Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1177 The Secret Meeting at Jing'an Temple
The morning sun shines brightly on the earth, highlighting the magnificent grandeur of Beishan Mountain.

The mountain road is not steep, but it is quite winding.

Bai Shuiyue and Ying Xiancai mingled among the scattered pilgrims, making a "staggering" trek up the mountain. After passing through the mountain gate, they dropped money into the donation box in the front courtyard, received incense and candles, and followed the flow of people to offer incense and worship outside the Mahavira Hall.

Looking at the golden statue of Buddha, I thought of my master and the Silent Mother's meditation. The Silent Mother of the White Lotus Sect is also a Buddhist, but Buddha is not necessarily a member of the White Lotus Sect.

Bai Shuiyue offered incense devoutly as a pilgrim, but in her heart she was worshipping the Silent Mother. After bowing, she took the opportunity to quickly and discreetly scan the layout of the temple and the activities of the monks. Right Protector Ying Xiancai, on the other hand, was more like a taciturn countryman, with his eyes lowered but his muscles slightly tense, always on guard.

A hint of wariness lingered in his eyes. He wasn't unfamiliar with Jing'an Temple, but this scene was truly indescribable.
"Shopkeeper, it seems that the abbot of Jing'an Temple is no ordinary person. The number one Buddhist sect in the Northern Territory is indeed worthy of its reputation."

"Abbot Wuxin's rules are strict and the temple is well-ordered. It seems that this Master Chan is keeping a low profile at Hanshan Temple in Jiangnan."

Bai Shuiyue looked at the front courtyard of the temple. Teams of martial monks had finished their practice and returned home. Many monks began to sweep the courtyard. Occasionally, a guest monk would pass by and greet the worshippers with folded hands. The temple was bustling with worshippers.

"Shopkeeper, it seems that we are not the only ones hiding our strength in the martial world. I just saw several chief disciples of the Chan Master, whose internal strength has reached the first-class level."

Ying Xiancai's eyes were filled with solemnity. If it were just one person, it would be easy to say, since he himself had already cultivated to such a level. But if he could see several people with just a casual glance, that would be the foundation of a major sect.

"It is thanks to these people that this ancient temple has been able to stand firm for thousands of years. So it is also true for my White Lotus Sect. Let's go find my good junior sister."

"Yes, boss."

Leaving the guest room,

The two did not immediately go to the east, but instead wandered around the Zen temple area seemingly casually. Bai Shuiyue quickly located the easternmost lakeside area by getting a feel for the layout and direction of the temple. In the distance, one could see the canopy of a ginkgo tree that was higher than the courtyard wall, and behind it, a corner of the lake with shimmering water. Of course, one could also see the Marquis's personal guards standing there, blocking the pilgrims from coming and going.

"Right Protector, you wait here and keep an eye on the temple's movements. Go to the dining hall and have something to eat. I'll be right back."

Bai Shuiyue whispered to Ying Xiancai, her voice returning to its original cool tone: "Now that we've found the place, let's go see our junior sister."

"Yes, sir. Be careful in everything. I will wait here."

Ying Xiancai responded in a deep voice, took a few swaying steps, and went to the dining hall to eat.

After everyone left, Bai Shuiyue tiptoed, her body moving slightly. Using the dense bamboo groves and artificial rocks as cover, she avoided the main road and, like a shadow blending into the forest, silently approached the east side of Chengxin Residence.

Upon reaching the water's edge, there was a reed bed, which served as the courtyard's bird garden. He immediately gathered his pure inner energy and used the superior lightness skill "Floating Light and Shadow." His toes lightly touched the reeds and the stones protruding from the water, like a dragonfly skimming the surface. In a few leaps, he had already passed the guards' blind spots and landed lightly in the inner pavilion by the lake in the backyard of Chengxin Residence without stirring up a single splash. The whole process was as fast as a ghost, and even the guards of the Marquis's mansion not far away were completely unaware.

A gentle breeze carrying moisture from Jingxin Lake caressed Bai Shuiyue's face. Standing in the pavilion, she glanced at the half-open back window. Inside, a graceful figure could be vaguely seen. Judging from the figure, it was none other than her junior sister.

Bai Shuiyue composed herself, slowly walked to the window, and gently tapped the window frame three times with her jade-like fingers.

Tap—tap—tap—

The sound was very soft, yet it entered the room clearly.

Madam Wang was slightly taken aback inside the room, and Lan Yue'er beside her immediately became alert. She drew a sharp blade from her waist and looked warily at the window of the outer room. Just as she was about to reprimand someone, she heard a soft sound.
"Junior sister, it hasn't been that long since we last met, and you can't even recognize your senior sister's footsteps?"

