Chapter 10, the heart of the owl cannot be confined

A few Babylonians and the Weiwu people hurriedly followed and left. Once they descended the hillside and disappeared into the darkness, Leng Qian returned the kitchen knife to Qi Ren, saying, "Come, come, it has been a long time since we last met, let us enjoy a drink together."

Qi Ren was pulled to the table and sat down, still looking absent-minded. Leng Qian took out a small wine bottle from his pocket, uncorked it, and brought it to Qi Ren's nose: "How is it? Eating horse meat must be paired with wine." Qi Ren didn't even sniff it and took a big gulp. "Hey, hey, slow down, slow down," Leng Qian urged, "Such fine pearl red... chewing on peonies, what a pity, what a pity!

The Qi man, with a stern face, said: "What quick hands—still with me!" Leng Qian smiled and replied: "The rice and grain tools, today I have truly witnessed, remarkable, truly remarkable." With a flick of his right sleeve, he revealed that he was holding the Qi man's black iron kitchen knife in his palm, "Just borrowing it, and there is no damage, why are you so anxious?" The Qi man could no longer maintain his stern expression and began to smile: "After not seeing you for several years, your skills as a gentleman on the beam have indeed improved even more."

The man from Qi let out a sigh: "What a close call! Fortunately, Master Zhang was nearby, which saved the life of the great hero Gong." Leng Qian remarked: "It is indeed quite a coincidence. Master Zhang said he was waiting for a friend here and happened to run into it; how could he not save him?" The two exchanged sighs, observing how ruthless Tuo Tuo was. If he were to take over from Bo Yan, the Central Plains would surely face another calamity. Master Zhang said: "Even if Bo Yan is killed, there is still Tuo Tuo. If Tuo Tuo is killed, who knows who else there might be? The barbarians have occupied our beautiful Central Plains; only by driving them all out can the world attain peace"

The man from Qi sighed, helplessly nodding his head. Lu Ao took a square handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe his tears. The man from Qi stood there in a daze, unsure whether he should push her hand away. He could neither advance nor retreat, his complexion shifting from red to green, then back to red again, repeating this several times.

The night outside has grown increasingly thick, the bright moon has already set in the west, yet in the southeast, there is a faint hint of dawn, slowly emerging over the towering mountains...

The man from Qi sighed deeply and asked Leng Qian for some wine. After taking a small sip, he inquired, "Please continue your story. Is it not true that Tuo Tuo intends to consolidate Gong Bingfan for his own use?" Leng Qian nodded, saying, "Indeed, that is the case. Let us not speak of what Tuo Tuo did after taking power; just consider his words on that day. If the Yuan Dynasty were to truly have a wise minister, would he not support him? You, with your aspirations for the mountains and forests, would certainly not support him. I, however, only wish for the common people to have food to eat, and thus I would definitely support him. It is laughable that Gong Bingfan, swayed by Tuo Tuo's cunning words, also could not forget the defense against the barbarians, hesitated for a long time before finally rejecting Tuo Tuo. Let us not speak of what Tuo Tuo did after taking power; just consider his words on that day. If the Yuan Dynasty were to truly have a wise minister, would he not support him? You, with your aspirations for the mountains and forests, would certainly not support him. I, however, only wish for the common people to have food to eat, and thus I would definitely support him. It is laughable that Gong Bingfan, swayed by Tuo Tuo's cunning words, also could not forget the defense against the barbarians, hesitated for a long time before finally rejecting Tuo Tuo.

In his view, the Ming Sect of China was undoubtedly subordinate to his Eastern religious order. With his orders from Omitz, how could there be any reason for it to be otherwise? However, this matter was unbeknownst to the Babylonian Pope, who discovered it. The Pope believed that the Ming Sect of China was isolated thousands of miles away and had no connection to the Eastern religious order, thus it should be directly under the jurisdiction of the central church. Therefore, he also sent people to seize the Holy Spear—ha ha, who would have thought that the Stone-hearted Person truly had a heart of stone and would not yield to either side.

"I am flattered by your praise, but I cannot accept it," Leng Qian said with a smile as he turned to Aidamus. "The Divine Spear is a sacred object within the teachings. The法王 desires it, and Omi Z is determined to obtain it. The Ming Sect of China will certainly not let it go easily. As for this matter, let us discuss it further when we reach Haozhou."

