Chapter 72: Buddhist Cultivator
The eighth day of the twelfth month. Every year at this time, the mortal streets filled with the sweet fragrance of glutinous rice as every household prepared Laba porridge with yellow rice, red beans, and longan.
It was only after stepping into the world of immortal cultivation that Song Yan learned cultivators also celebrated the Laba Festival.
However, it was mainly Buddhist cultivators who did so.
The Laba Festival was also known as the Day of the Buddha’s Enlightenment, and it held special significance for Buddhist cultivators.
In the State of Chu, orthodox Buddhist sects were few in number. The Huadu Temple, one of the six great sects, was among them.
Today, Buddhist cultivators from Huadu Temple would likely come to deliver “spiritual offerings” and “medicinal food.”
The sect would also offer some spirit grain and spiritual resources in return.
They were not taking the opportunity to spread Buddhist teachings among the Daoist sects. It was simply a matter of exchanging blessings.
Song Yan passed by the Pathway of Enlightenment.
He noticed that Senior Brother Lu Ziye was currently receiving two Buddhist cultivator disciples who had traveled from afar.
“Amitabha.”
The monk bowed. “My junior brother and I have come not wishing to disturb anyone. Following proper etiquette, we shall deliver this Laba dew and be on our way.”
The young novice beside him, also wearing a kasaya, was slapped on the head by the monk. Only then did he belatedly bow as well.
“Amitabha—”
After the bow, he reached behind his head with a hand, rubbing the back of his skull with a pained expression.
During their exchange, Lu Ziye spotted Song Yan and waved a distant greeting.
“Junior Brother Song.”
“Senior Brother.”
After the incident at the Silent Valley, Lu Ziye and he had become acquainted.
“These two are holy monks from Huadu Temple.”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
In the land of Chu, Buddhist cultivators were not numerous in number.
The great Buddhist sect Huadu Temple in the State of Chu was filled with ascetic monks who practiced in seclusion deep within the mountains. They enjoyed an excellent reputation and had no friction with any of the major Daoist sects.
Therefore, here, there was no conflict between Buddhism and Daoism.
After a few pleasantries, Song Yan excused himself and left first.
The monk gazed in the direction of his departure, a hint of worry between his brows.
The two Buddhist disciples indeed did not stay long.
After a short while, they walked down the mountain path outside the sect on foot.
“Senior Brother, that benefactor ‘Song’—is there something strange about him?”
Perhaps sensing his senior brother’s worried expression, the young novice asked.
The monk’s face was clouded with concern. “Though that benefactor has a pleasant demeanor and speaks with courtesy, for some reason, there is an extremely heavy aura of malevolence between his brows.”
“It does not seem like ordinary killing intent.”
“It’s more like…”
He deliberated for a moment, then spoke.
“A sign of heart demons.”
The young novice’s eyes widened.
Though he did not know what a sign of heart demons was, the term itself sounded very much like someone whose six roots were not pure.
“Sigh…”
“However, before we departed, the abbot specifically instructed us that if it involves cultivators of the Daoist sects, we must absolutely not interfere.”
“May this benefactor enjoy good health and smooth endeavors in all things…”
***
Over the past few days.
Some disciples of the Eastern Abyss Sect may have noticed that a somewhat unfamiliar face had appeared among the outer disciples.
To say he was a new disciple, this person already possessed the cultivation of the sixth level of Qi Refining Stage, so clearly he was not.
But if he had been cultivating for several years, no one among them seemed to know him.
It was truly quite remarkable.
This person’s appearance was utterly unremarkable, even somewhat dull and stiff in expression.
He walked forward at a leisurely pace without stopping, stepping directly into the Mission Hall.
Although outer disciples could not proactively take on missions from the Mission Hall.
There were no shortage of situations involving sect conscription, seniors leading disciples, and other special requirements.
Thus, there were also many outer disciples who needed to come to the inner sect’s Mission Hall to look up mission information.
