Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times
Chapter 359 - Chapter 359 Chapter 233 Sign of the Star of Life Lingkong

Chapter 359: Chapter 233 Sign of the Star of Life Lingkong Chapter 359: Chapter 233 Sign of the Star of Life Lingkong Yuan Bao’s action to fetch someone could hardly be described as gentle. He relied on the round and jade-like robustness of his body to bring the non-resistant Little Monk Bu Jie under his arm.

Once they arrived at Lake Heart Pavilion, Yuan Bao felt a sense of accomplishment and, with a smile on his face, he set Little Monk Bu Jie down on the ground.

Facing such treatment, Little Monk Bu Jie showed no other reaction. He stabilized his posture without hurry, leisurely straightening his slightly wrinkled Zen Robe, and looked with kind eyes and a genial expression at Zhou Mu, who stood with his hands behind his back in the center of Lake Heart Pavilion.

Zhou Mu was still clad in purple. The autumn breeze over the lake was cool, and as the purple clothes fluttered in the wind, it gave off an ethereal and pure beauty, as if detached from the world.

Benefactor, Little Monk Bu Jie is here as Yuan Bao has brought him. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask him,” Yuan Bao said as he gave a push to Little Monk Bu Jie and stepped forward to bow.

Little Monk Bu Jie, with his kind and compassionate appearance, put his palms together and chanted “Amitabha, I do not know for what matter the Benefactor has called upon this poor monk?”

Zhou Mu suddenly turned around, his gaze sharp as he looked at Little Monk Bu Jie, seeing that he still maintained a dignified and serene demeanor, he frowned slightly and spoke in a deep voice, “Shang Xie, this Prince believes you are clear why you have been summoned; why feign ignorance?”

Little Monk Bu Jie leisurely shook his head and slowly replied, “This is what I have heard, and this is why I ask. If the Benefactor does not inquire, how can this humble monk know the thoughts of worldly people?”

“This humble monk has been a monk since childhood, all things are empty; if the Benefactor has anything to say, please speak freely.”

Zhou Mu waved his hand dismissively at Yuan Bao with a stern face.

Yuan Bao immediately got the hint, turned around, and walked out of the Lake Heart Pavilion, guarding at the entrance of the lake-side gallery.

“Shang Xie, this Prince, heeding the advice of your master Taoist Tian Ji, saved your life and ensured the lineage of the Secret Sect did not end. Now, in exchange for the grace of saving your life, I have had you guard for ten years, expecting gratitude. Do you harbor resentment towards this Prince?” Zhou Mu turned his back, looking towards the glittering lake, the impenetrable darkness in his eyes made him unfathomable.

Little Monk Bu Jie once again chanted “Amitabha” with his hands together, “All things have their causes and effects. Having taken on the cause, this humble monk naturally bears its consequences. How could I blame the Benefactor? Benefactor, you worry too much!”

“If that’s the case, then tell this Prince what you know. I instructed you to watch over my beloved Changsheng to prevent any misfortune. Knowing you sensed something, why did you conceal it instead of reporting?” Zhou Mu then turned again, his gaze fiercely stabbing towards Little Monk Bu Jie.

Even though he knew that Little Monk Bu Jie surely had his reasons for silence, Zhou Mu could not control his own worries when it came to Changsheng.

Foolish child!

Little Monk Bu Jie, unbeknownst to him, had taken out a Wooden Fish and struck it with a wooden club. Like a direct strike to the head, a crisp sound of the Wooden Fish resonated.

The chilling air surrounding Zhou Mu dispersed instantly, and the unfathomable halo in his eyes faded to nothing.

“Benefactor, you have slain too many, your body is full of malevolent Qi. If this continues, your destined life force will deplete, and you will surely not meet a good end. This humble monk hopes the Benefactor will often chant the Sutra of Rebirth in your spare time, to purify your mind and transcend this tribulation,” Little Monk Bu Jie said with a dignified appearance, his eyes filled with compassion.

