Seeking fame, seeking a small reputation.
The body was carried away, and the monks of Liuhe Temple, trembling with fear, were cleaning the bloodstains from the floor and walls.
Overwhelmed by the pungent smell of blood, their faces were pale as they chanted Buddhist prayers with each wipe.
The abbot led Deputy Commander Gong Jun of the Jinyiwei to a chamber in the front hall, typically used to host distinguished guests. The room was elegantly arranged and filled with the scent of high-quality incense.
Mo Li, cautious not to alarm Gong Jun, followed them from a distance.
Seeing the two enter the chamber, guarded by Jinyiwei at the door and windows, Mo Li realized eavesdropping would be impossible.
He wondered why he felt compelled to listen in, as if habitually observing from the shadows.
Mo Li’s gaze involuntarily turned to Meng Qi, suspecting he might have picked up this habit from this sand rat.
Meng Qi, confused, didn’t understand why Mo Li was suddenly looking at him.
“Should I go?” Meng Qi asked tentatively.
“No need,” Mo Li replied, gripping Meng Qi’s right hand firmly. “You’ve just taken your medicine. Don’t transform unnecessarily. If you can’t change back, I’ll have to crush the pill and feed it to the sand rat. Crushed pills lose potency and might not suffice to manage your condition.”
Mo Li then delved into a detailed explanation of medical and pharmacological principles, leaving Meng Qi feeling dizzy.
Mo Li wondered about the cause of Meng Qi’s condition.
He initially thought it was due to damage to the sub-branch of the dragon vein affecting the main Taijing dragon vein. Now, with the recovery of the smaller dragon vein, Meng Qi’s condition should have improved significantly, yet there was no notable change in his pulse.
The mercury leak from Emperor Li’s tomb was also ruled out, as there seemed to be no abnormalities near Liuhe Temple.
Shangyun Mountain was rich in spiritual energy, and its vegetation was thriving. There was no sign of decay or decline.
Observing Meng Qi’s profile, Mo Li became lost in thought.
Meng Qi:”…”
Meng Qi, noticing Mo Li’s gaze again, maintained his composure, trying to figure out the reason.
It’s even more important to maintain his bearing and deportment.
“Doctor?” Meng Qi called out, drawing Mo Li’s attention back.
Mo Li, snapping out of his reverie, asked impulsively, “What about the well?”
“It’s in the backyard. We just passed it,” Meng Qi answered casually, guessing Mo Li’s intention, and then added, “It doesn’t seem to have any issues.”
Despite this, to verify, Mo Li checked the well.
He encountered a monk drawing water and Mo Li passed by him with extremely fast movement. The monk’s body swayed, and Mo Li put his hand on the barrel, and his palms smoothly touched the water.
The monks in the backyard were all busy. The monk carrying the water just thought he lost his balance. He looked around but noticed nothing unusual.
Only a young novice sweeping the corner widened his eyes, recalling the strange wind from the previous night.
“How is it?” Meng Qi asked as Mo Li returned, noting his troubled expression.
Mo Li brought his right hand to his nose, sniffing for a while before shaking his head. “Something’s not right.”
The scent was faint, almost imperceptible, but present.
Drinking the well water directly wouldn’t cause symptoms, but those near the stove boiling the water would be affected.
“Can you sense the conditions under the temple, where the tomb is?” Mo Li inquired.
“Not clearly. Imperial tombs have thick layers of earth sealing them. Even underground, the tomb is encased in solid soil. Not only does water not penetrate, but spiritual energy also cannot enter. Where a tomb is constructed, the natural flow of spiritual energy is completely disrupted, never to return to its former state.”
Meng Qi knew roughly what burial items were in Emperor Li’s tomb, as they had to be transported up the mountain and placed before the tomb was sealed. However, once the entrance was sealed, the inside became invisible.
“The well has an odd smell, suggesting that mercury from Emperor Li’s tomb might have leaked out, and the sealing layer is damaged… Can you check again?”
