NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 9 Incident
Golden Cicada naturally knew Lu Yu wandered all around the area precisely to gather the Tea Tree Spirit Charm, used to restore his Innate Spirit Root. So, naturally, he wouldn't obstruct him.
"So that's how it is, then you indeed must go, but make sure to go early and return soon. Without you, the main force of this temple, the progress is likely to slow down a lot." As Golden Cicada spoke, his face was all smiles, yet his brows still unconsciously furrowed.
"Is it uncontrollable now?" Lu Yu naturally knew that it was the Human Path's Fortune and Destiny tumbling inside Golden Cicada's body.
"To house the Fortune and Destiny of the Human Path within oneself, I've underestimated the difficulty. It seems I need to close off and sort through the Fortune and Destiny within me these next few days," Golden Cicada said with a wry smile.
Upstream of the Han River, there is a place called Ziyang, renowned for its tea trees. The tea leaves are tightly rolled and plump, evenly fat with a green sheen, showing White Hairs. The aroma of the tea is tender and lasting, the color of the brew is tender green and clear, and the flavor is fresh, mellow, and sweetly aftertasting, with a tender green and bright leaf base.
Since ancient times, spring comes early in Lingnan, and by Qingming, Ziyang tea is already brewed. Hence the tea of Ziyang has become famous, and many local people earn their living by picking tea.
One day, in Ziyang, a man in a green robe arrived, gentle and scholarly, holding paper and pen, observing the local tea trees closely and regularly jotting down notes. When questioned, he did not conceal his identity, sharing that he was traveling all around, observing the tea trees of the world, preparing to write a book to facilitate those who love planting and loving tea.
When people asked for help with their own tea trees' issues, the gentleman patiently shared knowledge and solved problems. Everyone was impressed by his extensive knowledge. The questions he asked were met with open responses, and in just a few days, this gentleman in the green robe had become a well-known figure in Ziyang, deeply loved by the locals.
This day was the time for tea picking. The tea farmers had gotten up very early, had their breakfast at home, and then stepped out into the morning sun's rays to start picking the tea.
Right then, the farmers noticed that the gentleman was at the summit, holding a tender branch of a tea tree. With each movement, spiritual light dispersed from the tea fields into the air, gathering like mists enveloping the fields. With a gentle wave, the mist flowed like water, converging into a stream that entered the delicate branch he held.
At that moment, holding the tender branch of the tea tree, the gentleman gathered all the Spiritual Charm, and the mist enveloped him. The rising sun cast a spectrum of colored sunlight upon the mist, making the distinguished gentleman appear as if an immortal had descended to earth.
The tea trees in the field, after this event, did not appear weakened at all; instead, they thrived even more pleasingly. The farmers joyfully discovered that the picked tea trees were sprouting tender shoots again. Everyone began kneeling and bowing towards the gentleman on the summit, shouting for the mercy of the immortal.
However, when the mist dispersed, there was no sign of the gentleman on the summit. Reflecting on the past, the farmers all said that this gentleman must be the Heavenly Tea Immortal, who saw the suffering of people in the world and thus came to help them out of compassion.
Thus, the name of the Tea Immortal spread far and wide, and due to this event, Ziyang's tea gained tremendous fame. Many people came to visit upon hearing this tale, significantly improving the standard of living for the locals.
Of course, these matters had nothing to do with Lu Yu anymore; now that he had achieved his wishes, he was entirely pleased. He raised into the clouds, but couldn't help frowning.
"This seal on Kyushu is too strong. In the Great Chen, I would ascend with the lightness of lifting mist, but here it's as if I'm carrying a massive mountain, burdensome beyond measure. The strength of the ancient human race's Holy Emperor is evident."
By the time he arrived in Changan, at the not yet completed Jinshan Temple, just as he entered through the mountain gate, Lu Yu sensed something was off. That playful and always smiling Golden Cicada was now sitting on the cliff with a face full of sorrow, no longer the free-spirited person from before.
Even Little Black Bear and Big Black Donkey appeared dispirited, no longer their usual playful selves. A sense of foreboding seized Lu Yu; something must have happened during his absence.
"Something happened?" Lu Yu asked.
Golden Cicada turned to him, his face etched with a bitter smile, "You have returned, monk. It seems you have achieved your desires; congratulations are in order."
"Was it Xiao Yao who encountered trouble?" Lu Yu frowned, asking. Considering the state they were in, besides Bai Xiaoyao, Lu Yu couldn't think of anyone else.
He hurriedly tried to divine using Bai Xiaoyao's aura, only to find that Heaven's Secret was in Chaos. With Golden Cicada at the center, the entire Kyushu's Heaven's Secret had turned into a tangled mess. Previously, divining Heaven's Secret was like observing patterns on one's palm—everything had traces to follow. Now, divining was akin to staring into a bottomless Abyss.
Not only was it fruitless, but there was also a risk of counter-attack from Heaven's Secret.
"Did you manage to figure anything out?" Golden Cicada asked expectantly.
Lu Yu gently shook his head, "Ever since you began absorbing the Human Path's Fortune and Destiny, Heaven's Secret started to become chaotic. Now it's entirely in Chaos. Moreover, it seems there's something on Xiao Yao that can shield Heaven's Secret, making it impossible for me to divine anything."
Golden Cicada gave a rueful smile. "Is that really the case?"
"Tell me, what exactly happened?" Lu Yu asked, eager to understand the full story.
"On this trip to Luoyang for a family visit, Xiao Yao's father somehow acquired a Portrait of a Beauty, but who would have thought that this portrait would be the source of disaster."
"This Portrait of a Beauty possesses a unique magical power; all who viewed it became obsessed and insane, including Xiao Yao's father. After obtaining this portrait, he treated it as a treasure and kept it hidden at home, only for it to attract powerful beings who massacred everyone in the Bai Family."
"I was then regulating the rampaging Human Path's Fortune and Destiny within me. Upon receiving the news, I rushed to the scene and could only save Xiao Yao, who was desperately protected by her family."
"From that moment, Xiao Yao became reticent and withdrawn, and even though we tried everything, we couldn't ease her heart. Just a few days ago, Xiao Yao disappeared, taking with her the very portrait that brought major calamity to her family."
As Golden Cicada recounted the events, Lu Yu finally understood the cause and effect, feeling a sigh within his heart. He could imagine the pain in Bai Xiaoyao's heart; a happy family reduced to just her in an instant, leaving her desolate and bereft. Such a blow was enough to drive a person mad. Find your next read at empire
"What exactly is this Portrait of a Beauty that it could bring such great misfortune?" Lu Yu was very curious about the origin of the entire incident.
"This portrait is no ordinary depiction of a beauty. If I were to speak of its origin, it even involves my Buddhism. When Buddha Ancestor achieved enlightenment, an Extraterritorial Demon named Pishamen sensed that a great virtue had attained enlightenment and was inherently conflicting with his own race.
Therefore, he descended to this world to obstruct Buddha Ancestor's enlightenment and even sent a witch to stir up Buddha Ancestor's desires. However, the Buddha remained unmoved, using the insight of the White Skeleton to break the delusion and reach true liberation. At that time, someone witnessed this scene and captured the likeness of that witch in the portrait—hence this Portrait of a Beauty."