Chapter 47
The Undying Sect, being a sacred ground of Buddhism, housed over one hundred thousand books in its Scripture Pavilion. Books on formations of all kinds lined the shelves, meticulously categorized.
Heng Yu browsed the shelves and quickly found several books that piqued her interest. Carrying the books, she found a window seat, sat down cross-legged, and began reading under the combined light of the night pearls and the setting sun. Placing a book on her lap, she traced formation diagrams in the air with her index finger, her expression focused.
In the evening, the drums of the Undying Sect sounded.
The deep, resonant drumbeats echoed throughout the sect, reaching even the Scripture Pavilion.
It was time for evening prayers, and the pavilion would soon close.
Heng Yu, engrossed in her reading, didn’t notice the disciples leaving.
It wasn’t until most of them were gone that she heard footsteps approaching. A shadow, elongated by the light of the night pearls, fell across her. As she looked up, the person had already reached her. He bent down and took the formation book from her lap.
Heng Yu loosened her grip, letting him take the book.
Liaowu closed the book. “The Scripture Pavilion is closed at night. It’s time to leave.”
“How did you know I was here?” Heng Yu asked, surprised.
Liaowu ignored her question, extending his hand and gently helping her up. “Let’s go. You can continue reading tomorrow.”
Heng Yu, having asked casually, didn’t notice his deliberate evasion.
She gathered her books, returned to the bookshelf, and put them back in their places.
Liaowu waited for her patiently.
After returning the books, Heng Yu gestured to Liaowu with her chin, indicating they could leave.
The setting sun cast long shadows as they descended the thousand steps. Heng Yu walked quickly. After a few steps, noticing Liaowu’s slower pace, she turned around and waved, smiling. “Hurry up.”
The setting sun illuminated her face, making her smile seem ethereal, like a flower reflected in a mirror, beautiful yet unattainable.
Liaowu stopped, a sense of loss washing over him.
This feeling was rare for him. He didn’t know how to deal with it, unconsciously turning his prayer beads and pursing his lips.
“What’s wrong?” Heng Yu asked again.
Seeing him unresponsive, she walked back up the steps, stood before him, and waved her hand in front of his face, then touched his forehead.
“What are you thinking about? Is something troubling you?”
Her hand was cold, and the coolness startled Liaowu out of his daze.
He looked down at Heng Yu.
The flower reflected in the mirror now stood before him, within reach.
The feeling of loss subsided slightly.
Early the next morning, Heng Yu went to the Scripture Pavilion.
Familiar with the way, she entered the quiet and empty first floor, showed the token Liaowu had given her to the disciple guarding the entrance, and went inside.
After she disappeared, the slightly chubby disciple scratched his head and said to his fellow disciple, “That Fellow Daoist had Senior Brother Liaowu’s token. Such an important token, and Senior Brother gave it to her directly. Is she a friend of his?”
Even Buddhist cultivators gossiped.
The other, thinner monk winked. “I heard she’s from the Hehuan Sect.”
“The Hehuan Sect!” The chubby monk’s voice rose, then he quickly covered his mouth and coughed, lowering his voice. “How could Senior Brother Liaowu be involved with someone from the Hehuan Sect? Are the rumors true?”
“What rumors?”
A voice laced with amusement came from outside.
Liaoyuan entered the Scripture Pavilion, playing with his folding fan.
“Senior Brother Liaoyuan,” the two disciples quickly composed themselves and bowed.
After bowing, the chubby monk scratched his head and said with an awkward smile, “Senior Brother, we were just chatting.”
Liaoyuan smiled, but his voice was cold. “Not only are you not paying attention to your duties, but you’re also gossiping about your senior brother. After your shift, go to the Precept Hall and receive your punishment.”
The two disciples hung their heads and acknowledged his words.
After reprimanding them, Liaoyuan twirled his fan and went up to the second floor.
He went straight to the back of the pavilion and, as expected, found the person he was looking for by a bookshelf.
He walked behind the bookshelf, picked up a rather complex book on formations, and sat down cross-legged beside Heng Yu.
Heng Yu hadn’t noticed him earlier, assuming he was just another disciple looking for books. It wasn’t until he sat down that she turned to look at him.
Seeing that it was Liaoyuan, she raised an eyebrow. “What brings Senior Brother Liaoyuan here today?”
“Nothing much, just wanted to study some formations,” Liaoyuan waved the book in his hand, indicating he wasn’t lying.
Heng Yu glanced at the title of the book — “Qi Men Dun Jia Formation.”
She had seen this book yesterday while browsing. Qi Men Dun Jia was a rather obscure and difficult branch of formation techniques. She had flipped through a few pages yesterday and was completely lost.
Now, seeing Liaoyuan with this book, she became interested. “Senior Brother Liaoyuan is knowledgeable about formations?”
Liaoyuan tilted his head, his demeanor both holy and mischievous, a strange contradiction.
But this contradiction also made him more charming.
“Although I’m not a formation master, in the Undying Sect, besides a few Soul Formation ancestors, my understanding of formations is probably the best. If Lord Luo has any questions, feel free to ask.”
Heng Yu raised an eyebrow, surprised.
It seemed Liaoyuan was indeed talented in formations.
“Thank you, Senior Brother Liaoyuan,” she replied casually and continued reading, completely ignoring him.
