Chapter 1 The Little Monk’s Ordeal

The little monk Liaofan’s screams lasted for a long time, then he squatted down and began to sob.

“My lord, his mind must have suffered a great trauma,” Si Niang said beside him.

Zheng Fan nodded.

The little monk had wisdom. He had met this master and disciple before, and he believed that the two of them should have great fortune.

The so-called fortune referred to being able to turn bad luck into good, living freely and easily, even without great achievements in this life.

But unfortunately, looking at the little monk in front of him, his fortune didn’t seem to have protected him this time.

Of course, one could also spin it from another angle: if it hadn't been delayed by the fish soup, if it hadn’t been for Marquis Zheng's sudden whim to take in two little brothers, he might have finished his meal and left the inn long ago. Then, he wouldn’t have encountered the “belated” madam and her adopted son.

However, that would be a real stretch.

The Fangshi (alchemists) and Lianqishi (Qi refiners) liked this kind of argument because it was very flexible and could be twisted to make sense, so they could continue to freeload.

Perhaps, for this little monk, he would rather die than fall into this brothel and defile his purity.

Zheng Fan looked at the madam. Although she had shouted outside earlier that she had brought a newly adopted son, a virgin, it might just be the seller’s boast.

“Has he taken any customers?”

Zheng Fan asked.

The madam swallowed. Xu Chuang's saber was still on her neck. Moreover, when the man in front of her became serious, even angry, his aura made her, who was experienced in the world of pleasure, immediately panic.

To put it bluntly, after the two princes left, even the emperor of Yan had to be polite to Zheng Fan, inviting him to sit on the dragon throne together to give him a taste of it.

Looking at the entire Yan Kingdom, there were few people whose status was higher than Marquis Zheng. Now, it seemed that there were none. When you yourself had reached the point where you didn’t need to kneel anymore, looking back, there was already a large, dark mass of people kneeling before you.

“No… no… newly… adopted… new…”

Marquis Zheng raised his hand and pointed to Gao Zhunpang, who was standing there. Gao Zhunpang immediately stepped forward, saluted, and awaited orders.

“Relay this marquis’s order. Order the garrison general of this county to immediately lead troops and surround her brothel. Let no one escape.”

“Yes!”

Gao Zhunpang was a little surprised because Marquis Zheng’s previous posture didn’t seem like he wanted to reveal his identity.

Indeed, Zheng Fan hadn't intended to expose his identity and make a big deal out of it because that would be boring. But Liaofan's appearance forced him to do so.

How Liaofan traveled from the snowfields across the Heavenly Fracture Mountain Range to Shengle, and how he was sold to the Red Tent in Shangchuan County, the connections needed to be straightened out. If he waited to transfer people from Fengxin City to handle it, it would inevitably take a long time and mistakes could easily occur. It was better to take control now.

Furthermore, Zheng Fan felt that the willow branch he had planted today had already yielded results. If this group of bastards hadn’t been clamoring to continue wanting a male prostitute, he wouldn’t have met the little monk Liaofan “stranded in the red dust” today.

Immediately, amidst the surprise of everyone in the inn and while they hadn't yet recovered from the term "this marquis," Zheng Fan took Liaofan and left.

After getting into the carriage, he didn't rush to leave the city and return. Instead, he went directly to the Shangchuan County government office.

It wasn’t to knock on the grievance drum because someone in his family had been trafficked, but purely to borrow a place. After thinking about it, this was the quietest place.

The yamen runners at the door saw someone barging into the county government office and shouted to stop him, but Xu Chuang directly blocked them. Xu Chuang roared:

“The Marquis of Pingxi has arrived!”

If it were normal times, Marquis Zheng might teach him the tone and charm of Eunuch Wei from the inner palace when he called out "His Majesty has arrived."

But now, he wasn’t in the mood.

The Shangchuan County magistrate didn’t even have time to put on his official robe before rushing over. When he saw Zheng Fan, he immediately knelt down and saluted:

“This humble official greets the Marquis of Pingxi. May the Marquis be blessed with good health.”

“You recognize this marquis?”

