Chapter 170: I Think You Don't Seem to Understand What I Mean
Heavy rain.
The entire sect was currently inside a small pavilion by the water pond.
Chen Baiqing was brewing tea. Li Yingling could play a few simple tunes on the zither, which could be considered to have a preliminary atmosphere.
Li Xingtian, like Chu Xingchen, did not understand tea tasting. He just took a shallow sip, then nodded seriously.
He mainly aimed to act as if he were savoring it, to seem as if he were. After all, having followed his master for so long, he should have learned a little bit of the basics.
Lin Luoyu was much more simple; she did not pretend to understand the taste of the tea at all.
Only Cui Hao truly understood tea; even his method of drinking was completely different.
He finished the tea in three sips. After each sip, he would pause, close his eyes to savor it for a moment, and then slowly nod.
Finally, he praised: "Third Senior Sister has grasped the character of this tea with incredible skill, and her water-passing technique is also just right. Originally, this tea could not be considered top-grade, but paired with Third Senior Sister's tea art, drinking it is more enjoyable than a top-grade one."
Chen Baiqing nodded calmly, which was her answer to Cui Hao's flattery.
She raised the teapot and added more tea for her master.
This tea was brewed by her for her master; Fifth Junior Brother was just drinking it incidentally.
Lin Luoyu let out a faint, almost inaudible laugh at her fifth junior brother's misguided flattery.
The sound was not loud, but to Cui Hao—it was piercing to the ear!
Zhang Yuanshan was also in the pavilion at this moment. In recent days, he had almost fully recovered.
It was also during these days that he understood why Brother Li had such deep feelings for his master.
It would be stranger not to have deep feelings in a sect with such a master.
In their spare time from cultivation, they joked and played around. The sect was harmonious, which was truly very comforting.
Just like at this moment, drinking tea and listening to the zither in the rain.
One could only feel their soul being cleansed.
Lin Luoyu finished the tea in her hand, looked at the heavy rain, and suddenly said: "Master, has this rain been falling for a long time?"
Chu Xingchen fiddled with the Go board in front of him, playing Five-in-a-Row with Li Xingtian, and answered casually: "It should be, right?"
Li Yingling stopped her movements, her gaze turning to the heavy rain outside the pavilion: "It seems it hasn't stopped, nor has it lessened."
Chu Xingchen glanced at the Five-in-a-Row board, which was about to be filled.
As a cultivator's cultivation level rises, this level of calculation, like in Five-in-a-Row, basically ends in a draw unless one intentionally lets the other win.
It was just a pity that Li Xingtian had no ambition to improve.
"I'm not playing anymore." Chu Xingchen reached for his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Are you all saying there's something wrong with this rain?"
Cui Hao looked at the heavy rain and suddenly remembered something: "There are rumors in Yuzhou City that Chizhou has experienced a major flood, drowning many people. Quite a few refugees are fleeing to the surroundings. It seems many have also run to Yuzhou City because of Chanlin Temple's reputation."
"I heard Chanlin Temple is currently providing congee and doing charity."
Hearing this, Lin Luoyu looked at Cui Hao. In recent days, only Cui Hao occasionally went to Yuzhou City.
The rest of the time, she spent in secluded cultivation within the sect, as did Li Yingling.
She had not heard this news, but she knew.
In a major flood, only a minority drown. Most people die on the road while fleeing from disaster, their white bones piled by the roadside.
Chu Xingchen sighed upon hearing this: "Cui Hao, contact Chanlin Temple later and say that we are willing to contribute some silver to help. We will also do what is within our power."
Cui Hao smiled and nodded in agreement: "Alright, Master!"
Lin Luoyu looked at her master with some surprise. Just as she was about to say something, she quieted down again, only revealing a slight smile.
However, her smile soon froze. She saw her master suddenly speak again: "Hmm... no need to go."
Following her master's gaze, Lin Luoyu looked out.
In the curtain of rain, a young monk with a straight figure, wearing a kasaya, was running over through the heavy rain.
