592 Tendrils (2/2)

Ye Su looked at the bright Light of Buddha above the black horse carriage and answered, ”I have to believe in it.”

”Don't you think that this is really weird?”

Ning Que looked into his eyes and asked, ”The Buddhism Sect discovered the daughter of Yama, but Haotian Taoism seemed not to know anything about it. Even if the West-Hill Divine Palace was not powerful enough to know, what about Zhishou Abbey? Furthermore, don't forget, Sangsang is the Lady of Light of Haotian Taoism. How did she suddenly become the Daughter of Yama?”

He said these very quickly and clearly, without extreme fluctuations in his emotions. However, those who heard him all understood his intentions and had to consider the intent behind his words.

Ye Su thought about it and shook his head, saying, ”I don't understand.”

Ning Que did not give up. He looked at Tang and asked, ”How has the Academy treated you guys?”

Tang replied, ”If we discount the fact that Mr. Ke tried to vanquish the Enlightenment Doctrine, the Academy has treated us rather well.”

Ning Que smiled helplessly and then continued, ”The Enlightenment Doctrine worships Yama.”

Tang looked at Sangsang who was behind him. After a slight pause, he said, ”Worshiping does not mean believing. Often times, it's fear.”

Ning Que said, ”So none of you will help me.”

Tang said, ”I won't help them either.”

Ye Su said, ”If the mute cannot stop you, I will still act on it.”

Ning Que relaxed when he heard Ye Su and Tang's replies. He loosened the hold on his iron bow and untied the string. He cradled Sangsang to his chest and held up the big black umbrella, sitting under the Light of Buddha.

An abbey, a temple, a sect, the Second floor.

There were four Unknown Places in this world, and four World Wayfarers. They were gathered in the Lanke Temple today, and Ning Que was, undoubtedly, the weakest amongst them.

In this situation, even if he gained the battle intent of his Youngest Uncle, he would not be able to escape with Sangsang. That was why he relaxed and hugged Sangsang, holding the big black umbrella... Even though he knew that the big black umbrella might not last for too long, he could only wait silently for a change to occur.

It was then, when Elder Qishan slowly stood up and walked to the front of the temple with the help of monk Guan Hai.

The Elder's position in the cultivation world was very high. He was of equal status as the abbey dean of Zhishou Abbey and they considered each other friends. That was why both Ye Su and Tang had to turn slightly as a show of respect.

Master Qishan ignored the two powerful World Wayfarers. He stared at Qi Nian with several contrasting feelings, and said, ”So this was all planned by you.”

Qi Nian did not speak, his expression was serene.

Master Qishan swayed, and he seemed to grow even older. He said sadly, ”You made an agreement with Mr. First to heal the Daughter of Yama. That is why things were unfolding favorably. But who would have thought that a disciple of Buddha would break his promise!”

”No wonder Boshu could take the cleansing bell with him from the Xuankong Temple, and no wonder there were so many people here at Lanke Temple today. No wonder everyone knew the girl was the Daughter of Yama within seconds.”

”I could have healed her,” Master Qishan sadly said, as he looked at Qi Nian. ”And you promised Mr. First to allow me to treat her. But in the end, you could not give up your obsessions and had to kill her. But have you considered that you could trick everyone before you started lying? When you began your lies, how did you manage to lie to Mr. First?”

Ye Su listened to the bells in the Lanke Temple and he looked at the Buddhist big tactical array above the temple, deep in thought.

He turned around to look at Qi Nian, saying, ”How could this be explained with a mere obsession? All of this started during that conversation you had with Mr. First in Chang'an, last winter in the forest by the lake, right?”

Qi Nian did not speak.

”While Mr. First appears to be slow, he is extremely intelligent and can predict what will happen. Therefore, you plotted but did not act since last winter, until Ning Que and the girl came to the Lanke temple. What you wanted was the Light of Buddha and this big tactical array, because you knew that even if Mr. First discovers any changes now, he wouldn't be able to enter the temple to stop you.”

Ye Su looked at Qi Nian and slowly shook his head. It was unclear whether he was praising him or pitying him. He said, ”I did not expect that another great schemer would appear in the Buddhism Sect after Lotus. It is such a pity, indeed worthy of respect as well.”

In the south of Chang'an, at the back of the Academy's mountain.

Clouds floated before the precipice and the frigid autumn winds soared up the cliff. Before the precipice, the stream of clouds shattered, and the autumn winds moved by the cliffs. The dried wisteria fruit that had not yet fallen shook in the winds, looking like the copper bell suspended from the roof of the Buddhist temple.

The Headmaster who was dressed in black from head to toe sat at the edge of the cliff. He looked in the southeast direction and said, ”Something is happening there.”

Eldest Brother had accompanied his teacher to the back cliff to brew wine today. He was making preparations when he heard these words and could not help but shiver. Today was the exact day of the Yue Laan Hungry Ghost Festival; his Youngest Brother and Miss Sangsang were at the Lanke Temple.

The autumn breeze caressed his shirt, and the Headmaster stood up.

Eldest Brother knelt behind the Headmaster and muttered something anxiously. Then, he said, ”All that has happened was due to my ignorance and stupidity. I will bring Youngest Brother back.”

With that, the winds on the cliff started again.

The Headmaster looked into the distance and said softly, ”I have always been a coward. I wavered between two sides because I did not understand some things. Because of the unrest, I did not wish to be entangled in the fate of that girl. Slowly, it was because of a girl that you violated nature, and now, you are forcing me to not act. I assume you have seen the shadow?”

Eldest Brother had already disappeared from the cliff platform. The Headmaster felt a little lonely.

He turned around to look at the purple wisteria hanging in the corridor with the tangled tendrils and suddenly smiled. He said, ”However, have they not been tangled together long ago?”