The Inverted Dragon's Scale

As Song Tao turned around, his face was already full of smiles, saying in a gentle voice: “Xiaoxin, I am so sorry. I promised to stay with you at Thousand Buddha Temple for a few days. But something had happened at Tiandu, and I have to rush back immediately.”

Cui Xiaoxin’s brows drew together in a worried frown, as she asked, “Third elder brother, is it serious?”

“It’s not serious, it’s more urgent.” Song Tao said with a smile. “So, I can’t stay here with Xiaxoin. Xiaoxin can stay for a few more days and pray for blessings. I believe Bodhisattva will be able to grant your wishes.”

“Thank you, Third elder brother. Xiaxoin feels ashamed for not being able to help.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Song Tao smiled, shooting a glance at Li Muyang who was following closely behind Li Shinian. “I will be waiting at Tiandu for Xiaoxin to return.”

“Okay.” Cui Xiaoxin nodded.

Song Tao then gave an upward nod greeting to Li Muyang, saying: “Shinian, I have to trouble you to take care of Xiaoxin.”

Li Shinian’s face darkened, Cui Xiaoxin is not your family, what do you mean by that?

Still, she responded with a smile, “This is what I should do. Because we are a family.”

Song Tao only thought that she meant that they were as close as real sisters and didn’t think much of it.

Having notified Cui Xiaoxin, he then headed down the mountain with a group of people.

“Young master, do we need to summon the Fire cloud horse to aid you?”

“No need.” Song Tao said, his footsteps were as though he was flying.

In his mind he was thinking what a stupid question. If he had summoned the Fire Cloud Horse, then wouldn’t everybody know that he is going back in a hurry? In that case, there was no need to hide his intention of returning and he would not had to deliberately order the monks of Thousand Buddha Temple to clean up the matter and deliberately waited until Cui Xiaoxin returned from searching for Buddha statues to say a few words to her before leaving.

With his temperament, directly summoning the Fire cloud horse to the Temple gate and then speeding back to Tiandu would be his usual decision.

The thought of the scene that he had just seen made Song Tao deeply worried.

“Grandfather, nothing must happen to you.” Song Tao said in his mind. “Especially at this fatal time.”

“Young master, just now Song Qi saw something that I should not see.” A man in blue said.

“What should you not see?”

“Song Qi followed Young master’s order to notify Miss Xiaoxin, I didn’t expect to see——Miss Xiaoxin clutching the cart driver’s sleeve.”

Song Tao was shocked for a moment before he asked: “Cart driver? Li Mu?”

“It is that person.” An ominous glint flickering across his eyes as he made a throat slitting motion with his hand. “Do you need Song Qi to make a trip back?”

Song Tao swept a glance over Song Qi and said in a cold voice: “There are more than thousands of people who are experts in killing. When will it be Song Qi’s turn? Don’t worry, for this sort of matter we don’t need to do anything.”

“Yes. Young master.” Song Qi said in a low voice.

“But you have reminded me.” Song Tao said aloud. “Go and investigate that cart driver thoroughly. I want to know even how many times he had peed when he was a kid.”

“Yes.” Song Qi answered, concealing into the darkness.

Without Cui Xiaoxin and Li Shinian encumbering him, Song Tao came to the bottom of the mountain in a flash.

The bodyguards originally planned to set up an encampment here; they had already put up a simple tent. From the Young master’s tone of voice before, they thought that they would be staying here for at least 3 to 5 days.

They did not expect to see the young master come back so soon, and look so irritated and hurried.

“Get on the horse.” Song Tao commanded. “Return to Tiandu.”

“Yes.” A group of blue-clad bodyguards shouted in unison.

Song Tao led in front, speeding into the boundless darkness.

The group of blue-clad armoured horsemen followed closely behind, the horse’s hoofs trampling the dark canopy.

Song Tao was gone; Li Shinian was in a cheerful mood.

Of course, this joy could not be shown too obviously.

Li Shinian took Cui Xiaoxin’s hand, saying: “Sister Xiaoxin, are you tired? Are you hungry? Let’s go get something to eat?”

“Amitabha Buddha.” A solemn voice sounded.

Then they saw an old monk in a kasaya robe coming towards them with a group of similarly old monks behind. The middle monk wearing the kasaya robe made a bow at them with hands held in front.

Li Shinian only thought that these monks must know about Cui Xiaoxin’s identity so deliberately came out to greet her.

Although Buddhism is a place free from human desires and passions, the temple is situated in the mundane world, where many things are bound by conventions.

The rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak, their treatment in the temples was quite different.

Even Cui Xiaoxin also thought so. She actively went over to greet the head monk and respectfully bowed: “Cui Xiaoxin pays respect to Master Miaoxin.”

“Miss Xiaxoin.” Miaoxin looked at Cui Xiaoxin with a smiling expression, “Is your grandfather well?”

“Grandfather’s health is very good, thank you for asking Master.”

“Go back and ask your grandfather to come and have tea with me in his spare time. Using the melted mountain snow to brew the Junshan tea that was harvested in spring is a great delicacy. If he is late he might not be able to drink it.” Miaoxin said smiling, seemingly extremely familiar with Cui Xiaoxin.

“Yes. Xiaoxin will certain let him know.” Cui Xiaoxin respectfully bowed once more.

