Chapter 569: The Empress Enters the Dream, Guarding the Temple Mountain Lord
Capital city.
On the same night, as the setting sun sank into the horizon, the dark red palace walls were gradually filled with the azure sky.
The palace maids picked up lanterns and lit lamps in important places in the palace as usual.
Inside the Yangxin Palace, several palace maids held bamboo poles and hung lanterns while gazing at the brightly lit Imperial Study, whispering to each other:
"Your Majesty has been eating later and later lately."
"They should be worried about the war ahead and concerned about the progress of the Huaishui rebels."
"I think it's not necessarily true. I just noticed that since the Mid-Autumn Festival, Your Majesty has occasionally been distracted. He even has a poem framed in his study, which he keeps by his side, and he studies it from time to time.
Speaking of which, I don't know which great poet wrote that poem, I only happened to catch a glimpse of a few lines, but it's quite amazing."
"Tsk, what do you know about poetry? You can only tell it's powerful?"
Suddenly, a palace maid coughed lightly and winked frantically at her companions.
Several palace maids looked in the direction of the sound and suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. They were as obedient and frightened as quails, lowering their heads, crouching halfway, and saluting with lanterns in their hands:
"His Majesty……"
The Queen of Yu State, Xu Zhenguan, appeared along the corridor at some point.
Her stunning face had a calm expression.
Upon hearing this, she just said "hmm" softly, then walked out of the Yangxin Palace on her own, as if she didn't hear the discussions of the palace maids.
However, after the empress passed by, the older female official following behind her stopped, glanced at the palace maids indifferently, and said in a cold voice:
"You will be punished later. Don't think you can slack off now that Miss Mo is not in the palace."
"I know I was wrong."
…
Xu Zhenguan left the Yangxin Palace and did not go for dinner, but went straight to the Wugong Palace.
"Your Majesty." When Eunuch Hai saw the empress, he bowed and went out to greet her.
"He hasn't come back?" Xu Zhenguan asked.
Eunuch Hai shook his head and said:
"No. This is probably the critical time when the imperial army is marching south to suppress the Yunfu rebels. I'm afraid he won't be returning for a while."
Xu Zhenguan nodded, with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
Doesn't she understand this truth?
Need Hai Chunlin’s reminder?
Even because of the talisman bell that had been installed before, she didn't need to ask in person whether Zhao Duan would come back.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival that day, the atmosphere in the capital changed. In the past few days, both the government and the people were paying attention to and discussing the war on the west line of the Huai River.
Everyone understood that now that Zhao Shixiong had surrendered, the next step would be a major battle with the Yunfu rebels. Could they successfully recapture half of the Huai River?
To alleviate the urgent need of the court for increasingly scarce supplies?
Countless eyes were staring.
As for capturing Xu Jingtang and wiping out Yunfu in one fell swoop... not many people expected it.
That's a bit of a luxury.
Zhao Duan's reputation in the city is growing, but with it comes danger.
Xu Zhenguan knew very well that since Prince Mu dared to rebel, he must have some support. Even if Zhao Shixiong turned against him, it would still be dangerous to go south to Jingchuan Town.
She originally wanted to give Zhao Duan some detailed instructions on this matter.
Unexpectedly, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Tianzilou was drunk. After the two of them had a good time, this guy left behind a poem that could be said to be handed down from generation to generation, and then fled back to the front line.
Xu Zhenguan had no means to contact Zhao Duan quickly, so he could only wait for him to come back and report the situation.
"knew."
The empress nodded, but did not leave. She walked deeper into the martial arts hall and stepped onto the fourth floor of the small building.
Open the door.
On the candle racks in the room, candles lit up by themselves, and the orange candlelight spread out, dispelling the darkness.
"Zhao Duan" appeared, sitting cross-legged and motionless beside the stone wall.
The empress glanced at the puppet substitute, then looked away, staring at the stone wall in a daze.
Moonlight streamed in from behind, illuminating the floor and the hem of her skirt.
Xu Zhenguan sighed softly:
"How are you now? Have you arrived at Jingchuan with the army?"
The puppet could not answer.
