Chapter 7, Please, Flower God

Hong Ning lay on the bed for half a day, contemplating, and decided to call Bai Ling to go to the pond to take a look.

Rabbit Spirit argued: "I rarely go out, so how would I know about their matters"

Bai Lingdao: "I want to go back and take a look"

Subconsciously wanting to trust this person, Hong Ning did not intend to conceal: "More than ten years have passed, and there is no resentment around. Master Haiming's soul cannot still be here. They heard a woman's voice in that room last night, which further indicates that it is not Master Haiming. The matters of flowers have always been under the control of the Flower God and Flower Fairy, yet the lotus flowers here bloom strangely, all withering before June 16 every year. It is likely not due to climatic reasons. Besides the lotus flower demon, who else among the other demons can so freely control the timing of flowers?"

Hong Ning Anxi: "Say."

Suddenly, something tripped her feet, and Hong Ning almost fell. Looking down, she was startled to see a white figure lying on the ground. She immediately stepped back to avoid looking at those eyes, and at the same time, she opened her mouth to call for help

Ghosts and demons are different; after death, the soul has no attachment and nowhere to hide, thus it can only wander near the corpse. Therefore, it is difficult to escape the grasp of the Black and White Impermanence, unless it is filled with resentment, preventing it from entering the Ghost Gate. For this reason, those with knowledge can easily find them. Currently, the pond shows no signs of resentment, which leaves only one possibility—Haiming has already returned to the underworld.

Splendid Path: "It is quite rude to reveal the true form of the flower spirit"

Bai Ling!" Helan Xue stopped him

Let

Hong Ning was surprised: "What are you doing here?"

"It is not necessary for others to intervene in this matter," Jin Xiu said, looking at the pool of water. "It is not that she is unwilling to come out, but her cultivation is still shallow, and she cannot appear during the day. The temple is filled with Buddhist teachings, and moreover, there are officials from the court here, as well as the yamen runners, which adds to the heavy aura of death. At midnight tonight, you may ask them to remove their weapons and take off their official robes, and wait by this pool; she will come out on her own."

Jinxiu turned her face to look at the pond: "How can you tell?"

Hong Ning recounted the words of the Dragon Pool's Bell Immortal from the day before: "He said to pay respects to the King of the Middle Heaven"

Hong Ning muttered to herself: "But he said he has seen me, and also mentioned that I went to see it with Zhong Tian Wang."

Bai Ling fell silent for a moment, her tone revealing a hint of unease: "He Lan Xue has always acted impulsively, without considering the consequences. Yesterday, she said some angry words to me."

The words were spoken in an enigmatic manner, leaving Hong Ning in a state of bewilderment

Hong Ning looked at him for a while and said directly: "Are you the same as her?"

"You are too slow, the fox spirit has already left. I will go back and inform my master, and come to find you again tomorrow," Bai Ling said, pulling her hand and putting a bright, transparent bracelet on her wrist. "Call me if there is an urgent matter."

Hong Ning admitted: "Can you meet the Flower God?"

No response

Hong Ning hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Although the words were somewhat incoherent, their meaning was clear. After she finished reciting them silently, she nervously fixed her gaze on the three tokens, not blinking.

There is not a hint of sarcasm in the words, yet a subtle concern is faintly revealed in the sentiment. Hong Ning listened in a daze and calmly joked: "Let the master and senior brothers take care of it. I cannot achieve immortality and will surely die before them. If it comes to that, I might as well enter the cycle of reincarnation and be reborn early."

Jinxiu did not respond, but merely gazed at the talisman papers on the incense table, smiling as she said, "This way, it cannot be summoned."

Hong Ningqi said: "According to you, no one has stayed in this temple for the past ten years?"

Bai Ling stood outside the door

"Carry me over." A lazy voice.

Hong Ning, unwilling to give up, continued to chant spells and burn talisman paper, repeating the process three or four times, yet still seeing no results. She could only sigh and prepare to give up, just as she was about to pack her things when a sudden cool breeze blew in, carrying a strange fragrance, scattering the ashes of the paper.

"Good." Hong Ning bent down as if to embrace him, but secretly held a talisman in her hand and recited an incantation.

Bai Ling did not respond

What should I ask the Flower Goddess to do

Everyone gasped in astonishment

"Bold and impudent, only the red camellia is worthy of such a temperament," Jin Xiu smiled gently, her gaze as soft as water. "It is getting late, hurry and attend to your matters, I will come again in the evening." She turned and walked a few steps before disappearing

Is it just a rabbit spirit? ... Hong Ning appears much calmer, this fairy has not completely shed her original form, her magical power cannot be too strong, could it be ... ? ... Is he the one causing trouble recently?

