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Chapter 72 The Lion's Roar
"Scholar Chen, I'm sorry, I must take my leave!"

Yuan Shoucheng smiled and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, speaking with an air of self-righteousness, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Fortune telling and face reading are all about seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune. But look at the situation in Chang'an right now—first the Green Lion Demon, then the Kui Wood Wolf, and now even Manjushri Bodhisattva is personally coming… This water is too deep, too murky! If I stay any longer, I'm afraid my old bones will break. If my fellow fortune tellers find out, they'll laugh their heads off! Retreat! We must retreat! I'm leaving now!"

At the entrance of the West Market, the old Taoist priest Yuan Shoucheng was packing up his fortune-telling stall, knowing he wasn't planning to return.

Beside him, the Dragon King of the Jing River shoved a delicate little cloth bag into Yuan Shoucheng's hand.

"Old Yuan! This is for you!"

The old Dragon King spoke urgently, leaving no room for argument, "These two precious pearls from the bottom of the Jing River are worth at least some travel expenses! Use them sparingly! Don't be like before, always having wicked ideas!"

Yuan Shoucheng weighed the cloth bag in his hand, expertly tossing it around, and a smile immediately spread across his face.
"Hehe, the old Dragon King is so generous! Don't worry, this time we'll definitely save money..."

"Save my ass!" the Jinghe Dragon King interrupted him, glaring at him.
"Is that the point? I'm telling you, stay away from those golden koi that already have owners! Especially... especially those that are gold and red, they look so rare! Keep your hands to yourself, don't get any funny ideas! Got it?"

This statement means something.

"Oh dear, you old mudfish!"

Yuan Shoucheng looked a little embarrassed, as if his tail had been stepped on.

"This humble Taoist priest...when did I ever have any designs on your golden carp? Huh? Explain yourself! I just...it was just that I felt a connection with it..."

His voice trailed off, sounding a little guilty.

"Hmph!" The Jing River Dragon King snorted heavily. "You know perfectly well whether it's true or not. I've already told all my relatives nearby that if anyone asks for a golden carp in their fortune-telling, I'll kill them on the spot..."

Seeing that the two were about to start their usual verbal sparring and revealing each other's secrets, Yuan Shoucheng decisively waved his hand and conceded defeat.

"Alright, alright, stop it. I won't argue with you. Okay? Anything red or gold, just avoid it. Is that alright, Old Dragon King?"

He turned to Chen Guangrui, his playful expression fading slightly, "Kid,"

His tone was less slick and more like genuine advice: "I know you may not listen to some of what I'm about to say, but I still have to say it. Why don't you... find a chance to go out and lay low for a while? Chang'an... is quite chaotic."

Chen Guangrui remained calm, then gave a wry smile. "This world is vast, but Master Yuan, could you please tell me where I can hide?"

Yuan Shoucheng sighed, revealing a touch of nonchalance and optimism.

"Well, what's meant to be will be. You've got guts, kid. Two Realms Mountain is to the west, right? Alright, that direction is enough."

He was clearly still thinking about the matter of the Third Prince of the West Sea Dragon King, and felt that the information Chen Guangrui had given was too vague. But Chen Guangrui had only said so much, and the rest was up to fate.

Chen Guangrui stood up. "Master Yuan, let me see you off."

The two walked side by side toward a small donkey cart that had been parked at the entrance of the West Market for some time, with Yuan Shoucheng's belongings simply placed on it.

Night fell low over Chang'an, and the distant horizon seemed to hold the unspeakable aura of a storm. Just before boarding the carriage, Yuan Shoucheng stopped in his tracks. The playful smile on his face vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented seriousness.

"This last sentence is a parting gift."

Yuan Shoucheng lowered his voice and leaned closer to Chen Guangrui.

"A being like Manjushri Bodhisattva wouldn't easily lower themselves to attack mortals directly. They have their own dignity and believe in 'karma and cause and effect.' If they were to act, they would do it through others. Kid, that's the most ruthless thing." Chen Guangrui's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.
“I’ve noted it down. But… Master Yuan, you left in such a hurry, could it be that you’ve already sensed something? Manjushri… has already arrived?”

Yuan Shoucheng did not answer directly, but instead stretched out his hand and pointed vaguely in a certain direction in the western night sky, a profound yet self-deprecating smile on his face.
"Coming? Not coming? Heh... my skills are too shallow to calculate or see through it! But that wind... it's definitely blowing. Giddy up!"

