Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 290 Teacher's Nephew

Gou Chen Si, sitting in Yin Garden.

Chen Qingzhi also received the sad news that Pei Sui had died suddenly in the army. He was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time. He sighed for a long time before he sighed and cried, "I killed him."

"Why do you say that, Marshal Chen?" asked Huangfu Pingzhang, the chief of the military supervisory bodyguards who came to report.

"If I hadn't pleaded for him, he wouldn't have returned to the front line and wouldn't have suffered this misfortune." Chen Qingzhi pounded his chest, heartbroken.

"Marshal Chen, you are too polite. Who could have thought that Marshal Pei, a demigod, would suddenly pass away?" Huangfu Pingzhang hurriedly comforted him.

"During the time when General Pei was in the Gou Chen Division, I examined his body and there was no possibility of sudden death from illness." Chen Qingzhi said in a deep voice.

"So someone was trying to assassinate him? But who can kill a demigod?" Huangfu was even more confused.

"This shows that he is no longer a demigod. The emperor did not return the divine fire to him when he left Beijing." Chen Qingzhi said sadly, "This is something I did not expect."

"Ah? Why wouldn't the emperor give the commander-in-chief the divine fire?" Huangfu Pingzhang said in shock.

In this age of divine power and lack of rules, if the commander-in-chief of the three armies does not have the ability to protect himself, he can easily be assassinated by the enemy's demigod or even god.

Therefore, the commander-in-chief must at least have all nine orifices fully opened, and the unity of heaven and man. Then, the emperor can bestow the extremely precious divine fire on him, and he can be promoted to the semi-god realm.

This way, even if you face a god and cannot defeat him, you can still escape.

It was extremely reckless to let the general lead the army to war without the protection of the divine fire. Huangfu could not imagine that this was something that the emperor, who was known for his prudence, could do.

“Perhaps the emperor feels that the Northern Dynasty has lost its talent, and there is no need to give Pei Marshal the divine fire to protect his body…” Chen Qingzhi sighed, “Perhaps the emperor feels that the divine fire has a more important use, so he let Pei Marshal play the empty city trick.”

"..." Huangfu Pingzhang didn't dare to respond, let alone think about it, otherwise it would be considered too rebellious.

"You should go to Hefei camp right now and find out the cause of General Pei's death." Chen Qingzhi calmed himself down and instructed Huangfu Dao.

"Yes." Huangfu Pingzhang responded in a deep voice.

"Don't start a war, and don't involve innocent soldiers." Chen Qingzhi told him, "In fact, most of the time, nothing can be found, but we still have to do what needs to be done."

"Yes." Huangfu Pingzhang nodded: "Since it was most likely done by a demigod, there would be no clues left."

"But you can't make this trip in vain. Take this opportunity to find out the true situation of the Northern Expedition Army." Chen Qianzhi whispered again: "The more detailed the better."

"I understand." Huangfu Pingzhang nodded again. As Chen Qingzhi's right-hand man, he certainly knew General Chen's ambitions.

After he left, Chen Qingzhi sat in front of the chessboard for a long time, and suddenly swept the chess pieces off the board with his sleeves. The black and white pieces fell to the ground with a crackling sound...

"Playing chess is really disgusting." Chen Qianzhi was heard saying in a low voice.

~~
Pei Sui's death shook the entire Jiankang City. But for the majority of middle and lower class residents, it was just another hot topic of conversation. No one cared about their opinions, let alone their turn to decide who would take over as the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition.

How should I live my life? How should I live my life?

On this day, Ren Yuan officially received the task of guarding Guangzhai Temple.

The task itself was very simple, so he called together ten of his team leaders and arranged two teams to take turns on duty every day.

After Ren Yuan arranged the shifts, he said to the two team leaders today, Zuan and Yang Zhong, "You guys go back and form the team quickly and follow me." "Yes." The two men responded in a deep voice and quickly gathered the whole team and got ready to go.

