Chapter 84

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At the end of September, in the Southern Chen capital, Tianzhi, the scent of autumn grew ever more pronounced.

Fallen leaves swirled through the streets, gathering in thick piles. Passersby hurriedly stepped over them, their footsteps scattering the layers as they rushed on. In a city with a population of several hundred thousand, the atmosphere felt desolate.

In the distance, faint sounds of bronze gongs, golden suonas, and wooden fish drums played softly. Buddhist chants, seemingly both present and absent, floated along with the long procession that approached. Tall ceremonial staffs were held high within the ranks, while maidens on either side, their gazes fixed straight ahead, scattered sweet leaves and flower petals with expressionless faces.

Along the streets and inside the shops, civilians and merchants who hadn’t yet left kept their heads bowed low, not daring to raise their eyes.

The dragon-like ceremonial procession turned a corner and suddenly came to a halt. The entire street was stifled by an oppressive tension. Some bystanders broke out in a cold sweat, droplets forming on their necks and faces. In the corner of their lowered vision, two figures appeared, approaching from the direction of the city gate.

Their movements seemed slow but were deceptively quick, and in just a moment, they stood before the procession. They stopped in front of a tall, curtained palanquin adorned with a crane motif and bowed slightly with an orchid-shaped gesture.

“Reporting to the Venerable Master, there has been a slight mishap.”

From within the gauzy veil of the palanquin, a faint silhouette could be seen seated cross-legged. A voice, sharp yet dignified, and distinctly feminine, responded.

“In these chaotic times, too many fail to distinguish right from wrong, aiding traitorous rebels in their schemes. It seems this Venerable Master must personally deliver them to enlightenment. Shanzai! Shanzai!”

[TL_Note: Shanzai (善哉): A Buddhist expression used to convey approval, praise, or compassion. It is often used by monks or spiritual figures to express goodwill or to affirm virtuous deeds.]

The two envoys replied unhurriedly:

“Venerable Master, there is a reason for this. The one who obstructed us is a fated person with Venerable Master.”

Within the long curtain, the figure raised a single hand in the fearless mudra, remaining silent for a long time. After a brief pause, the procession resumed its march. The two envoys said no more, stepping back into the ranks of the ceremonial escort and following the procession out of the city.

The once oppressive atmosphere gradually eased. Those kneeling in the streets finally rose to their feet and returned to their daily lives. Nearby, in an upstairs pavilion of a tavern, two men stood behind the railing, watching the departing procession. One of them slammed his fist heavily against the wooden railing.

“So that’s the demon monk?”

The elder, with hair and beard fully white, spoke with a tone of innate authority and righteousness. Though he had been back in the capital for some time, this was his first time seeing the so-called Venerable Master, whose name had frequently echoed in his ears.

“What a grand display! Everywhere he passes, people kneel as if before a deity. At this rate, it won’t be long before there’s no place left for us in this city!”

The younger companion standing beside him was very angry, though much younger in years, he had streaks of white threading through his hair. Hearing the elder’s indignant words, he nodded solemnly.

“I’ve encountered him a few times in the palace. His appearance is benign, his speech sparse. Yet, every word he speaks is cloaked in mysticism. He also possesses certain abilities. The Emperor places unwavering trust in him and disregards my counsel. Alas…”

As he spoke, he struck the railing again with his palm and let out a heavy sigh.

“…What can we do about it?”

These two men were none other than Wang Shuhua and Min Changwen. Upon their return to the capital, they first investigated the matter thoroughly before splitting up to take action. The elder worked to reconnect with influential allies in the city, gathering their support to petition the Emperor collectively. Meanwhile, Min Changwen sought to strengthen his ties with various court officials, striving to persuade the Emperor during court sessions in the Golden Luan Palace.

However, the matter had yet to reach a conclusion, while the power of the Venerable Master Protector the Nation continued to grow unchecked.

“…Now, I suddenly feel it might be better if my student doesn’t come.” The elder said with a sigh, gazing at the large tree beside the tavern.

“Sir Shuhua, why fall into such despair? The matter is far from over—how can we give up so easily!!”

Min Changwen clenched his hand within his sleeve, steeling himself. His stern gaze shifted as he strode toward the stairs with determination. The elder let out another sigh before following him down the stairs. They each mounted their carriages and resumed their unfinished business.

At the same time—

The student the elder had mentioned was currently traveling across Fulin Prefecture, leading an old donkey and a group of people, leisurely making their way along the main road.

