Chapter 548

Chapter 548

When Master Qin was still the young master, he had a bad habit of knocking out anyone who dared to get close to his sweetheart, stuffing them into a sack, and throwing them into a latrine.

This is the Qin family style: a simple and direct approach with clear and extreme results.

Whether you're a top disciple from a sect, a refined young master from a noble family, or a witty and humorous outlaw from the martial world, as long as you've been soaked in a cesspool...

Then the person they love will inevitably be unable to accept it, and will feel uncomfortable.

That's how you should use your fist: instead of improving yourself, eliminate all your competitors.

Chen Xiyuan's grandfather, Chen Pingdao, could only observe from afar back then; he didn't even have the right to be covered in a sack.

But Tao Yunhe was indeed soaked in it.

At that time, he was filled with humiliation, but what could he do when his seal was no match for the Qin man's fist?

If you're not as skilled as others, you can only watch helplessly as the destiny you longed for turns into garbage.

However, after so many years, it would be too dramatic to say that you haven't gotten over the heartbreak from back then.

Youth is never fleeting; rather, it's just that short period in a person's life when they are prone to impulsiveness and naivety.

After starting their own families and becoming parents, what is there left to let go of? What seems like love and affection at the time is actually a trivial matter in retrospect.

Admittedly, Tao Yunhe still remembers Miss Liu's unparalleled beauty back then, but that is not the reason he donated his grandson to her, nor is it the reason he can still smell that stench of feces and picks his nose from time to time.

He didn't go to Qin Liu's wedding; he didn't want to see that arrogant Qin fellow.

After the man surnamed Qin became unstoppable on the river, he took the opportunity to light the lamp again, and he no longer cared so much about what had happened before.

To be treated like that by Young Master Qin is called being rude; to be treated like that by King Qin is called being refined.

Regardless of what that man surnamed Qin thought, Tao Yunhe could at least offer himself some solace.

But after hearing about the dramatic changes in the Qin and Liu families and learning what the Qin family had done, he knew that he would never be able to get rid of the stench in his nose for the rest of his life.

There are some things that even though he is the head of the Dragon King Clan, he is powerless to change. Even if he were willing to offer assistance and protection, Qin Liu's dignity would not allow it. How could two legitimate Dragon King Clans become vassals of another? This would be a greater humiliation than the destruction of their families!
At this moment, although Tao Yunhe had his eyes closed, he raised his hand to invite the pavilion next door. After putting his hand down, he sat up straight and leaned forward a little.

The location of the pavilion can be chosen by oneself. I didn't expect her to actually come. But since she's here, I'll stay here today to protect her. It won't be in vain that I've been influenced by that Qin guy for decades.

Liu Yumei stepped into the pavilion and sat down.

He first picked up the tea, took a sip, frowned slightly, and then lightly touched the food on the plate with his fingertips, showing little interest.

The only truly noteworthy delicacy at Qinglong Temple is its vegetarian noodles.

But we probably won't be able to eat it today, because ordinary monks can't do it; it has to be cooked with real fire by a highly skilled monk.

When the old dog returned home after his journey, he told himself that he had encountered the contemporary lamplighter of Qinglong Temple on the river. He happened to be standing on the opposite side, so he beat him half to death and then made him cook bowl after bowl of vegetarian noodles, which he ate to his heart's content.

The old dog even brought back a bowl for herself. She took one bite and put down her chopsticks; the noodles had clumped together.

Old Dog was embarrassed by this, saying that he hadn't thought it through and should have brought the monk home with him.

Since the monk's mind is already broken, going back would just mean lighting the lamp again. He might as well go somewhere else to clear his head and cook some noodles.

Once she's tired of it, let the monk go back. I reckon by then the monk will have come to terms with it.

The current abbot of Qinglong Temple is not the one who lit the lamps at Qinglong Temple in the past. After returning to the temple, the one who cooked noodles announced that he would go into seclusion to study Buddhism and has not appeared in the world since. There are rumors in the martial arts world that he has already passed away.

Jiang Xiuzhi wiped away her tears, took out a food box, carried it over, first placed the food box on the stone table, and then laid out the pastries one by one.

These are all dishes that Liu Yumei used to love to eat, and Jiang Xiuzhi personally prepared and brought them over.

Liu Yumei glanced at her, and without any ceremony, sat down to the side, picked up a piece, and took a bite.