Ren Yuan briefly and clearly introduced the mission to the ghostwriter and the others, and then took them to Guangzhai Temple.

~~
The group arrived at Guangzhai Temple and handed over the task to their comrades who had been stationed there before. Then Ren Yuan went to the hall to pay his respects to the abbot.

Tao Hongjing was very realistic. In front of the emperor and the princess, he was very friendly and approachable. Now that Ren Yuan came to see him alone, he put on the airs of an abbot and a high monk, sitting upright on the cushion. When he greeted Ren Yuan, he didn't even bend his waist, but just said lightly:

"I have told the emperor that there is no need to go to such trouble. But since the emperor feels it is necessary to send someone, I cannot stop him. However, this is the emperor's family temple, which is of great importance. I hope that the master of the building will take the trouble to restrain his subordinates and not break the rules and regulations of this temple."

"Of course." Ren Yuan was not annoyed, and smiled and asked, "But there is one thing I don't understand, and I hope the master can enlighten me."

"Please ask, Master." Tao Hongjing nodded slightly.

"How did the master know that I knew the Shangqing Talisman that day?" Ren Yuan asked in a deep voice.

"I just know it." Tao Hongjing didn't beat around the bush and said with a faint smile, "'Cultivate the Three Lights internally to achieve the Tao, and use the Three Lights externally as a talisman.' If you practice our Three Lights for a long time, you will become an immortal. You didn't hide your aura, so is it surprising that I recognized you?"

"Is that so?" Ren Yuan rubbed his nose. No one told him to cover up his breath.

"But Master, do you still regard Shangqing Sect as your main sect?" He looked at Tao Hongjing's bald head and the scars of ordination on it.

"Of course." Tao Hongjing said without hesitation: "Although I am wearing the cassock, my heart is still that of a Taoist."

As he spoke, he lifted up his outer grey monk robe, revealing his inner blue Taoist robe, and said, "This is called the dual cultivation of Buddhism and Taoism, do you understand?"

"Is this okay?" Ren Yuan said speechlessly, "Aren't you playing both sides?"

"This is approved by the Emperor. Daozu will definitely not be angry. No matter what others say, I will pretend I didn't hear it." Tao Hongjing said and asked, "My nephew, please tell me which uncle's disciple you are?"

“The sixth-generation leader of our sect is Master Sun Youyue Sun…” and he listened to Yuan Dao.

"Really? Then we are even closer." Tao Hongjing said happily, "I am Master Sun's eldest disciple. You are not wrong to call me uncle."

"Wait until I finish what I'm saying," but Ren Yuanyouyou said, "Master Sun is my senior brother."

"What?" Tao Hongjing was stunned. "My friend, you can't joke like that."

"Who is kidding you?" Ren Yuan said seriously, "I am the seventh generation leader of Shangqing Sect, Ren Yuan."

"You're making a bigger joke than before." Tao Hongjing said in disbelief, "Why would my master pass on the position of headmaster to you?"

Before he finished speaking, a emerald green jade talisman appeared in his hand.

Tao Hongjing's expression suddenly became serious. He held the jade talisman in both hands, and looked at it for a long time. He couldn't help crying and said, "It's really the Shangqing Jade Talisman. I didn't expect that I would be able to see Master's token in this lifetime."

Then he quickly handed the jade talisman back to Ren Yuan with both hands and said, "Put it away quickly. This thing cannot be seen in the capital."

"It's not a big deal to just take a look at it. Just don't use it." Ren Yuan nodded, put away the Shangqing Jade Talisman, and showed a green flying sword and asked, "Do you recognize this sword?"

“Yaoguang!” Tao Hongjing’s pupils suddenly shrank, and he no longer doubted Ren Yuan’s identity. He pushed the golden mountain and overturned the jade pillar, bowed his head and said:
"I, the unworthy disciple Tao Hongjing, pay my respects to the head master uncle!"

(End of this chapter)