Chapter 1382 - 1381: No Abnormalities Detected

Chapter 1382: Chapter 1381: No Abnormalities Detected

"Junior Brother Feng... eh, Young Master Lu?"

Fan Boyu was talking with the middle-aged man beside him, then he turned and saw Feng Yiyin and Lu Zheng standing nearby.

"Young Master Lu, why have you come to Pingtan County?"

"I saw the spiritual light from Brother’s blessing ceremony, so I came to take a look," Lu Zheng said with a smile, then he looked at the middle-aged man beside Fan Boyu, "This friend here, how should I address you?"

"Let me introduce you," Fan Boyu hurriedly began introducing everyone to each other.

"This is Zeng Changlong, the Hall Master of White Water Hall from the Lianshan Sect in the Southern Frontier," Fan Boyu finished introducing the middle-aged man beside him, then introduced Lu Zheng and others to him, "This is Lu Zheng, Young Master Lu, a direct lineage member of the Outer Sect of White Cloud Temple, this is Daoist Yuan Jing, the Temple Master of the Tonglin County branch of White Cloud Temple, and this is Zen Master Guangyue from Rizhao Temple, who also presides over Jiming Temple in this county."

"People of the Central Plains are truly extraordinary, Zeng Mou has met you all."

"Polite, polite, we’ve met Master Zeng."

After exchanging greetings, they chatted casually for a few moments. Lu Zheng observed Zeng Changlong, who appeared clear-eyed, with a pure divine soul, his manner full of grace and charm, showing no signs of anything unusual.

However, the gourd in Lu Zheng’s possession had a drop of demon blood that reacted upon first meeting Zeng Changlong, which couldn’t be faked.

Demonic magic is indeed incredibly bizarre.

Moreover, the more pressing question is...

That drop of demon blood reacted when it saw Zeng Changlong, giving Lu Zheng a sense of something; could it be that Zeng Changlong also sensed Lu Zheng?

Lu Zheng narrowed his eyes, then smiled at Zeng Changlong and said, "Meeting each other is fate, and since it’s getting late, why don’t we all go to Jiming Temple to enjoy a meal of their famous vegetarian dishes?"

Guangyue couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

Lu Zheng had clearly shown no interest in dining at Jiming Temple earlier. Logically, after meeting Fan Boyu and Zeng Changlong, he should be even more inclined to dine at the Primordial Saint Sect. Why was he instead inviting them to Jiming Temple?

Nonetheless, since Lu Zheng had suggested it, he naturally went along with it, placing his palms together, "You are all welcome to come, your presence would grace Jiming Temple."

Fan Boyu looked at Zeng Changlong, and Zeng Changlong immediately laughed, "I’d heard of the reputation of Central Plains Buddhism’s vegetarian dishes but never had the chance to try them, thank you, Master. What a fortunate day."

Everyone laughed at this and went together to Jiming Temple.

...

Vegetarian dishes without meat, tea without wine.

Yet, the light side dishes, tofu-based mock meats, autumn flower tea, had a unique flavor when tasted, aromatic and balanced, not inferior to rich meats and fish.

Yuan Jing nodded, "Monk, you do indeed have some skill."

"Buddhist vegetarian dishes, a well-deserved reputation," Zeng Changlong smiled.

Lu Zheng picked up some bean sprouts with his chopsticks and then looked at Zeng Changlong, "The Southern Frontier is vast, and the Lianshan Sect accepts people without distinction, its heritage extensive. I heard that within its realm, there are many Buddhist temples too. Don’t they have vegetarian dishes?"

"There are temples, and of course, there are vegetarian dishes, but the Southern Frontier is remote, ingredients and seasonings are scarce; how can they compare to the grand temples of the Central Plains?" Zeng Changlong said.

Guangyue raised an eyebrow but after sensing Zeng Changlong’s cultivation, remained silent.

Lu Zheng continued to ask Zeng Changlong, "The Lianshan Sect commands reverence in the Southern Frontier, but where is White Water Hall located? If Lu Mou has the fortune to travel to the Southern Frontier, I would surely visit Master Zeng."