"Your skills haven't declined at all; in fact, they're even better than before. What, did you start living the life of serving others after marrying into the Chen family?"

"I lived a life of luxury as the mistress of the house for quite a few years. It was because Xi Yuan had a good appetite since she was a child that I started cooking for her again, and she gradually regained her appetite."

"That girl does eat a lot."

She was always the first to sit down at the table and the last to leave. She didn't drink alcohol, she just ate.

"She stayed at her sister's place, which caused her sister a lot of trouble."

"Not really. First, she's not picky about food, so she's easy to feed; second, the food she's eating isn't mine."

In Nantong, all three meals a day were paid for by the family through public accounts, which meant that Li Sanjiang paid for them.

Good fortune is indeed a mysterious thing. In his early years, Li Sanjiang was able to eat his fill and his family was not hungry. He lived a comfortable life with a little wine and meat. As more and more mouths to feed came to his house and it was like a feast every day, his business was still able to stand up and he was still able to make a living.

"Sister, try this."

"Ah."

"Try this one too, I've made some improvements."

"it is good."

Jiang Xiuzhi suddenly choked up, and her eyes reddened again.

Liu Yumei laughed and said, "Alright, I'm not eating so much just to give you face, I'm just really hungry."

When she's at home and no one cooks, she has to sit on the couch.

I secretly cooked some wontons once, but they weren't cooked through the first time. When I cooked them again, the wrappers and filling separated. They were edible, but not presentable.

This time when she came to Qinglong Temple, A-Ting wasn't there on the way, and she felt quite uncomfortable.

Thankfully, we gave up the idea of ​​carrying lamps across the river back then; otherwise, we would have suffered so much hardship sleeping in the open.

Jiang Xiuzhi wiped away her tears again, and instead of returning to her own pavilion, she stayed by her side.

Liu Yumei: "By the way, how did you know I would come?"

It couldn't have been Chen Xiyuan who notified them. Qiongya is farther from Qinglong Temple than they are, and their visit was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Jiang Xiuzhi: "I didn't know you would come, but I thought you might, so I came first. Anyway, my son-in-law is in charge of the family now."

Liu Yumei: "It's quite similar to my family's."

Jiang Xiuzhi: "Master Li..."

Liu Yumei: "Let's call him Xiaoyuan."

Chen Pingdao's matter was unlucky, but it was resolved. Most importantly, Chen Yatou is now on Xiao Yuan's side, which is a new friendship that is willing to risk one's life for.

"After meeting Patriarch Li, I can't bring myself to use that title anymore." After a pause, Jiang Xiuzhi continued, "Only in front of you, Sister, does Patriarch Li act like a junior, right?"

Liu Yumei: "Sigh, I'm afraid of him now too."

In the pavilion next door, Tao Yunhe's earlobes twitched slightly.

Liu Yumei had previously drawn away all the mist, allowing him to hear the conversation.

He was sitting up straight, but he also wanted to talk. It wasn't appropriate for him to initiate the conversation, but if you asked him a few questions, he would respond readily.

Even if they talk about their grandchildren, they never seem to get to their own grandchildren.

This made Tao Yunhe silently curse Tao Zhuming in his heart again:

That son of a bitch is such a disappointment.

At this moment, an old monk, dressed in a simple yellow robe, came out carrying a bowl of vegetarian noodles.

His appearance attracted the attention of many people in the pavilion. When they arrived, they had already noticed that most of the "high monks" of Qinglong Temple had left the temple to avoid disaster, so his appearance seemed very strange at this moment.

As the old monk walked, the clear stream shimmered beside him, and the grass swayed in the breeze—a testament to the great virtue of a high-ranking monk.

Someone recognized him.

This is Master Kongyi, the previous generation's lamp-lighter of Qinglong Temple.

He hasn't passed away yet, and he hasn't left the temple.

Kong Yi walked to the pavilion where Liu Yumei was and stopped.

“Benefactor Liu, this humble monk has come to fulfill a vow.”

Back then, Lord Qin could have killed him, but he didn't. He just made him cook noodles, regardless of whether he wanted to or not. In the end, he was spared his life because of these noodles.

He didn't know how to cook noodles, but he did know how to use Buddhist fire. So, in the early stages, Lord Qin ate bowl after bowl to let him get used to it, find the feeling, and adjust the taste. He also asked him to make the last bowl so that he could take it back to his wife.

