Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Lingjue Temple was a huge, ancient temple. According to historical records, it was built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties 1 .
The architectural layout of Lingjue Temple was squarish. It mainly housed the Front Gate, Hall of Four Heavenly Kings, Daxiong Hall, Hall of Bodhisatta, and Sutra Depository. The symmetry was rigid.
The building was joined together along the central axis.
Ling Yun understood from the design that it had deep yin and yang cosmology ingrained in it. It advocated symmetry, order, and stability.
Ling Yun and Murong Feixue passed through Daxiong Hall and the Sutra Depository to arrive at the backyard that Murong Feixue mentioned.
Ling Yun was dumbfounded. How was this a backyard? It was obviously bedrooms and a canteen.
Of course, as a jewelry appraiser and designer, Murong Feixue’s understanding of Lingjue Temple was different from most ordinary people. There were next to no tourists here. In her eyes, such a quiet place where the monks rested, ate, and prayed was the backyard of the temple.
It wasn’t open to the public, which was why it seemed cold and mundane. The whole zen aura got even stronger.
They came to the door, and Murong Feixue addressed a young monk courteously. “Hello, I would like to meet with Master Xuanzhi, please help.”
That young monk sized them up. He puffed out his chest and gave a slight bow upon seeing how well they were dressed. “Please return, benefactors. Master Xuanzhi said that he won’t be seeing any guests today to decipher lots.”
Murong Feixue was disappointed, but she didn’t give up. “Young Master, please do help us. Please tell him that Murong Feixue from the Murong Family would like to meet him,” she begged sincerely.
Murong Wenshi and Master Xuanzhi were best friends. Murong Wenshi visited Lingjue Temple every month to catch up. It was natural that Murong Feixue knew Master Xuanzhi.
Murong Feixue accompanied Murong Wenshi to Lingjue Temple when she was eighteen years old and prayed for her marriage. Master Xuanzhi was the one who deciphered her lot for her. She didn’t take it seriously at that point in time, but she had to come and thank him in person now that it had really happened.
Ling Yun’s divine sense had long gone into the interior. His expression changed because he detected an old monk sitting on a futon in a simple room at the east side of the abode.
He donned a kasaya, Buddhist robes. He appeared ancient and was seated in a lotus position. His hands were moving Buddhist beads as his lips opened and closed slightly, obviously in mediation.
Ling Yun’s expression didn’t change because he suddenly saw a meditating monk, it was because he couldn’t see the old monk’s cultivation level!
He might look like an ordinary monk, but Ling Yun knew that he was definitely not. His cultivation was at least Xiantian Realm Level Six!
The Lingjue Temple actually had such a highly skilled cultivator!
Ling Yun had activated his divine sense to its maximum solely because he wanted to see if there were any ancient practitioners. His hopes were dashed when he couldn’t even find one at the Houtian Realm. He never thought that he would discover someone like this, someone with such powerful cultivation!
There were only three people he regarded as highly skilled so far, which were Qin Dongxue, Liu Suifeng, and the Holy Virgin of the Devil Sect.
Qin Dongxue was currently at the pinnacle of Xiantian Realm Level Four. Liu Suifeng was at the base of Xiantian Realm Level Five. Ling Yun couldn’t discern the Holy Virgin’s cultivation base, so it must be unfathomable as well.
Of course, Ling Yun and Bai Xianer were masters in their own right.
Ling Yun had also come across two Buddhist practitioners. The first was Priest Compassionless, who was at Houtian Realm Level Eight. She was killed by Ling Yun. The second was Master Xingchi, who was at Xiantian Realm Level One. He committed suicide in front of Ling Yun.
Ling Yun had now encountered the third, and it was someone that Ling Yun couldn’t discern. Of course he would be surprised.
This must be the Master Xuanzhi that Murong Feixue mentioned, Ling Yun thought to himself.
Ling Yun was getting the jitters as he felt that he might be evenly matched. “Big Sister Murong, let’s come back another day since Master Xuanzhi isn’t meeting anyone today,” Ling Yun said to Murong Feixue, seeing how the young monk was reluctant to do her bidding.
Ling Yun didn’t want to antagonize anyone from Buddhism. He planned to escape while the getting was good.
