Chapter 75: Dragons are the Sign of an Emperor~

Songtao Pavilion, second floor, Celestial Room, Snowfield Chamber.

The table was laden with steaming hot dishes, their aroma so intense it seemed to solidify, aggressively invading everyone's nostrils.

It was simply too fragrant!

No one in the room spoke, only the crisp clatter of chopsticks against bowls and plates remained, as each person buried their head and ate voraciously, like starving gluttons who hadn't eaten for three lifetimes.

Lu Yuan was the same, shoveling rice into his mouth in large mouthfuls, paired with the golden, crispy meat rolls, his lips glistening with oil.

What Song Yan had just said earlier had indeed made his heart skip a beat, leaving him feeling a bit uncomfortable.

But!

In a flash, Lu Yuan figured it out.

This matter wasn't to be calculated that way!

Lu Yuan didn't understand how a Celestial Master disciple like Song Yan could have access to such a high-level confidential list.

Even if he was Celestial Master He Xun's disciple.

But... it still shouldn't be something Song Yan could know.

Perhaps Song Yan saw it accidentally while helping Celestial Master He Xun tidy up his things?

Lu Yuan didn't know, but it didn't matter; Lu Yuan was still willing to believe Song Yan.

Right now, aside from being a bit talkative, this senior brother really had no other faults!

Moreover, even if such a list existed, it didn't mean the people on it couldn't be changed!

Wasn't the best example Shen Shulan herself!

Back when Lu Yuan gave Shen Shulan that list, he directly mentioned the Celestial Master matter.

And Shen Shulan didn't refute it either, which made it very clear that she indeed aimed for the Celestial Master position!

But one must know, before this, as a young, inexperienced Daoist, she had absolutely zero chance.

A list made ten years ago would never have included a sixteen-year-old girl.

Therefore, the list could definitely be changed!

The ironclad proof was the recent effort by Shen Shulan's father, Shen Jizhou!

He forcibly changed the timing of the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony from before the Luotian Grand Offering to after it.

That extra month was precisely to give Shen Shulan time to eliminate more Nurturing Malevolence Sites and accumulate enough prestige!

All for the purpose of campaigning for Celestial Master!

Otherwise, there was simply no reason to reverse the order between these two events!

So, this list could still be changed!

It wasn't something set in stone!

Of course, Lu Yuan believed Song Yan hadn't lied to him either.

But...

Song Yan thought Lu Yuan was on the first level, while he himself was on the fifth.

In reality, Song Yan was only on the second level, while Lu Yuan was on the fifth.

After all, the root of all the major, turbulent events currently swirling in Fengtian City lay with him, Lu Yuan!

What Lu Yuan knew and understood far surpassed what Song Yan knew.

Once he figured this out, his appetite instantly returned.

As the saying goes!

Man can conquer nature!

...

Among the four, only Song Yan had nibbled on some dry rations in the morning, while Lu Yuan and the other two hadn't had a drop of water or grain for a full day and night.

Now, facing the delicious delicacies of Fengtian's number one restaurant, they were practically ready to swallow their own tongues.

In just over ten minutes, the entire table of dishes was swept clean.

Finally, each downed a bottle of orange soda, letting out a comfortable belch.

"Dequan, the bill!"

Lu Yuan called out.

Dequan, who had just entered, stared at the plates, clean as if washed, and was dumbfounded.

These gentlemen were truly starving!

Lu Yuan reached for his money, but Song Yan stopped him with one hand, insisting he would pay.

Just as the two were about to start wrestling over who would pay.

Dequan quickly stepped forward, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Aiya, Nephew Master, how could we possibly take your money!"

Lu Yuan waved his hand, his attitude firm.

"One thing at a time. Calculate it properly, otherwise you won't be able to keep proper accounts either."

Song Yan beside him immediately puffed out his chest and chimed in loudly.

"Exactly!"

"Such a small amount of money, it's not like I can't afford it!"

"Hurry up, I'm from Tianlong Temple!"

Hearing this, Dequan immediately made a calculation in his mind.

Since it wasn't the Nephew Master paying, there was no need to stand on ceremony.

