The path down the mountain was unobstructed.
None of the four spoke much, perhaps the lingering gloom of Abbot Yansong’s passing still weighed heavily on their hearts.
Miao Ji and Chang Shan were the most grief-stricken, as Abbot Yansong was the most highly respected figure in Hanshan Temple. His death had far-reaching implications, potentially even causing turmoil within Buddhism.
Alas, these were troubled times!
The four walked all the way to the foot of the mountain, where they flagged down a taxi by the roadside.
After getting into the car, their moods improved slightly. Chang Shan, unable to hold back, asked, “Yan, where are we heading north?”
As a "hostage," Chang Shan wanted to know where he was about to be taken.
Yan Shouyi replied, “Changbai Mountain.”
“What are we going there for?”
Old Jin quipped, “Little tadpoles looking for their mother.”
“Get lost!” Yan Shouyi shot back, glaring at Old Jin, who chuckled.
Chang Shan, having some idea of what Yan Shouyi was up to, couldn’t help but sigh, “Most monks at Hanshan Temple are orphans, or those who have lost all their loved ones and wish to achieve detachment from worldly desires. I’ve never known what it’s like to have a family.”
Silence fell upon them. To comfort Chang Shan, Old Jin patted his broad shoulder and said, “Don’t be too sad. When we get north, Jin Ye will take you to ride a Mongolian horse.”
The taxi driver, hearing Old Jin say this to a monk, nearly swerved into a roadside ditch.
After regaining control of the vehicle, he turned back to them with a blank expression and said, “You all talk amongst yourselves. I won’t hear anything from now on.”
Miao Ji frowned, puzzled by the driver’s sudden change in demeanor.
Yan Shouyi, sitting in the front, turned to explain, “I now have the ability to control others’ minds. To prevent the driver from hearing things he shouldn’t, I’ve temporarily put him under my control.”
Everyone suddenly understood, and at the same time, they marveled at Yan Shouyi’s growing abilities.
“Let’s talk about something serious now,” Yan Shouyi said.
Old Jin was bewildered. Wasn’t his attempt to cheer up Chang Shan a serious matter?
“I have something to discuss, but I’m not sure if I should,” Miao Ji spoke first.
Yan Shouyi asked, puzzled, “Uncle Miao Ji, please just say what’s on your mind.”
“When Master gave you the broom, why didn’t you take it?”
“Huh? Was that broom special?”
Yan Shouyi was taken aback. In his eyes, those three golden rings were far more powerful than the broom!
Miao Ji looked at him with disappointment, lamenting, “That broom was the artifact my master used to sweep fallen leaves his entire life! For decades, he used that very broom to discipline disciples. It contains immense disciplinary power, far greater than those wretched golden rings!”
“Oh, no…”
Yan Shouyi’s mouth fell open in shock, and he too felt a pang of regret.
No wonder Abbot Ben Heng had such a peculiar expression at the time. I missed out on a fortune!
Grieving the loss of such a treasure, Yan Shouyi could only recite “Be not pleased by external things, nor grieved by loss of self” to console himself.
“My departure from Rongcheng can no longer be kept secret. The road ahead will be difficult,” Yan Shouyi said gravely.
Old Jin asked, “Should we contact the Research Association and ask them to send more reinforcements?”
Yan Shouyi shook his head. “It doesn’t matter how many come. If the major sects truly want to capture me, reinforcements alone won’t be enough.”
Fortunately, Yan Shouyi no longer needed to hide his tracks. He could use his phone to contact the Research Association for intelligence on the movements of the major sects, thus avoiding direct confrontation with their powerful figures.
After re-evaluating his current situation, Yan Shouyi couldn’t help but sigh, “I, who have always been honest and upright, never expected to be wanted and hunted.”
Old Jin and Miao Ji nodded. You’ve forgotten about your massacre at West Lake three months ago, haven’t you?
Yan Shouyi borrowed Old Jin’s phone and began contacting Lin Zitong and Wang Jiwang, whom he hadn’t spoken to in a while.
Lin Zitong was safe and sound. Since the Lushan Sect was now fully integrated with the Folk Customs Research Association, as long as the Lushan disciples remained within Rongcheng, they would be out of danger.
From Wang Jiwang, Yan Shouyi learned that the dog-Taoist and Long Feicheng were already at their rendezvous point in Jinling.
After hanging up, Yan Shouyi directly contacted Long Feicheng, telling him to meet at Brother Yang’s truck at the northern highway entrance of Jinling.
…
Northern Highway Entrance, Jinling.
By the truck.
Brother Yang was squatting by the roadside, smoking a cigarette. Suddenly, he saw Yan Shouyi approaching, leading a group of… monks and Taoists.
As Chang Shan drew closer and saw that Brother Yang was also bald, he performed a single-handed Buddhist salute and asked cordially, “This humble monk is Chang Shan, a martial monk from Hanshan Temple. May I ask your esteemed name, friend?”
“Friend?”
Brother Yang scratched his bald head, looking utterly bewildered.
Yan Shouyi chuckled and stepped forward to smooth things over.
“Brother Yang is just an ordinary truck driver. He’s not a monk. Uh… Brother Yang, these are all my friends.”
Brother Yang quickly pulled Yan Shouyi aside and whispered, “Xiao Long, why do your friends look so strange?”
“They’re like me; their identities are sensitive. They’re pretending to be Taoists and monks to hide their true selves,” Yan Shouyi fabricated.
Brother Yang coughed twice. “You’re either all Taoists, or all monks. Having half Taoists and half monks will only attract more attention, won’t it? Huh, and what’s this old yellow dog? My truck has a strict no-pets policy.”
“Lao Huang isn’t a pet, he’s emergency rations!” Yan Shouyi hastily explained. “Don’t overthink it, Brother Yang, let’s just get on the road.”
“No, no, this is a matter of principle!” Brother Yang was firm. “Old Yang doesn’t do anything that breaks the rules and regulations.”
Seeing Brother Yang’s resolute attitude, Yan Shouyi turned back to find Xiao Long, snatched a thousand yuan from his pocket, and turned to hand it to Brother Yang. “Brother Yang, this is a small token of my appreciation for your daughter.”
Brother Yang… no, Brother Jia Qian’s face lit up with a smile. “Ah, we’re all brothers, it’s too formal to take money… Get in, get in, let’s depart!”
Watching Brother Yang’s reaction, Yan Shouyi sighed. It seemed his personal charm wasn’t as effective as a thousand yuan.
Indeed, problems that could be solved with money were not problems at all!
Fortunately, the truck had two rows of seats, and everyone could squeeze in.
The truck merged onto the highway, and they set off again.
Long Feicheng, with his sharp ears, had overheard Brother Yang calling Yan Shouyi “Xiao Long” earlier. He asked Yan Shouyi with displeasure, “Brother Yan, why are you using my name for an alternate account again?”
Yan Shouyi replied indignantly, “Aren’t you always using my name? Now the hair salons in Rongcheng all know there’s a scoundrel named Yan Shouyi who frequents prostitutes without paying and yet wins money. Have I ever argued with you about it?”
“Ahem, well…” Long Feicheng felt a pang of guilt. “Since we’re all together now, you’re Long Feicheng, so what should I be called?”
Yan Shouyi thought for a moment. “You can be called A Gong.”