Duan Yanqing took the letter, his brow furrowing deeply.
A low voice sounded: "If I deliver this letter to Xuanci in person, I might not make it out of Shaolin Temple alive."
Though he didn't know what the letter contained, it was certainly nothing good. Moreover, he was well aware of his own reputation.
"Heh, rest assured, I, Li Daoqiang, still have some standing," Li Daoqiang said with a smile.
The meaning was clear: go quickly.
Duan Yanqing gave Li Daoqiang a long, hard look, said nothing more, and headed toward Shaolin Temple.
"Oh, and don't sneak a peek, and don't say anything extra. Deliver the letter and leave immediately—otherwise, people will die."
Suddenly, Li Daoqiang reminded him with a laugh.
Duan Yanqing's heart tightened, a sense of unease rising within him.
What exactly was Li Daoqiang planning?
This was Shaolin Temple!
Alongside the Quanzhen Sect, it was the foremost righteous martial arts stronghold in the Song Empire.
One of the forbidden grounds for all evil forces under heaven.
Was Li Daoqiang trying to pull some trick here, to extort Shaolin Temple?
His eyes narrowed slightly, but he continued toward Shaolin Temple without betraying any emotion.
Li Daoqiang watched Duan Yanqing's retreating figure with satisfaction.
Having a grandmaster-level expert as a lackey was truly convenient.
Wherever he went, whatever he did, it was far easier than bringing along Blood Knife Old Ancestor and the like, who were only at the Xiantian level.
Though Duan Yanqing wasn't as pleasant to listen to as Blood Knife Old Ancestor, it was still tolerable.
After watching for a few breaths, Li Daoqiang's figure vanished from the spot, reappearing in another direction to observe Shaolin Temple.
When facing Shaolin Temple, no amount of caution was excessive.
Life was only ever one.
Dozens of breaths later, Duan Yanqing arrived at the main gate of Shaolin Temple.
"Duan Yanqing of Black Dragon Stronghold requests an audience with Abbot Xuanci of Shaolin Temple."
His low voice surged like ocean waves, washing over the temple.
Instantly, the usually bustling area before Shaolin Temple fell into chaos.
Those who recognized Duan Yanqing's identity scrambled back in terror.
Shaolin Temple immediately sprang into action.
A large number of martial monks surged out of the temple gates, surrounding Duan Yanqing and calming the pilgrims.
Duan Yanqing watched coldly, waiting patiently.
Before long, an old monk draped in a red kasaya emerged, followed by many monks.
"Amitabha. Are you Duan Yanqing, the newly joined member of Black Dragon Stronghold, infamous for your countless evils?"
The old monk spoke gravely, his hostility undisguised.
"Who are you?" Duan Yanqing replied coldly.
"I am Xianyuan."
"By order of my Black Dragon Stronghold's chief, I must see Xuanci and deliver a letter to him personally," Duan Yanqing said calmly.
The old monk Xianyuan frowned deeply, his expression growing more serious.
The other monks felt the same.
If anyone had been the most talked-about figure in the Song Empire over the past few months, it was undoubtedly Li Daoqiang of Black Dragon Stronghold.
After a moment's hesitation, Xianyuan spoke: "Give the letter to me, and I will pass it on to Senior Brother Xuanci."
"It concerns my chief's orders. It must be handed directly to Abbot Xuanci," Duan Yanqing said firmly.
Xianyuan hesitated. Though the man before him was a demon, the matter involved the rising star Li Daoqiang, and he dared not take it lightly.
After a moment of thought, he whispered a few words to a nearby monk.
"I have informed Senior Brother Xuanci. Whether he will see you depends on his reply," Xianyuan said sternly to Duan Yanqing.
Duan Yanqing said nothing, continuing to wait.
After another moment, a monk ran out and whispered something to Xianyuan.
"Senior Brother Xuanci agrees to see you. Follow me," Xianyuan said, still hostile, before turning and walking away.
Duan Yanqing followed.
As he stepped into Shaolin Temple, a strange feeling stirred within him.
In over a decade, he had never imagined he could enter Shaolin Temple so openly.
Had Li Daoqiang's influence already forced even Shaolin Temple to treat him with such gravity?
His heart grew heavier as he arrived at a main hall.
Several old monks in kasayas were already waiting there.
The moment Duan Yanqing arrived, a barrage of gazes locked onto him.
An immense, invisible pressure crashed down upon him.
Duan Yanqing's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't confront it head-on.
He didn't even step forward. Instead, he stopped at the entrance of the hall, not moving an inch.
A faint, mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he looked at the old monks.
The old monks were taken aback, suddenly feeling caught in an awkward position.
"Amitabha."
The old monk at the center clasped his hands together, his kind face speaking.
The invisible pressure dissipated.
Duan Yanqing sneered inwardly. If they wanted to intimidate him, so be it.
He was here on behalf of Li Daoqiang. If he refused to enter the hall and stood at the door, the loss of face would ultimately fall on Li Daoqiang—and Shaolin Temple.
Li Daoqiang went without saying.
Shaolin Temple, on the other hand, would be criticized for lacking even basic hospitality.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. He pulled out the letter and tossed it toward the central old monk.
He naturally recognized Abbot Xuanci.
The old monks frowned simultaneously. One of them reached out, intercepted the letter, and subtly examined it.
Checking for poison or the like?
"The letter has been delivered. Farewell."
Duan Yanqing turned and left without hesitation, wasting no time.
The old monks frowned even deeper.
"Wait, Duan Yanqing, what is the meaning of this?"
One of them called out sharply.
"No meaning at all. I was merely ordered to deliver a letter. My task is done, so I leave."
Duan Yanqing didn't stop, replying calmly.
The old monks exchanged bewildered glances. This was far too strange.
Then, all eyes turned to Xuanci at the center.
Xuanci hesitated briefly before shaking his head.
The others understood and raised no objection.
Though Duan Yanqing was a demon, he was still Li Daoqiang's man. If no conflict arose, it was better not to detain him.
Then, everyone's attention shifted to the letter.
"The letter should be free of poison," the old monk said, handing it to Xuanci.
Xuanci took it, calmly opened it, and read.
The next moment, his serene, kind expression shattered completely.
Extreme shock surged within him. His hands trembled, and his face turned deathly pale.
The other old monks were alarmed. Two beside him instinctively glanced at the letter.
Xuanci instinctively folded it shut.
But in that brief instant, it was enough for the two grandmaster-level old monks to catch a glimpse.
Their faces changed as well.
Their eyes widened.
This only deepened the shock of the other old monks.
Suddenly, Xuanci swayed. He glanced at the two still-stunned old monks beside him.
His voice trembled slightly: "All junior brothers, please withdraw. Junior Brothers Xuandu and Xuanming, stay."
Though curious, the other old monks obeyed, leaving the hall except for the two beside Xuanci.
Then, one of the old monks circulated his true essence, sealing off the sound.
The two old monks stared intently at Xuanci.
Xuanci closed his eyes briefly before opening the letter again.
Three pairs of eyes read it together.
To Abbot Xuanci:
I, Li Daoqiang, chief of Black Dragon Stronghold, have recently discovered your wife from years past and the child she bore for you...
(Chapters 2 and 3 will be posted later.)
...