Zhenren Sanshan, like the other disciples of Xuanmiao Temple, was having a meal in the dining hall. He would come and talk to them, more like a friendly greeting.
The conversation was brief, ending after a few words. Zhenren Sanshan found a place to sit down. The Taoist priests of Xuanmiao Temple were accustomed to eating with the Zhenren, and showed no signs of awkwardness or anxiety, behaving naturally.
The dining hall returned to its usual state.
However, on closer inspection, something still felt off.
Sometimes He Sui’an would be sensitive to her surroundings, and she noticed that those Taoist priests were initially secretly observing them. After Zhenren Sanshan appeared, the priests’ gazes became brazen.
It was still early; the doors of Xuanmiao Temple wouldn’t open to welcome worshippers until the beginning of the si hour (around 9 AM).
At this moment, the temple was filled only with Taoist priests, except for the two of them, the outsiders. A thought suddenly crossed He Sui’an’s mind: if these priests silently killed them, no one would know.
Qi Buyan seemed to have a good appetite today, taking another bun to eat.
She waited for him.
Usually, it was Qi Buyan who waited for her to finish eating, but this time it was He Sui’an waiting for him.
Zhenren Sanshan was also eating a bun. After finishing it, he calmly picked up a lotus petal bowl to ladle some porridge but dropped it to the ground with a loud “clang” that echoed through the dining hall.
All the Taoist priests in the hall stood up in unison, causing the tables and chairs to creak.
He Sui’an’s heart skipped a beat.
She had just sat down and now stood up again.
Anyone seeing this situation would sense something was wrong, and He Sui’an certainly did.
A Taoist priest hurriedly ran in from outside the dining hall, saying that Xie Wenqiao was now at Xuanmiao Temple and wanted to see Zhenren Sanshan.
He Sui’an remembered Xie Wenqiao, the high-ranking official who had visited the Duan Residence that day. Why did he come to Xuanmiao Temple today? Given his character, it didn’t seem like he was here to offer incense and pray.
Upon hearing this, Zhenren Sanshan bent down to pick up the lotus petal bowl and looked at the standing Taoist priests.
“Why are you all standing?”
The priests sat back down.
Zhenren Sanshan’s white eyebrows moved slightly. He placed the lotus petal bowl back on the long table, then raised his hand to tidy his clean and neat Taoist robe. He stopped eating and followed the Taoist priest to meet Xie Wenqiao.
Seeing the priests return to their seats, He Sui’an felt relieved.
As Zhenren Sanshan passed by her, he said to He Sui’an, “If Xuanmiao Temple’s hospitality is lacking, I hope the young master and young lady will forgive us.”
Perhaps due to the earlier incident, He Sui’an couldn’t help but have a bad impression. Hearing Zhenren Sanshan’s polite words at this moment, she just nodded and didn’t speak.
Xie Wenqiao stood outside the meditation hall.
He did not come alone; he was accompanied by several bodyguards skilled in martial arts.
Just as when He Sui’an first met Xie Wenqiao, he was still dressed in a red official robe, wearing a black gauze hat and black leather boots, his posture straight and upright like an unyielding pine tree.
Sanshan Zhenren greeted him with a bow.
“Master Xie.”
Xie Wenqiao returned the bow, “Master Xie pays respects to Sanshan Zhenren.”
Sanshan Zhenren replied calmly, “Master Xie, are you here again for that matter? I have already said everything I needed to say. That matter has nothing to do with the Xuanmiao Temple, so why do you persist?”
“Master Xie only wishes to investigate the truth. In the past few years, three people have ascended Dengyun Mountain at night, and without exception, all of them died due to various accidents on the mountain.”
Xie Wenqiao became involved in this matter because one of the deceased was someone he knew.
He only learned about it this year when he returned to Qingzhou.
So he started an investigation.
A thorough investigation revealed many suspicious points, most of which were related to the Xuanmiao Temple on Dengyun Mountain. Xie Wenqiao wanted to uncover the truth and did not want those deaths to remain unexplained.
