The Visitor

"I don't understand why everyone is talking about the Japanese pirates in the southeast, the unrest on the grasslands, the restless Three Guards beyond the Great Wall, and the frequent uprisings among the people?"

"You make it sound like the Great Ming Dynasty is already in a very unstable position."

Imperial envoy Zuo Ziqing rode steadily out of the city. To his right were green mountains and forests, and to his left were vast fields.

He had a round forehead, a thin face, and slightly pale skin. Looking around, he felt a little guilty for speaking without much restraint, remembering that he was surrounded by close friends.

"We've come a long way in a time of peace and prosperity."

"The Wokou (Japanese pirates) in the southeast are nothing more than a few pirates coming and going at sea, a minor ailment. The three guards outside the pass were even defeated by a large army a few years ago, and they obediently submitted and paid tribute."

"As for popular uprisings, ten years ago, it was said that miners and tenant farmers had rebelled, roaming more than twenty prefectures and counties, and claiming to have gathered more than 800,000 people."

"However, after the imperial court mobilized 50,000 troops, it directly suppressed this rebel group, which shows how exaggerated and misleading those rumors were."

The Brocade Guard commander beside him laughed and said, "You're right, sir. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. To truly understand the state of affairs, one must come down and see for oneself."

Zuo Ziqing nodded. "However, although our Great Ming is generally good, it cannot be denied that there are indeed some people in the populace who harbor malicious intentions."

"Those who act rashly and openly rebel are not a cause for concern; the real danger lies with those who outwardly comply but inwardly defy, plotting against us in secret."

"Six months ago, the secret recipe for the Fire God Gully in Lingnan was created and reported to the imperial court. His loyalty is truly commendable. His Majesty immediately issued an edict to select three hundred elite soldiers from the Divine Machine Battalion and send the Embroidered Brocade Guard to escort them."

"As a result, these three hundred-plus people suddenly disappeared without a trace while crossing the Yangtze River; they were nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead."

Zuo Ziqing sneered as he said this.

The entourage also wore solemn expressions.

Crossing the river was a dangerous undertaking, but considering that the elite Divine Machine Battalion and the Brocade Guard were traveling together, and that they had the support of the local government, it was still possible for them all to disappear without a trace during the crossing.

Everyone knows how much shady stuff is going on here.

The only ones with the motive and ability to do such a thing are the Flowing Cloud Manor, whose influence extends across several provinces.

Unfortunately, after the Emperor was furious, his only reaction was to further reward the many imperial guards and invite the abbot of Mount Song and the leader of Wudang to stay in the capital for an extended period, so that they could pray for the imperial family in the name of the Buddhist and Daoist masters.

The centurion said, "Sir, given the lessons learned from the past, your willingness to volunteer this time demonstrates great wisdom and courage, which I truly admire."

"Sigh, you still didn't listen to what I just said."

Zuo Ziqing's eyes gleamed. "It is precisely because our Great Ming Fortune still possesses its destiny that the Flowing Cloud Manor Master has already reached his limit by doing something like this for the sake of the Fire God Secret Formula."

"If this happens a second time within a year, for the sake of the imperial court's legitimacy, none of the officials will be able to tolerate it any longer, and then war will truly break out."

This eunuch was only willing to make this trip because he knew that Flowing Cloud Manor was not yet ready for such a thing.

Moreover, the Fire God Secret Formula is no longer in the hands of a mere Fire God Gully Valley, but has fallen into the hands of the Southern Shaolin.

Flowing Cloud Manor was naturally happy to let them entangle with the Southern Shaolin.

If they truly obtain the Fire God Secret Formula and intend to return to the capital, that will be the moment when real danger descends.

Zuo Ziqing felt a burning desire; it was also his chance, as a fifth-rank eunuch, to continue striving for advancement.

Logically speaking, among eunuchs, there was one vacant fourth-rank position and two lucrative fifth-rank positions, making them the most powerful figures.

However, during the reign of Yingzong, fourth-rank eunuchs controlled both the inner and outer courts and were called "inner ministers." Even after the Tumu Crisis, some eunuchs still obtained titles for their contributions to the restoration.

Zuo Ziqing only forty years old. If he makes another great contribution, he may well experience the taste of wielding immense power in the court during his lifetime.

Moreover, he possessed the remarkable achievement of finding the "Fire God Secret Formula" for the imperial court.

Perhaps, it could bring power like the Ten Attendants of the Han Dynasty and fame like the Eunuch Sanbao.

"Every obstacle is difficult, but we will overcome them. The Southern Shaolin has always been obedient to the imperial court. At most, they will resort to some tricks in this hurdle. There shouldn't be too much danger yet. Let me dismantle them one by one."

Zuo Ziqing had already spotted the outline of the Southern Shaolin. He spurred his horse and galloped away at high speed.

The others behind them also rode swiftly, and before long they reached the foot of the mountain.

On the mountain gate of the Southern Shaolin are engraved the four large characters "Farming and Zen as One," bestowed by the founding emperor himself. Anyone who sees them must dismount.

Zuo Ziqing moved nimbly, flipping down, and was about to send the gatekeeper monk to inform him.

To everyone's surprise, looking up from these stone steps, one could see more than ten monks, each leading a group of guests, some going up the mountain and some going down, all very busy.

The Southern Shaolin Temple is very popular, so it's no surprise that it attracts many visitors.

Strangely, most of these guests smelled of medicinal herbs, and some even carried medicine chests, clearly indicating they were renowned local doctors.

What happened?

Zuo Ziqing asked in confusion.

The commander of the Brocade Guard immediately went to inquire and soon returned to report.