Behind him, Ning Qianqian, holding an umbrella, was also hurrying over.
Chu Xingchen watched the young monk, completely soaked, run into the small pavilion. His clothes were drenched, dripping water all over the floor.
The system's attributes swept over him. As expected, this person was indeed Yuan Kong. His previous image of a mighty, large man had become much more slender, turning into a young lad.
However, the gray attribute still existed. With his current appearance, it seemed Yuan Jing hadn't deceived this kid after all. It was estimated that in a few more days, Yuan Kong would be able to change back to that little monk. At that time, the temporary gray attribute would probably disappear.
Li Yingling glanced at the young monk a couple of times and naturally realized this was Yuan Kong. She had also seen the brawny version of Yuan Kong.
Yuan Kong stepped into the pavilion, his gaze falling directly on Chu Xingchen. Immediately, without hesitation, he knelt down.
His face was taut, and his voice could barely hide a choked tone as he said, "There is an urgent matter that requires Benefactor's help. As long as you agree, I will do anything!"
Chu Xingchen quickly stood up and reached out to help Yuan Kong up: "I more or less know about the matter you're seeking help for. I didn't expect that you, this born Son of Buddha, are actually somewhat worthy of the name. If you hadn't come, I was planning to send someone to discuss it with you tomorrow."
Hearing this, Yuan Kong was stunned. He was helped up by Chu Xingchen in a rather dazed state. He had only just learned about this matter today and had rushed over in a panic. How did Chu Xingchen know about it before he did?
Yuan Kong asked, somewhat confused: "You truly know?"
Chu Xingchen nodded and said: "I truly know. Isn't it just Chizhou? I still know something about the situation there."
Hearing this, Yuan Kong instantly breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't expect Chu Xingchen to actually know. Could it be that Chu Xingchen was afraid he would renege on the debt and had someone specifically watch him to prevent him from running away? But regardless, as long as the Abbot could be saved, it was fine.
He quickly asked: "Then, are you confident?"
Chu Xingchen smiled without speaking and simply handed a spatial ring to Yuan Kong. It was just mortal gold and silver; a large pile could be summoned with spirit stones. This Yuan Kong just hadn't seen much of the world. Could it be that he was looking down on him?
The sect's personnel now had at least two spatial rings. These were all obtained by Chu Xingchen from Alliance Lord Zhao Chun during the Black Tortoise Country's demon-slaying war. He had even asked for two Qiankun bags. These could be considered rare items.
A Qiankun bag could hold people, but only a few mortals, or cultivators and spirit beasts with low cultivation.
The method of measurement for a Qiankun bag and a spatial ring was somewhat different. A spatial ring was based on size; spiritual power was considered like air and did not take up space. However, because a Qiankun bag could hold living things, it required spiritual power to prop up a certain amount of space inside.
But as a result, the spiritual power inside the Qiankun bag had to be counted as volume. The higher a cultivator's cultivation, the more spiritual power they could contain. A Nascent Soul cultivator putting just one foot into a Qiankun bag would be enough to burst it.
Yuan Kong instinctively reached out and took Chu Xingchen's spatial ring. He raised his head somewhat blankly and glanced at Chu Xingchen. What was the use of giving him a spatial ring?
However, when Yuan Kong saw Chu Xingchen's expression that said, "I'll handle it, you can rest easy," he instantly understood. Could it be that inside this spatial ring...
Yuan Kong gave a knowing smile and his spiritual sense probed into it. He then saw some yellow and white objects piled casually inside the spatial ring.
Eh?! Gold and silver? What use was this?
Yuan Kong, not giving up, searched inside the spatial ring for a good while longer and indeed discovered that besides silver and gold, there was nothing else. What was the use of giving money? Even if he wanted to find other cultivators to help, what should be given were spirit stones, right?! Could it be that this was the Abbot's funeral fee?
Yuan Kong looked at Chu Xingchen, his expression returning to its pitiful state: "Benefactor... I think you don't seem to have understood what I meant."
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