In the Mountain Province, there's not just one major city, Wushan Prefecture.
In a corresponding location, as if at another Taiji Eye, there is also a Canghai City.
Canghai City ranks among the top five major cities in Mountain Province. While Wushan Prefecture is famous for its sculptures, Canghai City is mainly known for its weaving.
At this mont, on the official road heading to Canghai City, an oddly interesting group is mingling in the traffic of carts and horses, slowly approaching the city.
"That is where the Kongming Temple is located," Jiao Ying said with a smile, handing a peeled pear to Zhang Rongfang.
"Hmm, who is the abbot of Kongming Temple?" Zhang Rongfang asked as he took the pear, rinsed it with water, and began to eat it leisurely.
He was seated inside the carriage, with a variety of fresh dishes spread on the table beside him.
On the floor next to him lay various novel scripts and drama booklets to pass the ti.
Many monks from the Western Sect were guarding the carriage outside—so driving it, others clearing the road.
"It's Zen Master Hui Yong," Jiao Ying quickly replied.
"Hmm, what can he decide?" Zhang Rongfang asked.
"Well... he can decide the affairs of the entire Mountain Province. In actuality, the focus has always been on the most important provinces. In edge provinces like ours—well, not in terms of territory, but in terms of having few people, not many experts, and little money—
such places usually have a few well-connected individuals dispatched to hold their positions," Jiao Ying revealed everything about his superior in one breath.
"Well-connected individuals..." Zhang Rongfang squinted his eyes slightly. If this Hui Yong can decide a province's affairs, then regardless of his strength, he must be a person with a very strong background in the top circle.
After all, the entire Great Spirit only has twelve provinces.
He's seen firsthand the chaos of Great Spirit's bureaucratic system.
Official posts are simply the possessions of powerful nobles.
The recomndation system, the hereditary system—these policies have essentially split society into two parts.
But what do these have to do with him?
Zhang Rongfang set aside his thoughts and looked out through the lifted carriage curtain, observing the approaching Canghai City.
The city, from afar, seed to have profound historical heritage, with ancient pavilions and high towers scattered throughout. The remaining city walls, yet to be demolished, were plastered with a variety of advertisents inside the city.
The advertisents were dense, filled with food, drink, and entertainnt, seemingly even more prosperous than Wushan.
As Zhang Rongfang passed the city gate entrance, he roughly scanned over it and found that the majority of it was occupied by entertainnt taverns and pavilions.
"Um... this place used to be where the leftover won from the Sea Dragon were stacked... but we didn't make it difficult for them!" Jiao Ying hurriedly added.
"Zen Master Hui Yong is a rare benevolent person from the True Buddha Temple. He had an extraordinary background but disliked the atmosphere of the main temple, so he requested to be exiled here alone," Jiao Ying explained.
Hearing this, Zhang Rongfang, who wasn't particularly interested in the trip, suddenly felt a bit of intrigue.
He knew well what kind of place the True Buddha Temple was, and for soone to co out of there and still maintain benevolence...
They must be either extrely treacherous and adept at disguise.
Or naively humorous, subject to oppression.
He was keen to see what kind of person this was.
Along the way, Jiao Ying explained the outcos of the failed selection of Ming Fei.
Many who had nowhere to go were brought here by Hui Yong under various titles, joining entertainnt pavilions that perford but didn't sell their bodies, earning a livelihood.
Many won used masks when eting people, to prevent being unable to leave their identity and return to ordinary life after finding their families in the future.
This unique developnt model, over ti, led to the place being famous throughout the province for having many beauties, even raising its status.
Many holess prospective Ming Fei, once they stayed here and lived in luxury, were unwilling to return.
Over ti, Hui Yong instead beca notoriously evil in the city.
Everywhere, people said he forcibly seized girls, compelling them to make money and connections for him.
But only people like Jiao Ying, who were close to him, actually knew that Hui Yong was not bad at all.
Hearing this, Zhang Rongfang beca even more interested in the person.
Kongming Temple is situated on the eastern side of Canghai City, near the city wall.
Surrounding it were all blacksmith shops with constant clanging sounds.
When Zhang Rongfang and the others arrived, soone was already waiting at the temple gate.
Before the white gate, flanked by two Buddhist Arhats in different postures.
In between the three-ter-tall Arhats stood an emaciated old monk in a red robe with a black high hat, quietly waiting with people.
The old monk appeared quite calm, seemingly unafraid of the incoming guests.
The carriage slowly stopped, and the door slid open.
Jiao Ying and two others jumped out of the carriage first, then quickly turned to lift the curtain for the next person, their faces adorned with a humble and respectful smile.
Soon, a towering strong man, two and a half ters tall, clad in a simple black garnt, stepped out slowly.
The man, with long hair draping over his shoulders and sharp, twinkling eyes, was brimming with Essence Qi. This was, indeed, Zhang Rongfang.
"Kongming Temple? Hui Yong?" Zhang Rongfang's gaze fell upon the old monk.
"Lord Zhang Ying, please co in." Hui Yong seed indeed unafraid of Zhang Rongfang at that mont.
Clearly, he should have seen Zhang Rongfang's previous information through Jiao Ying's words.
Yet at this mont.
"Interesting." Zhang Rongfang desired a safe and stable Mountain Province.
This was where his sister and brother-in-law lived, especially after reading his sister's letters. He knew his sister was now pregnant.