This person was not particularly conspicuous among the crowd of disciples.
His gaze flickered as he looked at the slowly floating spiritual light characters on the massive jade wall.
These were some mission details and reward compensation, as well as which disciple had taken on the mission.
He concealed himself within the crowd, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the fellow brothers and sisters around him who were preparing to accept missions.
Approximately one hour later.
He left the Mission Hall.
“Although outer disciples cannot take on missions, they can post missions and have inner disciples complete them…” “When a mission is accepted, the jade wall will display the acceptor’s name, though only for a brief moment.”
“The party posting the mission can choose whether to leave their name, but they must include contact information in the mission content.”
“The Mission Hall is more crowded in the mornings, and slightly less so in the afternoons.”
For ten consecutive days.
He had been observing here for ten consecutive days.
The entire process of inner disciples accepting missions, every detail without exception, had been thoroughly understood by him.
In truth, he could have simply asked openly, and it would not have been impossible to learn.
It was just that as an outer disciple, there was no need to ask questions about inner disciples, as it would easily attract others’ attention.
“That should be about enough.”
He stepped forward, walking in the direction of the Spirit Source Marsh.
***
Spirit Source Marsh Market Town.
It was as bustling as usual.
People came and went; during the day, most were disciples from various sects.
Three outer disciples approached from the opposite direction. He turned slightly and naturally bypassed them.
“Hm?”
Among the three, the female cultivator suddenly turned her head, looking back with some puzzlement.
“Yue Rong, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“It’s just that a senior brother passed by a moment ago. He looked somewhat familiar.”
The honest-faced youth asked, “Do you know him?”
Yang Yue Rong pondered for a moment, could not recall anything, and then shook her head. “…Hmm, I don’t know him.”
“Maybe I remembered wrong.”
The three of them left the market town.
Leisure Heart Tower, second floor private room.
Song Yan touched the human skin mask on his face, feeling somewhat marvelous.
This mask, combined with his recent breakthrough, meant he no longer needed to use the Hidden Sword Concealment Stance. He could now pass as someone entirely unrelated to himself.
Fortunately, there were not many people at the Foundation Establishment Stage within the sect whom he needed to interact with.
He had come to the Leisure Heart Tower once again purely because he could not be bothered to find another meeting place.
Song Yan was simply this kind of person.
Back in Stone Beam, once he found a food stall he liked, he would eat there for days on end, ordering the same thing every time.
His previous experience with the Leisure Heart Tower’s service had made him feel this place was quite acceptable.
He was waiting for someone here.
Over the past few days, he had made inquiries everywhere and learned that there was an information specialist in this market town.
He called himself “One Who Knows the Heavenly Secrets,” and he would share everything he knew about the entire sect. It was just that the spirit stone cost would be somewhat higher.
Yesterday, Song Yan had made arrangements and spent a full thirty spirit stones to secure an appointment with this “specialist.”
After a short while, a knock sounded from outside the door.
Spiritual light flickered at Song Yan’s fingertip.
A familiar figure stepped through the door, turned to close it, and walked up to Song Yan.
Shao Sichao?!
Song Yan was struck dumb with astonishment.
“…”
He had not expected it to be him.
He did not even bother to conceal his face?
“Ahem… you are…”
“Don’t waste time with useless pleasantries!”
Shao Sichao, likely having not noticed anything unusual about this fellow sect disciple, raised his hand and once again laid down a sound-isolation formation right here.
“What do you want to know? Make it quick.”
This Senior Brother Shao certainly put on airs.
Song Yan was about to ask his question when he was interrupted again.
“Hey, let me first say, if it involves a fellow cultivator’s personal privacy…”
“Heh heh…”
Old Shao chuckled. “It’ll cost extra.”
“…”
Song Yan’s expression turned strange, and for a moment he did not speak.
Now, his opinion of this senior brother had become somewhat “mixed.”
“About Senior Brother Shan Zifeng…”
“How much do you know?”
(End of Chapter)