Chapter 8, the white clouds accompany me out of the mountain, my eyes filled with the red dust that cannot be dispelled

Xiao Ye called out as she walked, "Is anyone there, esteemed masters, where are you?" Yet still, no one responded

True Zen agrees: "Eighty to ninety percent of the monks in the temple must have been hidden away in the carts and taken away; otherwise, someone should have seen them leaving Pujisi."

Xiao Ye also found it strange and said, "Could it be that something has happened and all the masters in the temple have gone out?"

The two individuals left the kitchen and walked east, where they found Zhen Cai and the monk investigating an empty meditation room.

He floated down into the courtyard and opened the door, and everyone walked into the temple. Monk Zhen Cai raised his voice and asked, "Is anyone there?"

Yang Heng turned his head to Xiaoye and asked, "Can you try to see if the food and clean water in the temple have been poisoned?"

Once the monk and the others had walked away, Yang Heng casually returned to the vendor selling candied hawthorn and said, "Uncle, I would like to buy some candied hawthorn."

Yang Heng protested, "Senior brother, I have been nothing but honest on this journey; do not falsely accuse me."

However, the prestige of this senior brother is declining day by day, while the four individuals outside seem oblivious and gradually move away.

Yang Heng, quick-witted and agile, swiftly covered the mouth of the true monk, Zhen Hun, and interjected, "I have heard that Master Jingheng, the abbot of Pujisi Temple, is a virtuous and esteemed monk. We are just about to go to the temple to register for a stay"

The temple was silent, and the crowd was even more perplexed. The monk Zhen Cai, the oldest among them, lacked the ability to respond to the situation and stood there muttering, "What is going on?"

The monk Zhen Cai hurriedly pulled the two people outside and said, "Forget it, forget it, let's just leave."

Xiao Ye, still shaken, asked: "Where have all the people here gone? Why have they left the food on the stove half-cooked and unattended?"

The monk Zhen Cai patted his smooth forehead and said, "Oh right, how did I not think of this?"

The true monk was caught off guard, his round face turning pale, as if his soul had left his body. He dropped the staff in his hand and rushed towards the door, shouting in panic: "A ghost!"

Yang Hengdao: "Let us split up to search, and each of us should be cautious. I have a vague feeling that something must have happened at Pujisi Temple"

Yang Heng clapped his hands and said: "It's settled, three votes in favor and one against, with another abstaining. Let's head into the city for a stroll"

Yang Heng ignored him and said, "Let’s split up and inquire about the situation at the cottages near Puji Temple."

Yang Heng said: "Perhaps something urgent happened suddenly, causing the monks in the temple to leave immediately"

The five individuals split up, with Yang Heng and Xiao Ye forming one group to search to the left; while the three monks, Zhen Cai, Zhen Hun, and Zhen Chan, formed another group to search to the right

The monk Zhen Cai rose and expressed his gratitude, saying: "Amitabha, may I ask the esteemed name of your honored family? This evening, I shall recite scriptures and offer prayers for him, as a modest way to repay this great kindness."

The crowd descended from Mount Emei, under the supervision of Monk Zhen Cai, bustling towards the direction of Suiyang

In the dead of night, the door to the guest room suddenly opened silently, and a shadow slipped in from outside. First, it took out a purple cloth from its sleeve and gently shook it under the noses of Yang Heng and Zhen Chan. Then, it began to mutter incantations, reciting a series of strange spells while igniting a piece of talisman paper, the green flames crackling softly illuminating the face of the monk Zhen Chan.

The true monk Zhen Cai saw that the monks of Puji Temple had mysteriously disappeared, and he felt anxious, fearing that Yang Heng and the others might encounter trouble again after entering Suiyang City. He hurriedly shouted, "I am the senior brother; you all must listen to me!"

Xiao Ye nodded and said, "Grandfather taught me." She took out a few gold needles and, accompanied by the others, returned to the kitchen

The manager looked up at the sky and said: "It is getting dark, and the road outside the city is neither easy to travel nor safe. It would be better to stay at the escort agency for the night and head to Pujisi to register in the morning."

The steward smiled and said, "Little master, please do not stand on ceremony. Our employer would surely be very pleased to see a monk visiting."

