No matter how delicious the vegetarian food in the temple was, Hou An found it tasteless. He ate a few mouthfuls in a hurry and waited in the room. He stood in the yard with his hands behind his back, looking through the gate.

Although the Iron Buddha Temple has experienced war, the temple grounds were much less damaged.

The long and short incense paths, combined with the natural features of jungles, streams, and mountain paths, are embellished with mountain pavilions, memorial archways, small bridges, ponds, rock sculptures, rock inscriptions, etc., forming the prelude to the temple garden landscape.

Seeing him in a trance, Liu Ming was puzzled, so he asked in a low voice: "Master Sikong, what is so unusual about this incense art?"

Hou Andu smiled faintly and said: "The path of incense looks like a road, but in the hearts of believers, it is an emotional transition from the 'dust' to the 'pure land' and 'immortal world'. It can set off the atmosphere of Buddhism, stimulate the interest of tourists, and gradually introduce religious sites and beautiful landscapes to pave the way."

Liu Ming chuckled: "I am a rough man, and although I don't quite understand what Master Sikong said, I also think that this is the truth."

Hou Andu said: "The way of incense, the way of incense, there must be the way of incense in Buddhist temples, and so do we."

Liu Ming asked doubtfully, "I don't quite understand what Lord Sikong said."

Hou Andu said: "It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Tell me what you found out."

Liu Mingxiao took a step forward, stood beside him and reported in a low voice.

Liu Ming was responsible for protecting Chen Chang, while Zhou Honglai was responsible for his personal protection.

Chen Chang had been under surveillance since Wutou Station. The assassins who came to kill him left no one alive, so naturally they could not find any clues. Hou Andu ordered Liu Ming to keep a close eye on Ning Jingrong, but he did not find any clues.

His intuition told him that Miss Ning's identity was not as simple as she said, but he was undecided about whether to take action against her.

From the current perspective, Ning Jingrong will not pose a threat to Chen Chang's life for the time being. Before finding out Ning Jingrong's true purpose, Hou An dared not take any risks.

Hou Andu vaguely felt that there were more people interested in Chen Chang than just the group of assassins in Wutou Station, so keeping Ning Jingrong might be of unexpected use at a critical moment.

Liu Ming reported that some suspicious people were spotted around the Iron Buddha Temple. These people were behaving strangely, and most of them were carrying sharp knives, and they seemed to have some ulterior motive.

Liu Ming was not a vegetarian, so he sent soldiers in plain clothes to scout ahead of Chen Chang to reach the Tiefo Temple.

Hou Andu narrowed his eyes and said, "Iron Buddha Temple, haha, they are well-informed. They arrived right after we arrived. It seems that Northern Qi has made many sacrifices in Jiangling."

"From my humble opinion, these people don't seem to be on the same side as the assassins from Wutouji."

"Oh?" Hou Andu narrowed his eyes even more: "Why not?"

Liu Ming thought for a moment and said, "The people around the Iron Buddha Temple are far less fierce than the assassins at Wutou Station."

He suddenly thought of something and turned around to ask, "I heard yesterday that Jiangling was full of people trying to capture Northern Qi officials?"

"Yes! This matter has caused a great disturbance in the city."

Hou Andu put his hands behind his back and asked doubtfully, "Could it be that we are being watched by the Northern Qi people? We have not publicized this trip, but it is not easy to keep it secret. Even if we don't say anything, Xiao Zhao's men will not keep it secret for us... So, these Northern Qi spies are very bold and dare to assassinate us right under our noses!"

Liu Ming said hurriedly: "We have our own people here, as well as Cai Daye and a group of Zhou soldiers. Those assassins are just like an egg hitting a rock. I will inform the other two families to arrest all these assassins."

After he finished speaking, he waited quietly for Hou Andu to come down, but Hou Andu did not express his opinion immediately. Liu Ming could not help but feel uneasy. Although this Lord Sikong was a warrior, his scheming was unfathomable.

Suddenly, Hou Andu's eyes flashed, he pondered for a moment, and then laughed.

Liu Mingxiao took a step forward and asked, "Lord Sikong?"

Hou Andu said calmly: "Just protect His Highness, the rest has nothing to do with us!"

Liu Ming was stunned and immediately in trouble. It was right to protect Prince Hengyang, but the assassin was coming for Chen Chang, and the two sides were bound to clash. Should the assassin run and chase or not?

Hou Andu did not explain everything clearly, what should I do?

In the Zen room, Chen Chang and Ning Jingrong had already finished their fast. Chen Chang took a sip of tea and sighed, "Dust and worldly things make life very hard. How about becoming a monk and getting rid of worldly thoughts? No longer bothered by idle affairs, I can enjoy a burn of incense and a pot of tea, and be free and at ease."

Ning Jingrong said: "Idleness is leisure, but missing someone alone, staying alone, and wasting your youth is really hard to bear."

Chen Chang just sighed and said nothing more.

Ning Jingrong was quite sad to see him bow his head and remain silent. He sighed secretly and said with a smile, "Your Highness, even if you can't sit in the Golden Palace, it's also very good to be a leisurely prince."

Chen Chang shook his head and said, "You don't understand these things."

Although Ning Jingrong was beautiful, Chen Chang was not the kind of person who indulged in beauty. Naturally, he could not reveal his thoughts to her and just drank tea with his head down.

Not long after, there was a light knock on the door, and it was Hou Andu and the abbot of the temple, Xu Yun, who walked in one after another.

