Chapter 151
Chapter 151
Guo Zhen was an unexpected pawn. Liu Junyan had told us earlier to keep a close eye on her, saying she might prove useful at a critical moment.
She would be in danger, but we would make sure she survived.
“I need your help, Xiao Jiu,” Liu Junyan said, holding my hand and looking at me.
This was the first time he had ever asked me to help him.
Before, he had always said, “Xiao Jiu, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
That rare feeling of being needed moved me more than I could explain.
I asked, “What do you need me to do? Just tell me. I’ll do everything I can.”
Li Qingying nodded repeatedly, while Hui Moqiong said, “Seventh Master, just lay out the plan. Let’s take them all down in one fell swoop!”
“No. We’re heavily outnumbered, and against two Grand Formations pushed to their limits, it will be difficult for us to escape unscathed,” Liu Junyan said. “What I want right now isn’t to take them down in one fell swoop. I want to shake the mountain and startle the tiger, then lure the Snake out of its hole.”
The three of us fell silent and waited for Liu Junyan to explain his plan.
“A great many people arrived in town this afternoon. Most of them came for the auspicious sign that descended from the heavens,” Liu Junyan continued. “But this phenomenon has existed on Niuhu Mountain for many years. Amateurs only see the spectacle, while those in the know probably figured out what was really happening long ago. They arrive on time every year, either for my Golden Scale or for the Dragon Aura leaking out.
“So we don’t need to take action ourselves. We only need to determine the state of the Formation and tamper with it a little. As soon as those people outside glimpse an opening, they’ll swarm in like hyenas pouncing on prey.”
The tiger he intended to startle was the ferocious beast lying dormant in the Temple: the Fake Ascetic Monk.
The Snake he intended to lure out of its hole represented the outsiders with ulterior motives who had gathered in town.
“Heh.” Hui Moqiong grinned. “Seventh Master, you’re planning to kill with a borrowed knife, aren’t you? Sounds good to me. I love this kind of scheming. Let’s play them all to death.”
Liu Junyan said, “I only need them to start fighting. I don’t care whether they break a Formation or which one they break. The more chaotic things become, the easier it will be for us to act. Besides recovering that Golden Scale, my ultimate goal is to take the Dragon Aura suppressed beneath the Dragon-Locking Formation.”
It sounded simple, but carrying it out would be fraught with danger. We had to use just the right amount of force: cause a massive disturbance, bring it to a gentle close, and then withdraw immediately.
That was easier said than done.
“Xiao Jiu.” Liu Junyan looked at me first. “I need you to do three things for me.
“First, make me a paper effigy. Ideally, it should mimic Guo Zhen’s figure and be life-sized.
“Second, contact your Senior Sister. I need her help controlling the paper effigy.
“Third, I need to use that pair of Buddha Eyes.”
I agreed to the first two without hesitation, but the last request made me pause.
I had planned to give the Buddha Eyes to my Senior Sister. They were far too rare and precious.
“I’m only borrowing the Buddha Eyes. I won’t lose them,” Liu Junyan said, seeing my concern. “Once this matter is settled, you can conveniently hand them over to your Senior Sister.”
I nodded and asked, “What do you need the Buddha Eyes for?”
Liu Junyan explained, “The Fake Ascetic Monk in the Temple practices Buddhism. He doesn’t truly want to marry Guo Zhen or consummate the marriage with her. He took an interest in Guo Zhen because the Guo Family has always enshrined the Buddha Head and made a living selling ceramic Buddha statues. That proves the Guo Family has an affinity with Buddhism and carries at least some Buddhist nature in their destiny, especially Guo Zhen. If Guo Zhen were also given a pair of Buddha Eyes, what do you think the Fake Ascetic Monk would do?”
“He’d be drooling for miles,” Hui Moqiong joked.
With that explanation, I understood everything. “You want to connect Guo Zhen to the paper effigy, set the Buddha Eyes into it, and then have my Senior Sister control the effigy to breach the Formation?”
Liu Junyan gave me an approving look. “Exactly.”
