Chapter 164: with translation of chapter title

It turned out that the one who set up the Dragon-Locking Formation, locking a strand of Dragon Qi to suppress the Qiongqi evil formation, was a high monk called Dahui Chan Master.

Unfortunately, the Tang Dynasty was at least over a thousand years ago, so this Dahui Chan Master has likely already passed into nirvana.

"Dahui Chan Master passed into nirvana at the Great Dharma King Temple on Song Mountain in the late Tang Dynasty."

Fang Chuan Zong seemed able to see through my thoughts, and continued: "Unofficial histories record that Dahui Chan Master, at the time of his passing, left a prophecy saying he would return to Bull Tiger Mountain after a thousand years to reinforce the Dragon-Locking Formation."

"In tonight's battle at Bull Tiger Mountain, I observed the spellcaster's methods, which bear a strong resemblance to Dahui Chan Master's legacy; my subordinates' investigation says the master should come from Wufu Town Pawnshop, so Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, Fang Mou, may I have the honor of asking you to recommend him?"

"Well, as expected, you're still here for Liu Junyan."

"The cleanup tasks are being handled by Hui Moqiong and Li Qingying; in this process, Hui Moqiong must have already crossed swords with Fang Chuan Zong, which is why he avoided him in advance."

"Since that's the case, I…"

"After thinking, I said: 'I'm afraid I'll disappoint Elder Fang; our Dang Pu has no monks, and you must have investigated Wufu Town Pawnshop already. To put it simply, aside from the pawn business, our Dang Pu is more like a spirit-medium hall, with only Immortal Clan and spirit horses.'"

"As soon as I finished speaking, Fang Chuan Zong burst out laughing."

"His laugh made my scalp go slightly numb."

"\"Xiao Jiu Zhanggui is still young and doesn't understand many things; if you're interested, you can swing by our office when you have time—there's surely plenty of information you'd want to know. \""

"Fang Chuan Zong was basically throwing an olive branch at me."

"If I were still in school, receiving this olive branch would have made me overjoyed, wishing I could sprout wings and rush over immediately."

"But now I understand one truth: there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

"Fang Chuan Zong kept throwing out bait, waiting for me to take the hook."

"His intention, like the old drunkard's focus not on the wine, was not on me either, but on Liu Junyan behind me."

"I still smiled."

"Not knowing how to handle the situation, smiling is always safe."

"Fang Chuan Zong paid no heed to my reaction, continuing to throw out bait: 'Wufu Town Pawnshop once housed a high monk who came and went without trace, leading the Five Blessings Immortals to guard the peace of the region, and our office also holds some records of Wufu Town's past.'"

"Moreover, the records once speculated that this monk might be a reincarnation of Dahui Chan Master, but for unknown reasons the Dang Pu later closed for many years, and the Five Blessings Immortals family gradually dwindled."

"We've been waiting for the day Wufu Town Pawnshop reopens; I also blame myself for being too busy these past six months, unable to find time to visit, never expecting to meet Xiao Jiu Zhanggui at Bull Tiger Mountain this time—truly a matter of fate."

"Fate?"

"I'm afraid this isn't really fate; it's just that the time has come."

"As soon as Wufu Town Pawnshop reopened, it was likely already under watch, but they held their forces, observing from the shadows."

"Only after the Bull Tiger Mountain incident blew up did Fang Chuan Zong jump out."

"No wonder Liu Junyan had been reluctant to move those two major formations earlier; look, trouble has really come knocking now."

"This elderly gentleman before us, over seventy and in a high position, has crossed more bridges than I've eaten grains of salt; trying to play tricks in front of him is like brandishing a broadsword before Guan Yu's gate."

"So I chose to lay my cards on the table: 'Elder Fang, if you wish to see my Immortal Clan, I can go back and inquire; if you want to hold someone accountable for the Bull Tiger Mountain and prison incidents, I can cooperate.'"