He said no more, and lightly patted the donkey's back with his whip. The little donkey trotted off, pulling the dilapidated cart, slowly disappearing into the thick, impenetrable night of Chang'an, heading west.

After bidding farewell to Yuan Shoucheng, Chen Guangrui did not return to the inn, but instead walked steadily towards Wei Zheng's secluded residence.

This was his agreement with Wei Zheng. With Manjushri Bodhisattva's arrival imminent, Chang'an was no longer a place to stay for long, but at least for Wei Zheng, the residence of this official in charge of personnel was a safe haven that could offer some protection.

Sunlight streamed through the windows of the study. Wei Zheng saw Chen Guangrui enter, put down the file he was holding, his brow slightly furrowed, and got straight to the point.
"Guangrui, I heard you went to see Li Jing yesterday?"

He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the chair, his tone carrying a hint of disagreement.

“You know Li Jing’s temperament. He’s cautious, but he’s also easily angered. Today, he hastily petitioned His Highness to have you serve in the army and go to the front lines in Daizhou. His Highness… granted his request.”

Chen Guangrui remained calm and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. "It was I who went to see General Li. I had no choice but to do so due to the circumstances."

Wei Zheng stared at him, his gaze seemingly trying to see right through him. "Foolish!"

His voice rose slightly, revealing the worry of an elder.
"In Chang'an, though my magical powers are weak, I am still a minor official and can manage to protect you to some extent. But once we leave Chang'an and enter Li Jing's army camp, it will be a den of dragons and tigers! On the battlefield, weapons have no eyes, not to mention those who try to harm you in secret... If any Buddhist disciples want to attack you, how can I protect you in the desolate wilderness on the march? I will be too far away to reach you!"

Chen Guangrui looked directly into Wei Zheng's anxious eyes, his voice low yet exceptionally clear, "Lord Wei, please calm your anger and listen to me. Firstly, General Li's army's departure still requires time to prepare; it cannot be accomplished overnight. Secondly..."

He paused, his tone carrying a calm acceptance of fate:

"If Manjushri Bodhisattva truly descends upon Chang'an in the next few days, and if he intends to find me, then what essential difference is there between me being in your residence, in Li Jing's military camp, or even on the streets and alleys of Chang'an? If he cares, there is nowhere to hide; if he doesn't care, then there is nowhere in the world he cannot find refuge. The key is not where I am, but... the news from the Thirty-Three Heavens!"

Wei Zheng was taken aback, but then he understood Chen Guangrui's subtext. Yes, Chen Guangrui was placing all his hopes on that letter that went directly to the Tushita Palace.

If the one outside the Thirty-Third Heaven could intervene, the Buddhist predicament would be resolved, and he would be safe wherever he was.

If that person stands idly by, even hiding within the imperial palace, he cannot ensure his safety. His fate now rests in the hands of fate!
Wei Zheng sighed deeply, his white beard trembling. His face remained worried, but his tone softened.
"What you say... well, it makes sense. But when will the news reach the Tushita Palace? Will that person even care about such a 'trivial matter'? It's really... unlikely!"

His worries weighed heavily on his heart like a stone. The two remained silent, the only sound the crackling of the candlelight in the study, the air thick and suffocating. In this silence lay the immense torment of the unknown outcome.

suddenly!

"Ouch!!!"

An indescribable, majestic, and furious roar, like a thunderclap, crashed down from the western sky above Chang'an.

This roar did not originate from any earthly beast. It began as a muffled rumble, like thunder rolling across the sky, shaking one's very soul. Then, the sound became incredibly clear and immense, as if it were exploding right above one's head.

Outside the window, the once quiet sky suddenly changed color, and the thick, lead-gray clouds seemed to be frantically stirred, pulled, and gathered by an invisible giant hand! They spun and solidified, and in a very short time, they condensed into a huge lion's head, as large as a mountain and as lifelike, directly above the west gate of Chang'an!

The lion's head was formed by rolling dark clouds, with ferocious and rugged lines, and its eyes were like two huge black holes, devouring all the light.

It hangs high in the sky, majestic, angry, and looking down on all living beings, as if it wants to swallow the entire city of Chang'an whole.

(End of this chapter)