Liu Yumei glanced at Kong Yi, said nothing, but nodded to Jiang Xiuzhi.

Jiang Xiuzhi got up and walked out, taking the bowl of vegetarian noodles from Kong Yi's hand and bringing it back.

Liu Yumei picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, shook her head, and put them down again.
"These vegetarian noodles taste better when they're clumped together."

Kong Yi smiled slightly, turned around and walked into the Bixi River. The water reached his knees and rippled with golden waves.

He sat down, put his hands together, and began to recite the Heart Sutra.

A soft halo rose from the stream in front of him, and the ancient charm of the lotus flower rippled outwards.

Today's ceremony was organized by him. If we wish for the Buddha's lotus to bloom, we need the passing away of a high-ranking monk as a catalyst.

Kong Yi did not explain whether he, who had been in seclusion, knew about the events of the past few years. Whether he knew or not, the events had already happened.
Liu Yumei didn't even ask him if he knew about the things Qinglong Temple had done behind the scenes. As the one seeking revenge, it would be crazy for him to actively distinguish who was innocent among the enemies.

As the chanting of the sutra continued, the lotus flower gradually grew. Although it was not fully open, strands of golden light were already emanating from it.

The lotus is a sacred symbol in Buddhism and also represents the Buddhist interpretation of cause and effect.

This golden light clung to everyone around Bixi, creating a mysterious resonance.

No one refused or actively severed this cause and effect; instead, they allowed it to entangle them before converging in the Bixi River.

One by one, the illusory images of golden lotuses bloom in the stream, fresh and beautiful, all in their prime.

They represent the young people who carry on the traditions of each family.

Some people do not show the corresponding manifestation, which means that the person who lit the lamp in their home has died or has lit the lamp a second time and is no longer on this river, or they are simply here to observe the ceremony.

However, some people, even without their own lamplighter, can still manifest golden lotuses on their bodies.

This is understandable. Even if no one from their own family is on the river, they can still bribe others, such as small and medium-sized inherited forces, or even outlaws in the martial arts world.

Just like that fourth elder of the Ming family, whose body was covered in golden light, with corresponding golden lotus phantoms growing below him.

Ming Qinyun is already "dead," so it's impossible for her to come, but the head of the Ming family didn't come either.

Logically speaking, he should have been there for this good show and certainly didn't want to miss it. But he should have been even more afraid that he might go crazy afterward and make a desperate gamble, flipping the table here and dragging him down with him.

An elder from the Ling family also arrived. He sat there with an air of composure. When he saw the golden lotus phantom representing the five elements of Ling that was drawn out from his body, a slight smile appeared on his lips, revealing a hint of satisfaction.

Judging from this, they probably don't know that their lamplighter has already kowtowed to them in Nantong.

As the chanting of sutras intensified, the golden lotuses in the stream became even more prominent, making it easier for those unfamiliar with this practice to "see" them clearly.

Liu Yumei saw the lotus flowers of her own Xiaoyuan and Ali, and following the golden light emanating from Jiang Xiuzhi beside her, she also saw Chen Xiyuan.

This is an open game, a way of revealing everything without saying a word.

Now that things have come to this, there's no going back. Just like when Ali returned on his deathbed years ago, even though Liu Yumei knew which families had pulled strings behind the scenes, there was nothing she could do.

But this time, it's good.

This is exactly what I want.

Liu Yumei was very satisfied with Qinglong Temple's hospitality.

After eating her fill, Liu Yumei took the handkerchief handed to her by Jiang Xiuzhi and wiped her hands. Her gaze then silently swept over each of the surrounding pavilions.

Those present were all seasoned foxes, and they all gave reasonable and normal responses.

Along the stream outside the pavilion, there are even more small tables, which, while refreshing and elegant, also serve as proof of a lower social standing.

Liu Yumei also looked at the people by the stream. Under such pressure, their reactions were inevitably somewhat distorted.

I do know most of them; they're all people who can stand on the first floor of Wangjiang Tower.

But for now, Liu Yumei still wanted to get to know them again, to compare them with the people themselves, the power behind them, and the lotus in the stream, because she would have to remind them later:
"Oh dear, your granddaughter is dead? What happened? Your grand-disciple is gone?"

However, even if I didn't remember clearly or remembered it wrong, it doesn't seem to be a big problem. At worst, I can just point to the recently withered golden lotus and ask the whole audience a question:
"Come and take a look, see if anyone has died here!"

