Dragon King Temple

Li Yunxin did not need to handle what came next.

Though Yu Meng was a little muddled in the head, he was still a normal person at heart. And with Liu Laodao, a local snake, hoping to latch onto Yu Meng, this super-rich second-generation heir, everything went all the more smoothly.

There were still people at the Qiao Household's Hongfu Escort Agency, all women and children. Seeing only their master, Qiao Duanhong, and his dazed, foolish daughter return, the entire household burst into tears and descended into chaos.

Fortunately, the Dragon King Temple overseen by Liu Laodao was right on the back street behind the Hongfu Escort Agency. He hurried about as well, settling quite a few matters.

Liu Laodao seemed to be hoping Yu Meng would reward him with some silver, just as he had tipped off the city gate guards.

Who would have thought that the young nobleman merely stood outside the chaotic Hongfu Escort Agency, frowning as he watched for a while, then left behind ten ingots of silver and turned away. Judging from Liu Laodao's expression, Li Yunxin guessed those hundred taels were probably only enough to compensate the Hongfu Escort Agency for its lost goods. Liu Laodao might skim a little grease from it, but certainly not much.

Li Yunxin was now standing beneath a crooked Moonlit Blossom tree outside the Dragon King Temple, listening to the uproar coming from the Qiao Household's courtyard just across the narrow street.

The Moonlit Blossom tree was thick enough for one person to wrap their arms around and looked to be a hundred years old. It stretched out at a slant, hanging directly above the Dragon King Temple's gate lintel like a natural wreath.

It was mid-spring. Fine, luxuriant white Moonlit Blossoms with nine petals bloomed wildly among slightly curled emerald leaves. Whenever the breeze stirred, fragrant little petals occasionally drifted down, covering half of Li Yunxin's shoulder.

Yu Meng stood before him with a solemn expression, cupping his hands. "Brother Li, this is where we part. This humble elder brother knows you do not like to be disturbed. You are detached and unassuming, with no fondness for the powerful and wealthy. So I will not speak to you of gold and silver. If there is ever a place where you need this humble elder brother, just speak. You know where I live."

Having said that, he gave Li Yunxin one more reluctant look. "Then... I'll be going."

What a lunatic. Li Yunxin thought, even with your cerebellum, you should know I need money. I fucking told you on the road—I lost both parents in childhood, traveled the world alone, and recently planned to take Liu Laodao as my master... Of course I need "gold and silver"!

So he smiled blandly. "Safe travels, Brother Yu. Come sit whenever you have time."

Yu Meng walked away, turning back every three steps. From afar, Li Yunxin saw that the moment he reached the alley entrance, a group of young people in silk clothes surrounded him. They noisily exchanged a few words, then escorted him away around the street corner.

This man... was actually not bad. A little dim-witted, but quite kind. Perhaps he could be useful someday.

He turned and pushed open the Dragon King Temple's two peeling wooden doors, walking into the courtyard.

It was a temple, after all. Even a small one was somewhat larger than an ordinary home. A pebble path ran through the front courtyard. To the left stood four jagged scholar's rocks amid wild grass. To the right were two clumps of slender bamboo, with a small path between them, a stone table, and two stone stools. It had a certain charm.

At least when it came to such aesthetic taste, Liu Laodao's standards were exceptional. Then Li Yunxin thought it over and found it only natural—he was a painter, after all... an artist.

The main hall was the temple itself, housing the Wei River Dragon King. Li Yunxin could see the Dragon King statue and the room's furnishings, which were much as he had imagined. But whether this so-called "Wei River Dragon King" truly existed, and how useful it was, remained doubtful to Li Yunxin. Of course, he knew rain was a natural phenomenon. Yet given that this world contained demons, monsters, and supernatural arts, perhaps some portion of the rainfall was caused by such creatures and masters.

As for the title "Wei River Dragon King"...

It might not actually be a dragon. Perhaps it was some aquatic spirit monster that displayed a little divine power, like the little cat demon, in exchange for incense offerings. Over time, people built it a temple. Did such a being count as an Orthodox God? It did—after all, it enjoyed the Incense and Fire Prayer Power of its believers' faith. But was it truly a "Dragon King"? Of course not.

The spirit monsters of this world could enjoy the Incense and Fire Prayer Power of believers, even using it to cultivate. The stronger the prayer power, the greater the strength those monsters received.

Unfortunately, bound by some rule, human cultivators could not enjoy such things.

Prayer power did not necessarily consist of positive emotions like "reverence," "admiration," or "submission." "Fear" and "loathing" worked just as well. That was why a great demon like Ninth Young Master could freely devour and harm people—when others mentioned such a creature and grew afraid, the prayer power he gained was immense.

But if one constantly caused trouble, wandering cultivators would inevitably take notice. In the end, doing good deeds was more reliable.

Li Yunxin walked inside, reached out, and touched the clay statue, closing his eyes slightly.

In the cultivation realm of Profound Truth, Transform Void, Intent, one could sense the spiritual bodies of spirit monsters upon brushing the edge of the Transformation Realm. Although Li Yunxin's snow mountain and sea of qi were sealed, he still possessed the realm of Transformation and could sense certain things.

And so he sensed...

A somewhat familiar aura. Yet he truly could not say where he had encountered it before. He had seen three great demons and one little cat demon, but none matched.

Perhaps it was an illusion.

But no matter what, it meant the statue in this temple truly possessed spirituality—or, in the common people's words, it had been "consecrated." The spirit monster known as the "Dragon King" had left spiritual energy here and could truly hear the "people's petitions," so long as it was willing.

Li Yunxin passed through the temple that served as the main house and headed to the rear, where Liu Laodao lived day to day.

The back courtyard held one main room and two side rooms, all of which looked rather old.

Yet green moss covered the tiled eaves, and a patch of soft grass grew below the steps. A small pond lay in the courtyard, edged with cobblestones, with cobblestones lining its bottom as well. Five bowl-sized lotus leaves floated on the clear water, their stems raised but their blossoms not yet open.

A small path ran beside the pond, while wooden corridors stood outside all three rooms. One could imagine leaning on the railings on rainy or snowy days, warming wine and watching the rain or snow—a scene with its own elegance.

This Liu Laodao...

A closet romantic.

Li Yunxin lingered in the courtyard only briefly before Liu Laodao rushed back. "Master, Master, something's happened—"

Li Yunxin frowned. "Don't make a scene. Call me Brother Xin in this city."

Liu Laodao had no time to correct himself. "Something happened to that little girl!"

"Qiao Jiaxin? Wasn't she behaving herself on the way back?"

"She's raising hell now!" Liu Laodao rubbed his hands anxiously. "Brother Xin, tell this little Daoist the truth. I definitely won't spread it around. Was that girl frightened out of her wits, or... was she possessed? She keeps shouting for Three-Flower Madam inside the Qiao Household..."

Li Yunxin sighed. "Let's go. Take me to have a look."

Liu Laodao hurriedly led Li Yunxin toward the Qiao Household. The Qiao Household had a large compound—naturally, since they ran an escort agency, they were quite well-off. Its layout was refined and carried the air of modest prosperity. But Li Yunxin had no mind to inspect it. The moment a male servant led him through the gate into the rear courtyard where the women lived, he heard a bizarre voice—

"Mm? Three-Flower Madam is here, mm? Where are the three sacrificial animals? Mm? What grass am I supposed to eat? What grass? Mm? Where's the meat?"