From Fulin Prefecture’s smooth roads, it was still two to three hundred li before they would reach the Southern Chen capital. The journey thus far had been relatively relaxed, and everyone seemed to feel a sense of ease.

Since their earlier encounters, that group of pursuers had not reappeared. However, the term “fated person” continued to perplex Lu Liangsheng. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out how he might be connected to the demon related to the imperial court.

As for the two men and one woman who had been hunted—especially the child—they remained tight-lipped about their identities. The only information they were willing to share was their names.

Aside from Cao Shouren, the woman’s name was He Jingqiu—ordinary and unremarkable.

At this moment, the official road was graced with the beauty of autumn. Farmers were less frequently seen in the mountain villages they passed. The woman picked up the mischievous child from the donkey’s back and placed him on the ground.

“Jing’er, time to get down.”

Chen Jing, a six or seven-year-old, was at an age brimming with mischief. After growing familiar with Lu Liangsheng and Sun Yingxian, his monkey-like nature had emerged in full. Along the way, he would either tease the old donkey and its cart driver or run off to play in small streams. This left Cao Shouren and the woman constantly chasing after him.

At that moment, hearing his mother’s words, Chen Jing responded nonchalantly and, as soon as his feet touched the ground, darted off. Pulling out half a steamed bun he had bought along the way, he ran to a small bookcase, opened the compartment door, and peeked inside at a large toad curled up within. He chuckled mischievously.

Breaking off a small piece of the bun, he waved it in front of the toad and stuck out his tongue.

“Want some? Too bad, I’m not giving it to you! Nyeh-nyeh-nyeh…”

Inside the compartment, the toad’s face visibly twitched with irritation, the veins on its head bulging.

He Jingqiu turned pale with fright and rushed over, scooping the child away. “Jing’er, don’t trouble the gentleman!”

Cao Shouren, who had also hurried over, glanced nervously at the scholar nearby. The events of that night were still vivid in his mind. The speed of the spirit bird had been extraordinary—so fast that even someone with his level of martial arts skill couldn’t be sure of catching it. Yet, the bird had been snatched in a single swipe by the toad’s tongue.

What’s more, anything kept by a person of great skill was unlikely to be ordinary.

Ahead, Lu Liangsheng, who had been speaking with a Daoist, turned around. Seeing the child, he reached out and patted him gently on the head.

“It’s fine. No need to be so tense.”

With his other hand, he discreetly closed the small compartment door with his sleeve. Over the past half month of slow travel, the ones who had suffered the most were likely the Toad Daoist and Nie Honglian, who resided within the scroll. They could only come out to stretch and move about after the others had fallen asleep each night.

“See, Mother? Mr. Lu is very nice, isn’t he?”

Chen Jing tugged at his mother’s sleeve, leaning out with a bright, cheerful smile. He had developed a strong fondness for the gentle and somewhat frail-looking scholar before him. Along the way, the scholar had even bought him a few pastries—two of which Chen Jing ate himself, one he gave to his mother, and the last had been stolen by the toad.

His earlier antics with the steamed bun were driven by a small sense of satisfaction in teasing the creature.

These past few days had been the happiest of Chen Jing’s life. Looking at the smiling scholar ahead, he often thought to himself: If only my father could be like him.

As the sky darkened and rose again, time marched into the golden autumn of October. On the fifth day, Lu Liangsheng and his group finally entered the borders of Tianzhi. Along the official road, the number of travelers and merchants increased significantly, with stalls lining the way, becoming ever more crowded.

“Come and take a look! Finest silks—perfect gifts for wives and lovers!!”

“…Travelers, tea is free at our shop, and we’ve got freshly slaughtered lamb—so fresh!”

“This way, this way! Lodging in the city, just one coin per person. Follow me, and I’ll take you to an inn without the risk of it being fully booked!”

Just half a mile from the city gate, the road was a cacophony of noise, with bustling travelers and vendors, making the area as lively as a market.

“So grand…”

It was the Daoist’s first visit to the capital, and he marveled at the towering city walls that stretched endlessly into the distance. As he exclaimed in wonder, Lu Liangsheng looked up at the two characters carved above the gate—“Tianzhi”—then turned back toward the two men and one woman in their group, along with Chen Jing, who stubbornly refused to dismount from the donkey.

“There’s no feast that doesn’t come to an end. Friends, if fate allows, we shall meet again in the future.”

After more than half a month of traveling together, a sense of reluctance lingered in everyone’s hearts.
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