng and He Zhu — one a Three-Star Celestial Master, one approaching Four-Star.

The Deity of Beauty would certainly beat those two; that would be keeping initiative firmly in his own hands.

But choosing He Ming meant having to rely on He Ming’s mood.

He Xun sighed and said,

“You did some unnecessary things here.”

“I thought you had some other reason...”

“Let’s hope He Ming is truly as you say...”

After a pause, He Xun looked at Lu Yuan seriously and said,

“Prepare for both possibilities. If it doesn’t go that way, we must fight our hardest.”

“You already toppled Shen Jizhou; there’s no reason to fail at He Ming.”

Lu Yuan nodded earnestly at He Xun’s words,

“Of course.”

“But I still think the chance He Ming throws it is high...”

He Xun looked at Lu Yuan curiously and asked,

“What’s your reason?”

Lu Yuan blinked at He Xun and said,

“It was He Ming who actively suggested it. He actively wanted me to choose him.”

Hearing this, He Xun pondered for a moment and then nodded slightly.

That nod might have meant he agreed with Lu Yuan, or maybe it meant something else.

Finally He Xun said earnestly,

“We’ll see the day after tomorrow.”

“If it’s really as you say, then the day after tomorrow we can send someone to bring your master here.”

With that, He Xun stood up and said,

“I’m relieved now that you’re okay. Rest and heal properly.”

“When the Grand Ceremony re-confers the title, you will personally drape the Celestial Master robe over your master. He’ll be overjoyed.”

Lu Yuan immediately nodded as He Xun prepared to leave.

Before Lu Yuan could say anything, He Xun seemed to think of something else and stood there snorting,

“If what you say is true...”

“Then He Ming is really something else, and truly devious...”

Huh?

Lu Yuan looked at He Xun with curiosity, and He Xun fixed his gaze on Lu Yuan and said seriously,

“When you were going to issue a Questioning Heaven Challenge, nobody gave you a chance. No one expected you to actually beat Shen Jizhou...”

“At that time he jumped out and said to have you choose him...”

At He Xun’s words, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but grin and said,

“Maybe it isn’t that complicated.”

“Maybe he just played a double game. If I could pull Shen Jizhou down, he would lend me a hand.”

“If I couldn’t, then when I pick among the Upper Three Gates, he wouldn’t let me leave Riyue Temple out alone.”

Hearing Lu Yuan, He Xun thought it over and couldn’t help but crack a smile,

“You’re right, that really does sound like his style.”

He Xun stopped hesitating, turned to the door, and looked back at Lu Yuan:

“Rest well.”

“Next time something like this happens, tell me ahead of time. Don’t make me worry sick!”

With that He Xun lifted the door curtain, and his tall figure vanished into the snowy night outside.

In the room, Lu Yuan let out a long breath, his body slackening as he leaned back against the soft pillow.

As he was thinking, the cloth curtain at the door was lifted again.

This time it wasn’t He Xun with his chill, but Zhao Qiao’er and Song Meiqin, bringing the scent of home cooking.

The two aunties carried a red lacquer tray between them, set with a few delicate side dishes and a steaming bowl of meat porridge.

“Done talking?”

Zhao Qiao’er set the tray on the kang table, arranging bowls and chopsticks as she scolded Lu Yuan with a glance.

“The town physician said you can’t eat solid food now, only some porridge.”

Song Meiqin sat on the kang’s edge, reached out to check Lu Yuan’s forehead temperature, then felt the blanket over him.

Once she confirmed he was warm, she relaxed.

“You really scared me and Qiao’er earlier when you first came back.”

Lu Yuan chuckled, picked up chopsticks, and grabbed a slice of marinated cucumber — crisp and refreshing.

“What, afraid you’ll be a widow within days of getting married?”

As soon as Lu Yuan said that, Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao’er shot him reproachful but playful glares.

Lu Yuan grinned and said,

“All right, all right, enough, enough. Eat first.”

Warmth filled the room.

The coal brazier glowed red as small pieces of spirit meat sizzled, occasionally giving a soft pop.

Outside the window, the wind and snow continued, but inside it felt like another world.

Song Meiqin and Zhao Qiao’er sat at the kang’s head, each holding a bowl, one tending to him while the other served.

Zhao Qiao’er stirred the meat porridge with a ceramic spoon, lifted a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to Lu Yuan’s mouth.

“Open.”

Her voice was soft like a March breeze, eyes overflowing with unavoidable concern.

Lu Yuan obediently opened his mouth and swallowed the spoonful. The porridge was warm, neither scalding nor cold, just right.

The rice was thoroughly cooked and soft, the minced meat finely chopped, with a touch of shredded ginger to remove the gamy taste. The warmth spread from his throat down to his stomach.

“Tasty.”

He chuckled and scanned Zhao Qiao’er’s face, then glanced at Song Meiqin.

Song Meiqin was holding a hot cloth to wipe his hands.

Her hands were soft and gentle, wiping finger by finger, not missing even the gaps between fingers.

The cloth had just been dipped in hot water, steaming slightly; the warmth on his skin made him want to hum.

“Look at these hands of yours!”

Song Meiqin lightly scolded him, her tone half reproach, mostly tenderness.

Lu Yuan grinned.

“The zhenran drained them dry, wringing the life right out of them.”

“I actually think they look pretty handsome in a battle-scarred way. Once they recover in a few days, you won’t even be able to take your eyes off them.”

At this, Aunt Qin scolded playfully,

“Stop with the smooth talk!”

