CHAPTER 288: THE GREAT SCHOLAR, BAILU ACADEMY, ARRIVAL AT JINGUANG TEMPLE

“It is said that Lu Li apprenticed under the great scholar, Master Jinyan[1]. She not only trains in martial arts but also studies the Confucian classics. Her talent is exceptional. It is only unclear why Lu Li herself would personally go out on official business.”

Hearing this, Li Yanchu fell silent.

No wonder this Lu Ying could so casually throw out three thousand taels of silver, have by her side martial guards tempered with Heaven Official’s Blessing and nearly impossible to kill, and even gave away things like the Dragon-Tiger Scepter or a Great Scholar Scroll as though they were nothing.

So she was the daughter of the number one official in all of Feiyun Prefecture!

After a pause, Li Yanchu said, “So it seems, with Lu Li going to Xuzhou City to handle the matter of Xinyi Dao, success is nearly certain.”

Wang Wen nodded. “Indeed.”

Li Yanchu shifted the topic. “On this trip to Liuguang Cave, I learned from the mouth of a demon that someone within Xinyi Dao colluded with the Mountain Lord, and they had once sent someone to make contact.”

Wang Wen’s face grew grave. “There’s such a thing!?”

“The demon said the emissary Xinyi Dao sent... was a black-faced Daoist,” Li Yanchu said calmly.

“What!?” Wang Wen’s face went pale with shock.

A black-faced Daoist... Could it be Daoist Master Wumu!?

That coincidence was almost too much.

“Daoist Master Li, this matter is of grave importance. It is not that I do not believe you, but the timing is far too coincidental. Do you have any proof?” Wang Wen’s brows were tightly furrowed.

Li Yanchu shook his head. “I have no proof. And I was not pointing directly at Daoist Master Wumu, I’m merely offering my lord a reminder.”

Wang Wen let out a long breath. “Thanks, Daoist Master Li.”

Li Yanchu smiled. “Now that this affair is done, I have other urgent matters. I’ll take my leave first. Lord Wang, until we meet again.”

Wang Wen rose, wanting to speak but then holding back. In the end, he personally saw Li Yanchu out. When he returned to his quarters, the young colonel was already waiting inside.

“What do you think? If things are truly as he said, then this Daoist Master Wumu is highly suspicious.” Wang Wen asked.

The young colonel’s gaze was sharp as a saber. “Invite a Confucian master to perform the Heart Questioning!”

At this time, Wang Wen’s expression changed. He opened his mouth to reply, but the young colonel cut him off.

“Lord Wang, His Majesty places great trust in Bailu Academy[2]. You know what that means. Since this involves the Xinyi Dao heretics, no mistakes can be tolerated.”

Wang Wen sighed. “Very well.”

***

As for the matter between the authorities and Xinyi Dao, Li Yanchu did not get involved. He only wanted to deliver the high monk’s relics to Jinguang Temple. After that, he could return to Wei City.

What surprised him was that all along the journey, no evil spirits harassed him, nor had any heretics intercepted him. The smoothness of the trip was almost unbelievable.

Weren’t those fiends and heterodox sects supposed to be very interested in the high monk’s relics, and bound to make a move? Li Yanchu wondered inwardly.

Along the way, he merely wiped out a band of bloodthirsty bandits, helped some villagers by driving out spirits and capturing ghosts, and slew a single ordinary jiangshi with Daoist arts. Aside from that, he encountered no real danger.

The journey was going so smoothly it felt... off. It was as though fortune itself watched over him.

The journey went smoothly all the way to Donglin Prefecture. Apart from Lady Yun often pestering him to tell her little stories, nothing troublesome occurred.

Donglin Prefecture, one of the six northern prefectures, was filled with deep forests and lofty mountains, which were steep and secluded. Jinguang Temple lay thirty li outside the prefectural city of Donglin, built upon Mount Wolong[3].

Mount Wolong wound and coiled like a giant dragon sprawled across the hills. Its head, neck, back, claws, and tail were all clearly discernible. It was a rare treasure of fengshui.

When Li Yanchu arrived before this flourishing Buddhist temple, he was immediately struck by the vast tide of incense and prayer power that surged forth! It was proof that Jinguang Temple enjoyed immense popularity, with countless worshippers.

Compared to the Lady Qingyi Temple in Wei City, this place was far more prosperous and bustling. Only, at present, the mountain gate of Jinguang Temple was tightly shut, no longer receiving outside visitors.

Li Yanchu stepped onto the stone stairway and employed his Qi Sight. Instantly, his vision filled with ten thousand rays of golden light, dazzling beyond endurance.

“A grand temple on a sacred mountain is truly extraordinary.” From within the Dragon-Tiger Scepter came Lady Yun’s voice. “What a pure and powerful Buddhist aura. Daoist Master, you must have reached Jinguang Temple?”

Li Yanchu replied, “Correct, I’m standing right before the mountain gate.”

Though the Dragon-Tiger Scepter could house Lady Yun, she could not constantly perceive the outside world. Only upon sensing this overwhelming Buddhist aura did she speak.

“Would you like to come out and take a look?” Li Yanchu asked.

Ordinary spirits would never dare approach such a holy Buddhist site, but Lady Yun was a wood spirit who had once been enlightened by the high monks of Jinguang Temple, bathed in Buddhist light. There should be no problem for her to do so.

However, Lady Yun fell silent.

“It’s better for me to wait until you’re settled in before I come out,” she said softly.

Hearing this, Li Yanchu didn’t press the matter. He knocked on the mountain gate, and a young monk with thick brows and bright eyes soon emerged, bearing an extraordinary demeanor.

