Chapter 7 No Need at All! _2

The young house servant breathed a sigh of relief, "Young Master Yi, it's getting late. Shall we return to the compound first and continue our outing tomorrow?"

He couldn't handle the anxiety for the second time.

"Okay."

Chen Yi nodded, followed the house servant back to the back courtyard, but his mind was on what he had just seen in the Martial Arts Arena.

There were only two things that made a deep impression.

One was the carcass of the demon, and the other was the book collection pavilion deep inside.

Once he completes Foundation Establishment, he must spend some time reading more books.

...

As evening approached, Chen Taixing found Duke Wu'an's Chen Taiping in the left wing room.

"Big brother, guess what I found today?"

Chen Taiping was drinking tea in the pavilion and asked curiously, "Did you find a promising youngster at the Martial Arts Arena?"

"Indeed a promising youngster, but not one of those collateral relatives."

Chen Taixing couldn't help but laugh, "It's your good son, Chen Yi."

"Young Master Yi? He went to the Martial Arts Arena?"

Chen Taiping looked serious and gestured for him to elaborate.

"Xiao Yier gave me quite a surprise today."

Chen Taixing didn't say it outright but instead played coy, asking, "Do you remember the feeling when you first saw the carcass of the Demon King?"

"I remember your legs went soft from fear; if not for me supporting you, you would have collapsed."

"..."

Chen Taixing was momentarily speechless, rolling his eyes and retorted, "Weren't you hugging me out of fear?"

"It was not a hug, it was support," Chen Taiping corrected seriously.

"Alright, alright, you're the strongest."

Knowing his big brother cared about face, Chen Taixing did not argue and continued, "But Xiao Yier was not afraid at all when he first saw the corpse of the Demon King."

Chen Taiping was somewhat surprised, "Really?"

"Would I lie to you? He even retorted, 'Why would anyone fear a dead demon?'"

Chen Taixing vividly mimicked, his beard almost floating.

"Would anyone fear a demon carcass?"

Chen Taiping muttered the sentence to himself, a smile gradually appeared on his face, and then he burst into laughter:

"Good, good, good, truly a chip off the old block of Chen Taiping!"

"Right? I also think Xiao Yier has the courage. His journey on the Martial Arts path will surely be brave and progressive."

Just then, Zhou Wanyi was leading Chen Yuan over, her smile brimming as she asked, "What are you brothers talking about? I could hear your laughter from afar."

Chen Taiping couldn't help but say, "Wanyi, Taixing just told me that Yi Er went to the Martial Arts Arena today."

"Really? He's so young, did someone accompany him?"

"No, not only was there no one, but he also..."

Before he could finish, Zhou Wanyi's smile remained unchanged as she tightened her grip on Chen Yuan's hand and said:

"Young Master Yi truly has extraordinary courage. Even if his evaluation for Foundation Establishment is a bit lacking, his future achievements won't be low."

Chen Yuan's small face scrunched up, stealing a glance at his mother, but he dared not say a word.

"Foundation Establishment?"

Chen Taiping's smile faded, and he sighed slightly, "Marquis Taishan will return to the Capital Prefecture soon, and then it will be the day I depart for Beixiong Pass. Unfortunately..."

"Unfortunately, I won't be able to see Yuan Er and Yi Er's successful Foundation Establishment."

"Don't worry, husband, when the time comes, I will send the results to you."

"It can only be so..."

...

Within two days, the Lantern Festival arrived.

The Capital Prefecture lifted the curfew.

With the help of his wet nurse, Lu Luo, Chen Yi was dressed neatly.

He wore a tiger head hat on his head, a black cotton jacket on his body, and cotton shoes on his feet, wrapped up very tightly.

Even so, Lu Luo was still worried and insisted on adding a plush fur coat over his clothes, especially advising, "It's cold outside; you mustn't catch a chill again."

Chen Yi helplessly nodded, tugged at his tiger head hat, a rosy glow on his tender face from the warmth of the furnace.

Such misfortune.

Unbelievably, he caught a cold the day after going to the Martial Arts Arena.

Although it was only half a day, Xia Wanwan, who was nervous, didn't dare let him leave the compound.

And since he had nothing to do in the wing room, she arranged for the teachers to come over for lessons...

So much for the few days of holiday. Gone to waste.

Until the Lantern Festival, Xia Wanwan finally took him out to play as agreed.

"Let's go, your Aunt Zhou Wanyi has already prepared the carriage."

Xia Wanwan pulled Chen Yi, meeting up with Zhou Wanyi and her son in the outer courtyard to board the carriage and leave Duke Wu'an Mansion.

