Chapter 76: Chen Yan’er
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan arrived at the foot of Rong Mountain and looked up.
The mountain wasn’t very tall but housed several Daoist temples. Shi Hao stopped a passerby, asked for directions to Floating Cloud Monastery, and then continued up the mountain with Xu Xiaoyan.
Xu Xiaoyan said, “It’s been three years. Her letter was from two years ago. They might have moved…”
Shi Hao chuckled, “You’re usually so bold and decisive. Why are you so hesitant about seeing an old friend?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “I…”
Shi Hao took her hand and, mimicking her usual tone, said, “Let’s go!”
They arrived at Floating Cloud Monastery, a fairly large temple complex. A stone tablet by the entrance, covered in seal script, described the monastery’s history, which seemed quite ancient.
The gate was unguarded. Inside, over twenty boys were practicing martial arts in the courtyard, led by a middle-aged Daoist priest. Several other people were coming and going.
Someone approached them, “Are you two here to learn martial arts?”
Shi Hao looked at Xu Xiaoyan, “What’s your friend’s name again?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Her name is Chen Yan’er.”
Shi Hao smiled, “Yan’er? And your alias is Que’er?” He turned to the Daoist priest, “We’re looking for Chen Yan’er.”
The Daoist priest, unconcerned, called out, “Junior Sister Yan, someone’s here for you!”
A young woman in a green Daoist robe emerged. She looked at Shi Hao, puzzled, her expression clearly saying, “I don’t know you.”
Then she looked at Xu Xiaoyan and suddenly exclaimed, “Xiao Yan? Is that you?”
The young woman in the Daoist robe rushed over and grabbed Xu Xiaoyan’s hands, her voice filled with excitement, “When did you arrive in Dàxīng? Why did it take you so long to visit me?”
Xu Xiaoyan also looked surprised, “Yan’er, you said you were going to find a handsome husband in Dàxīng. Why are you a Daoist nun now?”
Chen Yan’er said, “Nonsense! Why would I want to marry? Men are nothing but trouble.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “That’s not what you said before.”
Chen Yan’er said, “I was young and foolish. And you! You said you would never marry. Why have you suddenly brought a man here? Are you showing off?” She pulled Xu Xiaoyan aside, glanced at the young man, and whispered, “Your husband?”
Xu Xiaoyan blushed and whispered, “Don’t be ridiculous. We’re just traveling together. And you, even if you don’t want to marry, why become a Daoist nun?”
Chen Yan’er chuckled, “I’m just wearing the clothes. This place looks like a Daoist temple, but it’s actually a martial arts school. My grandfather and I are staying here. They needed help, so I joined the monastery.”
“And what’s wrong with being a Daoist nun? Only ordained nuns can’t marry. Lay practitioners can.”
Xu Xiaoyan asked, “Where’s Grandpa Chen? Is he well?”
Chen Yan’er said, “He’s playing chess in the back garden. I’ll take you to him.” She tugged at Xu Xiaoyan’s arm and glanced at the young man, “Aren’t you going to introduce your man?”
“I told you, he’s not my man!” Xu Xiaoyan said, swatting her hand away.
She led Shi Hao over and introduced him, “This is Shi Hao, from West Shu.”
Chen Yan’er waited, then asked, “That’s it?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “What else do you want to know?”
Chen Yan’er pulled her aside, “Like, what do his parents do? Is he married? Does he have a fiancée? What kind of girls does he like…?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, exasperated, “What are you talking about? I didn’t bring him here to set him up with you.”
Chen Yan’er waved her hands, “Oh, misunderstanding, misunderstanding! I would never touch your man. Don’t worry.”
“Worry my foot!” Xu Xiaoyan said, “Take me to your grandfather.”
As Chen Yan’er led them through the monastery, Xu Xiaoyan asked, “Is Floating Cloud Monastery just a martial arts school now? I thought Grandpa Chen said it was a large and influential sect.”
Chen Yan’er said, “It used to be, but not anymore.”
She lowered her voice, “Floating Cloud Monastery had powerful martial arts techniques, but they refused to submit to the Chongxian Sect, so they were forbidden from cultivating immortal ingredients and suffered greatly, gradually declining. The abbot is a good man, a relative of mine. Although he’s only in his twenties, he’s an eighth-rank expert.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “If they’re forbidden from cultivating immortal ingredients and suppressed by the Chongxian Sect, how can they refine external elixirs?”
Chen Yan’er sighed, “Floating Cloud Monastery used to have many outer disciples, who were taught non-Daoist martial arts. The abbot reached the eighth rank through those techniques. So, although it still looks like a Daoist temple, it’s not really a Daoist sect anymore.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “I see. That’s a pity.”
Chen Yan’er took her hand and said, “By the way, did you know Sister Jing Ya is also in Dàxīng City?”
Xu Xiaoyan stopped and looked at her in surprise, “Sister Jing Ya is here? I thought she married into the White Crane Gang. She should be in Wu’an Prefecture. Why is she here?”