He picked up the bill, glanced at it, then, with an extremely tricky and bizarre angle, bypassed Lu Yuan's outstretched hand.

Like lightning, he shoved the bill into Song Yan's arms.

"Very well, Master."

"Three hundred and eighty!"

Song Yan pinched the bill, his expression freezing.

"..."

"Fine!"

...

Song Yan paid the money with heartache, and the group got up to leave.

Seeing this, Dequan's heart skipped a beat, and he grew anxious.

"Eh?"

"Nephew Master, leaving already?"

"Rest here for a while. There'll be an Er Ren Zhuan performance in the main hall later, a proper, authentic act~"

"I'll fetch you some melon seeds, brew a pot of good tea. We can watch from the second floor, the view is excellent!"

The two Madams haven't arrived yet!

He had just sent Fuquan to invite them. If they arrived and the Nephew Master was nowhere to be seen, he'd be skinned alive later!

Lu Yuan, however, was completely unaware, walking out while waving his hand.

"Not watching, I have important matters to attend to later."

Dequan grew even more anxious, practically following right behind Lu Yuan, pressing the question.

"Then, Nephew Master, where are you going? Will you... be returning home tonight?"

This question was already overstepping boundaries, but he had to ask!

Later, when the Madams arrived, if the Nephew Master wasn't here and he couldn't even say where he went...

Then he'd truly be done for!

Regarding Dequan's words, Lu Yuan didn't think much of it, simply taking it as a casual, enthusiastic inquiry.

Lu Yuan answered casually:

"Of course I'm returning, probably around ten at night."

What Song Yan had just said didn't discourage Lu Yuan at all.

On the contrary, it made Lu Yuan even more eager!

Originally, Lu Yuan planned to call it a day today: have a meal, take a bath, then return to Aunt Qiao'er's place for a good night's sleep.

Everything else could wait until tomorrow.

Now, though!

After the bath, he'd head straight for Fengtian's old city district to first scout out the situation at that Nurturing Malevolence Site!

Have someone buy it tomorrow morning, and go that very night!

...

A little past eight at night, Huiquan Pool.

The group walked out, spirits high, their bodies radiating heat.

Lu Yuan cupped his hands towards Song Yan.

"Senior Brother, we part ways here. No need to trouble yourself with arranging accommodations; we have a place to stay."

"We still have matters to attend to, so we won't delay any longer."

Seeing Lu Yuan's eager, energetic appearance, Song Yan shook his head helplessly.

Alright.

All that earnest advice he just gave was wasted.

This junior brother hadn't taken in a single word.

Forget it, forget it.

Life and death are fated, wealth and honor are in heaven's hands. Let him do as he pleases.

Song Yan just asked one last curious question:

"You're going to start working again now?"

"Does that mean there are still Nurturing Malevolence Sites in Fengtian City?"

To this, Lu Yuan just grinned, not answering.

Seeing him like this, Song Yan could only shrug.

"Fine, fine. Junior Brother, take good care. Our Tianlong Temple is staying at Beihua Tower. If you need anything, come find us there."

"Regarding the earlier matter, I apologize for the offense. But we ultimately share the same origin, so let's not dwell on past grievances."

Lu Yuan now held quite a favorable impression of this senior brother.

After all...

The three hundred and eighty at Songtao Pavilion, the forty-six at Huiquan Pool, a total of four hundred and twenty-six dollars—tonight's entire consumption was covered by Young Master Song.

Especially the three hundred and eighty at Songtao Pavilion!

Damn it!!

Can Aunt Qiao'er's restaurant even operate like this?!

Damn it, were they serving dragon meat?!

Daring to charge three hundred and eighty?!

Thankfully Dequan was sharp and didn't shove the bill into Lu Yuan's hand but gave it to Song Yan.

Otherwise...

Otherwise, Lu Yuan truly wouldn't have been able to come up with three hundred and eighty on his person!!

He only had about two hundred dollars in his pocket total, and still needed to buy various items for the techniques!

Immediately, Lu Yuan cupped his hands:

"Senior Brother, take care."

Watching Song Yan leave, Lu Yuan turned to look at Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an beside him.