Master Miaoxin’s sight swept across everyone, until stopping at Li Shinian.

Master Miaoxin looked at Li Shinian, everyone also looked at Li Shinian.

Master Miaoxin did not speak, and no one spoke at the scene.

Being watched by everyone, Li Shinian scratched the back of her head then rubbed her nose, and said in a sweet voice, “Hey, why are you all looking at me? What’s there to look at?”

“The heart is like glass mirror, face is like a bloomed lotus.” Miaoxin smiled more fiercely. Like an old fox that had found treasure. “Little girl, how should I call you?”

“I am Li Shinian.”

“Miss Shinian, would you like to come and have a cup of Junshan tea?”

A puzzled look crossed Li Shinian’s face.

“Is the old monk not here to invite Sister Xiaoxin? Why did he ask me to go to his room to have tea? Is it because I am so pretty that——pah pah, monks are free from human desires, and he is so old——” Li Shinian was baffled. “Why did the old monk invite her only?”

Li Shinian pulled Cui Xiaoxin’s hand, “I want to go with Sister Xiaoxin.”

“Tea is already prepared for Miss Xiaxoin.”

“I’m bringing my cart driver.” Li Shinian said, pointing at Li Muyang.

Miaoxin cast a glance over Li Muyang and shook his head, “The teachings cannot be passed onto one that is ordinary”.

Cui Xiaoxin grasped Li Shinian’s hand, persuading in a soft voice, “Shinian, go with Master Miaoxin. It’s nothing.”

Many influential officials in Tiandu also hope to have a long talk with Master Mioxin, listen to him untie the knot in their heart and lead them to the right path. If Master Miaoxin’s invitation was mercilessly declined by Li Shinian and the people of Tiandu finds out, then the Li family will most likely become widely talked about again, right?

After a thought, Cui Xiaoxin also found it incredibly strange.

When she first met Li Muyang, their family is the most common family in Jiangnan city. At that time, no one would have thought that they would later exude such strong dazzling luster.

Whether it was Li Muyang or Li Shinian, they have become the people standing at where the wind and the waves are highest in Tiandu city——This is not what any body can do. Countless people had racked their brains to become famous, but the result was that they were still unknown to the public.

Perhaps Li Muyang also never had imagined that he would have such a reputation in the capital city of Tiandu.

Li Muyang also furtively nodded to Li Shinian and she finally agreed, “Fine then. But I am hungry, hurry finish talking, I want to eat dinner with Sister Xiaxoin.”

“Prepare dinner.” Miaoxin really liked Li Shinian like this, immediately instructed the monk next to him, “Bring a portion to my room for Miss Shinian.”

“Yes.” A monk answered and hurried off to prepare.

Miaoxin and the other monks made a bow to Cui Xiaoxin with hands folded in front. “Miss Xiaoxin, I will take my leave.”

With that, he left with a group of old monks and a confused-faced Li Shinian.

Cui Xiaoxin stared at Li Shinian’s rear figure as she went off into the distance, suddenly feeling a little bored.

Song Tao had returned to Tiandu and Li Shinian had been invited by Master Miaoxin for tea, while she did not know where to go.

Cui Xiaoxin was always ‘the moon’ that was surrounded by stars, but today she had become a speck of star instead——this psychological gap she was not quite used to. Although she didn’t like how she was surrounded before.

A young monk walked over, smiled and said: “I am Faming, I would like to invite everyone to eat in the dinner room.”

“Thank you.” Cui Xiaoxin said.

Li Muyang was hesitant.

His present identity was a cart dirver, and Cui Xiaoxin was his master.

According to the rules, when a master is having a meal, servants are not allowed to stand at their side. Let alone eat at the same table.

Moreover, Li Shinian was gone, he has no identity nor reason to follow them.

However, if he left like that, he would feel somewhat unwilling.

Moreover, he could tell that Cui Xiaoxin was a little upset. He wanted to be by her said and say a few words of comfort to her.

Cui Xiaoxin walked a few steps then, as though she had thought of something, turned her head round.

Glancing at Li Muyang, she said, “Let’s eat together. After walking such a long mountainous road, you must be hungry too.”

Cui Meng’s body was trembling with excitement, his fat cheeks kept shaking, and he could not even utter a full sentence.

“Thank you, master——Thank you, Miss Xiaoxin. You’re a living Bodhisattva.”

Cui Xiaoxin pointed to the main hall, saying: “Bodhisattva is inside, be careful with what you say.”

Cui Meng immediately clasped his hands over his mouth.

Cui Xiaoxin giggled softly, following the attendant towards the dining room.

Seeing Cui Xiaoxin smile, Li Muyang’s body and mind also instantaneously relaxed a lot, the corners of his mouth curved in a concealed smile.

Back when Cui Xiaoxin was tutoring Li Muyang, no matter how Luo Qi urged her to stay, Cui Xiaoxin would refuse to stay at the Li family’s house for dinner.

But unexpectedly, today he has the opportunity to sit together and eat with Cui Xiaoxin.

Each person was given a portion of vegetarian dishes. Simple and exquisite.

Cui Xiaoxin did not move, the other people also dared not move.

Cui Xiaoxin propped her chin on her hand, tilted her head and looked at the opposite side where Li Muyang was sat, saying loudly: “Muyuang classmate doesn’t like to eat vegetarian dishes, right?”