Enjoy life while you can. If I don't vent all the pent-up frustration and anger I've accumulated over half a lifetime today, wouldn't I be letting down Xiaoyuan and the others for their thoughtfulness and filial piety?
The matter on the river should have been handled on the river, but you are the ones who broke the rules one after another.

In Liu Yumei's mind, she recalled a scene from her childhood, standing in the ancestral hall with the phantom image of Liu Qingcheng behind her.

You should be glad that my Liu family will never produce another Liu Qingcheng.

Unfortunately, my son Xiaoyuan looks down on Liu Qingcheng's crude methods.

A new round of tea and snacks was served by a group of monks. These monks were generally very young, some were even children. Their robes varied, some were excessively exquisite, and some were tattered. They were clearly not monks from Qinglong Temple, but beggar monks from the Jianghu (martial arts world).

They carried tea and snacks to the pavilion and the stream, surrounded by golden light. But what was reflected in the stream was not the phantom of a golden lotus, but swaying water plants.

As a legitimate Buddhist sect in the martial arts world, Qinglong Temple has a strong appeal and influence on the group of beggar monks. If Qinglong Temple issues an order to exorcise demons to Misheng, then the small groups of beggar monks will definitely respond enthusiastically.

Those who were not good at fighting, or who were too young, were sent to the temple, where their masters or senior brothers were heading to the front lines to complete their missions.

This was an honor for them, but the high monks of Qinglong Temple had already left this place, yet they insisted on including them, treating them like water plants and showing no concern whatsoever.

However, the growth of aquatic plants has not stopped. Previously, there were just many of them, but now many of them have grown very thick and strong, and they continue to grow thicker.

"puff!"

Kong Yi, who was sitting upright in the stream, spat out a mouthful of blood, and his body trembled.

An invisible backlash struck him and simultaneously enveloped the entire Qinglong Temple.

From a certain location within the core area of ​​Qinglong Temple, a corresponding countermeasure was detected, neutralizing the attack.

Liu Yumei narrowed her eyes.

Tao Yunhe opened his eyes, his expression grave.

This is definitely not a beggar monk; to be precise, he is not just a beggar monk.

It is likely that Qinglong Temple expelled some of its disciples a long time ago, canceling their registration and removing them from the temple so that they could join these groups of beggar monks in the martial arts world.

This means that their identities have been cleansed through this method. Of course, this cannot completely prevent the backlash of cause and effect, but it can at least reduce it. In addition, the one who made the move earlier should be the spirit of the Dragon King in Qinglong Temple. Although the price is high, it can be borne.

In a pavilion, an elderly man gazed in one direction. Dressed in black casual clothes, he appeared very refined. He sighed in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft:
"How could you do that? That's outrageous."

The old man's surname was Zhou, and his name was Zhou Huai-ren. Although he had no sect or school and only passed down his family business, he held a very special position in the martial arts world because Wangjiang Tower belonged to his family.

Qinglong Temple's use of the spirit of the Dragon King within its walls to offset the karmic repercussions of such actions is utterly disrespectful and blasphemous.

Liu Yumei picked up the unpalatable tea, gently scraped the rim with the lid, making a slightly grating sound, and said:

"When I was young, I loved traveling and sightseeing, but I was restless and never came to this peaceful Buddhist place. Now that I'm older, I'm able to understand some Buddhist scriptures."

"Since I'm already here, I wonder if Qinglong Temple could arrange for me to pay homage to the spirit of the temple's Dragon King? This would fulfill my deep respect for the selfless dedication of generations of Buddhist monks who have protected all living beings?"

Master Kongyi continued chanting the sutra while shaking his head.

It's not that it's forbidden, but that it's impossible.

The spirits of other Dragon Kings are mostly located in ancestral halls or sacred sites. Although they are not easily shown to outsiders, it is a normal procedure for visitors to pay homage to the spirits of the Dragon Kings.

After paying their respects to Liu Yumei, all the young people who come to Nantong go to the east room to offer incense to the Dragon King's tablet.

But from some unknown time, Qinglong Temple began to place layer upon layer of "shackles" on its own sacred temple where the spirit of the Dragon King was enshrined.

Not only are outsiders not allowed to visit, but even within Qinglong Temple, only the abbot and a very few others are permitted to enter the sacred temple.

