Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 923 Perhaps it's the White Lotus Sect

After the New Year, scholars from all over the country flocked to the south and north, traveling in twos and threes to embark on their journeys in search of fame and fortune.

Some people traveled the official road in an orderly manner, first by boat and then by carriage, visiting prominent relatives and friends and befriending wealthy and powerful officials along the way.

He left behind many brilliant poems and verses during banquets and poetry gatherings, thus showcasing his talent and paving the way for his future official career.

Some people, accompanied by ample servants and guards, traveled along the way, enjoying the scenery of the north with great interest.

Wandering among various Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, discussing metaphysics and philosophy with so-called eminent monks and scholars, he was quite elegant and carefree.

Some people are born with a chaotic aura; wherever they go, turmoil and chaos are inevitable.

The combination of "Three Wonders" naturally means they never follow the usual path, since it includes the word "wonder".

Because Ji Rui received a profound and enlightening rebuke from Master Xu before setting off, he is still in a state of "impotence" both mentally and physically.

After multiple experiments confirmed that there were no loopholes to exploit, the engine immediately shut down.

Thus, the original extravagant plan to charter an entire pleasure boat and take singers and entertainers on a leisurely journey north was ruthlessly shattered.

Unstable in his mental state, he stubbornly refused his father's suggestion to send an elite caravan to escort him, and instead ingeniously commissioned a super luxurious carriage with numerous internal mechanisms that were comparable to a mobile small fortress.

They planned to travel all over the north in this "vehicle" with their two friends.

If you encounter demons or monsters, kill them one by one, or two by two.

Despite the somewhat high profile, his two friends agreed to the plan after learning about his physical condition.

"Master Xu is training you to address your weaknesses."

"Everything will pass."

"Perhaps you will gain insight into the profound truths of the sages from this."

The emotional support from his friends improved Ji Rui's mood.

He also knew that his only weakness was somewhat obvious, and that going north would be dangerous.

I also considered using universal will to overcome this.

But Master Xu's decisive move truly put him at a disadvantage, even more so than Ning Caichen's heart-wrenching zither music.

The pleasure boats in the Qiantang area have lost a loyal customer.

By the time he returns, it will be summer. Even more unfortunately, if he stays in Luoyang or is transferred to another place, there will be no chance to organize a grand farewell banquet.

However, just as everything was ready and they were about to set off, Ning Caichen received an unexpected request.

The client is the eldest daughter of the Fu family.

A woman who had practiced martial arts for many years and was usually full of vigor and courage, showing a rare gentleness like spring water.

Her stunningly beautiful face, paired with her slightly furrowed brows and a cool yet helpless aura, created a striking contrast. Few could resist such a pitiful plea.

But as everyone knows, Ning Caichen is a man of few words.

A white moonlight had already taken up residence in his heart, but it was a white moonlight that had died.

This buff is practically invincible, so even the brightest spring sunshine can't shake that silent persistence, not even similar flowers.

So he didn't readily agree to this tearful advance, but calmly said, "Miss Fu, why don't you tell us what trouble you've encountered? If it doesn't significantly hinder our journey, we're willing to lend a helping hand."

After all, when one is poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when one is successful, one should benefit all under heaven.

This is the creed that Master Xu's disciples adhere to.

As for letting bygones be bygones... he doesn't consider himself a vengeful person.

The "advice" and difficulties that Elder Fu Tianchou made back then were not entirely malicious.

The difference stems more from the differences in official philosophies and ways of doing things; it is an inevitable divergence arising from two completely different paths.

It's definitely not the kind of nonsense someone said, like "lustful at first sight," "wanting to steal my house," or "planning to take everything."

Ignoring Ji Rui's expressive face behind him, he focused all his attention on Fu Qingfeng and calmly confirmed the key information:

"So, Lord Fu is currently on his way north...and has gone missing, is that right?"

"Yes." Fu Qingfeng's voice trembled slightly, but his tone was exceptionally clear and firm. "The only person I can think of who is capable and willing to help at this moment is you."

She was an extremely sensible woman who knew that when seeking help, no amount of "face" or "reserve" was as important as her father's safety.

She was even worried that Ning Caichen would refuse because of past unpleasantness, so she told him in great detail about the circumstances surrounding her father's disappearance and any possible clues.

When the conversation reached a crucial point, tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back, making her appear even more vulnerable than she was trying to maintain her strength.

In fact, this commission is inextricably linked to the great demon king who has already gone to Jiangbei.

As the largest "source of causal pollution" in the Jiangnan region, Xu Xuan's existence has already invisibly changed the fate of countless people.

Often, a slight difference can lead to dramatic changes thousands of miles away.

Back in Shouchun, Lu Dan was ordered to visit Fu Tianchou, then the prefect of Suzhou, to inquire about the progress of the investigation into Deng You's case. Coincidentally, just two days before that, Fu Tianchou had severely harassed Ning Caichen, who had come to visit and tried to help him resolve his troubles.

When this matter reached Xu Xuan's ears, the protective "Great Demon King" immediately went to Xu Xuan's house to "reason" with him.

After a heated exchange, citing classical texts and directly addressing the elder's key points in handling affairs, Fu Tianchou's Daoist resolve was almost shaken, causing him to lose his composure on the spot.