The Ming Sect, also known as the Ming Zun Sect or Manichaeism, is a name that enthusiasts of martial arts novels are likely familiar with. Mr. Jin Yong, through his renowned work "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," has brought this long-extinct religion back into the public eye. However, there are many inaccuracies in Mr. Jin's portrayal of the Ming Sect. Depicting a genuine world religion as a heretical cult akin to the Five Pecks of Rice Dao from the late Han Dynasty, or as a gang similar to the Tiandihui of the Qing Dynasty, is a necessity of the martial arts novel genre and does not require further scrutiny. However, the confusion between the Ming Sect and Zoroastrianism is something that should not be overlooked. Depicting a genuine world religion as a heretical cult akin to the Five Pecks of Rice Dao from the late Han Dynasty, or as a gang similar to the Tiandihui of the Qing Dynasty, is a necessity of the martial arts novel genre and does not require further scrutiny. However, the confusion between the Ming Sect and Zoroastrianism is something that should not be overlooked.

At this time, a monk named Omiz arrived from Babylon in the East. He led the Eastern sect and declared independence in the name of "Dianam." "Dianam" is likely derived from the ancient Uighur language, meaning "truly pure." This dual-religion situation persisted for over a hundred years before being unified by the new Babylonian king, Mir.

"What exactly is the divine spear of the Demon Subduing Champion?" asked Qi Ren. "This is a longer story," Leng Qian glanced at Qi Ren's impatient expression, "Alright, to put it briefly, the Demon Subduing Champion is a great deity revered by the Ming Sect. It is said that he wields a holy shield in his left hand and a divine spear in his right, traversing the world to subdue demons and vanquish evil. As for that divine spear, I have only vaguely heard Master Shi Xin mention it; I am not very clear on what it actually is."

The Qi man looked grave and asked, "What about Gong Bingfan? Who is he chasing now?" "He is going after Xia Guojian," Leng Qian replied, "the 'Golden-eyed Guan Suo' Xia Guojian, have you heard of him?" The Qi man frowned, "So it's him! Has Gong Bingfan managed to catch up with him?"

"Holding a whisk, could it be that he is a Daoist?" Qi Ren suddenly recalled, "Could it be the Iron Crown True Man from Chaoyuan Temple?" Leng Qian looked at him with a hint of surprise: "How did you come to that conclusion? After not seeing you for several days, your quick wit is impressive!" Qi Ren smiled and replied: "I heard Gong Bingfan mention during the day that the Iron Crown True Man had once bestowed great kindness upon him, which is why I thought of it."

The man from Qi scoffed, saying, "If everyone were content with their fate and did nothing, it would indeed be better; perhaps the world would not be in chaos!" Leng Qian shook his head, smiled faintly, and raised his eyes to look out the window

He hurriedly snatched the bottle, took a small sip, and quietly pointed to the green leaves: "His husband, is also your disciple, right?" Qi Ren sighed: "He passed away last year in Luoshan—please do not ask further, I do not wish to mention this matter." "Oh—" Leng Qian drew out a long sound, squinting his eyes, "Then that is good, good..."

It turns out that the Eastern Sect has produced another Omiz, who is determined to inherit the legacy of his ancestors and revive 'Dian Nawu', engaging in both open and covert struggles with the Babylonian Church. Somehow, he discovered that the sacred object of the sect—the divine spear of the Demon Subduing Victory Envoy—was hidden in the Qian Guang Temple in Pingyang, Wenzhou. He immediately sent someone to retrieve it, intending to use it to confront the Pope on equal footing.

Leng Qian walked slowly to Qi Ren's side and smiled, saying: "I heard from Gong Bingfan that you were nearby, so I came looking for you, but unexpectedly, what a coincidence, I ran into such a group of things." Ai Damu Si shouted: "I am asking you a question, did you hear me!" "I heard you," Leng Qian deliberately frowned and covered his ears, "I beg this gentleman, please do not speak that awkward Mongolian anymore, I can't stand it either"

The man from Qi laughed and said: "Enough, enough, I cannot stand your grandiose storytelling, just speak plainly." Leng Qian also laughed and said: "If I don't tell a story, then what is there to enjoy? Very well, let me recount that day... Hmm, if I am not to tell a story, then I shall not... That night, Tuo Tuo led Gong Bingfan out of the minister's residence, escorting him back to the inn...