Because the holy monks and dragon kings who came from Qinglong Temple in history would cut off their own path to Buddhahood and become monks of their time; but now, Qinglong Temple is constantly moving closer to that great vow of becoming a Buddha, and the temple is welcoming more and more Buddha statues and Bodhisattva offerings.

This is the current choice of the monks at Qinglong Temple, which conflicts with the path taken by their predecessors.

If they couldn't bear to lose the protection of the Dragon King's spirit, then they would build layers upon layers to seal off the Dragon King's spirit from the temple's history, isolating it from external perception and using it as a tool.

Unable to let go of the merits of leaving the river, each generation of Qinglong Temple has a successor to light the lamp. However, it is hard to say whether the temple's higher-ups truly hope that their lamp-lighters can ultimately win and become the Dragon King.

Just like Zhao Yi, who had dented the cement in front of him back then.

The reason why Liu Yumei thought highly of Zhao Yi and didn't let Uncle Qin fill in the cement pit was that Zhao Yi removed the plaque of the Jiujiang Zhao family, and although he didn't have the name of the Dragon King, he did the actions of the Dragon King.

The reason why the Zhao family of Jiujiang has taken an unexpected development path is not only because the ancestors of the Zhao family were only obsessed with "longevity" in their ancestral home and neglected the construction of the family, but also because they did not dare to build too much.

Because they were also unsure how this new Dragon King, surnamed Zhao, would view "them" if he were to actually become a Dragon King in their own family.
As Liu Jie's former confidante, Jiang Xiuzhi understood why Liu Jie had specifically brought up this not-so-secret matter, so she smiled and took the initiative to help her sister make the arrangements:

“Sister is right. I also want to go and pay my respects, but the masters at the temple seem to disagree. I don’t understand. Shouldn’t paying homage to the spirit of the Dragon King be a solemn act filled with longing? Why are the masters at Qinglong Temple keeping it a secret?”

Jiang Xiuzhi wouldn't have dared to say such things when she was young, but now she is the matriarch of the Chen family. Although the Chen family doesn't like to get involved in the affairs of the martial arts world and the spirit of the Dragon King in the family has just been extinguished, the Chen family's foundation is well preserved, so she is not afraid of pointing at a monk and cursing him as a bald thief.

Most importantly, disregarding past relationships, the fact that their precious granddaughter is determined to stay in Nantong leaves the Chen family with no choice but to tie themselves to Qin Liu.

With a "thud," Liu Yumei placed her teacup on the table. The reverberation caused the tea in the hands of all the guests in the pavilion and by the stream to tremble, signifying that what Miss Liu was about to say was not only addressed to Qinglong Temple, but also directed at everyone present: "What else could it be?"
because,

Shame on our ancestors!

……

Dawn is approaching, and the sky is about to break.

Li Zhuiyuan got up earlier than usual this morning. His great-grandfather went to the old carpenter's house for drinks last night and didn't come back, so he slept in his great-grandfather's room, while A-Li slept in her own room.

Judging by the distance, Grandma Liu, Uncle Qin, and Aunt Liu should be very close to their respective destinations.

After washing up, Li Zhuiyuan carried the basin back to his room. As he looked down, he saw Yasheng sitting below him, and the monk was also looking up at him.

There's something to say.

"Now that things have come to this, what else is there to say?"

"It's all nonsense."

"Wait here, I'm coming down."

Ah Li stayed in the room, checking the two of their hiking backpacks.

The three coffins downstairs were empty, and Tan Wenbin and the other two slept in the kiln as usual.

When I approached Yayoi, he stood up. His robe was damp with dew, and his brows showed signs of hardship.

This means that Yayoi released the restraints last night to actively seek out the bone-chilling cold.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I don't think it's because my words at the banquet last night touched you that you wanted to say something to me?"

Yayoi shook his head: "When the senior bestowed that vast amount of Buddha-nature upon me in the Zhenjun Temple, I already recognized him as the current Dragon King in my heart."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Don't accept that favor; I didn't want that Buddha-nature."

Yayoi: "Judging by actions, not intentions."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Stop talking nonsense."

Yayoi: "Senior, do you know that I have always kept my relationship with you a secret? How did the temple find out about it this time?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Did you suspect Zhao Yi?"

Yayoi: "I did have some doubts."

Li Zhuiyuan: "It won't be Zhao Yi. He's good at scheming, but if he wanted to scheme against someone close to me, he would ask me for permission beforehand."

