After entering the gate, Shang Lu’s first sight was the withered peach tree in the courtyard. He looked at it for a long ti, as if gazing at an old friend from long ago.
He rembered that when he left back then, this peach tree was still lush and full of fruits. But upon returning now, it had turned into a dry, dead tree.
Shang Lu sighed softly, then he gazed around the temple. It was exactly as it was before… completely unchanged.
He halted his steps, thinking deeply, and suddenly an idea occurred to him.
‘If only Senior Brother and Junior Sister were still here, it would be so good.’
When Shang Lu snapped out of it, he smiled helplessly at himself, thinking how he always pondered such old, faraway things.
He raised his head, then passed through the main hall and headed toward the backyard.
His feet stopped before the pavilion.
Shang Lu clasped his hands and bowed his head, speaking respectfully, “Great Master.”
Chen Changsheng said, “Just co and sit. This is your ho after all; I am the outsider here. There’s no need to be polite.”
Shang Lu smiled and then entered the pavilion.
After seeing him sit down, Chen Changsheng asked, “You are the Human Emperor. Instead of staying quietly in Western Xiao, how co you’ve co to Da Xiang?”
Shang Lu breathed out gently and said, “A few years ago, master, when you passed through Western Xiao, you spoke to about Master. Ever since I learned of it, I’ve longed to co back and see. But at that ti, Western Xiao was too chaotic for to spare ti. Later, with guidance from Great Master, Western Xiao beca peaceful within a few years. Only then could I find ti for this trip.”
Chen Changsheng nodded and said, “Having this heart is good, but arriving so recklessly seems unwise for you. If you lose your head, the world would likely fall into chaos again.”
“‘Great Master, don’t worry. I’ve been very careful all along and revealed nothing to anyone outside.'”
Shang Lu said this one thing, but then added suddenly, “But speaking of which, on the way I t a person. His surna was Zhao; he told his na was Zhao Xinglong. I doubt it’s his real na, but this Zhao surna probably isn’t simple. The strange part is, he didn’t appear to co for . And also, he arrived too, though he was stopped at the gate just now.”
Chen Changsheng smiled lightly and said, “Him…”
Shang Lu asked, “Great Master, do you know who he is?”
Chen Changsheng looked at him, shook his head, and laughed, “I don’t know.”
Seeing that look on the master’s face, Shang Lu quickly understood: The Great Master likely knew but chose not to say.
That being said, this Brother Zhao probably had an important status too.
Just as they talked, Zhao Zhen walked into the backyard.
At first glance, he spotted the two people seated inside the long pavilion.
Zhao Zhen’s eyes lit up, and he strode forward confidently. Without showing courtesy, he entered the long pavilion and sat down imdiately.
“‘Not bad. This is indeed a peaceful and quiet spot.'”
Zhao Zhen said this one sentence, then turned to Chen Changsheng with a grin, “May I ask, are you the abbot of this temple?”
Chen Changsheng shook his head and responded, “No. The forr abbot had already passed away long ago; he rely asked to watch over it for a while.”
Shang Lu introduced him, “This is Mr. Chen, a recluse who lives in these mountains.”
“‘So that’s why.'”
Zhao Zhen nodded and remarked, “No wonder you don’t appear to be a Daoist Priest, but more like a scholar.”
“‘Not a scholar either.'”
Chen Changsheng said this, then inquired, “But recluse, what brings you up the mountain? To ask for granted wishes? Seek blessings? Or get your fortune told?”
Zhao Zhen started to answer but hesitated briefly before replying, “Fortune-telling.”
Chen Changsheng nodded slightly and asked next, “Recluse, what kind of fortune do you wish to know?”
Zhao Zhen grew interested and teased, “How about you guess what I want to learn?”
Chen Changsheng stated, “I have told many fortunes before, but never accepted silver coins. However, for you, it would be a fortune worth a thousand gold coins.”
“‘Playing tricks to fool others.'”
Zhao Zhen sneered and said, “Though I don’t know how you identified my steps, it must just be Qingbo Marquis who sent you. Such petty tricks—put them away.”
Hearing that, Shang Lu paused and comnted, “Brother Zhao, you might be thinking too much.”
Zhao Zhen glanced at him and asked, “Do you actually have faith in fortune-telling?”
Shang Lu shook his head and said, “Mr. Chen has stayed in this temple for many years; he likely isn’t the fellow you suspect.”
Zhao Zhen frowned. He glanced at ‘Lu Shang’, then looked back at the man in blue robe before him.
He leaned close to ‘Lu Shang’ and probed, “How do you know these things?”
Shang Lu whispered in reply, “I ca here long ago and visited this gentleman. You’re probably mistaken about him.”
Zhao Zhen thought it over—it still felt fake to him.
If this man really was innocent, how co the person at the gate knew his identity?
As Zhao Zhen looked at Chen Changsheng once more, he heard him question, “Zhao recluse, do you still seek the fortune-telling?”
Zhao Zhen snapped back to reality and said, “Yes.”
“‘A thousand gold coins for one fortune,’ Chen Changsheng declared.”
Hearing that, Zhao Zhen remarked, “I don’t have that much silver on right now.”
“‘It’s fine; you can owe it,’ Chen Changsheng assured.”
Zhao Zhen nodded and replied, “Fine, I’ll send soone to pay you later. But I want to ask you this: Guess what I want to learn, can you?”
Chen Changsheng studied him and warned, “I only tell one fortune, recluse. Think it over carefully.”
Shang Lu quickly gave Zhao Xinglong a pull and urged, “Please be careful. This gentleman’s fortunes are always accurate. Do not treat this as a joke.”
But Zhao Zhen waved him off and insisted, “I pick this.”
Shang Lu got flustered, “You…”
Zhao Zhen stated, “Brother Lu, stop arguing. I simply wish to see what sches he can pull off. Back in the past, that Xuantiandao Priest from the Directorate of Celestial Observation was also a fraud. Later, I ordered him hanged at Xishi Caikou market. His death was horrid. If it’s wrong, he’ll et the sa end.”
Chen Changsheng queried with a faint smile, “Truly won’t you change?”
“‘Won’t change.'”
Hearing that, Chen Changsheng affird, “Very well then.”
Zhao Zhen then asked, “So what now? Need my birth date? Or a drop of blood?”
Chen Changsheng shook his head and responded, “Nothing of that sort is needed. What you wish to learn, I already know.”
Zhao Zhen teased, “Then tell —what do I want?”
Chen Changsheng locked eyes with him and said, “You wish to learn about the background of this man beside you. Am I correct?”
At those words, Zhao Zhen and Shang Lu froze in place.
Shang Lu turned his head to stare at Zhao Zhen and demanded, “Why are you reading fortunes about !?”
The stunned Zhao Zhen snapped back to alertness from Shang Lu’s soft call.
He stared disbelievingly at the man in blue robe.
This person…
He really got it right!?
How could that be?
“You truly…”
Zhao Zhen hesitated and finally asked, “How did you figure it out?”
Chen Changsheng regarded him and stated, “That is not for you to know. This fortune is concluded now. One thousand gold coins, recluse. Do not forget.”
Shang Lu glanced at ‘Zhao Xinglong’ and couldn’t help shaking his head with a deep sigh.
Seeing this, Zhao Zhen tried to explain, “I was just curious, not doubting anything about you.”
Shang Lu’s expression turned cold and stern as he stated, “I am not disappointed over that. It’s because you, Brother Zhao, have no clue what you missed out on.”
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