Everyone had their own reasons for loving Yangzhou. For example, Grandmother loved the kindness of Yangzhou people. Though Guanzhong people were warm, their loud voices were equally headache-inducing. Two people standing together talking sounded like they were quarreling. Only after understanding the meaning would you realize they were merely discussing whether to eat cold noodles or meat sauce noodles today.

The soft Wu dialect of Yangzhou people gave Grandmother great enjoyment. Though she couldn’t understand what they were saying, it didn’t prevent Old Grandmother from personally selecting Buddhist offerings at all.

Xinyue and the others didn’t like going to temples. Old Grandmother never forced people to do things against their will. Taking the Heavenly Demoness and Daya, Yun Ye went by himself. As for Xinyue, she would take a large group of women to shop at the market. Hypatia hoped even more to encounter people from her homeland here.

The Yun family’s procession was very grand—grand to the point of making Yangzhou people stare. Sixteen sturdy grassland horses led the way, mounted by robust knights all wearing face helmets. The armor on their bodies wasn’t new—the sword and blade marks on them were clearly visible. The more so, the more they displayed the warriors’ extraordinariness.

The carriage was drawn by two horses, with cloud patterns inlaid in silver displaying the master’s exceptional taste. The entire carriage was made of ebony with steel-forged wheels embedded with a thick layer of glue, producing no thunderous rumbling like other carriages when rolling over stone-paved roads.

In the middle were several scholars wearing blue robes, laughing and chatting on horseback. Their mounts hardly needed to be controlled and walked in neat formation by themselves. Behind them, sixteen knights escorted five or six carriages. Occasionally, servant girls beautiful as flowers would poke their heads out, curiously observing the outside world.

Pedestrians unconsciously made way on the main road. Even some official households’ carriages quickly pulled to the roadside. A two-horse carriage—this was marquis protocol. The highest title in Yangzhou City belonged to the Gao Ying family. After Gao Ying was beheaded by Emperor Yang of Sui, the Gao family completely declined. After Li Yuan ascended the throne, out of consideration for the deceased He Ruobi’s face, he granted the Gao family an empty marquis title. Now it had been passed down one generation and become an earl—Yangzhou’s famous hollow big shot, despised by all.

Yangzhou people suddenly seeing such a procession now couldn’t help but speculate which great clan from the capital had arrived. Yun Ye and Han Zhe laughed and chatted as they swayed with their horses. Gou Zi even sat sideways on his saddle, pointing at the passing crowds with his riding crop, extremely pleased with himself.

The man-bear with the most imposing physique wore full heavy armor, guarding at the side like a demon god. His fierce gaze made everyone avoid him.

Going to Daming Temple today, Yun Ye was determined to adopt a manner of overwhelming with power. Doing this in Chang’an City would make people laugh their teeth off—that was truly a place where marquises were as common as dogs. Yangzhou was different—a single marquis was already a top-tier existence.

Leaving through Yangzhou’s north gate, Daming Temple was already faintly visible. Among green mountains and clear waters, a corner of flying eaves was exposed, making Daming Temple appear even more secluded and profound. This ancient Chan temple built during the Daming reign of Emperor Xiaowu of Liu Song in the Southern Dynasty—over one hundred seventy years—had already seen six great virtuous high monks achieve nirvana here. It was a must-visit place for Yangzhou people worshipping Buddha.

Shugang Peak was reached in a flash. Yesterday, a steward had already notified Monk Daofa. Monk Daofa personally led the temple’s monks to wait at the mountain gate to respectfully await the Yun family’s arrival.

Seeing this withered thin monk again, Yun Ye clasped his hands in greeting, saying: “Since parting in Chang’an, seeing the Master’s treasure-like appearance again is truly Yun Ye’s fortune. My family’s grandmother has always devoted herself to Buddhist cultivation. This time coming to Daming Temple to worship Buddha, we hope the Master will provide convenience.”