Xu Zhenguan shook his head, collected his thoughts, sat cross-legged on the cushion, and prepared to visualize "The World".
Because Zhao Duan did not enter the stone wall, Xu Zhenguan knew that even if he entered the scroll during this period, he would not be able to encounter the "chapter return".
But she had no interest in politics today, and she felt vaguely uneasy, so she came here guided by her intuition.
I thought to myself, if I can't find that chapter, then I won't look for it. I might as well explore that world more during this time.
especially……
The empress was still thinking about the "poetry" from that world that she had asked Zhang Hui for the last time she entered the scroll.
"When will the bright moon appear..." Xu Zhenguan recited softly, chewing on the lyrics Zhao Duan gave her, secretly competing in her heart.
I thought that I must go to that world, find a good song, and show it to him to scare him.
Considering that that world also has a history and culture similar to Dayu, there should also be poems handed down from generation to generation.
Although I am not very familiar with the language of that world, the worst that can happen is that I can learn it or find someone to recite it to me.
Well, it would be best if it was a Mid-Autumn Festival poem, so we could compare... The Empress admitted that this idea was a bit childish, and it was mostly a secret fight with Zhao Duan, but since this guy could write such a poem, he must also be a lover of poetry...
It is also a kind intention to "copy" a few poems myself and give them to him as a reward when he comes back.
With a woman's inhumane and scattered thoughts in her mind, Xu Zhenguan once again sank into the world of "The World".
…
…
In Jingchuan Town, the bright moon shines down, covering the entire city with a thin veil.
Due to the tense war situation, a curfew was imposed in the city at night, so the streets were empty and every household closed their doors.
"Amitabha, I have been waiting for a long time."
Zhong Pan suddenly tightened the reins, and the one-horned white horse stopped and stared anxiously at the monks standing side by side in the middle of the road ahead.
Zhao Duan's gaze pierced through the open car curtain, and his face darkened slightly.
A monk from Shenlong Temple? !
Under the moonlight, the two monks blocking the road ahead were one fat and one thin, and they were obviously two ascetics.
Both of them were wearing the robes of abbots, and their bald heads were very eye-catching.
The fat monk holds one hand together in a palm, and with the other hand he holds a golden-painted staff, which is bright yellow in color, with winding threads and a dense number of metal rings on the top.
The thin monk also clasped one hand together, while his free hand held a golden alms bowl. The surface was smooth and clean, without any patterns or decorations.
"Guangyuan, diabolo!"
Zhao Duan blurted out two names!
Before leaving the capital, Zhang Yanyi told him that Shenlong Temple was located west of the Huai River and there were two masters who needed attention.
Later, he read the relevant information in the archives of the imperial court, so he recognized the identities of the fat and thin monks just by their signature attire and the magical weapons in their hands.
Inside the carriage, the three people from the Tianshi Temple also recognized the bald donkey who blocked the road.
They looked at each other and had a bad feeling in their hearts - it was reasonable for the masters of Shenlong Temple to secretly help Prince Mu's Mansion.
But why did the other party suddenly appear here? The words "I've been waiting for a long time" gave people a psychological suggestion that they were ambushed.
"What's going on? Has our whereabouts been leaked?" Yuxiu curled up in the carriage with a grim look on her face.
Immediately, Zhao Duan sneered, his eyes sharp:
"Don't be scared by this bald donkey. If our whereabouts were revealed, would the Embroidered Uniform Envoy have been so foolish as to enter the Huai Palace?
I'm afraid these two bald donkeys are in cahoots with the Embroidered Uniform Envoy, just one in front and one behind. I was just wondering how the Embroidered Uniform Envoy could have the guts to break into the palace and kidnap Xu An with only a few hundred soldiers. I was underestimating the Huai Palace too much...
Now I finally understand that he was just walking in front and this bald donkey was following behind.
If my guess is correct, the Embroidered Envoy intends to send out a signal to summon Bald Donkey to help if the negotiations collapse... After all, it's better not to use the people of Shenlong Temple if it's possible to do so openly."
is that so?
Yuxiu and others were stunned for a moment, then suddenly felt that it made sense.
