Yinshan Record

Chapter 466 Questioning with a Clear conscience and ascending to the heavens (Part 1)

Wangwu and Taihang Mountains?
Su Che was speechless for a moment.

This world, like my previous life, has mountains called Wangwu and Taihang, both of which are towering mountains stretching for thousands of miles.

If one were to possess supernatural powers to move two such mountains to one's own doorstep, perhaps only a celestial being could accomplish such a feat.

Of course, this earth immortal also needs to make himself invisible to the Xuandu Palace.

If there truly were such a ruthless monk, he shouldn't be appearing at my doorstep; he should be attaining Buddhahood and becoming an ancestor in the Mahavairocana Temple or Nalanda Temple.

Moreover, both Xue Baizhi and I are highly perceptive cultivators at the Core Formation stage, and we can roughly tell whether there are any experts around us just by sensing them.

There are no noteworthy practitioners outside.

"Then go and have a look."

Just as Su Che was about to go first, Xue Baizhi spoke up.

"Why don't I go and take a look with Brother Su?"

"Alright."

My relationship with Xue Baizhi is harmonious, which will make many things easier in the future.

Putting aside the immediate situation, in the long run, even if this Fairy Xue doesn't become the head of Yuyang Mountain in the future, she will still be an important elder. Being able to befriend her will surely be of great use in the future.

The two walked side by side until they reached the door, where the little fox and Miao Niangzi were already waiting, along with Su Fu, Su Lu, and other household stewards.

The little fox gave Xue Baizhi a disapproving look but didn't say anything, while Miao Niangzi subconsciously took a step back.

Young Master Su was already a veteran of countless battles, so this small scene in front of him naturally did not affect his performance. He simply stared intently at the old monk in front of him.

Despite being called an old monk, he looked to be only in his forties. His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, his hands were as rough as tree bark, and his monk's robes were utterly lacking in elegance, covered with countless patches—truly a genuine patchwork robe.

The man in front of me, though called a monk, looks more like a middle-aged, bald old farmer.

"I am Su Che, and I have met this master before."

Su Che's tone was very polite.

“If Master is going to Jiankang City to compete for the position of Imperial Preceptor, I, Su, have some money and can help you with your travel arrangements. However, three dou and three sheng of gold is really too much. Firstly, my family does not have that much gold and silver, and secondly, the trip to Jiankang will probably not cost that much.”

The monk looked ashamed and irresponsible, then looked up and glanced around before suddenly laughing.

"Everyone says that High Official Su is a wealthy young master, and seeing him today, he truly is extraordinary. With such a beautiful bride by his side, he's living the good life. This monk has a secret medicine that guarantees a son; I wonder if the young master would be willing to spend a few coins..."

“If you, Master, have such miraculous medicine, you can naturally set up a stall at the entrance of the City God Temple to benefit the world. Although I am an official, I am still a disciple of the Daoist Master. Such miraculous medicine has nothing to do with me.”

The monk grinned and laughed heartily.

"Such fertile beauties, wouldn't it be a waste not to use their white buttocks? You are also a cultivator, you should know that the harmony of yin and yang is the natural law. If you cut off your roots one by one to seek some illusory immortal path, wouldn't the two words of human relations be cut off? Moreover, Buddhism has the joyful meditation method, Taoism has the wonderful art of yin and yang, even demons and monsters have wonderful ways to have fun, don't cut off your cultivation."

What a mad monk!

Su Che didn't bother arguing with him. A silver tongue can encompass the entire universe, and empty boasting can stretch to the ends of the cosmos. There was no point in discussing such trivial matters. He immediately turned to Su Fu, who was standing nearby, and gave him instructions.

"Go and fetch three hundred taels of silver for the master's travel expenses."

"Wait a minute."

The mad monk waved his hand: "Young Master Su, I have a few questions. If you can answer them, I won't take a single penny. If you can't answer them, then it will be a pity that you will never be able to leave your home again."

Su Che ignored him and simply waved his hand, signaling the head steward to hurry up and get the silver.

"As an official in the court, I can't say it's a matter of loyalty to the emperor, but I still have to do my part. Master, please ask whatever you want, but you still have to take the money." Su Che himself had the Azure Emperor's Treasure Garden in his hands. Not to mention anything far away, just take grain for example. It might not be enough to flood this land, but it could fill half of Cizhou. No amount of gold or silver could bypass this kind of magical method of turning stone into gold.

