Chapter 286: White Lotus Grows in the Western Regions, Scholars Enter Jiangnan, the Veiled Maiden Throws the Embroidered Ball

Li Guanyi and the representative from the Zhongzhou Changfeng Tower walked down together, walking side by side toward the Academy, where students had recently been preparing to depart for their futures, making the Academy busier than ever before.

Some said this current state had lost the former peace and freedom.

Yet others said that with the world in such chaos and the common people suffering in fire and water, if the Academy remained as tranquil as before, that would be no true peace at all.

In turbulent times, whether one enters the world or withdraws from it, each is a personal choice—neither right nor wrong; those who enter the world are not inherently superior, nor are those who withdraw to be called cowards.

But if someone hides here enjoying peace and freedom while looking down from above, lamenting the suffering of the people in turbulent times, claiming students ought to remain here, then such a person deserves to be knocked flat with a single blow.

These were the words spoken by the fat monk who had previously debated with the Living Buddha.

This happened when the peasant entered Jiangnan.

The monk had asked the Living Buddha whether the peasant's actions had caused too great a loss.

At that time, the Living Buddha had asked him to let go; this brash young man, relying on his invulnerable Water-Fire Immunity Skill, stubbornly held his cup despite the boiling water, and was scolded mercilessly by the old Living Buddha—now many disciples of the Buddhist order refused to enter the world, believing monks should not taint themselves with worldly affairs.

So this physically powerful monk picked up a staff and cursed "bald devils" for the length of an incense stick.

The old Living Buddha gazed at this lay disciple and asked: "Have you let go?"

The monk rubbed his bald head and replied:

"Disciple still does not know what it means to let go."

The old Living Buddha again brought boiling water to brew tea, had the disciple hold a teacup, poured the tea himself—the scalding liquid spilled over quickly, yet the monk's hand remained unmoved; the old monk asked: "Why still not let go?"

The monk answered: "Disciple does not wish to."

The old monk said: "Letting go is peace."

The monk said: "Not letting go is all sentient beings."

The simple-minded monk grinned and drank the scalding tea in one gulp: "Disciple understands the Master's advice, but like those monks and Daoist Priests who love debating scriptures and Dao, staying inside the Academy is not what I wish to do."

"Disciple knows he ought to let go—but chooses not to."

"Knowing one ought to let go yet refusing to—that is the subtle state of having yet not possessing—who says I do not understand Buddhist Dharma?"

The old Living Buddha looked at the simple-minded monk with gentle, compassionate eyes and said:

"What level has your Thirteen Cross-Training reached?"

The monk slapped his chest proudly: "Highest level."

"My five viscera and six bowels are now immune to water and fire."

"No wonder you dare drink this tea."

The old monk chuckled, reached out, and patted the monk's skull: "Then I bestow upon you the Dharma name 【Thirteen】."

"A Water-Fire Steel-Clad Staff, and a black monk's robe—go now. After descending the mountain, head to the Northern Regions. Outside this Academy, I also have a quiet Dharma ground; there, in that Buddhist land, there is a younger brother of mine named 【Wu Yin】."

"【Wu Yin Monk】 over ten years ago found a towering, burly man on the mountain path, wielding a heavy cudgel, his battle robe stained with blood—he was one of Tai Ping Gong's elite standard-bearers, Yan Xuanji. My younger brother, pitying him, took him in."

"He then sought the help of the Daoist Primordial Master Zi Yang to preserve the man's primordial qi from extinction, thus saving him from the gates of death, and gave him the Dharma name 【Zhige】. He practiced the Eighty Buddhist Trials, yet broke the final trial within the Chen royal court."

"Now he has joined Yue Pengwu's forces under the identity of Tai Ping Gong's general."

"This time, when you descend the mountain, go to him."

The monk with the Dharma name Thirteen listened to this old tale and gave his word.

He turned and left the Academy.

He paused, then clasped his hands together and asked the Central Land Living Buddha one final question: "Master, disciple has a doubt: does killing prevent attainment of true enlightenment?"

The old monk replied: "What kind of enlightenment do you seek?"

The staff monk thought long, then answered: "Disciple does not know."

"When I have walked the path, I will return to your side—and then I may answer this question." With that, he lifted his Water-Fire Staff and departed. As he left, he encountered Qin Wu Hou and a masked girl.

