Holy Bone

Chapter 2026 Elders of the Eight Views Sect of the Celestial Master's Mansion: True Man Qianlong and True Man Ziteng

"After my main body merges with the lead and mercury holy embryo clone, it would be reasonable for me to meet with the people of the Celestial Master's Mansion after my main body has just left the government office and arrived at the Five Organs Taoist Temple."

Jin An said.

Upon hearing this, Fatty Li looked enlightened and said, "I see."

Then he grinned and said, "As long as it's not malicious, the ancestral worship ceremony is coming soon. I'm so nervous that I get blisters on my lips every day. I'm afraid that one day I'll suddenly encounter an unexpected change and I'll have to keep busy again."

Jin An hummed in agreement and then said, “Since the carriage can’t get in, Fatty Li, you stay here with the Bi’an carriage and take care of it. I’ll go into the Wuzang Taoist Temple to meet the elders of the Celestial Master’s Mansion and see what they’ve come here for.”

Fatty Li nodded and said, "Okay, Master Jin'an, you should go quickly. Don't keep the elders of the Celestial Master's Mansion waiting. They might say that our Five Organs Taoist Temple is arrogant and has a bad reputation."

Jin An clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you for your hard work here," and then he got out of the car.

As Jin An alighted from the carriage, the crowd in the vicinity erupted into commotion once again. Jin An was the abbot of the Five Organs Taoist Temple, the Marquis of Shenwu, the commander of the Criminal Investigation Department, and the supervisor of the Three Departments. Such a status and position made him a dragon among men and a superior person in the eyes of the common people, which naturally caused quite a stir.

Jin An stood on the carriage and bowed to the crowd around him, saying, "Thank you for your kindness in making way for me. As you all know, the Celestial Master's Mansion is visiting my Five Organs Taoist Temple today. I must go to the Celestial Master's Mansion first so as not to keep them waiting too long."

"Therefore, I hope my fellow villagers will make way for me and let me pass first. Thank you for your kindness."

In the eyes of the common people, Jin An was a divine master and a high-ranking official with great power. The fact that such an important figure spoke to ordinary people like them so politely moved the people deeply.

"Lord Shenwu, you are too kind. It is our honor to have a kind and benevolent abbot like you at the Five Organs Taoist Temple. Please go first."

"Yes, everyone make way and let Marquis Shenwu go to the Wuzang Taoist Temple first. Don't keep the people from the Celestial Master's Mansion waiting, or they'll say that we people from the market don't respect them."

"Lord Shenwu, please hurry back to the Wuzang Taoist Temple."

Jin An was moved and clasped his hands in thanks again, saying, "Thank you, fellow villagers."

Then he followed the path cleared by the people and headed towards the Wuzang Taoist Temple.

Because the people made way for him, and because Jin'an was protected by Daoist energy, he moved forward at a relatively fast pace through the throng and soon arrived at the Wuzang Daoist Temple.

Upon arriving at the Wuzang Taoist Temple, he did as usual, first offering incense to the statue of the Thousand-Eyed Taoist Lord at the entrance and greeting him before entering the temple amidst the enthusiastic support of the people of the capital.

After entering the Five Organs Taoist Temple, Jin An first offered incense and candles to the various shrines before heading to the back courtyard of the temple.

At the entrance to the backyard of the Taoist temple, several rows of disciples from the Celestial Master's Mansion stood. Only the elders of the Celestial Master's Mansion entered the backyard. The disciples who had been left outside immediately perked up when they saw Jin An arrive. Some of them hurriedly went into the backyard to inform the elders that Jin An had returned from his official duties.

"Master Jin'an".

"Master Jin'an." As Jin'an entered the backyard of the Wuzang Taoist Temple, Master Qianlong and Master Ziteng, who were originally sitting at the stone table chatting with the old Taoist and Xiaojian, immediately stood up with joy and bowed to Jin'an.

Both of them bowed deeply, which was not a regular gesture of greeting.

Jin An looked puzzled, then cupped his hands and said, "No wonder the Wuzang Taoist Temple is so crowded today. It's all thanks to the care of Master Qianlong and Master Ziteng. The two elders are highly respected people in the Celestial Master's Mansion. Their personal visit to the Wuzang Taoist Temple today has truly brought honor and glory to our humble abode."

"Haha, Master Jin'an is too kind." Master Qianlong and Master Ziteng laughed heartily.

After a brief chat, Jin An, the old Taoist priest, Xiao Jian, Qianlong Zhenren, and Zi Teng Zhenren sat down again at the stone table. Then Jin An inquired about the reason why the Celestial Master's Mansion had come to the Five Organs Taoist Temple.
Master Qianlong and Master Zifeng exchanged a smile, then clapped their hands, took a roll of cloth from an elder, and handed it to Jin An, saying, "I have heard from other elders of the Celestial Master's Mansion that Daoist Jin An has helped our Celestial Master's Mansion many times. Last time you came to our Celestial Master's Mansion, you solved a major problem for us. Daoist Jin An has helped our Celestial Master's Mansion so much. If our Celestial Master's Mansion does not express our gratitude in return, we will probably find it difficult to hold our heads high in the future."

"Master Jin'an, this is a list of gifts of gratitude that our Celestial Master's Mansion has specially prepared for you. We hope that you will accept them so that our Celestial Master's Mansion can feel at ease in the future and not be ashamed of your great kindness."

"Oh dear, Master Qianlong and Master Zifeng, you are too kind. As a member of the Criminal Investigation Department, it is my duty to protect the safety of the capital. Your generous gift makes our Wuzang Taoist Temple feel embarrassed and ashamed."

"Old Taoist priest, please pour tea for the two elders and properly entertain and thank them."

As Jin An spoke, he reached out and took the roll of cloth. His expression was natural, neither embarrassed nor abrupt, showing no awkwardness or embarrassment at accepting a gift.

"Hahaha!" Master Qianlong and Master Zifeng laughed. They said with a smile, "Master Jin'an's willingness to accept our gift of gratitude has fulfilled our wishes. Master Chen is too kind in serving tea. Thank you, Master Chen."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Jin An asked seemingly casually, "By the way, last time the Jiang family patriarch, the Li Huo Elder, and the Po Jun Marquis went to the underworld, I heard they hadn't returned to the mortal realm. Did they come back later?"

When they heard about the three ancestors of the Jiang family, the expressions of Master Qianlong and Master Ziteng changed.

Then Master Zifang snorted coldly and said angrily, "Someone saw that Marquis Pojun was personally dealt with by the old corpse painter of the Corpse Painting Cave. As for the other two elders, there has been no news of them. I believe they have also died at the hands of the great demons of the underworld!"

"Hmph, my fellow disciple and I have a blood feud with those three, an irreconcilable enmity. It's far too easy for them to die in the underworld like this!"

"If only they were still alive! We would fight them two or three thousand times to avenge the blood feud of more than ten years ago! And the grudge against their imprisonment!"

Jin An feigned a sigh and said, "That's a real pity. The Celestial Master's Mansion has suffered a great loss of strength."

Master Zifeng snorted and said, "It's actually a good thing that the Celestial Master's Mansion has fewer heartless scoundrels. Master Jin'an doesn't need to feel sorry for those three."

Jin An was not truly lamenting the loss of the three ancestors of the Jiang family, so he changed the subject and brought up another matter.

"I've heard that you two elders had a close relationship with Emperor Kangheng from over a decade ago, and that you were very good friends. I wonder if you two elders could tell me more about Emperor Kangheng?" Jin An said with a solemn expression.

When Emperor Kangheng was mentioned, both Master Qianlong and Master Zifeng's expressions turned extremely serious.