It was the eighth day of December, another once-a-year festival.
In a flash, a year has pa*sed since I first came to study at the Shendu Shanhe Academy.
Last year, the 8th day of the 12th lunar month was a very lively event, as Ming Rui Xue went up to Datong Mountain at night and fought with Zhuge Long Su. Even though Qing Yu was not able to witness the battle at that time, he could still feel the thrill of it.
The noise of the battle alone was too much for Qing Yu, who was under the shelter of the Long River of Qi, to bear. If he had been there, the aftermath alone would have left Qing Yu, who was still at the Innate Realm at the time, with no dregs left.
It was also that night that Qing Yu began to suspect the true identity of Jin Mingxuan, and later killed this quite agreeable guy in the small secret realm, and frankly, this matter was still a bit of regret in Qing Yu’s heart at that time. After all, there are not many people as interesting as Jin Mingxuan.
“Time flies, a year has pa*sed.” Qing Yu sighed.
This year’s Rakugo Festival is far more peaceful than last year’s. The matter of the Tantric Sect entering Northern Zhou has been going on for some time, but there is still no conclusion, and the Emperor of Northern Zhou, Feng Tianming, is not even responding positively, his attitude is really ambiguous.
Today, instead of practising in the secret room, Qing Yu moved a chair and sat in the courtyard to bask in the sun.
However, even though he was sunbathing, he still had to do the things he needed to do.
At this moment, Qing Yu was holding a list in his hand, a list for buying a murderer. The person to be killed on the list was none other than the one Qing Yu knew very well, senior brother Qing Xu.
The fee for this list was also very attractive, The Green Dragon Pan Star, the one missing from the True Martial Sect’s Four Elephant Mastery that Qing Yu had collected.
However, this employer had been slippery and did not pay the full amount of the fee according to the rules. One third of the book was missing, leaving this masterpiece unfortunately with a bracket at the end, which reads “defective”.
The person responsible for collecting the payment did not dare to look through the book because it was a precious book, so it was not until it was in Qing Yu’s hands that he discovered it was defective.
“Deliver the remaining portion after the deed is done?” The corner of Qing Yu’s mouth pulled out a cold smile.
This employer had shown some sincerity, as he had handed over the recent whereabouts of his target, Qing Yu, along with it afterwards. It could be said that if this man had not lied, the Green Dragon would have simply sent someone to collect his head.
However, there were all sorts of suspicious things about this. Other than that, the source of the “Green Dragon Pan Star” was questionable.
Qing Yu did not know that Xuan Guang also knew all the Four Elephants Jutsu, so he directly targeted the True Martial Sect. Although the Four Elephant Jutsu was used by the True Martial Sect as a bounty for Xuan Guang, however, Xuan Guang was still at large in the southern border, and there was no one who could get hold of this bounty.
Therefore, the only people who had the secret book were those from the True Martial Sect. So who actually placed the order? Qing Yu put a question mark here.
If this question could not be figured out, Qing Yu would not go and take the risk easily. He would know if he would go to Qingxu then, only to have a Qingxu his master pop up.
So it was better to put it aside for now.
There was another matter that was also a bit distressing for Qing Yu.
This matter was not about the killing deal, but about Yuan Jian Yi. This guy had recently run all over Northern Zhou looking for Gong Zi Yu’s whereabouts.
After searching unsuccessfully for a hundred times, Yuan Jian Yi ran straight to the shop over at Shadow Market where he placed the order to buy his own life. However, Yuan Jian Yi refused to pay the money for his life. This matter, along with Qingxu’s order, was handed over to Qing Yu.
The people below said they could not make a decision.
On the other hand, Qing Yu’s side is not going to step in much now.
Although Feng Tianming had not yet taken a position on welcoming the Tantric Sect into Northern Zhou, the Tantric Sect had already started to establish temples throughout Northern Zhou.
The Northern Zhou was originally a pool of stagnant water, but with the introduction of the Tantric Sect as a live catfish, it is now very active. Although true Dan realm masters are rare, they have been confirmed to have appeared, and they are also from the Tantric sect.
This news has stopped Qing Yu’s intention to take the plunge. Although he had thrown the pot of the death of Empty Sea on Shi Jue’s head, Qing Yu still felt that it was better to be careful, lest he let the Tantric clan catch him at some point.
“Hmm? What’s he doing here?” Qing Yu suddenly raised his eyebrows as he sensed Feng Jiu’s aura.
Today was the 8th day of the waxing moon, and there was a family banquet in the royal family. Although it was said that the dinner was held in the evening, if you really waited until the evening to set off there, you couldn’t avoid a reputation of being rude.
Therefore, Feng Jiu, these imperial sons, should have gone into the palace early in the morning.
But now, Feng Jiu, who should have entered the palace, has come to Qing Yu.
After a moment’s contemplation, Qing Yu decided to see what Feng Jiu had to do that kept him from immediately heading into the palace.
A few breaths later, an urgent footstep came from outside, and Feng Jiu walked briskly into the courtyard, saying in a deep voice, “This year, for the 8th day of the waxing moon, Father has decided not to hold a family feast, but to hold a feast in the palace’s Wanfu Pavilion, where he will taste congee with all the civil and military officials.”
“Moreover, Tantric monks have been invited to come and chant sutras and pray for blessings.”
“Tantric monks?” Qing Yu said in surprise, “Is he going to really make a statement here?”
“I don’t know,” Feng Jiu shook her head, “On the surface, the reason is that the 8th day of the lunar month is a Buddhist festival, so he invited Buddhist monks to pray for blessings. But behind the scenes, I don’t know what the inside story is.”
The 8th day of the lunar month is one of the great Buddhist festivals, and it is said that the Buddha became a monk on this day, also known as the “Dharma Treasure Festival”. Originally a Buddhist festival, it has evolved through the ages and has gradually become a popular festival known to everyone.
Although Feng Tianming’s attitude had been unclear until then, it is difficult to say that he did not find a suitable moment to announce it. If he really announced the entry of the Tantric Sect into Northern Zhou, then the storm would really begin.
Qing Yu was wondering whether Feng Tian Ming was really determined to welcome the Tantric Sect into Northern Zhou when he heard the rumbling of horses’ hooves outside, and someone was galloping.
The horses and carriages are forbidden to gallop fast unless it is a special occasion, as Qing Yu’s current location is at the foot of the Datong Mountain.
Today is the 8th day of the Lunar New Year, and many local students are going home to spend the festival with their families, so the mountain is now crowded with students, their families and subordinates, making the foot of the mountain crowded with people.
How could it not be odd for someone to be galloping here and now?
“From the sound of their voices, they are heading straight for Tatung Mountain, and should be heading for Shanhe Academy. Go and poke around.” Qing Yu said to Feng Jiu.
“Okay.” After saying that, Feng Jiu left at a brisk pace again.
Qing Yu slowly got up, looking at the bright sky today, and suddenly laughed, “These people are really all obsessed with the 8th day of the lunar calendar, picking today to cause trouble.”