Prompted by Mo Li, Meng Qi closed his eyes and focused intently.
“It seems to be in the northeast corner. The sealing layer there is too thin… Wait! It was refilled later! Someone must have discovered Emperor Li’s tomb and then, for some reason, filled the excavated hole back up?”
Meng Qi was astonished; he had never encountered someone who robbed a tomb and then refilled it.
Mo Li, frowning, asked, “What about the mercury?”
“There’s a residual presence,” Meng Qi replied, furrowing his brows. “The breach in the sealing layer is near the water source, suggesting that the leaked mercury has entered the groundwater.” Meng Qi’s concern deepened. Had he become numb to the poison?
Mo Li casually plucked a blade of grass and chewed it.
The taste was almost imperceptible.
This blade was from within the confines of Liuhe Temple, close to where the mercury might have leaked.
The bitterness in Mo Li’s mouth mirrored his current mood.
He had forgotten that while the smaller dragon vein of Silang Mountain suffered greatly, Shangyun Mountain was different.
The same trouble would be a lethal blow to Silang Mountain’s dragon vein but only an ailment for Taijing’s dragon vein.
Shangyun Mountain, with its nineteen peaks, was vast, equivalent to ten Silang Mountains, making it difficult to be hollowed out.
Constructing imperial tombs involved deep excavation and the workers might not have survived after the completion. After the emperor’s death, concubines and court ladies might also be buried with him.
The mercury, hidden in the tomb, was originally harmless. Meng Qi had not encountered any accidents over the years.
But the mercury leaking into the mountain’s water sources posed a significant problem.
The laborers in the mines of Silang Mountain, aside from those who died from exhaustion or disease, were poisoned by mercury vapor during gold refining. The mass of bones and hastily filled abandoned mine shafts led to the dragon vein’s eruption.
Realizing this, Mo Li felt a chill, though he wasn’t overwhelmed by emotion.
Meng Qi…might have already endured this phase.
The “trouble” in Shangyun Mountain’s water sources had been gradually “filtered” by the dragon vein. The new grass leaves were hardly affected, and the situation was already under control, unlike Silang Mountain. Perhaps in a year, even the faint odor in the water would disappear.
“Meng Qi…”
“Why so formal?” Meng Qi interrupted, puzzled by Mo Li’s repeated glances.
Mo Li, finding Meng Qi’s serious inquiry absurd, asked, “You’ve always addressed me as ‘Doctor,’ but now you’re faulting me for being too formal?”
When it comes to the intimacy of titles, he clearly have the upper hand. What kind of intimacy is doctor?
Meng Qi touched his nose awkwardly, replying, “Peers should address each other by courtesy names, but too many people called me by mine. It’s better if you just call me by my name.”
Although calling him by his first name was rude, Meng Qi didn’t need Mo Li to be “polite” with him.
People in the countryside and people in the world just call his name casually.
“Do you have a courtesy name?”
“Of course, my teacher gave me one…”
Meng Qi interrupted Mo Li before he could finish, “I almost forgot you have a teacher. In that case, I shouldn’t use your courtesy name.” It might be awkward if you recite it in intimate moments and then hear the teacher use it.
This is unacceptable.
Meng Qi then asked with anticipation, “Do you have a nickname?”
“…”
Mo Li paused. A courtesy name and a nickname are different. A nickname is more intimate, often used during childhood.
Mo Li, of course, didn’t have a nickname. After being found by Qin Lu, he learned some characters and chose the name “Mo Li” for himself, which Qin Lu assumed was his original name.
Mo Li was quick and good at memorizing books and didn’t behave like typical children, so Qin Lu never really treated him as a child and naturally didn’t use any nickname.
“I don’t, what about Brother Meng?”
“There’s none.”
Meng Qi’s experiences were far more complex than Mo Li’s. He never grew up as a child among humans, so how could he have a childhood nickname?
“Titles are but mere formalities of the mundane world. We are not ordinary beings, so let’s not bother with them,” sighed Meng Qi, conceding on the issue of how to address each other.