"If Young Master Lu comes, Zeng Mou will roll out the mat to welcome you," Zeng Changlong raised a hand and respectfully toasted Lu Zheng, "White Water Hall is located in the eastern White Water Creek area of the Lianshan Sect’s realm, with the main hall at the source on Baikdu Mountain."

"I’ll remember!" Lu Zheng returned the toast, then he and Zeng Changlong drank together in one gulp.

Unfamiliar with Lu Zheng, Feng Yiyin and Zeng Changlong still saw nothing amiss, but Guangyue and Yuan Jing were taken aback: since when did Lu Zheng take the initiative to ask for others’ addresses and mention visiting?

Though Lu Zheng was easy to get along with, he was always measured. While he might be friendly upon meeting, he rarely sought people out; even with Jiming Temple and White Cloud Temple, he would take quite a while between visits.

So with strangers, he was even less inclined to bring up the topic of visiting.

Guangyue laughed, "The Southern Frontier indeed has its own lineage of Buddhist heritage, with the Lianshan Sect being half of the Southern Frontier’s foundation, full of Buddhist texts. I wonder, Master Zeng, have you delved into these?"

Zeng Changlong waved his hand, "Master, you flatter me. Though the Lianshan Sect has some Buddhist scriptures, they are merely common ones like the ’Arhat Scripture’ and ’Flower-Picking Scripture,’ and quite incomplete; how could they compare to the direct lineage of Rizhao Temple’s Dharma Eye?"

Yuan Jing’s eyes twinkled, and he smiled as he asked, "There are quite a few people under White Water Hall, aren’t there?"

Zeng Changlong nodded, "Indeed, while the source of White Water Creek is on Baikdu Mountain, mountain streams run through deep valleys and marshes, countless underground water veins, inhabited by strange fish and evil flood dragons that harm people. And the deep mountain forests, with their tigers, leopards, wolves, and jackals are also dangerous."

Yuan Jing nodded in understanding and glanced at Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng also nodded and praised, "The Lianshan Sect indeed shelters countless people of the Southern Frontier, with boundless merit."

"Amitabha Buddha!"

"Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

They continued their discussion from the Southern Frontier to the Central Plains, from Buddhist Dharma to Daoist techniques. Though Zeng Changlong had not delved deeply, he was capable of responding to Guangyue and Yuan Jing, and could even chat with Lu Zheng about literature and calligraphy, his personality similar to Fan Boyu’s, warm and mellow, explaining why they were such good friends.

Lu Zheng rubbed his chin. This Zeng Changlong didn’t seem like someone affected by a demon thought, amplifying his own obsessions, did he?

But if a demon had possessed him, with his own magical power facing him directly, how could he not sense anything at all?

It should be noted, Zeng Changlong’s Dao practice was only slightly stronger than Fan Boyu’s, far inferior to the current Lu Zheng.

No matter how well demons could conceal, they couldn’t ignore such a vast disparity in cultivation levels, otherwise, why wouldn’t they simply hide in the Da Jing Imperial Palace, Chixiao Temple, or Fahua Temple?

Of course, for powerhouses like Master Yun Ning, willingly or inadvertently falling to demonhood is a different matter.

But thinking of the present, Lu Zheng grew more intrigued.

...

A vegetarian meal extended until 1:30 PM.

"Usually, I’m always in a rush when I come and go, but today I’ve stayed for two hours and just realized how serene and tranquil Jiming Temple is, with subtle sandalwood incense, very pleasant!"

Lu Zheng sniffed the air, stretched lazily, "Brother Guangyue, I’d like to stay in your temple tonight, could you arrange a room for me?"

Guangyue was full of surprise at these words, Yuan Jing too was speechless.

As if Shaotong Mountain’s White Cloud Temple were situated in a bustling city with scant incense.

But the two seemed to realize it: Lu Zheng must have noticed some anomaly with Zeng Changlong and wasn’t planning to leave tonight. Staying at Jiming Temple might either mean nearby surveillance or was just like luring the snake out of the hole.

However, Guangyue was quick to respond, immediately nodding and placing his palms together, "Of course, you can stay next door to mine?"

Lu Zheng laughed, "Then I won’t stand on ceremony."