Zhao Duan deliberately raised his voice, and the two monks Guangyuan and Kongzhu in the distance also heard it, and their faces, one fat and one thin, frowned.
They didn't expect that Zhao Duan was so smart and told the truth in one sentence.
They had indeed come tonight to support the Embroidered Uniform Envoy, and had just noticed from afar that something was wrong in the direction of the palace.
He then caught sight of a horse-drawn carriage approaching and recognized the iconic means of transportation of the "Little Taoist Priest," and so he acted accordingly.
The stout and sturdy monk Guangyuan stepped forward:
"Amitabha, it's been a long time since I've heard of Mr. Zhao. I heard that the main altar of the Shenlong Temple in the capital was destroyed by Mr. Zhao himself. Did Junior Brother Fanlong also die at your hands?"
At this time, as the carriage stopped, Zhao Duan and several others came out one after another, jumped out of the carriage and stood on the ground.
Yuxiu raised her slender eyebrows when she heard this and said loudly:
"Monk Fanlong violated the covenant of the righteous path and disguised himself to join the Yunfu army, joining the battle and killing mortals. As the leader of the righteous path, I, the Tianshi Mansion, will personally take action to kill Fanlong. If you seek revenge, I will accompany you!"
Zhao Duan was stunned. The female Taoist nun who always emphasized the principle of taking action with him was actually so proactive?
"Junior Sister Yuxiu has some issues with Guangyuan and Kongzhu."
Zhong Pan waved his hand and patted the white horse's butt. The unicorn neighed and pulled the carriage far away. Then he walked to his side and whispered, carrying a big sword as big as a door panel on his back.
Ah this... Zhao Duan looked at the little Taoist priest with a ferocious and ugly appearance and wearing a priest's robe in surprise.
Monk Guangyuan was indifferent:
"Donor Zhao destroyed our Shenlong Temple, and Donor Nie unjustly killed Fanlong... Both have committed great vengeance against our Shenlong Temple. Meeting today, we must seek justice."
Yuxiu sneered: "Just the two of you?"
Monk Guangyuan raised his staff heavily, then lowered it again: "Where are the disciples of Shenlong Temple?"
As soon as the words fell.
In the darkness behind the two of them, in the alleys on both sides, there was a sound of dense footsteps.
There were about dozens of monk soldiers, half of their chests naked, holding long sticks, wearing long trousers and monk shoes, rushing out in the moonlight, like a tide, and forming a formation behind the two men!
"Monk soldiers..." Zhao Duan said with a calm mind, it was bad luck.
The monk soldiers' martial arts are generally not strong, most of them are in the range of nourishing qi and divine chapter.
But dozens of monk soldiers, forming a formation and charging, are enough to shake or even kill a warrior in the mortal world.
It’s not over yet!
Great Monk Guangyuan's face was solemn, and he said, "Please invite the divine tiger again!"
"yes!"
The monks and soldiers drank together.
Then, in full view of everyone, Zhao Duan clearly saw the front row of monk soldiers make way, and two warrior monks came out on the left and right, holding a plaque!
In the night, the details of the plaque are not clear, but you can vaguely see the word "temple" on it.
"The divine tiger that guards the temple!" Zhong Pan's pupils suddenly narrowed, and this young Taoist priest, whose magic had already reached the pinnacle of the world, finally revealed a trace of solemnity.
"What is that?" Zhao Duan was stunned and looked at the little Taoist priest anxiously.
Among the group, Zhong Pan undoubtedly has the strongest cultivation and is also his greatest reliance. Judging from his past battle records, even if Zhong Pan has not reached the level of a half-step celestial being, he is not far behind.
But a plaque could make the little Taoist priest so serious?
"A talisman, a special talisman raised from a wild god," Zhong Pan explained in a deep voice:
"Those in Buddhism possessing great magical powers can subdue dragons and tigers. Deep in the mountains and ancient forests, there exists a wild deity called 'Shanjun'. Buddhism has a secret method for capturing this deity, sealed within a temple plaque. Only by enclosing this wild deity within a prosperous temple can it be tamed and used as a talisman."
