Meng Jianqing’s party set out early the next morning and reached the mouth of Longwang Valley near noon. A white stone path wound from the valley entrance into the thick green forest—this was the incense pilgrimage route. From here to Wanfo Temple was still more than ten li.
Meng Jianqing took the lead, spurring his horse onto the incense pilgrimage path.
Under the scorching summer sun that burned intensely, the mountain valley was silent except for the steady clip-clop of hooves.
After walking for half an hour, they finally saw the temple gates.
Though Wanfo Temple was secluded in deep mountains and remote valleys, its scale was quite grand. Pavilions and halls rose layer upon layer following the mountain’s contours, faintly possessing an aura of dominance over the region. Meng Jianqing halted his horse before the mountain gate, ignoring the two terrified guest monks. He first deployed men to guard various passages, then ordered the guest monks to notify the abbot that all monks and laypeople in the temple should gather in the front courtyard’s Maitreya Hall for interrogation. Seeing Meng Jianqing’s hostile intentions, the guest monks didn’t dare delay. They hurried back into the temple to make arrangements while sending a young novice to quickly invite the abbot to take charge of the situation.
The afternoon mountain breeze came gently, passing through the valley and slightly relieving the heat. However, the monks and laypeople crowded in Maitreya Hall, awaiting interrogation, were all nervously drenched in sweat. Two old bailiffs brought by Secretary Deng checked the headcount and reported that all monks except Master Wuse were present, along with seven pilgrims who were all nearby villagers. This hot season wasn’t normally a time for making incense offerings; these seven pilgrims had all come to fulfill vows after family members had been bitten by snakes and recovered—quite reasonable in such hot weather.
The young novice sent to invite Master Wuse now ran back urgently, saying: “Benefactor, the two giant pythons suppressed in the rock cave in the back courtyard suddenly went mad this morning and haven’t completely calmed down yet. The master cannot leave and requests that you come to the meditation room in the back courtyard to meet.”
Meng Jianqing turned to Wu Xuanyi—the same cold-eyed woman in black who had silently guarded behind Long Yan last night and sucked out the snake venom for her—and said in a low voice: “Miss Wu, I’m leaving this to you. Keep a good watch on them!”
Wu Xuanyi nodded slightly.
The back courtyard was shaded by banana trees, cool as autumn, with a row of three meditation rooms. The powder-white walls were mirror-clean, so pristine they seemed uninhabited.
Meng Jianqing left everyone else outside the narrow courtyard. Only Yun Yanjiao accompanied him inside—even Secretary Deng was left outside.
Master Wuse sat cross-legged on an arhat couch in the center meditation room, eyes closed, silently awaiting their arrival.
The master should have been over sixty at the time, but looked like someone in his early thirties—very thin and scholarly, as if he lacked the strength to truss a chicken. Before him sat a white porcelain bowl with its lid tightly sealed, contents unknown.
Yun Yanjiao first walked to the couch, bent down, pressed her palms together at her chest, and said softly: “Yun family third-generation disciple Yun Yanjiao pays respects to Master Uncle Qin. This is Imperial Guard Captain Meng Jianqing.”
Her voice was gentle, her manner elegant. When she spoke, she made people feel extremely sincere and considerate, naturally generating trust and affection.
Meng Jianqing couldn’t help but think of Li Keji, who could make both himself and Shen Guangli unknowingly become calm and peaceful, losing their suspicion and wariness, and of Yun Yanran, whose glance seemed capable of overwhelming hearts. These young disciples from the Immortal Mountain of the Sea all seemed to have practiced various psychological warfare techniques. Had he unhesitatingly entrusted such important matters to Yun Yanran for this very reason?
Master Wuse seemed not to hear. Yun Yanjiao gently repeated herself, her voice adding several notes of infinitely patient tenderness.
Master Wuse sighed deeply, opened his eyes, and said slowly: “This old monk no longer bears the surname Qin. You haven’t come seeking medicine, have you?”
Meng Jianqing stood with his hand on his blade, bowed slightly, and said: “Last night, a Python Mountain copper-head snake bit Long Yan and Wen Ruhai, the Ministry of Rites envoy I’m ordered to protect. Long Yan recognized that snake as one raised by the master. I hope the master can provide some explanation for this.”
He had created such a spectacle just to ask this question? Yun Yanjiao couldn’t help but glance at him in secret surprise.
Master Wuse didn’t answer for a long time.
Meng Jianqing bowed slightly again: “If this matter wasn’t the master’s doing, then there must be a traitor in the temple who stole that copper-head snake to frame the master.”
Master Wuse remained silent.