Mo Li found the situation odd.
Meng Qi’s statement sounded proud and self-assured, but in reality, wasn’t he just praising himself?
Mo Li thought, ‘Oh, the difference is that Master Meng has started including me in his self-praise.’
“Regardless of who filled the tomb’s hole, the fact that Emperor Li’s tomb was discovered remains,” Mo Li reminded.
“It might be Ancestor Qingwu, or perhaps the abbot of this temple. Who knows?” Meng Qi said casually, hands behind his back. “We have two options. First, we can pretend to be tourists seeking lodging in the temple… I think the monk might remember me and give us some answers if scared. Second, we can take the initiative, coerce Gong Jun, and force him to reveal everything he knows.”
Mo Li: “…”
Both options were unappealing, especially the second, which seemed like an excuse to pick a fight.
While discussing, they suddenly heard a scream from the front hall’s chamber.
The abbot of Liuhe Temple was clearly terrified, the sound carrying even from afar.
Inside the room, the old abbot had initially denied being the Chen Dynasty Crown Prince’s son or the monk from Baoguo Temple known as Tian Yuan. However, Gong Jun produced several documents exposing the abbot’s use of someone else’s ordination certificate to assume a false identity, leaving the abbot in despair, collapsing to the ground.
Gong Jun wasn’t interested in capturing the man for being a Chen Dynasty descendant, as they were worthless. Instead, he coldly asked, “Where is the Imperial Jade Seal?”
The abbot, bewildered, learned that Gong Jun was searching for the Jade Seal, which he believed was swapped by the Chen Crown Prince during his escape from the capital. The abbot was about to curse in frustration.
“Nonsense!”
He shouted in shock, then, realizing he shouldn’t be loud, added angrily, “I have never seen such an item!”
The years of Buddhist cultivation were forgotten as he realized the grave danger of his situation. If he couldn’t explain this matter clearly, he would have no way to survive.
Seeking fame, seeking a small reputation.
The body was carried away, and the monks of Liuhe Temple, trembling with fear, were cleaning the bloodstains from the floor and walls.
Overwhelmed by the pungent smell of blood, their faces were pale as they chanted Buddhist prayers with each wipe.
The abbot led Deputy Commander Gong Jun of the Jinyiwei to a chamber in the front hall, typically used to host distinguished guests. The room was elegantly arranged and filled with the scent of high-quality incense.
Mo Li, cautious not to alarm Gong Jun, followed them from a distance.
Seeing the two enter the chamber, guarded by Jinyiwei at the door and windows, Mo Li realized eavesdropping would be impossible.
He wondered why he felt compelled to listen in, as if habitually observing from the shadows.
Mo Li’s gaze involuntarily turned to Meng Qi, suspecting he might have picked up this habit from this sand rat.
Meng Qi, confused, didn’t understand why Mo Li was suddenly looking at him.
“Should I go?” Meng Qi asked tentatively.
“No need,” Mo Li replied, gripping Meng Qi’s right hand firmly. “You’ve just taken your medicine. Don’t transform unnecessarily. If you can’t change back, I’ll have to crush the pill and feed it to the sand rat. Crushed pills lose potency and might not suffice to manage your condition.”
Mo Li then delved into a detailed explanation of medical and pharmacological principles, leaving Meng Qi feeling dizzy.
Mo Li wondered about the cause of Meng Qi’s condition.
He initially thought it was due to damage to the sub-branch of the dragon vein affecting the main Taijing dragon vein. Now, with the recovery of the smaller dragon vein, Meng Qi’s condition should have improved significantly, yet there was no notable change in his pulse.
The mercury leak from Emperor Li’s tomb was also ruled out, as there seemed to be no abnormalities near Liuhe Temple.
Shangyun Mountain was rich in spiritual energy, and its vegetation was thriving. There was no sign of decay or decline.
Observing Meng Qi’s profile, Mo Li became lost in thought.
