Li Xingtian's expression was so certain it was as though he'd actually been bamboozled by Cui Hao before.
Cui Hao's thoughts raced as he tried to recall when he'd ever bamboozled Li Xingtian. After all, his Second Senior Brother was the most honest of them all—though he didn't look like a good person, he treated everyone in the sect extremely well.
Beyond being willing to take on any burden, his attitude was also impeccable.
Just based on Second Senior Brother's character alone, Cui Hao couldn't see himself ever actually bamboozling him. At most, he'd occasionally crack jokes with him, but Second Senior Brother could always tell whether he was joking or not.
Could it be… that he'd gotten drunk at some point and let something slip?
Cui Hao couldn't recall anything useful, but he understood one thing clearly—it wasn't safe to linger here.
Second Senior Brother might not care about having been bamboozled in the past, but Third Senior Sister might not be so forgiving about helping Second Senior Brother vent his frustration.
Better to apologize to Second Senior Brother when they were alone later.
Once Second Senior Brother forgave him, Third Senior Sister wouldn't be able to give him trouble anymore.
Cui Hao clapped his hands together as though remembering something, and hurriedly spoke:
"Almost forgot—someone asked me to discuss important matters today. Senior Brother, Senior Sister, your junior brother has to go. See you later!"
With that, without waiting for Li Xingtian and Chen Baiqing to agree, Cui Hao took off running.
Seeing this, Chen Baiqing narrowed her eyes slightly and asked Li Xingtian beside her:
"Has Fifth Junior Brother deceived you, Senior Brother?"
She had always thought that although Cui Hao was somewhat unreliable and frivolous, he at least had a bottom line. If he really needed Second Senior Brother's help, as long as he asked, Second Senior Brother would probably agree to anything.
If Cui Hao could open his mouth to bamboozle such a wonderful Second Senior Brother, then as Third Senior Sister, Chen Baiqing naturally had sect rules to teach him.
Li Xingtian shook his head lightly: "No. If he needs my help, he just puts on a smiling face and tells me how handsome I am."
Chen Baiqing could only fall silent at that.
Li Xingtian naturally knew that line was hard to follow up on, so he changed the subject:
"What has Cui Hao been busy with lately?"
Chen Baiqing answered: "Probably teaching those noble families how to curse at Mr. Li, I'd guess?"
"Huh?" Li Xingtian looked suspicious. "Isn't Cui Hao afraid Luoyu will beat him up for that?"
"If he dares to do it, naturally he isn't afraid," Chen Baiqing said with a light smile. "We'll just help Luoyu throw a few extra punches later to vent."
Hearing this, Li Xingtian figured Cui Hao must have his reasons for doing this. Otherwise, Chen Baiqing would have hung Cui Hao from a tree and whipped him before Luoyu even had the chance.
So he nodded slowly.
With Cui Hao gone, the two of them leisurely started heading back.
Passing by the earlier tea stall, a group of people had started discussing what Cui Hao had said.
Some praised, and naturally some cursed.
Chen Baiqing didn't care about these voices. When the greater trend came crashing in like a wave, those who caught the opportunity to ride it would naturally soar, while those who couldn't see the trend would naturally be smashed into the sea.
Cui Hao should understand this principle too. It was just that he always cared, and always hoped to tell people what to do.
Chen Baiqing didn't like doing this kind of useless work that brought her no benefit.
Her thoughts settled, and she turned to look at Li Xingtian's profile.
Second Senior Brother still had that expressionless look, yet radiating an aura of fierce intensity.
Chen Baiqing suddenly spoke:
"Second Senior Brother has actually been bamboozled by Cui Hao, hasn't he?"
Li Xingtian looked over, confused.
"Just in Second Senior Brother's dreams," Chen Baiqing said with certainty. "Also, Cui Hao saying he's a genius—Second Senior Brother laughing is probably because of the dream too, right?"
Li Xingtian sighed helplessly: "I really don't know if it'd be better if you were a bit dumber."
Chen Baiqing smiled:
"If Second Senior Brother needs it, I don't mind being a bit dumber in front of you."
"That won't be necessary." Li Xingtian shook his head. "My current junior sister is fine as she is. After all, even if you were a bit dumber, you'd still be smarter than me."
"That's not necessarily true." Chen Baiqing held up her fingers, pinching a tiny amount. "I'm only this much smarter than Second Senior Brother."
Li Xingtian smiled and nodded, playing along:
"As long as Third Junior Sister doesn't bamboozle her Senior Brother."
Hearing this, Chen Baiqing put her hands behind her back, her steps suddenly lighter, shedding her earlier steadiness.
When they were young, it was mostly Master who took her shopping, but Master was always busy too. Eldest Senior Sister was always busy with things, and Second Senior Brother was always cultivating.
But whenever Chen Baiqing knocked on Second Senior Brother's door, she always got a response.
Back then, Second Senior Brother was just like now—walking beside her, taking her shopping, not saying much, but whenever she looked at something a bit longer, he'd always automatically go buy it for her.
Perhaps everyone is self-interested.
Wanting the benefits of growing up, but not wanting to inherit the helplessness of childhood.
Chen Baiqing looked at Second Senior Brother's unchanged expression, reflecting the same profile from her childhood, and asked:
"Second Senior Brother, have you been having those dreams lately?"
Li Xingtian sighed slowly:
"No. It's better not to have those kinds of dreams."
Chen Baiqing didn't speak again at that. She just walked a few steps forward, then suddenly turned, her gaze directed toward the already distant city gate.
Li Xingtian also stopped. His hand somehow subconsciously reached for his money pouch, and his gaze followed hers.
At the city gate,
a group of monks in kasaya robes, led by one with Golden Core cultivation, entered the city. They carried banners and treasure umbrellas, chanting something as they came, with faint golden light flowing around them.
Li Xingtian looked at the characters written on the banners to either side.
[The sea of suffering has no shore]
[Small Vehicle Buddhist teachings save all beings]
Li Xingtian naturally understood the situation and spoke softly: "They're here."
Chen Baiqing's eyes were calm as she spoke naturally:
"Let's go back first. Use the jade token to contact Eldest Senior Sister and understand the situation. If everything checks out, we'll make our preparations. There's still plenty of time before the real trend begins."
Li Xingtian nodded in agreement.
Above the Xuanwu Kingdom imperial palace,
Lin Luoyu watched the highly conspicuous monks with a calm gaze. They deliberately took a roundabout route through the dense crowds before heading to the Buddhist temple within the capital.
Zhao Xuan hurried over, his gaze also following them, his tone somewhat tense:
"Are they here already? Are any Buddhist Buddhas accompanying them?"
Hearing this, Lin Luoyu looked at Zhao Xuan with a somewhat helpless gaze:
"The leader entering the city this time is just a Golden Core monk. The Buddhist sect isn't sending any Buddhas for something like this. The Southern Zhanbu Continent isn't the main focus—their presence here is just incidental. We have arrangements in place."
Zhao Xuan relaxed at that, nodding repeatedly, then changed the subject:
"Right, right, right… So how is State Preceptor Li preparing? Has she finished her book?"
Lin Luoyu's tone was calm: "Should be soon. And don't be nervous—the Buddhist sect isn't going to succeed at spreading their teachings everywhere. Even if they fail, no Buddha is going to descend from the heavens to force it through."
"I'm not nervous…"
Lin Luoyu looked at Zhao Xuan's standing-on-end body hair and could only nod helplessly.
Truly worthy of being an emperor—such a stubborn mouth.
[
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