Chapter 70
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Chapter 70: Master Yingjun’s Compassion
In Fusu City, the disaster that had shaken the entire town was five days past, and the streets were slowly regaining some liveliness.
The largest tavern in the city had opened for business, surprisingly enjoying a decent flow of customers, especially as noon approached, attracting many martial artists to feast.
“Hey, have you heard? The officials lost many lives; not a single prison guard or prisoner survived. Even the high-ranking prince and princess perished in this disaster.”
“What earthquake? Someone claimed to have seen a ghost welcoming a wedding, directly carrying an eight-person sedan into the royal palace. If it were an earthquake, why was everything fine outside the city?”
“Ha! We all understand without saying it; this calamity in Fusu City is indeed strange, and no one can explain it clearly. But this is also an opportunity for us brave souls; with a little maneuvering, it won’t be hard to clear our names and gain official titles. Soon enough, we can marry a few wives and live a few years in peace, wouldn’t that be delightful?”
The tavern grew even more boisterous. These martial artists didn’t care how many lives were lost in Fusu City; they only came with one goal in mind: to work hard and secure an official position for themselves.
Interestingly, with the true heads of the royal family dead, the Hidden Sky Sect withdrawing from Fusu City, and the Jade Symbol Sect unable to spare personnel to manage things, the monks from Guangxiao Temple had all been wiped out.
The surviving officials did not think that with a clear sky above them, they could just do as they pleased. Without powerful support behind them, how could they maintain their positions?
Officials from Guangxiao Temple gathered, circling around to find Li Hui. Other officials, filled with panic and urgency, quickly joined them, seeking to ally with Li Hui as well.
Thus, in these five days, the unity among the officials of Fusu City was unprecedented. Anything mandated by Guangxiao Temple was promptly implemented within half an hour, whether it be people or funds.
As for those monks who had long been staying at Guangxiao Temple, along with the surviving chef monk, they were not only looked down upon but even Luo Chongba couldn’t pass those trials and still thought to seize the temple’s assets? After arduously burying the dead, they took turns reciting prayers or heading to the kitchen, while others fetched water and tended to the garden, lingering less in sight.
Li Hui himself didn’t make any appearances or get involved with the city officials; all was handled by Luo Chongba alone.
This kid was quite talented, managing things from top to bottom in an orderly fashion, with minimal funds embezzled from disaster relief. He knew very well that he lacked power and had to hoist the big flag to act as a tiger’s skin, not coveting his master’s reputation, which is why Master Yingjun’s name spread widely.
Sometimes, doing good isn’t enough; you must put effort into promoting it. Although Li Hui had no intention of doing so, the little beggars across the city chanted his praises, while the officials all fawned over him, erecting countless monuments to his merits.
The key was that Master Yingjun indeed contributed money for disaster relief, with real cash and significant temple assets offered, supported by solid financial strength, quickly alleviating the disaster’s impact, and no one could say anything bad about it.
Additionally, Guangxiao Temple started extensive construction at the original site, spending money like flowing water, working day and night to build the Memorial Hall for Heroes.
The beggars and homeless in the city could come to the site to help, with the temple providing meals and housing, as long as they didn’t indulge in laziness. Some beggars transformed into little monks, while others who replaced monks to receive papers for ordination weren’t few, leading to an unprecedented boom for the fake monk business. Everyone felt grateful towards Master Yingjun’s compassion, being even more devout than real monks.
The city had suffered hardship, and once the storm passed, many came to pay their respects.
Li Hui quietly promoted the deeds of Lieutenant Liu and the Ghost Army, which circulated among the townspeople. The hero hall became a place of worship day and night.
On the seventh day, just as a statue of the loyal and fearless general was erected in the temple, a thunderclap rumbled through the sky.
Suddenly, the wind howled, dark clouds rolled in, and it felt as though thousands of troops were approaching the heavens.
With a light tremor, Lieutenant Liu led the Ghost Army to kneel before the monk quarters, quickly expressing their gratitude, “We never expected to be alive again; it’s all thanks to the Master’s protection. Now that Fusu City is politically stable and the people live in peace, this is what we have longed for but could never achieve. Seeing such a scene fills our hearts with joy. Thank you, Master, for your great grace!”
They bowed thrice, with the spirits stationed proudly, and thousands of families expressed their thanks to Master Yingjun!
Li Hui felt a warmth rising beneath him as five golden lotus Dharma clouds appeared, and he couldn’t help but smile wryly at Mu Qianyun. Who would have thought that in Master Yingjun’s quarters, a beauty sat on the bed like a small wife, busy with her needlework?
Lieutenant Liu, being respectful, had his subordinates kneel outside the door.
At this moment, the five lotus-shaped Dharma clouds were swelling, and with Li Hui’s mind filled with various texts, he understood the nature of Buddhist cultivation. Lotus-shaped Dharma clouds were already rare; now that they had taken on a golden hue, they were among the rarest of the rare. They were only destined to grow larger, a phenomenon not recorded in the books.
“Grow larger? I told you I’m not practicing Buddhism; I’m a talisman practitioner,” Li Hui pat his bald head, thinking, “Fine, you want to grow? I can disperse my power, right? After all, I, Li Yingjun, charming and talented, have long, flowing black hair that many junior sisters admire.”
With that thought, he stomped his foot, continuously bolstering his mental thoughts to urge the golden lotus-shaped Dharma clouds beneath him. This was indeed him dispersing his energy, but not recklessly; he wanted to support those heroic spirits outside.
Although they were called heroic spirits, they were still significantly lacking! Without decades of incense offering, they had barely gathered enough energy to reach the Spirit Motion stage.
Li Hui hadn’t forgotten the matter of the ghostly wedding; the ghost groom likely had his eyes on Cheng Yuyan and had gone to the royal palace to fetch her. Probably, the two spirits were now in the bridal chamber.
Right now, Cheng Yuyan was quietly hanging back because she had just died and had no capacity to stir up trouble. It was wise to keep some control in Fusu City, just to cover his own back.
The appearance of the five golden lotus Dharma clouds stunned Lieutenant Liu, who thought he had mistaken the moment of his visit and glimpsed what he should not have seen, leading to Master Yingjun wanting to eliminate him.
The Ghost Army stirred, and then, “Bang, bang, bang…” five loud explosions erupted as the five golden lotus Dharma clouds burst open, thrilling the golden light that entwined around Lieutenant Liu and his soldiers, instantly making them appear more noble and robust, shedding their chilly aura as they turned calm and harmonious.
“Merit protecting Dharma? A Buddha’s golden body?” Lieutenant Liu was immediately choked with emotion, feeling deep regret, cursing himself for having recklessly speculated about the Master.
“Master!” the Ghost Army prostrated themselves. They understood that the Master had used his own cultivation to complete their lonely spirits, granting them a chance to study Buddhism. As long as Guangxiao Temple continued to prosper, future fortunes could be hoped for!
“With compassion in your heart, and a grace like rebirth, we wholeheartedly wish to embrace the teachings!” Lieutenant Liu laid flat on the ground, golden light swirling around him, while the grudges he had accumulated in life dissipated like smoke.
“There’s no need to thank me; just protect the people of Fusu City well, patrol diligently, and capture the wandering spirits, and that will repay my efforts,” Li Hui said lightly, waving them off. The strange thing was that the warmth beneath him had intensified, as if five gusts of energy were about to burst forth.