Yayoi: "I have a close friend at the temple named Yago."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Have you told him about your situation?"

Yayoi: "Never."

Li Zhuiyuan: "But only from his perspective can he see some clues about you? Even if he can't see everything, he can at least see the special relationship between you and me?"

Yayoi: "Yes."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Qinglong Temple is using this Miwu to threaten you into cooperating with their plan?"

Yayoi: "Yes."

Li Zhuiyuan: "The Demon Suppression Tower, the Sweeping Monk, close friends... a clichéd setting, an even more clichéd logic."

Yayoi: "Yago was once my only friend."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I suspect that Mi Wu himself may not even know who he really is."

Yayoi remained silent.

Li Zhuiyuan: "You've actually already guessed it, Mi Wu was a thorn deliberately planted outside the Demon Suppression Tower, right?"

Yayoi nodded.

Li Zhuiyuan: "But even though you know he's a fake, you still can't let go of him when they use Mi Wu to threaten you, and you still want to save him."

Yayoi: "Yes."

Li Zhuiyuan: "This is an open strategy, and you're missing that."

How much emotion does it take to fill a lonely, withered heart?
Not much, just a tiny bit.

Yayoi: "I still want to save Migo, even if he is a fake, I hope he can continue to exist in another way."

Li Zhuiyuan: "If Qinglong Temple loses everything this time, the fake Miwu won't be left to you either. Will you be sad?"

Yayoi stretched out her palm and slowly clenched it: "In the midst of emptiness, one should grasp what is truly in one's hand."

Migo was a nail, bait to lure Yayoi, but because her great-grandfather suddenly appeared, he directly fed Yayoi meat, big chunks of braised pork.

In fact, the whole story had already been distorted. Qinglong Temple wanted to use Migo to threaten Yayoi, but they did not know that Yayoi had already fallen into demonic possession.

From the very beginning, the unfolding of this matter deviated from Qinglong Temple's original plan.

Yayoi's choice to cooperate and become an informant in Nantong was not because she wanted to be a pure informant.

Even now, in this wave, Yayoi had already decided what to do when she set off from the temple.

Li Zhuiyuan: "That's really nonsense."

Yayoi: "But now, I can give you some guidance, for example, I will tell you what I will do."

Li Zhuiyuan looked up and shouted, "Ali, throw down the booklet on my desk."

"Splash!"

A book fell to the ground; Li Zhuiyuan didn't catch it, but Yayoi did.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Look at the first page."

Yayoi turned to the first page and saw his own name. Yayoi smiled.

Li Zhuiyuan: "The first knot will be very difficult; it's a wanted notice for you from the martial arts world."

I don't believe that Qinglong Temple would only arrange for those small fry who are eager for the bounty. They must have used a more powerful setup, because only this first knot is suitable for arranging for those who are not lamplighters. They must be willing to spend money.

But in my plan, I'll only leave you with this knot.

Yayoi, I want you, the traitor, to kill all these 'Jianghu figures' in the first knot as quickly as possible.

Then, you, the mole, don't need to head straight to my destination. Check each knot one by one. If any of them make a mistake, you'll be responsible for fixing it for me.

You're the safety net in my whole plan, understand?

Yayoi: "The traitor understands."

Only Yayoi is suitable to be the fallback, firstly because she is the one who triggered this wave; everyone else can be absent from the first knot, but Yayoi must be.

More importantly, Yayoi is extremely strong now.

After Yayoi in the True Lord Temple obtained a massive amount of Buddhist nature, he was able to single-handedly kill many True Lords who had transformed into demons. Not to mention that later, he returned to the Demon Suppression Tower and absorbed a large amount of demonic nature.

Qinglong Temple was truly wasting Yayoi's potential by using her as bait; the current Yayoi definitely has the ability to be a skilled angler.

However, this is indeed the consistent style of Qinglong Temple: the spirit of the holy monk is covered with layers of shrines but no one goes to worship, and the Buddhist disciple is born in the temple but is sent to sweep the Demon Suppression Pagoda.

Ah Li carried two heavy hiking backpacks down the stairs with one hand, but after reaching the bottom, she stopped, slung her own backpack over her shoulder, and then grabbed the boy's backpack with both hands. In this way, she walked out of the hall and into the boy's sight.

As usual, Li Zhuiyuan took his bag from A Li and carried it on his back, even though he knew that A Li could carry it with one finger without feeling tired.

