Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 566 Different Paths Among Fellow Disciples: The Old Monk Conceals His Wit

—Fengming Prefecture, Duke of Qin's Mansion

"Hmm, that charlatan from the Yunze Witchcraft Palace, who can't even worship the true Buddha, is no match for the combined forces of the three families." Kuang Liuting nodded for a moment, looking at the letter in his hand, and finally his gaze fell on Qin Sufu, who was standing in the hall, and he asked gently:

"Qin Dianjun, seeing that your lazy brother has made such progress, what are your thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Sufu replied without hesitation, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Excellency, Marquis Wuning has rendered new service and is worthy of being a loyal minister of the Celestial Dynasty and a pillar of the Duke's household. This humble official is naturally honored to share in his glory."

"Hehe, not bad. He hasn't seen you for many years, but you're quite easygoing." Kuang Liuting didn't care whether Qin Sufu's words were true or false. He just praised him and then said, "When this war is over, I will have Zhu Tong prepare your Core Formation materials properly."

Seeing that Qin Sufu was about to bow deeply upon hearing the sound, Kuang Liuting waved his hand to stop him, but did not speak further.

To be fair, the former is only at the Green Leaf Dao Foundation stage. Even if he were lucky enough to form a Core, he would at best only achieve a low-grade Core.

Qin Sufu's good point is that he is loyal and diligent, and he is also the legitimate son-in-law of the Yue family, so he can be considered to be all alone. In fact, he has far fewer entanglements than Kang Dabao is now.

Such individuals have served the government for many years and are of decent quality, so they naturally deserve some attention and resources for cultivation.

After finishing their conversation, Kuang Liuting turned his gaze to Buse, the chief secretary of the Duke's mansion.

This monk, originally from the Buddhist sect, has recently become a bit too disciplined. Unless specifically summoned, he is often unavailable, to the point that Kuang Liuting sometimes forgets that such a person even exists in the Duke's mansion.

All fronts are short-handed, but Zhu Tong has taken notice of this lazy fellow and specifically brought him to Kuang Liuting to put him to use.

The thought had barely formed in his mind when Kuang Liuting raised his voice slightly and called out, "Chief Secretary Bu Se,"

"The lower official is here,"

"Marquis Wu Ning has now led his troops toward the main mountain of Yunze Wuzun Temple. Although most of his troops are still trapped in Sizhou and have difficulty returning, the Hongfen Temple and Qianfo Forest are ultimately weak and may not be able to delay for long."

To avoid any unforeseen complications, could the Chief Clerk possibly make a trip to Huozhou? I've heard that the Chief Clerk once received a helping hand from the Marquis of Wuning; if you could go, it might become a celebrated story.

"Your Excellency has given the order, how dare I not do my best?!" At this moment, Buse disregarded all decorum and immediately bowed deeply.

Kuang Liuting was used to such respectful behavior, but he still showed some satisfaction: "Good! Go."

Seeing that Buse and Qin Sufu bowed again, they withdrew from the hall. Kuang Liuting's gaze then fell upon the huge map behind them, and he secretly pondered:

"Has Bai Canhong colluded with all those demonic beasts? Opening the demon-suppressing barrier is tantamount to destroying the Great Wall for Zhaixing Tower. With the resulting devastation, what benefit will Zhaixing Tower gain?! These local tyrants are truly arrogant, showing absolutely no regard for national righteousness!!"

Annoyance gradually crept into Kuang Liuting's eyes, but after his anger subsided, he realized it was futile. He then turned his gaze to the mountainous region of Huozhou and softly recited:

"Very well, let's deal with this idle fellow at Zhaixing Tower first, and then see what Bai Canhong will do next."

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It wasn't until long after they had left the council hall of the Duke's mansion that Bu Se seemed to deliberately mutter to himself, "This Duke's imposing presence is truly extraordinary; he doesn't seem like an ordinary Golden Core cultivator at all!"

