Two days later, after Meng Zhao had arranged everything, he set out for Yanzhou's provincial capital under the escort of Pai Gang disciples led by Lu Hou'er. At his side followed heavenly beings such as Monk Huikong, Beitang Xing, Old Daoist Liu, and Monk Cheng Kong.
The others—Third Young Master Bai, Master Yue, Xu Tingyun, Mu Yi, Gan Mingfeng, and the rest—each had places to go.
Pai Gang's influence in Yanzhou was quite formidable. With Governor of Yanzhou Tan Changming backing them, their foundations ran deep. Whenever they reached a city, whether a county seat or a commandery city, everything was arranged impeccably. Their food, clothing, lodgings, and transport were all of the finest grade, which also showed how much care Lu Hou'er had put into it.
Something amusing did happen along the way: Monk Cheng Kong and Monk Huikong developed a measure of contact.
One was Cheng Kong, the other Hui Kong; both bore the word "Kong," emptiness, in their Buddhist names—the emptiness of the Four Great Elements—signifying a certain affinity. Yet they differed in that Monk Cheng Kong was a true monk, deeply accomplished in Buddhist studies. Especially with the aid of the Seven-Colored Glazed World Purifying Sarira, his progress had advanced by leaps and bounds, and he possessed the bearing of a True Buddha.
Monk Huikong, on the other hand, was a false monk. He had killed beyond count, drank wine and ate meat, and observed none of Buddhism's pure rules and precepts. In ordinary people's eyes, he was the very model of outrageous rebellion—a vicious monk, an evil monk, anything but a holy monk or divine monk.
Yet Monk Cheng Kong, as a disciple of Buddhism, saw things differently. During his conversations with Meng Zhao, he subtly pointed out that this Monk Huikong possessed profound innate