The Kunlun Traveler Had Barely Left When an Imperial Envoy Arrived

Huizhi immediately grew nervous.

The reason he had reached completion was, of course, the Marquis of Linru County.

But the marquis's identity was extraordinary, and Huizhi knew exactly who the Daoist before him was. If this man learned that the marquis was a true immortal reincarnated, matters would only grow more chaotic.

Yet Huizhi was hardly the only one who knew how he had reached completion. Word had spread through most of the Temple. When the Daoist asked, Huizhi's expression changed, and several young novice monks nearby shifted uneasily and avoided his gaze.

The Curly Beard Daoist noticed at once.

He had only been mildly curious, but their reactions told him there was more to it.

"There's a story here!" The bearded Daoist turned to face Huizhi, smiling. "Little monk, your kind don't lie. Tell me what happened. Your inner spiritual light is flourishing, more than twice as strong as when I last saw you. That defies common sense. Even if years of effort had finally paid off, you couldn't have come this far in less than half a month without some opportunity. Has something happened at your Temple?"

Huizhi was startled. The Presiding Monk had ordered them to keep the matter of the Marquis of Linru County secret. How could he reveal it so easily? He began thinking of a way to evade the question.

The Curly Beard Daoist saw his hesitation and grew more suspicious. He rose, ready to press him.

Just then—

"Daoist Qiuyuzi, it's been half a month. I see you're as well as ever." Yuanhui approached at an unhurried pace in spotless white robes. "Have you resolved the difficulty that brought you here before?"

The bearded Daoist turned from Huizhi to the Temple Master. With a cold laugh, he raised his right hand and openly gripped the hilt of his Peachwood Sword.

"Is that necessary? We reached an agreement last time, and I keep my word. Produce the compensation you promised, and the matter will be settled," Yuanhui said with a smile, palms pressed together.

Qiuyuzi chuckled. "I lost too much last time not to be careful. I remember our contest well. How could I come unprepared?" He lowered his hand, took something from his robes, and tossed it over.

Yuanhui reached out. An unseen force drew the object into his hand.

"There. What happened before is settled. And when young Lu arrives, you won't make things difficult for him." Qiuyuzi tucked both hands into his sleeves.

Yuanhui put the object away without further comment. "Have you come prepared this time, then?"

"My sect has given me its word," Qiuyuzi said. "When Lu You comes for Body Washing, you'll be compensated for the Buddha Light it consumes. You won't lose out. If you don't believe me, I can swear an oath for you to keep." Reluctance showed on his face.

Yuanhui nodded. "That will do. I'm not being stingy, but that Buddha Light took decades to accumulate. Generations of Temple Masters have tended to it. I cannot simply decide its use alone."

"As if I don't know what you're like." Qiuyuzi sneered. "I came today to settle this, nothing more! Now that we have, I'll bring Lu You tomorrow." His gaze passed over Huizhi, but he asked nothing else.

"Tomorrow?" Yuanhui's eyelid twitched. A faint premonition stirred in him. "So soon?"

"Of course. I don't want to linger in Jiankang City. Besides, what we'll use for this Body Washing is no ordinary thing. Even storing it is difficult, let alone putting it to use. Every extra day is a struggle, and I can barely keep it contained now. We can't wait."

"I've arranged it with the Lu Household. I'll bring him tomorrow." Qiuyuzi cupped his hands toward the Temple Master and smiled. "I've said all I need to. Go and prepare, monk. Don't delay. Once this is done, Kunlun and your Temple will owe each other nothing. Farewell!"

With that, he leaped into the courtyard outside the hall, stamped a foot, and spun into the earth, vanishing from sight.

Temple Master Yuanhui stood where he was, brows tightly knit.

The old monk came up behind him. "Temple Master, is something troubling you? The timing is tight, but settling matters with Kunlun sooner is no bad thing. If we wait, word of the Marquis of Linru County may spread, and that Daoist will come pestering us again. He set the date himself. The timing may be just right."

Yuanhui turned and sighed. "Senior Brother, my heart keeps stirring. I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong."

"Because of the Marquis of Linru County?" the old monk murmured. "From what I've seen, the marquis changes by the day. A little guidance sends him forward by leaps and bounds. But you and Qiuyuzi have already fought and reached an agreement. The matter is clear from beginning to end. The two should have nothing to do with each other."

Yuanhui nodded, though his frown remained.

As he pondered, another young novice monk arrived. A visitor in black was waiting outside the hall, he said, asking to see the Temple Master and the Presiding Monk.

"A visitor in black?" Both Yuanhui and the old monk went pale. They each moved their fingers in calculation, their expressions turning grave.

At last, the two monks exchanged a look and saw the same worry in each other's eyes.

"Someone may have laid a trap for Guishan Temple," Yuanhui said with a sigh. "Fortunately, we still have some resources. We should be able to hold things together." He started walking. "Come. Let's meet our visitor from the palace."

The visitor was Li Duoshou, dressed entirely in black.

Last time, he had come with the Prince of Ancheng, who had handled all discussions with the old Presiding Monk. This time, Li Duoshou had come alone.

