Chapter 2

Then Fan Lishi couldn't help but take a glance at Meng Jianqing. It was evident that Meng Jianqing was the leader of this group of youths; there seemed to be something quite special about him that was very eye-catching

As he stripped off Xu Qiao's clothes, he saw the flame tattoo on Xu Qiao's chest, as well as the ancient bronze mirror, and the secret flames reflected in the mirror.

The law enforcement monk led five members of the Jinyiwei and a masked man towards the Damo Cliff. As they passed by the place where they had been roasting meat, he couldn't help but frown at the scene of chaos and silently recited the rebirth mantra. A young man, grinning, said: "Master Mingguang, wine and meat pass through the intestines, yet the Buddha resides in the heart. Why are you so anxious?"

Meng Jianqing suddenly stood up

In the years when various factions vied for supremacy at the beginning of the nation, the members of the Yan family suffered heavy casualties; during the years when the teachings of enlightenment transformed into those of evil, the members of the Yan family faced even greater losses.

He had long heard of the omnipresence of the Jinyiwei. These individuals were very likely the ones tracking Xu Qiao to Tiantai Temple. If the investigation leads to Yan Wu and Yan Qi, would he not also find it difficult to extricate himself?

Regardless, he needs to hurry back home for a visit... If there really is another Xu Qiao looking for his father...

At the same time that he felt a sense of relief, Meng Jianqing also experienced an indescribable melancholy and loneliness

The campfire is lit

The Yan family's reputation for protecting their own is well-known, which often leads to accusations of being unable to discern right from wrong and black from white. Back in the day, when Yan Qi engaged in discussions about the past martial arts world with him, he wore the mask of an outsider, commenting on the Yan family with a seemingly amused yet ambiguous expression.

Meng Jianqing watched as the group of Jinyiwei and the masked man led their horses down the mountain in the morning light. The mountain path was rugged, and they were unaccustomed to it; with the horses in tow, it would take them at least one or two hours to reach the post road. The post road wound through the towering mountains, extremely winding; even a post horse familiar with this route, who would not make a wrong turn, would still take three to four hours to travel from Taizhou City to Ninghaiwei.

Yan Wu and Yan Qi have died

As he rushed towards the temple, various thoughts in his mind kept swirling incessantly

At this moment, he truly despised Yan Wu and Yan Qi. Why did they have to choose him to jump into this trap

The worst possibility is ... ...

Mingguang's brows furrowed even tighter. Upon seeing Meng Jianqing, he waved his hand to beckon him over

Yan Wu and Yan Qi must be aware of the anxiety and concern that have been weighing on his heart these days, especially tonight. As soon as the Jinyiwei came knocking, they chose to pass away—such a meticulously calculated death was merely to sever this lead, preventing the world from tracing it back to him

At this moment, Meng Jianqing profoundly sensed the thoughts of Yan Wu and Yan Qi before their passing.

Before long, the two returned, their faces filled with excitement, saying: "The Jinyiwei have come here to investigate the case regarding the picture book."

Indeed, calculating the time, it is about time.

His luck is not too bad; this is a ready-made excuse

Meng Jianqing watched as their group ascended the Damo Cliff. After a brief moment, a powerful and resonant chanting sound, akin to the clash of metal, suddenly emanated from the cliff, coming from Yan Wu and Yan Qi. The scripture being recited was one that Meng Jianqing and the others had never encountered before. Standing at the foot of the cliff, they could only clearly hear four lines: "In this world of darkness, evil runs rampant; through the flames of rebirth, the next life shines bright"

Meng Jianqing's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he replied, "There is another small path that I often take when I go home; it can be reached in a day." At that moment, he heard the sound of horses neighing and immediately thought that these imperial guards must have arrived on horseback. He then smiled apologetically and said, "However, that path is not suitable for horses. Traveling by horse on the main road is still faster."

The reason Meng Jianqing remained outside the temple during the evening class was quite simple: it was his turn to hunt today

A young man said to Meng Jianqing with a hint of envy: "Jianqing, during the evening class, I heard several masters who just returned to the temple say that the enrollment for the Martial Arts Academy in Zhejiang has already begun. You must be over eighteen now, right? When will you go home to register? I believe you will have no problem getting in."

Meng Jianqing felt a sudden heaviness in his heart

Meng Jianqing laughed and joked along with them, yet the anxiety in his heart grew deeper.

