Yin Ci looked at the serious expression on Shi Jingzhi’s face, and the lingering hostility in his bones dissipated.
At first, the man’s probing carried an indescribable sense of oppression, then it turned into half-guardedness and half-curiosity. Now, Shi Jingzhi wanted to openly challenge him, but that initial guard was nowhere to be seen.
Like a fierce beast retracting its sharp claws just as it was about to strike.
Yin Ci didn’t dislike this curious inquiry, and the only trace of resistance dissolved under the thought of “the other person is most likely the Little Mute”. ‘It’s strange,’ he thought. Their way of interacting seemed to have changed very little since he first became his disciple.
Both treated each other kindly, disregarding formalities, yet now he had an inexplicable sense of peace.
“Want to know everything? That’s going to be difficult.”
Yin Ci met Shi Jingzhi’s imposing aura without a care. He deliberately got closer, his voice carrying an undisguised hint of amusement.
“Shizun, how about we have a little competition to see who can uncover each other’s secrets first?”
Shi Jingzhi readily agreed. “It’s a deal.”
After a moment, Shi Jingzhi felt like he was at a disadvantage and added, “A’Ci, since it’s a competition, it’s more fun if we wager something.”
Yin Ci: “…” Yan Budu really set the stage nicely.
“What do you want to wager, Shizun?”
“How about this, if I uncover A’Ci’s secrets first, you have to agree to one of my requests. And if you uncover the cause of my illness first, then I’ll agree to your request… I haven’t thought about it yet, so let’s leave it open.”
After all, it was still the temperament of a young person. Yin Ci went along with it. Finally, he jokingly remarked, “Even if I wanted the Shirou, would you be willing to give it?”
“A gentleman keeps his word, so naturally, I will be willing to give it.”
“Shizun’s ‘object obsession’ doesn’t seem to be that severe.”
Unexpectedly, Shi Jingzhi stubbornly replied, “You said you would ensure my longevity. If you wanted the Shirou, you would have already found a way to treat my condition. A’Ci, you wouldn’t go back on your word, would you?”
Yin Ci suddenly felt like he had dug a hole for himself. He gazed at Shi Jingzhi, and if he were to shake him up a bit, he was sure to uncover a flurry of calculations.
“I did indeed say that.”
Shi Jingzhi smiled even more happily. “Then I have no need to worry needlessly.”
With their banter, a sense of playing chess with a worthy opponent subtly emerged between the two.
Then Shi Jingzhi slowly climbed onto the bed. Despite having a dozen mysteries around him, he stretched his limbs and completely relaxed.
Sect Master Shi’s gaze remained fixed on the canopy above for a while before he turned his eyes toward Yin Ci. “A’Ci, I’ve been thinking about what Yan Budu said.”
Yin Ci leaned against the head of the bed, and his long hair flowed down his back with the ends scattered on the plain fabric. He was in a good mood, enjoying the sparse stars outside the window. He responded promptly, “What did he say?”
“About Su Zhi’s matter.”
Yin Ci pondered for a moment, only recalling Yan Budu’s disparaging remarks. As the person involved, he couldn’t be sure what Shi Jingzhi wanted to discuss, so he silently looked back at him.
“Yan Budu said, ‘If he hadn’t taken over the north, our sect wouldn’t have been so ruthlessly defeated.’ Initially, I only thought that your ancestor was a Demonic Lord, and I never thought in that direction.”
Shi Jingzhi decisively rolled off the bed, retrieving ink, a brush, paper, and inkstones. He spent quite some time painting under the moonlight. Once the ink dried, he also grabbed a plate of dried fruits from the fruit tray and dragged a small table to the edge of the bed.
“If A’Ci can’t sleep, play a game of sand table with me.”
Shi Jingzhi arranged the paper and laid out the dried fruits on the table, looking earnestly at Yin Ci.
Yin Ci was accustomed to his impromptu nature and went along with it, glancing over the paper. Unexpectedly, when he looked, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
It was clearly an influence map from a hundred years ago. The important strongholds of various sects, significant geographical features, important cities—it was an accurate representation of the map from that time. The lines on the map were beautifully drawn, the summary was concise, and it could even be directly used in military operations.
“Pine nuts represent the righteous sects at that time, soybeans represent Yan Budu, and melon seeds represent Su Zhi.”
Seeing Yin Ci’s interest, Shi Jingzhi happily piled up the dried fruits on the map.
“The Chigou Sect was originally just an ordinary gang in the north, relying on scavenging the remnants of battlefields to survive. Shortly after the rise of the Ling Sect, a disciple named Su Zhi emerged in the Chigou Sect. This person rose rapidly, took the position of the third-generation Patriarch, and completely revitalized the Chigou Sect—”
He brushed the pile of melon seeds in the northwestern direction.
