Buddha in the Heart [Monthly Ticket Request, Investment]

Hua Yunfei felt somewhat relieved upon hearing Jiang Ming's words, but he did not fully believe him. He was not a fool who believed everything Jiang Ming said. On the contrary, he had some depth to him, though unfortunately not much. In the end, he could not remain composed and had walked step by step onto a dead end.

Jiang Ming did not care whether Hua Yunfei believed him or not. He truly harbored little ill intent; he merely wanted the spiritual medicine he needed.

At that moment, Hua Yunfei froze slightly. He received a voice transmission concerning certain events that had occurred after Jiang Ming appeared in Flame City.

Flame City was a city near the Fire Domain, a gathering place for Rogue Cultivators and also an asset of the Taixuan Sect.

An elder of the Dao Palace Secret Realm had transmitted to him that this monk, Sanzang, had indeed come in search of Blood Pill Ginseng, mainly to prepare for seclusion and his attempt to break through to the Liver Divine Treasure.

At present, he had already completed the cultivation of his heart and lungs within the Dao Palace Secret Realm.

"Brother Sanzang, I happen to have a stalk of Blood Pill Ginseng here. Please accept it."

With a thought from Hua Yunfei, a jade box emerged from his Sea of Bitterness. Inside lay a stalk of Blood Pill Ginseng. When it was opened, the spiritual medicine, which resembled a crystalline humanoid doll, emitted a faint crimson glow and a delicate fragrance. It was precisely the final spiritual medicine Jiang Ming needed.

With a gentle push from Hua Yunfei, the jade box was carried by a soft starlight to Jiang Ming.

"Thank you, Brother Yunfei. Then I will accept it."

Jiang Ming did not stand on ceremony. He directly took the jade box and stored it in his palm.

Next, Hua Yunfei ordered people to prepare medicinal cuisine made from spiritual rice and spiritual vegetables, inviting Jiang Ming and Xiao Nannan to dine with him while further probing them at the table.

Naturally, he learned nothing. Jiang Ming, meanwhile, had his eyes opened. It was his first time eating such high-grade ingredients. Hugging a crystal pork knuckle, he ate until his mouth glistened with grease. This was flesh from a pig-like savage beast at the Dao Palace Secret Realm level.

"Brother Sanzang, are you satisfied with my hospitality?"

Hua Yunfei raised a cup of golden apricot wine, took a sip, and smiled gently.

"Satisfied, very satisfied.

"Wine and meat pass through the intestines; Buddha remains in the heart."

Jiang Ming raised his cup and drank with Hua Yunfei, his expression solemn and dignified.

"Brother Sanzang truly deserves to be an eminent monk of the Western Desert. Every word you speak contains Zen wisdom. Yunfei admires you."

Hua Yunfei no longer doubted whether Jiang Ming was an eminent monk from the Western Desert. If a fraud possessed such combat strength and such Buddhist teachings, then he would still gladly befriend him.

Compared to the man before him, what could true eminent monks of the Western Desert amount to?

Instead, from Dharma Master Sanzang, he sensed an uninhibited spirit, great freedom, and great wisdom.

"Nannan, are you enjoying your meal?"

Jiang Ming saw Nannan intently eating a red carp. This little girl's small, unremarkable body contained an astonishing appetite. She could fill herself on ordinary steamed buns, yet she could also digest medicinal cuisine made from heavenly treasures.

"May I ask where this little sister came from? It seems she has not cultivated, yet she also feels quite extraordinary."

Hua Yunfei had long wanted to ask. Now, he finally could not restrain himself and voiced his doubts.

"She is a pitiful little girl this humble monk encountered in Flame City. I could not bear to see her begging on the streets, so I simply brought her along with me.

"Nannan and I are fated. I encountered her once before; this is our second meeting. Buddha saves those with affinity."

Jiang Ming stroked the little girl's head and spoke earnestly.

"Brother, you will not abandon Nannan again, will you?"

Nannan did not quite understand what he meant. She immediately stopped eating her fish and looked at him with her watery eyes.