The masked man certainly nodded, remaining silent, perhaps out of fear that someone would remember his voice.

Although Father has never been to Tiantai Temple, have Yan Wu and Yan Qi truly never descended from Damo Cliff? Or, to put it another way, although Yan Wu and Yan Qi have never descended from Damo Cliff, has Father really never been to Tiantai Temple? Is there truly no connection between them? Since Yan Wu and Yan Qi decided from the moment they became monks to no longer engage with the world, what then was Father's purpose in immersing himself in the military?

Meng Jianqing secretly calmed his heart and walked over steadily, only to find the team leader, Fan Lishi, spreading out a portrait of Xu Qiao, asking if he had seen this person while hunting. Meng Jianqing glanced at the portrait and laughed, saying, "I haven't encountered anyone, how could I have seen this guy!" As he spoke, he called over his companions, saying, "Everyone take a look, even if you haven't seen him before, keep an eye out in the future!"

He must find an excuse to go home as soon as possible

The aroma of meat wafted through the air, and a group of young people quickly forgot about the matters outside.

When he was still a young child, he once saw a similar bronze mirror in his home, and while playing with the mirror, he witnessed the cluster of flames reflected in the sunlight; he had also seen the same flame tattoo on his father's chest at a moment when his father was unaware.

The renowned Jinyiwei, investigating an unknown earth-shattering case, it is no wonder that these fortunate youths are so excited

In fact, the last time he returned home, it took only 5 hours, and he was able to arrive ahead of them—he must arrive ahead of them.

Now they are dead. No one in this world knows their relationship with them anymore

Among them, Meng Jianqing is not particularly old, but over the past few years, he has unconsciously become a figure who is widely regarded as the one to look up to

Children's memories are often surprisingly good

However, Fan Lishi returned and called Meng Jianqing over, asking: "I have heard that you are the son of Meng Zhiyuan, the hundred-household of Ninghaiwei. Is there a closer route to Ninghaiwei besides the post road?"

However, he quickly recalled what he needed to do and temporarily set aside Meng Jianqing.

They probably wouldn't say anything inappropriate before they die

At that moment, he heard a faint commotion coming from the temple, and he was momentarily taken aback. Alert, he turned his head and instructed two young boys to go and find out what was happening

The news of the recruitment for the martial arts academy could not have come at a more opportune time, prompting the abbot to understandingly send him off immediately to return home, so as not to miss the application deadline

Fan Lishi remained by the bonfire, witnessing with his own eyes the bodies of Yan Wu and Yan Qi turn to ashes and be interred in the columbarium. Only then did he leave with the masked figure, leaving the bewildered crowd to engage in heated discussions.

Meng Jianqing had just placed a wild wolf, skinned and seasoned with salt and pepper, along with two wild rabbits, over the fire. A dozen or so companions had already jumped out from the forest, lowering their voices as they laughed, surrounding the campfire, each one eagerly awaiting the aroma of the roasting meat to waft through the air

Did Yan Wu and Yan Qi pass on their swordsmanship to him solely because they valued his appearance?

Meng Jianqing gritted his teeth in silence

At that time, he instinctively felt that his father's secret tattoo and the copper mirror concealed an unspeakable secret. Thus, he also buried this secret deep within his heart. However, the fleeting glimpse of the flame had already been etched so profoundly in his memory.

Just after finishing a brief scripture, I heard Mingguang's panicked voice: "Jianqing, quickly inform the abbot, Mingxin and Mingxing have passed away!"

In the Tiantai Temple, killing is strictly prohibited; however, the temple tacitly allows a group of gluttonous lay youths to hunt birds and beasts outside its premises

After the abbot arrived, he directed everyone to set up a bonfire beneath the Dharma Cliff, placing the emaciated bodies of Yan Wu and Yan Qi upon it. Before igniting the fire, Fan Lishi turned to the masked man and asked, "Did you see clearly? Are you sure you did not make a mistake?"

His ability to live well signifies the continuation of the Yan family's swordsmanship

Yan Wu and Yan Qi should have no reason to destroy their carefully cultivated disciple, who is likely the only heir of the Yan family—having no successors is not a trivial matter

The once-bright teachings were precisely dedicated to this blazing fire

Fan Lishi nodded slightly and did not linger any longer

Meng Jianqing felt a sense of relief and smiled, saying: "The examination room is like a battlefield; there is no guarantee of victory."