In the distance, a group of people walked over as scheduled.

The lamplighters walked in the front row, followed by their attendants.

Compared to when they arrived yesterday morning, they were no longer relaxed, but rather solemn.

Li Zhuiyuan turned around and faced them.

Everyone stopped in their tracks, not intentionally, but as if there was an invisible force drawing them together.

Li Zhuiyuan turned and walked towards the back of the house: "Come with me."

The temple was not large to begin with, and it was not spacious enough to accommodate all the lamp-lighters. After the attendants also came in, it became a bit crowded.

However, those entering Li Zhuiyuan's dojo for the first time were all curiously observing the environment.

Even those from the Dragon King's family were amazed by the exquisite craftsmanship here.

Tao Zhuming: "You can see the traces that it has been renovated many times."

Ling Wuxing nodded.

Tao Zhuming: "This shouldn't be happening."

Before each generation of travelers to the river lit their lamps, they would receive assistance from their family's generosity. No family could compare to this one with such profound heritage, especially since this family had no one else.

Given his status in the Qin Liu family and the high expectations placed upon him, it wouldn't be surprising if Old Madam Liu gave him an entire Dragon King ancestral home.

Tao Zhuming: "The master is wearing patched old clothes?"

The Five Elements are described as: "Tranquility and simplicity."

Tao Zhuming: "Brother, we're about to join Ma Chongfeng, so there's no need for flattery now, right?"

Ling Wuxing: "Then can you explain?"

Tao Zhuming: "That's true."

Tan Wenbin explained, "It's because there was an accident when my son Xiaoyuan was lighting the lamp, which prevented my mother from making any preparations for him."

Upon hearing this, many people were shocked, even Luo Xiaoyu, who had lived in Nantong for a long time, was speechless.

If this were to be said, who in the entire martial arts world would believe it? The patriarch who owns two ancestral homes is actually a roughneck who wanders the rivers and lakes with nothing but his bare hands.

No, normally, even a commoner would make some preparations before lighting a lamp; this guy is even worse than a commoner.

Luo Xiaoyu finally understood why this person had agreed so readily when he suggested moving the resources from the cave to this place.

Sigh, compared to this person, I was living a life of luxury and ease in the sect.

Wang Lin blinked: At least he still had a piece of paper.

Ling Wuxing: "I admire and respect him greatly."

Tao Zhuming: "Tao is still breastfeeding."

Starting from a low point might be looked down upon before you've risen to prominence; but once you've established yourself, the lower your starting point, the more it demonstrates your capabilities. You won't feel ashamed or embarrassed; instead, you'll feel proud.

Moreover, Li Zhuiyuan, with his "noble" status, took the path of a commoner, which truly makes him a perfect fit.

Everyone grew up listening to their elders tell stories about the Dragon King, so they all know just how wonderful these "Dragon King stories" must be.

Li Zhuiyuan pointed to the altar, gesturing for Yayoi to sit down.

Yayoi sat cross-legged in meditation.

When the first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the barriers of the temple and shone upon Yayoi, she closed her eyes, and an intense, frightening golden light emanated from her body.

Many people's expressions changed, because Yayoi's strength exceeded their previous expectations.

If we disregard that person's team, it's possible that none of us who came to help are as good as the traitor.

Soon, everyone calmed down and focused their attention on the business.

The altar was activated, and the dragon-patterned compass that Li Zhuiyuan had placed on the table slowly began to rotate.

Tao Zhuming: "I have enough Buddha-nature, but it is not enough to deduce the cause and effect of this wave."

Luo Xiaoyu: "If we could have set up a better formation sooner, perhaps that would have been fine."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded. It was indeed not enough, because Yayoi only had Buddha-nature, not a personhood.

The boy walked up to the altar and stood behind Yayoi.

This wave originated at Qinglong Temple and was born in Buddhism. Since you are using Buddhism to help create this wave, I will also use Buddhist methods to propagate your wave.

It's like someone using feng shui secrets to scheme against Grandma Liu, or challenging Uncle Qin to a one-on-one fight. When Yayoi was thrown over as bait, the boy knew he could deduce all the key points in reverse.

A lotus mark appeared between Li Zhuiyuan's eyebrows, giving him a solemn and dignified appearance.

This time, everyone present, except for a few, was astonished.

Zhu Yiwen: "Am I seeing things?"

Feng Xionglin: "Shall I pinch you?"

