On the way back to the commandery seat, Qin Xuan made a deliberate detour further upstream when passing by the Yudai River.
To his dismay, he caught sight of that frail, solitary silhouette from afar once more by the riverbank...
The old man held a rod, motionless, fishing alone in the morning mist of the Yudai River.
The little fox did not dare to look, nor did Qin Xuan. At the same time, he held firmly onto the cat to keep it from stirring. This old angler was uncanny beyond measure; Elder Wu was still trapped inside his fish creel, after all.
Fortunately, the angler was merely fishing and showed no interest in them.
Qin Xuan only breathed a sigh of relief once they had drawn far away.
For some reason, he had a faint premonition that this old fisherman was far more perilous to provoke than the Xieling Sect or the other two demon sect factions.
He remembered Huaimin mentioning that Guanjiang Mountain's previous Dao Seed had gone fishing.
Even broaching the topic was deeply taboo.
Qin Xuan also thought back to the description at the end of *Spring Letters, Autumn Post*, which was likewise related to a fisherman.
Were fishermen in the Nine Provinces world all so ominous?
As he was lost in thought, Mei'er glanced back toward Daoxiang Hollow and could not help murmuring, "Young Master, that monk Jin Guan spoke truly. You really do possess an affinity with the Western Religion."
"Where did you get that idea?"
Gu Mei'er's voice was earnest. "Among the Five Rafts and Eight Chans celebrated across Xiniuhezhou, one of the world-crossing precious rafts is the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus. I feel that if you were to obtain this Chan method, you would surely pluck the true dao fruit of merit before the Western Religion even could."
Qin Xuan chuckled. "Nonsense from a little fox. What I did was merely a small kindness anyone might offer. How can you speak of Chan methods?"
Mei'er continued, "There is a place in Xiniuhezhou called Lingrong Grotto, where the monks seek to create a true Pure Land. They possess a supreme canon inscribed in gold-chiseled Buddhist scriptures with its own inherent principles, called the *Mahavairocana Sutra*.
"The Lingrong Grotto frequently dispatches Chan masters to host Heaven-Offering Assemblies, inviting the chosen talents of many great sects to study and comprehend this scripture.
"Some say that the World-Liberating Insight is concealed within it. Others say it is a demonic text, because several chosen talents who read it renounced their own lineages, turned to practice the methods of Lingrong Grotto, and became Buddhist worthies of offerings.
"Someone from the Great Lingbao Sect even became one of those worthies of offerings."
*Such a thing happened?* Qin Xuan was slightly surprised. "Someone from the Great Lingbao Sect became a worthy of offerings?"
The little fox nodded. "That was what my grandfather said."
Qin Xuan said, "You certainly know quite a bit about the Western Religion. But why tell me all this?"
"It is said that penetrating the World-Liberating Insight in the *Mahavairocana Sutra* requires a true Chan heart. You might just stand a chance, Young Master."
"Don't be so optimistic. If I read that scripture, I would most likely turn into one of Lingrong Grotto's worthies of offerings, shave my head, take the vows, and sever all mortal ties."
"Then forget it," she said, shaking her head repeatedly. "Young Master looks much better with hair."
***
Qin Xuan escorted Mei'er back to Huashi Alley, taking the opportunity to see whether her fox grandfather was at home.
Before they even reached the inner quarters, they heard the rasping sound of someone planing a coffin.
"Grandfather is back!"
Her spirits lifted, and she no longer worried. Qin Xuan quickened his pace. The fox grandfather was just as he had been during their last encounter, completely unchanged.
"Old Mr. Gu."
He stepped forward to greet him. The gaunt, gray-haired old man turned his head, a shrewd, mercantile smirk spreading across his face. "Young Master, have you come to trade yin spirits?"
"Indeed."
From his hundred-treasure pouch, Qin Xuan pulled out a pile of yin spirit jars—all spoils claimed from the Xieling Sect cultists at Lianyun Manor.
Old Man Gu inspected them, a look of distaste surfacing in his eyes.
"Your goods are rather ordinary. I didn't make much near Yin City this time, so don't you go asking for outrageous prices."
Seeing his sour expression, Qin Xuan figured he was putting on an act.
However, Mei'er had been a great help, so how could he not show some courtesy? Repaying kindness in kind, he said casually, "Give me whatever you deem fair, Old Mr. Gu. I still wish to exchange them for the five elements spirit metal from last time."
The old man smiled approvingly. "Not bad. I quite admire your temperament, Young Master."
He returned to the room and brought out another burlap sack, from which he picked two chunks of spirit metal ore the size of human heads.
Qin Xuan noticed quite a few more remaining inside the sack.
The fox grandfather was surely doing this on purpose, tantalizing him with something he could not have.
The *Metal Spirit Origin Qi* method was a terrible money drain, but as a secret art within the Secret Demon Evil-Dispelling Great Method, its power was truly formidable.
It was only by relying on this origin qi that he had been able to slay the Xieling Sect's corpse general and shatter the Renmao Sect's wood xiao yin body.