As soon as they left the mansion, Chen Yi and Chen Yuan each took a window, lifting the curtains to peer outside.

The weather today was clear and sunny, and the sunlight was quite warm.

The wide bluestone paved road was flat and clean, with some traces of unmelted snow on the sides.

Most households had red iron doors with thresholds of various heights and roof eaves with tiles, under which hung large red lanterns.

Perhaps because Fengtong Street, where the Marquis Mansion was located, is mostly nobility, there weren't many pedestrians on the road, but there were quite a few black-armored patrols.

Those guards would stop and salute when they saw their carriage from a distance.

Chen Yi recognized the salute as the chest-guarding salute of the court's military officers.

From this, he could easily infer the status and position of Duke Wuan.

Before long, the carriage left Fengtong Street and arrived at an even wider and cleaner road that had lanes for vehicles and pedestrians.

However, what attracted Chen Yi's gaze more were the pedestrians wearing various outfits and the shops along the street.

"This is Vermilion Bird Street, the busiest street in Kyoto Prefecture."

Xia Wanwan looked through the window and said, "Legend has it that when the first emperor conquered the Wei Dynasty and ascended to the throne, an ancient Vermilion Bird flew in from the East Sea, following this street to the Imperial City."

"The street is thusly named."

"Is it the same with Xuanwu, Azure Dragon, and White Tiger?"

Chen Yi didn't doubt the existence of divine beasts like the Vermilion Bird, but he wanted to know if there were other such divine beasts.

He also secretly thought, wouldn't having so many divine beasts turn the Capital City upside down?

"Of course... not!"

Zhou Wanyi took over the conversation, "It was the suggestion of the State Preceptor at the time, since there was a Vermilion Bird, lacking the other three symbols could cause their displeasure."

"Oh."

Chen Yi thought that this made sense.

For the rest of the journey, the carriage traveled south along Vermilion Bird Street, then turned southeast towards the Qujiang area.

Along the way, Zhou Wanyi occasionally spoke up to introduce Chen Yi and Chen Yuan to the Capital City.

Places like the bustling Baohua Street, the East and West Markets filled with countless merchants and shops, and landmarks like Fenghua Building, Academy of the Horizon, and Grand Void Sect.

It really broadened Chen Yi's horizons.

Although he had seen the geomancy map of Kyoto Prefecture before, those crude patterns could not show the prosperity and grandeur of the Capital City.

Just like today's first stop, Dakong Temple.

A temple stood atop a small hill, shrouded in mist, appearing and disappearing intermittently. The halls were tall and broad, dazzling with gold, sparkling under the sunlight, like a holy land.

But on the geomancy map, there was only a simple Buddha head.

Upon reaching the destination, Chen Yi obediently followed beside Xia Wanwan.

Chen Yuan was even more excited, pulling Zhou Wanyi here and there to look and touch, like a curious baby.

The group of four didn't think much of it, but the few Duke Wuan Mansion guards following behind were a bit nervous, fearful of any accidents.

"Burning incense and praying to Buddha on the Lantern Festival is the most effective. I heard that last time Mrs. Li came here to pray for a child, and she was blessed soon after returning."

"That effective?"

"Of course, there are times when it's not effective, it depends on sincerity..."

Listening to the chatter of the pilgrims praying next to him, Chen Yi secretly thought, how could there be such mysteries?

He had learned so much basic knowledge and had never heard of Buddhism's fertility aids, though he had heard quite a few tales of lecherous monks taking their place...

"Yi Er, your aunt and I are going to burn incense. You and Yuan Er wait here, don't run around, understand?"

Chen Yi's gaze shifted to the courtyard not far away, noticing that only female pilgrims were entering and exiting, so he obediently nodded.

After they left, several guards stood by their side, vigilant of the surroundings.

While Chen Yi was idly observing the Golden Summit Temple in the distance, suddenly a series of bell sounds echoed through the mountain.

"Dang, dang, dang..."

Although the bell sounds were melodious and rhythmic, they didn't attract the attention of the people on the mountain.

However, the chanting of Buddhist hymns that followed sent a shiver through everyone.

"The Great Void Buddha Child is born, Buddha's compassion..."

Buddha's son?

Chen Yi was stunned and quickly looked towards the other peak hidden in the mist.

He saw a strong golden light there, a small figure enshrouded by the light projected out, surrounded by a golden Lotus Platform, like a Buddha descending to the world.

But it was at this moment, a panel screen materialized in front of him.

[You witnessed the Great Void Buddha Child's Lotus Platform's radiance, your mind is slightly affected]

[You have absorbed Buddhist wishing power, Rebellion Point +3]