County Yamen, Prison.
Two days had passed since the group left Little Morality Temple. Old Liu reported the case to Captain of the Third Class Liu Jingsheng. The latter said nothing and secretly entered Zhao Family Village that night, digging up the buried murder weapon in Zhao Zhifan's Backyard.
According to Procedure, once the murder weapon was obtained, the Clerk could be asked to arrest the suspects. However, too many people were involved in this case, including two Bao Yi. The implications were too serious, and even all the Constables of Fengxian County could not Handle affairs.
Especially with the Five Poisons Sect involved, the case concerned the Power of the Southern Border. The higher-ups had to strike hard.
Liu Jingsheng sought instructions from County Magistrate Sima Changhui. The latter did not Delay either. He summoned the Six Doors and finalized the plan to surround and arrest Lin Family Village and Zhao Family Village Tonight.
Xiang Yuan did not understand any of this. He delivered meals to Iron Mouth Direct Judgment three times a day.
Strangely enough, given Iron Mouth Direct Judgment's Ability, both Fengxian County Yamen and the Six Doors should have treated him with courtesy. Yet everyone tacitly remained silent, As if they had Forgot such a person existed.
Not understanding why, Xiang Yuan carried oil-paper-wrapped Roasted chicken and Steamed buns into the county Prison.
The Prison was dark and dry, not damp at all, but the smell was truly unbearable.
“Were you arrested for shortchanging people too?”
“Would I do something that immoral? I sell counterfeit goods.”
“Clearly, you're even more immoral than I am.”
In the shared cell, several new recruits were becoming acquainted with one another. When they smelled the Roasted chicken, they all turned to look.
Xiang Yuan greeted his Zhuang Squad colleague guarding the gate and took the cell keys. He paid no attention to this group of immoral scoundrels, heading straight for the Single Cell at the end. He opened the cell door and presented the Steamed buns and Roasted chicken.
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment was sitting cross-legged amid the straw. Seeing Xiang Yuan arrive, he slowly said, “You will suffer a Disaster of bloodshed Tonight.”
What the hell?
Xiang Yuan was startled. During the past two days of delivering meals, Iron Mouth Direct Judgment had not said a word, merely staring at him with an exceedingly strange gaze. Thus, he had not dared to Stay long, leaving as soon as he delivered the food.
He had not expected him to Proactively speak today, and his first words were a Disaster of bloodshed.
He might as well not have said anything!
Xiang Yuan had personally witnessed Iron Mouth Direct Judgment's Ability. He did not dare Delay and respectfully bowed as he asked, “Old Immortal, is there any method you can impart to escape calamity and save me from disaster?”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment gave a Slight Smile and stroked his Long Beard. “This Daoist handles affairs for money.”
Xiang Yuan could only smile bitterly. He was still in debt, and his only possession was the money for Iron Mouth Direct Judgment's meals. After several days of serving him good food and drink, there was hardly any left.
He had no money to give, and he did not want to give his life either. What was he supposed to do?
“Since you have neither, then become this Daoist's disciple.”
“Such a good thing exists?!” Xiang Yuan blurted out, finding it Unbelievable.
As the saying went, a physician did not knock on doors, the Dao was not lightly imparted, and Buddha saves Yuan. From ancient times to the present, there had never been such a good thing as a pie falling from the sky.
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment seemed to see what Xiang Yuan was thinking and asked bluntly, “Will you become my disciple?”
“I will!”
Only a fool would refuse.
Xiang Yuan decisively knelt on the ground. After considering the etiquette for becoming a disciple, he discovered that he did not even have a cup of tea nearby. With an embarrassed look, he could only offer up the Roasted chicken. “Master, please eat the chicken.”
“Your Teacher has long practiced Grain Avoidance. Whether I eat or not makes no difference.”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment accepted the Roasted chicken and wolfed it down with the Steamed buns as he spoke. “You need not be puzzled. Your Teacher has no ill intentions in accepting you as a disciple. It is only because I was trapped in Fengxian County for ten years due to a Gambling match. By entering the Prison and accepting you as my disciple, Your Teacher can return and enjoy a life of leisure.”
Xiang Yuan did not Understand, but he did not ask. He nodded as he listened.
“The one who held the Gambling match with Your Teacher was Abbot Huixing of Great Awakening Temple. The Three Thousand Worlds are vast as a sea of smoke. As the Laws of Heaven and Earth evolve in ways profound and mysterious, amid the collision of Countless opportunities, there should be an Outsider in the Qian Yuan Realm…”
“Your Teacher came to Western Chu, while he went to Northern Qi. We exchanged Territories, each looking for an Outsider to accept as a disciple. Whoever found one first would win. If neither found one, we would continue searching.”