Surrounded by peril as he was now, he naturally wanted to refine more origin qi; he merely lacked the financial means.
"Grandfather, give him a bit more! What use do you have keeping all those stones?"
"You little fox, hush!"
Old Man Gu glared at her. "Can't I use these stones to weigh down my coffin lid after I die?"
Despite his grumbling, he still fished out an additional small chunk of ore. Qin Xuan was pleasantly surprised and voiced his thanks.
Putting away the spirit metal ore, Qin Xuan gave voice to a doubt:
"Old Mr. Gu, can anyone trade with you as long as they bring yin spirits?"
"How could it be that simple?"
The old man bent his back, his white hair falling forward and concealing his face.
His voice dropped low. "This humble trade of mine is never done with those whose merit is deficient. You, Young Master, are quite decent."
With that, he seemed to shift into a different persona altogether, calling out to Mei'er, "Little fox, this young master is a good sort and patronizes our business. Go bring the Great Xia imperial family's True Emperor Sword to give to him.
"Go on! What are you standing there gaping for?"
Admonished by her grandfather, Gu Mei'er had no choice but to mumble, "Oh."
She retrieved the "True Emperor Sword" from the room and handed it to Qin Xuan.
Qin Xuan accepted it, and Old Man Gu grinned. "Next time, I'll gift you a Ten Thousand Demons Emperor Crown from the ancient Demon Court—a supreme treasure of the Beiming Great Marsh's Heavenly Demon Mansion."
"Many thanks."
Qin Xuan offered his gratitude. Mei'er wanted him to stay longer, but he needed to return the cat and planned to consult Senior Mao, so he took his leave.
As he turned and walked into the distance, he passed the salted fish in his hand to the cat.
"The Great Xia imperial family's True Emperor Sword is bestowed upon you. Take good care of it."
***
By the time daylight fully broke, he had brought the cat to the center of the city.
Several people were already waiting outside the gates of Lianyun Manor.
Spotting Qin Xuan, one young man hesitated briefly before biting the bullet and stepping forward.
"Uncle Qin." Zhu Youqi's voice was soft and somewhat stiff.
Qin Xuan could not suppress a chuckle. "Young Manor Lord, your father spoke in jest. There is no need to take it to heart."
Zhu Youqi desperately wanted to take the graceful exit Qin Xuan offered; he had no idea why his father had insisted on this either.
Yet, remembering that Qin Xuan had saved his father's life, he sighed inwardly and said with deep respect, "Uncle Qin, Father said that once you arrived, you should please make your way to the inner courtyard."
Before his words could finish echoing, footsteps sounded from within the courtyard.
Old Zhu had already caught the commotion outside and came trotting out to meet them.
Seeing Qin Xuan return with the cat, he nearly burst into tears. Truly, the Dao Ancestor had blessed them!
"*Meow—!*"
Seeing Old Zhu, the fat cat held its head high in utmost smugness. However, Qin Xuan gave the top of its head a light smack, instantly chastening the beast. Old Zhu was so startled he nearly reached out to shield it.
He had never even raised his voice at the cat, let alone struck it!
Qin Xuan had no answers for this sort of cat devotee.
"Get back to your nest, and don't go running outside the city again."
"*Meow~!*"
The fat cat nodded, turning into a golden blur that vanished in a flash, leaving Zhu Jinting utterly dumbfounded.
"Brother Qin, this cat actually obeys you so well!"
As the two walked toward the inner courtyard with no one else around, Zhu lowered his voice. "Even Senior Mao and Senior Zheng can do nothing with this cat but sigh in defeat."
"Surely it's not that extreme?"
Qin Xuan was somewhat skeptical. "Madam Wei may not have the time to look after it, but she ought to assign someone to supervise it. Besides, judging by Senior Mao's temper, he doesn't seem like the type to indulge a household cat."
"Brother Qin, look at it from another angle—"
"Please enlighten me."
Old Zhu said conspiratorially, "Madam Wei traveled all the way from Chongjin Pass, likely on momentous business. Why would she bring a mischievous cat along with her?"
Qin Xuan asked, "She picked it up along the way?"
"That would be a plausible guess," Old Zhu clarified, "but I heard Senior Zheng mention that someone was concerned Madam Wei would be lonely on this journey, so they sent the cat to keep her company."
Old Zhu was loyal to a fault, going on to disclose, "The cat itself is rather extraordinary, and it hails from a great sect of the Eastern Lands.
"That is why even Senior Zheng and Senior Mao must treat it with some courtesy. Madam Wei had no time, and neither of them wanted to raise it, which is how I chanced upon this fortunate opportunity. Brother Qin, um, cough... though you act with natural freedom, please don't swat it anymore."
Qin Xuan saw the light and promptly corrected him, "Brother Zhu, do not speak recklessly. I risked half my life to rescue this cat from deadly peril time and again. I have never mistreated it."
"That is good, that is good..."
Chapter 50