The monk, having cultivated a body of muscle and a pure Buddhist heart, possessed the Buddhist Heavenly Eye, a technique lying between mystic art and Wu Gong—similar to the Yin-Yang School's Qi-Reading method—and immediately perceived something:

The Monk had cultivated a body of muscle and a crystal-clear Buddhist heart; his Buddhist Heavenly Eye ability was in fact between a mystical art and Wu Gong, similar to the Yin-Yang School's Qi-gazing technique, and he immediately perceived something and said:

Li Guanyi said: "This master…"

The monk smiled: "I am Staff Monk Thirteen. Seeing the joy on Qin Wu Hou's face, you must soon reunite with an old friend—how delightful! And I, too, am leaving this damned place—how delightful! How delightful!"

The Monk smiled and said, "I am Monk Thirteen. Seeing the Qin Wu Hou's joyful expression, you must soon be reuniting with an old friend—how delightful! I too am leaving this damned place—how delightful! How delightful!"

Yet after he left, he originally intended to follow the old Central Land Living Buddha's guidance, heading north to find his uncle Yan Xuanji's camp—but after only a few days, he saw a band of bandits on the roadside robbing common folk, viciously so.

They were about to draw knives and kill; several corpses already lay on the road.

He was already drawing his knife to kill; the road already lay strewn with several corpses.

"I'm a disciple of Motian Sect—I wield Wu Gong! Hand over your money, give me your daughters as brides to soothe my temper, and I'll let you go. Otherwise, I'll chop you into mince and sell it as buns at the willow-tree tavern!"

The great monk immediately drew his Water-Fire Staff and beat the bandits unconscious, then distributed the stolen goods among the people. After long thought, he burned the letter of introduction written by the old monk himself, muttering:

"If I use the old Master's name to approach Yan Xuanji, my uncle, they'll surely make me a junior officer."

"But fighting only with other warlords' soldiers—how dull."

"The famed Yue Family Army doesn't need another brave warrior—but the common folk of the countryside need a monk who gives them justice."

"Killing cannot lead to true enlightenment."

The great monk saw the slain bandit stir back to consciousness, gripped his Water-Fire Staff, and struck once—crushing the bandit's skull into pulp, turning his head into a bloody mess. Filled with rage, he marched to the bun shop beneath the tree at the crossroads.

After confirming the buns were made of human flesh, he flew into a fury, slaughtered every person in the shop—down to the big yellow dog that had eaten human bones, reduced to a puddle of meat—and then set the place ablaze, leaving nothing but ash and smoke.

After confirming it was human flesh buns, he flew into a rage and slaughtered every last person in the bun shop—down to the large yellow dog that had eaten human bones, which he pounded into a puddle of meat paste—then set fire to the place, burning it utterly clean, reducing it to ash and smoke.

He raised one hand before him: "Then this too shall not lead to enlightenment!"

"If there are Buddhas in the Pure Land, they don't need another monk. The world doesn't need a Buddha seated on a lotus throne—it needs a Bodhisattva wielding Water and Fire to save beings. I won't go to Yan Xuanji, my uncle."

"I've heard the Mo Sect thrives and ravages the Western Regions."

"I shall be a pilgrim, measuring this world with my two feet, then return to the Academy to ask the Living Buddha Ancestor:"

"What is true enlightenment?"

What is true enlightenment?

………………

Yet unknown to them, the monk who called himself Thirteen had departed; Li Guanyi and the Changfeng Lady paid their respects to the Old Living Buddha, who cast a glance at the girl and noticed the Bai Hu Jewel, but said nothing more, merely offering them tea.

He said: "Scholars seek change, but Buddhist disciples are not Confucians—they lack skill in military and state affairs. If they enter the Imperial Academy, their lack of steadfastness will stir up ill intent, causing soldiers to turn Buddhist, and then there would be no need to wage war at all."

"It would only undermine military morale. That boy just now—he's reckless, not a Buddhist at all—he seems a true soldier's seed. Master Yishi, if fate permits, you should meet him."

As Li Guanyi took leave of the old monk and walked beside the girl, a doubt stirred in his heart: when he had spoken with her at the Changfeng Tower about the state of the world and intelligence, he had felt an inexplicable familiarity.

This sense of familiarity arose only after living together and training in Wu Gong.

And he always felt he was being watched, one-sidedly guarded.

