Catching Monsters

Chapter 370 Blindfold

Jiang Yun took out one hundred taels of silver, handed it to Wen Chen, and told him to go back and spend a few days with his father, and to come back after this matter was over.

Wen Chen naturally nodded in agreement to Jiang Yun's instructions, packed a few clothes, and then left the Sanqing Temple.

Jiang Yun slowly walked to the main hall of the Sanqing Temple and looked up at the three statues of the Three Pure Ones.

His premonitions have always been very accurate, especially as his cultivation level increases, such intuitions become even more precise.

Of course, this is not a special ability, but rather a kind of inexplicable sense of danger that cultivators always have.

Jiang Yun frowned slightly, unable to figure out where this crisis could be coming from.

Zhang Yuhu?
That shouldn't be right. Although Zhang Yuhu is the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, his strength should be below mine.

Who is that person?
Jiang Yun took a deep breath and then began to make preparations in advance. Fortunately, he had now reached the third-grade Celestial Master realm and was able to set up an array at the Sanqing Temple.

This formation is similar to the large formation that Ao Yu encountered when he attacked Qingfeng Temple.

Of course, Jiang Yun's current strength is not enough to set up a powerful array like Qingfeng Temple; the materials alone would be an astronomical sum.

Jiang Yun could only use limited materials to set up the most powerful formation in a short time to protect himself.

……

Outside the capital city, Tao Kui, a maidservant of the Fourth Prince, was carrying a fruit basket. Judging from her attire, she seemed to be out for a picnic.

However, she quickly slipped into a dense forest from one side of the official road. There was a narrow path in the forest, and after walking along the path for a long time, she soon arrived at a secluded hunter's cabin.

She stepped forward, raised her hand, and knocked on the door. Soon, the door opened, and a man dressed as a hunter saw Tao Kui and asked in a low voice, "Tao Kui? What brings you here?"

After saying this, the hunter hurriedly welcomed Tao Kui into the house.

After entering the house and taking a seat, Tao Kui said, "The Fourth Prince wants to kill someone. I need your help. Quickly contact the Demon Kingdom and have them send experts over."

Upon hearing this, the hunter gave Tao Kui a deep look and slowly said, "What are you foxes plotting by getting so close to the fourth prince of Zhou?"

Upon hearing this, Tao Kui remained silent for a moment before saying, "All you need to do is pass on the message for me."

The hunter snorted and said, "Has the Demon Emperor ever set a rule that our demon kingdom cannot easily interfere in the affairs of the human world? Have you forgotten?"

"We were sent to the human capital only to gather intelligence on the human court for the Demon Emperor."

"Chang Xun," Tao Kui said in a deep voice, "Do you snake clans simply wish to be suppressed by the dragon clan forever? For so many years!"

"The dragon race reigns supreme in the demon kingdom, while we other demon races are treated as nothing."

"Isn't it just that our Demon Saint is asleep, while the Dragon Saint is still here?"

The hunter, called Chang Xun, chuckled and said, "So you still remember the Dragon Saint is around? I advise you not to make too many small moves, lest..."

"This is a secret message, send it quickly." Tao Kui seemed a little impatient: "If my fox clan's matter succeeds, it will also benefit your snake clan."

The original four demon saints were the Dragon Saint, the Snake Saint, the Fox Saint, and the Tiger Saint. The other three saints have been in a deep sleep for many years.

Chang Xun's eyes flickered, as if he realized something. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Has your fox clan found a way to awaken the Fox Saint?"

After a moment's thought, Chang Xun nodded in agreement, took the letter, and looked at its contents with some doubt: "Killed Jiang Yun, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? A third-rank Celestial Master?"

"Are you planning to make a move in the capital?"

"Those monster-level human experts are still in the capital. Killing a human master in the capital is no easy task."

"We didn't ask your snake clan to send anyone."

"Hehe." A smile appeared on Chang Xun's face.

……

"When mind and spirit are in harmony, and breath flows smoothly, one remains calm amidst all changes."

'Without delusion or anger, without desire or seeking, without abandoning or forsaking, without action or ego.'

Jiang Yun has been staying in the main hall of Sanqing Temple for the past few days.

After setting up the magic array, he basically stayed indoors and focused on his cultivation.

Xu Suwen used to come and cook for him every day, but Jiang Yun also told her not to come over for the time being.

"Jiang Yun, you brat, you keep asking me to sit at your Sanqing Temple all day long, but you never talk to me or chat. You just keep your head down and cultivate."

Outside the main hall, Feng Yu walked in, holding a Taoist scripture in his hand.

In recent days, His Majesty's health has indeed improved considerably after taking the medicine prescribed by Jiang Yun.

However, although his health has improved, His Majesty has been unusually refusing to see any ministers, except for Feng Yu. Even when ministers come to pay their respects to His Majesty, it is still unusual.

His Majesty would always pretend to be terminally ill, and would even cough in a mock manner.

In Xiao Yuzheng's words, this person is like a fierce tiger in the deep mountains and forests.

When he was in a majestic and imposing manner, baring his fangs, the animals in the mountains and forests were afraid of him and avoided him.

Only when a tiger is weak and old will those animals that have designs on him slowly emerge.

“Father-in-law, didn’t you enjoy the barbecue earlier? I’ll make you some more tonight.” Jiang Yun smiled broadly. “I’ve also prepared a room for you tonight.”

