Happy Arhat Arrives, Mirror

King Ziqi picked up the token, which was a black stone tiger.

He couldn't help but recall a young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes he met over thirty years ago while studying in Southern Expedition Country.

This young man was Emperor Baoding's brother, Duan Zhengchun. He was loyal and righteous, and had helped King Ziqi through many difficulties. They eventually became sworn brothers.

This black stone tiger was a gift from him. Seeing the token was like seeing an old friend, King Ziqi quickly opened it. The letter read:

"My brother Ziqi, it has been a long time since we last met, and I do not know your recent circumstances, but I think of you often.

In the third year of Kaiming, I heard that the Gao family was pressing you too hard. You led thirty-seven tribes and established Ziqi Country independently. I rejoiced for you every day.

In the fourth year of Wen'an, I could no longer bear the burden and became a monk. My son then ascended the throne. In the first year of Wenzhi, I was shocked to hear that you personally led a hundred thousand elite soldiers to surround Eastern Capital Shànchǎn City. The Gao family is powerful and cannot be easily subdued.

I also heard that you lost your son and daughter. I recite scriptures for you every day and pray for your blessings.

The Gao family has been a scourge upon Southern Expedition Country for three generations, even more so than Huo Guang of the Han Dynasty or Yuwen Hu of the Northern Zhou.

They have enfeoffed their descendants in the eight prefectures and four counties of Southern Expedition Country, controlling land and people, passing down official positions and hereditary stipends, and have also extensively encroached upon and swallowed the lands of the thirty-seven tribes.

Now that Gao Taiming is dead and his brother Gao Taiyun has taken the throne, the four wolves are fighting amongst themselves, and the Gao family is on the verge of internal strife.

Although I have entered the monastic life, I still have the heart to kill enemies and secure the nation. I hope my brother and I can renew the century-old friendship between the Grand Ancestor and the thirty-seven tribes, and jointly govern Southern Expedition Country.

I offer this small token of my thoughts and hope for your reply."

King Ziqi was unable to put the letter down for a long time after reading it. He handed the letter to his three sons to read, rewarded Sixi, and then sent him away to rest.

Alu presented his father, the King, with a gift list for Su Xue's birthday. After reviewing the list, he had Su Jiangcheng and Su Dingfeng brought in.

Su Jiangcheng and Su Dingfeng entered and performed the grand kowtow, then presented Su Xue's personal letter to King Ziqi. The letter read:

"I admire your majesty's might and have long neglected to inquire about your well-being. You are always in my thoughts, and I take the liberty of writing to seek your guidance.

In the past, I heard that the way to govern a country is to first enrich the people, and the way to strengthen a nation is to accumulate vast amounts of gold and silver.

Now, Gongjiao Country has established a trading market in Hengshan Village, Yongzhou. Ziqi Country lies between Southern Expedition Country and Gongjiao Country, occupying a strategic geographical advantage. Selling Southern Expedition horses here can yield immense profits. Envoy Yan Bao is my sworn brother, and he will obey any command.

Su Xue was originally a servant of the Su Zi family. Luoqie Lake was fortunate to gain Bai Bing's favor, a bond that is unforgettable for three lifetimes. Back then, the Gao family cunningly seized the Spirit Stones and forced Bai Bing to her death. My heart burned like a raging fire.

Five years ago, I secretly ordered my second disciple, Su Qingfang, to use her position as a guest to infiltrate Gao Mingqing's mansion in Shànchǎn City and investigate in secret.

Gao Mingqing hired a foreign alchemist to refine elixirs using the divine power of Spirit Stones to extend his father's life. Two years ago, Gao Taiming overdosed and died.

At this time, the Gao family is leaderless, fighting for power and profit, and on the verge of internal strife. This is an excellent opportunity. Your Majesty should rally your forces, lead the warriors of the thirty-seven tribes of Eastern Dian, and break through Shànchǎn City to slay Gao Mingqing.

My second disciple can act as an inside informant, gathering intelligence. My fifth disciple, Su Jiangcheng, and sixth disciple, Su Dingfeng, are at Your Majesty's disposal. The three of them, along with one hundred elite disciples, can hold off the disciples of the Gao family's Dian Cang Sect.

The ancients often said, 'A father's love for his daughter is unmatched.'

The fire poison that Bingxue suffered from in the past has been healed through recuperation in Nine Dragon Valley. She has also become a disciple of Bi Xuzi and studies medical classics and prescriptions daily, finding great joy in it. Bingxue is now sixteen years old. I know I have failed as a father and wronged her mother. I hope Your Majesty will see Bingxue and offer some guidance, so that she may resent me less.

I dare not presume to comment on Bingxue's lifelong marriage. I hope Your Majesty will pity her orphaned state and find her a good match in Ziqi Country, to fulfill her mother's wish.

Respectfully, your humble son-in-law, Su Xue."

After reading Su Xue's personal letter, King Ziqi's heart was stirred. His round eyes rolled a few times, and he casually handed the letter to Abu.

Abu, who was on good terms with Su Xue, silently finished reading and was about to speak when his father interrupted him, signaling him to put the letter away and discuss it later.

Bai Bingxue watched as Su Xue's letter was tucked into Abu's embrace, and she didn't have the courage to ask for it back.

At this time, Su Xue's birthday gifts also arrived at the royal palace.

