Chapter 4: Encountering Danger at the Ancient Temple

Where am I? Who is this person?

The Eight Major Sects of the Central Plains, including the Pure Thought Zen Sect, the Quiet Study, and the Angry Dragon Gang, among others, which force is not in opposition to the Heavenly Mandate Sect, truly gives me a headache

After the masked person left for a moment, Madam Gong stepped into the meditation room where I was.

The eagle's edge was slightly startled, and its brow moved slightly: "Ha, the ignorant little brat actually knows who I am? Quite interesting. Over the years, you are the first one to make me take the initiative to speak. It must be fate. Little brat, do you have something to say?"

Madam Gong's bright eyes instantly lost all their luster, revealing the most unseemly side of a mother before her son, which was truly more humiliating for her than being killed.

The perfect, flawless, and handsome visage leaves me entranced, while those deep, ocean-like eyes exude an unimaginable wisdom. A hint of a calm yet elegant smile graces his lips, and his gaze is fervent, filled with desire, curiosity, and a love for life

What exactly has happened to me

"My dear, you must be feeling quite bored at home these past few days. I have specially arranged for us to pay our respects today. We will stay here for the night, and tomorrow I will accompany you for a walk in the mountains. How does that sound?" Although Lady Gong spoke lightly, her expression was unusually grave. I had provoked her too much today, and I estimated it would take her some time to digest it.

Qingliang Temple is indeed a magnificent and grand ancient monastery. The halls and pavilions are numerous, arranged like a chessboard, and from the foot of the mountain, it occupies an area of several dozen acres. Layer upon layer, it ascends towards the mountainside, imposing and solemn.

There are too many worries

Xining Temple? Compared to the Ghost King, it falls short by a great deal; their strength is too weak, with only Ye Sudong earning the trust of Zhu Yuanzhang

For someone like me who has experienced life and death, these matters do not make me feel guilty. Instead, my true fear stems from my own inadequacy. At this moment, I genuinely wish to sit down and have a good conversation with Pang Ban or Lang Fanyun; perhaps they would be the ones to believe me.

But without the support of the Ghost King in the capital, who else can I turn to? The Zen school's Liao Jin? Ha, how ridiculous; there's no need to consider that possibility. Liao Jin's fellow disciples are nothing more than the shadow eunuchs of Zhu Yuanzhang.

The eagle, with its extraordinary wisdom, understood everything from my tone and hopeful gaze. With a faint smile, it said: "Ignorant boy, you give me a very different and intriguing impression. It seems you know quite a bit. Since we are fated to meet, why not share your requests and see if the eagle can fulfill them." It had already seen through the secrets and desires in my heart

Then, taking out a black bag from behind, he placed me inside, threw it over his shoulder, and leaped out of the window, disappearing into the moonlight

Just as I turned around, I suddenly felt a numbness throughout my body, and then I lost consciousness

Madam Gong and I have also tidied up our emotions at hetushu.com, restoring tranquility

I opened my eyes once again, only to be met with the blinding sunlight. My consciousness instantly returned to the moment just before I fainted

This vast, empty hall is illuminated only by the flickering light of a few swaying giant candles, and the shadows of people cast on the walls appear particularly eerie

Just as I was filled with suspicion, he slowly turned around, yet I felt as if he had been facing me from the very beginning. This strange sensation made me extremely uncomfortable, as if he had artificially distorted both time and space.

He never imagined, even in his dreams, that at the very moment the black bag vanished at the edge of the cliff, a white shadow, faster than lightning, shot past. Just as his figure disappeared, that white shadow appeared at the spot where he had just stood.

My words were tantamount to informing Lady Gong that I was aware of that matter

At this moment, I have no interest in incense offerings; in my heart, I am planning my future.

None of this is important; the key issue is my own lack of strength. Even an ordinary guard can put me in a life-and-death situation. In this game, I merely play the role of a pitiful puppet, completely devoid of any autonomy.

This small stream flows down from the peak of the mountain, resembling a silver ribbon hanging between the mountains

In a chaotic world, it is absolutely impossible to establish oneself without one's own power. Relying on the teachings of fate to build my empire is tantamount to being at odds with the people of the world

In terms of influence, the most formidable figure in Jinling is none other than the Ghost King Xu Ruowu. It is quite difficult to establish a connection with him, especially since he has not even considered Zhu Yunwen as one of the individuals he supports; rather, it is Yan Wang Di who is his choice.