"So, no one's sleepy anymore, right?"

The two were now full of vigor, patting their chests and shouting.

"Not sleepy, not tired!"

"Slept all day, ate and drank our fill, and even had a bath scrub. We're full of energy!"

The corner of Lu Yuan's mouth lifted.

"Shall we go then?"

"Let's go!"

...

Beihua Tower, Fengtian City's largest inn, originally built by Russian merchants, later acquired by the White Deer Chamber of Commerce, and operated to this day.

Song Yan returned from Huiquan Pool and headed straight here.

Tianlong Temple had booked an independent courtyard at Beihua Tower.

The moment Song Yan stepped through the courtyard gate, before he could even speak, Celestial Master He Xun's indifferent voice rang in his ear.

"Back?"

"Did you tell him about the list?"

The Celestial Master list was definitely not something Song Yan could have known about.

Song Yan himself only learned of it today from Celestial Master He Xun's mouth; he never knew such a thing existed before.

When Song Yan first learned of it today, he was also shocked beyond belief.

So the so-called Celestial Masters of today had already been decided ten years ago.

All the processes, the grand ceremony, were just a group of people acting, going through the motions.

Song Yan was startled by this sudden voice.

Following the sound, he saw his master, bare-chested, holding a wooden sword in this icy, snowy weather.

He was practicing sword forms unhurriedly, steam rising all around him.

"I did, I did."

Song Yan nodded repeatedly.

Celestial Master He Xun could tell that this junior disciple of his was a stubborn mule who wouldn't turn back until he hit the wall.

After all, earlier today by the river, he had clearly stated that the Nurturing Malevolence Site was dangerous, yet this Lu Yuan still insisted on going.

He originally intended to let it be, but considering Lu Yuan's one-in-ten-thousand talent and that he was his junior brother's only disciple, he ultimately couldn't bear it.

So, Celestial Master He Xun thought it over and told Song Yan about it.

He had Song Yan leak that "secret" to make Lu Yuan retreat in the face of difficulties.

"However, Lu Yuan didn't seem to care at all. Before we parted, he headed off to another Nurturing Malevolence Site."

Song Yan shrugged slightly, somewhat helpless.

Hearing this, Celestial Master He Xun sighed lightly, shook his head, his wooden sword never stopping.

"Forget it, let him be."

"Your master has said all he can, my conscience is clear..."

Song Yan didn't say more, just pulled out two crumpled bills from his pocket and handed them over.

"Master, spent five hundred dollars today!"

Celestial Master He Xun: "????"

He stopped his movements, whirled around, eyes wide.

"Did you motherfuckers eat dragon meat?!"

Seeing his master like this, Song Yan extended a finger, wagged it, then shook his head and said:

"Ah~"

"Master, don't speak recklessly~"

"The dragon is an emblem of the emperor~"

Celestial Master He Xun:

"????"

The next second, Celestial Master He Xun raised his wooden sword and shouted angrily:

"I'll beat you to death, you little bastard!!"

...

A little past nine at night, the snow in Fengtian City finally stopped.

The accumulated snow was thick, crunching underfoot, the sound exceptionally clear in the quiet old district.

The three of them, Lu Yuan and his companions, weren't on horseback this trip.

The three fast horses from Aunt Qiao'er's place had been quietly led away by that old man, Celestial Master He Xun.

Well, actually, when Lu Yuan and the other two got off the carriage, they forgot—their horses were gone!

They could only wait until tomorrow to retrieve them.

After all, three fast horses cost a small fortune.

Around nine-thirty, the three reached their destination.

A dilapidated gatehouse stood in the snowy night—it was Chunhua Garden.

The paint on the blue brick gateposts was peeling off in large patches, curling up, edges charred black, giving off an aura of death under the moonlight.

Lu Yuan looked up.

On the plaque, the three gilded characters "Chunhua Garden" had long lost their luster, the gold powder completely worn away, revealing the rotten, blackened wood beneath.

Following protocol, Xu Erxiao squatted down three inches outside the threshold.

He took out three specially made Yin-detecting incense sticks, their bodies a dark red hue.