“Once an opening appears in the Formation, all of Niuhu Mountain, along with the entire town, will descend into chaos,” Hui Moqiong added. “That’s when I’ll fish in troubled waters and really show them what I can do.”
Liu Junyan nodded. “Your main task is to rescue Guo Zhen.”
After working out the details, we split up to make our preparations.
Li Qingying went back to retrieve the Buddha Eyes, then headed to the Guo Family residence to keep watch over Guo Zhen.
Meanwhile, Hui Moqiong mobilized the people under his command and had them monitor every movement on Niuhu Mountain.
I first contacted Senior Sister Yu Nian and explained the situation. She promised to hurry to the town at once. Early the next morning, I went out to buy materials for making paper effigies so I could get started.
I had set out early. A life-sized paper effigy was difficult to make and required a lot of materials, so there was no guarantee I could find everything at a single Funeral Supplies Shop.
Just as I was leaving the first Funeral Supplies Shop, I spotted a familiar figure in the distance.
What was she doing here too?!
I abruptly pulled back the foot I had just stepped outside with and took another careful look.
There was no mistake. It really was Feng Lishu.
She was still dressed in the same red-and-black archery outfit. She had come from the east and was heading straight toward the prison, her destination unmistakable.
I waited until she disappeared from sight before leaving the Funeral Supplies Shop, my stomach churning with unease.
Even Feng Lishu was here. I had no idea how many more familiar faces I would run into in this town.
I quickly bought all the materials I needed for the paper effigy, picked up breakfast on the way, and returned to the courtyard house.
After breakfast, I told Liu Junyan what I had seen while working on the paper effigy.
Liu Junyan glanced at me without saying a word.
I teased him, “She must be here for that Golden Scale, right? In other words, she’s here because of you?”
Liu Junyan replied calmly, “If she can obtain the Golden Scale all by herself, she’ll save us a great deal of trouble. After all, taking the Golden Scale from her would be much easier, wouldn’t it?”
Fine. He hadn’t taken the bait.
Sitting nearby with one leg crossed over the other, Hui Moqiong laughed. “Age really does bring cunning. Xiao Jiu’er, you’re no match for him.”
Liu Junyan shot him a sidelong glare. “Can’t even a bun keep your mouth shut?”
That afternoon, Yu Nian arrived just as Li Qingying brought over the Buddha Eyes.
Li Qingying had been meticulous. Worried that the Buddha Eyes might spoil once removed from the refrigerator, she had placed them in a large, wide-bodied thermos with an ice pack at the bottom.
I took Yu Nian’s hand and guided it onto the pair of Buddha Eyes. “Senior Sister, once I find a healer who can implant the Buddha Eyes for you, they’ll be yours.”
Yu Nian cautiously brushed the pair of Buddha Eyes with her fingertips, then immediately snatched her hand back.
Her empty eye sockets remained fixed straight ahead, and I could feel her entire body go taut.
After that single touch, she refused to touch the Buddha Eyes again.
She shook her head repeatedly. “No, Xiao Jiu. I appreciate the thought, but… I’m fine the way I am now.”
I couldn’t understand her at all. Living without eyes had to be terribly inconvenient, didn’t it?
Why would she refuse such a perfect replacement?
Senior Sister felt her way into the courtyard. Her steps were unsteady, and she nearly fell while crossing the threshold.
When she reached the courtyard and turned toward Niuhu Mountain, I clearly saw the hand gripping her Thousand-Soul Banner begin to tremble.
She was struggling with herself.
She wanted that pair of Buddha Eyes, so why wouldn’t she give herself even the slightest chance?
Was she afraid the procedure would fail and leave her hopes crushed?
Or was there some other reason?
A pang of guilt rose within me. I hadn’t intended to mention this to her before I had everything properly arranged.
I walked over, intending to offer her a few words of comfort.
But then I heard her murmuring to herself, “Qiongqi! It really is Qiongqi! Two of the Four Great Fiends of Antiquity have already appeared. Where are the other two…?”