"It is said that a few days ago, the second young master of the Xiahou Mountain Manor came to visit the Southern Shaolin Temple. The Southern Shaolin treated him with courtesy, but who knew that the young master Xiahou was just lounging around in the temple, doing nothing, and he made many disparaging remarks about the martial arts of the Southern Shaolin Temple."

"Just yesterday, the two sides started fighting, and even the abbot got involved, but he suffered heavy injuries."

Zuo Ziqing frowned slightly, but still sent the guest monk to inform them.

Before long, the two head monks, Miaokong and Miaoyin, came down to greet him personally, displaying utmost humility and giving the imperial envoy the utmost respect in their words and actions.

But once inside the temple, after drinking fragrant tea and eating vegetarian food, Zuo Ziqing and others praised the resistance against the Japanese pirates and talked about the new type of firearms.

The two head monks claimed to know nothing when questioned, saying it was all done in secret by the abbot.

The abbot is currently in a coma and cannot be questioned.

Zuo Ziqing was suspicious, but he didn't press the matter too hard and stayed at the Southern Shaolin for the time being.

Inside the Arhat Hall.

Abbot Miaofan's brows relaxed upon hearing the report from the young monk beside him.

"I've been busy at the front mountain for many days, Miaokong always comes here to chat with you, layman. Now it's finally my turn."

Miaofan received news of the imperial envoy's impending arrival yesterday and immediately devised this plan to delay him.

Xiahou Feishan sat beside him and said sincerely, "If the abbot is injured by me, wouldn't spreading this false news damage the reputation of the Southern Shaolin?"

"This old monk is no match for Young Master Xiahou, and Xiahou Master Xiahou has indeed looked down on the martial arts of Southern Shaolin. I am merely stating the facts."

Miaofan smiled and said, "When more people know that your swordsmanship has reached its pinnacle, they won't be surprised by the Southern Shaolin's defeat today."

"This old monk believes that, under the guidance of the Layman Tian, young master will soon reach that day."

Xiahou Feishan grunted.

If he really beat up that group of monks, it wouldn't be a big deal if the news got out; he could take the blame.

But he didn't hit him! He didn't hit him!

These days, it's clearly him who's being beaten every single day.

If facing an ordinary person, Xiahou Feishan could easily wield his Sword Qi.

However, even though he had channeled all his Sword Intent and True Qi into Chu Tianshu, Xiahou Feishan felt as if his arm had been struck by lightning after the clash.

What made Xiahou Feishan even more upset was the timing of Chu Tianshu's attack.

Initially, Chu Tianshu would give a warning before making a move.

After the two became familiar with each other, Chu Tianshu would suddenly attack without warning.

Sometimes, Chu Tianshu would hold a brush in his right hand and write characters, stroke by stroke.

The brushstroke had barely touched the paper when his hand left the handle, the brush still in motion.

After throwing a punch, he pulled it back, perfectly completing the final stroke of the brush.

On several occasions, Xiahou Feishan genuinely didn't have time to circulate his internal energy and relied solely on his Sword Intent to block, resulting in him being sent flying backwards.

However, after several attempts, he gradually realized that he didn't necessarily need to consciously focus on "circulating internal energy".

If the Sword Intent is used well, the internal energy will be automatically guided by the Sword Intent.

"I've finally finished compiling my ' Arhat Mind-Settling Hard Qigong '."

Chu Tianshu was focused on writing and didn't pay much attention to the conversation between the two people next to him.

After he put down his pen and blew on the last few lines of ink to dry, he couldn't help but smile.

This is a hard qigong he created by extensively abridged the introductory chapter of "The Sky-Spanning Divine Art" and mixed it with some content about the artistic conception of kung fu from the Shaolin Fist.

This skill initially involves practicing fists and feet, and hard skills. As you practice, it will involve cultivating and strengthening internal energy.

Such internal energy quality is definitely much inferior to the Sky-Spanning Divine Art.

But it is very suitable for the martial monks of the Southern Shaolin who practice hard skills.

Miaofan took it and glanced through it. "In terms of meridian circulation alone, it seems not much different from ordinary martial arts, but in the early and middle stages of cultivating internal energy, it is quite different from common martial arts."

"Is this the method of Refining Essence into Qi into qi that Layman Tian?"

Chu Tianshu nodded.

His recent sparring session with Xiahou Feishan was both to increase his experience in confronting the Martial Dao Divine Intent and to continue comparing the differences between the two paths.

Xiahou Feishan provided him with a lot of inspiration.

Such an outstanding employee truly deserves a bonus, but Xiahou said he had no interest in money.

That despicable rich kid.

"Were you just saying that the imperial court has arrived?"

Chu Tianshu gazed at the vast sky, feeling that it was cloudless and as clear Ruyu.

The wilderness was lush and green, and the distant mountains stretched to the sky, a perfect place to relax his eyes.

Miaofan nodded. "The leader is Zuo Ziqing, a fifth-rank eunuch. There isn't much information about him, but he's said to be known in the palace for his honesty and kindness, and his martial arts skills are quite remarkable."

As he said this, even Abbot Miaofan almost laughed. A kind-hearted fifth-rank eunuch was indeed a joke.

I have a feeling.

Chu Tianshu said slowly, "Judging from Chen Zuqi's past behavior, he is a bold yet meticulous person."

"There's no way he hasn't reacted to what's happening here yet. Either he's encountered some trouble at sea, or he's already infiltrated Eight Min and is waiting for an opportunity."

Miaofan's expression was solemn. "You mean, once the imperial troops arrive, the opportunity he's been waiting for will have arrived?"

"That's very likely."

Chu Tianshu closed his eyes and said slowly, "I don't know exactly how he'll do things, but I have a feeling about it."

"So... don't you have a dozen or so good swords in the Dharma Hall? Let Xiahou pick one out."

(End of this chapter)