The Taoists at Xuanmiao Temple were quite cooperative, answering every question, even the highly regarded Sanshan Zhenren. However, Xie Wenqiao still had unresolved doubts.
These doubts needed to be clarified at Xuanmiao Temple.
Therefore, he had come to Xuanmiao Temple several times.
Sanshan Zhenren said, “Master Xie also mentioned that they died due to accidents. What does that have to do with me or Xuanmiao Temple? Xuanmiao Temple even erected a monument at the foot of the mountain, advising the people not to climb the mountain at night.”
He spoke sincerely, “As a monk, I also deeply regret their deaths.”
Xie Wenqiao said, “Master Xie wishes to search the temple.”
Sanshan Zhenren remained calm, “Searching Xuanmiao Temple requires the emperor’s approval. Has Master Xie sought the emperor’s permission?”
By invoking the emperor, Xie Wenqiao indeed had no way to deal with Sanshan Zhenren and Xuanmiao Temple. Moreover, the people of Qingzhou held Xuanmiao Temple in high esteem, so using forceful means would be met with opposition.
Xie Wenqiao understood that any action should not provoke public anger.
Sanshan Zhenren suddenly raised his hand, pointing towards the meditation hall.
He signaled for Xie Wenqiao to look inside.
“Master Xie, you said that everyone who climbed Dengyun Mountain at night in the past few years died. These two young people spent the night at Xuanmiao Temple yesterday and are still safe and sound.”
Xie Wenqiao understood his point.
The meaning of Sanshan Zhenren is that those people died when they went to Dengyun Mountain at night, while these two also went to Dengyun Mountain at night, but because they stayed overnight at Xuanmiao Temple, they were safe and sound.
They wanted to indirectly prove that going to Dengyun Mountain at night is prone to accidents and has nothing to do with Xuanmiao Temple, otherwise they would not have been unharmed.
He Sui’an and Qi Buyan, who became “witnesses” for no reason, walked out of the fasting hall.
Xie Wenqiao looked at them.
He Sui’an didn’t know what they were talking about. She came out as soon as Qi Buyan finished his meal.
Being stared at by many people with inexplicable looks is not a good experience, especially being stared at by officials. Although He Sui’an was not guilty, she didn’t like it either.
Sanshan Zhenren remained as kind and amiable as ever.
Xie Wenqiao’s expression was a bit complicated.
He identified himself to them without stating his purpose and pondered for a moment before asking, “Did you go to Dengyun Mountain last night?”
He Sui’an paused slightly: “That’s right.”
Xie Wenqiao asked again, “Did you encounter anything unusual last night?”
She replied truthfully, “No.”
Sanshan Zhenren remained calm, not afraid they would say anything unfavorable to Xuanmiao Temple. Even if they did, there would be no evidence and it would cause trouble—the young man had killed someone.
Qi Buyan could claim that the young Taoist Yuande tried to kill him first, and he killed in self-defense, which is considered legal under the Great Zhou laws.
But is there evidence, reason?
No evidence, no reason. Sanshan Zhenren could also say they tried to kill Yuande first and succeeded in killing him. If Xie Wenqiao wanted evidence and reason for the killing, he would have to investigate it himself.
As long as the emperor values Xuanmiao Temple, without concrete evidence, Xie Wenqiao wouldn’t dare to act against Xuanmiao Temple rashly.
Sanshan Zhenren usually treated people kindly but was very persistent when it came to Xuanmiao Temple’s matters.
After hearing He Sui’an’s answer, Xie Wenqiao waited for Qi Buyan’s response.
Qi Buyan lifted his eyes.
Sanshan Zhenren held his breath rarely.
Qi Buyan smiled and said, “Except for a bit of noise, we didn’t encounter anything unusual.” Killing and being killed were not unusual for him. On the contrary, he was accustomed to it.
Sanshan Zhenren was mistaken. Qi Buyan didn’t refrain from mentioning last night’s events to avoid trouble; he simply wanted to find what he was looking for as quickly as possible. Other matters could be postponed for the time being.
Postponing doesn’t mean it’s over.
