Chapter 228: The Taoist Monk Goes Up the Mountain

Chapter 228: The Daoist Ascends the Mountain

*Click-clack~~.*

The two vermilion-lacquered carriage doors, styled in the manner of a prestigious noble house, slowly swung shut, and the suddenly taut steel cables emitted a faint crackling sound.

Inside the spacious, bright elevator car, there was only Chen Qisheng.

The Daoist leaned lazily against the carriage wall, eyes half-closed, gazing down at the world of Hongya Mountain unfolding layer by layer beneath his feet—layers that seemed similar at a glance, yet were distinctly worlds apart.

Crowded, clamorous tile-roofed buildings were drowned in a kaleidoscope of dazzling lights; the cliffside market, complex as a labyrinth, teemed with surging crowds everywhere.

The clamor of voices blew the signboards fluttering before the stalls; gaudy, lustrous spirit banknotes flowed through ingratiating smiles.

As the floors slowly rose, desire climbed in tandem.

The bustling, prosperous Iron Floor held no sight of the ground-level stalls of the lower levels; both sides of the streets were lined with neat, orderly shops standing shoulder to shoulder.

Mechanical limbs, Wisdom Roots and Dao Foundations, Farming Clan elixirs.

Even if one couldn't afford these stepping stones to becoming a superior being, there were still Buddhist halls and meditation chambers to satisfy spiritual needs, and Yellow Millet Dream parlors to indulge carnal desires.

Even if reality was destitute, in dreams one could possess everything!

Reaching the Copper Floor, thick with noble qi, the cheap dazzling lights had all but vanished, replaced by dancing immortals and Buddhas and ferocious, clawing strange beasts.

And in those most expensive plots stood row upon row of magnificent, towering pavilions.

These were the mansions of the nobility, reputed to be the safest zone in all of Chongqing Prefecture.

*Ding-ling!!*

The wind chime hanging in the upper right corner of the elevator swayed gently, emitting a crisp, pleasant sound.

The carriage doors slowly opened, revealing a vast, solemn, and dignified space before Chen Qisheng's eyes.

Yet he did not rush to enter this world beyond the reach of common men; instead, he turned to look at the smooth, mirror-like carriage wall behind him.

The figure reflected in the mirror was tall and slender, with handsome, striking features.

The T-shirt printed with "Longhu Mountain Grand Luotian Rite Believer Commemorative" had been swapped for a cyan Daoist robe of luxurious fabric and exquisite craftsmanship.

The ponytail at the back of his head had been bound into a Daoist topknot with a golden hairpin, gathered beneath a white jade Daoist crown.

Chen Qisheng hugged his chest, scrutinizing his reflection, pulling a few exaggerated faces. A smile of inscrutable meaning curled his lips.

"Lord Daozu above, this really does have the air of a proper human being."

"Celestial Master of the 'Dou Division' of the Daoist Longhu Group, Reserve Human Immortal of the 'White Jade Capital' Immortal Class of the Yellow Millet Ancestral Court, Old-School Cultivator Chen Qisheng, pays respects to Steward Zhang of the Prince of Qin's Mansion."

Zhang Ruzhen waited quietly for the young Daoist before him to finish reciting his lengthy string of titles, then stepped forward and took the elbow of the other's saluting arm.

"Celestial Master Chen is far too polite. The Prince of Qin's Mansion and the Longhu Group have always enjoyed excellent relations; the Celestial Master may treat this place as his own home—let us dispense with these formalities."

He guided Chen Qisheng to a seat, then himself settled leisurely into the host's position.

"Celestial Master Chen, I wonder what business brings you up Hongya Mountain this time?"

Chen Qisheng adopted a serious expression: "Entering the mountain to worship the gods, entering the abbey to burn incense—this is the dictate of etiquette. Therefore, this humble Daoist comes by order of the Heavenly Lord of the 'Dou Division' specifically to pay a visit to His Highness the Prince of Qin."

Zhang Ruzhen let out an "Oh," a look of regret crossing his face.

"Truly, Heaven does not make it beautiful. Recently, the Imperial Clan Court in the capital has had some wire crossed; they patrol the Prince's Mansion day and night, at no fixed time or place. The Prince is fully occupied dealing with them and simply cannot extricate himself. Please forgive us, Celestial Master Chen."