The vendor said, "Alright, choose for yourself, which one do you want?" as he reached out to take the money

Yang Heng smiled and said, "Just now I mentioned that the minority should obey the majority, and you didn't object. How about this: those who wish to stay can remain, and those who want to go to the city can follow me." As he spoke, he stood up, brushed off the dust from his clothes, and walked out.

Yang Heng described the scene he saw in the kitchen, saying, "In the main hall, the scriptures and wooden fish are neatly arranged, as if they are in the midst of a morning session, yet there is no one to be seen"

Zhen Huan is someone who fears neither heaven nor earth, but is afraid of being idle. Upon hearing this, he immediately said: "I agree to go into the city"

At Pujisi, the monk Zhenhun casually asked, "Have you heard of..."

Yang Heng raised his hand and said, "I want that string." Inadvertently, the copper coins clinked and fell to the ground

Yang Heng frowned and said, "We are just a few little monks. Don't you think he is a bit overly enthusiastic? Why does he not inquire at all about our origins and identities, but instead insists on leading us to the escort agency? Looking at the situation in this escort agency, it is not wealthy at all. The bodyguards and porters we saw in the front yard can be counted on one hand, yet he is still so generous?"

Five individuals strolled along with the crowd, glancing this way and that, asking questions, all filled with excitement. The monk, who had originally been the most opposed to leaving the temple for the city, now wished he could have two more holes drilled in his forehead to fit additional eyes, so he could thoroughly observe everything around him.

The true monk, while eating pastries, sighed deeply and said: "The world is full of warmth and coldness; I have finally encountered a great benefactor"

Yang Heng swung his hand, sending the Nine Absolute Shuttle flying, which with a "bang" knocked the瓦罐 away, and shouted, "Don't move!"

He caught up with Mana and the monk, shared the stolen candied hawthorns, and while savoring them, recounted the story of how he had played tricks on the vendor

After having a vegetarian meal, the steward arranged for the servants to lead them to their guest rooms to rest. Yang Heng and Master Zhenchan shared a room; after washing up, they exchanged only a few words before going to bed. The head of the Ma family, Ma Rulong, still had not made an appearance.

The monk Zhen Cai replied dismissively, "Junior Brother Zhen Yuan, you are judging a gentleman's intentions with the mindset of a petty person. Haven't you heard the benefactor say that the owner of this escort agency is a great benevolent person who is wholeheartedly devoted to Buddhism"

Xiao Ye thought for a moment and said softly, "I want to go into the city to take a look; perhaps I can find some clues"

Yang Heng said: "You may go if you wish, but I have no desire to endure that fellow's cold gaze any longer"

The outcome of the test was unexpected for everyone; there were no signs of poisoning in any of the fruits, food, or even the water in the kitchen

After knocking for quite some time, no one in the temple responded. The monk, feeling frustrated, looked up at the sky and said: "It's almost noon, could it be that all the monks in the temple are still asleep?"

The monk Zhen Cai, feeling embarrassed, said: "Are your feet really that fragrant? That night, I was awakened in the middle of the night by your stench. When I opened my eyes, I saw that you had turned over in your sleep, and your two feet were just resting on my chest..."

Yang Hengdang laughed heartily on the beam. The truly foolish monk heard the laughter and, upon seeing Xiaoye walking over with her mouth covered, stifling her giggles, realized that it was yet another of Yang Heng's mischief.

The monk Zhen Cai said: "No way? I heard from my master that Puji Temple is a branch of our Yunyan Sect, and most of the monks in the temple possess considerable cultivation, especially Master Jingheng, the abbot here, who is an exceptional expert"

Xiao Ye hesitated and said: "Let us gather the money we have and return it to them."

Yang Heng rolled his eyes and said, "It's over, it's over; they must have collectively succumbed to their worldly desires."

Yang Hengman laughed dismissively, saying: "In broad daylight, how could there be ghosts? Don't scare yourself. Besides, with our cultivation, if a few little ghosts were to jump out, they would be just right for us to practice on"

The monk, who was truly troubled by the unfamiliarity of the place, found himself without a place to stay by nightfall. Seeing the steward's enthusiasm, he could not help but express his gratitude, saying, "Then I must trouble you, benefactor."