For the future nephew, he must ensure the security of the surroundings.
"Kindly co in, Benefactor."
Hui Yong led Zhang Rongfang, just the two of them, and turned to enter through the temple gate.
The entire Kongming Temple lacked any lavish decoration, just plain white bricks, walls, and so wooden doors and pillars with peeling paint.
Inside the high and elevated temple, overlooking all beings is the statue of the Tathagata.
The two of them went to a side hall, where there is a bizarre Buddha with three pairs of arms and four eyes that Zhang Rongfang did not recognize.
Hui Yong had no intention of explaining.
He sat cross-legged on his own, gesturing for soone to bring a wooden table, tea set, and cups.
The delicate light green tea was gently poured into two wooden cups, releasing a rich aroma.
"If you have sothing to say, now is the ti. It is best to be quick, as I am unsure how much patience I have left."
Zhang Rongfang calmly picked up the scalding tea, blowing on it and sipping it slowly.
"You truly are impatient, Daoist," Hui Yong laughed, "I know the purpose of your visit, and I understand what you want to ask."
He paused.
"Actually, our Western Sect has many factions internally. Due to rapid expansion, various factions have erged. Thus, whatever grievances there were before, regardless of the reasons or who was involved, they have nothing to do with this old monk."
"Understood, you wish to reconcile with , correct?" Zhang Rongfang squinted slightly and said.
"You ask the obvious, Daoist. The old monk wishes for the Mountain Province to beco a place of peace and seclusion, but the pressure has been mounting recently. The greatest pressure cos from the lineage of Kongwu, the forr Sea Dragon King.
And now..." Hui Yong smiled, sowhat relieved.
"I can agree not to act against you, but you need to tell the reason. Also, how did news of my whereabouts leak?" Zhang Rongfang replied.
"That can certainly be arranged," Hui Yong nodded, "Moreover, if there is any movent from the main temple, I can inform you imdiately as part of the exchange."
He saw very clearly that the True Buddha Temple is the True Buddha Temple, and he is he.
There are already contradictions between the lineage of Kongwu and his lineage. Why should he provoke a powerful Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching for the sake of the other side?
Hui Yong was a skilled negotiator.
He controlled the largest intelligence network in the Mountain Province, surpassing even the forr Golden Wing Pavilion.
The corruption issues of the Golden Wing Pavilion back then were severe, far inferior to the virtuous cycle here.
"Currently, the three teachings stand in opposition. The old monk can do his best to divert the previous incidents related to Kongwu elsewhere. Not many knew about the issues on Kongwu's side, and the information has not spread."
"That works," Zhang Rongfang nodded in agreent. He was still quite weak now, and unless necessary, he did not wish to continuously clash with the Western Sect.
Having soone to help ease the tension was ideal.
Imdiately, the two discussed in detail the specific cooperation frawork regarding the Mountain Province.
Hui Yong agreed to keep Zhang Rongfang inford and arrange matters in the Mountain Province.
anwhile, Zhang Rongfang promised to assist when necessary, becoming one of Hui Yong's secret assets.
The two chatted amicably inside the temple. Later, Hui Yong also took Zhang Rongfang to tour the construction and managent strategies of the city's clubhouses.
To his surprise, most of the clubs here were filled with Western won.
These Western won had been brought here and found it difficult to return ho, so they sought ways to settle and survive in the Great Spirit.
Unfortunately, due to language barriers, there were very few jobs they could do. Furthermore, the Great Spirit heavily regulated many industries.
Not just anyone could work simply because they had skills.
Hui Yong's actions indeed provided these Western won with a ans of living.
After briefly discussing, Zhang Rongfang, escorted by several capable people from the Western Sect, headed to Wushan Prefecture.
This ti, there were no more barriers ahead.
*
*
*
Wushan Prefecture.
Mu Chi's residence.
Zhang Rongfang slowly alighted from the carriage, looking up at the now completely transford mansion of his sister and brother-in-law.
The entire estate was much larger than when he had left.
From a glance, the walls extended dozens of ters along both sides to the street corner, encompassing nearly half the street.
Two guards at the gate were leaning on the stone rail, chatting quietly.
Noticing him alight from the carriage, they imdiately turned their attention towards him.
Seeing his tall stature, they instantly wore serious expressions.
They had seen martial artists before and knew that only a martial artist could have such a physique.
Zhang Rongfang touched his face, now transford from muscles to his original appearance, and stepped onto the steps, about to speak.
Suddenly.
"Young Master Rongfang!?"
The guard on the right recognized him, hesitating in disbelief.
"You know ?" Zhang Rongfang looked at him and smiled.
"It's truly Young Master Rongfang!?" The guard imdiately rejoiced.
"Go inform my sister and brother-in-law... I've returned." Zhang Rongfang looked at the plaque of the estate in front of him, feeling sothing indescribable stirring within him.
"Yes! Of course!" The guard quickly pushed open the door, hurriedly running inside.
Zhang Rongfang did not enter but stood quietly waiting at the steps.
Before long, he heard hurried footsteps approaching quickly.
The door was dramatically pushed open, and a familiar figure suddenly ran out, stopping in place, eyes fixated on him.
"You actually rembered to co back!?" Zhang Rongyu's eyes filled with tears. Even though she had been inford in advance that her brother would return,
when she truly saw him in person, she could not suppress the emotions surging within her heart.
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