"I will not, unless Nannan no longer wants her brother."

Jiang Ming smiled warmly and promised her.

"I would never do that. Nannan likes being with you, Brother."

Nannan promised solemnly.

Yet Jiang Ming knew clearly that when the Mortal World Dao Fruit reset next time, she would fly away again, vanishing into the void and appearing somewhere in Great Yan, where she would wait for her true brother to return.

Hua Yunfei watched the scene quietly. He also had a younger sister, but because her cultivation talent was ordinary, he only visited her occasionally.

"Brother Yunfei, in a little while, this humble monk intends to enter seclusion for a few days. I will have to trouble you with looking after Nannan.

"Please prepare a cave dwelling where this humble monk can cultivate in peace."

Jiang Ming stroked Nannan's head and looked at Hua Yunfei.

"Brother Sanzang, Nannan... I do not know how to look after little girls."

Hearing this request, Hua Yunfei immediately felt a headache coming on. Preparing a cave dwelling for seclusion was a small matter, but taking care of a child was far too difficult.

"Nannan is very well-behaved and easy to care for. Just give Nannan one steamed bun every day. I can drink the spring water here myself and wait for Brother here."

Nannan immediately blinked her large eyes and looked at Hua Yunfei.

"I understand. I will look after Nannan properly for you, Brother Sanzang."

Hua Yunfei felt his heartstrings tug. He understood why Dharma Master Sanzang had kept Nannan by his side. This little girl was simply too heartbreaking.

"Forget it, Brother Yunfei. Just prepare a cave dwelling for my seclusion and some food. Let Nannan stay by my side."

Jiang Ming was still worried, so he said this.

"Certainly. Follow me."

Hua Yunfei personally led the way, taking Jiang Ming to the place where he would rest, which was also the cave dwelling he had prepared for Jiang Ming's seclusion.

Before long, Hua Yunfei brought them to a place bearing the three words, "Starmoon Cave." He took out a golden token inscribed with the words Starmoon. "Brother Sanzang, cultivate inside as you please. I will arrange for someone to deliver food every day and leave it at the entrance."

"Thank you, Brother Yunfei. This humble monk acknowledges you as a friend."

Jiang Ming accepted the token and said.

"You are too courteous, Brother Sanzang. Once you emerge from seclusion, we shall have another proper discussion of the Dao."

Hua Yunfei replied with lofty enthusiasm.

Although the two had not known each other for long, they felt as though they had met too late.

"Good. When the time comes, I will also play a piece for Brother Yunfei to appreciate."

Jiang Ming had learned to play the zither in his previous life, and his skill was profound. Nü Yuan had loved listening to him play the zither most of all.

"It is a promise."

Hua Yunfei's eyes lit up. A melody was easy to play, but a kindred listener was hard to find. That was why, after Zhong Ziqi's death, Yu Boya smashed his zither and never played again. Though Hua Yunfei did not know that story, as someone who had loved playing the zither since childhood, it was the first time he had heard someone say they would play for him.

"It is a promise."

Jiang Ming picked up Nannan and replied solemnly.

Then, he activated the token and opened the cave dwelling. The doors rumbled open, and he strode inside. Spiritual energy swirled within, making it an excellent place for cultivation. It also contained the power of the stars and moonlight.

Past the entrance was a simple stone chamber. A clear spring tinkled within, and three stalks of spiritual medicine grew beside the pool. From the ceiling hung pendants of Star Iron, which, together with blocks of Source Stone, formed Formation Patterns capable of drawing down the power of starlight and moonlight.

"Nannan, go play by that spring. There are fish in it too.

"Brother is going to start refining pills."

Jiang Ming set Nannan down on the ground.

"Don't worry, Brother. Nannan will take good care of herself. You do not need to worry about me."

Nannan immediately replied obediently.

She was truly too sensible, so sensible that it made one's heart ache.

Perhaps, when the Ruthless Empress had depended on each other with her brother as a child, before she was separated from her real brother, she had always been just this intelligent and sensible.

Readers who like it can check out [Longevity Begins with Martial Dao Sects]