Meng Qi:”…”
Meng Qi, noticing Mo Li’s gaze again, maintained his composure, trying to figure out the reason.
It’s even more important to maintain his bearing and deportment.
“Doctor?” Meng Qi called out, drawing Mo Li’s attention back.
Mo Li, snapping out of his reverie, asked impulsively, “What about the well?”
“It’s in the backyard. We just passed it,” Meng Qi answered casually, guessing Mo Li’s intention, and then added, “It doesn’t seem to have any issues.”
Despite this, to verify, Mo Li checked the well.
He encountered a monk drawing water and Mo Li passed by him with extremely fast movement. The monk’s body swayed, and Mo Li put his hand on the barrel, and his palms smoothly touched the water.
The monks in the backyard were all busy. The monk carrying the water just thought he lost his balance. He looked around but noticed nothing unusual.
Only a young novice sweeping the corner widened his eyes, recalling the strange wind from the previous night.
“How is it?” Meng Qi asked as Mo Li returned, noting his troubled expression.
Mo Li brought his right hand to his nose, sniffing for a while before shaking his head. “Something’s not right.”
The scent was faint, almost imperceptible, but present.
Drinking the well water directly wouldn’t cause symptoms, but those near the stove boiling the water would be affected.
“Can you sense the conditions under the temple, where the tomb is?” Mo Li inquired.
“Not clearly. Imperial tombs have thick layers of earth sealing them. Even underground, the tomb is encased in solid soil. Not only does water not penetrate, but spiritual energy also cannot enter. Where a tomb is constructed, the natural flow of spiritual energy is completely disrupted, never to return to its former state.”
Meng Qi knew roughly what burial items were in Emperor Li’s tomb, as they had to be transported up the mountain and placed before the tomb was sealed. However, once the entrance was sealed, the inside became invisible.
“The well has an odd smell, suggesting that mercury from Emperor Li’s tomb might have leaked out, and the sealing layer is damaged… Can you check again?”
Prompted by Mo Li, Meng Qi closed his eyes and focused intently.
“It seems to be in the northeast corner. The sealing layer there is too thin… Wait! It was refilled later! Someone must have discovered Emperor Li’s tomb and then, for some reason, filled the excavated hole back up?”
Meng Qi was astonished; he had never encountered someone who robbed a tomb and then refilled it.
Mo Li, frowning, asked, “What about the mercury?”
“There’s a residual presence,” Meng Qi replied, furrowing his brows. “The breach in the sealing layer is near the water source, suggesting that the leaked mercury has entered the groundwater.” Meng Qi’s concern deepened. Had he become numb to the poison?
Mo Li casually plucked a blade of grass and chewed it.
The taste was almost imperceptible.
This blade was from within the confines of Liuhe Temple, close to where the mercury might have leaked.
The bitterness in Mo Li’s mouth mirrored his current mood.
He had forgotten that while the smaller dragon vein of Silang Mountain suffered greatly, Shangyun Mountain was different.
The same trouble would be a lethal blow to Silang Mountain’s dragon vein but only an ailment for Taijing’s dragon vein.
Shangyun Mountain, with its nineteen peaks, was vast, equivalent to ten Silang Mountains, making it difficult to be hollowed out.
Constructing imperial tombs involved deep excavation and the workers might not have survived after the completion. After the emperor’s death, concubines and court ladies might also be buried with him.
The mercury, hidden in the tomb, was originally harmless. Meng Qi had not encountered any accidents over the years.
But the mercury leaking into the mountain’s water sources posed a significant problem.
The laborers in the mines of Silang Mountain, aside from those who died from exhaustion or disease, were poisoned by mercury vapor during gold refining. The mass of bones and hastily filled abandoned mine shafts led to the dragon vein’s eruption.
Realizing this, Mo Li felt a chill, though he wasn’t overwhelmed by emotion.
Meng Qi…might have already endured this phase.