“From then on, the Chigou Sect’s target was not only the remnants of battlefields but also the ancient tombs gathered in the northwest of Great Yun. Whether they belonged to foreigners or compatriots, deserts or muddy lands, as long as it was the tomb of a noble or aristocrat, the Chigou Sect would dig it up.”
“By excavating treasures from the tombs, the Chigou Sect quickly became rich. They committed all sorts of deeds that harmed virtue and were despised by the common people. However, Su Zhi was quite capable and acted swiftly. The Chigou Sect maintained a relatively harmonious relationship with the local people without accumulating grievances like the Ling Sect… A’Ci is a descendant of the Su clan. You must have heard about these things.”
Yin Ci remained composed. “What exactly do you want to say, Shizun?”
“Looking at the surface, the Chigou Sect did indeed seem to be developing in an ordinary direction. But if we consider the Ling Sect as well… Su Zhi’s every move targeted Yan Budu’s most vulnerable points.”
Shi Jingzhi pressed the melon seeds onto each city on the map.
“These territories are all perfectly situated, making it tasteless for the Ling Sect to hold onto them but a pity to abandon them. The main base of the Ling Sect is on Zongwu Mountain, far away from the northwest. If they were to forcibly entangle themselves with the Chigou Sect, they would only be taken advantage of by the martial world in the Central Plains. Yan Budu had no choice but to let the Chigou Sect encroach upon their territory.”
“So what?”
“If Su Zhi hadn’t appeared, the Ling Sect could have torn open a gap in the southwest and encompassed the entire western region. That way, when the righteous sects united to suppress the Ling Sect, they wouldn’t have been so miserable, and Yan Budu wouldn’t have fallen into a disadvantageous position, forced into Zongwu Mountain by Kongshi.”
Yin Ci remained silent for a moment before saying casually, “Perhaps you’re thinking too much.”
“Yes, I can’t be certain. This situation is truly interesting.”
Shi Jingzhi grabbed a handful of roasted beans and threw one into his mouth.
“Come on, you be Su Zhi and the righteous sect, and I’ll be Yan Budu. If I can break through your blockade, just count it as me overthinking things.”
Yin Ci reluctantly took the melon seed from his hand. “Alright, alright.”
“A’Ci, set up your layout properly later. If you’re not serious, I can tell.”
Initially, Yin Ci didn’t take that statement seriously—Shi Jingzhi was just a twenty-seven-year-old young man, and no matter how intelligent he was, at most, he could only discuss military strategies on paper. He couldn’t handle the uncertainties of real conflicts.
But this game with the dried fruit sand table didn’t end quickly.
Yin Ci held the melon seeds in his hand, and a hint of a solemn and murderous aura unconsciously appeared on his face.
Shi Jingzhi had always had a sharp gaze, and this extended to setting up formations. He launched one surprise attack after another, displaying a fierce and ruthless style. Yet, he was also watertight, even surpassing Yan Budu in skill.
Yin Ci had initially planned to lose easily and brush it off. However, Shi Jingzhi’s skill wasn’t lacking, and if he deliberately concealed his abilities, he would indeed be discovered.
Interesting.
It was easy to find soldiers, but hard to find a general. With a unique situation at hand, Yin Ci’s interest was sparked, and he no longer bothered to conceal it. He happily unleashed his skills and engaged in a fierce battle with Shi Jingzhi.
“This isn’t your first time using a sand table, is it?”
Shi Jingzhi curved his eyes. “Elder Brother has peculiar hobbies and often gives me challenging military problems. I’ve been playing with military sand tables for more than ten years.”
“This move is quite impressive. A few years ago, during Great Yun’s border defense battle against Na Luojiu, this was the decisive victory.”
Yin Ci picked up a few melon seeds and casually commented.
“But you’re still a bit inexperienced. If I were to ambush you here, your troops would still be cut off.”
“That’s exactly what I want.”
Shi Jingzhi laughed and placed several beans on the table.
“A’Ci, how about this? I’ll gather the people from the Ling Sect’s main base and make a breakthrough while chaos ensues—”
Yin Ci sneered and pushed the melon seeds he had arranged a moment ago closer. “General, Shizun.”
Shi Jingzhi picked up a bean and took the opportunity to stuff it into Yin Ci’s mouth. “That’s right, I knew it. When Su Zhi chose those bases, he had the intention to suppress Yan Budu… A’Ci, your ancestor doesn’t seem as malicious as the rumors say.”
Yin Ci: “……”
He couldn’t swallow it for a moment, and he didn’t want to spit it out, so he had no choice but to swallow the roasted bean.
Did that obedient Little Mute twist into someone cunning?