Daofa returned the greeting, saying: “We who have left home naturally open wide the gate of convenience. The old lady has a heart devoted to goodness—in the future she will naturally attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.”

Yun family’s old grandmother personally produced a cotton kasaya. Immediately a servant girl came forward, shook it open, and asked Fayan to appreciate it. Seeing Daofa nod with a smile, she stepped forward to remove Fayan’s old kasaya and put this new kasaya on Old Monk Daofa.

During this, except for Han Zhe, everyone else clasped their hands to show respect. Han Zhe saw Yun Ye doing the same, and his eyes were full of mockery. He didn’t understand why, since he himself was a god, he should still worship these false gods—he didn’t know what the reasoning was.

Daofa respectfully invited Old Grandmother to enter the temple, accompanying her at the side to explain to the old lady the origins and wonderful features of various Buddha statues in the temple. Yun Ye followed behind, appreciating the temple scenery together with Han Zhe. Unlike the devout old grandmother, these two were purely here to see the sights.

Daming Temple’s mountain gate hall also served as the Heavenly King Hall. The main entrance bore the three characters “Daming Temple” in ancient-style flowing script. Inside the hall was enshrined a Maitreya statue, with the Dharma-protecting Weituo at the back, and the Four Heavenly Kings—Dhritarashtra, Virudhaka, Virupaksha, and Vaishravana—standing on both sides.

Passing the Heavenly King Hall, one saw an open courtyard with towering ancient trees and curling incense smoke. To the east was a century-old Chinese juniper, to the west a century-old boxwood, and in the center were two treasure cauldrons. Judging from these two large cauldrons weighing five hundred catties, Daming Temple didn’t lack incense money at all.

Walking along a granite pathway, they arrived at the Great Buddha Hall. The Great Buddha Hall was a Southern Dynasty building, three bays wide, with front and rear corridors, triple-tiered eaves, and openwork flower ridges. At the high point of the roof ridge was embedded a treasure mirror, with “National Peace and Prosperity” on the yang side and “Favorable Weather and Timely Rain” on the yin side.

Inside the Great Buddha Hall, the dharma images were solemn, the sutra pillars dignified, and the dharma instruments complete. At the center, sitting on a high lotus platform, was Shakyamuni Buddha, respectfully called “Mahavira.”

On both sides of the Great Buddha were two of his ten great disciples—Kashyapa and Ananda. On the east sat Medicine Buddha, on the west sat Amitabha Buddha. Behind the Buddha platform was a clay sculpture group of “Island Guanyin.” On both sides were the eighteen arhats. All the hall’s Buddha statues had been newly renovated, radiating golden splendor with solemn dharma images.

Yun Ye, representing Grandmother, washed his hands and offered incense, performing three prostrations. With each prostration, Daofa struck the bell and chime, the lingering sound echoing in the great hall.

Grandmother wanted to fulfill vows and chant sutras in the great hall—this wouldn’t be finished in a short time. After chanting, she also had to consult Daofa on Buddhist profound meanings, and finally add incense and pray for blessings for the whole family. This whole set wouldn’t conclude without two hours.

Leaving the man-bear to guard at the hall entrance, Yun Ye, Han Zhe, and Gou Zi strolled around the temple. Daming Temple had many monks inside, incense burned continuously, and visitors were like woven fabric. But when they reached the Great Buddha Hall, monks guided them elsewhere, saying there was a noble person offering incense who couldn’t be disturbed. If they wanted to worship Buddha, they needed to wait until the noble person finished before they could enter. Though everyone was dissatisfied, seeing those fully armored warriors, they obediently went elsewhere.

Near the Great Buddha Hall were several tall buildings. The largest one was called the Sutra Repository, two stories with five bays, spacious corridors, and at the roof ridge “Yin and Yang Ever Turning” was embedded on the yang side and “National Peace and Prosperity” carved on the yin side.

