The Beacon of Kyushu

Li Huan saw Zhang Mani coming, and he said straight to the point: "Master Zhang, I asked you, Deng Xuanguang, and Kuang Yue to write a letter to invite people from Shaolin and Zhengyi sects in the name of performing rituals, hoping to unite the two sects to plot against the Central Plains. I thought that Baoen had a grudge against Song, and Zhang Xubai was young and ignorant, so I could definitely use him. Who would have thought that the two of them were ignorant of the current situation. A man of small mind is not a gentleman, and a man without poison is not a man. I will invite Baoen to a banquet the day after tomorrow. During the banquet, I intend to poison Baoen. I wonder if Master Zhang has a miraculous medicine?"

Zhang Mani smiled sinisterly and said, "Hehe, this is easy to handle. I wonder if Your Majesty wants to use a strong poison to kill the bald donkey on the spot, or a slow-acting poison to wait for the bald donkey to return to the Central Plains and die on his own?"

Li Huan said: "Of course it is a chronic poison. Otherwise, if Bao En dies in Qu Yue, the Shaolin monks will definitely go to Qu Yue to provoke trouble, which is really troublesome. However, this poison must be easy to administer but difficult to cure. Otherwise, if Bao En cures this poison, the Central Plains martial arts world will have one more enemy, which is not what I want!"

"This is easy." Zhang Mani took out a black ancient porcelain bottle from his arms and handed it to Li Huan with both hands, saying, "Your Majesty, the poison in the bottle is a secret recipe of mine. It is colorless and tasteless. After half a month, the person who takes it will have his liver and intestines torn into pieces and his body will turn into pus and blood. Only I can cure this poison. Even if you have great ability to repay your kindness, there is no way you can survive if you take it."

Li Huan grabbed the porcelain bottle, opened the stopper, put it under his nose and sniffed it, a playful smile appeared on his face.

That night, there was a gentle breeze and the sky was filled with moonlight.

Zhang Xubai couldn't sleep alone in the room, so he just wandered around the temple to spend the night.

The purpose of his trip was basically the same as repaying a favor, which was to seek peace between the two countries. But as a humble, polite, and reserved person, he was powerless in the face of the ambitious Li Huan. It seemed that there was nothing he could do now except to save his life in Quyue and return safely to Longhu Mountain.

Zhang Xubai was just worrying about the fact that his trip was not fulfilled, when he suddenly saw Bao En standing by the road, looking up at the moon. He paused and bowed, saying, "Blessings and blessings, great... master, you haven't rested either."

Bao En nodded slightly and looked down at Zhang Xubai, who was a head shorter than him, "Amitabha, is the little celestial master also worried about Lord Li's affairs?"

Zhang Xubai smiled and said, "Well... you can say that."

Bao En sighed and said, "When I came here, I thought that the King of Li was only forced by the situation to become an enemy of the Song Dynasty. Unexpectedly, he has a wicked ambition. Not only did he kill Lord Hou, but he also detained the important officials of the court and defeated the three armies. He is determined to annex the South and then rule the Central Plains. I think he is cruel by nature and his methods are very despicable. If such a person really occupies the Central Plains, the consequences are unpredictable."

Zhang Xubai heard this and nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, please don't let this happen."

Bao En said helplessly: "This matter concerns the rise and fall of the two countries. Although you and I should come forward to stop it, it is not something that people like you and me can solve when it comes to reality. Therefore, it is meaningless for you and me to worry too much. Everything depends on cause and effect and God's will."

Zhang Xubai said: "Master, what you said is very true. I will return to Longhu Mountain tomorrow."

Bao En was startled and asked, "What! Lord Li summoned me today and mentioned that he would hold a banquet for you and me the day after tomorrow. Why did Little Heavenly Master leave early?"

Zhang Xubai asked doubtfully, "Really? But he told me that he would send me away tomorrow?"

Bao En's eyes narrowed and he said, "Strange, what is the meaning of Lord Li's action?"

Zhang Xubai asked tentatively: "Master, have you... offended him?"

Bao En said without reservation: "Lord Li intends to let my Shaolin work for him, saying that we both get what we need, but in fact, it is just to help him realize his ambition and seize the world! Although I am not talented, how can I ignore my Chinese people for my own personal grudge and help the traitors of his race. Therefore, I flatly rejected his suggestion. I am sure that the little Taoist priest would not agree to such a thing." Zhang Xubai smiled slightly and said, "Haha, he also mentioned it to me, but I evaded it." Then Zhang Xubai suddenly seemed to think of something, and a few traces of panic appeared on his face, "Master, there has never been good wine or good banquets, so it is better not to go."

Bao En shook his head and smiled confidently, "That's not necessary! With my skills, even if Lord Li really wants to harm me, he may not be able to do so."

Zhang Xubai thought for a moment, took out a jade bottle from his sleeve, handed it to Bao En, and said, "If that's the case, you'd better take this medicine."

Bao En looked at the jade bottle in confusion and asked, "What kind of medicine is this?"

Zhang Xubai said: "Zhou Tian Zheng Qi Pill."

Bao En had never heard of this medicine before, so he couldn't help but ask, "What effect does this medicine have?"

Zhang Xubai said: "It can transform hundreds of poisons."

Bao En was shocked and said in disbelief: "Is it really so magical?"

Zhang Xubai scratched his head and said shyly: "This is a minor skill, it should... should be OK."

Upon hearing this, Bao En quickly put away the jade bottle, clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, thank you, little celestial master, for giving me the medicine!"

Zhang Xubai said embarrassedly: "Uh... no problem, no problem. I hope Master will be blessed with good luck and be safe."

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

It was not yet noon, but in the side room, under the blazing sun and white clouds, a table full of vegetarian food had already been set. Li Huan sat in the main seat, with Zhang Mani and Li Gongyun on both sides, waiting for Bao En to come to the banquet. The three of them did not wait long, and Bao En came alone, with a very calm expression, "Amitabha, I, Bao En, greet your Majesty, and greet General Li and Taoist Zhang."

Li Huan smiled and stood up to greet him, saying, "Amitabha, Master, there is no need to be polite, please take your seat quickly. Today's vegetarian meal is for the Master's reward and farewell. There are no outsiders here, so please enjoy it."

Bao En bowed slightly and sat down in the seat set for him opposite the host. Li Huan saw Bao En sitting down, so he sat down too, and personally handed a cup of fragrant tea to Bao En. Bao En thanked him and took a few sips. He didn't feel anything strange in the tea, and his guard was relaxed a lot. He thought that Li Huan would bring up the old things again in an attempt to win over Shaolin and conspire with the Central Plains. Who knew that the three of them were only talking about their work, and occasionally talked about state affairs but only mentioned it briefly, and didn't even mention the matter of ruling the Central Plains.

The four of them ate Buddhist vegetarian food, and since there was nothing important to discuss, the meal was over in a short time. Afterwards, Li Huan fulfilled his promise and personally sent Bao En and the two young monks who came with him out of Hualu, still without any embarrassment. All this seemed to be very logical, so Bao En completely let down his last bit of defense and treated the medicine given by Zhang Xubai in his arms as a decoration.

(End of this chapter)