Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Having broken past the Fourth-Rank bottleneck and entered the Third Rank, Zhao Jiu was in excellent spirits. Ignoring Liu Rouwei’s opinion, he insisted on staying in Chang’an for two days.

Admittedly, Zhao Jiu had his own selfish reasons.

Before transmigrating, back when he had been utterly penniless, he had dreamed of visiting the capitals of every Chinese dynasty. Yet after several years, the only one he had ever managed to visit was Beijing.

Later, his family home was demolished for redevelopment, and the compensation made him wealthy overnight. He was no longer poor, but then he went out drinking, got struck by a Twelve-Wheeled Truck, and was repeatedly run over. When he opened his eyes again, he had arrived in this world.

Depressing.

There was no other word for it.

Still, coming to this world had its advantages. His new body was a native of Bianzhou, so he had effectively unlocked Bianzhou the moment he arrived. Lin’an was not far away either, making it exceptionally convenient for him to visit both former capitals.

Moreover, unlike China, only four cities in this world had ever served as imperial capitals: Bianzhou, Lin’an, the Capital, and Chang’an. Luoyang had never been among them.

Now, Chang’an was the only one he had yet to visit. Having just entered the Third Rank, how could Zhao Jiu possibly suppress his urge to explore the city?

Once he made up his mind, he acted immediately.

After breakfast, Zhao Jiu dragged Liu Rouwei out of the inn.

The three most famous places in Chang’an were Bright Moon Tower, the White Jade Capital, and Lantuo Temple.

Bright Moon Tower was famous for its wine. Its renowned Drunken Wanderer was acclaimed as the finest wine under heaven.

The White Jade Capital had originally been a Taoist temple, but it was destroyed during a war and rebuilt four hundred years ago. According to legend, an immortal had descended there, so it was named after the line by the Poetry Immortal Li Bai: “In heaven stands the White Jade Capital.”

Lantuo Temple, meanwhile, was considered the foremost sacred temple under heaven. Zen Master Shendeng, whose fame had spread throughout the realm, had come from Lantuo Temple.

The inn where Zhao Jiu and Liu Rouwei were staying was in southwestern Chang’an. Lantuo Temple and Bright Moon Tower were both in the north, while only the White Jade Capital lay to the south.

Thus, Zhao Jiu took the reluctant Liu Rouwei and rode directly toward the White Jade Capital.

They arrived in less than half an hour.

The White Jade Capital was not large. There was not even a signboard above its entrance. It looked less like a Taoist temple and more like a private residence.

After tying up their horses and knocking on the door, they followed a young Taoist acolyte around the grounds. Apart from several green pines and white plum trees, there was little worth seeing. Snow covered nearly everything in sight.

Zhao Jiu was bitterly disappointed.

When Liu Rouwei saw the painfully constipated expression on his face, she burst into delighted laughter without the slightest concern for her dignity.

After suffering such a crushing disappointment at the White Jade Capital, Zhao Jiu placed even greater hopes on Lantuo Temple.

However, after riding for half an hour to reach it, he was refused entry. A novice monk told them that the abbot was away and that the temple was not receiving visitors. Even Zhao Jiu’s request to enter and offer incense was rejected.

Zhao Jiu could only ride away with a gloomy expression, silently praying that Bright Moon Tower had not somehow gone out of business that very day.

Liu Rouwei followed behind him, struggling to suppress her laughter. Every so often, she teased him with a few remarks, leaving Zhao Jiu increasingly irritated.

Bright Moon Tower was not far from Lantuo Temple. They reached it after riding for fifteen minutes.

Even while they were still some distance away, they could already smell the rich fragrance of wine.

Zhao Jiu immediately brightened.

At last, the outing had not been entirely wasted.

As soon as they reached the entrance, two attendants came forward to tie up their horses. Zhao Jiu impatiently asked, “You are open today, are you not?”

“Please do not tease us, honored guests. Why would a restaurant not be open?”

“Good. As long as you are open.” Zhao Jiu was in high spirits. “Prepare a table of fine wine and meat. The wine must be a Drunken Wanderer. As for the dishes, bring us whatever is most expensive!”

Once the wine and food had been served, Zhao Jiu poured himself a cup and took a small sip.

The aroma of alcohol immediately filled his nose. He closed his eyes and slowly savored the taste, the fragrance lingering for a long time.

