Chapter 880 – Closing the Temple (1/2)

Chapter 880 – Closing the Temple

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

The White Crane understood Tang Thirty-Six's meaning. It flapped its wings and soared into the sky, making its way towards the summit of Holy Maiden Peak.

Wind gusted through the courtyard, rustling the blossoming trees. Tang Thirty-Six waved his hand and snatched a few petals in the air, then walked back into the thatched cottage and asked Huai Ren, ”We're not Xiao Zhang, so we count as guests, correct?”

Huai Ren knew what he had done but did not expose him. Smiling, she answered, ”Those who come from afar are naturally guests.”

Tang Thirty-Six asked, ”Since we're guests, why is there no tea?”

Huai Ren remained serene. ”Ping Xuan, serve tea.”

The South Stream Temple disciple that had been prostrating behind her this entire time now rose and exited the cottage.

As she passed Tang Thirty-Six, Tang Thirty-Six called her to stop and gave her the petals he had just snatched. In a gentle voice, he said, ”Sister Ping Xuan, I like to drink scented tea.”

At this sight, the three elders and all the disciples present couldn't help but shake their heads as they thought, truly the behavior of a young master; it really makes one feel annoyed.

……

……

Even if the water was already boiled, brewing the tea still required some time, and the idle chatter that went along with sipping tea took up even more time.

By the time Tang Thirty-Six was holding his cup of scented tea and discussing Fuchun Province's flatbreads with the senior sister called Ping Xuan, he had bought enough time.

The clear cry of a crane sounded through the sky, and with the howling of the wind, the White Crane slowly descended into the courtyard.

The South Stream Temple disciples were flabbergasted that someone was on the crane. Could the Holy Maiden have come out of her seclusion early?

The rider of the White Crane was not Xu Yourong, but a young man.

Seeing the young man, Ye Xiaolian and many other disciples prostrated. Some of these disciples had not gone to Mount Han and the capital, so they were currently wondering in shock at just who could possibly be able to ride the Holy Maiden's White Crane. Seeing their fellow sisters prostrating and recalling the stories they used to tell, they came to their senses and hurriedly bowed as well.

”Paying respects to His Holiness the Pope.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. He spoke a few words to Ye Xiaolian and those other South Stream Temple disciples he was familiar with, then entered the thatched cottage.

Huai Ren and her two martial sisters were already standing, calmly waiting in the cottage for his arrival.

Chen Changsheng apologetically said, ”Entering without invitation is truly inappropriate, but my heart was fraught with worry. I ask for your forgiveness.”

Huai Ren calmly replied, ”Presumably, Your Holiness the Pope had a misunderstanding, thought that South Stream Temple was suffering internal strife, and was concerned for the Holy Maiden's safety, and so went straight to the summit.”

Chen Changsheng truly had felt this way at the very start, but it was currently not convenient for him to directly admit to it.

Huai Ren continued, ”But South Stream Temple currently has a grand announcement to make to the world. Your Holiness the Pope has happened to arrive just in time, adding to its glory. I thank Your Holiness for the visit.”

These words made Tang Thirty-Six feel a creak in his heart. He knew that this was the major event that Ye Xiaolian had been concerned about.

Chen Changsheng somewhat gravely asked, ”What announcement is this?”

Huai Ren said with a most tranquil expression, as if discussing a most routine and trifling matter, ”South Stream Temple intends to close the temple after the conclusion of the new year's festivities.”

Hearing this, Ping Xuan, Yi Chen, and the other second-generation disciples felt a slight shock run through their bodies. They turned to Huai Ren, wanting to say something, but ultimately chose to remain silent.

Ye Xiaolian and the other young girls of South Stream Temple showed unwilling expressions, but they also did not speak.

Chen Changsheng was somewhat puzzled by these words.

Wasn't Xu Yourong currently secluded in the cave at the summit? Who else wanted to go through closing the temple?

And then he recalled a certain passage he had read in the book 'Miscellaneous Stories of the Southern Altar'.

There were three ways in which South Stream Temple closed the temple.

If a cultivator of South Stream Temple entered seclusion, this could be called closing the temple.

All of South Stream Temple could go through closing the temple, in a similar way to a cultivator entering seclusion.