King Ziqi picked up the token of recognition. It was a black stone tiger.
He couldn't help recalling the broad-browed, bright-eyed young man he had met while studying abroad in Southern Expedition Country more than thirty years ago.
That young man was Emperor Baoding's younger brother, Duan Zhengchun. He had been loyal and righteous, helping him through difficult times many times. In the end, the two had sworn brotherhood.
This black stone tiger was the gift Duan Zhengchun had given him. Seeing it was like seeing an old friend, so he hurriedly opened it. The letter read:
"Elder Brother Ziqi, it has been a long time since we parted, and I have not heard of your recent circumstances. I have been deeply concerned about you.
"In the third year of the Kaiming era, I heard that the Gao clan had oppressed you too harshly. You led thirty-seven tribes to establish the Ziqi Country, and I rejoiced for you every day.
"In the fourth year of the Wen'an era, I could no longer bear my burdens and became a monk. My son ascended the throne. In the first year of the Wenzhi era, I was shocked to learn that you had personally led one hundred thousand elite soldiers to besiege the eastern capital, Shànchǎn City. The Gao clan was powerful, and it would be impossible to force their surrender quickly.
"I also heard that you had lost a son and a daughter. Every day, I recited scriptures and prayed for your blessings.
"The Gao clan has poisoned Southern Expedition Country for three generations, surpassing Huo Guang of the Han and Yuwen Hu of the Northern Zhou.
"They have enfeoffed their sons and grandsons throughout Southern Expedition Country's eight prefectures and four commanderies, allowing them to govern the land and people and inherit official positions and stipends for generations. They have also extensively nibbled away at and seized the lands of the thirty-seven tribes.
"Now that Gao Taiming is dead and his younger brother Gao Taiyun has taken power, the four wolves are fighting among themselves. The Gao clan's internal turmoil is imminent.
"Though I have withdrawn into the Buddhist path, I still possess the heart to slay enemies and protect the realm. I hope you and I can once again forge the century-long alliance between Taizu and the thirty-seven tribes, and govern Southern Expedition Country together.
"Please accept these humble sentiments. I hope you will send me a reply."
After reading it, King Ziqi remained unable to calm himself for a long time. He handed the letter to his three sons to read in turn, rewarded Sixi, and arranged for him to go down and rest.
Alu presented his father with Su Xue's birthday gift list. After reading it, King Ziqi ordered people to bring Su Jiangcheng and Su Dingfeng in.
Su Jiangcheng and Su Dingfeng entered and performed the full kneeling ceremony. Then they took out a handwritten letter from Su Xue and handed it to King Ziqi. It read:
"I have long admired Your Majesty's might, yet we have been out of touch for a long time. You are always in my thoughts. I have taken the liberty of writing to seek your instruction.
"I once heard that the way to govern a country must begin with enriching its people, while the way to strengthen a country lies in accumulating gold and silver.
"Gongjiao Country has established a Trading Market at Hengshan Village in Yongzhou. The Ziqi Country lies between Southern Expedition Country and Gongjiao Country and possesses a geographical advantage. Transporting Southern Expedition horses there can bring enormous profits. Envoy Yan Bao is my sworn brother and will obey any order I give.
"Su Xue was originally a servant boy of the Su family. At Luoqie Lake, I was fortunate enough to win Bai Bing's favor, and I will never forget that affection through three lifetimes. When the Gao family cunningly seized the wood spirit stone and forced Bai Bing to her death, my heart burned like it was being roasted over a raging fire.
"Five years ago, I secretly ordered my second disciple, Su Qingfang, to use her position as a guest retainer to enter Gao Mingqing's residence in Shànchǎn City and investigate in secret.
"Gao Mingqing hired an extraordinary person to use the divine power of the wood spirit stone to refine pills that would extend his father's life. Two years ago, Gao Taiming took too much and died.
"Now the Gao clan is a pack of wolves without a leader, fighting over power and profit. Internal turmoil is imminent. At such a fine opportunity, Your Majesty should raise your arm and call out, lead the warriors of the thirty-seven tribes of eastern Yunnan to break through Shànchǎn City, and execute Gao Mingqing.
"My second disciple can serve as an inside agent and investigate the truth. My fifth disciple, Su Jiangcheng, and sixth disciple, Su Dingfeng, are at Your Majesty's disposal. The three of them, leading one hundred elite disciples, can hold off the guest retainers of the Gao family's Dian Cang Sect.
"As the ancients often said, no one loves a daughter more than her father.
"Bingxue's Fire Poison was cured through recuperation at Nine Dragon Valley, and she has since become a disciple of Bi Xuzi. Every day, she happily studies medical classics and prescriptions. Bingxue is now eighteen years old. I know deeply that I have failed as a father and wronged her mother. I hope that when Your Majesty sees Bingxue, you will guide her and help her hate me a little less.
"As for Bingxue's lifelong marriage, I dare not interfere. I hope Your Majesty will take pity on her loneliness and find her a suitable match in the Ziqi Country, fulfilling her mother's wish.
"Respectfully wishing you peace and good health, your humble son-in-law, Su Xue."
After reading Su Xue's handwritten letter, King Ziqi's heart stirred. His round eyes rolled a few times before he casually handed the letter to Abu.
Abu was close to Su Xue. He silently finished reading and was just about to speak when his father interrupted him, signaling him to put away the letter and discuss it later.