“And your formations are extraordinary, inherited from your ancestor?” Shi Jingzhi looked at the map filled with dried fruits. “There are so many arrangements that I never even thought of… I didn’t misjudge after all.”
Shi Jingzhi crushed a pine nut with a crack. “Incomplete meridians, Sweeping Bones as swift as the wind, and a strategic genius. Even if Su Zhi is still alive, that’s all he would be.”
Yin Ci pretended not to hear and stretched lazily. He wasn’t afraid of Shi Jingzhi’s wild guesses about this matter.
Immortal wine didn’t extend one’s lifespan. Su Zhi wasn’t an immortal. Even if he drank immortal wine like water, he couldn’t possibly live until now. There had never been a person in this world who was immortal or never aged. Even if Shi Jingzhi were to guess endlessly, he would never uncover the truth.
Sure enough, Shi Jingzhi pressed against the map, muttering to himself, and his speculations became more and more outrageous. “A’Ci, was Su Zhi your great-grandfather? Grandfather? …Your father?”
“It’s time to sleep, Shizun.”
Shi Jingzhi was still looking at the map. “You go to sleep first. I’ll continue looking for a while longer. I have a feeling that there might be a turning point.”
Yin Ci got off the bed directly and forcibly dragged his master back onto the bed. “Tomorrow, we have to meet with the Abbot. Are you going to meet him with a pair of black eyes? Playing around is just playing around, and the point is to feel comfortable. If you haven’t had enough fun, I’ll continue accompanying you tomorrow.”
Shi Jingzhi paused at the words. “The point is to feel comfortable?”
“Yes. Everything should be done in moderation, as excess is detrimental.”
“Then, A’Ci, are you feeling comfortable?”
Seeing Yin Ci hesitate and his expression gradually becoming complicated, but not denying it, Shi Jingzhi felt satisfied. He imitated Yin Ci’s tone and said, “Then, let’s sleep. If A’Ci hasn’t had enough fun, I’ll continue accompanying you tomorrow.”
As a result, the next day, Shi Jingzhi had a bit of bruising under his eyes. This person secretly got up in the early morning and sat in front of the map for over an hour.
Yin Ci, upon seeing the bloody handkerchief Shi Jingzhi spit into, couldn’t help but want to beat him up. But when he looked at Shi Jingzhi’s smiling face, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
In the end, he only made breakfast for three people and asked a monk to fetch a vegetarian meal from the temple, specifically for Shi Jingzhi. Sect Master Shi held a plate of specialty buns from the Jianchen Temple and looked at the golden pancakes in front of the others, feeling speechless.
Yin Ci was always capable of being ruthless when necessary. “Since Shizun doesn’t cherish his own body, why not practice asceticism like the eminent monks? Who knows, it might actually be effective.”
Shi Jingzhi took a bite of the bun, calmly asking, “…Are you genuinely concerned, A’Ci?”
Yin Ci sneered coldly, not falling into the fox’s trap. “I asked the monks, and they said they will only have salt porridge and boiled greens for breakfast tomorrow.”
Shi Jingzhi immediately shut his mouth, holding his breath and attentively eating his breakfast.
Yin Ci had heard a few things about the current Abbot of the Jianchen Temple, but he had never seen him in person. He only knew that the monk was a senior martial brother of Monk Juehui and went by the Dharma name “Juefei”. Juefei was highly skilled in martial arts and secluded himself to an extent that surpassed previous Abbots. According to the saying in the martial world, unless the world was in chaos and the mountains and rivers were crumbling, the Abbot would not come down from the mountain.
Monk Juefei even abstained from attending the martial arts grand event several years ago.
Such a person was difficult to deal with, no matter how one approached them. Yin Ci had made ample preparations, but he never expected—
“Ah? Martial Uncle Kongshi’s stone sword? It’s fine if Sect Master Shi wants to see it. Just take a look. After all, it’s just lying there. It won’t make any difference if you take a glance.”
Monk Juefei sat cross-legged on the bed, drinking a bowl of vegetarian wine, and hiccupped again. The four members of the Kushan Sect sat in a row on meditation cushions, unsure of how to react.
The Abbot’s room was spacious and filled with cushions. The gaps between the cushions were stuffed with various flowers and plants, giving it a lively atmosphere without a hint of worldly detachment.
Politely speaking, Monk Juefei had a resemblance to Maitreya*, with earlobes that seemed like they would touch his shoulders and a round face filled with a cheerful expression. To be more straightforward, this person was excessively fat, indifferent to everything, and seemed too lazy to move even if the heavens were collapsing.
*Regarded as the future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology.
If not for the sense of profound inner force emanating from him, Yin Ci would have thought they had come to the wrong place. Contrary to the rumors, this Abbot was not only reasonable but also too easy to talk to.
