Chapter 111: Visitation in a Dream (Third Installment)

“Anitufo!”

That solemn and grand Buddhist chant echoed as if right beside his ear, causing Huangfu Yuanwai’s head to buzz, nearly shattering his composure and causing his nascent spirit to drift out of his body. Below, the two Qing snakes fared even worse, coiling tightly into a perfect circle, forming the most impenetrable defense. The massive snake head retracted deep inside, trembling slightly.

The monk Fuxiao’s face bore no sorrow or joy; his gaze seemed to pierce through all surface disguises, seeing straight to the essence.

“A fine three-eyed flood dragon you are. This temple is lacking a guardian spirit beast. Will you pledge yourself to Buddha?”

As he spoke, both Huangfu Yuanwai and the two Qing snakes clearly saw a sudden vision unfold behind the white-robed monk amid the wind and rain—rays of red light and blooming lotuses appeared. A towering Buddha, over ten feet tall, manifested. His face was compassionate, sitting cross-legged upon a lotus throne, motionless as a mountain, eyes half-closed with a gentle smile. His hands formed a mudra over his chest, radiating profound serenity. Anyone who beheld this sight felt an immediate warmth and a surge of Buddha’s grace, as if compelled to kneel and worship, pledging allegiance to the Dharma.

“This, this is the true form of the eighth transformation, the Arhat’s true body...” Huangfu Yuanwai cried out in astonishment.

With the true form revealed, the snake demon Qing immediately stretched out its head, the huge serpent nodding repeatedly toward Fuxiao, as if kowtowing in agreement to his request.

Yet its eyes were dull, revealing that its spirit had already been ensnared.

This was bad...

Huangfu Yuanwai, having lived hundreds of years and being a cunning old fox, knew the danger instantly. Without hesitation, he reached out to retract his restraining spirit coins, preparing to flee using escape magic.

“Seeing me, you still want to run, you fox spirit?” Fuxiao shouted loudly. Embedded within his roar was the formidable Buddhist skill “Lion’s Roar,” which first shook the target’s soul.

Then, with a whoosh, a large alms bowl spun through the air, growing in size as it cut through the wind until it was as large as a basket, descending directly over Huangfu Yuanwai’s head.

“I’m doomed...”

Before he could react, Huangfu Yuanwai flung the spirit coins forward, then revealed his true form—a fiery red fox. At the critical moment, he used earth escape magic, burrowing underground.

Bang!

Almost simultaneously, the spirit coins he threw were caught by the alms bowl with a sway, disappearing without a trace.

“Still trying to escape!”

Fuxiao’s roar thundered as he suddenly drew out his nine-ringed Zen staff, slamming it into the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Along an irregular line on the earth, explosions erupted every few dozen feet, sending mud and stones flying. After the blasts, deep pits appeared—too large to have been dug by human hands—yet Huangfu Yuanwai was nowhere to be found.

“Cunning fox spirit, even knows how to use misdirection... Hmph!”

Fuxiao snorted coldly, scanning the area. The wind and rain persisted, and the night was as dark as ink. Huangfu Yuanwai had long since fled to an unknown place.

“Well, this demon has been struck by my Zen staff’s thunder escape spell. Though it may escape momentarily, it cannot evade forever. I’ll spare it for now...”

Fuxiao retracted the alms bowl and said to the Qing snake, “Since you are willing to pledge to Buddha, I shall name you ‘Qingye.’ Enter this alms bowl; I will take you back to Jinshan Temple.”

Obediently, the snake demon dipped its head into the bowl. Its long body gradually submerged inside.

The alms bowl seemed vast and boundless within, easily accommodating the enormous snake. It then slowly returned to its original size, resting once again in Fuxiao’s palm.

Having completed this, Fuxiao stepped onto his wooden board and drifted away. Soon after, the dark clouds scattered, and the torrential rain gradually ceased.

...

“Liuxian, Liuxian, save me...”

A faint voice seemed to whisper in his ear, hauntingly familiar. It was Huangfu Yuanwai’s voice.

“Yuanwai, Yuanwai, where are you?”

“Liuxian, save me, at Fengbo Pavilion at the hour of Mao, Liuxian will surely come to save me...”

Suddenly, a fiery red fox flashed past before vanishing.

Mm!

Chen Jianchen awoke abruptly, sitting up in bed—another dream? What was wrong with him? Why were these dreams coming one after another?

He shook his head, sitting on the bed, pondering the vague yet peculiar dream—Huangfu Yuanwai’s voice, the fiery red fox shadow. Could it be that Yuanwai had met with some misfortune and was asking him to rescue him at Fengbo Pavilion during the hour of Mao?

At this possibility, Chen Jianchen immediately sharpened his mind, ignoring washing up, rushing out to call Jiao Na.