Bai Bingxue watched Su Xue's letter being tucked into her Uncle Abu's robe, but she didn't have the courage to ask for it.
At that moment, Su Xue's birthday gift also arrived at the palace.
Bai Bingxue looked out from the doorway and saw four soldiers tying up a wooden chest with ropes and carrying it with two thick wooden poles crossed beneath it. Their steps were slow.
Bai Bingxue wondered, What could be so heavy?
The soldiers placed the wooden chests in the courtyard. Su Jiangcheng then invited King Ziqi to go to the courtyard and view the congratulatory gifts sent by his master. Everyone followed them outside.
Su Jiangcheng cupped his fists toward King Ziqi and said, "My master admires the Ziqi Country's devotion to Buddhism and promotion of the Buddhist teachings, so he specially invited the Jiangnan master of inscriptions and stonework, Zhao Mingcheng, to lend his hand.
"He smelted eight thousand taels of gold and cast the 'Namo Zimingzun Buddha' and the 'Great Compassion Guanshiyin Bodhisattva' to congratulate King Ziqi on his sixtieth birthday."
Everyone looked at the person-high wooden chests 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 gave Su Dingfeng a meaningful look. With a clang, he drew his treasured sword and performed the move "Bamboo Staff and Straw Sandals Outpace the Horse."
The sword tip probed beneath the two wooden chests and flicked upward. The chests flew up and landed upright on two person-high stones in the courtyard.
Su Dingfeng then performed the broad, powerful sword technique "A Straw Cloak in Misty Rain, Letting Life Pass Freely." Together with the lightness technique Flying Goose Treading on Snow Mud, he circled the two chests once before returning to his original position.
He sheathed his sword. Such miraculous skill had been completed in the space of one breath in and one breath out, and everyone present nodded and praised him.
Bai Bingxue was also amazed by the wonder of his swordsmanship.
Su Jiangcheng clapped his hands once and said to King Ziqi, "Your Majesty, please look."
At the sound, the wooden ropes snapped. The chests split open and fell to the ground, revealing two clay Buddha statues standing on the two stones and facing each other.
The people of the Ziqi Country wore displeased expressions.
Su Jiangcheng clapped his hands again and said to King Ziqi, "Your Majesty, look again."
At the sound, the clay statues cracked open. Piece after piece fell away, revealing the golden bodies of the Buddhas.
The people of the Ziqi Country looked delighted.
King Ziqi stepped forward for a closer look. The golden body of the Namo Zimingzun Buddha was two chi tall, and with its one-chi-high cloud platform, it reached a full three chi. The Buddha's face was dignified and bore an eight-tenths resemblance to his own.
Four lines of small characters were also carved on the platform. They read:
"A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath the feet; a towering tree relies on its seed. Everything takes root in the details; lofty eyes and clumsy hands will achieve nothing."
After reading them carefully, King Ziqi immediately bowed to the ground. Several of his sons and ministers also knelt and paid their respects.
The founding ruler of the Ziqi Country had taken his name from De Zizai, the Zizai King, and the Buddhist name Zimingzun.
Su Xue had used three thousand one hundred taels of gold to cast the Zimingzun Buddha, and had shaped and refined the Buddha's head and face according to his memories of King Ziqi.
Bai Bingxue looked at the two-chi-high golden body of the Great Compassion Guanshiyin Bodhisattva. With its one-chi-high lotus pedestal of gold, it stood a full three chi tall. Looking more closely, the Bodhisattva's features were elegant, her eyes gentle, and her makeup dignified. She looked exactly like her mother.
Bai Bingxue was deeply moved. She immediately knelt and collapsed in tears. Uncle Abu came over and gently helped her up.
Su Xue missed Bai Bing and had used four thousand nine hundred taels of gold to cast the Great Compassion Guanshiyin Bodhisattva. He had personally stayed beside it, carving and refining it day and night, until it gained Bai Bing's appearance.
He owed King Ziqi a daughter who was alive. All he could repay him with was a golden Bodhisattva.
King Ziqi accepted Su Xue's birthday gift. With his granddaughter having also traveled thousands of miles to wish him a happy birthday, his heart was filled with joy. He called out to his three sons to inspect the evening banquet and make sure nothing went wrong.
In the garden of the White Jade Palace on Penglai Immortal Island, White Deer Immortal and the other immortals were watching the reunion of grandmother and grandchild.
Suddenly, golden light flashed. It was Happy Arhat arriving.
He had a round head and broad face, long curved brows that drooped at the ends, and a pair of smiling eyes that were always open. The corners of his mouth naturally turned upward, while his exposed, round belly trembled slightly with his laughter, radiating joy.
The smiling lion he rode was even more extraordinary. It was snow-white all over, its fur curled like clouds, and its lion face naturally wore a foolish grin.
Ancestor Lu and the other immortals rose to welcome him. Ancestor Lu cupped his hands and said, "Happy Arhat, your arrival from afar makes this humble place shine."
Happy Arhat chuckled. "Queen Mother of the West said there was human joy to be found here, so I came to take a look!"
The Arhat's smiling lion found a place beneath a tree and went off to rest by itself.
Chen Renfeng stood behind the others and thought to himself, Why has a monk come? Is he also here to seek the source of the Great Dao?
Before you continue