Chapter 53: Chapter 48: The Daoist and Buddhist Are Not to Be Trifled With, A Startling Message From Shang Rou

Xu Lei was filled with a sense of melancholy upon hearing the news.

To think that the old general, who had seemed so robust and full of vigor at the grand banquet just a few years ago, was now gone.

The scene of them sharing Exorcism Wine, scaring the Painted Skin Spirit into revealing its true form before fleeing, was still vivid in his mind.

Fortunately, the men of the Qin Family had not been wiped out. They were still fighting in other parts of the land.

Xu Lei was also somewhat surprised by Shang Yin.

He hadn’t expected the man to be so formidable, to have actually conquered Anqing.

Not even a force led by Elder General Qin could hold the city.

Of course, Xu Lei favored neither side.

He was just a monk, so his position was neutral and objective.

Neither side could be called righteous or evil.

Elder General Qin died fighting for his country, an act of loyalty and righteousness.

But the country he served, the Imperial Court, had long been rotten to the core.

Shang Yin and his men rose up, bearing the will of the people, to overthrow the corrupt National Dynasty. In doing so, they had to kill the loyal and righteous men who defended it.

Who could say who was good and who was evil, who was right and who was wrong?

From their own perspectives, they were both doing what was right, what had to be done.

For this, Xu Lei could only offer them both his respect.

All he could do was listen to the various reports and keep track of the changes sweeping the realm.

As a monk, Xu Lei had no desire to interfere in worldly affairs at the moment.

The time was not yet right for him to intervene.

’Let the wind keep blowing.’

For now, Xu Lei was content to play the part of an ordinary, fake Divine Monk.

His days passed in leisurely comfort.

「One morning.」

In a room at the Celestial Zen Temple.

Liang Fangying, having just received Xu Lei’s "Charitable Giving," was glistening with sweat.

Although Xu Lei was no longer in charge of Bu Zhong Hall at the Celestial Zen Temple, he still had freedom of movement.

He also had his own private rooms and so on.

Whenever Liang Fangying, Zhao Xiaocha, or the others came, he would bring them to his room for "Charitable Giving," just as before.

No one would bother him about it.

Xu Lei had even asked Wu Gui and the others.

They had told him it was fine, as long as he wasn’t brazen about it.

"Thank you, Divine Monk."

A short while later, Liang Fangying rose and dressed. "Anqing has fallen," she said. "My family managed to escape to the Capital City in time."

"The Wei Family’s men offered us protection. That must have been your doing, wasn’t it?"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei simply said, "Patron, your connection to the Buddha has not yet run its course. You will naturally be protected."

"Thank you."

Liang Fangying smiled, reattaching her earring. "Then I thank the Buddha for his protection."

With that, she departed down the mountain. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

She had come during the day to pay respects to the Buddha.

And then she had sought out Xu Lei to request "Charitable Giving."

Xu Lei watched her go.

「Afternoon came in the blink of an eye.」

Zhao Xiaocha came looking for Xu Lei.

"Divine Monk, can we ever go back to Anqing?"

she asked while undressing. "I heard the rebel army took Anqing. Does that mean we can never go back?"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei embraced Zhao Xiaocha from behind. "Don’t worry, you’ll definitely be able to go back. It’s just not the right time yet."

"In times like these, every day is lived on edge!"

Zhao Xiaocha sighed. "Elder General Qin was still hale and hearty just a few years ago, and now he’s gone. Life is so fleeting."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "Worldly affairs are transient. All one can do is seize the present moment."

"Yes, seize the present moment."

Zhao Xiaocha said, "I ask for the Divine Monk’s Charitable Giving. If I can live for another day, then I shall receive the Buddha’s grace for another day."

"Excellent, excellent."

Xu Lei replied, "Amitabha Buddha."

「The next day arrived in a flash.」

Wei Qingning came looking for Xu Lei.

Zhang Xiaomai was at the manor Wei Qingning had bought in the Capital City, focusing on her pregnancy, so she didn’t come.

"After Anqing fell, all the major families in the city were extorted blind!"

Wei Qingning allowed Xu Lei to hold her, brushing a strand of hair back from her ear with a delicate hand. "If we hadn’t evacuated when we did," she explained, "our Wei Family might have suffered the same fate.

"Of course, according to a letter from Sister Rou, thanks to her brother’s influence, our Wei Family staff who stayed behind in Anqing weren’t harmed.

"Divine Monk, what do you think? Should I journey back to Anqing to meet my brother-in-law, Shang Yin?"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "From a personal standpoint, you should indeed see your brother-in-law.

"However, the Capital City has not yet fallen, and the realm is still fractured, with various powers holding their own territory.

"The outcome is still uncertain.

"Of course, it’s almost certain that the Da Yu Dynasty won’t survive this.

"Things are still peaceful here for now.

"But that may not last.

"After this is all over, you will indeed need to find a path forward sooner rather than later.

"Perhaps supporting Shang Yin isn’t a bad option.

"The prerequisite is that Shang Yin truly has the potential to vie for the throne.

"The Wei Family might be able to use this opportunity to rise to even greater heights."

"Indeed."

Wei Qingning said, "Over the years, with the introduction of our new Dyeing techniques, the Wei Family has amassed a vast fortune.

"It’s more than we could ever spend, really.

"If we could help a certain power ascend to the throne...

"...it would indeed bring even greater glory to our family.

"But with the situation in the realm still so unclear, whether it’s prudent for me to travel back to Anqing is debatable.

"But let’s not talk about that. Divine Monk, I request your Charitable Giving.

"Out in the world, people only know me as Wei Qingning.

"The capable Patriarch of the Wei Family.

"One of the great talents of the realm.

"But I don’t actually like any of it.

"What I like most is being here with you, where I can just be myself.

"A simple woman... the real Wei Qingning."

"You do not have it easy, Patron. Then let this humble monk help you relieve your weariness."

Xu Lei nodded, then said, "Amitabha Buddha."

「Three days later.」

Unexpectedly, Hui Ming and Wu Gui came looking for Xu Lei.

"Junior Brother Wu Tan, come with us. We’re setting off for Anqing!"

Wu Gui declared, "To retake Anchan Temple!"

"We’re not hiding anymore?"

Xu Lei asked, "Is it because the situation in Anqing has stabilized?"

"After the rebel army entered the city, they didn’t just plunder the major families; they didn’t even spare the Daoist and Buddhist Sects,"

Hui Ming continued, "The local Daoist Temples and monasteries were all broken into by the rebel army, and all their valuables were plundered.

"Many ordinary Daoists were even killed.

"Several of the junior monks at our Anchan Temple were also executed by the rebel army because they couldn’t produce more valuables!

"The ones leading the troops were supposedly the Grand General and the Second General."