Madam Wang regained her composure, a smile playing on her lips, and replied,
"Senior sister still prefers not to enter through the main gate. As long as she presents her visiting card, she can come in. Why bother climbing over the wall and becoming a woman on the roof beam?"

With a wave of her hand, Lan Yue'er immediately understood, put away the sharp blade in her hand, and started brewing tea again, waiting for the sect leader to come in.

Hearing her junior sister's mockery, Bai Shuiyue didn't take it to heart. She nimbly slipped inside, gently closing the window behind her, shutting out the view of the lake and mountains outside. Her disguise wasn't completely gone, but her eyes and demeanor were now entirely different.
"Tsk tsk, Junior Sister, you're living like a fairy. What? You're allowed to come to Jing'an Temple to pray for your son, but I'm not allowed to come and pray for peace of mind for the people in this chaotic world?"

Madam Wang raised an eyebrow, her gaze meeting hers directly. The disguise was incredibly convincing, but the inner garments remained unchanged. "My senior sister's arrogance is truly something else," she thought, shaking her head slightly. She replied, "I can tell she's quite the character."

"Senior Sister is joking. The White Lotus Sect has always revered the Silent Mother and has never worshipped that bald monk. I am just an ordinary woman named Wang from the Marquis of Luoyun's mansion. It is Senior Sister who has a noble status. If outsiders find out about your sudden visit, it may bring great disaster. I wonder what brings you here, Senior Sister?"

Their words were quite blunt.

Bai Shuiyue watched as Lan Yue'er filled her teacup, but she didn't seem to care at all, as if she had expected it. She looked around the elegantly decorated room with great interest, her gaze sweeping over the Guanyin embroidery on the wall, the purple clay tea set on the table, and the unfinished scriptures. Finally, her eyes landed on the prayer beads in her junior sister's hand, and she chuckled softly.
"Tsk tsk, junior sister, you've been living in the riches and luxury of the Marquis's mansion for too long. Now, even your senior sister can hardly see you. Nowadays, not only ordinary people are searching for us, but even the martial arts world is looking for our whereabouts. Moreover, the three counties of Lingnan are waiting for an opportunity to raise an army!"

This time, however, Marquis Luoyun did not lead his troops south. The Tartars outside the pass were not comparable to the bandits inside the pass.

Madam Wang's breath hitched slightly, and her eyes narrowed. It seemed that someone inside the pass had made a move:
"The past is gone. Here, Senior Sister can do whatever she wants. It seems she's still not content with being alone. Hearing you say that, could it be that the layout inside the pass was left behind by Senior Sister? And what about outside the pass?"

She asked tentatively, revealing her quick wit. Bai Shuiyue gave her a deep look, walked to the table, slowly sat down, and casually picked up an empty teacup, fiddling with it. She leaned closer and shook her head.
"What a fine 'past is past'! Junior Sister, you're still as insightful as ever. If it were my scheme, would it have come at this time? This move was orchestrated by someone, and it's related to your son from the Marquis's mansion. Don't you think the Jurchens' arrival is too opportune? It's only the beginning of autumn."

Lady Wang instantly understood that the only ones who could persuade the Jurchens to pay a price were the vassal kings within the Great Wall. She was not unaware of what was happening in the capital; it seemed that something had changed in the south.

"It seems that Senior Sister is very confident. Since you want to start a new uprising, you should consider your backup plan. If those princes lead the charge, you might be able to launch a surprise attack. But Senior Sister, those princes are not easy to deal with. The imperial court is now militarily strong. Do they have the guts to do such a thing?"

Thinking back to the rumors from a few days ago, there were many rumors about several princes fleeing the capital.

Bai Shuiyue, however, did not rush to answer, but instead changed the subject:
"Junior sister, you've been praying here for seven days, worried about the war in the north. Have you ever considered that the real storm might not be outside the pass?"

Madam Wang frowned, harboring many suspicions, but still inquired:

"What do you mean by that, Senior Sister?"

Bai Shuiyue put down the empty bowl, picked up the full bowl of tea, took a sip, and gazed at the calm lake outside the window. Her voice carried a hint of coldness:
"After your son returned north, the only ones in the capital army who could command troops were Prince Teng and Marquis Baoning. Marquis Baoning was in charge of the Imperial Guards and could not be moved lightly. Only Prince Teng, a defeated general, was left. Coincidentally, news came from within the sect that the Donghu army was marching south, and the court had sent the Vice Minister of War to patrol the border. Who knows if this movement in the north is not a golden opportunity for some people to stir up trouble in the Central Plains?"

