Chen Yi ignored it, seeing Dong Gong Ruoshu waving, got up and headed towards Xiaotao's ward.
Master Fang awkwardly stayed for a mont.
Entering the ward, Chen Yi pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Xiaotao looks much better than yesterday," Dong Gong Ruoshu said with raised eyebrows.
She was overjoyed hearing Chen Yi standing up for her,
as if she had personally vanquished Huang Jing.
Miss Xiaotao gave Chen Yi a smile and coughed, saying:
"In a few days, the household will arrange for to go to Taihua Mountain... is that right?"
She was sowhat incredulous, and the maid beside her also had a glimr in her eyes.
She was becoming a Taoist priest, and not just any, but one from Taihua Mountain, rising from the lower nine streams to the upper nine streams in one leap.
"Indeed, you will heal there, and once you're recovered, there's nothing stopping you from joining Taihua Mountain as an outer disciple."
Chen Yi explained simply, having already conferred with Yin Weiyin beforehand.
Tears fell from Xiaotao's face,
"Thank you, thank you... for your great kindness and virtue, I, a humble girl, can only repay you in the next life as a servant. The greatest debts I owe in this life, besides the opera troupe, are to you, the household leader."
They were but passing acquaintances, yet Chen Yi could go to such lengths, moving her deeply.
Back when she was destitute and almost dying of hunger on the street, it was the opera troupe that bought her for three hundred taels and nurtured her step by step into a lead, and now Chen Yi provided tily assistance, not only seeking justice but also settling the compensation. Both acts of grace were enough for her to rember for a lifeti.
"No need to thank , but I have sothing to ask."
Chen Yi slowly asked about a detail from the day of the fire,
"Was Jiangxin Zhenren himself at Yuanfeng Building that day?"
"Master Fang invited him. Jiangxin Zhenren enjoyed opera, and during his free days, Master Fang would occasionally invite him over for private performances by the troupe."
"Understood."
Chen Yi nodded slightly upon hearing this,
without turning to glance at Master Fang.
So that's how it was,
the spy Huang Jing had been searching for wasn't at Miaoshang Temple, nor Chongyang Temple,
but right at his Yuanfeng Building...
......
"Is this true?" Yin Weiyin's brows tightened, "The seal can't hold?"
The Taoist from Chongyang Temple nodded heavily, with a pleading look: "After the unfortunate incident with the Master, the sealing formation in the Sword Pond Forbidden Land lost its genuine support, and coupled with these ominous days, we are barely able to maintain this seal now."
Chongyang Temple was a not too large nor too small Daoist temple of the Quanzhen Sect in Shantong City. When Shantong City was thriving, it was indeed prosperous, but ti changes everything. By their generation, it had been long since they produced a real adept. They finally awaited one, Jiangxin, yet his death was mysterious.
Yin Weiyin slightly furrowed her brows and continued:
"Did Jiangxin Zhenren invite fellow Daoists to Chongyang Temple to explore opportunities and seek sealing techniques all this ti without formulating a counterasure?"
The Taoist felt a little embarrassed, his eyes drooped, stamring:
"Most of the fellow Daoists who co are from small schools or wandering practitioners. Though we say we'll invite fellow Daoists from all over, it's primarily to invite the Taichua goddess' Taihua Mountain and Yin Sword Mountain followers."
Yin Weiyin could not help saying, "In that case, why not speak directly?"
"...We at Chongyang Temple belong to Quanzhen sect, different from Taihua Mountain and Yin Sword Mountain. Just afraid that speaking openly on this matter would weaken the montum of Quanzhen..."
Yin Weiyin shook her head and sighed, "Dying for face, living through humiliation."
"The Goddess' teaching is correct..."
The Taoist finished, his hand trembling slightly as he held the tea, sitting uneasily.
Were it not for the severe situation, they would never have co directly, the seal of Sword Pool is loosening more, and the Sword Qi occasionally spills out, cutting several feet deep marks on the ground, extrely terrifying. Those Daoists who used to venture in for opportunities now retreat upon facing the formation. Reluctantly, they had to send soone over to ask Taichua Goddess for help.
Yin Weiyin took in all these expressions.
Among Taoist traditions, only the Quanzhen sect highly values the rivalry of schools. Back then, when Wang Chongyang was around, he smashed the Maga Temples established by the Heavenly Master's sect all over and erected the Yuegu Temples instead, creating enmity with many Taoist paths. Though with the passage of ti, the strife among Taoist sects has eased and no longer stands in opposition, even so, the Quanzhen sect still holds itself in high regard compared to other Taoist paths.
Now forced to humble themselves and speak openly shows how devastating Jiangxin Zhenren's death has been to Chongyang Temple, and also how dire the situation at Chongyang Temple is.
Seeing Yin Weiyin seeming to ponder, the Taoist advised:
"We Taoists share the sa root and branch, there's no reason to watch in disaster without offering help, not to ntion the urgency now. If the seal collapses, it's not just Chongyang Temple that will see blood, the citizens of Shantong City will also be in peril..."
Yin Weiyin imdiately glanced at Chen Yi.
After considering, Chen Yi said, "Go, accompany Lu Ying."
Lu Ying, quietly sipping tea not far away, slightly raised his eyes, then quickly lowered them.
Yin Weiyin turned to the Taoist and said, "In that case, we will go pay our respects."
The Taoist stood up, bowed in thanks: "Please co quickly."
With that, he was about to turn and leave, but Chen Yi stopped him and said:
"Daoist, how did you co alone?"
"A group of soldiers said there were thieves at Chongyang Temple, sealing it inside and out. I was only let out after requesting permission."
"Alright, nothing more."
Chen Yi waved a hand, and a maidservant went over to escort the Taoist out.
After the Taoist had left, Yin Weiyin turned to look at Chen Yi.
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