From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 292 Yingmei's Mission

Because it was the Lunar New Year, the city of Ping'an was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and firecrackers were going off incessantly. Even though it was already night, the streets were still bustling with people.

In Ping'an Prefecture, the Buddhist faith is extremely strong. Almost every household has a Buddha statue, and everyone can spout a few Buddhist sayings. Even in restaurants, people discuss Buddhist doctrines and debate.

Lin Yan and the others were enjoying their meal when they saw the man in the red cloak walk around for a moment without saying a word, and then Meng Yuan got up.

"Senior brothers, you can go back on your own. You don't need to wait for me." Meng Yuan went out the door.

"Sigh." Seeing Meng Yuan pat his butt and leave with others, Lin Yan couldn't help but sigh.

"I didn't expect that after the Imperial Preceptor sent people, the Dugu family also sent people." Zhou Ying often mingled in the capital and had always worked for Lin Yan, so she naturally knew the identity of Yingmei in the red cloak.

"The upheaval in Songhe Prefecture was partly caused by the Gu family," Lin Yan said irritably as he drank. "My poor junior brother has no background and was taken advantage of for no reason!"

"Isn't Miss Ying the one who has Meng Qianhu's background?" Fan Ye asked, puzzled.

"You don't understand Lao Fan!" Lin Yan sighed again. "Junior Brother is easily swayed and can't stand beautiful women. Master Nie told me that the easiest way to deal with my junior brother is to use a honey trap!"

Fan Ye remained silent, glancing at Zhou Ying.

"What a pity," Zhou Ying sighed. "Commander Meng is refined and easygoing, with a graceful demeanor, but he still lacks worldly experience. A woman's beauty lies both inside and out; I think the Buddhist saying about 'beautiful women and skeletons' makes a lot of sense!"

"Is that Dugu woman in the red cloak and straw hat very beautiful?" Fan Ye asked curiously.

Lin Yan shook his head, "I've never seen his true face. But since my junior brother was so easily lured away, he can't be too bad off."

"So you sighed just now because you were afraid that Commander Meng would be lured away?" Zhou Ying asked.

"No, that's not it. My junior brother getting a free ride is a bonus, what am I afraid of?" Lin Yan spread his hands. "My wife is very strict, and I didn't bring any money. I was waiting for him to pay for this meal! Now that he's gone, you two can chip in!"

Zhou Ying and Fan Ye kept their heads down and ate their food, ignoring Lin Yan.

As Meng Yuan left the restaurant, he saw lanterns everywhere on both sides of the street, pedestrians coming and going, many children carrying lanterns, and cheers and applause from afar.

Meng Yuan was quite tall. Looking ahead, he saw Yingmei in the red cloak talking to a little girl who looked about three or four years old.

Upon approaching, Meng Yuan remained silent, only listening to Dugu Ying chatting with the little girl.

After listening for a few moments, Meng Yuan realized that the little girl and her relatives had come to see the festival lanterns, but had gotten separated.

Dugu Ying asked whose child the little girl was, and then lifted her bamboo hat towards Meng Yuan.

Having no other choice, Meng Yuan went forward, picked up the child, and, after asking questions along the way, took the child home.

"A letter of joy, saying you went to the Moon Palace to look for me?" People came and went on the street. Dugu Ying and Meng Yuan walked side by side. She had not taken off her bamboo hat, but her voice reached Meng Yuan's ears.

"I wanted to thank you for the book you gave me," Meng Yuan said casually, making up a story.

"What did you say to Huanxi back then?" Dugu Ying, hidden in the red cloak, stopped, stretched out her small hand, took off her hat, revealing a well-behaved face, and then looked up slightly to glance at Meng Yuan.

Meng Yuan saw that she looked about the same age as Jiang Tang. She was clearly a well-behaved child, but there was a sharpness in her eyes, as if she could draw her sword at any moment.

After carefully examining Dugu Ying's red cloak, Meng Yuan still didn't know what was hidden inside. However, considering Ying's question, he couldn't recall anything that might have been impolite.