He was a zhike monk[4] of Jinguang Temple, specifically tasked with receiving visitors to the monastery.

At this time, Li Yanchu handed over his visiting card, which bore the handwriting of an elder Daoist of Mount Longhu.

Seeing this, the young zhike monk lowered his head to examine it for a moment. His eyes immediately lit up.

“Ah, so you’re Daoist Master Li. Please, come in!”

The visiting card bore the personal handwriting of Zhang Huaihe of Mount Longhu, naturally commanding respect. And since Li Yanchu was the one escorting the relics, he was, of course, received with special courtesy.

Jinguang Temple was vast in scale, and its halls were grand and magnificent, with sixty to seventy buildings and more than three hundred monks. Ordinarily, the pilgrims coming to worship Buddha here were endless.

Following behind the zhike monk, Li Yanchu was shown to a monastic room.

“Daoist Master Li, please wait a moment. I will go invite Junior Uncle Puxing[5].”

“Thanks.” Li Yanchu sat alone in the meditation room. The room was lit with sandalwood incense and pervaded by a unique, tranquil aura. It made one unable to give rise to greed, anger, or delusion.

“This Jinguang Temple truly has some cultivation. Likely some master has set down a great mountain-guarding formation, both to defend against outer enemies, and to help disciples resist inner demons.” Li Yanchu’s eyes brightened.

Before long, an elderly monk entered, his eyes sharp with authority.

“Amitabha. I am Puxing. Daoist Master Li, thanks for coming to our aid and escorting back the relics of this temple’s high monk. Our entire temple is boundlessly grateful.”

Hearing this, Li Yanchu rose and saluted. “Master, you overstate it. I was entrusted with the task, and I’ve only fulfilled my duty.”

He then took the bundle from his back. Inside were two specially crafted wooden cases. When he opened them, two rays of dazzling and brilliant Buddha-light immediately shone forth. It was the relics of a Buddhist high monk!

Master Puxing smiled faintly and once again expressed his gratitude to Li Yanchu.

“Daoist Master Li, you’ve come from afar. Please rest awhile at our humble temple. Escorting this relics was of utmost importance, we shall certainly see that all are well rewarded.” Li Yanchu cupped his hands with a smile.

“I must now enshrine the relics in the stupa at the rear mountain. The matter is urgent, so I must take my leave.”

With that, Master Puxing made ready to depart.

“Please, Master, go ahead,” Li Yanchu said.

Thus, he had at last completed the task entrusted by the elder Daoist, successfully delivering the high monk’s relics to Jinguang Temple.

The journey had not seen much trouble, not as the elder had warned, with countless heretics and demons coming to contest it. Still, he had nevertheless slain the Mountain Lord and his demonic underlings, which was itself a great merit. And he had uncovered clues for the court in their pursuit of Xinyi Dao. This trip could be considered quite a success.

Only, he did not know what had become of that Master Wuse of Jinguang Temple. And moreover, ever since he had stepped foot inside the temple, a faint unease had been lingering in his heart.

For a venerable temple flourishing with incense offerings to close its mountain gates... was it truly only because the abbot had given rise to inner demons?

And the bearing of this Master Puxing also left him with a subtle sense of disquiet.

Li Yanchu gazed at the ancient temple, lost in thought.

1. The name 谨言 (Jǐn Yán) carries a refined and literary charm. Literally, “谨” means cautious, careful, respectful, while “言” means speech or words. To me, the name evokes the idea of measured words or speaking with caution, derived from the traditional saying 谨言慎行 (“be cautious in speech and careful in conduct”). As a given name, it suggests thoughtfulness, restraint, and wisdom, reflecting the parents’ hopes that their child will be prudent, respectful, and mindful in how they express themselves. ☜

2. The name 白鹿学院 means White Deer Academy. In Chinese culture, a white deer (bailu, 白鹿) is a highly auspicious symbol of longevity, prosperity, good fortune, and a wise ruler. Legends state a deer turns white after 500 years, symbolizing a long life. Its Chinese name, lù (鹿), is a homophone for lù (禄), meaning prosperity and good fortune, further associating it with wealth. White deer are also seen as divine messengers or mounts for immortals in Daoist and Buddhist folklore. ☜

3. The name 卧龙山 translates as Crouching Dragon Mountain. In Chinese culture, the dragon is a symbol of immense power, wisdom, and authority, often representing hidden potential or extraordinary talent. The word 卧 (wò) means “lying down” or “crouching,” which conveys the image of a dragon resting, concealing its strength as it waits for the right moment to rise. ☜

4. The 知客僧 refers to a monk in a Buddhist monastery who is specifically responsible for receiving and entertaining visiting guests (including devotees and other monks). They are part of the monastery’s administrative staff, with the primary duty of managing interactions with visitors and ensuring that guests are properly welcomed and well taken care of. ☜

5. The name 普性 (Pǔxìng) carries a profound meaning. The character 普 (pǔ) means “universal,” “all-encompassing,” or “pervasive,” suggesting boundlessness and inclusivity, much like the Buddhist ideal of universal compassion and wisdom that extend to all beings. The character 性 (xìng) refers to “nature,” “character,” or “essence,” which in Buddhist philosophy often points to the true nature of the mind or the intrinsic Buddha-nature inherent in all sentient beings. To me, the name 普性 can be understood as “universal nature” or “all-pervading essence,” symbolizing a monk whose cultivation is aimed at realizing the shared, fundamental nature of existence and embodying compassion and enlightenment that embraces all without distinction. ☜