Lady Wang's expression remained unchanged, suggesting collusion between those inside and outside the court, a practice frequently seen in previous dynasties.

"There is an opportunity, but in the end, it's uncertain. Senior Sister, the area south of the capital is deserted for thousands of miles. Even if you want to go north, you have no foundation. But I wonder what the Taiping Sect is up to?"

"Your status has truly changed; even this secret information has been figured out by you."

A meaningful smile curved at the corners of Bai Shuiyue's lips:

"It's difficult to advance north, so we can only go south. First, we'll seize the three prefectures near the sea, then head west, using the Ling River as the boundary. The north will belong to those princes, and the south to the Taiping Sect. In this way, as long as we have enough soldiers, we might be able to threaten the Lang family of the Southern King. This move was made by some strange twist of fate, and I don't know who came up with it."

Several figures quickly came to mind: Fan Wenhai of the Prince Zheng's Mansion, Zhang, the leader of the Taiping Cult, or Zhou Yongxiao, the former crown prince.

"Using the Ling River as the boundary?"

Madam Wang remained calm, pondering the situation in the south. But the area within the pass was so vast, and she had always lived in Jiangnan. She had no idea where Linghe was, so she shook her head.

“I don’t know where Linghe is, but one thing is certain: the water flows from west to east and from high to low. Those people must have planned this as a boundary. Although Taiping Sect is a rising star, it is comparable to the White Lotus Sect of yesteryear. We must be wary of them. If they advance westward, there will be no place for you to stand, Senior Sister.”

"Two tigers cannot share one mountain. If we head west, all we'll get is an enclave." "Well said."

Bai Shuiyue sneered.
"Junior sister, you've lived in the capital for so long, yet you still remember the difficulties our sect faces. Senior sister is overjoyed. If they want to go west, our sect will naturally head north. There's no one in the south of the capital, but the counties in Lingnan are mostly inhabited by refugees. If they move back, they can cultivate the land. I don't know if it's fate, but after the drought in the south of the capital, it has now become a swamp. With a little rain, it will become fertile soil. There's another matter."

Bai Shuiyue hesitated for a moment before finally speaking;

"Junior sister, do you know that the former crown prince Zhou Yongxiao did not die in the palace fire ten years ago as the court announced to the world? He is now in league with the Taiping Sect in Lingnan, and his elite troops are comparable to the Imperial Guard."

"what?"

Madam Wang and Lan Yue'er were both stunned. They weren't unaware of this news; it was a rumor circulating in the capital, but unfortunately, no one believed it. After a moment, Madam Wang regained her composure, staring intently at her senior sister's face, her eyes filled with affection. This was hardly the leader of the White Lotus Sect.
"Senior Sister is truly resourceful, able to uncover such information. In that case, there must be someone who is kept in the dark. I imagine that person will not rest in peace until they seize the throne. What a pity for the people of the world."

Bai Shuiyue found Wang Furen's affected manner amusing;
"Junior Sister is still compassionate and merciful, but I wonder if Junior Sister will return to the Holy Sect!"

Their eyes immediately fixed on them.

"Senior sister is joking. Junior sister has never left."

Madam Wang smiled and beckoned. Then, Lan Yue'er went out and came in with several maids, carrying trays containing four exquisite vegetarian dishes: stir-fried mountain delicacies, steamed tofu, cold seasonal vegetables, and a special vegetarian soup made by the temple, all steaming hot and fragrant.

After the maid carefully brought out the vegetarian meal and placed it on the table, she slowly withdrew.

Inside, light and shadow flickered, while outside the window, the sky was bright. Jingxin Lake was shrouded in a hazy twilight, and the temple bell rang softly in the temple grounds, adding to the sense of tranquility.

Madam Wang personally poured a cup of plain wine for Bai Shuiyue and herself.

"This place is serene and quiet. Only this mountain spring wine is suitable for entertaining guests. Senior sister, please."

Bai Shuiyue looked at the clear liquid in her glass, smiled slightly, and raised her glass as well:
"Junior sister, you're too kind. How can we sever our ties as fellow disciples? There are some things you should know, and I won't hide them from you."

Take a small sip, savoring the delicate fruity aroma.

"Hmm, the vegetarian wine at Jing'an Temple has a bit of the flavor of the spring wine we drank back in the Jiangnan branch, but it lacks a bit of the Jianghu spirit."

Madam Wang put down her wine cup, picked up her chopsticks, but did not immediately pick up any food. Her gaze fell on Bai Shuiyue's face:

"Senior sister, please be frank with me. I have nothing more to say. The world is in turmoil, and I feel sorry for you, senior sister, who is holding it all up alone. But for the sake of the Holy Sect, a combination of overt and covert operations is the right path. Do you think that the world is won by fighting?"