Han Zhe pointed at the Sutra Repository saying: “What you want should be inside. Don’t know if they’ll sell your marquis face.” Hearing this, Gou Zi immediately climbed the steps and pushed open the door to enter.

A thick-bodied monk blocked Gou Zi, saying: “Benefactor has gone the wrong way. The Sutra Repository is this temple’s important place and not open to outsiders.” Gou Zi grinned and pressed his hand on the monk’s shoulder. The monk closed his arms trying to grab Gou Zi, but Gou Zi’s body shot upward. His toes tapped the monk’s shoulder, his hand grabbed the door lintel, and with a flip he entered the Sutra Repository.

The monk was about to chase inside when he saw Han Zhe fanning himself as he ascended the stone steps. Angered, he swung his arm in a sweep, but Han Zhe caught his arm with one hand. Following the momentum with a twist, the whole person flipped over, his back heavily smashing onto the stone slabs with a thunderous sound that made Yun Ye’s teeth ache.

Only then did Han Zhe step over the monk and walk straight in. When Yun Ye passed this monk, seeing him weakly shaking his head trying to recover from his dazed state, he didn’t inflict violence but carefully stepped over his head.

Daming Temple’s collection of books was extremely abundant, from bamboo slips to palm leaves—there were even many thin stone slabs covered with the Buddhist six-syllable mantra, each character red as blood. Picking one up to smell, it was actually musk mixed with cinnabar. Damn, these stone pieces were also worth quite a bit of money.

Yun Ye valued more those sheepskin scrolls. Sea charts couldn’t be drawn on paper—on the ocean with high winds and rough waves, once they got wet, a whole boat of people would have no way to survive. Who knew why there were so many ancient sheepskin scrolls here? Yun Ye occasionally opened one scroll and discovered it was actually carved with a star chart—the Western twelve zodiac houses. He wasn’t unfamiliar with this thing, though he only knew what sun and moon each house represented.

This thing was rare. Hypatia said the West also had very deep knowledge of astronomy. Taking this thing back, perhaps Zhao Yanling would be very grateful to him.

Yun Ye found twelve star charts in total. He couldn’t understand or comprehend the others—no matter, just leave them here for now and take them all when returning.

Gou Zi climbed up and down the tall bookshelves like a monkey. Before long he’d turned the scrolls into a mess. Han Zhe, like Yun Ye, only examined those sheepskin scrolls. Perhaps this fellow’s standards were high, or he didn’t understand them—in any case, he didn’t take a single scroll. Until a dark-faced monk entered the Sutra Repository, he still hadn’t found a single sea chart.

“Amitabha. I wonder what honored guests are seeking? Could you tell this old monk so I can help the benefactors search?” Very strangely, this old monk didn’t seem angry at all. Looking at the three of them was like looking at three mischievous children, his gaze full of compassion.

“Old monk, we’re looking for sea charts. Have you seen any? If you’ve seen them, bring them to us.” Gou Zi stood atop a bookshelf and answered without courtesy.

“If benefactors are seeking Buddhist scriptures, this old monk will certainly comply. But where does this talk of sea charts come from? Daming Temple is a Buddhist place for cultivating the mind—we’re not those sea travelers who risk their lives. What benefit would sea charts have?”

“Old monk, better not say these words. This young master has recently been learning how to be a good person, so you should help us find the sea charts and not bring disaster upon your Daming Temple.” Han Zhe threw down a sheepskin scroll, patted the dust off his hands, and turned to say to the old monk.

“Those who have left home do not speak false words. This old monk truly doesn’t know of any sea charts in the Sutra Repository. Is the benefactor mistaken?” The old monk seemed incapable of anger. Even watching the bookshelves turned into a complete mess, he didn’t get angry, still answering very politely.

“Looking at your age, you should be a figure of the same generation as Daofa Monk. Between enlightened people, let’s speak plainly—give me the sea charts and all will be well. If you don’t give me the sea charts, old monk, can you bear to see Daming Temple destroyed in an instant?”