Hou Andu thought that it would be even more unsafe to return to Jiangling now, so he suggested that Chen Chang take a rest here for a while.

Of course, a suspicious person was spotted outside, so Chen Chang couldn't be talked to now.

Chen Chang also had the same intention. Hou Andu and Xu Yun retreated, and Zhou Hong also stepped back.

Ning Jingrong turned around and whispered to Chen Chang, "Your Highness, I think Lord Hou is acting strangely."

Chen Chang said calmly, "What's so strange about that?"

Ning Jingrong blinked his eyes: "Your Highness is a prince, but he is just a minister. On the surface, he seems to be respectful and humble, but in fact... in fact... in fact..."

She frowned and tried very hard to find a word in her mind to describe Hou Andu's true attitude towards Chen Chang, but she couldn't say it.

Chen Chang was amused by his playful look and laughed: "I didn't expect you to have such bright eyes!"

Ning Jingrong said angrily: "Everyone here can see that Your Highness is saying that I am stupid and foolish?"

Chen Chang waved his hand and said, "I didn't say that."

Ning Jingrong curled his lips and suddenly said, "Your Highness, do you think the Buddha and Guanyin can really protect people from harm?"

Chen Chang wondered, "Why do you suddenly ask this question?"

Ning Jingrong said quietly, "But I don't believe it. If Buddha Guanyin could really be such a compassionate person, why would the world be in dire straits, with disasters and starving people everywhere?"

Chen Chang said angrily: "Humph, isn't it because Hou Jing, this bastard, poisoned the livers and brains of his subordinates and separated their daughters in order to become the emperor, in order to gain his own kingdom and foundation, it is really hateful..."

"Hou Jing was cruel by nature. He built a big pestle on a rock and smashed and killed anyone who broke the law. He often told his generals that after they broke through the fortress and pacified the city, all the soldiers and civilians in the city should be killed, so that his subordinates would know his reputation. Therefore, after each victory, the generals would burn and loot, and cut people like grass for fun..."

Chen Chang never thought that if Hou Jing had not disturbed Liang, his father Chen Baxian would not have become emperor in place of Liang, and he himself would naturally not have been troubled for the throne.

Ning Jingrong sat beside Chen Chang without saying a word. Chen Chang waited for a while, then glanced at her again. Seeing that she still had no reaction, he thought that it was his words that made him sad, so he said, "Uh..., why are you saying all this? Forget it, forget it. I'm a little tired. Let's take a rest first and then return to Jiangling Inn."

Ning Jingrong nodded obediently, helped Chen Chang to the couch to rest, then returned to sit at the table, turned her pretty face towards the door, lowered her head to drink tea, and when her head was lowered, her expression was normal.

The corners of his mouth only slightly raised, revealing a faint arc, that corner revealed a hint of coldness, and a gleam of brilliance flashed in his eyes...

Soon, the rear window slightly opened a crack...

…

Although Shan Xiong was born in a merchant family, he was naughty since childhood and refused to study. He could not even recognize a few big characters. At this moment, he was staring at a piece of paper that Chen Chang had written for him. He turned it over and over but could not understand it. He coughed awkwardly a few times and handed the paper to Shan the shopkeeper: "Father, please have a look..."

Shopkeeper Shan sighed, feeling very upset. His son was already quite old, but he was still almost blind. How could he inherit the family business after he died?

Then he looked at his cousin, who was nearly ten years younger than Shan Xiong. He was proficient in accounting, purchasing and selling goods, and welcoming guests. He did have his flaws, too. He was a man who loved women and was fond of sex. As a man, a man should be romantic when young...

Shopkeeper Shan was distracted for a moment and did not see the handwriting on the paper clearly. When his eyes finally focused, he rubbed his eyes violently and said in a trembling voice: "This... this... this..."

Shan Xiong didn't understand and asked in confusion: "Father, what's wrong? Where does this person live? It can't be thousands of miles away. I don't want to let you travel thousands of miles..."

He spoke to the two of them, and at first they didn't know whether he was pretending to be an old man.

Shopkeeper Shan angrily slammed the paper on the counter: "Son, this person is simply teasing you and my father, this... this..."

Shan Xiong snatched the paper away, and looked at it from left to right, with the tip of his nose almost touching the paper. But he didn't understand it just now, so how could he recognize it now?

"Oh, it was taken upside down, it was taken upside down..." Shopkeeper Shan's old face turned red like a monkey's butt.

After hearing this, Shan Xiong turned his head and stared at Chen Chang fiercely, "Hey, what's written on this paper?"

It would have been better if he hadn't said this, because seeing how lively the crowd was just now, they couldn't help themselves and now they heard it, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Chen Chang ignored it at the time and looked towards the door. When he saw the two figures, he felt relieved and said to Shan Xiong, "It is clearly written on the door. It is naturally the address of my home."

Shan Xiong had just made a fool of himself in front of everyone. He was choked by his words and could not help but become even more angry. He grabbed Chen Chang by the front of his clothes and shouted, "Don't try to embarrass me! Father, what is written on this paper?"

Shopkeeper Shan wanted to find a hole to crawl into. This bastard only knew how to have sex, drink and gamble, and fight. He couldn't be put on the stage at all. He said with a bitter face: "The address he wrote is the Prince Horse Mansion!"

"Great, let's make fun of you!" Shan Xiong was furious, and he slapped Chen Chang's face with his big hand like a palm leaf fan...