Among these individuals, only Yang Heng, Xiao Ye, and Zhen Chan have mastered the Wind Control Technique. However, due to their limited abilities, they can only fly a maximum of forty to fifty miles before needing to land and rest. Yang Heng is somewhat better, but in order to accommodate the others, he also walks at a leisurely pace.

The Zen monk, seeing that his side had many people and was in a position of strength, rolled up his sleeves and raised his small arms to compare with the street vendor.

The honest monk said: "We are monks passing through this place on a begging journey, and we have no money"

Xiao Ye suddenly realized: "So the banner of the Tianma Escort Agency is derived from the name of your esteemed family."

The monk, with his face flushed, stamped his foot and said: "Stop laughing, has anyone been found?"

Yang Heng shook his head and said: "Even so, a few monks should be left to guard; I believe they have been kidnapped."

Yang Heng turned to Xiao Ye and asked, "What do you think?"

Are you being honest? The monk Zhen Cai's nose is crooked with anger. The night before last, he conspired with Zhen Chan to tear off the roof and poured a basin of foot-washing water onto someone else's bed, as if I didn't know about it

Zhen Zhan nodded vigorously, assisting Yang Heng in testifying: "I heard it too!"

Yang Heng retrieved the Nine Absolute Shuttle and said, "This temple has an eerie atmosphere; are you not afraid that someone has administered a sedative in the water?"

True Zen, however, does not offend either of the two great principles, and replied: "I listen to everyone."

The monk Zhenhun asked: "But why do we need to take all the monks from Pujisi to perform rituals?"

After walking for a while, the two feet suddenly came to a halt, fixated on the candied hawthorns being sold by the street vendor. The hawthorns were red, green, purple, and yellow, displaying a variety of colors and flavors, exuding an enticing sheen and sweet aroma

The monk Zhen Cai turned around and saw that the scholar had an elegant appearance and a kind smile, which immediately gave him a good impression. He joined his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Amitabha, may I ask your esteemed surname, benefactor?"

The vendor chuckled, "Sure, how about each of us having a skewer?" He extended his hand and said, "Pay up."

A gentle breeze blew, causing the bird bells hanging from the eaves of the meditation room to chime crisply in the wind. Monk Zhen Cai glanced at the lifeless surroundings and involuntarily shivered, quickly picking up his staff and rushing outside, exclaiming: "This won't do, I must keep an eye on you all. If something happens, it will be difficult to explain to the master"

Manager Yu led them to a hall where they took their seats, and a maidservant served tea and light refreshments. After a short while, he stood up to take his leave, stating that he needed to report to the owner in order to arrange accommodations and meals for several people

Yang Heng raised his eyebrows and said, "What kind of person are you to speak like this, looking down on others with your dog-like eyes!"

Yang Heng lazily raised two fingers and said: "There are two methods: one is for us to wait for Master Mingdeng to solve this problem; the other is for us to first take a stroll around Suiyang City, on one hand to inquire about the whereabouts of Grandpa Duanmu, and on the other hand to look for clues regarding the disappearance of the monks from Pujisi."

The true monk exclaimed in exasperation: "Come back, all of you! The master has said that you must all listen to me!"

As the monk Zhen Cai turned around, Yang Heng hooked his legs around the crossbeam, suddenly hanging upside down, propping his eyes with his hands and making a face, letting out a loud "Aow".

"True meat, true Zen." Yang Heng asked again, "What are your two opinions? Let the minority yield to the majority."

The monk, who was genuinely concerned about trouble, kept stopping Yang Heng and others from approaching to argue, hoping to safely escort them to the Suiyang Pujisi to settle the matter.

Yang Hengdao said, "Is this really a problem? I'll climb over the wall and take a look." Before the monk Zhen Cai could stop him, he leaped onto the courtyard wall and peered inside, saying, "How strange, there isn't a single person inside."

Xiao Ye could not answer this question either, and with a playful pout, she said: "I don't care, anyway, among us, you have the most clever ideas. You tell us what we should do now."

Yang Heng's anger flared up, and he suddenly clutched his stomach, saying, "Oh dear, I need to relieve myself. You all wait for me up ahead." After saying this, he swiftly slipped into a small alley by the side of the road to hide.