Qin Sufu seemed still immersed in Kuang Liuting's promise, paying no heed to Bu Se's mutterings. However, Bu Se's self-talk didn't last long before he sought out Qin Sufu again to speak:

"Does Commander Qin have any free time? Would you be willing to come to my residence for a chat?"

"Would you like to come to my residence for a chat?" Qin Sufu frowned almost imperceptibly, for although he and Buse had served as ministers in the same court for many years, they rarely interacted. In recent years, the latter had not only failed to achieve any notable accomplishments, but had also rarely made public appearances.

Those outside who were interested said that this was because he had bet on the right horse, and since he had no hope of reaching the Nascent Soul stage, he was just waiting for Kuang Liuting to ascend the throne the next day so that he could enjoy a peaceful life as a former official of the Prince's residence.

Qin Sufu initially dismissed this claim, but as time went on, he began to have doubts.

However, Bu Se was a proper cultivator after all. Even though he had been criticized by high-ranking officials like Zhu Tong behind his back, it was not up to Qin Su Fu to say a word.

Furthermore, although their official ranks were not much different, their actual social statuses were worlds apart. Therefore, how could Qin Sufu refuse Bu Se's invitation?
"I have heard that Chief Secretary is an expert in the art of tea and has inherited the elegant drinking tradition of the Original Buddhist Sect. I have long wanted to pay him a visit, but I was afraid of being presumptuous. I am truly honored to be invited by Chief Secretary!"

"Haha, Commander Dian is too modest. Please,"

"please,"

The two chatted and laughed all the way to the Buse Temple. However, the interior furnishings had none of the simple and plain style of the Xianzong sect. The dazzling array of precious ornaments created an atmosphere of luxury and nobility that was very overwhelming. As for the pretty maids in thin clothes, they were simply too dazzling to look at.

This scene did not cause Qin Sufu's gaze to wander even slightly; he remained calm and composed, demonstrating that his character and cultivation far surpassed those of his peers.

Qin Sufu was already used to this scene. After all, if Buse was truly a devout ascetic, why would he travel thousands of miles to join Kuang Liuting's cause to make a living?

Seeing that Qin Sufu remained calm, the man's expression also remained unchanged. He simply led Qin Sufu into the quiet room, where they drank tea and chatted intimately.

The old monk wasn't in a hurry to speak. Even after offering Qin Sufu tea time and time again, filling his belly to the brim, he still maintained a warm expression. Finally, it was Qin Sufu who broke the silence and spoke directly:
“Suffer does not deserve such kindness from the Chief Secretary. I wonder what brings you here today? Please speak frankly. Unless there is something I am unable to do, I will comply.”

Qin Sufu's directness seemed to be exactly what Bu Se wanted. The old monk chuckled for a while, then sighed wistfully before his smile became more genuine.

"I just heard from the Duke that I have been ordered to go to Huozhou to assist Marquis Wuning. The battle is dangerous, and the Yunze Witchcraft Temple is notorious for its unorthodox practices. What if something goes wrong?"

Qin Sufu raised an eyebrow, as if she had guessed something, and then said frankly, "Chief Secretary, please speak frankly. Sufu is of low status and has little influence in such important military and national affairs, so I cannot offer much help."

Buse knew that Qin Sufu's words were not an excuse. After all, the latter was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and it was already a miracle that he hadn't been stripped of his official post by Kuang Liuting. How could he possibly offer any help? However, after hearing this, a warm expression appeared on Buse's face, and he heard him say:
"Then I shall be so bold as to speak frankly. The Commander and the Marquis of Wuning are old friends of many years, and their sworn brotherhood is well known. I would like to shamelessly request a letter from the Commander, so as to ask the Marquis of Wuning for his favor."

Qin Sufu may have already guessed some of what was going on, so when he asked for a favor, he didn't seem to find anything amiss. However, he still needed to emphasize: "My lord, it's not that I'm heartless, but as you just said, Sufu and Kang..."