The thatched cottage of the old hunter is located approximately seven to eight li west of Huaiyuan City. This area features some low hills, abundant with grass and trees, where wild animals occasionally roam. The cottage is built against a cliff, with a vegetable garden in front, and beyond that, there are several large trees, each nearly a hundred years old. The sudden sound comes from the treetop of one of these large trees.

Ai Damu's eyebrows raised slightly: "What is there to discuss when we reach Haozhou?" Leng Qian smiled and replied: "Are you not convinced? Then let us have another duel with knives. Your rice-husk golden knife, no matter how formidable, cannot compare to this kitchen knife. Moreover, I am just a small Nao Sha Yan, while you are a grand Sabo Sai; what is there for us to discuss? Of course, when we arrive in Haozhou, we will discuss it with the Stone-hearted person."

He frowned slightly, seemingly unable to comprehend these strange terms for a moment, and thus slowed his tone: "The second rank is Sabo Sai, translated as 'Servant of the Law', akin to that 'Golden Lion' Aida Mus; the third rank is Mo Xi Si De, translated as 'Master of the Law Hall', and Shi Xin is of this rank; the fourth is A Luo Huan, translated in the scriptures as 'Pure Good Person', which is comparable to ordinary monks in Buddhism; and the fifth, well, that would be my humble self, the little Nao Sha Dun Lou."

Leng Qian, while speaking, pulled Qi Ren into the thatched cottage and casually sat down at the table, saying: "He is boasting about that scar again, isn't he?" Upon seeing several large bowls of horse meat on the table, he exclaimed with delight: "Great! Knowing that I was coming, you have prepared a feast." Lu Ao approached and softly said: "These are the leftovers from those Hu people who just ate. If you wish to eat, I can go and cook some more."

As the two were conversing, Lü Ao approached with a large plate of steaming horse meat. Qi Ren took it and gently advised, "You have just recovered from a serious illness, do not overexert yourself; you should go rest for now." Lü Ao forced a smile and replied, "Uncle Master, you need not worry; you all continue your conversation." Leng Qian quickly picked up a large piece of horse meat and stuffed it into his mouth, asking, "Miss Han, are you not going to Haozhou?"

Gong Bingfan had some acquaintance with Shi Xinya, and I originally intended to ask him for help," Leng Qian continued, "but unfortunately, he hurried off to attend to Mu Xuansheng, and I had not yet had the chance to speak. "As for the matter of Mu Xuansheng, it is also about the wound Gong Bingfan received on his shoulder," Qi Ren inquired, "he has not yet clarified it with me. What exactly were Tuo Tuo's intentions in saving his life?

In a state of astonishment, the man from Qi was taken aback as a flash of golden light appeared, tracing a beautifully curved arc, which had already returned to the hands of Aida Mus. Behind the fallen treetop, a voice burst out with a hearty laugh, and a scholar gracefully stepped forward. He was just over thirty years old, wearing a tall hat, a flowing robe with wide sleeves, and a broad sash around his waist, presenting a rather neat appearance. However, his long horse-like face and lengthy beard, combined with his average stature, rendered his appearance somewhat peculiar.

Mani received support from King Shapur I of the Sassanian Empire to promote his teachings and oppose the then state religion of Persia, Zoroastrianism. However, he was ultimately declared a heretic during the reign of King Bahram I, and Mani himself was cruelly executed by being flayed alive. The Manichaean faith spread to China, and although figures like Fang La utilized its doctrines to incite uprisings, there remains scholarly debate regarding the involvement of Manichaeans and their followers in the White Lotus Rebellion, which fervently resisted the oppression of the Mongol nobility at the end of the Yuan dynasty. Some scholars argue that because the White Lotus adherents worshipped Maitreya, established the Ming Wang, and practiced vegetarianism, they were derogatorily labeled by the Yuan court as "eating vegetables and serving demons." This phrase was originally attributed to the Manichaeans, leading to confusion.