Liaoyuan’s smile faltered.
He twirled his fan and tapped it against his hand. Then, as if remembering something, he stood up and went to browse the bookshelves.
His movements were rather loud, but Heng Yu didn’t look up from her book.
Soon, Liaoyuan returned with an ancient book bound in black leather.
He walked over to Heng Yu, bent down slightly, and held the book in front of her, blocking her view and forcing her to look at him.
“Senior Brother Liaoyuan, is there something else?”
Heng Yu looked up at him.
Liaoyuan smiled softly. “I didn’t know how to impress Lord Luo, so I thought I’d offer you something you might like.”
Impress her?
Heng Yu pursed her lips, thinking about why Liaoyuan had been approaching her these past few days.
But she didn’t know him well and lacked information, so she couldn’t reach any conclusions.
She looked down and took the book. “Now I’m curious about its contents.”
Seeing her accept the book, Liaoyuan smiled, sat down beside her again, and watched her expectantly.
Heng Yu, also curious about his words “something you might like,” opened the book and began reading.
After a few lines, she paused and looked at Liaoyuan. “This—”
Liaoyuan’s peach blossom eyes sparkled with amusement. “I told you, Lord Luo, you would like this book.”
Heng Yu chuckled, not denying it.
She continued reading.
After two hours, she finished the book. As she stretched and closed it, she noticed Liaoyuan sitting beside her, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.
Heng Yu raised an eyebrow, surprised. “You haven’t left yet?”
Liaoyuan, who had only been resting his eyes, slowly opened them, a hint of displeasure in his expression. “I, such a handsome Buddha-son, sat beside you, and you ignored me the entire time. Is that really alright?”
Heng Yu said sincerely, “You look much better like this than when you’re being smug.”
Liaoyuan: “…”
He quickly recovered and smiled casually. “Lord Luo, what do you think of this book?”
The ancient book Heng Yu had just read was about a single formation — a demon detection formation.
Current methods of detecting demons were complex and energy-consuming. So, people had long envisioned a formation that could be engraved onto a disc, requiring only a small amount of spiritual energy to activate and automatically identify demons.
But unfortunately, despite the efforts of countless predecessors, they had failed.
The book mentioned a powerful formation in the Undying Sect, created by generations of predecessors. This formation could supposedly detect demons, but the cost of activating it was too high, making it less efficient than using traditional methods. So, it was sealed on Binglian Lake within the Undying Sect.
The predecessors left behind the formation and the book in Heng Yu’s hands, hoping that future generations would be able to simplify the formation and reduce its cost, allowing it to be widely used throughout the Canglan Continent.
Heng Yu said to Liaoyuan, “Senior Brother Liaoyuan must have read this book as well. What are your thoughts?”
Mentioning serious matters, Liaoyuan’s playful demeanor subsided slightly.
He adjusted his robes. “I’ve been studying this formation for years and have some insights.”
He paused, then asked, “Lord Luo, would you like to see the formation at Binglian Lake? I can take you there.”
Heng Yu was very curious about this formation.
She stood up and bowed. “Thank you, Senior Brother Liaoyuan.”
Liaoyuan twirled his fan. “Earlier, I was being kind and gentle, but Lord Luo was still cold towards me. Now, just because I offered to take you to see the formation, you’ve become so polite and respectful. Is it easy or difficult to please you, Lord Luo?”
He leaned closer, his expression innocent. “Are you only willing to give Senior Brother Liaowu a chance?”
Heng Yu clicked her tongue.
Buddhist cultivators who practiced the Joyful Buddha path were truly captivating.
“If Senior Brother tells me your purpose for trying to please me, everything will become much easier.”
“Lord Luo is a goddess of this era. I admire you and can’t stand Senior Brother Liaowu’s lack of romance, so I couldn’t help but try to please you. It saddens me that you misunderstand me so.”
Heng Yu said indifferently, “A junior brother openly commenting on his senior brother like this. Are the Undying Sect’s rules not strict enough?”
Mentioning the sect rules, Liaoyuan’s expression turned slightly more serious.
He lowered his head slightly and twirled a strand of Heng Yu’s hair around his finger.
“I’m just… feeling indignant for Lord Luo. Please don’t misunderstand me, alright? Hmm?”
His voice was soft and alluring, like a seductive monk.
Heng Yu blocked his hand. “If Senior Brother Liaoyuan is inconvenient, I can ask Liaowu to accompany me to Binglian Lake later.”
Liaoyuan quickly softened his tone. “He’s currently studying a Buddhist scripture, perfecting his cultivation technique. Let’s not disturb him. Let me accompany you.”
So, Liaowu had been busy with that these past few days.
Heng Yu thought this as she followed Liaoyuan down the stairs and out of the Scripture Pavilion.
Binglian Lake was a lake — covered in ice flowers that resembled lotuses, hence its name.
The formation was in the middle of the lake.
After arriving, Liaoyuan flew across the ice flowers towards the center. Heng Yu, not knowing the way, quickly followed.
Binglian Lake was vast. After almost a quarter of an hour, they reached the center.
The center of the lake was a vast expanse of white, covered in ice flowers, with no other scenery.
Heng Yu looked around and waited quietly.
Liaoyuan didn’t waste any time. He took out his identity token and cast a series of complex hand seals. Soon, a massive formation appeared in the sky above.
Leave a Reply