“Yes, Marquis. When the army attacked Chu last year, this humble official was a grain transport officer and was fortunate enough to see the Marquis’s true face.”

That saved trouble. He didn't need the Sword Saint to take out Long Yuan and show it off.

“This marquis needs to borrow your government residence. From now on, unless this marquis orders, no idlers are allowed to come in and disturb.”

“Yes, this humble official understands!”

Behind the county government office was the magistrate's home, where his family naturally lived.

But in an instant, the family all hurriedly left, not even having time to pack their belongings, to make room for the Marquis of Pingxi.

After Zheng Fan came in, he said to Xu Chuang:

“Get a few servants to give him a bath and clean him up.”

“Yes.”

Before long,

The little monk Liaofan, who had been re-"rinsed," stood in front of Zheng Fan.

In this era, people liked to wear makeup, taking it as beauty, but their makeup skills were truly uncomplimentary, and it was even more serious for the male prostitutes.

Although the washed Liaofan had no kasaya (Buddhist monk's robe) to wear and only wore a piece of clothing that probably belonged to the county magistrate's young master, he was much more pleasing to the eye.

At this time, Gao Zhunpang came to report.

“Marquis, this subordinate has already taken control of that Red Tent.”

Zheng Fan nodded and waved his hand, signaling him to stand by.

Gao Zhunpang immediately saluted and excused himself, not even mentioning the Shangchuan County garrison general's request for him to introduce him to the marquis.

Obviously, the marquis was not free now, and he couldn’t waste his bit of "holy favor" here, and, he estimated, it was far from enough.

“Si Niang.”

“This subordinate is here.”

“There’s no one else available to use right now, only you. Go interrogate the madam and the others, and sort out this line. Preferably, take control of all the involved traffickers.

Who is the current general of Shengle City again?

Forget it, no matter who it is, give him a heads-up and tell him to cooperate. I need to know clearly how the little monk entered Shengle City from the snowfields.”

“This subordinate understands.”

There was no need to give more instructions. Si Niang’s ability to handle matters was beyond doubt.

Si Niang went down.

Zheng Fan said to Xu Chuang, “Have the people in the county government prepare some food and send it in.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

Zheng Fan wasn't in a hurry to ask the little monk. He had already stimulated him earlier. Now, he should wait for his emotions to calm down before speaking.

Soon, the food was delivered. The little monk looked at the food in front of him and began to eat without being told.

He didn’t abstain from meat or vegetables,

Missing the phrase:

Since the Marquis is forcing us with weapons, then let us eat. Buddha will not blame us.

While the little monk was eating,

Marquis Zheng sat there, gently kneading his knuckles.

After thinking for a moment,

Marquis Zheng signaled Xu Chuang to call over the county magistrate, who had been waiting outside.

“This marquis needs to borrow your men to send a few messages for this marquis.”

“Please instruct, Marquis. This humble official will do anything.”

“First, send someone to Yingdu to deliver a message to Prefect Xu Wenzu, saying that this marquis has some matters to delay in Shangchuan County. If Prefect Xu has time, he can meet in Shangchuan County.

Second, send someone to Fengxin City to send a message to Master Bei, saying that this marquis has found the monk Liaofan here.

Third, send someone to Shengle City to inform the current Shengle general to take control of all the people involved in slave trading near the city and wait for this marquis’s men to interrogate them. There must be no mistakes.”

“Yes, this humble official obeys.”

Zheng Fan nodded, and the county magistrate immediately went to do as he was told.

On this side, the little monk Liaofan had also finished eating. He made an orchid finger gesture, picked up a handkerchief, and began to wipe the corners of his mouth.

Zheng Fan felt that he should have first suffered a severe mental shock, and then been trained by the madam. Now, he should be in a state of split personality?

It was a pity that the Blind Man wasn’t here now.

“Have you eaten enough?”

“Replying… to Master’s words, I have eaten enough.”

Marquis Zheng narrowed his eyes. It seemed that his previous question at the inn had caused him mental trauma again. Now, in order to avoid that trauma, he had become even more immersed in the male prostitute role that the madam had created for him.

This was an escape.

Marquis Zheng took out the red stone from his arms and placed it in his hand, saying:

“Son, come out.”