Author's Note: Regarding the Ming Sect

The man from Qi asked, "Is there poison in the wine?" Leng Qian replied with a smile, "Indeed. If it cannot be of use to me, it is better to eliminate it. What is so difficult to gauge about such a ruthless heart? Moreover, he has spoken many vile words about Uncle Nai at the banquet; does he not fear that Gong Bingfan will report it to Boyan? Unexpectedly, this foolish Gong Bingfan, without a second thought, took the wine and drank it all in one gulp. Before long, he became agitated. He overturned the table and was about to draw his sword to stab Tuo Tuo, but was already struck by Tuo Tuo's blade on his neck... Unexpectedly, this foolish Gong Bingfan, without a second thought, took the wine and drank it all in one gulp. Before long, he became agitated. He overturned the table and was about to draw his sword to stab Tuo Tuo, but was already struck by Tuo Tuo's blade on his neck...

Regarding this matter, Qi Ren asked, "How did it come to involve Han Bangdao again?" Leng Qian took a sip of wine and sighed lightly, "Han Bangdao has always had a good relationship with Shixin. Shixin cannot withstand the incessant disturbances from the Eastern Sect and the Babylonian factions. Unable to fight back, he had no choice but to seek refuge with Han Bangdao. I only heard of this news and thought to go to Haozhou to lend him a helping hand, but unexpectedly, I first encountered Aida Mushi and the others here... Hey, how dare they use the name of the Demon Subduing Champion? Is it really that impressive?"

Green Bud supports him to stand up: "Master Uncle, you accompany Mr. Leng, I will go check on Xiao Hu first." Qi Ren hurriedly grabbed her arm, then quickly let go: "Xiao Hu is with Liu Mazi, it won't be a problem. Don't go, the road is dangerous at night, and those Hu people have not yet gone far...

The introduction of Manichaeism into China began during the Tang Dynasty with the Uighurs. Subsequently, it spread gradually and flourished along the southeastern coastal regions of Fujian and Zhejiang. By today, it has long diverged from Eastern religious groups and has no connection whatsoever with Babylon. Who would have thought that in recent years, there have been changes again in the Western Regions.

Leng Qian continued, saying: "During his lifetime, Mani sent many sects to various places to spread the teachings. Among them, the largest were the Eastern sect and the Western sect. The Western sect has always been loyal to Babylon, while the Eastern sect entered our Chinese territory, growing increasingly powerful, and during the Tang dynasty, it became the state religion of the Uighurs, gradually showing less reverence towards the Dharma King.

Where could one catch up? That steed of the Summer Kingdom is indeed swift. However, Gong Bingfan encountered someone on the road and hurriedly approached, saying, "I came to tell you 'We shall meet again.'" Leng Qian tugged at Qi Ren's sleeve and said, "This person may be unknown to you; he rarely appears in the Central Plains and is named Mou Xuansheng." Qi Ren nodded and said, "Gong Bingfan just mentioned him to me today."

Aida Mus let out a cold snort, his eyes flashing like lightning as they swept over Leng Qianhe and Qi Ren: "Alright, let us go. There will surely be a day when we meet again!" With a flick of his right hand, the golden light was sheathed, and without paying any attention to his companions, he turned and left.

What is there to say? You can surely guess it: it is nothing but a scathing denunciation of Bo Yan's autocratic rule and chaotic governance, the talk of abolishing the imperial examination system, and the call to exterminate the Han people of the five surnames and the southerners. Tuo Tuo thumped his chest, declaring that if he were to achieve his lofty ambitions, he would certainly abolish all these tyrannies

Aida Mus was furious, and with a flash of golden light in his hand, he swung his knife towards Leng Qian's face. Unfazed, Leng Qian took a step back, his large sleeve sweeping up. With a crisp sound of "clang," Aida Mus looked back at his knife, only to see a small notch had been chipped away from the seemingly indestructible golden blade, causing him to involuntarily gasp in shock

Ah, yes," Qi Ren asked in surprise, "He was poisoned, and yet there is another Mu Xuan Sheng by his side. How did he manage to escape with his life?" "Escape with his life?" Leng Qian replied with a smile, "Given the circumstances that day, if it were not for someone’s assistance, how could he have escaped with his life? At that moment of peril, suddenly a voice was heard from outside the pavilion shouting: 'You dare, thief!' It was as if a celestial being had descended, and a person leaped in. Looking at that person, what a remarkable appearance! He was dressed in a large-sleeved robe made of six folds of sandalwood cotton, with a belt of black silk around his waist, and on his feet were hemp shoes with three ear-like ties... At that moment of peril, suddenly a voice was heard from outside the pavilion shouting: 'You dare, thief!' It was as if a celestial being had descended, and a person leaped in. Looking at that person, what a remarkable appearance! He was dressed in a large-sleeved robe made of six folds of sandalwood cotton, with a belt of black silk around his waist, and on his feet were hemp shoes with three ear-like ties...

