Chapter Sixteen: Would It Be All Right Not to Be a Scorpion Anymore?

Jingang Temple.

Opposite Dantai Mingjing stood an old monk with white eyebrows.

The two of them stood in the center of the Grand Hall of Great Strength, the Buddha statue before them, monks flanking on either side.

The old monk spoke, “Amitabha, Benefactor Dantai, you have endured countless hardships to help Jingang Temple recover the Arhat’s golden body. This humble monk is deeply grateful.”

The Arhat’s golden body lay at Dantai Mingjing’s feet, wrapped in black cloth.

“In years past, I crossed paths with your master only once; it is a pity that he has ascended to immortality, and you have withdrawn from the Buddhist path. This is a great regret for us all.

Now that you return the Arhat’s golden body today, what can Jingang Temple do for you?”

The old monk’s words about leaving the Buddhist path were mere courtesy; everyone knew that Dantai Mingjing was a forsaken disciple—no longer accepted by the temple, a solitary soul.

Dantai Mingjing shook his head. “Abbot Kumu, you are too polite. I merely returned what belongs here.”

Abbot Kumu replied, “Then I thank you, Benefactor Dantai. The temple has much work today, so I won’t keep you here any longer. I ask your understanding.”

Dantai Mingjing stroked the staff in his hand, realizing he was being politely dismissed.

“No matter,” he said, and turned to leave the Grand Hall.

Outside, snow blanketed the ground. Novices swept the snow to the base of the yellow walls with their brooms, clearing a path straight down the mountain.

Dantai Mingjing walked towards the temple gate.

“Stop!”

A furious voice rang from behind. Dantai Mingjing turned to see Abbot Kumu glaring at him, eyes wide with anger. Behind him, a line of monks surged from the hall, wielding long staves.

“Does the Abbot have more to say?” Dantai Mingjing remained calm.

“It’s a fake!” Abbot Kumu’s beard trembled. “Why toy with Jingang Temple, bringing a false golden body? I wondered how the rumors claimed that Withered Leaf died at the hands of the Poison Lord, yet the golden body ended up with you!”

Dantai Mingjing replied coolly, “The golden body was a gift from the Poison Lord.”

“A monk must never speak falsely!” Kumu snorted.

Dantai Mingjing smiled. “I am not a monk.”

“Who told you, Abbot, that shaving your head, holding a staff, and donning robes makes one a monk? Withered Leaf did the same—was he a monk?

Still, although I am not a monk, I do not speak lies.”

Abbot Kumu frowned deeply. “How can I trust you?”

Dantai Mingjing drove his staff into the ground, shattering the stone tiles beneath his feet. “This staff was left to me by my master. Today, I leave it here at Jingang Temple.

After descending the mountain, I will seek out the Poison Lord.”

Abbot Kumu glanced at the cracks in the stone, and after a long silence, sighed, “Very well. I will trust you this once.”

Dantai Mingjing departed down the mountain.

Abbot Kumu stared at the staff planted in the courtyard, greed flickering in his eyes.

…

Shenzhou City, the Chao Residence.

Chao Jin’er and Lin Suyun chatted in their room.

Chao Lu sat in the courtyard, drinking wine.

His daughter had returned, and Lin Suyun, in good spirits, indulged him with a few sips.

From Chao Jin’er, he had learned the details of the mission.

Whether it was starting at the Golden Lion Escort Agency, or swiftly discerning in the inn that the plot was merely to hunt Dantai Mingjing, and all that followed, Lu Zhou had handled everything flawlessly.

Of course, luck played a part.

For example, both Withered Leaf and Huang Yisheng chose to use poison against each other, which happened to be Lu Zhou’s specialty, causing the others to mistake him for the Poison Lord.

Withered Leaf’s cultivation was at the Tribulation Crossing stage; Huang Yisheng was at least at the Dao Condensation stage; Dantai Mingjing was undoubtedly at the Void Return stage.

Under the noses of these three masters, Lu Zhou, merely at the Origin Return stage, became the fisherman who ultimately benefited.

Throughout, Lu Zhou maintained control over the pace of the pursuit.

Chao Jin’er, who should have been the main force, didn’t even get a chance to act—perhaps because Lu Zhou deliberately prevented her from intervening, knowing her nature might give herself away.

Even as Chao Jin’er recounted events, Chao Lu sensed a hint of disappointment in her words.

It was as if she were the unnecessary tail of a scorpion.

What seemed a simple hunt, each step had been calculated by Lu Zhou.

Chao Lu couldn’t help but marvel—by any measure, Lu Zhou was an outstanding scorpion.

Yet…

“Father, Senior Brother Lu said he’d come by tonight.”

Chao Jin’er’s clear voice interrupted Chao Lu’s thoughts. He looked up; Chao Jin’er had already left the room and stood gracefully in the courtyard.

“Who invited him?” Chao Lu frowned slightly.

As a scorpion, entering the Chao Residence at will could easily expose his identity.

Yet, on second thought, his own daughter was also a scorpion.

He felt a strange sense of frustration.

“I asked Senior Brother Lu to come over. During our time outside, I relied much on his care. I wanted him to enjoy a good meal here,” said Chao Jin’er.

Chao Lu shook his head helplessly. His precious daughter was nearly someone else’s now.

Why didn’t she ever care how her father was doing lately?

He suddenly regretted having Chao Jin’er act as Lu Zhou’s scorpion tail—it was like offering a fat cabbage to a waiting pig.

Night fell.

Quietly.

Under a hazy moon, a gray figure alighted before the back gate of the Chao Residence.

Knock, knock, knock!

Knock, knock!

The pattern of three long, two short knocks sounded—the secret signal Lu Zhou and Chao Jin’er had agreed upon.

Lu Zhou felt helpless; coming for a meal felt like sneaking in as a thief. What appetite could one have for such a meal?

But there was no other way; he had chosen this path.

As the scorpion leader, he could no longer stride openly into the Chao Residence as he did upon first arriving in Shenzhou City.

The door opened gently.

Chao Jin’er stood in the courtyard, her features restored to their former beauty, dressed in a pale yellow gown, fresh and elegant.

Lu Zhou sighed in relief; thankfully she opened the door, or standing outside would have been awkward.

“You’re here.”

“Mm.”

“Let’s go, my parents are waiting.”

“Alright.”

For some reason, Lu Zhou sensed something odd about Chao Jin’er, as if she had something on her mind.

Inside, Chao Lu and Lin Suyun had already set out a table of food and wine.

They dismissed the attendants, leaving only the four of them in the room.

“Come, Lu Zhou, try this,” Lin Suyun said, placing food in Lu Zhou’s bowl.

“Thank you, Second Mistress,” Lu Zhou replied hurriedly.

He glanced at Chao Jin’er, and noticed she too was looking at him. Their eyes met, then turned away, a bit awkwardly.

She really had grown up.

No wonder so many eligible young men lined up, willing to risk lightning strikes…

After the meal.

Lin Suyun tugged Chao Lu away. “Stop drinking. Didn’t we forget to feed the canaries in our room?”

“Feed canaries at this hour?” Chao Lu reluctantly put down his cup.

Lin Suyun shot him a look. “Just do it, don’t argue.”

The two left the room one after the other.

Only Lu Zhou and Chao Jin’er remained, sitting face to face.

Lu Zhou wasn’t foolish; he knew Lin Suyun wanted to give them time alone. Chao Lu’s words last time had hinted as much.

Chao Jin’er’s cheeks were slightly flushed, but she kept her composure.

She stood and moved to sit beside Lu Zhou, speaking softly, “Senior Brother Lu…”

“Mm?”

“Let’s stop being scorpions—shall we?”