“This Prince knows well the weight of my killings and the depth of my sins. But what does this have to do with my beloved Changsheng? What exactly have you discovered?” Zhou Mu asked, the concern evident in his eyes.

Seeing this, Little Monk Bu Jie finally showed a trace of emotion on his face and shook his head helplessly, “This matter arises because of you, yet not because of you. The cycle of heaven’s law has its own constants; the Benefactor need not persist in this matter.”

What is it exactly! Speak quickly!”

His heart was in chaos because it concerned Gu Changsheng; Zhou Mu was undoubtedly the most anxious of all.

At this moment, his fists were clenched tightly, clearly extremely tense.

Little Monk Bu Jie slowly walked to the side of the pavilion and looked up at the boundless sky. After pausing for a while, he eventually shook his head, choosing not to speak.

“Shang Xie! Are you really trying to force this Prince to desecrate your Secret Sect’s ancestral grave, to grind your entire lineage to dust and ash before you will speak?” Zhou Mu’s face, out of worry and anxiety, gradually became furious; a bloodthirsty red glimmered in the bottom of his eyes, turning him into a terrifying presence, like a god of death incarnate.

Facing Zhou Mu’s aggressive threats, Little Monk Bu Jie continued to stand calmly by the pavilion, unaffected, but slowly explained, “It’s not that this humble monk won’t speak, but destiny dictates it thus. Even if this humble monk did speak, it would not change anything, nor could it prevent any misfortune.”

“If you don’t speak, how do you know this Prince cannot avoid it? Shang Xie, tell what you know; don’t anger this Prince!” Zhou Mu’s body radiated an icy chill, tangible as if soaked in ice, his voice harsh and unfeeling.

Little Monk Bu Jie suddenly turned around, shaking his head at the sight before him, then slowly spoke, “This humble monk has discussed this matter with Benefactor Changsheng before. At the beginning of spring thunder, this humble monk had a glimpse of the heavenly secrets atop Vast Mountain; the Female Star of the Occupation Room clashed with Hook Chen. At that time, the Female Star of the Occupation Room flickered out of sight, hidden within the vast sea of stars. This humble monk had a vague feeling that the Land of Hook Chen would reveal itself in Liuzhou Region, hence I hurried over just in time to meet Benefactor Changsheng with your letter.”

Little Monk Bu Jie paused briefly here.

“What now, then, has caught your attention?” Zhou Mu promptly asked, his face now showing an ominous premonition.

Little Monk Bu Jie did not play coy and spoke with an unchanged expression, “Last night, as this humble monk observed the night sky, I saw a halo flickering near the Big Dipper. Today, seeing Benefactor Changsheng, I noticed her complexion also bore the sign of the Star of Life hovering in the sky.”

“If the Benefactor wishes to verify, come find this humble monk at midnight tonight.” Having said this, Little Monk Bu Jie put his palms together, chanted “Amitabha,” and walked out of Lake Heart Pavilion.

He left Zhou Mu alone, ice-cold, standing in Lake Heart Pavilion with furrowed brows, motionless for a long time.

His reaction made Yuan Bao, waiting quietly by the side, grow anxious.

If something could make the Old Grand Master furrow his brows like that, it must certainly be the prelude to some significant event!

Godfather! What on earth is happening?

However, at this moment, Gu Changsheng was blissfully unaware. She felt that since the new residence was completed, everything had been going smoothly. Of course, nuisances like Miss Huo could be completely ignored.

She was not an opponent on the same level at all. Gu Changsheng never underestimated her enemies, nor did she belittle her adversaries.

It’s just that Miss Huo truly did not qualify as her enemy, which was why Gu Changsheng dismissed her completely.

Disregarding Miss Huo, she had indeed been thriving lately–moving into a new home, and the troops from Baili Mountain were training in an orderly fashion. How could she not be thrilled?

Only with the capability to defend oneself can one live in peace.