The man from Qi exclaimed: "Leng Qian, is that you? What about the divine spear of King Adamas?" The scholar replied with a smile: "Brother Chen, it has been a long time since we last met. How have you been? As for King Adamas, he is referred to in Chinese as the Conqueror of Demons."

Having said all of the above, it is solely to provide readers with a simple understanding of the true Ming Sect in history, and it is by no means to blame Mr. Jin Yong. In fact, my interest in the Ming Sect also originated from Mr. Jin's "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," and the writing style and structure I employed in creating this novel are modeled after Mr. Jin and Mr. Xu Xingye from the mainland—these two are the modern novelists I admire the most. With my limited talent, if I were to dare to arrange Mr. Jin's works, would that not be akin to a dog barking at the sun or a flea shaking a tree?

Lü E lowered her head and smiled, her smile tinged with a hint of bitterness. She walked to the table, collecting the bowls and chopsticks as she said, "Mr. Leng, I will go heat the meat... It's a pity there is no wine." Mr. Leng smiled and replied, "No need, no need, Mr. Leng eating cold horse meat is just fine..." Suddenly, he turned his gaze to the stunned Qi Ren, "Alright then, heating it up would be good."

The person from Qi asked: "Later, when he came to power, he indeed abolished these tyrannies." Leng Qian shrugged and said: "So what? He changed the currency and opened the river, but how many people died because of that? There is a poem that goes: 'The county magistrate inspects the area, the minor officials vie for power, the village head knocks on doors at night, and the local chief collects money in the morning. The tools of the gatherers are shovels and hoes, they beat the doors with whips, the process is like a drum, and the gathering is like a tumult..."

Zoroastrianism, also known as the religion of Zarathustra, the Fire Worshippers, or Persian religion, originated in ancient Persia before the Common Era. It venerates light and its representative, the fire god, with the primary form of worship being the veneration of the sacred fire. In contrast, Manichaeism, founded by Mani in the 3rd century BCE, synthesized elements of Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Buddhism, and certain doctrines from the Gnostic sect of Asia Minor, creating a universal religion. Although Manichaeism maintains a dualistic view of good and evil and worships the god of light, it does not venerate the sacred fire. Therefore, the assertion by Cheng Kun that "rushing to the summit of light to extinguish the demonic fire" is erroneous. Manichaeism, founded by Mani in the 3rd century BCE, synthesized elements of Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Buddhism, and certain doctrines from the Gnostic sect of Asia Minor, creating a universal religion. Although Manichaeism maintains a dualistic view of good and evil and worships the god of light, it does not venerate the sacred fire. Therefore, the assertion by Cheng Kun that "rushing to the summit of light to extinguish the demonic fire" is erroneous

Green Acacia followed Qi Ren to the stove. Qi Ren wore a gloomy expression, remaining silent for a long time. Green Acacia cautiously asked, "Master Uncle, could it be that Xiao Hu and the others are in trouble?" Qi Ren hesitated for a while before he finally spoke in a fragmented manner, "It’s Xiao Hu’s grandfather... the old man is quite advanced in age, went to town to buy wine on credit... it’s the same Xia Guojian I mentioned earlier, he, he suddenly rode out on horseback..."

An appointment has been made to meet on the second day at a pavilion by the Gao Liang River in the western part of the capital. That Gong Bingfan truly kept his promise and actually showed up. Tuotuo had already set up a banquet, and could only have Mo Xuansheng accompany him. He invited Gong Bingfan to sit down and then asked him to enjoy some wine and engage in conversation.