The red stone swayed a few times, and then, a cloud of black mist appeared.

The magic pill floated there, with a smile on its lips.

The magic pill was two levels short of advancing.

Before assassinating Zhao Jiulang, Zheng Fan tried to communicate with the magic pill, but still failed to achieve any effect. It seemed that at this time, he had a kind of restraint towards advancing.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but that he was deliberately choosing to suppress it.

Zheng Fan didn’t know what he was planning. It was like most parents during their children’s adolescence, not understanding what was going on in their children’s heads.

But the magic pill was, after all, a magic pill. Using its attributes as a soul body, he could also try to break the little monk Liaofan’s mental defenses, so that he could directly face what happened in the snowfields.

Doing so would have very serious side effects, and it might not really get the desired information. At the same time, the little monk Liaofan would very likely become an idiot.

But the Blind Man wasn’t here, and this was the only method he could use now.

Most importantly, Zheng Fan was now very eager to know what happened on the snowfields.

If he had just been attacked by a certain wild tribe in the snowfields, the little monk Liaofan shouldn’t have become like this.

Even if his master was really killed, he should be happy that his master was liberated, his karma was fulfilled, and his debts in this life were cleared.

After weighing and hesitating for a while,

Zheng Fan still put the red stone back.

Bear with it, bear with it again;

The matter of the magic king's prophecy was of great importance and was no longer just his own affair. The other seven magic kings should all know about it.

At this moment,

The little monk Liaofan suddenly opened his mouth and said:

“Master, what are your orders?”

“What is your name?”

“Whatever Master is happy to call me, that’s what I am.”

“Alright, just sit there.”

“Master, is it because I didn’t serve you well, that you…”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, Master.”

The little monk Liaofan closed his mouth, his eyes began to scan around, and then, he saw the Buddhist prayer beads hanging on the wall on one side of the room.

These should be used for warding off evil spirits. Nowadays, everyone from the powerful to the common people liked to put some so-called dharma artifacts blessed by eminent monks in their homes to ward off bad luck.

After the little monk Liaofan’s eyes looked at the string of prayer beads, he couldn’t move them away.

Subconsciously, he was very familiar with these prayer beads.

It wasn’t that the prayer beads were his or his master’s. No matter how coincidental the world was, there wouldn’t be such a coincidence;

Rather, he was very familiar with the material of these prayer beads. They seemed transparent and made of precious materials, but in reality, they were inferior goods that had been tricked into being high-quality.

This matter,

The little monk Liaofan and his master had used this trick a lot when they traveled around begging for alms.

The master said, sincerity is spirit, so why care whether the prayer beads are real or fake, expensive or cheap?

They were tricking those who were not short of money. This was to eliminate their karmic debts, Amitabha.

At this time, seeing the counterfeit goods of the same trade, Liaofan’s gaze gradually became serious.

Marquis Zheng, who had been paying attention to him all along, immediately noticed it. He didn't dare to continue stimulating Liaofan, really afraid that after stimulating this child a few more times, he would more wholeheartedly develop in the male prostitute career.

But if this child could awaken some memories on his own, that would be great.

Zheng Fan remembered that the Blind Man had told him that heart disease still needs heart medicine. In short, the best way is to rely on oneself to get out of it.

“Master…”

The little monk Liaofan began to murmur.

Marquis Zheng half-closed his eyes, waiting without urging.

The little monk Liaofan stood up, pointed to the prayer beads hanging there, and then looked at Zheng Fan with some confusion,

Said:

“Master, I… I can…”

“Master bestows them upon you.”

“Thank you, Master.”

The little monk Liaofan took down the string of prayer beads and held them in his hand, stroking them.

After a long time,

The little monk Liaofan put the string of prayer beads around his neck.

He sat down,

But this time, he sat cross-legged;

After sitting cross-legged, he began to try to stretch out his legs, supporting his body with his right arm, wanting to make himself sit more enchantingly.

However, he soon became confused again;

No matter how he sat, he felt uncomfortable, no matter how he sat, he felt very inappropriate, and then, he suddenly felt that sitting down was too torturous, so he stood up again.

