406 The Meeting at the Pavilion Halfway up the Mountain (1/2)

The yard stood alongside the Tianxiu River. The night wind was extremely chilly.

”Maybe it was a coincidence. Wolf King has always been cautious and good at hiding. It's reasonable for him to change his lodging.” Wang Zai guessed frowning slightly.

Staring at the slow-flowing river, Jiang Zhiwei mused, ”Maybe someone was watching us. When they found something, they informed Wolf King in advance.”

”The Myths?” Meng Qi understood what she meant but said nothing. Wang Zai was using his imagination instead. ”Both Crown Prince and Third Prince are here. There is chaos in Ying City. Maybe we are being monitored by someone.”

He connected this matter with Prince Jin Zhao Yi's assassination attempt.

After a pause, he said, ”Wolf King might use this bloody cloth to wrap his wounds. You'd better let me take it. I will use my family's special skill to trace him.”

The Bai family came from Southern Wild. It was said that they owned the poisoning skill and Dharma Access of tracing someone by blood. That is why Wang Zai said that. If they did not let Wang Zai take the cloth, they might have to ask for experts of the Exterior or true descendants of Buddhism for help with their Heavenly Knowing such as Providential Sight.

”Okay.” Meng Qi nodded. ”But Wolf King did not leave in a hurry. Since he left this piece of bloody cloth, he should have made some ways to avoid being traced.”

After that discussion, they did not find any clues, so they separated and went back to their residence. Jiang Zhiwei asked the manager of Sword Washing Pavilion in Ying City to contact Turf Lord to trace Wolf King.

...

The next day, the sky was clear and the winter sun was warm.

In light of the fact that he had submitted the secret report for two days, Senior Brother Qi had been reporting to the Huanhua Swords Sect for a long time, and Gu Xiaosang and Luo Jiao Sanren had been waiting in secret, Meng Qi had planned to be a decoy, so he invited Jiang Yan to visit Misty Rain Mountain together.

The mountain was empty and the scenery was beautiful. Unlike other mountains, the Yanyu Mountain was not sharp or steep but delicate and green. It demonstrated the typical softness of River East.

”The scenery of Jiangdong is quite different from that of the Northland.” The bright sunlight shined through the surrounding fog so the entire Misty Rain Mountain was enveloped in gold, which dyed the mountain stream and old trees with holiness. Jiang Zhiwei seemed to be enveloped in gold as well.

Located at the junction of Huazhou and Ganzhou, Sword Washing Pavilion was also considered to be in the North.

There were many towers and pavilions in the mountains. The sound of music and dancing flowed into their ears. The families, sects and wealthy officials all built yards and pavilions in the Misty Rain Mountain. The nature and works of human labor integrated well.

Looking close at the beautiful mountains and rivers and looking at the pavilions far way, Meng Qi chuckled. ”According to others, Heart-calming Temple is located in the Northern Peak. The smell of Iron Flower tear is elegant and the tofu jelly is inexplicably delicious. Why not try it?”

Jiang Zhiwei laughed. ”I thought that you would go to Samantabhadra Temple.”

”Why?” Meng Qi's eyes were wide open, as if he had not considered Samantabhadra Temple at all.

”Aren't you a monk? It's reasonable for you to mediate in mountains.” Jiang Zhiwei joked and then continued, ”Luohan non-spiced dinner of Samantabhadra Temple is ranked first in Ying City. You like eating so much, why didn't you think of it first?”

After thinking, she said seriously, ”I know you don't like to be a monk, but since you have resumed secular life, why don't you go to a temple? If you always avoid this, it may seem like you really can't get rid of it. As time goes by, it will become a knot in your hand, which may bring about external demons.”

Sword Washing Pavilion valued the refinement of mentality, so Jiang Zhiwei reminded him.

Meng Qi squeezed out a smile and said, ”I went to the nunnery before, so I'm not afraid of temples. It was just because Crown Prince lived in Samantabhadra Temple and I was involved with King Jin before. If I go there rashly, I'm likely to be involved in a royal dispute and bring myself some trouble.”

Although he had told Jiang Zhiwei about Zhao Yi and Crown Prince's arrival, he did not tell her their residence.

Jiang Zhiwei understood now. Her face flushed, she slightly raised her head and looked at the sky, then ”honestly” said, ”I overthought it and got you wrong.”

She was being completely genuine.

Meng Qi chuckled and wisely changed the topic. While talking and laughing, they walked toward the North Mountain.

After climbing the stone stairs for a while, a pavilion appeared at the flat ground of the hillside. A group of people stood inside.

With his hands behind his back, the leader was looking far into the high mountains and deep valleys surrounded by clouds. In bright yellow clothes and a high hat, he stood straight.

Behind him was a feminine middle-aged man in black clothes and a black hat. Simply looking at him gave Meng Qi the chills.

Beside the middle-aged man was a monk in a red cassock. He had a big head and a pair of big ears. His warm smile was very amiable.

There were five monks in yellow robes surrounding them. They were 40 years old or so, and looked skinny. Although they had different appearances, they gave people a sense of unity.

Scattered outside the pavilion were guards in dark-red fighting clothes. They were all strong, intimidating and skillful.

Meng Qi looked awkward and squeezed out a smile. ”It is doomed to happen. Even if I do not go to them, they will come to us anyway.”

Using momentum, Meng Qi judged the head as Crown Prince Jin, Liang Wang Zhao Qian.

”Misfortune can't be avoided. Since they've come to us, let's meet them.” Jiang Zhiwei proposed.

”Sure. Since they have blocked our way, we have to know their purpose to avoid being unaware of dangers in the future.” Meng Qi regained his composure. With his long saber hanging around his waist and hands behind his back, he went upstairs in a detached manner.

Jiang Zhiwei held her long sword in hand. Her dress fluttered in the mountain wind like a fairy.