After living in the official's mansion for so long, Madam Wang finally understood one thing: the world cannot exist without the support of powerful families. It is easy to conquer the world, but difficult to rule it. Moreover, for more than a hundred years, the White Lotus Sect has always rebelled.

Bai Shuiyue picked up a piece of tender tofu, deftly put it into her mouth, and savored its mellow flavor—a rare delicacy.

“It seems that Junior Sister has made up her mind. What she said makes sense. However, Master once said that what our White Lotus Sect seeks is the well-being of all people and a pure land of light. But in more than a hundred years, no leader has achieved this. Therefore, Senior Sister, do you think that granting land and titles to kings is feasible? Following Junior Sister’s path is not impossible.”

Bai Shuiyue lowered her voice, her gaze intense.

"For example, we should share information, we can't keep it a secret. Every three days, we can exchange information at the tavern at the east entrance of Ningrong Street, how about that?"

Madam Wang remained silent. What her senior sister wanted wasn't ordinary intelligence, but rather the court's policies. But how could she possibly know such things? Madam Wang didn't immediately agree, appearing very cautious.

“I will consider what you say, Senior Sister. You should know about such trivial matters. If there is news from the palace, it should be known throughout the world. There is no need for anyone to go to that place. If there is news, Junior Sister will send someone there herself.”

Neither agreeing nor disagreeing, Bai Shuiyue suddenly paused, then smiled.
"It really has been three days since we last met. I should look at you with new eyes. Then let's do as you wish, Junior Sister. With your words, Junior Sister, I am content!"

He raised the wine in his hand and gently touched it to Madam Wang's lips. The clear wine went down his throat, carrying the sweetness of mountain spring water and the slight tartness of flowers and fruits.

outside the window,

As the afternoon sun slanted westward, Jingxin Lake seemed to be gilded with a layer of gold. Only the lanterns under the eaves cast fragmented and swaying light and shadow on the water. The chirping of insects echoed through the mountains and forests, and the chanting of sutras during the midday prayers in the temple sounded particularly clear and distant in the tranquil daytime, with waves of Buddhist chants full of Zen.

Bai Shuiyue put down her wine cup, looked at the scenery outside the window, and suddenly asked softly:
"Junior sister, do you still remember what we said when we first drank the spring wine together before the Holy Mother? Master was still alive then. She said that this world is like a sea of ​​suffering, and all living beings are struggling. We vowed to be the boats that ferry people across..."

Madam Wang's eyes also became somewhat unfocused due to this sudden recollection. Those distant scenes instantly flooded her mind. Looking down at the remaining wine in her glass, her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible melancholy:

"Of course I remember. But among all living beings, my senior sister wanted to be a boat to ferry them across, while I... at that time, I only wanted to protect the small boat I cared about, and that would have been enough for me..."

He raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Now it seems that my senior sister's ambition remains unchanged, while my little boat... seems to have become the target of a raging wave that wants to capsize it."

As times change, many things become beyond our control.

Bai Shuiyue gave her a deep look, her gaze seemingly containing a thousand unspoken words, which ultimately culminated in a very soft sigh:

"Yes, as the Buddhists say, the sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore. But they don't say when you can reach the shore. Junior sister, until we meet again."

Bai Shuiyue suddenly felt relieved. The knot in her heart that had been tied for many years was untied. Her Ren and Du meridians were instantly opened, and her cultivation technique naturally reached the first rank, entering the ranks of grandmasters.

Madam Wang felt something was amiss, and her expression was complex.

"Take care, senior sister. This place... is not safe to stay any longer."

Bai Shuiyue nodded, stomped her foot, and instantly moved like a ghost to the back window. She pushed open a crack and cautiously observed the outside. The lake water was as green as ink, and the mountains and forests were silent, with only the sound of the wind.

Before leaving, he turned back for one last look at Madam Wang, his eyes filled with complex emotions:

"Junior sister, what goes around comes around. Take care of yourself. This wind... has only just begun to blow."

Before the words were even finished, he leaped out of the window and silently disappeared into the dense forest, vanishing into the reeds on the lake shore in a few leaps, as if he had never been there at all.

Only Madam Wang's complicated expression remained as she stood there. Lan Yue'er wanted to offer some advice, but after all the hardships her young lady had endured along the way, the person she had relied on had already saved countless lives.

"Miss,"

"Close the windows. Sometimes, it's better to let the wind blow."

"Yes, Miss, Yue'er understands."

(End of this chapter)