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Chapter 940: Bliss Master
Chapter 940: Bliss Master
Chapter 940: Bliss Master
Editor: Henyee Translations
Chu Tang raised an eyebrow, noting that this person’s psychological resilience was quite strong; he didn’t leave but instead followed up!
Hong Feiyun stopped in place, waiting for Chu Tang and questioned, “Did you do that just now?”
Chu Tang ignored Hong Feiyun, finding her ever-changing moods and inconsistency annoying.
Hong Feiyun stamped her foot and followed him.
The group gathered at the breakfast place Hong Feiyun had mentioned, each taking a seat and ordering breakfast.
As Chu Tang sat eating, facing perpendicular to the street, someone caught his eye—Yan Zihao.
Yan Zihao, with a mustache attached, hurried down the street looking rather out of sorts.
What was with his disguise? Where was he going?
After thinking it over, Chu Tang hurried his meal and followed.
Tang Jinghong hadn’t informed Chu Qingzhi of their task, leaving her unaware.
As Chu Tang left, Hong Feiyun quickly followed, then Mu Xiao, and finally Hong Feiyun.
Watching this unfold, Chu Tang’s mouth twitched, and he decisively ditched Hong Feiyun, not wanting to drag along three tails—how annoying.
Following Yan Zihao through several streets, they arrived at a temple.
The temple, called “Jian Shan Temple,” was situated amidst the hustle and bustle. It featured two large stone lions at the entrance, gold inlaid plaques, and doors painted in vermilion. Without the plaque, it resembled a rich family’s estate more than a temple.
Chu Tang furrowed his brows, puzzled why someone would build a temple in such a busy area, flaunting wealth so openly?
Moreover, the temple attracted many devotees. In just the few moments he watched, several groups had entered.
Yan Zihao also entered the temple.
Chu Tang found this odd and followed inside.
After circling a small alley and returning, Chu Tang had transformed into an ordinary-looking young girl.
Inspecting her disguise, Chu Qingzhi proceeded inside.
Once inside, she found the interior even more luxurious than expected. The place was an expansive square surrounded by houses enshrining Bodhisattvas, with marble flooring and painted walls, making the temple even more splendid than the homes of wealthy families.
Devotees knelt before the houses, hands pressed together, murmuring prayers.
Chu Qingzhi scanned for Yan Zihao, who surprisingly headed towards the back of the temple. What was he here for? Could he be a spy?
With this doubt, Chu Qingzhi continued to follow.
Behind the temple, Chu Qingzhi was taken aback by a smaller square filled with kneeling people, atop a high platform sat an elderly man with the demeanor of a sage.
The elderly man sat cross-legged on a lotus pedestal, a white whisk draped over one arm, eyes closed, seemingly in meditation.
Next to him, a young monk dressed in robes announced, “Devotees coming to worship Bliss Master, please find a spot and settle down. The Master will begin his teachings soon, don’t miss it.”
Newcomers upon hearing this, immediately pushed past Chu Qingzhi in their rush to secure a spot.
Chu Qingzhi stepped aside, and soon after, a young monk approached, “Young lady, this isn’t a place for you. Please leave.”
Chu Qingzhi challenged, “They can come, why can’t I?”
The monk smiled lightly, an everyday manner, “Listening to the Master’s teachings costs money. Do you have any?”
Chu Qingzhi scoffed inwardly, “How much per person?”
The monk smiled slightly, “Ten silver taels per day.”
Chu Qingzhi, “…”
Better at extortion than her, truly admirable.
She pulled out a ten-tael silver ingot from her clothes, “Can I stay now?”
The monk’s face changed instantly, “My apologies for not recognizing your status, miss. Please, come in.”
Just a moment ago she couldn’t enter, now suddenly she was a ‘miss’ for just ten silver taels—a real bargain. Muttering inwardly, Chu Qingzhi found a seat.
The square already had no fewer than a thousand people sitting, each contributing ten taels—just like that, ten thousand taels were easily made by spouting a few nonsenses.
After settling down, more people continued to arrive—mothers with sons, fathers with sons, couples…
Are they all so wealthy?
She asked a girl sitting next to her, “How often do you come here?”
The girl beamed, “I come every day.”
Chu Qingzhi, “…”
Chu Qingzhi asked, “Doesn’t ten taels a day seem expensive to you?”
The girl, with delicate and tender skin, clearly not worried about money, said, “My father is a wealthy merchant, we are quite rich, so ten taels are nothing to worry about.”
Chu Qingzhi feigned envy, flattering the young girl’s vanity to coax more information, “Who brought you here?”
The girl blushed with a mix of shyness and anticipation, “My mother sent me. She said that listening to the Master’s teachings can prevent illness and make one more beautiful. Most importantly, she said it could help me marry a perfect husband someday.”
“People believe this?” Chu Qingzhi inquired, “Has anyone actually achieved this?”
The girl nodded eagerly, “Yes, my cousin listened to the teachings and then married a top scholar. He was handsome and from a good family, and he married her in grand style. I’m not inferior to my cousin; I can do it too.”
Chu Qingzhi thought to herself about the improbability of finding a top scholar, given the rarity of such achievements, “But there’s only one top scholar every three years. How are there enough for everyone?”
The girl giggled shyly, “Then marrying into the top three scholars or even just a good family would be fine too—as long as it’s a good match.”
Chu Qingzhi, “…”
Curious, Chu Qingzhi asked, “What did your mother ask for?”
The girl, guileless, spilled everything, “She asked to become more beautiful so that my father would love only her. Our family has many concubines, and father often neglected my mother. She was really desperate.”
Chu Qingzhi was curious about the results, “So, does your father favor your mother now?”
The girl nodded excitedly, “Yes, now he spends every night in my mother’s room and doesn’t go anywhere else.”
Chu Qingzhi, “…”
“Is it really that miraculous?” Chu Qingzhi turned to a young man in blue next to her, “Young man, what do you seek here?”
The young man looked distressed, “My grandfather is sick, and I came to ask for his quick recovery.”
“Why not see a doctor?” suggested Chu Qingzhi.
The young man shook his head, “Doctors couldn’t help. Only the Bliss Master can cure him.” He seemed utterly convinced.
Chu Qingzhi puzzled, “Why do you believe in the Bliss Master so much?”
The young man leaned slightly towards Chu Qingzhi and whispered, “Our servant was nearly dead from her illness, but after attending a session here, she miraculously recovered.”
Chu Qingzhi, “…”
What kind of teachings could be so powerful?
As she pondered, Chu Qingzhi scanned the crowd for Yan Zihao. He was sitting five rows away, head bowed, looking every bit the devout believer.