Such habits—typical of an elder sister—and this intelligence network…

And her familiarity with Li Guanyi.

Could it be…?

Li Guanyi's heart stirred slightly; a thought flickered into his mind. He slowed his pace, looking back at the girl: she wore a dark green robe and black skirt, solemn yet not rigid, with tassels and jade pendants hanging from her waist, and a bead on her wrist.

Hmm, her stature is taller than the Young Lady's.

The Young Lady, back then, was slimmer, more like a young girl; but this Changfeng Tower Lady of the Central Province is different—her waist is slender, yet not gaunt, possessing a distinctly feminine grace.

Li Guanyi reached up and tapped his forehead.

Is she the Young Lady?

More than a year has passed; the Young Lady is nearly two years older than Li Guanyi. If she were the Young Lady now, she would be seventeen—not the girl he first met. Li Guanyi pressed his temples, beginning to doubt.

The girl's voice was clear and gentle: "Esteemed guest, is your preparation merely to meet with a few Academy Masters here in the Imperial Academy?"

Li Guanyi's expression did not change: "Not at all."

The girl asked: "Then, what do you intend to do?"

Li Guanyi said: "Nothing much—just preparing some food and changing clothes. After all, if I were to bring a gift, the Xue family's wealth rivals even the Ghost Market—I couldn't possibly afford anything."

The girl nodded, teasing:

"Even I know how poor the Marquis is."

Li Guanyi had no reply, and they continued walking. They passed through the Imperial Academy, where students came and went in great numbers; some unable to carry things, simply set up stalls to sell goods—some sold miscellaneous wares, while others, cleverer, sold all kinds of snacks.

It was like a temple fair.

The two walked side by side, buying things; Li Guanyi carried them himself. Often he would suggest that perhaps the Young Lady might like this item, and the girl would seriously consider it, sometimes nodding, sometimes shaking her head, or at times helplessly saying it was impossible she'd like it.

The girl thought a moment, then said: "Still, you mentioned you're going to the Western Regions."

"The Changfeng Tower has also tried entering the Western Regions, but the situation there is extremely complex. The grudges and enmities among different ethnic groups are more dramatic than any storybook tale—like a tangled ball of thread. Under such conditions, each tribe has its own methods of gathering intelligence."

"Add to that the Mo Sect—these people are not only powerful in Wu Gong, but also cruel and ruthless. In times of chaos, they buy children, implant twisted beliefs in them, teach them rapid advancement methods, and instruct them in secret arts."

"With this secret art, they strike—internal Qi reverses and explodes instantly."

Li Guanyi recalled: Brother Yue and Yan Xuanji had both spoken of the Mo Sect's horror. The girl picked up a golden hairpin, examined it, then put it down. "They've infiltrated the Western Regions deeply. The Changfeng Tower finds it nearly impossible to penetrate."

"We've tried. We paid a heavy price."

Li Guanyi said: "Can you really speak of this here?"

The girl smiled faintly: "We're only discussing the Western Regions."

Yet she still put down the hairpin and walked with Li Guanyi toward a quieter area. "But 'Mo Sect' is merely our Central Plains term. They have many names: 'Hunyuan Sect,' 'Fenxiang Jiao,' 'Dangxiang Gate,' 'Tea Gate.'"

"At the grassroots level, they're called 'Village Covenant Holders of the Faith'; in towns, 'Magistrates and Clerks Holding the Faith.' They call each other differently—some address each other as Master and Disciple, others as Shopkeeper and Incense Master."

"From top to bottom, their influence in the Western Regions is immense."

"I went to Kunlun Mountain to cultivate Wu Gong, and traveled to the Western Regions to investigate."

"At that time, my Wu Gong was weaker than now. The Changfeng Tower rescued a group of children. We taught them Wu Gong and writing as usual, asking if they wished to stay—or if they preferred to leave."

"One child was quiet and silent, yet later killed all the other children of her age, then seized a dagger to kill me. After I repelled her, she declared she would never coexist with the Central Plains people, uttering 'True Void Homeland, Silent Old Mother,' then ruptured her own bloodline."

"I was unprepared then—nearly died."

"My Master saved my life."

"That was when I learned the horror of the Mo Sect."

"Precisely because their names are so numerous—Jin Chan, Wuwei, Hongyang, Dacheng—we collectively call them 'Mo Sect' for simplicity, but their main altar is named 'Wenxiang Bai Lian Jiao.'"

"It is said that over ten years ago, the then-Head of the Sect sought to manifest the ancient Buddha, the True Void Old Mother, who is said to be unborn and undying, through an ultimate method, and held a grand ritual involving more than ten thousand participants."

"Even the Tuyuhun Kingdom participated, for the Head of the Sect was apparently their state priest."

"But later, something happened. Most of those who attended the grand ritual were never seen again; some who survived were mad, as if they had witnessed the inconceivable."

"They were only known to kneel and worship in the desert, eventually turning into dried corpses in the sandstorms. Those with strong Wu Gong died mysteriously. Fishermen who followed the Mo Sect in the South Sea once caught a coffin."

"Inside the coffin were swollen corpses, each bearing tokens of high-ranking Mo Sect members. Yet no one knows why they died tens of thousands of miles away in the South Sea. Around seven years ago, all ten thousand who attended the grand ritual were dead."

"Later, our intelligence learned that many elite generals of Tuyuhun were believers of the Bai Lian Jiao—and these fierce generals were all mysteriously assassinated. This was one reason Yuwen Lie could destroy Tuyuhun so swiftly."

"It is said that even the Tuyuhun King of over ten years ago was found dead."

"The official explanation for the death of that bold Tuyuhun King was numerous and noble-sounding, but according to our intelligence, he was brutally slain by a wandering martial artist."

"At death, he was cut over thirteen thousand times with the flesh-cutting knives used in the grand ritual, then hung upside down until all his blood drained out. His sudden death plunged Tuyuhun into internal chaos, and over ten years later, it was utterly diminished."

"This is why Tuyuhun is inferior to the great Central Plains states."

From the Changfeng Lady's words, Li Guanyi learned part of the past.

Yet he did not yet connect it to Yao Guang's past.

The masked girl exhaled. "So, the Young Lady asked me to apologize: the Western Regions matter may not be as simple as entering it—the Mo Sect's history and roots run far too deep…"

Li Guanyi thought of Wen He and Wen Lingjun's words.

Intelligence organizations must remove the forces that originally controlled that energy before they can establish themselves. The subtle struggles, the painstaking efforts—he had never noticed them.

To build an organization like the Changfeng Tower in Jiangnan's Eighteen Provinces, where noble families clashed fiercely, or in the Central Province, where even city gate taxes were fought over by royal clans—such painstaking efforts need no words.

Li Guanyi whispered: "I truly owe the Young Lady my thanks."

The girl raised her brows and smiled, "Then, Qin Wu Hou."

"I'll accept your thanks on behalf of the Young Lady."

The boy picked up the hairpin and asked, "Do you think the Young Lady will like this hairpin?"

Behind the mask, the girl thought of the little brat she'd met on the road.

Then she answered with a smile:

"She'd probably rather you carved her a wooden hairpin yourself."

Li Guanyi stared at the girl over there, but she, masked or perhaps hardened by over a year's trials, showed no fear, only said: "Mr., is there something on my mask?"

Li Guanyi was about to speak when he heard a voice:

"Ah, Qin Wu Hou is indeed here!"

"Those people weren't lying after all!"

Li Guanyi turned toward the sound and saw many students rushing toward him; their leader was Mao Yue, the scholar he'd met days ago—a student who'd wanted to enter Jiangnan because of Master Wang Tong's reputation.

Li Guanyi had refused them that day, but they didn't resent him; instead, they were delighted.

They felt such a man was worthy of trust, so they still intended to go to Jiangnan—but now faced hardship: the world was in chaos, the distance from here to Jiangnan's eighteen prefectures was immense, and the road was unsafe. Mao Yue's face flushed red as he said:

"May I ask, Your Lordship, could you lend us some silver for travel expenses?"

He hesitated, then added: "Also, there's another group of students who don't wish to join any faction, but heard Your Lordship's words—'Scholars enter the world'—and now wish to open private schools in various regions."

"But setting up private schools isn't cheap…"

Li Guanyi felt a stomachache coming on.

He had money, but he couldn't spend this sum yet, and the Fire Qilin Army couldn't escort these students. Just as he pondered how to resolve this, the girl suddenly reached out and lightly pressed his arm, speaking through voice-transmission:

"Mr., you might as well agree."

