Master Huifa was gaunt, with a pair of unusually large hands.
Dish after dish of delicacies went down, yet his stomach never seemed to swell.
After eating and drinking his fill, Huifa wiped his mouth and gave Black Flood Dragon a look.
Black Flood Dragon immediately understood and waved to his subordinates.
The Clam Maidens and Shrimp Demons came forward, cleared away the dishes, and served tea.
"Master, have a taste. This is the new Ziyun tea harvested this year!"
"Mm, not bad. The tea has a rich flavor, though the ingredients could be better.
"This Ziyun tea is best served with spiritual items like Snowcloud Ginger, Mistspirit Scallions, and Goldstripe Garlic.
"Add in the unique spiritual-energy spices produced in the Western Regions, and then it would be top quality!"
Huifa lifted the cup of tea, which looked like a jumble of seasonings, took a sip, and offered his measured appraisal.
Black Flood Dragon naturally didn't dare contradict him. He hurriedly smiled and said, "Master Huifa's mastery of tea is extraordinary. This little dragon is ignorant and inexperienced, and Clear Water River is a poor, remote place.
"It naturally can't compare to Master Huifa's Faming Temple, where the land is rich in natural treasures.
"This tea would be wasted in my hands. When you leave, Master, please take a pound with you!"
Huifa's expression darkened slightly, showing his displeasure.
Black Flood Dragon looked as if his heart were bleeding, but he didn't dare offend Huifa, so he hurriedly spoke up.
"Three pounds! This little dragon only got three and a half pounds of tea in total this year. Please accept it, Master!"
Only then did Huifa's expression ease. He joined his palms and proclaimed the Buddha's name.
"Amitabha. You're too kind, Benefactor Yuanjiang.
"Your generosity and kindness are sure to bring you abundant blessings.
"Faming Temple will hold a Dharma assembly next March. Benefactor Yuanjiang, you're welcome to come and visit!"
Black Flood Dragon Yuanjiang forced a smile as he accepted the invitation from Huifa's hands.
Buddhism was powerful these days, and word was that it would soon make a major push into the Central Plains.
The Dragon Clan had already sent word: for the time being, they were to put up with Buddhism whenever possible.
Well, it wasn't as if they'd ever had much backbone before!
"May I ask what brings you to my Clear Water Dragon Palace, Master?"
Yuanjiang was at a loss, too. His Clear Water River was sizable, sure.
But the Great Tang's territory in the Primordial World was full of mighty rivers and streams.
Huifa was an abbot, after all, and an Arhat of Buddhism, registered at Spiritual Mountain.
Although he was just an ordinary Arhat at Spiritual Mountain, in the Great Tang—a place where Buddhism wasn't especially influential—he was a first-rate Buddhist heavyweight.
Apart from the leaders of the various Buddhist schools and sects, abbots of Huifa's standing held the highest status.
And Yuanjiang might have been a bona fide immortal and deity, the Dragon King of Clear Water River, by the most generous description.
But in Huifa's eyes, he was little more than a slightly larger loach.
"Amitabha. I heard that some time ago, Benefactor Yuanjiang was looking into the whereabouts of the Heavenly Court's Eldest Princess?"
"The Heavenly Court's Eldest Princess? I wasn't!"
Yuanjiang was utterly bewildered. He was just a Flood Dragon from Clear Water River.
His divine rank was only eighth grade. He wasn't fit to meet the Heavenly Court's Eldest Princess, let alone one of her attendants!
"Oh?"
Huifa smiled faintly and turned his hand over. A Golden Alms Bowl appeared.
Light and shadows flickered across its surface, and Zhang Tianshou's face appeared within it.
"Then, Benefactor Yuanjiang, do you recognize this person?"
"She's the Heavenly Court's Eldest Princess?"
Yuanjiang sprang to his feet, nearly overturning the low table in front of him.
At that moment, Yuanjiang wanted nothing more than to kill Black Catfish.
If he'd actually attacked and seized a spiritual treasure from the Heavenly Court's Eldest Princess, he wouldn't even have needed the Heavenly Court to send troops. The Four Seas Dragon Kings would have come to his door themselves to pull out his tendons and peel off his skin.
The last person to receive that treatment had been Nezha, the Great Deity of the Three Altars and Sea!
"Spare me, Master! I haven't laid a hand on Eldest Highness.
"A few days ago, Eldest Highness was on the banks of Clear Water River, teaching a Black Catfish Demon a lesson.
"At the time, this little dragon thought Eldest Highness was so heroic and imposing.
"That's why I wanted to ask around about Eldest Highness, so I could thank her for ridding Clear Water River of a menace!"
Yuanjiang hurriedly thumped his chest as he assured Huifa, selling out the Black Catfish River God without hesitation.
Wait, River God?
What River God!
That impostor deserved to be struck by lightning and damned for all eternity!
In that instant, Yuanjiang had already thought of a hundred and eight ways to kill Black Catfish.
Huifa joined his palms, and the Buddha's voice resonated in every direction.
"Don't be alarmed, Benefactor Yuanjiang. I haven't come to accuse you.
"I'm only concerned for Eldest Highness's safety, and ask that you keep an eye on her.
"If anything happens, send word to me at once. You must never let Eldest Highness fall into danger!"
Hearing Huifa, Yuanjiang's eyes widened, and he immediately cursed inwardly.
Concerned for Eldest Highness's safety? What a load of lies.
He just wanted Yuanjiang to keep Zhang Tianshou under surveillance, while avoiding getting entangled in the karma himself!
But Huifa had come all the way to his door. Did Yuanjiang have any choice but to agree?
"Damn that Black Catfish!"
Seeing Yuanjiang's expression shift back and forth, Huifa knew it was time to offer some bait. He said, "Benefactor Yuanjiang, I once refined a batch of Three Treasures Glazed Sarira Golden Elixirs.
"When the Dharma assembly is held next March, I invite you to join me in tasting them."
"Don't worry, Master! Leave this matter to me!"
Yuanjiang immediately perked up and loudly agreed, thumping his chest.
Huifa smiled and joined his palms. "Excellent!"
Back at Zhao Family Village, Zhang Tianshou returned to the little courtyard.
"Ah Fan, three Pig Demons came by, saying they wanted to help. Should we take them in?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't we?"
"Any members of the Demon Race who come to join us, take them all in.
"Demons are strong and sturdy. Ox Demons and Pig Demons can plow the fields, while River Demons can dig out mud and clear waterways.
"Compared with the Demon Race's strength, humans are better at delicate work."
Chen Fan set down the book in his hands, rubbed his forehead, and looked troubled.
Zhang Tianshou nodded at his words. Seeing Chen Fan's troubled expression, she asked, "Ah Fan, is there something you don't understand?"
Cultivation techniques relied on profound meanings conveyed in a few words.
The more powerful a technique was, the more its words distilled the essence.
There was no helping it. The Great Dao was formless and unfathomably profound.
Sage-level mighty figures simplified the laws of the Great Dao, turning them into techniques and divine abilities that could be cultivated.
But the closer a technique came to the source of the laws, the more meanings it contained.
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