Chapter Four: The Secret Unveiled by the Master

Mingkong appeared entirely indifferent, saying, "Amitabha. The temple has some excellent tea; would Miss Shen care to join me for a conversation?"

Shen Ningshuang stared at him for a long while before finally replying coldly, "When I have the time, I shall certainly pay a visit."

Mingkong was not in the least bothered by her attitude.

"In that case, I shall await you, Miss Shen. I will not disturb you further today. Amitabha, until we meet again."

With those words, Mingkong turned and walked gracefully down from the pavilion, ignoring the intense gazes of the crowd that seemed sharp enough to burn. As his figure receded, he seemed to leave behind a lingering trace of mystery in the air.

Shen Ningshuang kept her eyes fixed on his back, her gaze so piercing it felt as if she were trying to bore a hole right through him.

"Are you all right?" Shen Muyun asked with concern.

Shen Ningshuang lowered her gaze slightly, shook her head, and said softly, "I am fine."

She glanced toward Leng Yichen. The matters she had intended to handle today were still pending; she could not allow this monk to distract her from her purpose.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats erupted on the street below. A group of masked men in black, brandishing gleaming blades, charged forward, sending the crowd into a panicked frenzy as they scrambled to flee.

The people inside the Shuiyun Pavilion were also thrown into chaos. Shen Muyun quickly pulled Shen Ningshuang behind him, keeping a vigilant watch on the floor below.

The men in black soon reached the base of the pavilion. While some attacked the commoners and shops, others surged toward the Shuiyun Pavilion. The young aristocrats on the balcony turned pale with fright, some even collapsing to the floor.

As the attackers stormed the second floor, a fierce battle broke out. Just as the situation grew dire, Prince Dinghuan, Leng Yichen, stood up, a sharp, murderous aura radiating from his eyes. A flash of blue light cut through the air—everyone in the Ningyuan Kingdom recognized it as Leng Yichen’s precious sword, *Qingfeng*.

With a blur of movement, he joined the fray. Though Leng Yichen was a formidable fighter and fended off several attackers, the sheer number of enemies kept coming, and the situation remained critical.

At the most harrowing moment, a black shadow descended from the roof like a phantom—a woman dressed in sleek black attire, wielding a long whip with lethal precision. Working in tandem with Leng Yichen, she gradually helped stabilize the situation. Shen Muyun, keeping Shen Ningshuang behind him, fought while retreating, searching for an opening to counterattack.

However, the men in black had no intention of giving up; they let out strange cries and pressed their assault with even greater intensity. One of them saw an opening and lunged toward Shen Ningshuang. Shen Muyun was horrified and hurriedly turned to block the strike.

Seeing that Shen Muyun was about to be injured, Shen Ningshuang flicked the lychee pit she had just spat out directly at the attacker's arm, neutralizing the threat. She glanced left and right; seeing that no one had noticed her, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, the sound of a horn echoed from behind the attackers, and a new wave of well-trained men in black joined the battle. The situation grew even more dire.

The scent of blood and tension filled the Shuiyun Pavilion. Leng Yichen’s brow was furrowed in thought, and the mysterious woman, though solemn, continued to lash out with her whip.

Just as despair began to set in, the sound of rhythmic hoofbeats—like rolling thunder—approached from the distance. A well-equipped army had arrived. The men in black grew panicked at the sound. Following the commander's order, the soldiers charged. Realizing the tide had turned, the attackers retreated.

Leng Yichen and the others let out long breaths of relief only after the men in black had vanished. With their departure, a temporary calm returned to the Shuiyun Pavilion, though the air remained thick with lingering fear and tension.

Leng Yichen turned his gaze to the mysterious woman. "May I ask who you are? We owe you our thanks for your help today."

The mysterious woman nodded slightly. "I was merely passing by and intervened upon seeing the situation. Since the danger has passed, I shall take my leave."

Leng Yichen looked around at the devastated pavilion and the shaken crowd. "Today's events were clearly carefully orchestrated by someone behind the scenes. Only the timely arrival of reinforcements prevented them from succeeding. Everyone must remain cautious."

The people on the balcony nodded, their expressions shifting from terror to gravity and vigilance. After speaking, Leng Yichen suddenly turned and, with a light tap of his foot, vanished into the distance using his martial arts movement techniques.

Watching from the shadows, Shen Ningshuang nearly shattered her teeth in frustration. A plan she had prepared for so long had been completely ruined by a group of unidentified men in black. She vowed to herself that she would find out who had sabotaged her plans.

Shen Muyun, also caught off guard by these events, looked at her and asked, "What should we do now? Shall we go straight home?"

Shen Ningshuang squinted her eyes. "To Shaoguang Temple."

Since the plan here had failed, she would go see what that old monk Mingkong was plotting.

The two soon arrived at Shaoguang Temple. The warm sun poured down, blanketing the monk’s small courtyard in a golden glow, quiet and peaceful, as if it were a pure land removed from the world. He sat at the head of a small table, a fire burning brightly beside him as he brewed a pot of fragrant tea.

He looked as if he had anticipated someone would come.

Watching his demeanor, a sense of disdain rose in Shen Ningshuang’s heart. Even with his air of profound wisdom, in her eyes, it was all nothing but pretense.

Mingkong bowed slightly, gesturing for her to sit. Shen Ningshuang raised an eyebrow and whispered to Shen Muyun, "Go walk around for a bit. I have words for this master."

With that, she walked straight into the meditation room and sat down opposite him.

"Amitabha. This is 'High Mountain Flowing Water' tea, picked from the mountains behind the temple and brewed with spring water. It was your favorite, Miss Shen. Why not have a taste and see if my tea-brewing skills have grown rusty?"

Shen Ningshuang ignored the tea, her sharp eyes locked onto Mingkong.

"If you remain silent and simply stare, Miss Shen, you will not hear what you seek."

Shen Ningshuang curled her red lips into a stunning, vibrant smile that bloomed like spring flowers. She reached out a finger, pointed toward the sky, and asked coldly, "Are you one of them?"

Mingkong shook his head slowly, his expression calm, his gaze meeting hers with composure.

"If you are not one of them, then what is the meaning of this profound, mysterious act?"

Mingkong did not answer immediately. After a moment of silence, he spoke, each word falling like a heavy hammer: "Goddess of the Udumbara, turn back now."

Shen Ningshuang’s expression changed instantly. With a flick of her hand, she swept the teacup off the table. It shattered with a sharp crack, tea splashing everywhere. The room fell into a deathly silence.

A moment later, Shen Ningshuang tapped her finger on the table and said with a mocking sneer:

"Turn back? It is too late. If those sanctimonious hypocrites in the heavens hadn't pushed me so relentlessly, I would never have sacrificed half of my true form to return to this mortal realm. I have already paid such a heavy price—how can I turn back now?"

"Reincarnation should not be interfered with by anyone or anything. You are acting against heaven and forcing a change in karma; no good will come of this."

Shen Ningshuang laughed coldly. "I am willing to bear any consequence. Besides, it is already too late for you to stop me. You have sensed it, haven't you? He has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage."