Chapter 8: Bodhisattva's Appearance, Yama's Conduct

The Taoist priest was so frightened his courage almost broke; he dropped his belongings and fled at full speed.

Indeed, as my senior brother said, coming here to deliver vegetables puts one's life at risk!

Do not listen, do not look, do not speak—only then can you keep your head on your shoulders!

However, his flustered, fearful look had long been seen through by everyone in the courtyard.

Seeing what he shouldn't have seen also counts as his bad luck today.

The white-clad man was tall and long-legged, his head of slightly curling ink-black hair flowing like a waterfall; his features were naturally extraordinarily handsome, a tiny red mole on his brow making him look like a divine figure from a painting, so pure that no one dared entertain impure thoughts.

The man in white was tall and long-legged, his head of slightly wavy, waterfall-like black hair hanging loose; his features were already extraordinarily handsome, and a tiny red mole on his brow made him look as holy as a deity in a painting, making one dare not entertain impure thoughts.

But at this moment he held a long sword, blood dripping from its blade, and his whole body was already stained with the sins of the mortal world.

This person is none other than the fifth son of the present DaLiang emperor, Prince Su, Duan Rongshi.

Although he is a solemn prince, he also holds the post of Minister of Justice.

He usually acts with a sinister, vicious style, harsh and cruel, causing everyone in Jinling City to tremble at the mere mention of his name.

Most officials in the court also treat him with respect but keep their distance.

Duan Rongshi took off his loose outer robe and personally wiped the blood from his sword.

After tossing the valuable cloth to the ground, he casually said, 'Don't cause any more trouble. Go tell Qingyangzi personally that we've settled a case at the small courtyard behind the pine hills tonight.'

After throwing the valuable fabric onto the ground, he then spoke casually: "Don't cause further trouble. Go personally inform Qingyangzi, then say that tonight we handled a case at the little courtyard behind the pine trees on Mount Cangsong."

There was still someone not quite dead in the courtyard; Duan Rongshi ordered Zhui Yu to go and sever that person's tendons in hands and feet.

Then he had the body hung again beneath the large pine tree outside the gate.

'Don't let him die. Let those who dare to assassinate me see what fate awaits their masters.'

"Don't let him die. Since they dared to assassinate me, let their masters see what fate awaits these people."

Outside, wails echoed continuously; inside, the man had washed his hands, changed into clean clothes, and cleansed the blood from his body.

The food had been tested for poison and set on the table; Duan Rongshi sat down, picked up his chopsticks, but frowned tightly upon seeing a table full of sweet-potato dishes.

'Is this Pine Green Temple going to close down?'

As far as he knew, the old lady of the Green Bamboo Courtyard, Madame Pei, had been providing silver to this Green Pine Temple for thirty years.

Over those thirty years, this temple went from an obscure little Daoist abbey to the largest establishment outside Jinling City—could it really be that they can only afford sweet potatoes now?

Duan Rongshi originally didn't want to eat a bite, but Po Feng remarked, 'Surely tonight's sweet potatoes are extraordinarily delicious; otherwise those Daoists wouldn't dare to fool the prince with today's meal. Your Highness, would you like to try a bite?'

Only then did Duan Rongshi reluctantly pick up a mouthful with his chopsticks.

After swallowing it, Duan Rongshi rare-ly smiled.

'Has this temple changed to a formidable cook? Go inquire, find out what's going on.'

"Has this Daoist temple gotten a formidable cook? Go ask around and find out what's going on."

Not long after, Po Feng returned to report, 'Your Highness, today's sweet-potato dishes were all made by the daughter of Second Rank Piaoji Great General Li Chao Jing.'

Not long after, Po Feng returned to report: "Your Highness, today's sweet potato dishes were all made by the daughter of Second-Rank Cavalier General Li Chao Jing."

But he moved his chopsticks over nearly every plate.

This too was quite rare.

Po Feng quietly took note of this in his heart.

Duan Rongshi wasn't particularly interested in the Li family's affairs.

He only felt that the commotion down the mountain today was extreme, and heard that it was caused by this woman.

However, he ultimately gave face to Old Lady Pei, so he didn't pursue the matter further.

Li Qingluo waited another day, but her grandmother still gave no reply.

She felt a bit disappointed in her heart, but she also knew that things shouldn't be forced.

She had already done everything she could to sway her grandmother; if she still couldn't change her grandmother's mind, she could only respect the elder's wishes.

If so, she might as well return alone and fight them to the death—what harm would that do?

Li Qingluo packed her belongings, ready to leave the mountain tomorrow, when suddenly Cui Er came to report that the Li family had sent someone again.

This time, it was actually Li Kechuan himself who had come.

'Miss, you're wonderful! The eldest son must feel that he owes you for the previous incident, so he personally came up the mountain to fetch you back home!'

"Miss, you're wonderful! The Eldest Master must feel that he owes you for last time's injustice, so he personally came up the mountain to fetch you home!"

In his previous life, he hated himself because of Li Qingzhu, believing he had taken her vitality and the place of the Li family's daughter.

Therefore, when Li Qingluo merely accidentally broke a teacup that Li Qingzhu had once used, he shut himself up in the shabby shed beside the stables.

As a result, Li Qingluo was frozen to death in the heavy snow.

Such a heartless, ruthless older brother—Li Qingluo could not believe he would come to fetch her out of kindness.

So his arrival certainly wouldn't bring anything good.

As Li Qingluo just stepped out of the room, she met Li Kechuan's cold, gloomy gaze.

He rode a tall white horse, looking down from above at his biological sister.

Seeing Li Qingluo in her impoverished, shabby state, with her dark complexion that was hardly beautiful, Li Kechuan's eyes clearly showed contempt and disdain, mixed with mockery.

Seeing Li Qingluo utterly destitute, with a dark complexion that was hardly handsome, Li Kechuan's eyes clearly showed disgust and contempt, plus a hint of mockery.

Li Qingluo had not yet returned to the Li household, so the Li family had not yet restored her Li surname; she was still the Liu Caoer who had been abducted to the mountain hollow.

Li Qingluo said nothing, merely staring back at Li Kechuan with equal silence and coldness.

Li Kechuan's similarly assessing gaze toward her was most displeasing.

'What qualifications does she have to dare look me straight in the eye?!'

Cui Er, behind her, excitedly reminded Li Qingluo, 'Miss, this is the eldest son, your own elder brother of the same bloodline.'

Cui Er, excitedly reminding Li Qingluo from behind: "Miss, this is the Eldest Young Master, your own elder brother."

She certainly knew.

This is her direct bloodline, her biological older brother born of the same mother.

And he is the person she hates to the bone.

Facing her enemy, Li Qingluo in this life only wants to engrave his despicable beastly appearance deep into her heart.

Only thus can she not forget the shame and pain of her previous life for a single day.

Li Qingluo merely gave a perfunctory bow, putting on an appearance of honest simplicity: "Cao'er greets her elder brother."

Li Kechuan furrowed his brows, his disgust undisguised: "I am not your elder brother. I do not have such an ugly and vulgar sister as you. Remember, my only sister is Li Qingzhu!"

Li Qingluo: "Yes, Eldest Young Master."

Exactly as she wished.

Li Kechuan: "……"

Is she truly stupid and foolish, or is she feigning ignorance to lure him in?

Does she intend, by appearing indifferent, to make him think she still has a bit of backbone?

Such a vile, despicable thought—truly the conceited stupidity of a fool!

Li Kechuan's disgust toward her only deepened.

"You really have a big face! The servants came to invite you, yet you not only beat them but also handed them over to the authorities, making me lose face before my parents! Thus, finally letting me, the dignified Young General, personally come to fetch you home, counts as fulfilling your wish?"

Li Qingluo opened her slightly trembling eyes, as if struck hard: "Was it really the Eldest Young Master's people last time? So the Eldest Young Master's so-called 'invitation' was actually being trussed up?"

Li Kechuan sneered: "Otherwise, do you think you deserve an eight-person sedan?"

Li Kechuan then suddenly flared with anger: "Liu Caoer, you have clearly already arrived outside Jinling City, yet you delay returning home, making our parents wait anxiously! Zhu'er also, because of your actions, is filled with worry and guilt, unable to eat or rest peacefully. What exactly is your intention?"

"Thus, have you finally caused enough trouble?"

"Today, I personally come to bring home this ruthless, unfilial daughter; you can no longer claim to be a bandit! Men, tie her up!"