The nearest residence to Pujisi Temple is also about three to four li away. It is said that upon waking early, no unusual occurrences were noticed. However, seven or eight carriages, seemingly belonging to officials or wealthy families, had passed by, likely carrying devout believers who were there to offer incense and fulfill their vows.

The city of Suiyang is located in the heart of the Two Lakes region, with a well-developed network of roads and waterways, making it quite prosperous. On both sides of the main street, shops are densely lined up, and the streets are bustling with people, far more lively than the small towns at the foot of Mount Emei

Thus, the five individuals followed Manager Yu through a narrow alley, turning a few times before arriving at the Tianma Escort Agency

From the outside, the escort agency appeared quite dilapidated, with only an old doorman at the entrance. A few sparrows were chirping and foraging on the ground in front of the door, but they took flight in a startled flurry upon seeing someone approach

Zhen Hun and Zhen Chan hurried over upon hearing the news, and upon learning from Xiao Ye that Yang Heng was teasing Zhen Cai, they both burst into laughter

However, these young men rarely descend the mountain, so how can they possibly behave themselves? Each one is like a bird released from its cage, and even the usually timid Zhenchan occasionally jokes around with Zhenzai.

***

Five people were laughing and chatting as they arrived at the entrance of Pujisi Temple. They found the mountain gate tightly closed, so they approached and knocked on the door with the monk Zhen Cai from the *Tu* *Shu*.

The vendor exclaimed, "Why is it you again, little monk? This time do you have money in your pocket?"

Yang Heng was also puzzled and said, "Strange, could it be that all the monks in the temple have moved away?"

The vendor exclaimed, "Oh dear," and complained, "How could you be so careless?" as he bent down to pick up the two coins.

The vendor glared and scolded, "What are you boasting about without any money? Get out of the way and don't hinder my business."

Everyone returned to the temple and hastily cooked something to fill their stomachs. Xiaoye said, "That horse-drawn carriage has a problem"

Yang Heng suddenly had the idea of playing a prank, and he said to Xiao Ye with a low laugh: "You walk over slowly, and I will play a joke on Senior Brother." Taking advantage of the moment when the monk Zhen Cai had his back turned and did not see him, he used the Pure and Tranquil Dharma Body to slip into the meditation room, and with a leap, he silently landed on the beam.

Xiao Ye and Zhen Hun followed Yang Heng out, while Zhen Chan hesitated slightly. Perhaps feeling that it would be safer to follow the group, he quietly slipped out the door as well

Xiao Ye said in a trembling voice, "There are ghosts..." and unconsciously leaned closer to Yang Heng

Five individuals were engaged in a heated debate when suddenly a middle-aged man, dressed like a scholar, interjected: "Esteemed young masters, have you perhaps exhausted your funds? Why not go and seek alms?"

Yang Heng took out two coins and said, "I only have this much, let me buy a skewer for everyone to taste something new"

Yang Heng shook his head and said: "I am not a deity, how could I possibly guess? Let us go and find Senior Brother Zhen Cai and the others"

Yang Heng laughed so hard that he nearly lost his balance and fell from the beam, gasping for breath as he said: "Senior brother, you are truly amusing; you even dropped the戒棍 in fright."

The scholar replied politely: "My surname is Yu, and I am the chief steward of the Tianma Escort Agency in the city. Our employer is extremely devout to the Bodhisattva, and every first and fifteenth of the month, he goes to the Pujisi Temple outside the city to offer incense and make wishes. If a few young masters are short on funds, feel free to accompany me to the escort agency, and I can easily provide some silver."

At last, they had not encountered any major mishaps on the road. On this day, the group arrived outside Pujisi Temple, having traveled to beg for alms. From a distance, they saw the mountain gate of Pujisi Temple. Monk Zhen Cai let out a sigh of relief and said, "When we meet the master later, you few will have a good time!"

Yang Heng walked while keeping an eye on inconspicuous places, looking for any contact marks left by the disciples of Yunyan Sect. In the past few months, disciples from various branches of Yunyan Sect had descended the mountain to search for the whereabouts of Duanmu Yuan, all starting from Suiyang City and spreading outwards. As a result, the vast Suiyang City had already been searched countless times by the quick-footed fellow disciples, making it nearly impossible to discover new clues unless a pie fell from the sky. Therefore, he focused more of his attention on investigating the mysterious case of the missing monks from Pujisi, especially since this incident had only occurred that very morning.