Chen Yan’er said, “There was internal strife within the White Crane Gang, and her father-in-law was forced to leave Wu’an Prefecture with her and her husband. They were then recruited by the Brocade Dragon Gate. It’s one of the three gangs and six societies of Dàxīng City. I heard Vice Leader Shen Haixiong, the ‘Drunken God Spear,’ values her husband’s knowledge and has given him a high position, managing many of their businesses.
“She visits us sometimes, but she and her husband left for Luo Lake yesterday. They won’t be back for a few days. If you’re not in a hurry to leave, you might be able to see her then.”
Xu Xiaoyan smiled, “I’m not in a hurry. By the way, you mentioned the three gangs and six societies of Dàxīng City. Which ones are they?”
Chen Yan’er chuckled, “You’re still the same, always asking about the local gangs wherever you go. I only know the three gangs are the Shark Dragon Gang, the Ascending Heroes Gang, and the Heaven and Earth Gang. And the six societies include the Mystic Virtue Society, the Brocade Dragon Gate, the White Sword Society, and the Leopard Gate… I can’t remember the other two.”
“Although they’re called the ‘three gangs and six societies,’ there are many other gangs as well. These are just the largest. But even so, the Shark Dragon Gang only rose to prominence ten years ago, and the Ascending Heroes Gang twenty years ago. Only the Heaven and Earth Gang is older, a long-established gang in Dàxīng City. Although these gangs can be quite powerful, they rise and fall quickly.”
“The reason I can’t remember the other two societies isn’t because I have a bad memory, but because two of them were just eliminated this year. I don’t know which gangs have replaced them yet.”
She suddenly remembered something, pulled Xu Xiaoyan aside, and whispered, “Speaking of which, I heard there’s a mysterious female thief operating in the Jiangzhe region, nicknamed Night Lily. It’s you, isn’t it?”
Xu Xiaoyan glanced at Shi Hao and smiled, “No need to whisper. He knows.”
Chen Yan’er exclaimed, “Oh my, oh my, oh my…”
Xu Xiaoyan said, exasperated, “I’m telling you, he knows. What’s with the ‘oh my’?”
Shi Hao smiled, “There are many things I don’t know. If you don’t mind, tell me more.”
Chen Yan’er quickly said, “Alright, alright. Let me tell you, when Xiao Yan was little, she was very sensitive and difficult to get along with. She…”
Xu Xiaoyan pulled her along, “Stop gossiping. Let’s go!”
They reached the back garden, where several elderly men were playing chess. Chen Yan’er called out, “Grandpa, look who’s here!”
An old man, sitting at one side of a chessboard, turned around, “Isn’t that Xiao Yan? It’s been a few years. You’ve grown so much!”
Xu Xiaoyan approached and smiled, “Grandpa Chen.”
Old Chen chuckled, “Good! Good!” He looked at the young man beside her, “Your husband?”
Xu Xiaoyan: “…” What is wrong with everyone?
At the same time, on Yongle Street in Dàxīng City, a luxurious carriage was heading towards Mount Qian Yuan.
Inside sat Zhuo Mulan and her disciple, Du Yuejiao. Zhuo Mulan, her hair in a Daoist bun, sat on one side, while her disciple, holding a beautiful doll, sat on the other.
They looked out the window at the bustling street.
The Chongxian Sect’s main temple was located on Mount Dong Yang, known as the “Hidden Grotto Heaven,” but they also had a main temple in Dàxīng City, and they were now returning there.
They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
After a while, Zhuo Mulan, as if startled from her reverie, turned to her disciple.
Since that young man named Shi Hao had left, she had noticed Yuejiao becoming quieter, often lost in thought or blushing for no apparent reason.
Zhuo Mulan sighed softly and looked at the doll in her disciple’s arms.
Although dolls were considered ominous in some folk traditions, the Daoist sects didn’t pay much attention to such superstitions.
But this doll was so beautiful and pristine that she found it strange. However, since Yuejiao was so attached to it, she let her keep it.
“Yuejiao? Yuejiao?” Zhuo Mulan called softly.
Du Yuejiao turned, startled, “Huh?”
Then she realized, “Oh, Master, what is it?”
Zhuo Mulan lowered her voice, “We’re almost at Mount Qian Yuan. Elder Zhi Fa will likely ask about your uncle again. I’ve written to the Kun Zhen Courtyard, and your Grandmaster Dan Ying will speak on our behalf. Just tell them the truth. There’s nothing to worry about. We didn’t know anything, after all.”
Du Yuejiao nodded and looked out the window again. After a while, she whispered, “Master, do you think Uncle defected to protect us? That’s why he didn’t tell us anything?”
Zhuo Mulan sighed softly, “Perhaps…” She didn’t say anything more.
After a while, Du Yuejiao looked out the window and said, surprised, “What’s she doing here?”
She had seen a familiar face!
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