The more you believe me, the more true I am. Chapter 076

Character name suggestions: (Langya Wang Clan), (Hedong Liu Clan), (Han Clan)

As I knew this, I wouldn’t have argued with my Master that the Three Teachings were ultimately external paths, and I would have been diligent in studying their prominent teachings…

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been unable to understand what this Buddha said to me.

His Master and Grandmaster had both pointed out to him, ‘The teachings of each school have their own accomplishments, but they are all minor accomplishments.’

For their lineage, it was enough, but just barely.

The richly dressed young man, feeling that he truly couldn’t comprehend, shook his head and got up from the ground.

He glanced at Qingzhou City, which in his eyes had once been unremarkable, short, and small, with lingering fear, and thought:

‘The karma here is immense; it truly lives up to its reputation as a great ominous land where bones are buried and the heavens are interred.’

‘Before, I was foolish and underestimated it, thinking that with the tribulation still present and the heavenly decree hanging over, this place couldn’t be too ominous.’

‘Now that such a great Buddha has come, it seems I truly cannot linger here!’

But where should I go?

The richly dressed young man looked around, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he stepped forward to ask a passing girl:

“Miss, do you think it’s better for me to go southwest, or to the Imperial Capital?”

The girl was just an innocent maiden who hadn’t seen much of the world. How could she have encountered such a handsome young man being so familiar?

Her face immediately flushed, and she lowered her head, speaking in a voice as faint as a mosquito:

“Naturally, the Imperial Capital is better. I’ve heard there’s trouble brewing in the southwest!”

The richly dressed young man understood and cupped his hands:

“Thank you, Miss. Then I shall go southwest!”

This startled the girl, who quickly looked up and said:

“Did you mishear, Young Master? There’s trouble brewing in the southwest!”

The richly dressed young man put his hands behind his back and smiled:

“Miss, you do not know. I am a son of the Langya Wang Clan. When the country and home face difficulties, I should naturally step forward, bring glory to the Wang Clan, and share the Emperor’s worries! Therefore, to the southwest, I go!”

These words made the girl’s eyes sparkle with admiration. She hadn’t expected him to be a young master of the Langya Wang Clan, and with such grand ambitions!

The richly dressed young man did not entangle her further, but merely laughed heartily and walked away with his hands behind his back.

Since the chance encounter said the southwest was more dangerous, it meant the southwest was safer!

However, as he walked, he suddenly clutched his waist and cried out.

“Ow, ow, my waist!”

He had run too fast just now and had a stitch!

And this scene instantly made the girl lose interest. It seemed he was just a good-for-nothing show-off.

—————–

Du Yuan put away the small seal, poured himself another cup of tea, and prepared to finish it and leave.

Qingzhou Maojian tea was truly excellent.

But just as he sat down, Du Yuan saw a sturdy man enter the doorway. Upon seeing Du Yuan, he immediately cupped his hands and smiled:

“Daoist Priest, my master is next door and hopes you will honor him with your presence for a seat!”

Who is it this time?

However, the address of “Daoist Priest” made Du Yuan quite pleased.

He had always been called “Buddha,” “Living Buddha,” or “Master,” but finally someone called him a Daoist Priest.

Now he should be able to continue delving deeper into Daoist magic!

But that person just now, did he, without my knowing, elevate my Buddhist cultivation again?

Theoretically, this was a good thing, but Du Yuan always vaguely felt that being too imbalanced might not be too good.

There was no reason or explanation, just a vague feeling.

After shaking his head, Du Yuan smiled at the sturdy man:

“Who is your master?”

Seeing that the other party did not directly reveal his master’s identity and name, the man felt a little disappointed.

Was this person truly the Daoist Priest from the rumors?

But he was just a servant; whether he was or not was a matter for his master to consider.

He cupped his hands again and said:

“Daoist Priest, please forgive me, I cannot say.”

Du Yuan raised an eyebrow and retorted:

“To invite me is to host. But how can a host refuse to even reveal their name?”

The sturdy man hesitated for a moment and then said:

“I am truly sorry, I can only ask for your understanding. As for my master’s identity… you will naturally know when you arrive.”

Putting on airs, then I’ll put on airs too.

Du Yuan lowered his eyes and sat calmly at the table, saying indifferently:

“Since that is the case, this humble Daoist can only say sorry. Without a name card, and without a true host, this ‘nameless banquet’ holds no interest for this humble Daoist.”

The sturdy man hesitated and left.

He was probably going to report back to his master.

Du Yuan did not wait for him, but simply finished his cup of tea, then got up and walked out of the room.

He was preparing to leave this restaurant.

He still needed to see what was going on with the Prince’s Mansion.

He had no reason to wait for someone who wouldn’t even reveal their name or origin when inviting him.

But Du Yuan had only taken a few steps on the stairs when he heard a voice from behind:

“Daoist Priest, please wait!”

Du Yuan turned around and saw a thin, middle-aged man standing on the stairs looking at him.

Seeing Du Yuan look at him, he lightly smiled and cupped his hands:

“Please forgive me, Daoist Priest, for not wishing to reveal my name, it is truly due to the limitations of my identity.”

He was just here to eat. The richly dressed young man was not wrong; this area indeed had the most authentic and superior food in this restaurant.

So he also liked to come here to satisfy his cravings in his leisure time. Of course, there was also the point that he occasionally heard people say that a noble young master from the Hedong Liu Clan had come here.

Although the three prominent clans of Hedong were not as famous as the Five Surnames and Seven Clans, they were still well-known aristocratic families, and in some aspects, even slightly stronger than the Han Clan.

Such a noble young master from a great clan suddenly came to his jurisdiction.

Whether for public or private reasons, it was appropriate to come and see.

Therefore, he had absolutely not expected to encounter the rumored Daoist Priest in such a place.

And precisely because of this, when he heard from the shopkeeper downstairs that these two were together, he couldn’t help but make many connections.

For example, was this Daoist Priest related to the Hedong Liu Clan?

The news he had heard earlier had already made him begin to believe that he had indeed encountered a capable master.

But now, since he was involved with the Hedong Liu Clan, it was hard to say!

However, he never expected that before he could think deeper, the shopkeeper added, “That young master also said he isn’t surnamed Liu, but has changed his surname to Wang.”

These words instantly made him chuckle. Aristocratic families would never joke about their surname; it was their lifeblood.

Therefore, that so-called “noble young master” must just be a fraud trying to use a great surname to deceive people.

Even though the consequences of being exposed were extremely severe, there were always such petty thieves every year.

Thus, all his previous conjectures instantly vanished.

As for apprehending this person who had transformed from a noble young master into a “turtle young master” (a pun on a person who is a coward or a cuckold), heh, that wasn’t his job, nor was he interested in eagerly doing the bidding of aristocratic families before the other party even stepped onto the stage.

He even thought that Du Yuan was probably of the same ilk, rather than the rumored Daoist Priest.

However, when his attendant heard movement from the private room next door and went to check, he discovered the “turtle young master’s” bizarre stiff bowing.

This sparked a thought in him, and he sent someone to invite Du Yuan.

After that, he came here.

Upon meeting Du Yuan, his heart instantly trembled—nine times out of ten, the person before him was the Daoist Priest from Qing County!

Du Yuan looked back at him and said:

“In broad daylight, why the need for such secrecy?”