Xie Wenqiao glanced at Sanshan Zhenren, seemingly unable to refute what he had just said. “Why are you climbing the mountain at night?”
“Must I say?” Qi Buyan countered.
“Not necessarily…” Xie Wenqiao was slightly taken aback by the sudden question. Normally, when questioned by an official, most people would answer readily. Even Sanshan Zhenren from the Xuanmiao Temple didn’t act like this.
The boy continued to smile and said, “Alright.” Then he said no more.
Oh well.
Xie Wenqiao didn’t have the mind to focus on them any longer; other matters were more pressing.
He turned thoughtfully to Sanshan Zhenren and said, “I have some matters I’d like to discuss with you privately. May I have an opportunity?”
Sanshan Zhenren nodded and said, “Of course, please follow me.”
He Sui’an watched them leave.
Qi Buyan waved a hand lightly in front of her, his butterfly silver bracelet clinking softly. He Sui’an came back to her senses and saw his face.
“We’re leaving Xuanmiao Temple now.” Qi Buyan leaped down the last stone step in front of the hall, his long hair swinging and the bells at the tips jingling for a while, slowly dispersing in the open space.
“Alright.”
He Sui’an followed him.
Climbing Dengyun Mountain during the day was easier than at night, with much clearer visibility.
By the time they arrived, Xuanmiao Temple had already opened its gates to welcome visitors. They encountered quite a few people coming up from the foot of the mountain.
As they left Xuanmiao Temple, He Sui’an grew more puzzled and randomly stopped an elderly woman to ask what exactly Xuanmiao Temple had done to earn such universal praise from the people of Qingzhou.
The elderly woman, seeing the pretty young girl, answered patiently.
Xuanmiao Temple rose to prominence ten years ago.
Before, it was just an obscure little temple. Ten years ago, Qingzhou was struck by an unprecedented plague. Everyone avoided it like the plague, desperate to flee.
It was Sanshan Zhenren who stepped forward.
Before becoming a Daoist, his family had been doctors for generations. He worked tirelessly day and night, guarding those afflicted during the day and researching a cure at night. He was a truly good man.
It was said he almost fell ill himself.
The emperor took notice of Sanshan Zhenren because of this. When he saw the master had indeed solved the plague, he was greatly pleased and rewarded him generously, personally sending people to expand the temple and naming it Xuanmiao Temple.
Thus, Xuanmiao Temple came into being.
Over the years, Xuanmiao Temple flourished with incense offerings. The emperor valued Sanshan Zhenren greatly, even wanting to bring him to the capital, but the master declined.
The emperor was not angry; instead, he chose to visit the Xuanmiao Temple once a year.
Sanshan Zhenren always resided at Xuanmiao Temple.
As the old woman spoke of this, she was full of praise, clearly showing great respect for Sanshan Zhenren.
Qi Buyan was not interested in matters concerning Xuanmiao Temple, but since He Sui’an was asking beside him, he naturally heard quite a bit.
After gossiping with He Sui’an about Xuanmiao Temple, the old woman smiled and looked at them, asking if they had come to the temple to have their marriage prospects read, praising them incessantly for their good looks.
He Sui’an couldn’t withstand the old woman’s enthusiastic compliments, and her face turned half red.
“We’re not…”
Upon hearing this, the old woman’s eyes seemed to light up, “That’s even better. Young lady, I have a nephew about your age. He passed the provincial examination this year and has a promising future.”
Then she went on and on, boasting about how he wouldn’t take concubines after marriage, aiming for a monogamous relationship like the current emperor who has only one empress, a lifelong commitment to one person, and so on.
He Sui’an was instantly so embarrassed that she didn’t know what to say. After thanking the old woman for answering her questions, she pulled Qi Buyan and ran away.
The old woman behind them didn’t give up and shouted several more times, only stopping when they didn’t turn back.
After running a distance, He Sui’an stopped to catch her breath.
The old woman was really too enthusiastic.
Qi Buyan, however, wasn’t even slightly out of breath, his stamina far superior to He Sui’an’s.
