Swallow Return

At such an awkward moment, without saying a word, Liu Yun used the mind-controlling ability of the red jade in his arms, following the pre-planned final route.

Moreover, they went all out, leaving no room for retreat.

Instantly, the effeminate man in front of him was transformed into a submissive and obedient servant.

Actually, we could have done this a long time ago, but Liuyun was afraid of creating too much dependency, so she decided to use it sparingly for now.

Chapter Forty-Three: Tea Master Zixuezhai

With a flash of red magatama light, the tea master, whose gender was in doubt, was immediately subdued.

Liu Yun first asked the most perplexing question: "What is your name? Are you really a man?"

The tea master had lost his mind and showed no resistance whatsoever. His face was blank as he answered in detail: "I have forgotten my former name. I am now called Shisetsu-sai. I was originally from Konoe in Kanto. I was a proper man from a samurai family. When I was seven years old, my family's castle fell, and I was captured by hunters and taken to Naoe-tsu in Echigo Province. I was then sold here after many transfers. Because I was born with delicate features and could read some words, I was given drugs for several years and raised to look like a girl. I was specially trained to please the powerful monk at Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, whose sexual interests are different from ordinary people."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun felt a pang of pity, but at the same time felt quite indignant at the actions of the human traffickers and corrupt monks.

However, in this tragic and chaotic world, such problems are certainly not going to be resolved anytime soon.

She paused, then asked him, "Were you testing me just now?"

Without hesitation, the tea master, Shisetsu-sai, whose mind was under control, confessed: "Yes... I heard that recently, a very rigid and law-abiding old monk at Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei has been questioning discipline. Therefore, we were notified to be extra cautious this month and to carefully observe all unfamiliar customers before trusting them. I just heard that a clever person who seems difficult to fool has arrived, so they sent me, the most adept at social maneuvering, to deal with him."

I see……

I hadn't realized it before—was I really such a clever person who didn't seem easily fooled? Actually, that's not suitable for carrying out secret missions...

After a moment's thought, Liu Yun continued, "Why dress up as a tea master?"

Tea Master Zixuezhai, expressionless and with unfocused eyes, mumbled incoherently, "Naturally, it's because those in power like it. There are plenty of girls here who study tea ceremony, and quite a few male concubines with feminine features. Only I possess both qualities; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to seduce that dog monk Juehui."

Upon hearing the words that interested him, Liu Yun immediately asked, "Who is this person you're talking about? I've seen the list of high-ranking officials at Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei before, but this person isn't listed here."

Tea Master Zixuezhai spoke in a completely emotionless voice, yet a hint of hatred flickered in his eyes: "That heartless old dog Juehui, he knows nothing of Buddhist teachings, his secret arts and martial arts are mediocre, and he's not from a prestigious family, so how could he possibly have secured a place in the temple? He only got chosen as a useful tool because of his ruthlessness, audacity, and skill in extracting confessions through torture. What's even more amazing is that during the last change of abbot, this tool betrayed its master and gained even more real power... Actually, I'm quite glad about that. Luckily, he has this ability, so I was able to kill those villains who lured me here and forced me to take drugs by selling myself to this old dog, hahahaha!"

Seeing that his mental control over the person in front of him was showing signs of wavering and losing control, Liu Yun quickly gripped the red jade again and increased the pressure.

An even stronger light filled the room, and the tea master returned to his dazed and listless state.

Liu Yun also felt a strong sense of mental and physical exhaustion.

Targeted operations are very resource-intensive.

After catching his breath, Liu Yun continued, "What exactly is this monk Juehui doing at Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei?"

Tea Master Zixuezai's words were delivered like a monotone reading: "He is a trusted confidant of the abbot and the head monks, in charge of torture and prisons, arresting people everywhere. He doesn't have any specific official position, but his power ranks among the top ten in the temple."

Liu Yun asked doubtfully, "I heard that the Discipline Hall is in charge of this place in the temple?"

Tea Master Zixuezhai said expressionlessly, "They've long since become empty shells, just like the imperial court's censors and officials in charge of investigating corruption. How could such noble monks and virtuous masters easily get involved in dirty affairs?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun finally understood. To prevent any misunderstanding, he continued to ask, "The repentant monk you mentioned, who are the people he mainly arrests? Disobedient monks?"

Tea Master Zixuezhai shook his head and said, "Monks are all noble people, how could they be arrested and locked up casually? They are just troublemakers from the neighborhood who resist rent and taxes, or who have offended the high monks! There are also quite a few that I have instigated the old bald monk Juehui to deal with because I don't like them."

Liu Yun sighed softly and asked again, "There are actually common people who dare to offend Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei?"

