Chapter 61: High-End Game

Jin Wuya is a smart person; he gets the point instantly.

I reckoned it in my mind, then said, "I'll handle this matter; you just cooperate, Boss Jin. Put on your airs—this time we're playing a high-end game."

Jin Wuya vaguely guessed what I wanted to do, but he wasn't clear on the specifics; fortunately, he chose to trust me completely.

After seeing Jin Wuya off, I called Tang Tang.

Four days later, on a well-known domestic treasure-appraisal variety show, the famous treasure-hunting master Tang Ao had an additional guest surnamed Jin beside him.

Tang Ao spoke fluently on the show, throwing one piece of professional knowledge after another at the guest named Jin Wuya, who handled it with ease, leaving everyone impressed.

As the show was about to end, the host tossed the closing topic to Jin Wuya: "Mr. Jin, you are erudite and multi-talented, your skill is superb; it inevitably reminds me of another famous artifice master from over twenty years ago, Old Master Jin Chengyang, sharing the same surname and profession—may I ask, Mr. Jin, do you know Old Master Jin Chengyang?"

All the guests in the hall turned their gaze to Jin Wuya.

Today Jin Wuya wore a proper black suit, his hair slicked back in a high pompadour; he gave the host a slight nod, his whole bearing exuding a noble air, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly as he said, "Old Master Jin Chengyang is my teacher."

That single remark awakened everyone present; the way they looked at Jin Wuya changed completely.

Old Master Jin Chengyang actually has a closed-door disciple?!

Moreover, this closed-door disciple has deep ties with the Tang Family of Huicheng.

Either of these two facts alone would be enough for Jin Wuya to rise smoothly in the artifice world.

After the show aired, Jin Wuya received many invitations, most of them seeking collaboration with him.

He refused them all, putting on airs.

After all, the Tang Family has his back, so he isn't afraid of offending people; besides, he went on this show not to gain fame.

Furthermore, Jin Wuya's artifice skills are superb; he doesn't need to rely on reputation-seeking to make a living.

Our motive in taking this risky move is, as the saying goes, "the drinker's intention is not the wine."

Two days later, in the evening, I finally received Jin Wuya's call.

He excitedly told me, "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, as you expected, the current abbot of Jiyu Si, Master Yin Xuan, has indeed arranged to meet me!"

I silently let out a breath; this game has only just begun to show results at this point.

I glanced at the weather information for the Jiyu Si area over the past half year that Li Qingying had gathered, and the corners of my mouth twitched.

Over the past half year, not a single drop of rain has fallen there.

It shows that our guess that day was correct—the rain prayer formation array at Jiyu Si has a flaw.

Back then, Jiyu Si could rely on Jin Chengyang alone to handle it, for fear of unexpected complications.

Now that Jin Chengyang is long dead, hastily asking another artifice master to intervene would be too risky, so Jiyu Si chose the old path of selecting offerings via the top lottery.

But the offerings aren't easy to come by; without mishap, this rain prayer formation array cannot be filled with just one or two offerings.

At this juncture, Jin Chengyang's closed-door disciple entered their sight, and they were certainly moved.

After all, to control Jin Wuya, it suffices to bring up his master.

I said to Jin Wuya, "Boss Jin, stay calm; keep fishing them—perhaps we'll reap an unexpected gain."

Jin Wuya laughed, "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, don't worry, I understand."

Master Yin Xuan invited Jin Wuya three times, all of which were politely declined.

Afterwards, Master Yin Xuan had someone relay a message to Jin Wuya, saying that back then Jin Chengyang had left some things at Jiyu Si, asking whether Jin Wuya wanted to go retrieve them.

This is a hint, a threat.

Jin Chengyang has been dead for over twenty years—what could he have left at Jiyu Si back then, and why would Jiyu Si bother preserving it for so long?

If they truly intended to return it, they could have sent a messenger; why not bring the items along as well?

It's nothing more than using Jin Chengyang's reputation as an excuse to force Jin Wuya to compromise.

Jin Wuya finally relented and personally made a trip to Jiyu Si.

Li Qingying snapped, "Xiao Jiu, how do I feel that this monk named Yin Xuan is not anything good?"

At the time I was practicing drawing talismans; hearing her say that, I replied with interest, "Qingying Sister, why do you think that?"

"First, the current Jiyu Si is led by this monk Yin Xuan, right?" Li Qingying analyzed, "So the matter of the top lottery likely came from his suggestion; otherwise, which monk would dare pick offerings under the abbot's nose?"

"Then there's Master Jin's sealing document—surely it couldn't have been made by the deceased former abbot? And let's not even mention the threat against Boss Jin."

"Anyway, I think this Yin Xuan is absolutely not innocent."

I gave Li Qingying a thumbs-up: "I completely agree with Qingying Sister's view; I even suspect that the rain prayer affair back then is also linked to him."

Li Qingying worried, "Boss Jin is going alone like this; who knows if something will happen."

"Don't worry," I consoled, "He experienced his master's tragic death alone at sixteen, then struck out on his own; anyone who can make a living in Gui Shi is no ordinary person."

Li Qingying nodded: "That's true."

Soon we met Jin Wuya again at the teahouse.

This time Jin Wuya looked troubled: "That old bald donkey is too crafty; I couldn't pump any useful information from him, making this trip in vain except for bringing back a small hammer."

I asked, "Is that small hammer really your master's?"

"Yes," Jin Wuya said, "That old bald donkey said the work of inlaying golden scales has always been entrusted to my master; others he doesn't trust. Since I am my master's closed-door disciple, when the golden scales fall off again, it is only fitting that I inherit my master's unfinished work—this is a good deed for accruing merit."

No wonder Jin Wuya is in a bad mood; Master Yin Xuan's doubly loaded remark really makes one feel unpleasant.

The phrase "unfinished work" both criticizes Jin Chengyang's lack of skill and puts Jin Wuya in a bind.

Jin Wuya gritted his teeth: "If it weren't to uncover my master's true cause of death, I wouldn't give this white-eyed wolf the time of day!"

"Boss Jin, stay calm," I continued asking, "Then how did you agree to take on the task of inlaying the golden scales?"

Jin Wuya said, "I said my master passed away early, I am foolish, my abilities are a ten-thousandth of my master's; inlaying the golden scales is a major undertaking, I feared I couldn't handle it, but after that old bald donkey repeatedly begged, I went along with it, saying I'd bring two assistants to give it a try, and he agreed."

As I expected, I hadn't misjudged Jin Wuya; he handled this matter well.

Since we need to inlay the golden scales, this trip will surely let us see the interior of the bronze bell—our only chance to glimpse the truth.

The next morning, we went with Jin Wuya to Jiyu Si, bought some incense towers and candles, and Master Yin Xuan personally greeted us.

I don't know if I'm being overly sensitive, but while offering the incense towers and candles, I kept feeling Master Yin Xuan's gaze, intentional or not, falling on me.

He is already ninety-six years old, his body still very sturdy, with white hair and beard; in his hand he turns a string of oily, lustrous prayer beads, which emit a ga-da ga-da sound.

After we finish our offerings, Grand Master Yin Xuan steps forward and asks: "Jiyu Si has three lot-drawing opportunities each day; whoever draws the top lot can participate in our temple's prayer festival on the first of next month."

Today, to welcome the three of you, we have closed the temple for a day; these three lots would be wasted if no one draws them—are you three interested in each drawing a lot to try?