This was the old rule: before investigating, do not directly step into a malevolence site.

Of course, in reality, Lu Yuan already knew exactly what was inside.

There was no red text warning, meaning there was nothing inside that could threaten Lu Yuan.

Speaking of which, ever since Lu Yuan advanced to the Celestial Master Realm, he truly felt the world had become much quieter.

Before, he would constantly see things moving in front of his eyes.

But now, such occurrences had decreased significantly.

However, one must not let their guard down; even a lion uses full force when catching a rabbit.

Like the seven fierce malevolent entities at the river bottom today.

The system didn't give a red text warning simply because their strength wasn't enough to pose a fatal threat to Lu Yuan.

But even so, if Lu Yuan had entered the water at an inauspicious hour, not following the rules, the process would still have been quite dangerous.

It was only because Lu Yuan's skills were superior that he didn't get injured.

Xu Erxiao had just taken out a match, ready to light the incense, when his hand suddenly froze.

"Huh?!"

He let out a suppressed exclamation of surprise and immediately turned his head to look at Lu Yuan, who was observing the surroundings.

"Brother Lu!"

His voice carried a trace of urgency.

"Come look, here... someone's been here already!"

Hmm?

Lu Yuan's eyes sharpened as he and Wang Cheng'an quickly stepped forward.

Outside the threshold, in an inconspicuous spot, the accumulated snow had been gathered into a small mound.

Stuck into the mound were three burnt-out incense stubs.

Lu Yuan squatted down, gently blowing away the surface layer of loose snow.

A layer of fine incense ash was clearly imprinted beneath.

Judging by the thickness of the loose snow, the person who lit the incense probably did so before noon.

Indeed.

Lu Yuan slowly stood up, pondering in his heart.

Fengtian City nowadays was truly a place where dragons and tigers hid.

And this was only the beginning.

Those who had arrived so far were merely the Daoist temples from around Fengtian.

In the next ten-plus days, Daoist practitioners from the four provinces beyond the Great Wall would all gather here.

Although most of the Nurturing Malevolence Sites left behind by the Life-Severing Wang Family were hidden in remote, out-of-the-way corners.

But with Fengtian now swarming with Daoists, practically everywhere you turned, it was unavoidable!

These Nurturing Malevolence Sites were loosening, their malevolent energy leaking out, and would definitely be detected by nearby Daoists!

Lu Yuan had originally thought about staying at Aunt Qiao'er's place for just one day.

But now it seemed, he couldn't afford even the slightest bit of slack!

Lu Yuan snapped back to attention, his gaze turning sharp, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

He looked at Xu Erxiao.

"Light the incense."

Then, he turned to look at Wang Cheng'an, who was carrying a heavy wooden box on his back.

"Open the box, prepare the tools."

"Tonight, we'll handle it!"

They couldn't wait until tomorrow night. Whoever's Daoist temple had lit that Yin-detecting incense meant they already had their eyes on it.

If they hadn't taken action yet, it meant they went back to prepare. If they waited until tomorrow night to come, they'd find nothing left.

Even...

Right now, there might be nothing left inside, already cleared by someone else!

Xu Erxiao acknowledged, no longer hesitating. His finger struck the match, a "scratch" sound, and a flame leaped up, igniting the three specially made Yin-detecting incense sticks.

The incense tips burst with three points of faint blue spark.

The rising azure smoke was originally a straight line.

But when it floated to the height of the lintel, it suddenly took a sharp turn, as if yanked hard into the courtyard by something.

The smoke split into three strands in mid-air, each as thick as a child's arm, swirling and lingering.

What was even more eerie was that faint sounds seemed to come from within the smoke.

Intermittent drum beats, the whining strains of a huqin, and the drawn-out, mournful vocalization of a dan role practicing their voice.

The sounds were extremely faint, as if coming from far away through water, yet they made the hairs on the back of one's neck stand on end.

But hearing this, Lu Yuan felt an inexplicable surge of joy.

The thing inside was still there!

"Brother Lu, this is 'Three Souls Gathering Malevolence.'"

Wang Cheng'an's voice was pressed extremely low.