Meng Jianqing continued speaking to himself: “Since that’s the case, I’ll take my leave here. Please rest assured, Master—I will certainly root out that traitor—or perhaps that group of traitors-to restore the master’s innocence. Oh, Miss Yun, before the traitors are found, the master shouldn’t approach any monk in the temple, so please take great care of the master’s safety.”
He had entrusted the Maitreya Hall to Wu Xuanyi and now entrusted Master Wuse to Yun Yanjiao. What exactly did he intend to do?
As both Master Wuse and Yun Yanjiao grew puzzled, Meng Jianqing shouted: “Wei Huan!”
Hearing this name, Master Wuse couldn’t help but be slightly startled.
A thirty-something Imperial Guard responded and entered.
Meng Jianqing said, “Take the four brothers outside and four bailiffs, and search this temple thoroughly to prevent any traitors from hiding and endangering the master!”
As Wei Huan was about to leave with his orders, Master Wuse called out: “Wait!”
He studied Wei Huan’s delicate features and perpetually smiling expression for a long time, then nodded slightly: “Indeed, a descendant of the Wei family. You’re ranked eighth, aren’t you, benefactor?”
Wei Huan glanced at Meng Jianqing before cupping his hands in reply: “Correct.”
Master Wuse turned to look at Meng Jianqing and silently sighed.
The Wei family of Haining had specialized in civil engineering and mechanical arts for generations. Wei the Eighth had managed to stand out early among the Wei family’s many experts despite his young age back then. After these twenty years, his attainments must be even deeper.
What mechanism could escape his eyes?
Even if he admitted that he had released that snake, Meng Jianqing would still have reason to search the entire Wanfo Temple. Was this his purpose?
Various thoughts turned in Master Wuse’s mind while Meng Jianqing patiently waited for his next move.
After a long time, Master Wuse said slowly: “There are many snakes in the temple. Benefactor Wei must be careful not to disturb them.”
Meng Jianqing smiled slightly: “I’ve brought thirty jars of realgar wine and a hundred pounds of realgar powder. Before searching, I’ll certainly drive away the snake swarms first, so the master needn’t worry about that. As for the two giant pythons in the rock cave behind the courtyard, if the master can’t make them quiet down and leave the cave for my search, I’ll have to take action myself.”
The afternoon mountain breeze passing through the temple indeed carried the scent of realgar. Besides realgar, there was also the faint pungent smell of sulfur and fire oil—Meng Jianqing seemed prepared to set fire to the temple at any moment.
Master Wuse sighed deeply: “Benefactor Meng, what exactly do you want this old monk to do?”
Meng Jianqing didn’t waste words and said directly: “Where is Seven Treasure Child?”
Master Wuse couldn’t help but be shocked. He instinctively wanted to deny it, but couldn’t speak—he didn’t know what evidence Meng Jianqing had in hand to suddenly ask such a direct and critical question.
Meng Jianqing glanced at the sunlight outside the window: “The master has half an hour to consider.”
Seeing Wei Huan about to leave, Master Wuse instinctively reached out to stop him, but once he raised his hand, he realized that stopping him wasn’t right, and not stopping him wasn’t right either—he was caught in a dilemma.
Even if he didn’t admit that this matter was related to Seven Treasure Child and took all responsibility upon himself, it seemed he couldn’t prevent Meng Jianqing from turning Wanfo Temple upside down, especially with Wei Huan doing the searching.
Master Wuse couldn’t help but be stunned.
He had lived in seclusion for twenty years, accompanied by ten thousand snakes, in daily silence and peace. But unexpectedly, while only one day had passed in the mountains, a thousand years had passed in the world. Suddenly having to deal with such a sharp, capable, and aggressive young man like Meng Jianqing, he had no way to cope and was constrained at every step.
In the silence, a wall panel behind the master quietly slid open, and a person in brown clothes emerged. The master was startled, but that person had already jumped down from the arhat couch, jauntily tossing back his disheveled long hair, and said coldly: “You just want to find me, don’t you? What’s the big deal!”
The person in brown had handsome features and bright eyes that sparkled like meteors, with a spirited bearing—still faintly resembling that proud, commanding child prodigy financial genius of years past.
After studying him carefully for a moment, Meng Jianqing said, “Master Liu, I’ve long admired your reputation.” Then he said to Wei Huan: “You may withdraw for now.”
Wei Huan acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Through the banana trees, they could vaguely see his figure standing outside the courtyard gate. Master Wuse’s heart eased slightly, but then, seeing Seven Treasure Child Liu Muyan standing so boldly before that Imperial Guard captain, his heart sank again.