The Qing Shui River Dragon Palace was currently hosting a grand feast for its guests.
Hei Jiao, the Dragon King of Qing Shui River, sat on the secondary seat, while a monk occupied the main seat.
“Master Hui Fa, please try this, it's a specialty of Qing Shui River,” said Hei Jiao, gesturing to the dishes. “It has the effect of clearing the mind, improving eyesight, and smoothing blood circulation. And this White Smoke Fruit… ”
Hui Fa was thin and gaunt, with large hands.
He ate dish after dish of delicacies, yet his stomach showed no signs of bloating.
After a satisfying meal and drink, Hui Fa wiped his mouth and gave Hei Jiao a meaningful look.
Hei Jiao instantly understood and waved his hand to his subordinates.
A group of clam girls and shrimp demons stepped forward, clearing the dishes and offering tea.
“Master, please try this. It's this year's new Purple Cloud tea!”
“Hmm, not bad. The tea is strong, but the ingredients are lacking. This Purple Cloud tea is best paired with Snow Cloud Ginger, Mist Spirit Onion, Golden Veined Garlic, and other spirit herbs. Adding unique fragrant spices from the Western Region would make it truly superior.”
Hui Fa held the teacup, which looked like a mix of various condiments, and took a sip, calmly appraising it.
Of course, Hei Jiao dared not contradict him. He quickly smiled and said, “Master Hui Fa’s tea knowledge is profound. I, the little dragon, am ignorant and my Qing Shui River is a remote place. It naturally cannot compare to the abundance of treasures in Master's Dharma Ming Temple. In my hands, this tea would be a waste. Master, please take a pound when you leave.”
Hui Fa’s face slightly darkened, showing displeasure.
Hei Jiao looked pained, his heart bleeding, but he dared not offend Hui Fa. He quickly said, “Three pounds. I only got three and a half pounds of tea this year. Please accept this, Master!”
Hui Fa’s expression softened slightly. He clasped his hands together and chanted a Buddhist mantra, “Amitabha, Master Yuan Jiang is too kind. Your generosity will surely bring you good fortune. Next March, the Dharma Ming Temple will hold a Dharma assembly. Master Yuan Jiang is welcome to attend!”
Hei Jiao, or rather Yuan Jiang, forced a smile and took the invitation from Hui Fa’s hands.
The power of Buddhism was growing, and it was rumored that they would soon be making a major move into the Central Plains.
The Dragon Clan had already sent a message, warning that they should endure any provocation from Buddhism for the time being.
Well, they haven’t exactly been assertive before, either!
“Master, what brings you to my Qing Shui Dragon Palace?”
Yuan Jiang was also speechless. While his Qing Shui River wasn’t small, there were countless great rivers in the vast territory of the Great Tang Dynasty.
No matter how you looked at it, Hui Fa was a presiding abbot and a registered Arhat of Buddhism in Mount Meru.
Although he was just a common Arhat in Mount Meru, in the Great Tang, where Buddhism wasn’t particularly thriving, he was a top-notch Buddhist leader.
Besides the leaders of various Buddhist schools, only those with the position of a presiding abbot like Hui Fa held the highest status.
Yuan Jiang, to put it nicely, was a legitimate immortal god, the Dragon King of Qing Shui River.
But in Hui Fa’s eyes, he was just a slightly larger loach.
“Amitabha, I heard that recently, Master Yuan Jiang has been searching for the news of the Heavenly Court’s Great Princess?”
“The Heavenly Court’s Great Princess? No, I haven’t!”
Yuan Jiang was baffled. He was just a dragon of Qing Shui River.
His divine position was only eighth rank. He wouldn’t even be qualified to see the Great Princess’s personal maids, let alone the Great Princess herself!
“Oh?”
Hui Fa smiled faintly and flipped his hand, revealing a golden alms bowl.
Images flickered on the bowl, and Zhang Tian Shou’s face appeared clearly.
“Master Yuan Jiang, do you recognize this person?”
“She is the Heavenly Court’s Great Princess?”
Yuan Jiang suddenly jumped up, almost knocking the low table in front of him over.
At that moment, Yuan Jiang even wished he had killed the Black Catfish.
If he had actually gone and robbed the Heavenly Court’s Great Princess of her spiritual treasure, the Heavenly Court wouldn’t even need to send troops. The Four Seas Dragon Kings would personally come to his door and skin him alive.
The last person to suffer this fate was Nezha, the Great Deity of the Three Altars and Lake!
“Master, please spare me. I haven’t touched the Great Princess at all. The other day, the Great Princess was on the shore of Qing Shui River, punishing a Black Catfish demon. At the time, the little dragon thought she was valiant and majestic. I just wanted to inquire about her so I could thank her for removing a pest from Qing Shui River!”
Yuan Jiang quickly assured him, patting his chest. He didn’t hesitate to sell the Black Catfish River Deity.
No, River Deity?
What River Deity!
That imposter deserved to be struck by lightning and suffer eternal damnation!
In an instant, Yuan Jiang had already thought of a hundred and eight ways to kill the Black Catfish.
Hui Fa clasped his hands together, his Buddhist chant resonating far and wide. “Master Yuan Jiang, there is no need to be alarmed. I’m not here to cause trouble. I'm just concerned about the Princess’s safety and ask you to watch over her. If anything happens, send me a message immediately. Don’t let the Princess be in danger.”
Hearing Hui Fa’s words, Yuan Jiang’s dragon eyes widened instantly, and his heart began to curse.
What concern for the Princess’s safety? It was all a lie!
Wasn’t he just asking him to monitor Zhang Tian Shou, while trying to avoid karmic entanglement himself?
But now that Hui Fa had personally come to his door, did Yuan Jiang have any room to refuse?
“Damn Black Catfish!”
Seeing Yuan Jiang’s changing expression, Hui Fa knew it was time to offer the bait. He said, “Master Yuan Jiang, I once refined a batch of Three Treasures Glass Shards Golden Elixir. Next March, when the Dharma assembly is held, please join me in tasting it.”
“Master, don’t worry, I’ll handle this!”
Yuan Jiang was instantly invigorated. He patted his chest and responded loudly.
Hui Fa smiled, clasped his hands together, and said, “Good!”
…
Zhao family village, Zhang Tian Shou returned to his courtyard.
“Afan, there’s a three-headed pig demon outside saying he wants to help. Should we accept him?”
“Accept him! Why wouldn’t we?”