In Lujiazhuang, Yuxi, the young man officially made a name for himself. He thought that the patriarch's journey across the river was the limit, but unexpectedly...

Tao Zhuming: "Grandpa, in my generation, even the Bodhisattva is traveling the river."

Yayoi closed her eyes and spoke a truthful sentence: "Senior Li, you have bestowed all your Buddha-nature upon this humble monk."

The Five Elements are commanded: "They only possess the fruition of enlightenment, but lack Buddha-nature, and do not desire immortality!"

Xu Mofan: "The Dragon King should do so."

The shock caused by the Bodhisattva's identity led to the recognition of the Dragon King's identity.

Tan Wenbin didn't offer any further explanation, since his son, Xiao Yuan, was indeed not interested in the so-called immortality.

This kind of concealment is not considered seeking fame and reputation. If we told them that if Brother Yuan practiced martial arts, he would be targeted by the Heavenly Dao, wouldn't the effect be better?

The old folks and the patriarch might hesitate and back down, but look at the way these guys are looking right now; hearing this will only make them more excited.

This is what youth is all about—so young that when you look up, you dare to stare directly at the sky.

Chen Xiyuan always had a smile on her face. Anyway, as long as someone admired her little brother, she, as the older sister, was happy.

Moreover, Miss Chen felt a sense of smug satisfaction, like a prophet: "You're only just realizing how amazing this little brother is? Hey, I figured it out a long time ago!"

Li Zhuiyuan placed his hand on Yayoi's bald head, and invisible golden threads gathered densely, initiating the deduction.

Tan Wenbin went to check the compass and report the numbers, while A Li registered them.

Soon, coordinates appeared one by one.

A similar scene was experienced by Zhu Yiwen and his team in Yuxi. They thought that guiding the waves was the limit, but they didn't expect that the other party could do it so professionally, and even the subordinates were so skilled in cooperating.

This means that the person in front of us has a deeper understanding of the rules on the river than anyone imagined.

If you can't beat them in terms of strength, and you can't outmaneuver them in terms of rules and mechanisms, then after thinking it over, if you really have to find a way to be better than them, then the only option is age?
But after discovering this, an even deeper shock followed: how old was he?
Fortunately, having already experienced setbacks, no matter how many consecutive setbacks I suffer, I can no longer become despondent. Instead, they deepen my understanding and uplift my spirits in a different way.

It's no longer about you being stronger than me and me acknowledging you as the Dragon King; it's about you being the image of the Dragon King of this generation in my heart.

Perhaps the criticism that Qi Longwang has suffered is understandable.

Because many people of that generation witnessed Uncle Qin's power.

Just like the group of people in the dojo, if Li Zhuiyuan were to encounter an accident and someone else were to become the Dragon King, they would also think that the Dragon King was undeserving of the title and that he had gotten a bargain.

The altar ceased functioning, and Li Zhuiyuan put away the Bodhisattva image.

Following the schedule in the plan, Tan Wenbin distributed the coordinates to each external team in order, ensuring that each team received at least two coordinates.

This is more than Li Zhuiyuan expected. The reason for so many knots is that the final chosen trap requires more time to prepare, and it also means that it is more dangerous.

Li Zhuiyuan's gaze swept over everyone present.

The lamplighters stood upright, their faces resolute. Even their respective attendants looked at Li Zhuiyuan with a hint of admiration, even... fanaticism. Such emotions were not even shown to the lamplighters who followed them.

I no longer want to compete with you, but rather I want to go out and explore together with you.

The enemy outnumbers us, and the road ahead is fraught with danger; none of that matters now. Under the leadership of such a person, they feel they have no reason to lose, and even if they do lose, they are willing to accept it.

If the unanimous response at last night's banquet was an expression of approval and blessing, then now everyone is waiting for the true Dragon King's decree.

No divine intervention was needed; what the young man had shown was enough. At least in the minds of everyone present, the final blessing from the heavens was merely a formality.

No matter what kind of patriarch or bodhisattva is traveling along the river, they can't compare to the current Dragon King, who is currently traveling along the river!

Li Zhuiyuan:
"I'll be waiting for you at the last knot to meet me, and then we'll go up to Qinglong Temple together!"
Ladies and gentlemen,

This time, we'll let this corrupt and decadent world see blood!

After a brief silence, a collective and resounding response followed:
"We obey the Dragon King's command!"

(End of this chapter)