Song Meiqin glared at him, but her wiping didn’t stop. She finished his right hand, swapped for another hot cloth, and wiped his left.

Zhao Qiao’er, who had saved a spoonful of porridge, lifted it to Lu Yuan’s mouth and asked curiously,

“So after what happened today, is it settled then?”

Lu Yuan ate another spoonful of porridge and nodded slightly.

In truth, it wasn’t entirely settled.

Although Lu Yuan believed the chance that He Ming wouldn’t contest was high — and even if contesting he would throw it, allowing the Deity of Beauty to win easily, so that his master would replace Shen Jizhou — He Ming still had a chance to challenge.

If He Ming failed to become Celestial Master this term, his prestige would indeed take a hit.

But if He Ming managed to represent the traditional Daoist side and win, he could rise in fame above Shen Jizhou.

Either outcome was possible; it depended on what He Ming chose.

Still, Lu Yuan thought it was far more likely He Ming would not contest.

Because if He Ming chose option two — to contest — he wouldn’t just have to win, he’d have to win impressively.

And the Deity of Beauty’s strength was obvious to everyone today.

Lu Yuan had never met He Ming in person, but from these events it was clear he wasn’t the type to take risks.

One option required doing nothing and letting Shen Jizhou’s prestige drop so He Ming could unobtrusively become the top beyond the Great Wall.

The other option required a decisive, spectacular victory to become first beyond the Great Wall.

No matter how you look at it, He Ming would pick the first.

Anyway, they would see soon enough. If He Ming chose the second, it wouldn’t be scary.

The Deity of Beauty was not just Lu Yuan’s trick — she was a proper deity, an object transformed into a god.

...

The next day, the second day of the Questioning Heaven Challenge.

As expected, the Deity of Beauty took victory over He Xun again on the second day.

He Xun didn’t even come.

The Deity of Beauty went on stage and declared victory immediately.

Then came the third day.

This was the most crucial day.

If the Deity of Beauty could secure the win today, they could immediately send people to Zhenlong Temple to fetch Lu Yuan’s master.

Imagine Lu Yuan personally draping the Celestial Master robe on his master — what a glorious scene that would be!

Usually, at this point, nothing surprising happens...

And indeed, nothing surprising happened!

He Ming, just like He Xun the day before, didn’t appear at the Grand Ceremony.

The Deity of Beauty went on stage and again declared victory outright.

What made the third day different from the second, though...

After He Ming of Riyue Temple publicly relinquished, He Cheng of Beidou Temple also announced he would forfeit his challenge scheduled for tomorrow, the fourth day.

Everyone present felt He Cheng’s forfeiture was natural.

After all...

What’s He Cheng even worth?

With the previous masters He Xun and He Ming not contesting, sending a Three-Star Celestial Master up seemed ridiculous.

Everyone knew Zhenlong Temple would be replacing Wuqing Temple’s Shen Jizhou.

No matter what, this term belonged to Zhenlong Temple.

If the Upper Three Gates don’t fight, why should the Lower Four Gates be the ones to step up?

No way!

Then fine, I won’t either!

Thus, that term’s Questioning Heaven Challenge ended like that.

Lu Yuan didn’t win.

“Ling Mei” won.

Zhenlong Temple won.

By the third morning, the Questioning Heaven Challenge was completely over; the fourth day at noon a lucky hour would be chosen for re-bestowal.

Right after He Ming announced his withdrawal, a fast horse tore out of Fengtian City and raced straight for Zhenlong Temple on Qixia Mountain.

At high speed, Lu Yuan’s master could arrive around one or two in the morning.

At noon, the Grand Ceremony would adjourn.

After the ceremony ended, the Daoist community beyond the Great Wall seemed a bit dispirited.

He Xun not contesting the Deity of Beauty surprised no one,

After all he was Lu Yuan’s master uncle.

But Riyue Temple’s He Ming not appearing left many puzzled.

Everyone had expected some spectacle today.

People had brought melon seeds and benches, all ready.

Instead...

He Ming didn’t even show up...

For other Daoist factions beyond the Great Wall, it felt anticlimactic.

But for Lu Yuan’s family, they could pop champagne.

By the third day Lu Yuan had mostly recovered and could walk, so he went to the ceremony.

He still walked a bit floatingly, but overall his recovery was good.

This wasn’t a bone-deep injury; over the past few days the two great aunties had fed him many tonics, especially spirit meat, mixed into his meals.

In just two days he recovered greatly.

As soon as the ceremony ended on the third day, Lu Yuan had Aunt Qiao’er and Aunt Qin prepare a welcome party for his master at midnight.

He also had them prepare the most fashionable clothes, jewelry, and rouge in Fengtian City to bring back for Qingwan.

Lu Yuan had already planned the next steps carefully.

After his master received the Celestial Master title tomorrow, he would personally lead Aunt Qiao’er and Aunt Qin back to Zhenlong Temple.

Even though he’d just married, he still needed to take his wives home to meet the temple patriarch and formally acknowledge the sect.

His master would return to Zhenlong Temple to get ready and would need to visit the Liu Family that controls ghosts.

For a good while, Lu Yuan would stay to watch over Zhenlong Temple.

It was also a chance to recuperate, so he couldn’t go out.

Everything was set.

Night fell.

Those who rode the fast horse from Fengtian City to Zhenlong Temple earlier that morning returned around 7:30 p.m.

But Lu Yuan’s master was not at Zhenlong Temple.

They asked the people in the temple.