After standing up, he initially stood in a charming manner with his hands on his hips, as the madam had taught him, and then he changed to wanting to put his hands together in prayer;

His movements changed constantly, and even his expression kept switching between "solemn dharma" and "flattering charm."

Marquis Zheng didn't say a word, just sat there, watching this scene... a split personality scene.

Soon,

The little monk Liaofan felt that even standing was a kind of torture. Then, he sat down again, stood up again after sitting down, and sat down again after standing up.

“Hoo…”

Marquis Zheng was a little tired from watching.

Sitting up and down, sitting and standing, the little monk was directly panting for breath.

“Master, come play… Guanzizai (Avalokiteśvara)… Amitabha… Master…”

Alright,

Not only was standing and sitting a torture, but even opening his mouth to speak had become extremely torturous.

This situation lasted for half an hour.

Finally,

The little monk Liaofan was exhausted,

With a "plop," he fell to the ground, his face pale, panting heavily.

Zheng Fan then got up and came to the little monk.

The little monk began to foam at the mouth, and then, he began to vomit, all the food he had eaten earlier that hadn't had time to digest.

Zheng Fan dodged, avoiding these filth.

After the little monk finished vomiting, almost all the color on his face disappeared, and then, he began to curl up his body, hugging his arms, looking very cold.

Zheng Fan covered his nose with his sleeve, slowly circling around to check the situation.

“Master… I’m so cold…”

“Mom, hot water, I’m cold, I’m cold…”

“Please, give me something to eat, give me something to eat…”

“Cold… so cold…”

Zheng Fan listened patiently beside him, trying to remember all these words, maybe there was some hidden message inside.

“Marquis.”

At this time, Xu Chuang reported from outside.

“Marquis, Marquis, right, Master…”

The little monk was suddenly stimulated by the title “Marquis,”

Muttering to himself:

“Master… This disciple hasn’t forgotten your words… You told this disciple to go back and find the Marquis… find the Marquis…”

Zheng Fan immediately raised his hand, signaling Xu Chuang standing at the door not to speak.

Then,

He took the initiative to step forward and said to Liaofan:

“This marquis is here. What do you want to do by looking for this marquis?”

The little monk didn’t even look at Zheng Fan, his eyes revealing a look of thinking and recollection:

“This disciple… go back and tell the Marquis… the Buddha’s golden body… he has to donate it… hahahaha… this time the Marquis can’t go back on his word… can’t go back on his word…”

“This marquis won’t go back on his word. Quick, tell this marquis, what did your master want you to say to this marquis?”

“Disciple, look, look, look quickly, there’s really a person under this ice!”

Zheng Fan’s gaze immediately became serious,

Ice layer,

Below,

Person?

This master and disciple had actually found it.

“That’s right, Master… it’s a person… frozen to death, right… Master… why are the wildlings here all worshiping a person who was frozen to death?”

“Hey, so the wildlings are ignorant, easy to fool, hehe, someday our master and disciple can change some things, and we can also become Buddhas in this snowfield, enshrined in temples.”

“Ah… Master, look, the person under the ice seems to have moved.”

“Nonsense, dare to scare your master, it’s all frozen, how could it move!”

“Master, he opened his eyes, opened his eyes, he’s alive, he’s alive!”

The little monk Liaofan’s face suddenly turned red. He, who had been exhausted, immediately jumped up, grabbed Zheng Fan’s clothes tightly with both hands, and shouted at Zheng Fan:

“He’s alive, he’s alive, the person under the ice is alive, alive!!!”

Zheng Fan didn’t break free, continuing to listen to Liaofan’s presentation of the conversation, sometimes himself, sometimes his master.

“Disciple, we have to go back quickly, we have to go back quickly, we have to go back and tell the Marquis, we’ve found the person he’s looking for, oh my god, it’s still a living thing.”

“Yes, Master, let’s run quickly, ah, the ice is cracking, cracking!”

Finally,

The little monk Liaofan looked at Zheng Fan with a look of horror,

Using an extremely pious voice, as if imitating the worship of some wildlings:

“Magic King… descends… Magic King… descends…”