Hong Ning said: "This temple was built with his funding, how could you not recognize it?"

Mr. Hai has no idea when he will leave, and the lives of us brothers are hanging in the balance, how unfortunate!

Hong Ning asked: "Has Master Hemingway ever returned?"

The malevolent aura is not strong, so there should be no intent to harm. Hong Ning is somewhat suspicious and draws a small sword from her waist, pointing it at him, and coldly says: "Did you harm him? If you do not speak the truth, you will surely invite heavenly retribution that will strike you back to your original form"

Relying on his good temper, Hong Ning smiled and said: "Actually, I have wanted to ask for a long time. If you do not wish to answer, just consider that I never asked."

Is he worried that Lu Jiu will come looking for trouble? Hong Ning quickly understood the reason behind it, feeling a warmth in her heart: "Let's go to the pond and have a look."

As soon as she stepped out of the courtyard, she saw a person waiting outside. Bai Ling ignored him completely and continued walking forward

Due to greed and murder, it is no wonder that Zheng Ke does not allow the pond to be cleaned! Hong Ning gasped in shock; this monk was killed for no reason, and his body has yet to see the light of day, making it difficult for him to enter the cycle of reincarnation: "Who is that monk?"

Beautiful Road: "Do you want me to help you?"

Hearing that it was not Lu Jiu, Hong Ning let out a long breath and asked, "Who are you?"

Bai Ling let out a soft hum, pushed her aside, and disappeared as soon as he stepped out the door

Jinxiu nodded: "You are right"

Hong Ning came to her senses and recounted the entire sequence of events to him. In the end, she said: "I suspect that the lotus flowers in this pond are up to something."

"Ten years ago, I had not yet entered the temple," said the young monk as he organized the scriptures in the small attic. "Not to mention myself, even the abbot only came later. Over the years, no one has ever left our temple."

This, however, is unknown.

Jinxiu walked over slowly

Hong Ning recalled something: "Do you know about the Zhongtian King?"

Upon hearing the explanation, Helan Xue's voice indeed softened: "Please don't be angry, I was just..."

Hong Ning smiled and said, "I am just a country girl, and I do not understand much about etiquette. Are you not afraid that I might get angry and cast a spell on you?"

A person has died in the pond

Hong Ning let out a sigh of relief and quickened her pace. Bai Ling was aware of the intricate relationships involved; if she truly allowed herself to be misled, she might end up facing a fate similar to that of Xiao Ke.

Hong Ning said: "It must be Zheng Ke from a few days ago, who harmed him?"

Turning the corner, there is a pond ahead

Upon hearing the words "return to your original form," the rabbit spirit became anxious and pleaded for mercy, saying: "I have harmed no one"

What are you doing? A familiar voice.

The brocade remains silent

This deity is quite special, and my master has never summoned one before. Moreover, Hong Ning cannot even remember the basic incantations, so she has to figure things out on her own. First, she respectfully bows and concentrates on reciting the spell. Then, she uses her sword to lift the three-colored talisman paper and ignites it over the candle, silently saying: "Disciple Hong Ning humbly bows before the Flower God. If the divine lord is aware, please grant the token to rise..."

The young monk shook his head

The young monk said, "Last summer night, a senior brother mentioned that he saw a monster with red eyes and long ears by the pond, which frightened him so much that he fell ill for several days"

To make the sea lord believe, one must first make him believe that there are ghosts and demons in the world

Jinxiu indeed smiled, without denial

The young monk spoke softly: "To be honest, an incident occurred at our temple involving Zheng Tanyue, and we have yet to apprehend the perpetrator. Even though the governor may not pursue the matter, it is certain that County Magistrate Tao will not let us off the hook in the future. Currently, we have someone stationed outside, fearing that we might flee."

Helan Xue has a rather extreme personality and is quick to vent anger on others. It is not impossible for her to resort to harming others in order to force him to return. Although Wen Xindao possesses profound skills, that woman is capable of anything, and her ruthlessness is something Wen Xindao cannot match. The distance is too great, and the sound transmission talisman has long since become ineffective. Hong Ning also feels a bit uneasy and nods, suggesting, "Why don't we all go back?"

Hong Ning agreed without hesitation

It is already rare to be able to communicate with deities at this level, let alone invite a true embodiment to descend. Hong Ning's first reaction was that there had been a mistake, and she was in a state of panic. Now that she sees it is him, she finally breathes a sigh of relief and secretly rejoices: "Please, Flower Goddess."

