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 basically a normal person. And with Liu Laodao, a local snake, hoping to latch onto this super-rich second-generation heir, everything was handled with particular ease.

There were still people left at Qiao's Hongfu Escort Agency, all women and children. When they saw only the master of the house, Qiao Duanhong, return with his dazed, foolish daughter, the entire household burst into tears and descended into chaos.

Fortunately, the Dragon King Temple overseen by Liu Laodao was on the back street behind Hongfu Escort Agency. So he hurried about as well, taking care of quite a few matters.

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

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

Li Yunxin was now standing beneath a crooked Moonlit Blossom tree at the entrance to Dragon King Temple, listening to the uproar coming from the Qiao Household compound just across a 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. Its branches stretched out at an angle, directly above the lintel outside Dragon King Temple, like a natural wreath.

It was now mid-spring. Delicate, luxuriant nine-petaled white Moonlit Blossoms 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, hands clasped in salute. "Brother Li, this is where we part. This foolish elder brother knows that you do not like being disturbed. You are leisurely and detached, with no love for power or wealth. So this foolish elder brother will not speak to you of gold and silver. If there is ever anything you need this foolish elder brother for, just speak. You know where I live."

After saying this, he gave Li Yunxin one more reluctant look. "Then... I'll be going."

What a lunatic. Li Yunxin thought, even a cerebellum could tell I need money. I already fucking said on the road that my parents died when I was young, that I had wandered the world alone, and that I was about to take Liu Laodao as my master... Of course I need "gold and silver"!

So he smiled calmly. "Safe travels, Brother Yu. Come sit sometime when you are free."

Yu Meng then left, looking back every three steps. From afar, Li Yunxin saw that the moment he reached the alley entrance, a crowd of young people in silk clothes surrounded him. After noisily exchanging a few words, they escorted him away around the street corner.

This man... was actually not bad. A little simple-minded, but quite kind. Perhaps he might prove useful someday.

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

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

At least in this respect, Liu Laodao's taste was quite exceptional. Then again, Li Yunxin understood—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 interior, which were much as he had imagined. But whether this "Wei River Dragon King" actually existed, and how powerful it was, Li Yunxin still had doubts. He naturally knew that rain was a natural phenomenon. But considering that this world held demons, monsters, and supernatural arts, perhaps some rainfall was caused by such spirits and great cultivators.

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

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

The spirits and monsters of this world could enjoy their followers' Incense and Fire Prayer Power, even using it to cultivate. The stronger the Votive Power, the greater the strength they received.

Unfortunately, due to some sort of restriction, human cultivators could not enjoy such things.

And Votive Power did not necessarily come from positive emotions such as "reverence," "admiration," or "submission." "Fear" and "loathing" worked just as well. That was why great demons like Ninth Young Master could freely devour and harm people—when others so much as mentioned him, they were afraid, and the Votive Power he received was powerful.

Yet if one constantly made trouble, it was inevitable that cultivators walking among the common world would set their sights on them. In the end, doing good deeds was far more secure.

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, once one touched the edge of the Transformation Realm, one could sense the spiritual bodies of monsters and spirits. Though Li Yunxin's Qi Sea at Snow Mountain was sealed, he still possessed the realm of the Transformation Realm and could perceive certain things.

And so he sensed...

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

Perhaps it was only an illusion.

But no matter what, this showed that the statue in the temple truly possessed spirituality. Or, in the common people's words, it had been "consecrated." The spirit called the "Dragon King" had left spiritual energy here and could truly hear the "people's appeals"—provided it was willing.

Li Yunxin passed through the temple that served as the main hall and headed toward the rear, where Liu Laodao usually lived.

The rear courtyard had one main house and two side rooms, all of which looked quite old.

Yet green moss grew along the eaves, and a patch of soft grass lay below the steps. In the courtyard was a small pond edged with cobblestones, with cobbles lining its bottom as well. Five bowl-sized lotus leaves floated on the clear water, their stems raised but their blossoms still unopened.

A little path ran alongside the pond, and wooden corridors stood outside all three rooms. One could imagine leaning against the railings on rainy or snowy days, warming wine and watching the rain or snow—a scene of real charm.

This Liu Laodao...

What a closet romantic.

Li Yunxin paused in the courtyard for only a moment before Liu Laodao hurried back. "Master, Master, something's happened—"

Li Yunxin frowned. "Don't make a scene. In this city, call me Brother Xin."

Liu Laodao did not have time to correct himself. "Something happened to that little girl!"

"Qiao Jiaxin? Wasn't she behaving herself when she went back?"

"She's started making a fuss 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, or... was she possessed? She keeps shouting about Three-Flower Madam inside the Qiao Household..."

Li Yunxin sighed. "Come on. Take me to have a look."

Liu Laodao hurriedly led Li Yunxin toward the Qiao Household. The Qiao Household was a large compound—after all, they ran an escort agency and were fairly well-off. Its layout was refined, carrying the air of a comfortable household. But Li Yunxin had no mind to inspect it closely. For the moment a male servant led him through the gate to the rear courtyard where the women lived, he heard a strange, affected voice—

"Hmm? Three-Flower Madam is here, hmm? Where are the three sacrificial animals? Hmm? Why am I eating grass? What grass? Hmm? Where's the meat?"