The true anger has not yet subsided: "On what grounds does that vendor mock us? It is only right that he should receive a lesson."

Yang Heng skillfully manipulated the sugar-coated hawthorn skewers with his fingers, sending five or six strings of them soaring like birds into the forest, which he deftly caught and tucked into his robe's sleeve. When the vendor looked up, Yang Heng did not wait for him to react and said, "I won't buy them, give me back my money." He snatched the coins and turned to disappear into the crowd, vanishing without a trace in just a few moments.

Then everyone began to chat freely, with the steward being witty and knowledgeable. Occasionally, he would appropriately share a joke or two, making everyone burst into laughter, and Yang Heng's suspicions gradually faded away

The monk Zhenhun chuckled and said, "Senior brother, speaking of which, that basin of foot wash water is still yours. It stinks so much that it almost knocked me and Xiaoye out. How many days has it been since you last washed your feet?"

Yang Heng chuckled and said, "Indeed, that is the case. Who told those monks to gaze at Xiao Ye with such lewdness, and babble on about a bunch of nonsensical things? They thought that being at a distance would keep them safe, but I heard everything clearly!"

The monk, without a moment's hesitation, replied: "What is there to ask? Of course, we should stay in the temple and wait for the master"

Seeing the crowd retreat, the vendor became even more delighted and exclaimed: "What a world it is, even monks want to come and trick me into giving them candied hawthorn."

Xiao Ye's heart lifted again, and she asked, "What do you think it could be?"

The vendor selling candied hawthorn noticed several young monks standing aside, unwilling to leave for a long time, thereby blocking the passersby behind them. He impatiently said, "Move along, go to the side. Do monks also eat candied hawthorn?"

Yang Heng spread his hands and said with a smile, "Then tell me, who took them away, and where did they go?"

Yang Heng left a short note for Master Mingdeng in the main hall, and several individuals departed from Puji Temple and entered Suiyang City

Yang Heng sat cross-legged on the bed and practiced the Iron Shirt Secret for a while, then meditated and regulated his breath for two cycles before falling asleep

He shouted angrily, "Zhenyuan, do you want to scare me to death?"

Why can't monks eat candied hawthorn, and I actually ate it before

Yang Heng listened to the sound, gradually waking up in a daze, and saw a person with their back to him casting a spell towards Zhenchan. A chill ran through his heart, and his drowsiness vanished without a trace. He faintly smelled a subtle sweet fragrance that made his head feel heavy, and he thought to himself: "This escort agency is indeed suspicious"

Zhen Zhan looked at Yang Heng with a pitiful gaze, not knowing what exactly he had done wrong

The Zen monk, in a self-satisfied manner, gestured and said: "When moving, one must bring their belongings; at the very least, the scriptures and wooden fish should be taken along"

At this moment, the steward turned around, his face full of apologies, and said: "I apologize, our esteemed master is currently engaged in discussions regarding an important business deal with a valued guest and is temporarily unable to attend to you. He has instructed me to ensure that you are well taken care of, and he will personally come to pay his respects once the guest has departed"

Xiao Ye blushed and said, "Ah Heng, what nonsense are you talking about? Aren't you afraid of the Buddha's wrath?"

As the two entered the kitchen, they noticed that the fire in the stove had already gone out, but there were still half-cooked vegetables on it. Yang Heng leaned in and sniffed, saying, "The vegetables haven't gone sour in this hot weather, which indicates that the person who was cooking must have left not long ago"

Zhen Chan was thirsty and, upon seeing a clay pot filled with water on the table in the meditation room, slipped in unnoticed to take it and intended to drink.

Yang Heng, although a lay disciple, shaved his head and wore monk's robes, making it difficult for others to distinguish him; they merely thought that four monks were walking along the road, accompanied by a delicate and charming young girl, which was quite eye-catching. Some with sharp tongues inevitably spoke unkind words and rumors.

The true monk said anxiously: "Junior brother, you have violated the precept against theft again. This is a grave offense, a grave offense. Amitabha."

Regarding the general manager: "My employer's surname is Ma, and his given name is Rulong. He is somewhat well-known in the Xianlin area of the Lianghu region."