He had only spoken halfway when he was interrupted again by a lewd laugh. But then he heard the latter earnestly say:
"I have been traveling from the Central Plains to the southwestern regions for over a century. Even if my cultivation is far from perfect, I still believe I have some minor talent for judging people. Others may not be able to see clearly the relationship between the General and the Marquis of Wuning, but I am confident that I can figure it out."

Seeing that Qin Sufu's expression remained unchanged, Bu Seyan took out another item and said calmly:
"This ancient pill has a wonderful use for cultivators to comprehend the pill-forming technique. I only ask for a letter and nothing else. As long as Dian Jun is willing to spare some time to help, this pill will be my gift of gratitude."

Qin Sufu and Kang Dabao had both been taught by Master He. Even though the former outwardly wanted to be more mindful of "face," their down-to-earth and pragmatic nature was actually inherited from each other.

Therefore, upon hearing the old monk's words, Qin Sufu, wanting to gain practical benefits, had no reason to refuse, and thus, with mixed feelings, picked up his pen and wrote the letter.

In just a few breaths, Bu Se carefully read through the letter, which still smelled of ink.

Qin Sufu could see a hint of satisfaction appear on his face. Afterwards, he pushed the ancient treasure pill in his hand onto the low table in front of him and said in a cheerful voice, "Thank you for your noble assistance, Palace Master."

At this moment, the jade bottle in Qin Sufu's hand burned his palm painfully. Only after forcing himself to be serious and exchanging pleasantries did he slowly retreat from the Changshi Temple.

He had only taken a few steps when he suddenly froze on the spot.

At the same time, a question seemed to echo in his mind: "Qin Dianjun, seeing that your lazy brother has made such progress, what do you think?"

What are you thinking?

Qin Sufu murmured to himself for a while, a hint of embarrassment appearing on his face. He glanced at the jade bottle in his hand, took a deep breath, and after calming himself down, sighed wistfully and muttered to himself, "My younger brother is truly remarkable. Thinking back, which close elder had any high hopes for him? But now..."

After sighing, Qin Sufu did not linger. He walked for a while, then, as if lost in thought, a gentle breeze swept away much of the gloom on his face.
"It's alright, it's alright, it's just the formation of the core. If even this is difficult to accomplish, how can I, Qin Sufu, have the face to call myself a disciple of Shan Gong?! You all say I was wrong about what happened back then, but I want you all to know that 'sacrificing petty benevolence for the greater good' is the true principle of the world!"

This truth was not understood by Master Shan when he passed away, and it also implicated Brother Kang, bewildering him as well. Only when I have straightened out the path, accomplished great deeds, and helped the Celestial Dynasty cleanse the world and quell the rebellion, will you realize that I have never been wrong.”

Qin Sufu's grand ambition was so profound that it caused the surrounding spiritual atmosphere to sink, and even the clouds above his head seemed to be lowered.

However, just as Qin Sufu made his grand vow, the old monk in the temple was still examining the letter Qin Sufu was holding for a while, his eyes full of mockery:

"Going to Huozhou is a good idea; at least there's a barrier between us and that person at Zhaixing Tower. It's true that my 'Lion's Hidden Thunder Technique' isn't fully perfected, so it can fool that fool Yueyin. But when Jiangxue saw me last time, she seemed a little suspicious. If I were to directly encounter Bai Canhong again, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to hide it from him."

The thought had barely formed in his mind when Bu Se casually put down the letter in his hand and muttered a few curses to himself:
"Hey, how come that guy from Zhaixinglou still doesn't know whether he's a traitor or a collaborator? He doesn't even have a powerful backer, yet he insists on using his accumulated wealth from several lifetimes to fight Kuang Liuting. What's the point?"
No wonder when my senior brother Abbot sent me to Yunjiao Prefecture, he specifically warned me not to provoke Bai Canhong. He said that even if he were to fight against Bai Canhong, who was not very bright, he might not have a complete chance of winning.