How did Zheng Ke die

Hong Ning was surprised, as if deep in thought

This is correct! Hong Ning said: "Have there been any strange occurrences in your temple over the years? For example, that pond?"

The young monk pondered: "I wonder if this can be considered a strange occurrence. The lotus flowers in that pond bloom later than elsewhere, yet they fall earlier. Out of curiosity, I privately noted the dates. Regardless of how beautifully they bloomed beforehand, all the petals will have fallen by the sixteenth day of the sixth month"

The beautiful and intricate frown: "For a hundred years, when the flowers and trees reach maturity, the heavenly thunder will descend. Only by avoiding it can one become a demon. After another three hundred years, one must endure a minor tribulation, followed by a major tribulation after five hundred years. Only after two thousand years of tribulations can one succeed in becoming a minor immortal."

The rabbit spirit, completely unprepared, realized it was being restrained and exclaimed in shock: "What are you doing!"

Do you like her now

Hong Ning blushed and said, "I will give it a try."

Hong Ning stared at him: "What are you? A camellia? A flower fairy?"

Hong Ning was taken aback, but smiled and said, "No wonder Young Master Zheng would sponsor Tianhe Temple; it turns out he is thinking of his friendship with Master Haiming"

Hong Ning said: "Perhaps Master Haiming has already come to terms with it, but now his remains lie at the bottom of the pond, unseen by the light of day. Even if he were to go to the underworld, it is likely that he would not enter the cycle of reincarnation so quickly." She murmured: "If it is not him, then it must be that female demon who did it; she also has a grudge against Zheng Ke."

Is it true or not

The high-level fairies have all entered the temple, not only Bai Ling, but also a snow demon and a five-tailed fox. Bai Ling can be ruled out; as for the other two, Hong Ning also believes the possibility is low. Firstly, Zheng Ke was murdered only after entering the temple, indicating that the demon must be within the temple. Moreover, Zheng Ke had visited Tianhe Temple multiple times, and it was only after he moved in and replaced the items with the character "Buddha" that the incident occurred. This suggests that the demon cannot manifest during the day to harm people and fears Buddhist law, indicating that its cultivation is not very deep. He Lanxue and Lu Jiu can move freely within the temple, and there are no conditions necessary for them to commit murder. It was only after he moved in and replaced the items with the character "Buddha" that the incident occurred, suggesting that the demon cannot manifest during the day to harm people and fears Buddhist law, indicating that its cultivation is not very deep. He Lanxue and Lu Jiu can move freely within the temple, and there are no conditions necessary for them to commit murder.

Hong Ning sighed: "Where do you want me to take you?"

Rabbit Spirit said: "This matter is known only to me. If I tell you, you must release me"

Splendid Path: "Everything has its predetermined course; Zheng Ke has committed too many evils in his lifetime, hence this retribution"

What are you scaring you for! Last night, Zhao San and I passed by and heard a woman's voice inside. We mustered our courage and pushed the door open, but there was nothing there!

Jinxiu fell silent for a moment and sighed: "No matter what happens, you must remember that it is all fate, the calamity that is destined to occur."

Ten years ago, this place was a small temple with only a few rooms. That night, I came to cool off and saw a monk and a man in green sitting and talking. The man wanted to see a crystal bottle from the Dragon Palace, and the monk took it out. The man repeatedly praised its immense value. Later, taking advantage of the monk's inattention, he killed him, bound him with an iron chain, and sank him to the bottom of the pond, taking the precious bottle with him

Let it be annoying

... ...

She is my junior sister, do not create trouble without reason

This was the first time Hong Ning was handling a matter alone, and she felt uncertain. Although Master Haiming was not involved in this case, he died innocently, and his remains lay at the bottom of the pond, unseen by the light of day. Only when the truth is revealed can he rest in peace and enter the cycle of reincarnation. The key issue now is that if she were to directly state that there is a corpse in the pond, it is likely that no one would believe her. County Magistrate Tao already had intentions to make things difficult, and this matter would also implicate him, as he was currently in possession of a crystal bottle gifted by Zheng Ke, a piece of information disclosed by a servant.

Ten years ago, someone mysteriously disappeared from the temple. It shouldn't be difficult to inquire about it. Hong Ning gave a brief warning and then let him go, turning back to walk away.

Jinxiu whispered: "If one does not wish to cultivate immortality and does not study spells properly, how will one survive alone in this mortal world in the future"

Splendid Path: "How?"