Seeing Meng Yuan frowning in deep thought but unable to come up with anything, Dugu Ying reminded him, "What did you call me back then?"

After being reminded, Meng Yuan finally remembered.

At that time, Meng Yuan was full of vigor and called Huanxi "Yingmei" directly. Unexpectedly, the little girl complained!
“Naturally, it’s Miss Ying.” Meng Yuan looked at Ying Mei curiously and asked in surprise, “What did Little Taoist Master Huanxi say?”

Dugu Ying frowned slightly and continued walking forward. Meng Yuan followed, thinking to himself, "You called me out just for this?"
"Do you still stand by what you said back then?" Dugu Ying finally spoke again.

"Of course it counts." Meng Yuan was a man of his word.

"I need to kill a monk, and I need your help," Dugu Ying said.

Meng Yuan knew it was about murder, but he never expected it to be a monk!
This is Ping'an Prefecture. Although the dynasty has power, the monks are the real tigers in the mountains!

"Who is it?" Meng Yuan hoped it wasn't a monk from Lanruo Temple, since Lanruo Temple had too many powerful figures and it was their territory.

“Elder Zhihe of Lanruo Temple,” Dugu Ying said.

Meng Yuan had heard of Elder Zhihe's name. He was an elder of the Wisdom Academy among the three academies. He was nearly a hundred years old and had reached the fifth rank of martial arts. He possessed extraordinary skills.

In the three courtyards of Lanruo Temple, only those at the fourth rank of cultivation can become the head monk, and they must be at the fourth rank of Buddhism. The requirements for elders are much broader; those at the fifth rank of martial arts are also acceptable.

However, there are different levels among the elders. Among the living "Zhi" generation monks, there are quite a few fifth-rank and fourth-rank monks, as well as several fourth-rank martial monks.

This Elder Zhihe was a fifth-rank martial monk. It is said that in his prime, he went out to subdue demons and monsters, and he had mastered many of the supernatural powers of Lanruo Temple.

"Why kill him?" Meng Yuan was not afraid of killing people, let alone monks, but there were some things he still needed to understand.

There are good and bad monks in this world, and Meng Yuan did not want to kill people indiscriminately.

"Back then, Lanruo Temple also contributed to the deaths of the two Ying Gongs." Dugu Ying walked down the street, her voice ethereal and inexplicable. "Zhihe was one of them."

Meng Yuan was stunned. If it were to avenge the two Ying Gong, it should be him, because he was a servant of the Third Miss and a descendant of the old Ying family.

Unexpectedly, Dugu Ying, being a member of the royal family, wanted to avenge the two Ying Gongs first.

"I am willing to serve Miss Ying!" Meng Yuan immediately agreed.

Dugu Ying glanced at Meng Yuan and said softly, "Wait for my news."

As she spoke, Dugu Ying continued walking forward, clearly not wanting to say anything more.

Meng Yuan pressed on, asking, "Where is Miss Mingyue?"

“She’s in seclusion.” Dugu Ying frowned slightly and put her bamboo hat back on. “Don’t let her know about this.”

In other words, it's our little secret now!

Meng Yuan continued to follow closely, asking, "If anything happens, where can I find you, young lady?"

"Yunshan Temple." Dugu Ying's tone was quite weary.

So you live in a nunnery too!

"They're trying to contact you?" Meng Yuan asked again.

"..." Dugu Ying stopped and said, "You said you were looking for someone who worships the Medicine King Bodhisattva."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yuan couldn't help but think of the girl Suwen, who was the Medicine King Bodhisattva he worshipped and who cultivated the path of medicine.

After leaving Dugu Ying, Meng Yuan returned the way he came, while Lin Yan and the other two were still lingering.

After paying, the four of them strolled around the streets. They didn't want to go back to Lanruo Temple to stay in the thatched huts, so they found a place to stay in the city to rest.

(End of this chapter)