Bai Bingxue looked from the doorway and saw four soldiers carrying a wooden crate bound with ropes, supported by two sturdy wooden poles crossed underneath. They walked slowly.

Bai Bingxue thought, "What could be so heavy?"

The soldiers placed the wooden crate in the courtyard, and Su Jiangcheng invited King Ziqi to the courtyard to see the gifts from his master. Everyone followed them into the courtyard.

Su Jiangcheng cupped his fists and said to King Ziqi, "My master admires Ziqi Country's devotion to Buddhism and its promotion of Buddhist teachings. He specially invited the renowned master of metal and stone from Jiangnan, Zhao Mingcheng, to craft these gifts.

He refined eight thousand taels of gold and cast statues of 'Namo Zimingzun Buddha' and 'Great Compassion Guanshiyin Bodhisattva' to celebrate Your Majesty's sixtieth birthday."

Everyone looked at the meter-tall wooden crates and shook their heads in confusion. Who would use so much gold to cast golden Buddhas?

Bai Bingxue wondered what trick they were playing.

Su Jiangcheng winked at Su Dingfeng. With a clang, Su Dingfeng drew his sword and executed the move "Bamboo Staff and Straw Shoes Lighter Than a Horse."

The tip of his sword probed and lifted the bottom of the two wooden crates, causing them to fly up and land on two meter-tall stone blocks in the courtyard.

Su Dingfeng then performed the grand sword technique "A Straw Cape and Misty Rain Let Me Live My Life," combined with the light footwork of "Flying Goose Treading on Snow Mud," circling the two crates before returning to his original position.

He sheathed his sword. Within a single breath, he completed such a divine feat, earning nods of admiration from everyone present.

Bai Bingxue was also amazed by the magic of his swordsmanship.

Su Jiangcheng clapped his hands and said to King Ziqi, "Your Majesty, please look."

The wooden ropes snapped at the sound, and the wooden crates cracked and fell to the ground, revealing two mud-sculpted Buddha statues standing on the two stones, facing each other.

The people of Ziqi Country showed expressions of displeasure.

Su Jiangcheng clapped his hands again and said to King Ziqi, "Your Majesty, look again."

The mud sculptures cracked at the sound, falling off piece by piece to reveal the golden bodies of the Buddhas.

The people of Ziqi Country showed expressions of joy.

King Ziqi stepped forward to examine the two-foot-tall golden statue of 'Namo Zimingzun Buddha,' which, with its one-foot-tall auspicious cloud platform, stood three feet tall. He then observed that the Buddha's face was majestic and bore an eight-tenths resemblance to himself.

Four lines of small text were also inscribed on the platform:

"A thousand-mile journey begins underfoot; a towering tree grows from a seed. All things depend on the minute details; aiming high with little skill is not advisable."

After carefully reading the inscription, King Ziqi prostrated himself in worship. His sons and ministers also knelt down to pay their respects.

The founding monarch of Ziqi Country had taken his name from the Buddhist terms "De Zizai," "Zizai Wang," and "Ziming Zun Buddha."

Su Xue had used three thousand one hundred taels of gold to cast Ziming Zun. He had also painted and refined the Buddha's head and face based on his memories of King Ziqi.

Bai Bingxue gazed at the two-foot-tall golden statue of 'Great Compassion Guanshiyin Bodhisattva,' which, along with its one-foot-tall golden lotus platform, stood three feet tall. Upon closer inspection, the Bodhisattva's face was elegant, her eyes gentle, and her makeup solemn. She looked exactly like her mother.

Bai Bingxue was deeply moved and immediately knelt down, weeping. Her uncle Abu walked over and gently helped her up.

Su Xue, missing Bai Bing, had used four thousand nine hundred taels of gold to cast the Great Compassion Guanshiyin Bodhisattva. He had personally stayed by its side, sculpting it day and night, until it achieved Bai Bing's bodhisattva visage.

He owed King Ziqi a living daughter, and this golden bodhisattva was the only way he could repay him.

King Ziqi accepted Su Xue's congratulatory gift and was overjoyed to have his granddaughter return from thousands of miles away to celebrate his birthday. He called out to his three sons to inspect the evening banquet, ensuring there would be no mishaps.

In the garden of the White Jade Palace on Penglai Immortal Island, White Deer Immortal and other immortals were watching the reunion of the grandparents and grandchild.

Suddenly, a golden light flashed, and it turned out to be Happy Arhat arriving.

He had a round head and a broad face, with long, drooping eyebrows and a pair of eyes that were always smiling. The corners of his mouth naturally turned upward, and his bare, round belly trembled slightly with his laughter, radiating joy.

The smiling-faced lion he rode was also extraordinary. It was entirely snow-white, its fur curled like clouds, and its face bore a naturally contented smile.

Ancestor Lu and the other immortals rose to greet him. Ancestor Lu cupped his hands and said, "Happy Arhat, your arrival brings brilliance to our humble abode."

Happy Arhat chuckled, "Queen Mother of the West said there was worldly amusement here, so this humble monk came to investigate!"

The Arhat's smiling-faced lion found a spot under a tree to rest on its own.

Chen Renfeng stood behind the crowd, thinking to himself, "Why has a monk come here? Is he also searching for the origin of the Great Dao?"