"Temple Master." Li Duoshou greeted Yuanhui with cupped hands, then saluted the old monk. He went straight to the point. "I've come about the matter we discussed last time."

Yuanhui recited the Buddha's name. "My senior brother has told me of it. If it is to pray for His Majesty, our Temple has no reason to refuse. However—"

"There is no 'however'!" Li Duoshou cut him off with a wave. "The Prince of Ancheng intends to stand in His Majesty's place, receive the bathing of Buddha Light, and pray for him. The decision has been made. There is nothing to discuss!"

He stared at the two monks, his tone brooking no argument. "Your Majesty cannot easily come here, but the prince is busy with official duties too. Having fixed the date, he has already issued instructions to numerous offices. How could it be changed now?"

Yuanhui sighed.

The imperial family was involved. The Prince of Ancheng was the emperor's own younger brother. He had first been held hostage by the former Liang dynasty, then by the Northern dynasty, before the current emperor traded an entire commandery to bring him home. Their bond was plain to see. On his return, the prince had immediately gained immense power at court and enjoyed the emperor's trust. Guishan Temple could not afford to offend him. Still...

"Which day has been chosen?" Yuanhui asked.

Li Duoshou's mouth tightened. His face remained blank. "The sooner the better. Tomorrow."

Yuanhui exchanged a glance with the old monk. "Could the date be changed? Tomorrow, the Temple—"

"Temple Master, did you not understand me? The Prince of Ancheng now sits at the heart of government, ordering the realm's affairs of Yin-Yang. His every word and deed sets an example for all under heaven. How could he casually change his plans? If anything must change, let it be your Temple's plans!" Li Duoshou narrowed his eyes. Dark shadows rose around him, swallowing the light.

The temperature plummeted.

The old monk's face darkened.

"I understand," Yuanhui said with a nod. "We only ask that His Highness not arrive with a great retinue, and that once he reaches our temple, he allow us to make the arrangements."

"Naturally." Li Duoshou withdrew the shadows. "His Highness said, 'Trust those you employ, and do not employ those you doubt. Since we have entrusted this to your temple, we will follow its arrangements.' You may rest easy, Temple Master."

"His Highness is most considerate." Yuanhui pressed his palms together.

Li Duoshou nodded in satisfaction. "You understand your duty, Temple Master. You will be richly rewarded." Without waiting for either monk to reply, he turned and left.

"How arrogant! He relies on imperial authority to force our hand. Nothing but a bully hiding behind the throne!" Once he was gone, a nearby monk spoke up indignantly.

The old monk glanced at him. "Li Duoshou uses his own name here in Jiankang. But twenty years ago, everyone called him the Blackwater Calamity Lord."

The monk froze. Shock spread across his face, and he fell silent.

"Go back and copy the scriptures of our branch three times," the old monk said.

The monk pressed his palms together and nodded, not daring to object.

The old monk shook his head and left the Hall with Yuanhui. As they walked, he said, "Qiuyuzi says he'll come tomorrow, and so does Li Duoshou. For these two matters to fall on the same day is no coincidence."

"Yet we can hardly turn either away." Yuanhui shook his head. "Qiuyuzi has the Kunlun Sect behind him. He must have returned with some treasure from the sect. When he says he can barely contain it, he isn't bluffing. Nor was his desire to leave Jiankang City quickly likely an idle remark. Perhaps he's heard something. We can't change his date."

The old monk frowned. "Li Duoshou is no easier. His cultivation fell after the Calamity of the Supreme Clarity, but he has now entered the imperial palace. The Prince of Ancheng's decision cannot be changed either. And with both parties here, they'll surely both need to enter the Scripture Repository Hall..."

"The repository has an east and a west hall. That isn't the main problem." Yuanhui sighed. "I had only meant to invite a few fellow practitioners as witnesses. Given the situation now, we'll need their help as well. I may have to invite them myself."

The old monk nodded, then sighed. "Lu You and the Prince of Ancheng arriving on the same day suggests someone has arranged this. Fortunately, both parties will be at the summit tomorrow, while the Marquis of Linru County is staying halfway up the mountain, absorbed in Buddhist scriptures and Legalism. As long as he stays in his courtyard, he should remain clear of it."

Something occurred to Yuanhui. "Have Huizhi take the Heart Temple Art to the marquis later." Seeing the old monk's surprise, he smiled. "The marquis helped Huizhi. We ought to give him something in return, and this is what he wants. Besides, the Heart Temple Method is common enough. He may have had trouble obtaining it because he holds no official post, but if someone as powerful as the Prince of Nankang asked, what Temple would refuse him?"

The old monk understood and agreed. "True. And Legalism is difficult to master. Even with the marquis's talent, he could not possibly comprehend it in a day or two. It should keep him occupied tomorrow."

With that settled, Yuanhui went to invite their fellow practitioners. The old monk summoned Huizhi and gave him his instructions.

When the monk responsible for receiving guests found Chen Cuo with a thin booklet in hand, Chen Cuo was treating a pig and a turtle to fresh fruit.

There's only one update today. Two updates will resume tomorrow.