The magnetic needle on the brass compass in his hand, polished smooth from handling, was now trembling violently.

The needle tip jumped back and forth repeatedly on the "Kun" position, emitting crisp "click-click" sounds that unsettled the heart.

Wang Cheng'an leaned closer, his pupils suddenly constricting.

"No... there's overlapping shadows on the dial!"

Lu Yuan grabbed the compass, and Wang Cheng'an immediately struck a fire starter, bringing it close.

Under the dim firelight, the shadow cast by the magnetic needle was no longer one, but three!

One solid shadow was firmly fixed on the "Kun" position.

One faint shadow vaguely pointed to the "Li" position.

And one almost invisible phantom shadow pointed to the "Dui" position.

Three shadows, three directions, offset from each other, extremely bizarre.

"Shadow malevolence entwined with obsession and resentment, a beauty locked within a mirror."

Lu Yuan softly recited the annotation for this place from the Nurturing Malevolence Diagram.

"The Wang Family created a malevolent energy 'opera troupe.'"

"Set up the altar!"

As Lu Yuan finished speaking, Wang Cheng'an and Xu Erxiao immediately began rummaging through the boxes, taking out a folding table, setting it up, and spreading a yellow cloth over it.

Then, incense burner, deity tablet, candles... each item was taken out and placed on the altar one by one.

While the two were busy behind him, Lu Yuan walked straight towards the faded, dilapidated vermilion lacquer gate.

Hmm?

There's a seal?

Lu Yuan stepped forward to take a look.

Wow~

What a coincidence in this world!

It was Biyu Temple's seal!

He had just seen Biyu Temple's people causing trouble at Songtao Pavilion, and now he saw Biyu Temple's seal.

The words on the seal were written domineeringly, in plain language: Inside contains fierce malevolence, our Biyu Temple has already suppressed it, idlers keep out.

On the surface, this seal was a warning, but there was also an unwritten rule within the Daoist community.

In plain language, this thing here is taken by our Biyu Temple; other Daoist practitioners should not touch it.

Such notices were quite common.

Perhaps they came to scout and found they didn't bring enough of their techniques, ritual tools, or items, and needed to go procure them.

Or perhaps they felt they couldn't handle what was inside right now and needed to return to their temple to call for reinforcements.

Generally, places with such seals, when other Daoist practitioners passed by and saw the seal, they would usually give face and turn away.

Although the saying goes that vanquishing demons and exorcising evil knows no first or last.

But the problem is, if someone else came to handle it first, and you come later to steal the job, that's unethical and against the rules!

But...

Rip!

A crisp tearing sound.

Lu Yuan expressionlessly tore off that seal and crumpled it into a ball.

Biyu Temple's people were too unreasonable.

The unwritten rules Lu Yuan mentioned earlier had a prerequisite.

That was, this kind of seal could only be posted by local Daoist temples!

The reason was simple. For example:

A local Daoist temple goes to a household for a job, finds they can't handle it, so they post a notice first.

Then they go back to prepare again and return.

At this time, if another team from a different Daoist temple arrives and finishes the job you were handling.

If this got out, what would it look like?

There would be endless gossip.

"Ah, look at that temple from earlier, they're simply no good. They came but couldn't handle it and just went back.

It's the later Daoist temple that's truly capable, they came and fixed it in a couple of moves~"

If such gossip and rumors spread, how could the local Daoist temple continue to operate in the area?

With enough of this talk, would the local Daoist temple still receive incense offerings?

Wouldn't this be equivalent to cutting off their livelihood?

So, everyone generally followed the rules and wouldn't touch it.

After all, who could guarantee their own temple wouldn't be subject to such gossip?

Even Wuqing Temple couldn't guarantee that every disciple sent out on a job could resolve it on the spot.

But, this kind of seal could only be posted by local Daoist temples. For an outsider to post this was simply laughable.

You, an outsider, what right do you have to post a notice in someone else's territory?

Of course, it's human nature; no one wants something they found first to be taken by someone else.

It's like seeing a hundred dollars on the street first, but someone else picks it up first.

Yes, as the saying goes, whoever picks it up first gets it.