"The Xue family has merchant guilds along this route. Students willing to open private schools in Jiangnan can rest and drink tea at Xue guilds along the way—as waystations—and receive travel funds to travel with the Xue guilds."

Standing behind Li Guanyi, her eyes slightly curved, she whispered:

"Just say it, Mr."

She lowered her gaze and smiled:

"This is your chance to build your own prestige—don't let me steal the glory."

Li Guanyi silently thanked her, then said: "All of you may follow Xu Xing."

"I've already arranged with the Xue merchant guild: anyone willing to go to Jiangnan—even if you don't join my Fire Qilin Army, even if you only open private schools and teach the people—is doing a great good. You may stay at Xue guilds and travel with them."

"Also, considerable travel funds will be provided."

Mao Yue was overjoyed, bowing repeatedly: "So that's how it is!"

"Your Lordship had already prepared for us all along!"

"Your Lordship's divine foresight—our worries are over!"

The students departed; Mao Yue told those around him: "Negotiating something this large with the Xue family couldn't have been done overnight—Your Lordship must have begun preparing after that day's Dao debate…"

Mao Yue paused, then said: "No—before that!"

"I understand!"

"I understand what Qin Wu Hou intended!"

His eyes lit up brightly as he shouted:

"Your Lordship had already prepared for all these scholars heading to Jiangnan—and yet, instead of loudly advertising it like Chen State or Ying State to attract fellow cultivators, you waited until we asked!"

"You don't seek to lure with profit or force with power!"

"Qin Wu Hou—what a true gentleman!"

Thanks to the girl's perfectly timed proposal, Qin Wu Hou Li Guanyi's reputation subtly shifted in a new direction. Li Guanyi watched the students depart happily, then turned to look at the girl beside him.

'To directly authorize the Xue family's actions like this… such authority…'

Li Guanyi's suspicion had reached eight-tenths.

The girl tapped her mask with a finger and smiled: "What else do you plan to do?"

Li Guanyi said: "Nothing. I know how to welcome the Young Lady now."

The girl nodded slightly and smiled: "Then it's late—I must go to Changfeng Tower. I hope you see the Young Lady tonight."

Li Guanyi said: "Let me see you off."

The two walked side by side, chatting about trivial matters, but when they passed a grand pavilion, Li Guanyi's scalp prickled—he'd once been forced by Wen He to court noble families.

On that pavilion stood a noble family's Young Lady, tossing a embroidered ball.

Snatching a husband beneath the imperial list was tradition; as scholars prepared to leave Zhongzhou, noble families rushed to secure alliances. The Young Lady tossed her ball, frustrated—then spotted the young Lord in crimson battle robes and her eyes lit up.

With surprise, three parts shyness, and six parts resolve to seize an advantage, though she'd never spoken to him, she knew: marrying him meant becoming Lady Qin Wu Hou!

Endless splendor.

Unlimited gold and silver. Unending honor!

She hurled the embroidered ball straight at Li Guanyi!

Li Guanyi blocked it with internal Qi—but as he did, the masked girl's hand pulled, an invisible current yanking the ball sideways—it landed in her hand, missing Li Guanyi entirely.

Her move was faster than his.

Li Guanyi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Chen Royal Family's secret divine art: Six Emptiness, Four Union.

The Young Lady was learning martial arts from Aunt Chen Qingyan.

Suspicion level—

Nine point eight times nine point eight.

Li Guanyi suddenly reached out, curled his fingers, and flicked them—just a burst of force shot out. The crowd had already gasped as the beautiful noble girl's embroidered ball landed in the mask-wearer's hand—when suddenly, the mask on the girl's face cracked open.

Then, a face a hundred times more beautiful than that of the noble young lady emerged; the mask shattered into dust, scattering across the road, while the murmurs, whispers, and exclamations of the crowd became its backdrop.

Time slowed as the mask fell; Li Guanyi saw the arched brows, the high nose, the smiling lips, and the girl's signature clear, almond-shaped eyes—time seemed to halt, letting the wind scatter the gaps of these past days.

Around them, everyone erupted in astonishment.

The girl suddenly beamed.

She pressed her hands firmly.

And hurled the marriage-seeking embroidered ball straight into the boy's arms!

The boy did not dodge, and the girl laughed aloud, her eyes bright:

"Hey, it's been over a year."

"My guest master, Mr."

"Why are you still so dumbfounded?"