"And in the Buddhist community today, the only one whose cultivation can rival that of my abbot brother is the Venerable Gelie of Benying Temple on the Snow Mountain Road."

His thoughts shifted, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face: "What exactly is Kuang Liuting's trump card? He can't possibly think he can compete with Bai Canhong just by relying on Jiang Xue and Yue Yin."

—Xianzhou, Tangxian

Tangxian, as the seat of Xianzhou, is adjacent to the Ghost Sword Sect's immortal mountain, and its spiritual veins are naturally of high quality. Therefore, it was naturally chosen by Sect Leader Kang as a key node for the transportation and supply of the army attacking Yun.

Kang Rongquan, who had just displayed his prowess in Huozhou and led his men to behead the fake alchemist, was injured again after his desperate struggle. Therefore, his sect leader had transferred him here to work with Ye Zhengwen to oversee various matters.

This place is quite far from the front line, but under normal circumstances it is considered safe and secure.

As Ye Zhengwen gets older, he becomes more and more of a busybody, needing to handle everything, big or small, before he can feel at ease.

Kang Rongquan was quite happy to have some free time. These days he has been staying at home, focusing on studying the many new spirit seeds he has recently acquired, and has not gone out for a long time.

Only after he had swallowed the fasting pills a few times and felt that his mouth had lost its flavor did he push the door open and go out again.

They had only walked a few steps when they saw a group of wounded soldiers surrounding a minor official who was speaking from a high place in the training ground. They listened intently, their eyes fixed on him.

"Tang Wufeng of the Tang family of Sanmujia, Dongliufang River West, killed six people in the mid-stage of Qi Refining and captured one person in the early stage of Qi Refining. He was also injured by the invasion of cold air, which damaged his heart meridian. He is hereby granted a commendation for his merits."

He then received six stones of Red Spirit Valley, one mid-grade magic weapon, and two low-grade puppets, and returned to Jia Chou Military Camp by flying boat within ten days. Afterwards, he received three stones and six liters of Tea-colored Valley annually, and allowed one member of the Tang family to enter the Crimson Jade Guard for examination;
Zhao Weiyu of the Zhao family, guarding Guishan in Linhufang, killed three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators in battle, earning a mid-to-high rating in merit.

"The original intention was to repatriate the wounded soldiers so they could be properly cared for,"

This scene of clear rewards and punishments, rarely seen in other sects, did not seem novel to Kang Rongquan. He only glanced at it briefly before continuing his search for delicious spiritual food.

But then he saw a familiar-looking person on the road and called out to him, "You Xiaobao, where are you going?"

You Xiaobao paused for a moment before rushing over to bow and hurriedly replying, "It is all thanks to the elder's good fortune that I was able to be promoted to the position of Fire Chief of the Crimson Guard thanks to Elder Zhu Yunsheng's recommendation. I am going to the camp to receive my armor and weapons."

"You earned this credit yourself, why are you thanking me?!"

If it weren't for seeing You Xiaobao reminding Kang Rongquan of Yuan Changsheng, he wouldn't have bothered to exchange pleasantries with this nobody.

Just as Kang Rongquan was about to send You Xiaobao away, a message from the Transport Office made him exclaim, "The Red Powder Temple and the Thousand Buddha Forest are so useless?!"

After a soft exclamation, Kang Rongquan frowned again and turned to You Xiaobao, saying, "Those wounded soldiers will be returning home without anyone to take care of them. Afterwards, you, the Fireman Horse, can come along on the flying boat and provide protection."

The assignment came suddenly, and You Xiaobao was stunned for a moment before respectfully accepting it. However, Kang Rongquan had no time to chat with him and rushed back to Ye Zhengwen's place to make arrangements for the meeting.

(End of this chapter)