A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 133 Temple of the Fire Virtue True Lord

The Huode Zhenjun Temple is located on the eastern hillside outside the city. It was still early, and many people were carrying baskets up the mountain to pray for their families.

As they walked uphill, Xiang He occasionally looked back down the mountain, where they saw ordinary people.

He Sui'an, who was standing next to her, also turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"

"When I countered their moves last night, they should have noticed that when Xing Ji went back to investigate, did no one really go to find out what was going on?"

"No, there's no one here."

"That's really impressive. To be able to launch a long-range attack directly from within... that's a powerful being."

It is an extraordinary ability to locate gloomy places using magic.

“It’s difficult to get an audience with the one in the palace,” He Suian turned and continued upwards, “but you can take a look at the abbot of this temple.”

"Well, but I don't think I gained much."

Talented and extraordinary people are rare in the capital; even if one has been seen, their abilities are only average.

Xiang He felt that the hope was slim, and the one in the palace was her only target, but she couldn't meet him for the time being, so she could only take it one step at a time.

"What are you two whispering about? We're almost there!"

Xiang He raised her hand to Xiang Huiying, "They're here. Watch your step."

The group continued upwards until they reached a clearing halfway up the mountain. Incense smoke rose from the temple, swirling around the ancient eaves like a light veil, adding to the solemnity of this sacred place.

The morning light pierced through the thin mist, mingling with the lingering incense smoke, creating a shimmering golden glow.

Zhu Nan handed over incense, candles, and paper money, and Xiang He gave them a basket, saying, "Be quiet in front of the temple, be devout before the gods."

Xiang Huiying took it blankly, "Why are you speaking so formally now?"

Jiang Xinyue and Wang Rongxing felt a chill run down their spines; Xiang Huiying was unaware of Xiang Hehui's affairs.

Xiang He simply smiled faintly, "Spending so much time with Sui An, listening to him read all day, has led me astray a bit."

"How can you say it's leading people astray?"

Xiang He pursed his lips and stepped over the furnace first. Once inside, the view was even more expansive. The main hall was built against the mountain, with temples standing in rows, and incense burning constantly in the furnaces.

Wang Rongxing and the others had already gone inside to burn incense and kneel in worship. Xiang He and He Suian followed behind. When they arrived at the main hall, the statue of the Fire Virtue True Lord came into view.

Wearing a star-studded crown, treading on crimson shoes, holding a jade tablet, and with seven stars hanging down.

Lingmu Jingshen appeared even more majestic.

Xiang He pulled the cloth bag away, took out three sticks of incense from the bag, lit the incense on the offering table with candles burning, held the incense in her hands with her fingers together, and raised her hands to her forehead to bow three times respectfully.

As she placed the incense sticks, He Sui'an followed closely behind.

At this moment, a Taoist priest in a long robe was adding lamps. He walked over to He in a few steps and asked, "Taoist priest, may I ask where the abbot is?"

The Taoist priest turned to look at a spot. "The abbot is in the back hall. What would you like to ask, sir? I may go and inform him."

"I would like to inquire about the matter of spreading the Dao. Please introduce me to you, Daoist Master."

Upon hearing this, the Taoist priest looked puzzled, but still said "Wait a moment" and turned to go to the back hall to look for the person.

The two waited for a short while before the Taoist priest came out and led them inside.

When Xiang Huiying saw that the two of them were going somewhere else, she hurriedly called out. Jiang Xinyue took her hand and said, "Seventh Sister, let's go for a walk somewhere else. They might have something to do."

"Huh? Well..."

Jiang Xinyue pulled Xiang Huiying to another hall, glancing back at the direction they were heading before leaving.

I have no idea what these two are up to.

Xiang He and He Suian entered the back hall. The abbot was watering the flowers and plants by the door of the back hall. When he saw the two of them come in, he put down the water ladle.

Leaning slightly forward, "Is the kind person single?"

"Abbot, shall we not set up an altar for prayers tomorrow?"

The abbot lowered his eyes and nodded slightly. "Of course, we should pray for blessings." He clenched his fist and took a step forward. "Since you are not here to preach, what would you like to ask?"

"I'd like to ask you, were there any unusual celestial phenomena last September?"

"September?" The abbot pondered for a while before shaking his head. "There have been no unusual occurrences in recent years. Could it be that the kind person has misjudged?"

"I must have seen it correctly. That night, a muffled thunderclap ripped through the night sky, and the mountain colors changed, but the abbot did not sense it?"

The abbot looked up at the distant sky, glanced at her as he looked down, and said with a faint smile, "So you are a fellow Daoist, but I feel nothing, and there are no unusual phenomena in the capital. It seems you have come to the wrong person."

Xiang He tightened her grip on the umbrella. "Since the abbot is unaware, we shall take our leave."

The abbot did not object, but simply asked loudly, "Would you like to attend the blessing ceremony?"

"will come."

The abbot watched the two leave, then turned to face the inner hall, leaving a solitary figure silently reciting scriptures.

After leaving the rear hall, the two of them took a side path up the mountain, which gave them a panoramic view of the Huode Zhenjun Temple, surrounded by green trees and flowers.

Seeing the same scenery in each of their eyes, He Sui'an, with his hands behind his back, asked, "Why don't you talk about your affairs? What are you worried about?"

"It's still an unusual matter, and it's not good for too many people to know about it."

If her family hadn't discovered it, Xiang He would have kept it a secret forever.

As if deflated, Xiang He squatted down and rested her chin on her hand. "This abbot doesn't know much. Telling him will only make things more complicated. Let's go find someone else."

She had just glanced around and noticed that the others were all junior Taoist priests, but only the abbot possessed real abilities.

The abbot, however, was also unable to provide an answer, so she could only continue searching for other solutions.

"Let's go, while we still have some time, let's go to Ci'an Temple on the way."

"Your seventh sister and the others have arrived. Shouldn't you settle them in first? They've just traveled all the way to Beijing; they must be tired."

Xiang He stood up, supporting herself on her knees. "That's right, let's take them back first. Has Xing Ji gone to find a place to stay?"

“There are few people in Zhao Lane where we live. There is an empty house next to the gate. It’s better to live closer to them. They are new here and it’s not good if they don’t have someone to look after them.”

"Too."

The two walked down the path, and Xiang Huiying and the others were waiting for them outside the gate.

Qi Xin saw the two of them and hurriedly went up to them, "Where have you been? You've been gone for so long."

"Go elsewhere, go back."

Seeing that she was about to leave, Qi Xin was overjoyed and took the lead in walking down the mountain.

Wang Rongxing looked at Qi Xin with a puzzled expression, "What's the rush, Brother Qi?"

"Who knows him."

"..."

He Sui'an lowered his head and stopped smiling. "Let's go. You must be exhausted from your long journey."

"Sir, you truly understand how to be considerate!"

The group walked happily down the mountain. There were quite a few people coming up the mountain, mostly middle-aged women. Suddenly, a woman in a gray and white dress came into view.

It was a man of average appearance, with his hair tied up in a crown, and his loose clothes giving him a relaxed air. He walked steadily uphill.

As he brushed past her, Xiang He wrinkled his nose and turned his neck to follow his figure until he was completely out of sight.

He Suian noticed her unusual behavior and glanced at the man as well. "What's wrong?"

She sniffed again, and the smell had faded considerably.

"That person smelled strongly of sandalwood; he must work at a temple... or maybe he's a Taoist priest from the Zhenjun Temple..."

"It's not surprising that the Zhenjun Temple is right above."

"Ah."

Without giving it another thought, the two followed the steps of the people in front and headed down the mountain.