CHAPTER 494: 493

"Liang!"

An officer in formal military attire stepped inside, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, snapping to attention with a crisp salute, his footsteps clacking sharply on the white porcelain tiles.

"Just now, there was a call; check for me where it came from. Oh, it’s a satellite phone."

Seeing his own phone extended to him, this soldier seemed quite reluctant to take it—after all, it was the commander’s personal phone, laden with countless secrets, how could he just rashly meddle with it?

Seeing him hesitate to take it, the Political Commissar placed the phone on the desk, then put on his reading glasses and buried his head in paperwork, "Go ahead and check boldly, and let me know once you have the details. No one will trouble you. Thanks for your hard work."

"Ah, it’s no trouble at all."

With another crisp salute, the soldier left.

...

Ye Tian and Chu Tianying split up to execute the plan, the initial part naturally required Ye Tian’s involvement, while the subsequent escape and counter-tracking tasks were to be entrusted to Chu Tianying. Since Qiao had disappeared for the time being, the handover process would have to be discussed separately upon his return.

In the afternoon, Ye Tian returned to that small courtyard. Jenny’s injuries were no longer serious, and when he saw her again, her demeanor had improved a lot.

Learning from her Master that Ye Tian was also her lifesaver, she felt a great deal of gratitude towards him, but she was always struggling to extricate herself from the emotions of Jane Eyre, thus her attitude towards Ye Tian started to become unclear. It was confusing whether it was more gratitude or affection.

Joe Johnson still hadn’t arrived; it was the same secretary from the last hospital visit who came—this was the second time Ye Tian had met him. Ye Tian felt indifferent towards him, but the secretary remembered Ye Tian well, as if this guy had been present for both of the lady’s accidents, what exactly was his relationship with the young miss?

But fortunately, the secretary wasn’t foolish enough to realize his presence here was superfluous, after asking a few questions and leaving some supplements, he took his leave. Upon leaving, the minister had made it clear, there was no safer place in the entire city than with the Esoteric Master.

"Your secretary seems to care a lot about you."

Ye Tian sat down on a chair, casually making the comment.

"Mhm, he’s quite nice. He could be half a dad to me."

There was a note of complaint in her words, probably due to a lack of fatherly love.

The room was very small. Jenny told Ye Tian that normally, the Esoteric Master had no need to sleep; they would meditate on a cushion, and even the wooden bed had been hastily assembled from two tables. Ye Tian looked down and indeed, it was made from tables with the legs sawn short.

Now only Ye Tian and Jenny remained in the room; the Esoteric Master had gone out—it was her time to teach at the temple.

Ye Tian poured her a glass of water, which Jenny didn’t drink, but he held it out for her anyway.

"Why haven’t you become a disciple of Esoteric Buddhism?"

Ye Tian shrugged, "No special reason, just feel that having a woman as a Master is rather suffocating."

Jenny smiled, "Are all you Huaxia men so chauvinistic?"

"It’s not about chauvinism; it’s a matter of dignity, you know, little girl."

Ye Tian flicked Jenny’s forehead, perhaps realizing the action was too intimate, he looked down and took a sip of water to moisten his throat.

"That’s my water."

"Ah? Oh."

A bit embarrassed, Ye Tian laughed it off, changing the subject, "Miss Jenny, do you know about the Buddhism conference coming up in a few days?"

"I know a bit about it. Oh, I get it. My Master probably took you as a disciple because of this, didn’t she? She didn’t make things clear to you?"

Ye Tian shook his head. It wasn’t that it hadn’t been explained, but rather there hadn’t been time.

Jenny’s expression turned gloomy, "Actually, my Master has always been searching for someone to guard the Buddha Beads. For all these years, she’s been looking, but unfortunately, it seems that no one meets her criteria."

"Except you?"

"Yes, except me."

Both of their faces showed a knowing smile of tacit understanding.

"But, you don’t seem very willing. What’s the problem?"

"My aptitude is not bad, but I am a woman."

Ye Tian thought of a possibility but felt embarrassed to speak it out loud, and he was also not sure.

"There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Your thought is correct. As a woman, the yin qi is heavy. Although Buddhist Law is gentle, it is also one of the rarest and most yang forces in this world. The two can complement each other, but they can also repel each other. If my body could maintain a certain state, then I would be able to balance the relationship between Yin and Yang. But as you know, every month a woman has... you know."

Ye Tian nodded.

"So, a woman’s body is unstable, and this instability can disrupt the balance of yin and yang, a matter of life and death. This isn’t about willingness but about possibility."

"How does your Master manage to live well then?"

As soon as he said it, Ye Tian regretted it. The question sounded like, "How has your Master not died yet?"

Jenny smiled and said, "The Cultivation Technique she taught me is not an ordinary one, but another, much more powerful one. That’s why she has always been looking for the right person. It seems you are indeed suitable, otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken you as a disciple."

Ye Tian shook his head without saying a word.

"Did my Master ever mention the Seizing Body Conference to you?"

"She did, but I didn’t ask. What is this Conference all about?"

Jenny sat up straighter, and Ye Tian stood up, fetching a pillow to prop against her back, making her even more comfortable.

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

"You should offer incense to the Buddha."

Ye Tian looked back to see that only a little of the three sticks of incense was left in the censer, "Wait for me."

Stepping on the bluestone slabs, Ye Tian walked over.

The bluestone slabs easily gather moisture, and although it was springtime, the residual dampness of winter was fully released at this time of year. One could easily see the layer of water condensing on the slabs, leaving a footprint with each step.

"Do you know why we offer three sticks of incense to the Buddha Beads?"

Ye Tian picked up a match from beside the censer and lit one stick, then he picked up three sticks of incense, the same kind used outside. It seemed the Esoteric Master did not favor this Buddha statue.

"Do you know?" Jenny’s voice came from behind.

"I’ve heard some things," Ye Tian was tilting the three sticks, the flame starting to catch at the bottom and the incense tops turning red, "Legend says that the Three Elements Emperor were the first three Creator Gods. The three sticks of incense are dedicated to them. Emperor Tianyuan, Earth Elemental Emperor, and Spiritual Elemental Emperor—these three correspond to what later generations call the Heavenly Realm, Earth Realm, and Human Realm. Unlike the Western Zeus, Jesus, and others, these three Creator Gods have always received positive acclaim and are venerated by everyone. I don’t know about your country, but in mine, from the royal family down to the common people, there is a deep reverence for Heavenly Dao and Human Path. The temples in my country are no less numerous than yours. But unlike you, our people seem to be more fanatical about the Heavenly Dao and revere the Earth Dao, while least valuing the Human Path."