Since I was young, I have admired and revered the great hero Eagle. To be able to meet the descendant of this great hero, the Eagle Karma Lama, in this lifetime shows that I, as an ignorant young man, am indeed blessed with profound fortune

He is Yingyuan, a remarkable figure capable of matching the likes of Panglang. My goodness, how could he appear at Qingliang Mountain? He should be in the Eunuch Village or an ancient Zen temple. I unexpectedly encountered the son of the great hero Chuan Ying, the Living Buddha Yingyuan.

I am afraid I will never again see the brightly lit modern city in this lifetime

The so-called incense offering is merely my mother wanting to take me out to relax a bit

Bai Ying is strikingly a very handsome bald monk, yet he does not quite resemble a person from the Central Plains. At this moment, he is holding the black bag containing my belongings.

With a keen intuition, I managed to deduce his identity

Who can help me? Who, who, who

The imperial carriage stopped outside the Qingliang Temple

The bright moon hangs high, yet I find myself unable to sleep. I wish to adapt to this era, which is worlds apart from the twentieth century, but it seems I still need some time. The sheer darkness that envelops the night evokes in me an inexplicable sense of loneliness and fear.

Indeed, even after ascending the throne and taking the seat, one still has to heed the arrangements of Shan Yuru

Suddenly, a tall man with a masked face appeared beside me.

Yet how could I change the demonic nature of Shan Yuru, which has persisted for decades? If I provoke her, I fear that even my mother would be unable to protect me

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, my mother approached my side

I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I couldn't hold back my tears, not only do I have something to say, but I have so much to say.

I certainly know that my mother will ask me if I am aware of my true origins

The temple occasionally resonates with the sounds of Zen chanting, the ringing of bells, and the beating of drums, creating an atmosphere filled with serene religious tranquility

I smiled and said, "Mother has made the arrangements, and I will comply with them all."

I was shaken to my core, tears uncontrollably streaming down my face. In the next moment, I struggled to turn my bare body over, kneeling before him, and sobbed, "The ignorant young man is fortunate to meet Master Yingyuan; this life has no regrets."

When the figure of the masked person appeared on the back mountain of the cool ancient temple, the temple had already descended into chaos, indeed brightly lit, but I simply could not witness this scene

At this moment, I possess no particular skills; I merely know a few more things than others. Yet, if I were to speak of these matters, who would truly believe me? It would only serve to create trouble for myself

"To disappear like this is not without its sense of liberation, Yunwen. If you must blame someone, blame your birth into a royal family." The masked figure muttered to himself, tossing the black bag containing me towards the left side of the crumbling cliff. Without looking back, he hurried away.

A thin garment whiter than snow draped over his body, rustling softly in the breeze. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing intently at the stream, silent and motionless. He resembled a stone sculpture

Rubbing my eyes and gradually adapting to the sunlight, I looked around.

Finally, Lady Gong and I embraced each other, both of us in tears, while those unaware assumed we were a pair of lovers

The sound of the flowing stream entered my ears. At that moment, I saw a tall figure standing by the stream, three zhang away from me. This towering and majestic form seemed to support the heavens with its own strength.

The bright head reflects the sunlight, making it particularly dazzling

Mother, since ancient times, emperors and royal families have been the most adept at harboring filth and indulging in obscenity, losing both propriety and reason. But what of it? This does not change the fact that you are my mother

The incense in the main hall is flourishing, with waves of visitors coming to pay their respects. However, due to our presence, the guards immediately cleared the bystanders to either side.

Yet I had no choice but to console her: "Mother, you need not say anything. I completely understand your situation, and it does not diminish your image in my heart. A son does not despise his mother for her shortcomings. Mother, no matter how much worse things may get, you will always be my mother. No one can change this fact, and no one has the power to do so."

He revealed only a pair of sparkling eyes, filled with helplessness at that moment. He helped me up, and in a swift motion, stripped away my clothing, leaving me completely bare.