Good spirits accompany auspicious occasions. That evening, with the moon rising above the willows, Gu Changsheng was energetically writing away in her study, her hand moving from one sheet of paper to another as she filled each with swift strokes.

The moonlight shone upon the lattice of the second-floor window, where the silhouette of a woman engrossed in her writing could just be made out.

Zhou Mu stood tall on the treetops, silently observing for a moment. His expression was indiscernible, not quite clear, and he looked longingly once more at the silhouette reflected on the window before turning and flying toward Peach Blossom Cottage, where Little Monk Bu Jie resided.

After some time, Gu Changsheng drew the final period and a smile of relief appeared on her face. She put the brush back on its stand and lifted the sheet, fanning it gently to dry the still-wet ink.

“Damn it, thirty-two volumes of military strategies, and I’ve finally finished writing them!”

Gu Changsheng murmured to herself, feeling a sense of relief after finishing a major task and suddenly feeling much lighter.

“Madam, Uncle Song requests an audience,” Dong Lei called softly from outside the study.

“Please, invite Uncle Song in! I’ve said before, in our own home, there’s no need for such formalities,” Gu Changsheng said as she put down the sheet containing military strategies, placing a paperweight carefully on it and speaking promptly.

Uncle Song entered, bowing deeply from afar. “This humble servant pays respect to Madam!” he greeted.

“Uncle Song, please get up. Coming over so late, is there something you wish to discuss?” Gu Changsheng hurried a few steps forward to help Uncle Song stand.

Uncle Song straightened up, a smile on his face. “I do have something to report. The items the Madam asked me to acquire secretly have almost all been gathered.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? It’s only been two days. You actually managed it?”

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Uncle Song’s face as he explained with a smile, “It wasn’t just my doing. Elder Yhan inadvertently heard me instructing the youngsters and lent a hand. With a lifetime of experience in the world of commerce and a vast network, he knows many tricks of the trade. The private iron and saltpeter you requested are already en route and will soon arrive in Liuzhou!”

“Excellent, excellent, excellent!” Gu Changsheng exclaimed three times, unable to hide the joy in her eyes.

“Madam, the private iron can be used to forge weapons for private soldiers, but what about the saltpeter? Could it be that the Madam intends to make fireworks and firecrackers?” Uncle Song, driven by curiosity on seeing her joy, asked.

“Fireworks and firecrackers? Haha…” Gu Changsheng laughed proudly, her blood-red brocade rustling in the wind. She stood at the window, looking down upon the night outside with a touch of frost in her countenance, “Indeed, I intend to create a unique kind of fireworks and firecrackers…”

If such “fireworks and firecrackers” never had the chance to debut, it would be one thing. But if they did, they would make a sensation that would shake the world!

Seeing her response, Uncle Song did not press further. After all, whatever the Madam wanted, he was there to obtain, no need to ask the rationale!

Following orders for the lady of the house was an obligation that required no explanation!

“Uncle Song, has my foster father retired for the evening?” Gu Changsheng asked with a smile, returning her gaze from the outdoors.

“When this humble servant was on his way here, the Young Master had just emerged from the master’s tower with a scroll. Presumably, the master has not yet rested,” Uncle Song reported.

Mr. Ban Shan, who had spent his life free of familial encumbrances, did not enjoy being called the Old Grand Master, hence the household referred to him respectfully as the master.

“Good, then I will go see what my foster father thinks of the military treatise I’ve written!” As she spoke, Gu Changsheng gathered the sheets of paper on the desk, neatly stacked them, and then opened a compartment in the desk, retrieving a stack of thread-bound books. Cradling them proudly, she walked out of the study without delay.

She couldn’t wait to share her achievement with her foster father–the most systematic and comprehensive military treatise the world has seen to date!

At Peach Blossom Cottage, Zhou Mu and Little Monk Bu Jie stood on the observation deck, both looking up toward the vast and limitless night sky.