Tea Master Zixuezhai replied, “Ordinary people certainly wouldn’t dare. But there are always some people who think that because they have practiced a little martial arts or know a few surgical techniques, they can bargain. Little do they know that those who are truly capable have long since joined the temple and changed their future. Although that old bald monk Juehui is incompetent, he has quite a few skilled henchmen under his command.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun had a sudden inspiration.

Ignoring the strain on his energy, he unleashed the full power of the red jade pendant in his arms, thoroughly training and guiding the mind of the cross-dressing tea master before him. After exchanging ideas for a while, he finally withdrew his power.

Then, feigning extreme anger, he kicked over the tea table, pushed over the heater, and shouted towards the door, "What kind of nonsense is this! You actually brought a man here? Do you really think I'm here to drink tea? You have some nerve to play these tricks, be careful I don't flatten this place!"

Tea master Zixuezhai looked terrified, shrank into the corner, trembling and clutching his clothes tightly.

A moment later, several burly men appeared out of thin air and gathered at the entrance.

The man in blue, who had led Liu Yun in, chuckled and said slowly, "Since you said you wanted tea, I naturally brought you here. This tea master from Zixuezhai is one of the best in our area, having studied in Jieting. What more could you want?"

"What nonsense!" Liu Yun roared in anger. "You know what I mean!"

"I really don't understand." The man in blue was still smiling. "Didn't you say you came to drink tea when you came in? Although it is a bit strange to drink a whole pound of tea at once, since you are a guest, we shopkeepers have to satisfy whatever quirks you may have."

"Pah!" Liu Yun scoffed. "You're a civil engineering shop, what are you talking about tea ceremony? I'm clearly here to..."

"Why can't someone who works in civil engineering also do tea ceremony?" The man in blue remained expressionless and smiled calmly, "Sir, what are you trying to say? Didn't you come here because you heard that our tea ceremony is excellent?"

"Damn it!" Liu Yun roared in anger and embarrassment, "Enough with the nonsense! Don't even think about getting away with this until you give me an explanation!"

"Hehe..." The blue-clad man's smile gradually faded, then he gave a wink to his left and right.

So the group of henchmen each drew out the weapons they had hidden in their robes.

There were machetes, iron bars, and even short, thick iron cannons.

Their movements were clean and efficient, and their postures were quite professional, clearly indicating that they had practiced before.

"What kind of explanation do you want, sir?" The man in blue spoke with an air of confidence.

"You!..." Liu Yun gritted his teeth, his eyes darting back and forth, gradually revealing a fierce but cowardly expression, and shouted, "Fine, I'm in a good mood today, I won't argue with you... Let's go back, let's go back!"

"Is that so?" The man in blue glanced at him and sneered, "Since you're not going to hold it against me, then I'll have to."

Then he reached out and pointed inside.

There was a cross-dressing tea master huddled in the corner, trembling with fear; an overturned table; tea utensils scattered all over the floor; tea powder filling the air; and a stove lying on its side, with burning white charcoal rolling around, having already burned many tatami mats.

Liu Yun snorted and remained silent.

The man in blue counted on his fingers: "Originally... when you come here for tea, we charge 500 coins for the tea, 1 string for the tea master's fee, and 1 string for the tea room rental. Since you're not satisfied with that, we'll waive it. But sir, you... disturbed the tea master and made such a mess of the tea room and tea set. That's not easy to handle."

After a moment's hesitation, Liu Yun forced a question: "Then... then what do you suggest we do?"

The man in blue laughed again and made a decision without hesitation: "Your interference has delayed at least ten of our business deals. Fine, we'll calculate it as two and a half kan per deal, and compensate you with twenty-five kan. Don't think I'm extorting you; the tea masters who came back from learning in Sakai only charge two and a half kan each time, which is extremely cheap. We're doing business not so much to make money, but purely to promote the tea ceremony."

That's a very grand and respectable statement.

Twenty-five strings of cash is no small sum!

It's the amount that a middle-class urban family could save up in a year without eating or drinking.

Liu Yun's face immediately turned green. He moved his mouth several times but couldn't make a sound. Finally, he angrily threw out a few silver coins from his pocket and said with his head down, "I only brought this much money with me when I left home. It's equivalent to seven or eight strings of cash. That's all I have. Will you accept it or not?"

The man in blue smiled without saying a word and remained motionless.

The henchmen, however, consciously brandished their knives and guns and approached.

"Wait, wait!" Liu Yun took a few steps back—but there was nowhere left to retreat. His face was full of helplessness and ashen. He took out another gold coin: "This is genuine Kaishu gold! One and a half taels of Kaishu gold, it should be worth six kan, right?"

The man in blue remained expressionless, neither confirming nor denying anything.

The henchmen had surrounded Liuyun and were about to make a move.

"It's really all gone!" Liu Yun said with a mournful face, then pulled out a bunch of copper coins from his pocket: "A dozen or so Yongle coins, fifty or sixty private coins, all added up to less than one string of cash, this is all I have left!"

