612 Nothing Can Stop Us, Not Even Buddha (2/2)

Hearing the loud and deep knock from behind, the Big Black Horse's breathing quickened. Moisture that escaped from its nose and mouth passed through the white cloth, turning into a cloud of white mist in the frigid snow. Through the eyeholes were eyes that displayed both excitement and agitation. With a mighty kick from its hind legs, the carriage shot out from behind the rock.

The 20 Xuankong Temple Ascetic Monks saw a white silhouette within the snow and immediately tensed up. Their metal staffs moved so fast the action turned into a blur. The wooden plank beneath their feet sped across the soft snow and gave chase after that white shadow, attempting to intercept it.

Ning Que did not sit within the carriage, rather, he stood right behind the Big Black Horse and looked at the Ascetic Monks that sped along the snow. The wind and snow freely assaulted his face but he remained stoically in wait.

In the quiver beside him laid 50 arrows and two boxwood bows, with a boxwood bow strung across his back as well. If those monks from Xuankong Temple closed in enough, the bowstring would sound out in rapid succession.

As for the Ascetic Monks speeding across the snow, their expressions remained stern and determined, with a couple of gruff shouts escaping their mouths. In their eyes, the sudden snowstorm that occurred was due to Buddha's frustration towards the Daughter of Yama. Within this snowy environment, no matter how fast the horse carriage traveled, it would not compare to their speed.

However, what the monks did not know was that Ning Que's horse carriage was no ordinary horse carriage. The contact between the carriage wheels and the ground was incredibly light and gentle so no matter how soft the snow-covered ground was, it would not affect the carriage at all.

The Big Black Horse neighed with excitement. Hooves as fast as lightning sprayed countless flakes of snow and the snowstorm billowed past the white cloth covering the horse as it dragged the heavy looking carriage along the snow at high speeds.

After a dozen breaths, the horse carriage gradually left the skiing monks far behind them, carriage wheels leaving only a faint streak in the snow.

Although getting rid of those Ascetic Monks appeared to provide temporary safety, the truth was far from it. Ever since that encounter in the snow, in a very short time frame, the black horse carriage encountered a string of Ascetic Monks from Xuankong Temple in the wilderness. Even though they manage to escape successfully each time, the direction they were heading had to be adjusted.

Countless encounters with the enemy increased the pace of the escape and this caused tension to rise within the confines of the carriage. For the first time, the Big Black Horse's eyes showed more agitation than excitement, maybe even some uneasiness.

Ning Que knew that the grassland cavalry they encountered earlier on were mere appetizers. The main course only started when the Xuankong Temple monks joined the chase in the Wilderness. Only then did the true escape began.

At that moment, he once again wondered about the question that both puzzled and troubled him. The whereabouts of Sangsang and himself had already been revealed, Eldest Brother, who has ascended into the Limitless State had yet to appear. If Eldest Brother did not know where he was, how was it that the monks from Xuankong Temple were able to accurately pinpoint his location every single time?

His gaze landed on the chessboard at a corner of the carriage.

After thinking for a moment, he placed the chessboard on his knees and took out the Big Black Umbrella. He then tore a piece of fabric from the damaged edges of the umbrella and wrapped it over the chessboard.

During a break in their escape, the black horse carriage stopped by a dead tree that glimmered like jade from the ice that coated it.

Ning Que grabbed the chessboard that was wrapped by the black umbrella's fabric. He jumped off the carriage, took out his podao and dug a deep hole beside the tree. He tossed the chessboard into the hole without hesitation and filled up the hole.

The black horse carriage moved once again.

The wind howled and snow blew. In mere seconds, the ground below the frozen tree was layered with a thick layer of ice and snow. Even if someone were to stand right in front of the tree, he wouldn't be able to tell that someone dug at that location before.

Sangsang said, ”It's kind of a pity.”

Ning Que replied, ”If we auctioned off Buddha's chessboard back at Chang'an city, we would definitely make a pretty penny. Or perhaps land a vicious strike on Yuelun Kingdom. It does seem like a real pity to just toss it away like this.”

Sangsang whispered, ”I don't mean that.”

Ning Que said, ”Oh I remembered, you loved to play chess. I'll make a great set for you next time, how about one made of white jade?”

Sangsang replied, ”I meant that it was a pity a piece of the big black umbrella was torn for this.”

Ning Que was stunned for a moment, but then he burst into laughter.

Half a day later, several dozens of Xuankong Temple Ascetic Monks skied to the icy valley that the black horse carriage once stopped before. Their robes danced in the howling snow.

Chief monk Qi Mei from the Hall of Respect of Xuankong Temple stepped forward solemnly. He stared at the compass looking Buddhist relic in his hands with its Fuo Zhi Sheli that sat on top and frowned ever so slightly.

The Buddha's finger bone Sheli can lead his believers to the relics that were left behind, and this was precisely the reason why the black horse carriage was unable to escape their pursuit. At this moment, however, the Sheli was uncharacteristically calm and no movement could be seen from it. It was as though it was unable to detect the chessboard.

Qi Mei's was distraught, for he knew that the Buddhism Sect just lost their best chance at killing the Daughter of Yama. He quietly chanted the name of Buddha, silently praying that this would not be the last chance they will have.

A few miles away, a frozen dead tree that looked like a jade sculpture swayed gently in the wind, as though it was nodding along.