"\"Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, you're joking—you've settled such a huge matter, averting a major disaster that had been brewing; rewards haven't even arrived yet, so where does blame come from? \""

"Fang Chuan Zong said: 'However, if the opportunity arises, I truly wish to meet this Immortal Clan of ours; as for the Bull Tiger Mountain and prison matters, I'll take charge from now on, guaranteeing not a whisper will leak.'"

"I inexplicably felt a sense of relief, and my guard against Fang Chuan Zong loosened a bit."

"But I still reminded him: 'We've found something on the prison side—it concerns the birth dates and times of some of the death-row inmates.'"

"Fang Chuan Zong nodded and said: 'We're also looking into this; in the process we met a young person from the Dang Pu, and if I'm not mistaken, that youngster is no ordinary fellow—your Dang Pu truly hides tigers and dragons.'"

"Hearing the phrase 'crouching tiger, hidden dragon,' I inexplicably grew tense again."

"Facing Elder Fang such an old fox, I'm still too inexperienced."

"That day, a cup of tea sat until it was cold, and I didn't take a single sip."

"Fang Chuan Zong, on the other hand, refilled two cups and said a lot, leaving my thoughts unsettled for many days afterward."

"The matters of Bull Tiger Mountain and the prison were completely handed over to Fang Chuan Zong to handle."

"When we left, Fang Chuan Zong specially had someone send me a plaque."

"That plaque was rectangular, made of silver, with a dragon-and-tiger carving on the front, and on the back a string of numbers, beneath which were the office's address and phone number."

"Elder Fang instructed that I could visit the office anytime, and he would always welcome me."

"Returning to the Dang Pu, Liu Junyan was not there."

"I asked Hui Moqiong, and he said: 'Seventh Lord, he's gone out.'"

"I was speechless, a bit annoyed, and said: 'Of course I know he went out; I'm asking for his exact destination.'"

"Hui Moqiong blinked twice, feigning ignorance."

"Li Qingying chimed in from the side: 'Old Fifth Hui, you've gone too far—Xiao Jiu is a person of Seventh Lord's household; are you guarding against her, or against me?'"

"\"Yingyingzi, are you trying to sow discord? \" Hui Moqiong slung an arm over Li Qingying's shoulder, sounding fierce but ultimately unable to hold back, 'Fine, for the sake of not affecting our family's unity, I'll sacrifice myself; if Seventh Lord blames me, I'm thick-skinned and I'll take it.'"

"He went on and on like that."

"Li Qingying impatiently pinched the flesh on his arm, and Hui Moqiong exaggeratedly wailed: 'Seventh Lord seems to have gone to Song Mountain; when he fought that fake ascetic, he was captured, picked up some corpse qi, and said he was going to Song Mountain to get some incense ash to dispel the corpse qi.'"

"Li Qingying anxiously said: 'Seventh Lord has corpse qi? How could you not mention such a big thing sooner?!'"

"\"It's just a bit of corpse qi; is it really worth such a fuss? \" Hui Moqiong dodged while saying, 'Yingyingzi, you probably forgot what your Seventh Lord's true form is!'"

"Yeah, it's just a bit of corpse qi; there are plenty of ways to draw it out."

"So the question arises: why does Liu Junyan go to Song Mountain?"

"Surely he's not really just going to beg for incense ash?"

"No…… Song Mountain?!"

"I suddenly recalled Fang Chuan Zong's words: he said Dahui Chan Master came from Song Mountain and finally passed into nirvana at the Great Dharma King Temple on Song Mountain."

"He also said Liu Junyan's method of suppressing the Qiongqi evil formation closely resembled that of Dahui Chan Master back then."

"I actually don't doubt whether Liu Junyan is some Dahui Chan Master; his true form is a flood dragon!"

"But that Copper Coin Person in the west wing…… I dare not say whether he's a reincarnation of Dahui Chan Master……"