The man in blue nodded reservedly and slowly said, "Alright... leave the money, you can go now."

Liu Yun finally breathed a sigh of relief, angrily threw the silver coins, gold nuggets, and copper coins on the ground, and scurried away with his head down.

The cross-dressing tea master, Zixuezhai, suddenly began to sob.

The man in blue, who had been calm and composed just moments before, immediately changed his expression, displaying a slightly obsequious smile. He spoke gently and reassuringly, "It was an oversight! I thought this person seemed clever, not such a reckless brute, which is why I had you deal with him and test him to see if he was sent by the temple to check discipline... It's all my fault for misjudging him, but it's all good now, he's been driven away, driven away..."

However, the cross-dressing tea master remained huddled in a ball, avoiding eye contact, silent, and seemingly lost in thought.

Chapter Forty-Four: The Monk Who Manages the Prison

As night fell, the entire town of Otsu was plunged into darkness.

At this moment, a large, fat monk dressed in a black robe appeared on the empty street, flanked by two two-foot-tall brass figures floating low in the air.

Upon arriving at the entrance of "Xuetaizhong", two guards in blue uniforms greeted them and rushed forward to greet them with extremely respectful and obsequious manners, clearly indicating that they were very familiar with each other.

These were the same two people who had just received Liu Yun.

Clearly, at least one of them wasn't a security guard, but rather a high-ranking leader in charge. Their presence at the gate was merely a means to personally oversee operations.

However, the fat monk simply raised his hand, retrieved the two brass dolls floating in the air, gave a snort from his nose as a response, and strode in with his large belly.

The two men in blue showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever, and humbly invited them inside, almost kneeling down to kowtow.

The difference in social status is evident.

The fat monk swaggered in, arrogant and haughty. He seemed to know the way well, turning several corners on his own, passing through winding and narrow doors, and arriving at another row of tea rooms—the ones Liu Yun hadn't been to before.

The overall layout is similar, only the furnishings inside the house are slightly different.

From a distance, they look like ordinary tea sets, but you can only tell their strangeness when you get closer.

Experienced people will immediately recognize that it's an indecent pink hue.

Clearly, these teawares were not used for brewing tea, but for some other filthy and evil purpose.

Given that I am not good at describing professional knowledge in this area, and to avoid this book being attacked by aquatic mythical creatures, I will not go into details.

In short, the fat monk felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing the row of unique "tea rooms" and lewdly said, "Hehe, the temple is not a place for humans to stay! Every time I come here, it feels like coming home! The tea masters are all talented and speak so nicely. I really like this place! If it weren't for the old guys urging me, I wouldn't even bother going back for the New Year."

The man in blue immediately flattered, "Isn't this your home? Every single toy and gadget was designed by you. Those in the know revere you as the greatest master in the world when it comes to this craft."

Upon hearing this, the fat monk smiled modestly and shook his head, saying, "You can't say that. It's all thanks to the collective wisdom and efforts of everyone; everyone has contributed!"

Laughing and joking, the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely.

After a short while, we finally arrived at the right place.

Standing on the corridor, I pushed open the paper fan door.

The tea master, Zixue Zhai, who had a feminine appearance, was dressed in proper men's hunting clothes, huddled in a corner with his legs drawn up, feeling sorry for himself.

This posture, half yin and half yang, just feels awkward to ordinary people.

But when the fat monk saw him, his eyes lit up and his anger flared. He instantly transformed into a wild beast, leaping over in a few strides to grab him. He reached down his collar and began to pull him up, calling out, "Master Zixuezhai, it's rare for you to send a carrier pigeon to summon this humble monk so late! Are you perhaps thirsty? Today, shall I lecture you on Buddhist principles, or shall you teach me the art of tea?"

Tea master Zixuezhai then raised his head, but he was stunned, with tears welling up in his eyes, on the verge of sobbing.

The fat monk was taken aback, stopped his groping, tilted his head, and asked, "Who has angered you, benefactor?"

Tea master Zixuezhai pursed his lips, turned his head away, snorted, and didn't answer.

When the monk asked twice more, his tone slightly impatient, she finally sobbed, "He insisted that a suspicious guest had arrived, perhaps a spy sent by the temple, and asked me to deal with him... But it turned out he wasn't a spy at all, just a brute! He started to... he... sob sob..."

As she spoke, she almost covered her face and wept again.

The fat monk, enraged, slammed his fist on the table and roared toward the door, "What's going on? Explain yourself!"

The man in blue outside was about to close the door and slip away quietly, but now he couldn't escape. He had no choice but to bow his head and humbly crawl in, prostrating himself and saying with a forced smile, "I...I only heard that things were tense at the temple and was afraid something might happen, so I asked the most tactful Mr. Zixuezhai to handle it. Who knew that guy was such a nasty guest..."