"Steward Zhang speaks too heavily. Since the Imperial Clan Court is patrolling, this humble Daoist naturally cannot add further trouble for the Prince."

Chen Qisheng seemed to genuinely empathize, his face full of righteous indignation: "The current court truly has a corrupt atmosphere; for a sage prince like the Prince of Qin to suffer such injustice!"

"The Celestial Master's feelings are understood by our family, but our family must remind you of one thing: it is best to speak with caution."

Zhang Ruzhen took a sip of tea, his expression impassive: "We two, one a eunuch mired in the mundane world, one a Daoist transcendent beyond things. No matter how the court's discipline stands, it is not for us to arbitrarily criticize."

"Steward Zhang's lesson is correct; it was this humble Daoist who spoke without thinking!"

Chen Qisheng apologized repeatedly on the surface, yet the light in his eyes held not the slightest conviction.

"However, permit me one more presumptuous word: this humble Daoist still feels aggrieved for His Highness the Prince of Qin. If Chongqing Prefecture could return under the governance of the Daoist sect, the eyes of the Imperial Clan Court would never be able to peer inside. Then the Prince would naturally escape this cage and walk freely in the land of Shu!"

Zhang Ruzhen's motion of blowing on his tea paused slightly; he lifted his gaze to Chen Qisheng.

"Food can be eaten carelessly, but words cannot be spoken carelessly. I wonder, Celestial Master Chen, were those words just now your own spontaneous feeling, or the intent of those Immortals and Heavenly Lords of the Longhu Group?"

Chen Qisheng answered irrelevantly: "This time the Prince only allowed the Daoist sect one Representative, clearly knowing it was likely a death sentence, yet we complied nonetheless."

"Celestial Master Chen, just now you were still crying injustice for the Prince."

Zhang Ruzhen let out a cold laugh, "Now you turn around and blame the Prince for pulling strings?"

"This humble Daoist naturally dares not blame the Prince. It is merely that at the recent White Jade Capital Immortal Class regular meeting, Longhu Mountain has reported this matter to all Daoist factions, and many fellow Daoists are quite dissatisfied."

"The Prince's restriction on the number of Representatives this time was originally intended to prevent the situation from escalating further, to safeguard the peace and prosperity of the people of Chongqing Prefecture. Why would the Daoist seniors be dissatisfied?"

"Moreover, the enemy of both our Buddhist and Daoist sects this time is the very same person; a mere trifle—how could it possibly be a death sentence?"

"Our family rather thinks... perhaps someone is just looking for an excuse for themselves?"

Zhang Ruzhen's skill at evasion and buck-passing was clearly consummate; his words leaked not a drop, instead splashing the dirty water of 'Dao-heart lacking benevolence, handling affairs without competence' onto Chen Qisheng.

These dead eunuchs who had castrated both their organs and their thoughts—dealing with them was truly troublesome!

For no reason at all, Chen Qisheng suddenly thought of Li Jun.

By comparison, he still preferred dealing with martial men; if talks worked, they talked; if not, they fought. Straightforward, direct, without so many twists and turns.

"Steward Zhang just asked this humble Daoist a question: as for the words about helping the Prince escape the cage, whose instruction did they ultimately come from?"

Chen Qisheng, unwilling to continue playing Tai Chi with this eunuch, spoke directly: "I can now give Steward Zhang a definite answer: this is the collective will of all the Immortal Classes within the White Jade Capital."

"A dignified Imperial Prince is trapped within this small mansion, his every word and deed monitored and restricted by the Imperial Clan Court. Such a thing should never have happened. As long as His Highness the Prince of Qin nods, this humble Daoist can guarantee that this shackled cage will vanish into nothing today."

"Hahahahaha."

A sharp laugh echoed through the room, laced with undisguised, thick mockery.

"Even if you can break this cage, so what? The sky above Hongya Mountain is still the sky of the Great Ming Empire."

Zhang Ruzhen looked at the solemn young Daoist, his expression mocking: "Could it be that you Daoists can even overturn the heavens?"

"The path of cultivation is inherently one of defying Heaven."

Chen Qisheng declared in a clear voice: "And has Steward Zhang forgotten one thing? Of the sky covering our heads, a full third rests in the palms of us Daoists!"