Su Che could easily afford to spend his spare money.

The mad monk's visit wasn't the problem; the real concern was what other tricks he might have up his sleeve. These were turbulent times, so Su Che naturally had to be on guard.

Even if the monk were truly a fraud, in these chaotic times of war, those three hundred taels of silver would be his death sentence.

"Young Master Su claims to be a recluse, so why has he purchased land and houses in Tian'an County and other places, almost buying up all the land in the county?"

"Naturally, it's for doing good deeds."

Is seizing someone else's property considered a good deed?

Su Che was unwilling to waste any more words on this eccentric monk who was ignorant of worldly affairs.

"How can it not count? I bought those fields at market price, enough to sustain their entire families during famine years. After buying them, I didn't drive them away; I let them cultivate the land just the same, only collecting rent. You can ask around; my family's rent is only one-thirtieth. Looking around the world, where can you find a place with lower rent? Moreover, with the name of my Duling Su family, these common people no longer have to worry about exorbitant taxes and government exploitation. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Young Master Su is truly eloquent, able to speak of competing with the people for profit in such a selfless way. I am truly impressed."

The mad monk touched his own bald scalp.

"It's just that Young Master Su guards Cizhou City and distributes porridge to all directions. Everyone knows about Su Che, but not about the Emperor. I'm afraid that's not a righteous act."

“You’re right. Cizhou has no stored grain, and there are refugees everywhere. This stored grain wasn’t sold off by me, Su, for profit, nor were these refugees forced out by me, Su, by setting fire to houses. I didn’t share porridge, and it’s none of my business how many starving people die on the roads. Now that they’re alive, it’s all my fault. Great monk, the Censorate is also lacking a few censors who can’t see the benefits of others. I’m willing to recommend you, sir.”

Su Che frowned and glanced at Su Lu beside him. The young steward immediately understood the master's meaning and strode inside to help the head steward quickly deliver the money.

"This young master raises demons and monsters, colludes with cultivators, distributes grain to buy fame, and plunders the very foundation of the people's livelihood. How can he possibly have a clear conscience?"

A hint of seriousness flashed across the mad monk's face.

"Ashamed."

Su Che bowed slightly to the monk. If it weren't for the crowd watching, the Third Young Master Su would have already used the Nine Netherworld Burning God Yin Fire to turn this ignorant monk to ashes.

However, since Xue Baizhi and the little fox were both there watching, Young Master Su simply spoke his mind.

"Of course, I, Su, have a clear conscience. If I were to stand idly by and watch the common people be exploited to the point of being worse than dead by the wealthy and powerful for the sake of a little bit of reputation, or watch the streets be littered with corpses of the starving for the sake of a little bit of fame, then I, Su, would have shaved my head and gone to a temple to ring the bell ten years ago, just like you, the great monk. As for this female ghost, I encountered her on my way to save someone. This Miss Mo is an old friend of mine, and this Fairy Xue is a good friend who came to visit temporarily."

"As for that Emperor of Liang, Your Majesty, the Great Monk might as well go up to the Golden Palace and ask him if he, like me, has a clear conscience."

Su Che looked at the big monk and shook his head, saying, "I dare not say that I have a clear conscience before heaven and earth, but if I were to speak of my true feelings, I would have no shame whatsoever."

"Don't even mention doing it all over again, even if it's done a hundred or a thousand times, I, Su, will still do the same thing."

Su Che looked at the head monk and said, "Is Your Excellency satisfied now?"

The monk sneered, stepped forward, and grabbed Su San Gongzi's pulse.

Unexpectedly, this person acted so swiftly that even figures like Xue Baizhi and Su Che could only watch helplessly as he did so.

Whether you're satisfied or not is another matter, but you've certainly accomplished a great deal.

Although his words were cold, there was a feeling that Su Che was very familiar with.

"Teacher!"

Su Che quickly grabbed the arm of the person in front of him, and in an instant, the fog cleared, and the old monk was nowhere to be seen.

A handsome Taoist priest appeared, wearing a jade crown and a yellow robe, his eyes gleaming with divine light.

Who else could it be but Yu Lizi?
(End of this chapter)