Chapter 46: So That's How You Read a Career Line
Naturally, holding a temple fair wasn't as simple as widening a road and letting vendors set up stalls. After all, why should merchants choose to sell there of all places—and even pay for the privilege of standing before the temple gates?
The organizing party, Chanlin Temple, had to host events that would draw massive crowds.
On the fifteenth came the Water Forest Dharma Assembly, where monks chanted scriptures for the dead. As long as one paid a fee, their ancestors' memorial tablets could be placed in the most prominent spot.
Because of that, the people of Yuzhou joked: "Spend thousands of gold coins, and your ancestors will sit beside the Buddha's head."
Those who were wealthy and loved saving face naturally paid generously to see their family name placed above others.
This, in fact, became Chanlin Temple's most profitable project. Though mocked by Yuzhou's residents every year, it remained a tradition they never abandoned.
The sixteenth was the Martial Contest of the Buddhist Sect, the seventeenth the Festival of Ten Thousand Lanterns, and the eighteenth the Buddha's Procession.
In short, Chanlin Temple would do almost anything for excitement—even carrying out the statues of the Arhats for a parade.
The only reason they didn't carry the Buddha himself was because the golden statue was too heavy to lift.
They even justified it as "The Buddha's journey to bless the four directions and safeguard peace."
Although Chanlin Temple had both wealth and fame, its worldly behavior drew unanimous disdain from other temples.
Today marked the first day of the temple fair—the fifteenth day—when the Water Forest Dharma Assembly officially began.
On the road to the fair—
Li Yingling wore a pale yellow embroidered dress, two small pouches tied at her waist: a black one for copper coins and a silver one for broken silver pieces.
In her left hand she held a skewer of candied hawthorn, and in her right, a small round fan embroidered with white lotuses over a blue silk base, gently fanning the air.
The sight of such a bright, charming girl naturally drew countless glances from passersby.
Yet none dared approach her—mostly because of the man walking just behind her: Li Xingtian.
The tall man's cold, imposing demeanor was enough to make anyone with improper thoughts instantly retreat.
As a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, even a glance from him could make mortals tremble.
Li Xingtian wore a black long robe and carried over his shoulder a long wooden rack of candied haws.
"Sorry, these aren't for sale."
His tone was polite but helpless as he refused a child who wanted to buy one.
Li Yingling turned her head and saw a girl of six or seven looking up at them pitifully. She waved her fan generously.
"It's fine, Junior Brother. Give her one."
The little girl's face lit up with joy as she accepted the skewer. "Thank you, Uncle and Sister!"
Li Xingtian's face twitched. Why was she called sister, but he had to be uncle?
Was the age difference really that obvious?
Li Yingling smiled with satisfaction. "See? Isn't that little girl adorable?"
"If she didn't talk, maybe," Li Xingtian replied dryly.
Watching the child run off cheerfully to her parents, Li Yingling nodded contentedly. "That last remark was very much like Master. Though if it were him, he'd probably have snatched the candied haws back."
Li Xingtian sighed. "You really shouldn't insult Master like that…"
Li Yingling pouted in protest, then subtly raised her brows, gesturing for him to look to the side.
Li Xingtian followed her gaze.
A crowd of beautiful young women surrounded a man in white robes, their laughter and chatter audible even from a distance.
"Where does Young Master live~?"
"You're not from Yuzhou City, are you? I've never seen you before!"
"Young Master, I've had this ache recently, could you take a look for me…?"
Li Xingtian shook his head, sighing. "Didn't you insist that Master wear the outfit you gave him? He told you if he went out dressed like that, he'd be surrounded by women."
"I thought he was exaggerating!" Li Yingling huffed in annoyance. "How was I supposed to know those shameless girls would actually cling to him and not let go?"
"So much for a sect outing," she muttered, puffing her cheeks. "Looks like our Master started team-building with strangers first."
Li Xingtian gave a wry smile. "Then why doesn't Senior Sister just go over and drag Master back?"
"I most certainly won't," Li Yingling said indignantly. "Just look at how happy Master is! If I interrupt, he'll take it out on me later!"
As she complained, her eyes suddenly brightened.
Not far away, a graceful figure was walking slowly up the slope—Yaoqin.
She wore a pure white lotus-patterned dress, her smooth black hair held in place by a white jade hairpin. In her hand was an exquisite round fan painted with fireflies.
Her refined temperament and striking beauty should have made her the center of attention at the temple fair. Yet strangely, the bustling crowd around her seemed not to notice her presence at all.
Wherever she stepped, people subconsciously parted to make way for her.
Master's unacknowledged sweetheart had arrived!
Li Yingling smirked inwardly. It wasn't that the disciple wouldn't cover for her teacher—it was simply that Master had ditched his disciples first.
Li Xingtian's eyes also landed on Yaoqin almost immediately. He turned quickly, intending to warn his master.
"Junior Brother," Li Yingling called out.
Li Xingtian turned back, puzzled.
Covering the lower half of her face with her fan, Li Yingling said in a teasing, persuasive tone, "You must let Master understand that beauty is a bone-scraping blade."
She knew her junior brother well. As Master often said, Li Xingtian was a block of straight steel—a man extremely wary of women for reasons unknown.
Every time he saw their master speaking with one, he would show that same pitiful expression, as if mourning a great man's fall to temptation.
Li Xingtian hesitated for a moment, torn, before stopping in his tracks.
If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have listened—but when it came from his senior sister… well, perhaps she had a point.
And if Master got angry later, he could always use her as an excuse.
With that comforting thought, he decided to stay put.
Yaoqin's gaze soon fell on the unmistakable figure of Li Xingtian—after all, a burly man carrying a long rack of candied haws was hard to miss.
A glance to the side showed Li Yingling waving cheerfully in her direction.
Yaoqin raised her fan slightly in greeting, then frowned in mild confusion—Chu Xingchen was nowhere near them.
From afar, Li Yingling noticed her uncertainty and raised her fan again, pointing discreetly toward a direction.
Yaoqin followed the gesture and saw the back of a young man in white.
That silhouette was all too familiar. Combined with Li Yingling's hint, she immediately knew who it was.
Very well.
So he had claimed he was taking his disciples to the temple fair—and this was how he did it?
Tightening her grip on the jade fan, Yaoqin lifted her skirt slightly and strode toward Chu Xingchen.
As she drew closer, she began to hear the voices of the women surrounding him.
"Master, you were right! You're truly gifted! Please, read my career line again—see how prosperous my fate will be?"
A curvy woman in a silk dress leaned so close to Chu Xingchen that their sleeves nearly brushed. Her hand hovered between boldness and shyness—it was unclear who was taking advantage of whom.
Chu Xingchen glanced down at her palm and smiled. "The true career line isn't read from the hand."
"Then where is it read from?"
A cold, cutting voice interrupted.
Assuming it was another curious woman, Chu Xingchen didn't even look up. He chuckled. "Take a guess…"
The silk-dressed girl blushed adorably, covering her face. "Master, you're so bad!" she said playfully.
"So that's how one reads a career line?!"
The same cold voice returned, now tinged with fury—and this time, it was painfully familiar.
Chu Xingchen spun around instantly toward the source.
There stood Yaoqin, her smile tight and sharp, her eyes glinting dangerously as she stared straight at him.
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