Unlike the wines of Jiangnan, Drunken Wanderer was exceptionally rich and mellow. It did not feel particularly strong as it passed down his throat, but when its warmth rose back through his mouth and nose, it struck with far greater intensity.

Zhao Jiu finished an entire flask.

The wine’s warmth drove away the cold and left his whole body pleasantly heated. He found the sensation exceptionally enjoyable.

Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, Zhao Jiu had two large flasks filled to the brim with Drunken Wanderer before riding back to the inn.

To leave fine wine undrunk would be a sin against the mortal world!

The next day, Zhao Jiu slept until noon before gradually waking.

Drunken Wanderer truly deserved its reputation. It was not particularly potent, yet it produced an exceptionally pleasant intoxication. Drinking roughly one flask was perfect.

After washing and eating, Zhao Jiu did as he had in Bingzhou and bought several steamer baskets of buns.

Chang’an was only eight hundred li from Hexi, which was not particularly far. If they pushed forward without stopping, they could arrive in roughly ten days.

When the sky began to darken, Zhao Jiu and Liu Rouwei led their horses out of the city and galloped westward.

Inside a tall pagoda at Lantuo Temple in Chang’an, Abbot Baoshu sat drinking tea opposite an elderly man with white hair and a red robe.

“Master, my qi sense tells me that Young Miss Liu has already left Chang’an,” the Red-Robed Eunuch said leisurely. His voice was sharp and shrill. “Will you lend me your aid?”

Zen Master Baoshu’s expression revealed neither sorrow nor joy. Calm as still water, he merely continued drinking his tea without answering.

The Red-Robed Eunuch was in no hurry. He quietly savored his tea, and only after finishing the pot did he continue.

“Master, you merely wish to avoid offending the Liu Family. I am only asking you to stop her. Surely that is of little consequence.”

“Hehehe.” Zen Master Baoshu chuckled softly. He set down his cup and began pouring more tea. “Eunuch, Please simply enjoy your tea. Those who have left the secular world seek neither fame nor profit, nor do they wish to become entangled in karma. This old monk has already reached his twilight years. The ancients said that few men live to seventy, and I still cherish the years I have left in the mortal world.”

“Master, is it the wind that moves, or the banner? I do not understand.”

The Red-Robed Eunuch abruptly responded with an apparently irrelevant question.

Zen Master Baoshu had practiced Chan Buddhism for more than seventy years. How could he fail to understand? On the surface, the eunuch was referring to a well-known Chan teaching. In truth, he was mocking Lantuo Temple for placing wagers on both sides and refusing to offend either faction.

“It is merely the mind that moves. The bodhi has no tree, and the bright mirror is no stand. Those who have left the secular world must guard most carefully against greed, anger, and ignorance. You are clinging to appearances.”

Zen Master Baoshu’s voice remained steady, but his tone had hardened.

The Red-Robed Eunuch understood that the old monk was determined not to offend either side. He could only present his offer.

“There is still a Mind-Calming Pill in the imperial palace. I have heard that your temple’s Buddhist Heir is on the verge of a breakthrough. With the aid of the Mind-Calming Pill, his chances of entering the Vajra Realm should be nearly certain.”

At the mention of the Mind-Calming Pill, Zen Master Baoshu’s eyes immediately opened.

A gleam appeared within his clouded pupils, but it vanished almost at once as he slowly closed his eyes again.

“This old monk has heard that the imperial palace possesses the Manjusri Pure Scripture of Deliverance from Hell.”

“You were misinformed, Master. The imperial palace does not possess that scripture.”

Fearing that Zen Master Baoshu would remain unconvinced, the Red-Robed Eunuch added, “It truly is not there. I have personally entered the Palace Library.”

Seeing his certainty, Zen Master Baoshu believed him for the most part. He slowly nodded, silently accepting the arrangement.

“Eunuch, this old monk will send four Buddha-Serving Vajra Guardians out of the temple. Beyond that, there is nothing more I can do. Amitabha.”

The Red-Robed Eunuch did not press him further.

He understood that expecting the old bald monk Baoshu himself to act in exchange for a single Mind-Calming Pill was nothing more than wishful thinking.

“Anyone traveling to Hexi must pass through Huai’an County. I hope you will not disappoint me, Master.”

“Amitabha.”