The young monk set down the scriptures and explained: "In those years, this place was extremely desolate and simple, with only Master Haiming guarding it. How could it compare to the scene today? Later, Master Haiming went on a pilgrimage and entrusted the temple to Zheng Tanyue for management. Zheng Tanyue was very trustworthy and invested in the renovation of the temple, which led to the establishment of the present-day Tianhe Temple."

"Senior Brother, I am over there, call me if you need anything." Hong Ning cleverly found an excuse to leave, not waiting for Bai Ling to say more, and quickly walked away. Although this felt a bit unfair to Bai Ling, she truly did not want to provoke or get involved in this trouble. He Lan Xue was too reckless and could do anything. Moreover, the issues between them did not require others to interfere; it was better for Bai Ling to resolve them on her own.

This item was used countless times by Hong Ning during her childhood, and out of curiosity, she even conducted experiments with it. Every time, Bai Ling would arrive just in time. However, ever since she learned what it truly was, she has refused to use it again. Now, seeing him take it out once more, she can't help but sigh and force a smile, saying, "I am not a child anymore. Continuously separating the inner elixir from the body is very exhausting and quite dangerous."

Hong Ning said: "However, it is difficult to ensure that she will not harm others in the future. Moreover, if she truly has a grudge against Zheng Ke, she should come forward and clarify the matter, so as not to implicate the monks in the temple. The deceased is a relative of County Magistrate Tao, and he may vent his anger on them. If she insists on her own way and implicates innocent people, I will have no choice but to force her to reveal her true self. At that time, her cultivation will be completely destroyed, and she cannot blame me for it."

Bai Lingdao: "It is not Ha Ming, there is no resentment in the temple"

Hong Ning raised an eyebrow and said: "Show me your true form."

Jinxiu smiled without answering

Dog official! Hong Ning secretly cursed, offered him a few kind words of comfort, asked about some other matters, and then hurriedly left. Just as she reached the corridor, she heard several yamen runners gathered in one place talking.

Jinxiu smiled

Hong Ning originally intended to address him as "big brother," but then felt it was inappropriate, as he might be a senior who is several hundred or even a thousand years old. Therefore, she opted for a direct approach and asked, "What are you doing here? Are you also here to protect me?"

The rabbit ran out to cool off, startling the monk. Hong Ning chuckled quietly, fearing he might become suspicious, so she deliberately changed the subject: "Has no one been allowed in to offer incense these past two days?"

Seeing that it indeed did not seem to be lying, Hong Ning felt disappointed and unwilling: "You live nearby, haven't you seen anything strange happening in the temple? Are there any other monsters in this temple?"

At dusk, by the pond, there is an incense table covered with yellow cloth, set with candles, incense burners, tokens, and numerous talismans made of three-colored paper.

The monk has prayer beads and other personal talismans, which is understandable, but it turns out she is also afraid of the armed officers. No wonder those people rushed in upon hearing the noise, and she ran away. It seems she also wants to come out and clarify the situation. Hong Ning felt relieved and tentatively asked: "You are not an ordinary flower spirit, are you... a flower fairy?"

How did a woman get involved again? Hong Ning was astonished and returned to her room to inform Bai Ling about this matter

Jinxiu shook his head: "He was originally the timekeeper of the Southern Heavenly Gate, prone to drowsiness. A thousand years ago, he made a mistake once, and fortunately, the Emperor forgave him. It is unexpected that he still has not changed this habit. What has happened today is also a destined calamity."

Seeing that she was not afraid, the rabbit spirit was somewhat surprised. After hesitating for a moment, it extended its hand and pointed to the other side of the pond: "I live outside the temple, you should carry me over there first."

Matching the red camellia? The red color deepened on her face, and the fragrance still lingered faintly in the surrounding air. Suddenly feeling flustered, she hurriedly turned and walked towards the residence of the sea lord.

The young monk, with his head hung low, said: "What incense can I offer? It would be a stroke of luck just to escape with my life in the future"

Hong Ning was surprised: "Ten years ago?"

Hong Ning came to her senses, puzzled: "How?"

The rabbit spirit was dissatisfied with her reaction: "Hey, are you in a daze?"

What happened a few days ago was ten years ago

Who is Zheng Ke

The rabbit spirit seemed to recall something: "Are you talking about the dead? Yes, someone has died"

The person on the ground appeared to be quite acceptable, but what set him apart was a pair of unusually shaped ears, and his eyes were half-closed, gleaming with a strange red light

The two of them were originally good friends

Hong Ning said: "It is precisely because her cultivation is not easy, and the matter is not clear, that I am afraid of wronging her. It could very well be another demon, so I wish to ask her directly. Please have the Flower God summon her on my behalf"

The room where Zheng Ke died is haunted, brothers should keep their distance these days