Haitian Dao, Wei Province.
“Back at the East Sea again!”
Ao Qi smiled broadly, her face relaxed and content, as she breathed in the familiar sea breeze and savoured the familiar salty tang.
High in the sky, a party of six rode the clouds and mist, gazing down at the city that lay not far from the coast.
Out on the water, sails dotted the horizon in dense clusters. The docks were lined with ships bow to stern. The streets thronged with people brushing shoulders. The taverns rang with noisy chatter. It was a vivid picture of a bustling, prosperous port city.
The six travellers were Liu Zong, Lin Yi, Ao Qi, Yan Hongxia, Lu Zheng, and Shen Ying, who had come along with him.
Liu Qingyan had no interest in fighting and killing. Du Yueyao and Wang Xiaowan lacked the cultivation. Yue Honghai had naturally been left behind to guard the house.
Lin Yi pointed to a fairly large compound in the northern part of the city. “That is the Li family residence.”
Everyone looked over. Lu Zheng channelled true qi into his eyes and could see faint golden light seeping from the compound. Clearly, a powerful expert had set protective restrictions there, both to warn and to deter.
At that moment, with the sun newly risen, Lu Zheng could also see the Li residence decked in red decorations. One celebration was for the child’s birthday. The other was for his imminent acceptance into a cultivation sect.
“The hour of chen has arrived. Let us descend!”
Lin Yi glanced at the sky, spoke, then took the lead, guiding his cloud down toward the Li residence.
Just as they appeared, two more figures emerged from the clouds to the north. They were monks in grey robes.
One had white hair and beard. Though his face looked aged, his skin was smooth and his eyes bright.
The other appeared middle-aged, with a steady expression and a dignified bearing.
“Jinye Monk really did call for help,” Lin Yi muttered. “That is Xingfeng Monk.”
Liu Zong nodded. “Xingfeng Monk is two generations below Jinye, yet he is one of the renowned geniuses of Rizhao Temple across the ages. His Buddhist dharma is extraordinary.”
Yet Liu Zong’s tone was relaxed. Clearly, he did not regard this Xingfeng Zen Master too highly.
On the other side, when Jinye Zen Master and Xingfeng Zen Master saw how many people were present, their eyes could not help twitching.
Especially when they spotted Liu Zong among them, Jinye Zen Master involuntarily proclaimed a Buddhist salutation. “Amitabha. I did not expect this matter to draw out Patron Liu as well.”
Liu Zong gave a cheeky grin. “Tiandun and Pure Yang are one family. Rizhao Temple is right here in Yan Province, so this old beggar came along to scrounge a few benefits.”
Xingfeng Zen Master pressed his palms together in greeting. “Greetings to Patron Liu. Greetings to True Person Lin Yi!”
Lu Zheng and the other three stepped forward and paid their respects to Jinye Zen Master and Xingfeng Zen Master.
“Four juniors we happened to meet on the road. Brought them along to see the world and observe the ceremony,” Liu Zong said, as if it were nothing.
Jinye Zen Master and Xingfeng Zen Master were speechless.
They could roughly discern how remarkable the four were.
One was a Daoist prodigy. One was an incense deity. One was a dragon clan heaven’s chosen. One was a sword cultivator marvel.
All of them were young talents on the Pure Yang Palace side. This was outright cheating.
You are absolutely trying to lure the child!
Simply shameless!
Xingfeng Zen Master blinked, wondering whether he should hurry back and fetch a couple of Rizhao Temple’s own genius disciples.
But that would not work either.
Rizhao Temple only had its own disciples. How could they compare to the way Pure Yang Palace was flaunting friendships across the heavens?
Too much.
Seeing the expressionless faces of Jinye Zen Master and Xingfeng Zen Master, the four from Lu Zheng’s group held back laughter and quickly withdrew.
In any case, if the two monks took offence, they would direct it at Tiandun Sect and Pure Yang Palace. The four were only here to watch the ceremony and enjoy the show.
True Person Lin Yi displayed a polite and refined smile. “Zen Master Jinye, Zen Master Xingfeng, shall we descend?”
Jinye Zen Master nodded, extended a hand in invitation. “After you!”
“After you!”
Lin Yi also extended a hand in invitation. Then the two parties, one from the west and one from the north, descended from different directions straight toward the Li family compound in the city.
…
At that moment, in the Li family courtyard, everyone was already dressed and waiting for the arrival of Zen Master Jinye and True Person Lin Yi.
“Master, the hour of chen is nearly here,” an old servant reminded quietly.
Li Keming nodded, then looked up at the sky.
They had agreed earlier that Zen Master Jinye and True Person Lin Yi would arrive at the hour of chen. Why…
“The two Masters are up in the clouds!”
Beside him, a child of about eight or nine years stared with shining eyes, gazing up at the two clouds floating in the sky. “So many people!”
“So many people?” Li Keming was startled.
Li Lingyu nodded. “And some very pretty big brothers and sisters!”
At that instant, though ordinary citizens throughout the city could see nothing, everyone in the Li household clearly saw eight figures, four from the north and four from the west, descending rapidly from the heavens.
“They are here!”
“So many immortals!”
“Wow! Such beautiful immortals!”
Aside from the main family members who bowed in greeting, all the other servants dropped to their knees.
They had seen Zen Master Jinye and True Person Lin Yi before, but never witnessed them descending from the sky. The shock was overwhelming, and they could not help kneeling.
“Immeasurable Heavenly Worthy!”
“Amitabha!”
“Rise, rise quickly!”
Zen Master Jinye and True Person Lin Yi waved their hands, lifting all the servants back to their feet.
“Two Masters!”
Li Lingyu skipped over. “Why are there so many people today, and such pretty big brothers and sisters?”
Lu Zheng looked closely and saw that Li Lingyu had a round face still carrying baby fat. His big eyes darted brightly. His lips were red, his teeth white, and his smiling face made him a clever and adorable child.
Faced with such a cute little boy who had just called them pretty, the three women immediately crowded around him with beaming smiles.
Ao Qi pinched his left cheek. Yan Hongxia pinched his right cheek. Shen Ying ruffled his hair.
“Really so soft!”
Li Lingyu, “…”
Next, Zen Master Jinye introduced Xingfeng Zen Master. Lin Yi introduced Liu Zong. Lu Zheng and the other three also introduced themselves.
The Li family members were stunned.
Good heavens. Rizhao Temple and Pure Yang Palace were already impressive enough. Now a master from Tiandun Sect had come, along with representatives from White Cloud Temple, a land god, Dengyun Mountain, and the East Sea Dragon Clan.
Had smoke risen from their ancestral graves?
Could they bear such favour!
Moreover…
Li Keming’s cheeks twitched. Choosing which sect to join had just become far more difficult!
Rizhao Temple was right next door in Yan Province, yet Pure Yang Palace had summoned so many people.
Li Keming did not know that Lu Zheng and the others were simply here to watch. He assumed they were all backing Pure Yang Palace.
…
A short while later, Li Lingyu finally escaped the “clutches” of the three women. He then properly paid his respects to his two Masters.
“Lingyu, today is your ninth birthday. This is the gift from your teacher.”
True Person Lin Yi acted first, taking out a Pure Yang Sword Token and presenting it to Li Lingyu.
“Amitabha. The Pure Yang Sword Token is too fierce and killing-oriented. Lingyu, wear this string of bodhi prayer beads at all times. It will guard your mind and calm your spirit. External evils cannot invade.”
Zen Master Jinye smiled and followed.