Leng Qian nodded and said, "Not bad. When Mu Xuan Sheng asked the Daoist for his name, the Daoist replied, 'I am Zhang Zhong, also known as Zhang Jinghua, from the Chaoyuan Temple in Xuande Prefecture.' At that moment, the two engaged in combat, exchanging blows for seven or eight rounds without a clear victor. Mu Xuan Sheng then pulled Tuo Tuo away and said, 'Iron Crown Daoist, you are nothing special. If it weren't for my need to protect the Lord today, I would not let you leave!' After delivering this harsh remark, he took Tuo Tuo away. The Iron Crown True Man assisted Gong Bingfan in purging the poison, allowing that foolish bird to escape with its life.

Ada Mus asked coldly, "Who are you?" The scholar smiled and replied, "My name is Leng Qian, a name you may have never heard before. I am a minor member of the Ming Sect in China." Ada Mus angrily retorted, "How could a mere minor member know about the matters of sacred artifacts?"

"Just now you referred to yourself as something of the Ming Sect..." "Something of the sort is called a Noshayun," Leng Qian explained with a smile, "This is a rank within the Ming Sect, translated into Han as 'Pure Faith Listener,' akin to a lay practitioner in Buddhism. Below the Dharma King, the followers of the Ming Sect are divided into five ranks. The first is called Mujia, which translates to 'Bearer of the Dharma and Teaching.' There are ten Mujia in Babylon, with each of the Eastern and Western sects having one—Aomiz is the Mujia of the Eastern sect."

"The group of birdmen led by Aida Musna is indeed the reinforcements from Babylon," Leng Qian said with a frown. "Even he alone is not a match for Han Bangdao and Shixin combined, not to mention that the Eastern Sect also has a group of formidable experts eyeing the situation." The Qi man, upon hearing this, lowered his head in silence.

"Hey," Leng Qian called out from the table, "What have you been talking about for so long, completely forgetting about me, your guest?" Qi Ren felt an inexplicable anger rise within him and shouted, "Shut up!" Leng Qian was so startled that he jumped up, asking, "What, what happened?" Qi Ren took a deep breath, looked at Leng Qian, then at Lu Ao, and seeing both of them looking at him in astonishment, he couldn't help but lower his head, saying, "I-I apologize... Brother Leng, it is my fault, I offer my apologies to you here." With that, he bowed deeply.

The man from Qi shook his head and smiled sadly, saying, "What true sovereign has come into the world? Is it not merely the slogan of the foolish populace? Whenever a sage appears, blood flows like water; this has been the case throughout history, just as it is today. Who does not claim to be a true dragon descended from the heavens, and who truly seeks to pray for the welfare of the common people?" Leng Qian replied with a smile, "Do not be so pessimistic. The ancients said, 'When a sage appears, the world falls into chaos.' This saying is indeed true, yet it is also a matter of heavenly mandate. Sages appear in every generation, and the common people suffer calamities generation after generation; there is no escaping this. We can only accept the heavenly mandate and seek a true sage or sovereign to protect us, assist him in eliminating the bandits, and persuade him to reduce the slaughter. That is all we can do. Besides this, what else can we accomplish? In this life, we cannot simply do nothing."

Please provide the text you would like to have translated from Traditional Chinese to English.

He walked slowly in front of Qi Ren, raised his sleeve and waved it in front of Qi Ren's eyes. Qi Ren, feeling a surge of impatience, swatted his hand away and asked, "What are you doing?" "Oh, you haven't been enchanted yet," Leng Qian said deliberately with a serious face, "then why are you in a daze? Come over and drink with me." He lowered his voice, "I have good wine here."

"Well, let me start from the beginning and explain this matter to you," he said, taking another sip of wine, speaking in a mysterious tone. "The Mingjiao, originally known as the Mani religion, was founded by the Persian man Mani, and the widely recognized leader of this religion is the King of Babylon—Babylon, which is located within the territory of the Ilkhanate." Qi Ren nodded, indicating that he had heard of this place.

The man from Qi was truly afraid that this fellow would say something inappropriate, so he had no choice but to make an effort to change the subject: "Do you believe in the Ming religion?" "Indeed," Leng Qian replied with a smile, "to speak of it, Master Shixin can be considered half my teacher."