Unfortunately, a voice reached them at that very instant. “Amitabha, I didn’t know I’d have such precious guests today. Apologies for my disrespect. Benefactors, please enter…”
The voice was old but majestic. It was crisp and deep.
Ling Yun saw that the old monk had already gotten up from his sitting position without the use of Qinggong. His expression was normal.
“Master Xuanzhi invites you in…” That young monk removed himself from the doorway.
“Thank you, Young Master…” Murong Feixue smiled brightly.
She then tugged at the helpless Ling Yun’s arm and led him in.
They saw the old monk coming out of the room. His eyes were bright and clear — perhaps an aftereffect of meditation — as he walked towards them with a smile.
“Please accept my respects, Master Xuanzhi…”
Murong Feixue let go of Ling Yun’s arm hurriedly upon seeing how Master Xuanzhi came out personally to greet them. She folded her hands together and gave a deep bow.
Master Xuanzhi returned the gesture. “Feixue, don’t stand on ceremony. I’m great friends with your grandpa. I drink the tea he sends me every year. I would have to buy the tea myself if I were to not come out and meet you today…”
“Master Xuanzhi really knows how to joke…” Murong Feixue giggled merrily, bringing a spring breeze to this simple backyard.
Ling Yun stood by Murong Feixue without saying a word. He merely smiled.
“Please come in…”
Master Xuanzhi brought them to his own room and settled down. He asked that young monk to brew some tea for his guests while he looked at Ling Yun. “May I know who this young benefactor is?”
“Ling Yun,” Ling Yun replied truthfully.
“What? Ling Yun?”
Master Xuanzhi’s expression changed immediately, and he jumped up. He studied Ling Yun intently.
It was as though he saw an alien. His eyes contained shock and confusion.
Ling Yun and Murong Feixue exchanged puzzled gazes. “Why, could Master Xuanzhi have heard of me?”
Murong Feixue found it very strange, but Ling Yun could more or less guess what was happening. Master Xuanzhi was a high level cultivator, which meant that he must have been formidable eighteen years ago as well. If Master Xuanzhi was in the temple when Qin Qiuyue adopted him, then he must have known as well.
“That can’t be…” Master Xuanzhi muttered under his breath before taking his seat again.
“Master Xuanzhi, Ling Yun is my boyfriend. What do you mean by that can’t be… Do you mean…” Murong Feixue asked in a bewildered manner.
“Feixue, my apologies, I wasn’t myself…” Master Xuanzhi put the blame on himself before turning to Ling Yun. “Benefactor Ling Yun, I have a very sudden question to ask you, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate.”
“Please continue, Master,” Ling Yun replied calmly.
Ling Yun now knew that he was the descendant of the Ling Family, his birth mother was the former Holy Virgin of the Devil Sect, and Qin Qiuyue was from the Qin Family. There was no need to hide his identity from outsiders now.
He was going to do something about the Ling Family and Qin Family. He would take the burden of re-establishing these two fallen families on his own shoulders. He wasn’t going to lose himself in front of a highly skilled master like Master Xuanzhi.
Moreover, Ling Yun wanted to know anything Master Xuanzhi knew.
For example, why was he adopted by Qin Qiuyue at Lingjue Temple and not at another place? There was obviously some hidden story behind it.
“Benefactor Ling Yun, is your mother’s surname Qin?” Master Xuanzhi asked directly.
“Yes, my adopted mother is Qin Qiuyue,” Ling Yun replied.
Master Xuanzhi was thoroughly stunned.
“Master Xuanzhi, do you perhaps know each other?” Murong Feixue blurted out, equally stunned.
“No…” Master Xuanzhi shook his head.
“Big Sister Murong, there is something you don’t know. My mother adopted me here at Lingjue Temple eighteen years ago,” Ling Yun replied.
Ling Yun came clean with everything. This wasn’t some secret anyway. There was a record in the Public Security Bureau.
Ling Yun had made a decision at this point. He wanted to see if Master Xuanzhi was a friend or a foe. If he was the latter, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill Master Xuanzhi on the spot, even if it meant showing his trump card!
Murong Feixue was shocked once again! She never thought that Ling Yun’s background would be so bizarre!
“It’s really you!”
Master Xuanzhi’s face changed again. He got up from his seat, agitated and excited!