A few days later, Old Man Fu finally realized that perhaps his abilities were out of touch with the times.

He even submitted a memorial admitting his incompetence and earnestly requested that the case of Deng You be transferred to someone more capable for investigation, while he himself applied to be transferred back to the Censorate.

He then returned to his hometown of Longyou before the Lunar New Year to pay respects to his ancestors. After the New Year, he took his family north, planning to cross the Yangtze River from Wuhu back to Luoyang to report on his duties.

Unexpectedly, an accident occurred during their journey north.

Fu Tianchou's move of retreating in order to advance inadvertently thwarted certain conspiracies that were secretly brewing in the imperial court.

There were already forces that had laid a trap, fabricating numerous potentially fatal crimes, just waiting for Fu Tianchou to continue making mistakes in Yangzhou before launching an attack, convicting him, and imprisoning him.

This effectively removed another strong thorn in the side of Confucianism in the court.

To everyone's surprise, this old fellow acted out of the ordinary, jumping out first and submitting a letter requesting to be transferred back to a sinecure, disrupting all the plans.

The mastermind's scheme failed, and in his impotent rage, he decided to go all out and use the most direct and darkest means possible: to kill the old man on his way back to the capital and eliminate any future troubles!

Once word of such a thing spreads from Luoyang, it spreads like wildfire.

It is said that various masters and desperate criminals secretly sprang into action upon hearing the news, some on orders to intercept and kill him, and others admiring Fu Tianchou's integrity and wanting to protect him in secret.

In an instant, the Jiangbei Green Forest Road was thrown into chaos, with turmoil brewing.

Although Fu Tianchou was contradicted by Ning Caichen and educated by Xu Xuan in Jiangnan, he seemed to be somewhat "incompetent".

But among the common people, he is a well-known and upright "Fu Qingtian"!
He was an upright official who dared to speak frankly and was highly respected among scholars and the common people.

As long as the Imperial Censor is a professional "troll," he can gain great prestige by speaking loudly enough, having a tough enough style, and not being afraid of powerful people.

The news of his encounter with danger on his journey north had already become a major event that gripped the hearts of the people.

However, this event, which caused a great uproar in the court and among the people, seemed somewhat "ordinary" or even insignificant in the face of the grand scale that Baoan Hall was concerned with, which often involved ancient demon lords and the calamity of the Nine Provinces. It did not cause much of a stir within the organization.

With his extensive network of connections and reputation accumulated over the years, Lord Fu cautiously made his way north.

However, the incident ultimately occurred in the territory of Wuhu in Danyang County.

According to Fu Qingfeng, her father Fu Tianchou's disappearance is very likely related to the White Lotus Sect.

"The White Lotus Sect?" Upon hearing this name, Ning Caichen's expression immediately became more serious, and he demanded that she explain in detail.

After all, the term "White Lotus Sect" appeared far too frequently in the Jiangnan region.

To say nothing of the distant past, the earth-shattering incident in Guobei County was explicitly identified by the imperial court as the work of the White Lotus Sect.

When students from Chongqi Academy traveled to Bailu Academy for study, they encountered a strange phenomenon in Jianye where "five dragons emerged together," shaking the entire country. The official conclusion was that the White Lotus Sect was behind the trouble.

Basically, every few days, you can hear this name causing some big commotion in Jiangnan or Jiangbei. The frequency of its troubles and the sensational effects it has caused are almost on par with the Bao'an Hall under Master Xu's command.

However, our Baoan Hall is dedicated to maintaining worldly order and upholding righteousness.

The White Lotus Sect, on the other hand, thrived on chaos and dedicated itself to destruction.

The two sides are essentially going in opposite directions.

Hearing this name linked to Lord Fu's disappearance again, Ning Caichen naturally became more vigilant and inquisitive.

Fu Qingfeng's account was also quite detailed.

She said it all stemmed from her father's "meddlesome" temper, which led him into trouble he shouldn't have gotten into.

On that day, just as the Fu family's convoy entered Wuhu County, they saw a wandering Taoist priest setting up a stall on the street, performing a "peaches selling" magic trick.

It means to turn a peach branch into a peach tree in public, in a bustling city, and then, in full view of everyone, make the peach tree blossom and bear fruit.

The peaches looked fresh and juicy. When the Taoist took a bite, a few drops of juice spilled out, attracting many onlookers who cheered.

The Taoist then used the popularity gained from this performance to begin spreading his teachings.

Fu Tianchou had a temper that couldn't tolerate any flaws.

He immediately got out of the car and sternly rebuked the other party for using such deceptive tricks to mislead the villagers.

The so-called planting of peaches, pears, etc., are all similar methods.

The old man had been amazed when he was young, but as he grew older, he was able to see through the essence of things.

The Taoist priest who was reprimanded remained calm and composed. Instead, he swayed and stood directly in front of the Fu family's caravan, blocking their path.

He did not resort to violence, but calmly posed several seemingly simple but actually cryptic questions, asking Fu Tianchou to "answer his questions".

　I'm having the urge to change the name again, but my mind is completely blank. This book is filled with all sorts of myths and legends; I really don't know what a suitable name would be.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)