Chapter 295

Mao Jingxuan is seeking his own death.

He should have had a great future.

He came from the renowned Mao Shan sect, highly respected, with many disciples, and the elixirs he refined were worth a fortune.

He has already reached such a height; what more could he be dissatisfied with?

I really can't figure it out.

Fang ChuanZong let out a long sigh, somewhat regretfully: "We've known each other for many years; in my mind he has always been both teacher and friend. When the elixir-poison incident occurred, I also didn't understand."

He raised his hand and firmly pinched his brow, sighing: "You've probably heard this saying before: the ultimate goal of cultivation is immortality, but how many who cultivate truly achieve feathered ascension to live as long as heaven and earth?"

I exchanged a glance with Liu Junyan.

I said somewhat disappointedly: "Oh, so that's how it is."

Liu Junyan smirked: "It seems the great lama's motives are the same as Mao Jingxuan's."

"Mao Jingxuan is skilled at refining elixirs," Fang ChuanZong said. "His elixirs have saved countless lives; if he could persist in cultivation, continue researching elixirs, heal and save lives, accumulate merit, the future might not..."

Liu Junyan interrupted Fang ChuanZong, counter-questioning: "Old Fang, do you really think you understand Mao Jingxuan well?"

Fang ChuanZong immediately replied: "Of course, we..."

As he spoke, he suddenly froze.

I also realized: "Mao Jingxuan's current cultivation perhaps does not come from his own diligent practice, but... from elixirs."

Taking elixirs to boost cultivation is originally a supplementary method of cultivation.

But some people, eager for quick gains, take shortcuts to greatly increase their cultivation.

It is obvious that Mao Jingxuan took this shortcut, allowing him to grow rapidly.

Mao Shan is a major sect, with many talented individuals.

To stand out among so many talented people is not easy.

If one's cultivation talent is limited and they overly rely on elixirs to boost cultivation, this path won't last long, and the body is prone to problems.

People, after reaching a certain height, if they stagnate, as they age they will continually be surpassed by the younger generation, leading to psychological deviation.

This will lead them to extremes.

Fang ChuanZong obviously understood as well, muttering: "No wonder he has many disciples, yet they are of mixed quality, with few truly accomplished; this time those kids he shoved into my care for training almost made a big mistake—originally... all this has a trace."

For a moment, the atmosphere in the vehicle grew heavy.

Fang ChuanZong refilled our tea, then tentatively asked: "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, do you want to personally interrogate him?"

I looked at Liu Junyan.

As for me, I've already figured out what I wanted to know; there's nothing left to interrogate.

But given that the three-eyed toad was created by the great lama, perhaps Liu Junyan would want to interrogate again?

Yet I didn't expect Liu Junyan to say: "Interrogating him is Old Fang's duty; we won't meddle further. We're tired, so we'll head back first."

Fang ChuanZong didn't say much more, rose to see us off.

Both the Gray Immortal Hall and the Qiu family invited us to sit, but we refused each invitation.

In the afternoon, Hui Moqiong drove, and we directly returned.

I and Liu Junyan sat in the back seat; he had one arm around my waist, but his body leaned lightly against my shoulder.

He was indeed very tired.

I wrapped my arms around his body, looking at his pallid lips, and said: "Get some sleep; I'll wake you when we get home."

Liu Junyan didn't respond right away, remained silent for a while, then suddenly said to me: "Xiao Jiu, I want to go back to Song Mountain."

My heart skipped a beat, inexplicably uneasy: "Why suddenly want to go back to Song Mountain? Āyàn, are you going back to check something?"

Liu Junyan raised his eyebrows, looking at me somewhat surprised.

I reached out a finger, lightly tracing his brows and eyes, and continued: "Let me guess, you probably want to go back to Song Mountain to confirm the relationship between Dahui Chan Master and the Copper Coin Person, right?"

Liu Junyan nodded: "To be precise, I know they were originally one entity; I once thought the Copper Coin Person was the manifestation of Dahui Chan Master's desire, which is why I took the risk at Small Camp Mouth."

I frowned: "Isn't that the case?"

Liu Junyan's speculation matched mine; I didn't see anything wrong with it.

But he said: "If the Copper Coin Person is merely the manifestation of Dahui Chan Master's desire, then he should have no physical form."

"'Right,' I said, 'so he needs golden copper coins as armor to support his illusory form.'"

Hui Moqiong suddenly interjected: "Xiao Jiu'er, I can be certain you're mistaken on this point; the evil monk is not illusory, he truly exists, although we can't see his face clearly, he has hands and feet."

Hui Moqiong has followed the Copper Coin Person for many years; if he says I'm mistaken, then it must be wrong.

Liu Junyan said: "So I must return to Song Mountain to clarify this matter; coincidentally, I can also retreat there for a period to recover properly."

I asked: "Do you need me to accompany you?"

Liu Junyan ruffled my hair, saying: "No, Xiao Jiu, take care of yourself; I'll return quickly to be with you. Don't forget, we still have an agreement between us."

Yes, he promised me that after returning from Changshi, he would tell me about the Linghai Forbidden Ground.

All the way back to Wufu Town, we had no further conversation.

Liu Junyan kept leaning on my shoulder, eyes closed, resting.

Hui Moqiong sent me back to the pawnshop, turned the cart around, and directly took Liu Junyan to Song Mountain.

I stood at the pawnshop door holding the black cat, watching them depart.

Li Qingying anxiously said: "How come you haven't even gotten out of the car and you're leaving again? Even if you need to go to Song Mountain to check something, there's no need to rush so much. In these days you've been away, Wufu Town has also seen many events; given Seventh Lord's former temperament, he wouldn't ignore the pawnshop affairs and instead go straight to Song Mountain—it's truly strange."

Is it strange?

It really is strange.

Although Liu Junyan pointed out that the Copper Coin Person is not illusory, I was surprised, but when he used that as an excuse to go to Song Mountain, I also realized something was off.

But just what is off?

Liu Junyan returned to Song Mountain, but what exactly does she want to do?

I had a vague thought in my heart, but I didn't dare to think further; I shook my head and asked, "Sister Li Qingying, what has happened in Wufu Town these past few days?"

Li Qingying was a bit anxious: "Put other matters aside for now; I'll tell you in detail later. Xiao Jiu, come with me to the west room to have a look."

I held the black cat as I walked behind her, and asked, "What's wrong with the west room?"

The west room enshrines a deity altar; any problem there would be very dangerous.

I also became nervous.

Li Qingying only said: "It's that Copper Coin Person... sigh, you'll know if you go see for yourself."

While speaking, we had already entered the main courtyard and proceeded to the west room.

At a glance, the west room seemed unchanged.

But when my gaze fixed on the Copper Coin Person, I froze for a moment.

I then strode over, leaned in, and took a closer look.

Then I frowned and looked at Li Qingying.

Li Qingying asked: "Xiao Jiu, you see, it probably isn't my illusion, right? When I came over this morning to offer incense, I noticed that the color of these copper coins on his body had faded quite a bit..."