Chapter 43: When in Rome
In the Mountain Lord's Temple, Chen Shi advanced with swift steps. The distance of fifteen feet disappeared in an instant, his body colliding with the air with a thunderous sound. The impact reverberated through the temple, rattling the doors and windows.
With a single punch, the wind from his fist extended far beyond his reach, like thunder rumbling on flat ground. Chen Shi gathered his energy and struck again. This time, the punch carried even greater force, and the resulting gale unleashed a deep, resonant boom, as if the very air was roaring in protest.
His movements became a blur, his steps tracing the Big Dipper constellation. Swift as a ghost, he darted across the temple floor, walls, and pillars, his fists and feet striking with the deafening sound of rolling thunder. The fifteen-foot distance was closed in an instant, where thought, body, and strike became one.
Moments later, Chen Shi landed lightly on the ground. The turbulent energy within him calmed as quickly as it had risen, his fluttering robes settling neatly. At ease, he felt the vibrant flow of energy coursing through him, potent and ceaseless.
As his energy circulated, it coalesced into a radiant shrine behind his head, shining brilliantly. Though the energy did not dissipate quickly, and the shrine remained intact for some time, he soon noticed a gradual decline. The glow dimmed, and the energy began to wane, though the shrine itself remained unbroken.
“Even with the Sacred Embryo Body, it’s still impossible to fully preserve the shrine. Without the shrine, the energy fades,” Chen Shi mused. “A flesh-and-blood Sacred Embryo Body only slows the dissipation. To truly retain this energy, I’ll need an actual Divine Embryo.”
Despite a hint of regret, he was satisfied. He bowed to the empty shrine in the temple, then stepped outside, closing the door behind him. He was ready to descend the mountain.
Chen Shi chose not to use a carriage. Two days ago, for reasons unknown, his usually obedient driver had fled at the sight of him, driving off in panic and disappearing without a trace. He had grown fond of Xiao Wangsun’s carriage during his recent outings, enjoying its stately presence. He had searched for it near Mirror Lake Manor but found no trace, much to his disappointment.
Unbeknownst to him, a mysterious energy lingered in the Mountain Lord’s Temple after his departure. It gradually flowed toward the shrine, manifesting a faint image of a godlike figure. But just as the figure began to take shape, the energy unraveled and scattered across the temple once more. A faint sigh echoed from the shrine: “Still not enough…”
Chen Shi, now far away, heard none of it.
Outside Huangpo Village, Chen Shi stood beneath the old willow tree, offering incense to the Spirit Guardian represented by the stone stele. Though there was no response, the green glow on the stele lasted longer than usual, suggesting a hidden mystery.
He attempted to connect with the Spirit Guardian by offering incense, but when his consciousness touched the stele, all he felt was a vast emptiness, infinite and devoid of anything tangible.
“Maybe the Spirit Guardian really is just an ordinary rock,” Chen Shi muttered, dismissing the thought. He then offered incense to Zhu Xiucai, the scholar ghost, and quietly waited for him to finish absorbing the fragrant smoke.
“Xiucai is my benefactor—or rather, my ‘beneghost!’” Chen Shi reflected with gratitude. “I may have lost my Divine Embryo and become a cripple, but I was lucky to meet Xiucai and learn from him. Without his help, I might have failed the county-level exam. But this spring, I’ll shine in the literary test!”
As he contemplated, an elderly man and a young boy descended the nearby yellow dirt slope. The old man was frail, hunched with age, but his bright eyes sparkled with vitality. The boy, dressed simply yet neatly in green and white, with a blue hairband and red silk belt, appeared around eleven or twelve. A white lotus jade pendant hung from his waist, and his Chen-style shoes gave him a studious air.
Their clothing, though modest, was of good quality, indicating they came from a family of refinement, though not extreme wealth.
Chen Shi, pulling out his Analects, turned to Zhu Xiucai. “The Master said, ‘I have yet to meet a truly resolute man.’ Someone replied, ‘Shen Cheng is one.’ The Master said, ‘Cheng is full of desires; how can he be resolute?’ What does this mean?”
“You need to grasp the essence of the Master’s perspective,” Zhu Xiucai explained. “The Master had no equal in the world. He lamented, ‘I’ve never met anyone my fists can’t break.’ Someone then mentioned Shen Cheng, claiming he had mastered the indestructible body. The Master dismissed it, saying, ‘Cheng? I’ve fought him—he’s not indestructible at all.’ If you can grasp the Master’s state of mind when he said this, you’ll be unstoppable.”
Chen Shi nodded thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, below the slope, the boy halted abruptly. “Grandfather, stop! My Seventh Uncle, Li Kefa, must have died here.”
Chen Shi looked up, startled by the conversation. The boy’s words suggested a connection to the infamous Li Kefa, the county magistrate’s father. His heart grew wary as he realized the old man and boy were likely members of the powerful Li family.
The old man examined the area skeptically. “Tianqing, how do you know your Seventh Uncle died here? I see no sign of his soul.”
The elder’s gaze fell upon Chen Shi, and he felt a fiery heat sweep over him. The sensation dissipated only when the elder looked away.
“This old man is formidable,” Chen Shi thought, his wariness growing. To his shock, the old man’s gaze lingered on Zhu Xiucai, though he had used no talisman to see spirits.
Tianqing pointed to a tree by the riverbank. “That tree with the missing north-side branch? That scar was made by our family’s Six Yin Jade Wheels. In all of Xinxiang Province, only my Seventh Uncle knew how to wield them.”
The old man shifted his focus to the tree, nodding. “Tianqing, your sharp eye was worth bringing along. If your uncle used the Six Yin Jade Wheels here, he must have fought an enemy and died nearby.”
He sighed deeply. “Li Kefa brought our family’s elites here, only for them to be wiped out. This smells like the work of another aristocratic faction, seeking to seize control of Shuiniu County.”
Tianqing knelt to examine the soil and tasted it. “It’s kaolin,” he declared.
The old man spat in disgust. “Terrible taste!”
“Grandfather,” Tianqing explained, “kaolin is used for making ceramics, not eating. This area likely housed a kiln factory. Large tombs require vast amounts of ceramics, and transporting them from afar would draw attention and risk breakage. Thus, kilns were built nearby. After the work was done, the craftsmen were silenced to keep the tomb’s location a secret. The village here likely originated from the old storage site for kaolin. That ancient tree in the center of the village was likely planted back then. The True King’s Tomb must be nearby.”
The elder, stunned by the boy’s deduction, grew excited. “If we find the tomb, we’ll have accomplished something extraordinary!”
Chen Shi listened from above, admiring the boy’s intellect. But as the elder attempted to climb the slope, he suddenly stumbled back, the small hill transforming into an imposing, insurmountable cliff in his vision.
The elder retreated cautiously, muttering, “When in the countryside, it’s best to honor the local spirits first.”
As they entered the village, Chen Shi intercepted them with a grin. “My name’s Chen Shi, but everyone calls me Little Honest One! What’s your name?”
The boy hesitated, shyly replying, “Li Tianqing.”
Before he could say more, Chen Shi beamed. “You don’t have a place to stay? Why not spend the night at my house?”
Tianqing looked to his grandfather, who nodded, amused by the hospitality. “We could use a place to rest. Let’s not refuse their kindness.”
Chen Shi cheered and led the way. “Grandpa! Black Pot! We have guests!”