The “trouble” in Shangyun Mountain’s water sources had been gradually “filtered” by the dragon vein. The new grass leaves were hardly affected, and the situation was already under control, unlike Silang Mountain. Perhaps in a year, even the faint odor in the water would disappear.
“Meng Qi…”
“Why so formal?” Meng Qi interrupted, puzzled by Mo Li’s repeated glances.
Mo Li, finding Meng Qi’s serious inquiry absurd, asked, “You’ve always addressed me as ‘Doctor,’ but now you’re faulting me for being too formal?”
When it comes to the intimacy of titles, he clearly have the upper hand. What kind of intimacy is doctor?
Meng Qi touched his nose awkwardly, replying, “Peers should address each other by courtesy names, but too many people called me by mine. It’s better if you just call me by my name.”
Although calling him by his first name was rude, Meng Qi didn’t need Mo Li to be “polite” with him.
People in the countryside and people in the world just call his name casually.
“Do you have a courtesy name?”
“Of course, my teacher gave me one…”
Meng Qi interrupted Mo Li before he could finish, “I almost forgot you have a teacher. In that case, I shouldn’t use your courtesy name.” It might be awkward if you recite it in intimate moments and then hear the teacher use it.
This is unacceptable.
Meng Qi then asked with anticipation, “Do you have a nickname?”
“…”
Mo Li paused. A courtesy name and a nickname are different. A nickname is more intimate, often used during childhood.
Mo Li, of course, didn’t have a nickname. After being found by Qin Lu, he learned some characters and chose the name “Mo Li” for himself, which Qin Lu assumed was his original name.
Mo Li was quick and good at memorizing books and didn’t behave like typical children, so Qin Lu never really treated him as a child and naturally didn’t use any nickname.
“I don’t, what about Brother Meng?”
“There’s none.”
Meng Qi’s experiences were far more complex than Mo Li’s. He never grew up as a child among humans, so how could he have a childhood nickname?
“Titles are but mere formalities of the mundane world. We are not ordinary beings, so let’s not bother with them,” sighed Meng Qi, conceding on the issue of how to address each other.
Mo Li found the situation odd.
Meng Qi’s statement sounded proud and self-assured, but in reality, wasn’t he just praising himself?
Mo Li thought, ‘Oh, the difference is that Master Meng has started including me in his self-praise.’
“Regardless of who filled the tomb’s hole, the fact that Emperor Li’s tomb was discovered remains,” Mo Li reminded.
“It might be Ancestor Qingwu, or perhaps the abbot of this temple. Who knows?” Meng Qi said casually, hands behind his back. “We have two options. First, we can pretend to be tourists seeking lodging in the temple… I think the monk might remember me and give us some answers if scared. Second, we can take the initiative, coerce Gong Jun, and force him to reveal everything he knows.”
Mo Li: “…”
Both options were unappealing, especially the second, which seemed like an excuse to pick a fight.
While discussing, they suddenly heard a scream from the front hall’s chamber.
The abbot of Liuhe Temple was clearly terrified, the sound carrying even from afar.
Inside the room, the old abbot had initially denied being the Chen Dynasty Crown Prince’s son or the monk from Baoguo Temple known as Tian Yuan. However, Gong Jun produced several documents exposing the abbot’s use of someone else’s ordination certificate to assume a false identity, leaving the abbot in despair, collapsing to the ground.
Gong Jun wasn’t interested in capturing the man for being a Chen Dynasty descendant, as they were worthless. Instead, he coldly asked, “Where is the Imperial Jade Seal?”
The abbot, bewildered, learned that Gong Jun was searching for the Jade Seal, which he believed was swapped by the Chen Crown Prince during his escape from the capital. The abbot was about to curse in frustration.
“Nonsense!”
He shouted in shock, then, realizing he shouldn’t be loud, added angrily, “I have never seen such an item!”
The years of Buddhist cultivation were forgotten as he realized the grave danger of his situation. If he couldn’t explain this matter clearly, he would have no way to survive.
