Deliberations in the King of Huainan's Palace

"Your Majesty, there really was a very, very powerful demon in Mount Xiashi! I killed it with just two swings of my axe!"

"Your Majesty, when I followed that wicked monk, I truly saw a monkey in his alms bowl. The monkey was only the size of our finger, but it looked ferocious and menacing, as if it were imprisoned inside!"

"Did the demon eat all the medicine, or did that demonic monk take it away, or did he escape?"

"I'd rather believe those people were drugged and bound by magic than believe they could have escaped!"

"But I saw trampling marks in Zijin Mountain that stretched more than ten miles outwards!"

"These traces must have been left by that man-eating demon. Those human-medicine creatures were too weak to struggle against such a powerful demon!"

"What kind of monster could be killed by Mao with just two axe blows?"

"What, you look down on my axe?"

I believe the evil monk has accomplices!

"Don't you guys think there's something strange about many of the guards on Purple Mountain? They haven't seen anything at all!"

Inside the royal palace in Shouchun City, numerous first-class retainers and important officials were engaged in lively discussions, while the King of King of Huainan remained seated and observed, constantly calculating the most realistic possibilities based on the information provided by many people.

Then, Crown Prince Liu Qian stood to the left of the King of Huainan, his facial expression carrying a hint of depression and gloom.

Empress Tudu sat to the right of the King of Huainan, listening attentively to the analysis and judgments of the crowd.

The matter originally ended with the Buddha's disciple coming to Shouchun City to seek justice, and the King of Huainan giving him a great medicine. However, this was complicated by the King of Huainan's curse of bad luck.

After all that back and forth, the one who tries to gain an advantage may not actually have gained one, and the one who seems to suffer a loss may not have suffered as much as they thought.

But after one night, the King of Huainan realized that he had suffered a great loss.

The Buddha's disciple wasn't just asking for three great medicinal plants; he was practically uprooting them from his grasp.

Of course, if things lean towards the possibility that a great demon manifested at Xiashi Mountain, then that's another possibility.

Great demons are hard to find, but the Buddha's disciples are easy to find.

The former is a demon that Mao couldn't find even after searching all night, while the latter is a person who can see it. The Buddha's son hasn't run far at this point, so catching up shouldn't be a problem.

Whether to continue the conflict with the latter, and whether he could restrain the Buddha's son, were questions the King of Huainan did not have a real answer in his mind at the moment.

"It's a pity that Lei Keqing's cultivation is insufficient, and Tian Jiu Keqing's cultivation is sufficient, but his swordsmanship is not enough," Empress Liao Tu said regretfully.

"Since Tianjiu was burned so badly, if this monk is skilled in fire magic, we will have a legitimate reason to attack," the King of Huainan said regretfully.

"Father, do we really need to care about this so-called 'just cause'?" Liu Qian asked, slightly unwilling.

"I care about it very much," the King of Huainan nodded. "Without a name, all those fighting these foreign monks are from Huainan. But with this name, the imperial court and the various vassal states can intervene, and we will suffer fewer losses!"

"So that's how it is!"

Liu Qian initially harbored some resentment, but after the King of Huainan explained things clearly, he realized that the importance of this name far exceeded his expectations.

"You must know that the Daoist Ran Deng was once a guest of honor of the Empress Dowager," the King of Huainan warned. "They are not some insignificant wandering monks, but people with real backgrounds. If we cannot suppress them directly, then striking them with a justifiable cause to mobilize others is the best course of action!"

"Father is wise!" Liu Qian nodded repeatedly in praise.

"If that monk were truly from a humble family, Father wouldn't have used such a powerful medicine as an exchange, and then allowed them to leave the mountain normally," said the King of Huainan.

"Did those two Tibetan monks really operate at Wuzhu Mountain?" Liu Qian asked. "I was with that monk at the time and didn't feel him leave at all. Moreover, with so many of us there, they were always under our watchful eyes until they left!"

"The first time that foreign monk came, he came alone; the second time, he was accompanied by the Daoist Ran Deng," said the King of Huainan. "How do you know if he has a third accomplice?"

"Could the demon that Mao was killed by the guest minister be a Tibetan monk?" Liu Qian asked.