"What's up, kid? You didn't tell me, did you?" Feng Yu narrowed his eyes, then waved his hand: "Alright, I have things to do at the castration room today. There are several people in line who want to go to the palace for castration."

Hearing Feng Yu's words, Jiang Yun couldn't help but ask curiously, "Speaking of which, Father-in-law, with your status, why do you have a fondness for castrating people..."

"Not good?" Feng Yu asked back.

"Okay, okay..." Jiang Yun smiled awkwardly, "But, wouldn't it be easier to just have someone else do this?"

Feng Yu seemed to recall something from long ago, chuckled, sat down on a futon, and put down the Taoist scripture in his hand: "Young man, do you think your grandfather is a good person or a bad person?"

According to our Taoist philosophy, people are neither good nor evil; we only observe their actions and deeds.

"Doing good is good." "Doing evil is evil."

"If a father-in-law commits murder, he might be considered a bad person by others."

“But since you are kind to me, then you are certainly a kind person to me.”

Feng Yu gave Jiang Yun an approving look; that was quite a clever answer.

To directly praise Feng Yu as a great person would be too vulgar and would be too obvious as to be a sycophant.

“You rascal, in every way I look at you, you’re a complete villain,” Feng Yu said slowly. “Serving His Majesty is no easy task.”

Do you know why I entered the palace as an official?

Jiang Yun shook her head.

Feng Yu seemed not to have mentioned this matter for a long time, and said lightly, "I am from Nanzhou Prefecture. My family was poor when I was a child, perhaps even poorer than yours."

“You can still read and write, but I can only wander the streets and beg for food. My father is addicted to wine and women, and spends any money he has on prostitutes.”

"When I was a child, I often went hungry."

"Later, one day I saw a palace eunuch return to Nanzhou Prefecture. It was a grand affair, with drums and gongs being played. Even the prefect came out of the city to greet him with utmost respect."

"If he's castrated, he can enter the palace."

"Later, when I got home, I told my father about it. When my father heard this, he was absolutely against it, saying that our family had only had one son for three generations."

"But I'm terrified of being hungry, I can't stand the hunger anymore."

"I grabbed the kitchen knife from home and chopped it down."

"Later, my father saved up money and sent me to the palace."

Jiang Yun asked curiously, "Then, Eunuch must have suffered countless hardships in the palace, and it wasn't easy for him to get to where he is today, right?"

Feng Yu rolled her eyes at Jiang Yun and said indifferently, "There are not that many hardships. After I entered the palace, I was favored by His Majesty, who was still a prince at the time, and followed by the prince's side."

"Did anyone bully me? At first, yes, but they never survived past the next day. That night, I would secretly take a knife and stab them."

"I often think back to that moment, and I know it was totally worth it..."

"Later, when I became wealthy, I don't know who spread the word that anyone I personally castrated would rise to prominence."

"And so, many people who wanted to enter the palace brought gold and silver and asked me to castrate them."

"After a while, it becomes a habit."

"That thing is useless. Look at you, you've been in the capital for more than half a year, you have plenty of money, have you ever used that piece of junk?"

"That thing will only affect your emotions. One cut and the world will be a better place."

"If you ask me, you still need to come with me to the castration room. With your talent and aptitude, it would be a waste not to castrate you..."

As Feng Yu spoke with increasing enthusiasm, Jiang Yun was stunned. It seemed that Eunuch Feng truly remained true to his original aspiration and kept his mission firmly in mind.

I'm still thinking about stabbing myself in the back.

However, Jiang Yun also noticed something and asked, "Is Father-in-law also from Nanzhou Prefecture?"

Feng Yu glanced at Jiang Yun indifferently: "Otherwise, why do you think I would help you like this?"

People of this era have a special affection for their fellow townsmen and people from the same place.

"Alright, I have to go back to the palace too." Feng Yu stood up, patted his clothes, and before leaving, turned back to give Jiang Yun a deep look: "I have high hopes for you."

Watching Feng Yu's departing figure, Jiang Yun couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.

He then took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and continued his cultivation.

The speed of meditation practice is not slow, at least much faster than in my previous life.

Unfortunately, once you reach the third-grade Celestial Master realm, the Five Elements Formation can provide much less assistance.

To advance from the third-rank Celestial Master realm to the second-rank, it's no longer about accumulating magical power.

The most important thing is a breakthrough in one's mindset.

As night fell, Jiang Yun did not return to his bedroom to rest, but instead sat in the main hall and continued to cultivate.

By midnight, the entire area outside the capital was unusually quiet.

Suddenly, Jiang Yun heard two footsteps coming from outside the courtyard of the Sanqing Temple.

Bang bang bang.

Then the gate of Sanqing Temple was pushed open.

"Taoist, Taoist."

"My wife is about to give birth, please help me."

A couple rushed in, looking flustered.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun quickly walked out of the main hall.

The couple appeared to be well-dressed, adorned with gold and silver, and dressed in luxurious clothes, clearly indicating they were not ordinary people.

Both of them looked to be around thirty years old. The woman had a large belly and was sweating profusely from the pain.

Seeing this, Jiang Yun said calmly, "Gentlemen, this is a Taoist temple, not a clinic. For things like childbirth, you should go to a clinic."

"It's too late, my wife is about to give birth." The man said, walking forward in a panic.

"Stop right there!" Jiang Yun suddenly shouted. "You two fiends, you think you can fool me with such a trick?"

(End of this chapter)