But the one who saw it first would still feel a bit uncomfortable inside.

If it were Lu Yuan, he would definitely leave someone here to keep watch.

For example, leave Xu Erxiao here while he and Wang Cheng'an went back to get the tools.

That way, even if other Daoist practitioners came, they could at least argue on reasonable grounds.

Biyu Temple just posted a notice and left, not even leaving a single person behind.

Um...

Perhaps they were quite confident in their temple's prestigious reputation.

After all, this was a temple with a Celestial Master; ordinary small temples couldn't afford to offend them and naturally wouldn't dare to provoke them.

But...

Biyu Temple encountered Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan was someone who understood the rules and wouldn't indulge those who broke them.

"Brother Lu, the altar is set up!"

At this moment, Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an behind him suddenly shouted in unison.

Lu Yuan turned his head, his gaze calm.

"Let's do it!"

The three pushed open the ajar vermilion lacquer gate. The door hinges let out a long, hoarse "creak—" sound.

Like the displeased stirring of a giant beast awakened from slumber.

The courtyard was more desolate than imagined. The canopy overhead had several small holes, and a layer of light snow had drifted into the courtyard.

Knee-high withered grass lay flattened and yellowed. Scattered among the grass were old items from the opera garden: a blue-and-white porcelain teapot shattered into five or six pieces, each piece with its spout facing west.

Over a dozen copper coins had rusted greenish-blue, arranged in a bizarre arc.

The most eye-catching were three pairs of embroidered shoes. One pair was bright red satin embroidered with mandarin ducks, the fake pearls on the toe tips already yellowed.

One pair was water-green soft satin, the shoe uppers embroidered with winding lotus vines.

One pair was moon-white plain fabric, with only a small plum blossom embroidered on the toe.

The three pairs of shoes were placed side by side right in front of the opera stage, the toes all uniformly facing the stage entrance.

The soles were clean, not a speck of dirt, as if someone had carefully arranged them.

The opera stage itself also seemed strange. Amidst the complete decay of the garden, it appeared exceptionally intact.

The vermilion lacquer on the coiling dragon pillars was mottled, but the dragon bodies remained clear, claws gripping the pillars, whiskers flying.

The two embroidered curtains at the stage entrance, "Chu Jiang" (Exit General) and "Ru Xiang" (Enter Minister), had lotus-purple backgrounds faded to white, yet the embroidery threads on them were not a single one broken.

Lu Yuan approached, his pupils slightly contracting.

What was embroidered on the curtains were actually densely packed tiny regular script characters, all lyrics from operas.

"The island ice wheel first turns aloft" from "The Drunken Concubine."

"My strength plucked up mountains, my might shadowed the world" from "The Hegemon King Bids Farewell to His Concubine."

Fragments of lyrics like "So all the blooming flowers put to shame" from "The Peony Pavilion."

The handwriting was extremely neat. The embroidery threads used varying shades of red, looking from afar like splatters of blood dots on the curtains.

"Backstage."

Lu Yuan uttered two words, drew the wooden sword from his back, and took the lead walking towards the right side of the stage.

Xu Erxiao tightened his grip on the peach wood Yin-probing ruler in his hand.

Wang Cheng'an, meanwhile, pulled out a handful of incense ash mixed with silver powder from his pocket, ready to scatter it at any moment.

For a moment, the three of them had their nerves stretched to the limit.

They lowered their postures, footsteps lightened to the utmost, about to silently approach that eerie blue cloth curtain leading to the backstage...

Suddenly!!!

BANG!!!!

An explosive sound rang out without warning!

The sound didn't come from the opera troupe backstage in front of them, but from behind Lu Yuan and the other two!!

Immediately after, they heard another sound of something collapsing outside the gate, a clattering noise!

Judging by the commotion... it seemed like the altar Lu Yuan and the others had set up outside had been kicked over!!!

Before Lu Yuan and the others could react, they heard a burst of drunken, angry cursing from outside the gate.

"Fuck your mother!!"

"Whoever's inside, get the fuck out!!"

"Are you blind?! Or are your eyes just two fucking holes?!"

"Can't you see our Biyu Temple's seal?!!!"