"Li Shang saw a monkey the size of a finger in his alms bowl, and Mao had also killed a demon with an absurdly strong aura but limited strength. There is indeed a strong possibility that these two are connected!"

The King of Huainan nodded.

He performed magic at the King of Huainan's Household and did not go to Wuzhu Mountain. His judgments on many matters were based on those of his retainers.

At this point, everything remains largely unknown to the King of Huainan.

Lei Keqing is back!

"Lei Bei arrived!"

"Lei Bei, did you discover something? We haven't seen you all night!"

"Brother Lei, come here quickly!"

The discussion was lively in the royal palace hall.

When Lei Bei returned, the sounds of discussion quickly began to tug at Lei Bei, who had quietly left in the middle of the night.

"Your Majesty!"

Lei Bei them, then looked at everyone, especially at Crown Prince Liu Qian.

It's a good thing that the Crown Prince is safe; at least he doesn't have to flee for his life to avoid disaster caused by inadequate protection.

Liu Qian noticed that Lei Bei's expression was somewhat displeased, yet also held a hint of hope, as if he wanted to hear some different news from Lei Bei.

"Your arrival is just in time, Lei Keqing," the King of Huainan said with a smile. "My ministers say that you were highly skilled and daring last night, and it seems you went to pursue something. Is that true?"

"Your Majesty..."

Lei Bei a chill run down his spine.

He originally came to handle official business, but it later turned into personal matters.

If official business is like chasing horses, he hasn't caught a single one. And how can he conveniently bring up private matters?

But it was very difficult for him to lie in front of everyone. After all, Lei Bei wasn't as quick-witted as these people, and he couldn't lie well even if he wanted to. If his mouth twisted, people would notice.

"Your Majesty, I went to the Huaihe River Water Palace in the middle of the night," Lei Bei, forcing himself to speak.

"The Huai River Water Palace?" the King of Huainan asked in surprise. "Could the sound you heard have originated from the Huai River Water Palace?"

"Yes!"

Lei Bei only nod.

The King of Huainan's question was reasonable, and his response was also reasonable, since the sound Lei Bei heard later did indeed eventually enter the Huai River Water Palace.

"So you've found the Huai River Water Palace?" Tian Youqi asked.

"We did find it," Lei Bei nodded. "It's right under a mudflat near Huilong Bay!"

Lei Bei's words caused a huge uproar.

There aren't many rare legends about Shouchun City. Even though Sage Kong passed through Huainan hundreds of years ago, the King of Huainan erected a stele for him, which shows how rare such legends are in Huainan.

The legend of Sage Kong passing by was enough to prompt the King of Huainan to erect a monument, but the legend of the Huai River God, which has been circulating in Shouchun City for hundreds of years, is undoubtedly even more impressive.

Even the King of Huainan was taken aback after hearing this.

"Is the Huai River Water Palace really located in the Huai River?" the King of Huainan asked.

The matter Lei Bei asked to answer about was almost completely unrelated to what everyone was discussing, but it still attracted a lot of attention, even Liu Qian pricked up his ears.

"That area is buried, there's no way to get in," Lei Bei honestly replied. "Besides, there are no good treasures in the water mansion, only two stone carp spouting water at the entrance!"

"Lei Bei, have you lost your mind?" Li Shang retorted. "How do you know there's a water palace down there if you can't even crawl inside? And you know there aren't any good treasures in it, yet you claim to have seen two stone carp spouting water?"

"Just because I can't get in doesn't mean others can't," Lei Bei replied. "I have a friend who got in and even saw the Water Palace!"

"Your friend?"

"He used to offer his magic to the King, and his name was Dongfang Bubai," Lei Bei said sullenly. "Now he's changed his name to Dongfang Shuo!"

"So it was Dongfang Bubai offered his skills!"

The King of Huainan nodded.

Lei Bei indeed didn't have many friends, but Lei Bei mentioned Dongfang Bubai, it was someone even the King of Huainan knew well, and even when Lei Bei went to Chang'an City, the Prince would welcome him with great joy.

The King of Huainan also sent a New Year's gift to the other party through a messenger.

When you know someone well, things become much easier.

The King of Huainan thought it would be wise to invite the other party over.

He even suspected that there was something fishy about the Huaihe River Water Palace, perhaps related to the evil spirits of Xiashi Mountain, or the disappearance of those people and medicines.