The tiger in the plaque devours the temple's incense day and night for food, and listens to the monks chanting scriptures and correcting their minds. It takes sixty years of effort to raise a divine tiger to guard the temple. The power of the divine tiger is related to the gestation period and the incense it eats.
This fat and thin monk is the abbot of Jinshan Temple, which is a large temple on the Huai River. After years of gestation, I am afraid that a very ferocious creature will be born."
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, then asked seriously, "Senior Brother can't defeat him?"
Upon hearing this, the young Taoist priest smiled and said in a bold and confident tone:
"If it were a tiger raised by the Shenlong Temple in the capital, I might be a little wary, but it's just the Jinshan Temple... even if they raised a tiger for a hundred years, it would only take a little more effort to tame it."
Zhao Duan breathed a sigh of relief silently, feeling at ease.
As long as you can beat them, that's fine.
"But..." Zhong Pan paused, his eyes deep as he said:
"These two saw me here, yet they still dared to block my way. I'm sure they have more than just this one tiger in their hands. When we fight later, remember to be careful and don't underestimate the enemy."
Zhao Duan's heart tightened, and he secretly held his breath. Seeing Lang Shiba and Ji Yue's nervous expressions, he quickly told them the information he had read about the two monks:
"The fat one is Guangyuan, a martial monk who cultivates his body and is very resistant to attacks. The records show that he has mastered the Golden Bell Cover to the highest level, and can withstand military formations and move freely. He is at a high level in the world.
The thin one is a diabolo, and his martial arts skills are relatively weak, but he is a Buddhist master who controls magic weapons. The alms bowl in his hand is said to be as heavy as a thousand pounds, and is famous for its powerful magic... It is also a high-quality item in the world.
As they were talking, tensions were already rising between the two sides.
Ji Yue heard about the temple guardian tiger and two high-ranking people, and was frightened and a little scared. She kept cheering herself up...
She had been suppressed in the Houhu Lake in the capital for several years, but her strength had not been improved and was a bit lacking.
Lang Shiba also felt a sinking feeling in his heart and felt a lot of pressure, but as someone who came from the northern border army, he had his own blood and blood.
At this moment, he suddenly pulled down the wine gourd behind him, smashed the cork with one palm, tilted his head back, and "gulp", the clear wine poured into his mouth, wetting the soldier's chest and blue stubble.
"Bang!"
Lang Shiba threw the wine gourd aside, his long, messy hair swirling in the wind. He grinned widely, his right hand already drawing his scimitar.
"Sir, please lead the rear, and I will test the depth... and shallowness of this bald donkey!"
When he shouted the word "bald", he had already taken a step forward. As his foot stepped forward, the ground cracked with a "crack".
When he pronounced the word "Qian", he was like an arrow shot from a bow, leaving a shadow. With the lightness skill of chasing a cicada in eight steps, he closed more than ten feet in an instant, and the scimitar flashed a pool of green light in the moonlight.
He struck at Monk Guangyuan’s bald head!
Monk Guangyuan stood still like a mountain, neither dodging nor evading. Facing this fierce knife attack, he actually supported the earth and did not activate the Golden Bell to protect his body. Instead, he slowly raised his huge arm, and the golden staff in his hand "wooshed" to block the wind.
"clang!!!"
With the two of them as the center, spider-web-like cracks appeared on the ground, and a circle of dust spread out in all directions.
Lang Shiba only felt his palms tingling, as if a bolt of lightning followed the scimitar and passed back to his palms. His cheeks flushed, and the Qi in his body churned. He was horrified to find that a terrifying force was continuously pouring into his meridians.
His face twisted, and he suddenly kicked out with both feet in the air, hitting Guangyuan's big belly hard, but it was like kicking an iron plate, almost breaking the bone, but he also took the opportunity to distance himself.
What a tough guy... Lang Shiba fell backwards, supported himself with his left hand, turned his body 180 degrees on the spot, and slashed towards Guangyuan with his scimitar at a strange angle!
This knife is extremely wonderful!
But Guangyuan only smiled faintly and said, "Put down the butcher knife and become a Buddha right here."
——
Typos should be corrected first and then replaced
(End of this chapter)
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