“Oh, there’s something else… Ah, Martial Uncle Kongshi’s remains. Sect Master Shi, now that we have some rapport, there’s no need to hide it from me. With the exchange for the ‘Woodless Sutra’, I’m sure you can see more than just the stone sword. Even if you want to see me running naked around the temple, I’ll agree to it.”
Shi Jingzhi stumbled, “…Venerable Abbot, there’s, there’s no need for that.”
He hadn’t completely recovered from the influence of Venerable Kongshi, and the presence of the Abbot in front of him left him dazed and with slightly vacant eyes.
Monk Juefei burst into laughter, his voice booming like a bell, shaking the core of those present. He tapped his chubby knee with his thick finger, and his eyes narrowed and was filled with a mischievous smile, making it hard to tell who he was looking at.
“So, Sect Master Shi deliberately brought up the matter of the remains to meet with this old monk. There must be other matters you wish to discuss, right?”
Shi Jingzhi took a deep breath, adjusting his emotions. “I have indeed come this time with two matters to seek guidance from Venerable Abbot. If the Venerable can provide clarification, I am willing to assist the temple in retrieving the remains of Venerable Kongshi.”
“Ah, at such a young age, why beat around the bush? I believe that Sect Master Shi genuinely wishes to find the remains of Martial Uncle Kongshi, while the other matters are just secondary—did Yan Budu hide the clues with Martial Uncle?”
The chubby abbot slightly opened his eyes, pinpointing Shi Jingzhi’s intentions in just a few words.
“How did Venerable Abbot come to know?”
“The stone sword of Marital Uncle Kongshi was brought back by itself. After the disappearance of Martial Uncle Kongshi for nearly a year, it suddenly appeared at the entrance of our temple. If it were anyone else, they would undoubtedly come to the temple to claim credit or at least give a greeting. The only person who would do such a thing is Yan Budu.”
Monk Juefei made two light clicks with his tongue while his gaze toward the crowd filled with a near-loving expression.
“Yan Budu is a cunning and ruthless person. He wouldn’t send the sword back to the temple out of goodwill, nor would he be foolish enough to provoke with it. It can only mean that he concealed the clues related to the burial site. The Jianchen Temple has strict rules, so you wouldn’t be able to inquire freely. Coming to see me now, you also want to know about the events of that year, right?”
“Yes, I was presumptuous and disrespectful earlier, offending Venerable.”
Shi Jingzhi immediately changed his tone, displaying a sincere attitude.
“Enough, enough. All beings are connected by the three poisons of greed, hatred, and ignorance. Those who come are all due to fate.” Monk Juefei waved his hand. “Regarding the records of Martial Uncle Kongshi, I will have someone send them to you. Now, about the stone sword—it is in the underground palace beneath the pagoda in the back mountain. You are free to take a look if you wish. If you can move it, you may take it away.”
This time, Shi Jingzhi was genuinely astonished. “We can take it away?”
The sword of Venerable Kongshi, no matter how one looked at it, was a treasure of the Jianchen Temple. It wasn’t uncommon for eminent monks to be generous, but being excessively generous was suspicious.
Monk Juefei’s face was full of smiles as he clasped his hands together. “Amitabha, I assure you; no one will hinder you.”
“However, on this sword, Martial Uncle Kongshi personally inscribed 108 verses of Buddhist scriptures, aimed at examining the mind. The heavier the attachment to the ‘self’, the heavier the sword—Martial Uncle Kongshi had high self-standards. Just moving the sword to the pagoda required a team of thirty people from our temple.”
“In a hundred years, this sword has never found a worthy individual. If Patron can truly take it away, it would be a fortunate occurrence.”
The author has something to say:
-Stage One –
Fox Shi: Time to get up for morning practice; Demonic Lord Yin: ? Something is wrong with you.
Demonic Lord Yin: Prepare breakfast. ; Fox Shi: It’s handy having a disciple.
-Stage Two –
Fox Shi: Time to get up for morning practice; Demonic Lord Yin: ? A kid can teach.
Demonic Lord Yin: Prepare breakfast.; Fox Shi: My disciple is so kind.
-Stage Three –
Fox Shi: Time to get up for morning practice; Demonic Lord Yin: ? You vomited blood and didn’t sleep well.
Demonic Lord Yin: Prepare breakfast.; Fox Shi: A’Ci is so good, I need to find a way to make him happier.
Now let’s guess Stage Four (×
————
By the way, it’s not a bug that Yan Budu was able to move the sword when he returned it (…
Also, according to Journey to the West, monks at that time could drink some vegetarian wine, but meat-based wine (made with meat as an ingredient) was absolutely not allowed.