Aida Mus waved his right hand, and the golden knife in his palm transformed into a beam of light, swiftly heading towards the large tree. Suddenly, a loud laugh echoed from the person atop the tree, and the tree, which was nearly as wide as a person could embrace, was unexpectedly split in two. The crown of the tree flew out at an angle more than two zhang away before crashing to the ground.

Lü'e turned her head and stared into Qi Ren's eyes, making Qi Ren's face flush red. After a moment of thought, Lü'e finally lowered her head and said, "Very well. Master Uncle, you may continue to chat with Mr. Leng, do not take it too much to heart, he has already departed..." "Indeed," Leng Qian interjected from the side, "please accept my condolences..." As soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized and quickly covered his own mouth.

Green Acacia hurriedly crouched down and comforted Qi Ren, saying, "Master Uncle, please do not be sad." Although she spoke these words, tears involuntarily fell from the corners of her eyes, and she quickly turned her face away to wipe them clean before asking, "Where is Little Tiger?" Qi Ren replied, "He is temporarily staying at Liu Mazi's shop."

Upon hearing this, Qi Ren hung his head in silence. He then heard Leng Qian continue, saying: "Gong Bingfan mentioned that Zhou Ziwang's uprising in Yuanzhou was worth considering for support. However, Zhang Zhenren advised him, saying: 'What are Cai Jiuwu, Zhu Guangqing, and Hu Run'er? They are merely foolish commoners causing a disturbance, incapable of achieving greatness. Although Zhou Ziwang has a past connection with me, he is not destined by heaven. Let us not be hasty; we should wait for a true leader to emerge, and naturally, peace will return to the world.'"

"Have you not finished speaking? Where did we leave off?" Leng Qian said with a smile, "Allow me to clarify it for you." The Qi person replied, "You were just saying that Tuo Tuo wanted to take him to the governor's residence; what happened next?" Leng Qian nodded, clapped his right hand on the table, and said, "Good, good, let me elaborate on this in detail..."

Lü E rushed forward to grasp Qi Ren's hand, saying, "... Master Uncle, it is all my fault. I should have advised the elder not to go; he is of such advanced age..." Qi Ren replied, "It is not your fault; it is all my fault... Yes, it is my fault..." As he spoke, he suddenly broke down in sorrow, clasping his head with both hands and crouching down to the ground, weeping loudly.

"Enough, enough, enough," Leng Qian hurriedly came over to support him with both hands, "I won’t... you all can continue your conversation, I will just eat meat and won’t interrupt anymore." Qi Ren's face turned crimson as he glanced at Leng Qian, who indeed returned to the table, focusing solely on devouring horse meat, stuffing his mouth full. He then looked at Lu Ao and suddenly struck his own head with a fist: "What is wrong with me today? Am I having an episode?!"

Green Acacia replied, "My late husband’s surname is Shi—originally, my master was about to send me to Haozhou to see my father. However, I fell seriously ill while passing through here, which delayed our journey. Since the foreign Ming Sect intends to trouble my father and Shi Xinxin in Haozhou, let us first attend to the funeral of Uncle Ling before we set off." "If we are to go, we should leave quickly," Leng Qian said while devouring cold horse meat, "I fear something may happen in the next few days." "What?" Qi Ren asked anxiously.

"Tuotuo was greatly disappointed and said, 'Since it is thus, it would be inappropriate to force the matter; let us just be friends.' He then poured some wine and invited Gong Bingfan to drink. If it were me, even as a minor official in the court, having seen such malicious hearts and despicable tricks many times, I would certainly not partake in it!"

Leng Qian turned to Qi Ren and inquired with a gaze. Qi Ren explained, "She is the daughter of my master's nephew's wife from Haozhou, Han Bangdao—come here, Lu E, I have something to discuss with you"

"It is as if you have witnessed it with your own eyes," Qi Ren interrupted Leng Qian's words, "and do not speak of the book!" Leng Qian smiled and said, "Alright, if we are not to speak of the book, then let me tell you this—suddenly, a person jumped in from outside, pulling Gong Bingfan behind him with one hand while using a whisk to fend off Tuotuo's knife with the other. Upon seeing this unexpected arrival, Mu Xuansheng did not dare to underestimate him and hurriedly positioned himself in front of Tuotuo..."