049 Xin Su

The black donkey's hooves clattered rhythmically on the hard road, creating a crisp, staccato symphony. The others, their faces etched with panic, trotted alongside the donkey cart. Every now and then, they'd throw a furtive glance over their shoulders, as if the very shadows might give chase.

"Senior Brother Li, why are we rushing out of the pass?" Gouwa gasped, swiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Zhengde Temple has thrived in this bustling city for ages. What do you think could force us to leave?" Li Huowang's face was as dark as a tempestuous storm cloud.

Hearing Li Huowang's pointed question, Wang Lihua, her body covered in dark fur, piped up, "Zhengde Temple has coexisted with the imperial palace in this city for so long without a single clash. That alone speaks volumes. Whether the local authorities in Xijing are in league with them or have been infiltrated, we can't trust anyone here."

Li Huowang nodded gravely. It was understandable that an ordinary man like him could be deceived. But it was impossible for all the power - holders in such a vast country to be blind to the truth. There had to be some underhanded dealings at play.

"Anyway, we've had our fill of this place. We already said our goodbyes to Zhao Wu. Leaving the pass was on the cards, sooner or later."

With a swift motion, Li Huowang unfurled a map on the donkey cart. He'd finally managed to get his hands on a map in Xijing, though it was rough and scarce elsewhere.

His fingertip glided slowly across the map, tracing their next route. It would take them across the three countries of Siqi, Luyue, and Xia, and their final destination was Liang Country, Bai Lingmiao's homeland.

"Yeah, come to our place. There aren't those terrifying monks. The monks there are as gentle as lambs," Bai Lingmiao said softly.

Hearing her words, Li Huowang stole a glance at her before returning his gaze to the map. Truth be told, he trusted no one at that moment. He couldn't tell if the monks she described were genuinely kind or just putting on a show.

As mere mortals, they were at a hopeless disadvantage against these mysterious beings.

They walked on until the twilight began to deepen, and finally stopped to rest. Li Huowang stared into the campfire, his heart a whirlwind of anxiety. The pace was agonizingly slow.

To be frank, he wasn't short on silver. If need be, he could pawn that jade pendant and buy each of them a horse. But the problem was, none of them knew how to ride.

"This won't do. We can't take the main roads anymore. It's too easy for them to track us. After dinner, we'll head into the forest."

"Senior Brother Li, here's your noodles. I added heaps of lard. It'll keep you going on the move," a voice said, placing a steaming bowl of noodles in front of Li Huowang, flecked with bits of minced meat.

Bai Lingmiao sat quietly beside him, watching him devour the noodles. She rested her head on her knees and murmured, "Since the monks in Zhengde Temple are no good, what about your business, Senior Brother Li? Do you really have to find a monk? How about a nun?"

Li Huowang gulped down the noodles in his mouth, picked up the bowl, blew on it gently, and then slurp - swallowed a big mouthful of the soup.

"It's okay. It's a minor issue. Compared to those chasing monks, this is nothing."

Since the monks had deceived him, he had to question everything they'd said. Maybe they couldn't solve Danyangzi's problem at all, or maybe Danyangzi wasn't what they'd made him out to be.

The possibly existent or non - existent Danyangzi could wait.

"Is the noodles not enough? I'll serve you more. There's still some in the pot," Bai Lingmiao offered.

Li Huowang shook his head, handed the bowl back to her, stood up, walked over to the idiot, and patted his bald head on tiptoe. "Come on, stop eating. Come with me to pee in the forest."

"Okay..."

In the small forest, Li Huowang and the big idiot stood side by side, "fertilizing" the small trees. Li Huowang first glanced back at the campfire, then whispered some instructions to the idiot.

As night descended, Zhengde Temple began to close its gates. All the monks gradually gathered for the evening chanting, and the whole temple was filled with the rhythmic cadence of sutras.

Jian Dun strolled slowly through the temple, twirling the Buddhist beads in his right hand while his left hand was clenched behind his back. Soon, he reached the Five Buddhas Hall and saw the abbot, who was intently threading Buddhist beads.

"Abbot, I just checked. Layman Xuanyang has left," Jian Dun reported.

Abbot Xinhui, sitting cross - legged on the futon, lifted the Buddhist beads in the water into the air to inspect them. After a moment, he placed the beads on the ground, then picked up a baby from the cradle beside him.

The baby seemed brand - new, still with its fetal hair, tiny as a doll. As it was picked up, it immediately stretched out its red little hands and wailed.

"Alas, poor thing. If we hadn't found you in time, you'd have been drowned by your father," he cooed, gently soothing the baby girl in his arms.

"Abbot, Layman Xuanyang has left," Jian Dun repeated.

"I'm not deaf. Keep your voice down. You'll wake the baby. Start knocking," the abbot said.

"Tap - tap - tap - tap~" The sound of the wooden fish resounded from all around, lending an air of solemnity to the Five Buddhas Hall.

Xinhui carefully placed the baby on the ground, then gently wound the newly - made Buddhist beads around her body. Then, accompanied by the sound of the wooden fish, Xinhui began to chant in a low, menacing voice. It wasn't a Buddhist sutra, but something else entirely.

"The moon hides the jade rabbit; the sun hides the black crow. There are the tortoise and the snake, intertwined..."

As the incantation echoed, the Buddhist beads on the baby's body seemed to come alive. They tightened, crushing the clothes and digging into the delicate skin.

In pain, the baby instinctively struggled and cried, but its cries were drowned out by the rhythmic sound of the wooden fish.

"Intertwined, the life is firm, and a golden lotus can be grown in the fire..."

The Buddhist beads, now completely soaked in blood, had sunk deep into the flesh. An ordinary child would have died on the spot, but this baby was still wailing vigorously.

Xinhui formed a lotus seal with his hands and suddenly pointed forcefully at the blood - smeared baby.

The cries gradually turned into maniacal laughter, and the laughter grew louder and louder, so loud that even the five giant Buddhas in the hall seemed to be grinning malevolently.

"Gather the five elements and use them in reverse. When the work is done, one can become a Buddha or an immortal..."

The sound of the wooden fish gradually faded. The abbot, his face contorted in pain, held the baby's head with both hands and gently pulled, like uprooting a radish. He pulled out the internal organs wrapped by the Buddhist beads from the baby's neck.

Jian Dun, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, quickly stepped forward and held up a vase that had been prepared beside him, presenting it to Xinhui.

Xinhui planted the still - laughing baby girl into the vase filled with red water, just like planting a vegetable. A new vase girl was thus created.

After finishing all this, Xinhui, sitting cross - legged, picked up a new thread and started threading Buddhist beads again. In front of him, dozens of baby girls were lying quietly in a row.

"Since he's left, go and bring him back," the abbot commanded.

"Yes, disciple obeys."

"Be careful. Although that young man knows nothing, his potential is not to be underestimated."

"Thief Danyangzi may be lacking in many ways, but he really has the luck of the gods. I don't know where he found such a rare Xin Su."