Xiang Yuan was stunned as he listened, his mind running wild. He subconsciously clenched his fist. “Master, did you win?”
“I lost.”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment repeatedly shook his head and gave Xiang Yuan a sidelong glance. “Your Teacher calculated that you were in Dezhou, but we met in Fengxian County. I did not calculate that you would arrive ten years late.”
Xiang Yuan still did not Understand. His Head Sickness flared up, and he felt as though he was about to grow a brain.
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment Slightly Narrowed Eyes. “Do not be anxious. It is not an illness, but a great Creation. As for the reason, you will understand in the Future.”
“But…”
“Your Teacher understands. You need not Say more.”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment stood up and brushed off the dust. “Circulate your qi through the Ren Meridian. Your Teacher will see whether there is anything wrong.”
Xiang Yuan hurriedly sat cross-legged, steadied his mind, and circulated qi with his intent, attacking the Shenque Acupoint that had troubled him for so long.
While the two conversed, the prisoners in the Prison each continued their own conversations, collectively ignoring them.
“Wrong, wrong, wrong! That is not how one cultivates immortality!”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment said “wrong” three times in succession. “This Cultivation Method of breathing and circulating qi is Ordinary and cannot be considered mysterious. For an Outsider like you, cultivating an Ordinary method will not only accomplish nothing, but will also harm you.”
“Master is going to impart a Divine Skill to me?” Xiang Yuan was overjoyed. His illness could finally be cured.
“There is no need for Your Teacher to impart one. You have your own Opportunity Tonight.”
“Please give me some guidance, Master,” Xiang Yuan said anxiously.
“It cannot be spoken of. If I say it, it will no longer work.”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment spoke profoundly and mysteriously. “Tonight, you face the calamity of death. Without guidance from an Expert, you will have little hope of surviving. Yet fortune and misfortune, Life and death, danger and safety have always depended on one another. Your Teacher is waiting for you to escape your predicament, so are you not also waiting for Your Teacher to escape his disaster?”
He took an Eight Trigrams Heart-Protecting Mirror from his Chest. It was the size of a palm, Dusty Gray and lacking any Divine Light. After looking at it for quite some time, he finally handed it over reluctantly. “Keep this Treasure close to your body. It can help you turn danger into safety and misfortune into fortune.”
Xiang Yuan accepted it with both hands and Took a deep breath. “Master, your disciple will definitely, definitely…”
He tried several times, but could not Dragged out the Heart-Protecting Mirror.
“Master?”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment turned his head away and stopped looking. Only after Xiang Yuan had hidden the Treasure mirror against his Chest did he say weakly, “There is no need to Say more. You will understand what happens in the Future when the time comes. Anything more said now is empty talk.”
Hearing his tone, Xiang Yuan looked at his nose and contemplated his heart, not daring to speak and invite bad luck.
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment stretched lazily. “Your Opportunity is also connected to Your Teacher. Tonight, I must Make a Trip to the Southern Border. I have not exercised my Hands and Feet for many years. At last, I can have a Hearty fight.”
As he said this, he Muttered twice about ten years in Prison and how hateful that Bald Donkey was.
Xiang Yuan pretended not to hear. Then he suddenly realized something. He had been Only focused on shock and delight and had Forgot to ask Iron Mouth Direct Judgment his Full Names.
As a disciple, that was truly somewhat disrespectful.
He asked Respectfully, “Master, your disciple still does not know where your treasure mountain lies.”
“Your Teacher is Daoist Quexin!”
Iron Mouth Direct Judgment, or rather Old Daoist Que Xin, held one hand behind his back, Slightly Narrowed Eyes, raised his Chin, and Quietly waited for Xiang Yuan's Reaction Speed.
Xiang Yuan knew that the old Daoist was Fierce. The Abbot of Great Awakening Temple was a figure like a terrestrial Buddha, and anyone capable of holding a Gambling match with such a Great Power was certainly no Ordinary person. However, Xiang Yuan had little experience and knowledge and had never even heard of this name.
How Embarrassed. It was like an Acquaintance you had not seen for many years calling your name, while you had no impression of them at all.
“So you are Daoist Quexin, Master! Who in the World does not know your great name? For your disciple to become your disciple is truly a blessing earned over three lifetimes, a great Blessing cultivated over several lives!” Xiang Yuan was so excited that his face flushed red.
Old Daoist Que Xin's Corner of the Mouth Raised into a Faint smile. He stroked his Long Beard, wearing a satisfied expression that seemed to say his pupil was worth teaching.
Suddenly, his hand trembled, pulling out three or five strands of his Long Beard.
This is bad!
He had been deceived by this boy. As an Outsider, the boy did not know anything at all!