Jiao Na was still half-asleep and annoyed by his noise. “Sir, even if you want to attend class, there’s no need to be in such a hurry.” Then, smiling, she added, “Sir, the method you recommended really works. I held that book and read only half a page before sleepiness crept over me, and I fell asleep right away.”

Chen Jianchen had no heart to discuss this with her and asked gravely, “Miss Huangfu, did you have a dream last night?”

“Yes!” Jiao Na answered crisply.

“What dream did you have?” Chen Jianchen pressed.

She hesitated a little before shyly admitting, “Well, it’s a bit embarrassing to say...” She had dreamed of going to Suzhou city and eating all the candied hawthorns sold on the streets—so sweet and delicious.

Judging by her response, Chen Jianchen knew her dream was very different from his. Could it be that only he had received Yuanwai’s dream message, fearing the daughter’s impulsiveness might cause trouble?

That must be it...

Urgently, Chen Jianchen said, “Miss Huangfu, quickly have someone prepare a carriage. We must hurry to Fengbo Pavilion.”

—Fengbo Pavilion was located several miles outside Suzhou’s northern gate—a long pavilion at a key thoroughfare.

“To Fengbo Pavilion? What Fengbo Pavilion?” Jiao Na did not recognize the place.

Without explanation, Chen Jianchen pulled her along and ordered Maliu to prepare the carriage.

Jiao Na, frustrated, exclaimed, “Sir, what exactly are you doing? I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.”

—In this world, brushing teeth meant rinsing with salt water and scrubbing with willow twigs. If done carefully, it cleaned quite well.

Chen Jianchen briefly recounted the dream of Huangfu Yuanwai’s plea for help. After hearing this, Jiao Na was momentarily speechless but soon ran faster than Chen Jianchen.

Seated inside the carriage, Jiao Na was anxious, wishing she knew Fengbo Pavilion’s exact location, or she might have flown there alone using magic. Finally, clutching Chen Jianchen’s hand like a lifeline, she asked urgently, “Sir, do you think Father is in danger? Please tell me!”

Chen Jianchen shook his head with a bitter smile, then said thoughtfully, “Miss Huangfu, try not to worry too much. If the dream is a mere illusion, there’s nothing to fear. Even if it’s real, since Yuanwai was able to send a dream plea, there must still be hope.”

“No, it must be true. I know this is a secret technique of Father’s called the Thousand-Mile Dream Lingering Art. He would never use it unless absolutely desperate.”

The Thousand-Mile Dream Lingering Art?

Chen Jianchen had never heard of this spell, but from the name, he understood it was a gentle magic used solely to transmit messages, unlike intrusive spirit invasions.

Countless spells existed in the world, with myriad lineages and traditions. Even true cultivators could not know them all, especially secret techniques rarely revealed to outsiders.

Chen Jianchen said solemnly, “Since it must be true, once we reach Fengbo Pavilion, Miss Huangfu, you must not act rashly. We must wait and see.”

Jiao Na nodded, “I understand.”

—That Father used such a desperate technique and chose Chen Jianchen over her already spoke volumes: trust in Chen Jianchen and a worry that she might act impulsively. Other reasons remained unknown and could only be revealed after Father was rescued.

Their voices were low inside the carriage, careful not to alert Maliu, the driver, to avoid unnecessary trouble. Commanding Maliu to hurry to Fengbo Pavilion required no further explanation.

The distance was not far. After about the time of burning an incense stick, they arrived.

Jiao Na leapt down, looking around, with Chen Jianchen following. They saw a pavilion by the roadside—empty, not a soul in sight, not even a shadow of Huangfu Yuanwai.

Unable to contain herself, Jiao Na dashed inside, searching thoroughly, even climbing onto the roof, but found no trace.

—Her agile leap onto the roof startled Maliu, revealing that their lady was indeed a martial arts expert.

But that was no great surprise.

Inside the pavilion, Chen Jianchen scanned the surroundings, seeing nothing suspicious. He examined the signboard: indeed, it read “Fengbo Pavilion.” After a moment, he asked Maliu, “Maliu, is there another Fengbo Pavilion near Suzhou city?”

Maliu, a seasoned carriage driver familiar with the geography, answered immediately, “Sir, to my knowledge, there is only this Fengbo Pavilion in the entire Suzhou area.”

A good location—could the problem be the time?

In this world, time was measured roughly by hours rather than minutes and seconds. Even a quarter of an hour was considered long enough for many events. Moreover, Huangfu Yuanwai’s dream only specified the hour of Mao, a broad window.

Missing that time meant missing everything.

As Chen Jianchen pondered, suddenly from the south came the pounding of horses’ hooves—three riders galloping fast. As they drew near, Chen Jianchen focused and saw all three horses carried game bound with ropes. On the middle rider’s horse, a striking fiery red form caught the eye.

“Oh, those are men from Magistrate Li’s household,” Maliu recognized immediately.