It was a long while before he clasped his hands together and slowly said, "So it's Young Master Tang, whose name is known throughout the world. Poor Monk Tang Sanzang greets you."
Tang Sanzang?
The eminent monk of Great Tang Jinshan Temple?
Legend has it that this person has profound Buddhist studies and extraordinary cultivation, holding an extremely high position within Buddhism.
But judging by his behavior that night, Tang Bohu couldn't see a hint of an eminent monk in this fellow...
"So it's Master Sanzang. Tang has heard much about your name, Master."
"However..."
"Master is an eminent monk of Buddhism, so why are you being hunted by Buddhist disciples?"
Tang Bohu was also very curious about this.
Even if Tang Sanzang was very excessive in snatching the spirit herb, you are all Buddhist disciples; it shouldn't be a matter of life and death, right?
Tang Sanzang shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Alas, it's a long story..."
"Not long ago, Dajue Temple discovered a seventh-grade spirit herb on Bo Chi Mountain."
"And our Divine Land's Buddhism has always obeyed the orders of the Western Regions Sacred Mountain."
"The current Lord of the Sacred Mountain has long ordered the Divine Land's Buddhism that any spirit herbs above the sixth grade must be sent to the Sacred Mountain."
"Therefore, Buddhist masters gathered at Bo Chi Mountain to guard the spirit herb, waiting for it to fully bloom before picking it and sending it to the Western Regions."
"But Poor Monk was also quite interested in this spirit herb, so I tried to snatch it."
"Although Poor Monk didn't succeed in the end, this act greatly angered the Central Plains Buddhism!"
"They believe Poor Monk's act of snatching the spirit herb was a betrayal of Buddhism and expelled Poor Monk from Jinshan Temple."
"Now, Poor Monk is no longer a Buddhist disciple..."
So that's how it was.
Tang Bohu hadn't expected the internal rules of Buddhism to be so strict?
Even more unexpectedly, the Buddhism of the Divine Land actually had the task of collecting spirit herbs for the Western Regions?
"The trouble Poor Monk has caused is not small; Jue Sheng of Great Tang Shaolin Temple is looking for me everywhere. To avoid implicating Young Master, Poor Monk must leave quickly."
Jue Sheng?
Tang Bohu's eyes narrowed. It was this scoundrel who rallied those so-called righteous figures of Great Tang to deal with the Great Luo Heavenly Demon Sect!
You've come at just the right time!
It saves me the trouble of going to Great Tang to find you!
This fellow is the Third Wife's mortal enemy; how could Tang Bohu let him off easily?
So, he asked, "Master, where is this Jue Sheng you speak of currently?"
"He seems to be staying at Xiangguo Temple in the capital."
With that, Tang Sanzang hobbled out the door, and Tang Bohu didn't try to stop him.
Around noon, the two wives returned with their vegetable baskets.
As soon as they entered the door, the two women sensed something unusual. Yue Yao asked in confusion, "Husband, why is there such a strong smell of blood in the house?"
Tang Bohu had just finished explaining the situation when a familiar voice sounded from outside the door.
"Brother Bohu."
Hearing this voice, Tang Bohu was slightly startled. Xu Zhenqing?
He quickly pushed open the door, came into the courtyard, opened the main gate, and who else but Xu Zhenqing stood before him?
"Hahahaha, it really is you, Changgu."
"Why have you come?"
"Naturally, I was traveling to the capital and learned that the imperial court had specially opened an imperial examination for you, so I guessed you would come."
"After inquiring in the city, I indeed found your lodging."
"Hmm? Have the two Sister-in-law also come?"
Seeing Yue Yao and Nie Meiniang emerge from the house, Xu Zhenqing was momentarily stunned.
What were two women doing following a man on his travels?
Xu Zhenqing, though a first-rate Scholar, had a flaw: he was a chauvinist!
Like many feudal men, he treated women with great arrogance, truly embodying the mindset of 'brothers are like limbs, women are like clothes.'
But he couldn't meddle in a couple's affairs, so he cupped his hands and bowed to Yue Yao and Nie Meiniang, calling them Sister-in-law as a greeting.
Yue Yao and Nie Meiniang knew his character and had a very poor impression of him, but to avoid being impolite in front of their husband, they returned the bow.
Because of Xu Zhenqing's personality, he naturally wouldn't pay much attention to two women.
With a hearty laugh, he said, "Bohu, you and I haven't seen each other for at least half a year. Today, we must drink to our heart's content!"
"I heard that several new courtesans have arrived at Baihua Brothel in the capital. Let's go, let's go, you and I should go see them."
Tang Bohu's heart jumped. Holy crap!
Saying this in front of the Palace Master of Yihua Palace and the Demon Sect Saintess, do you have a death wish?
Yue Yao and Nie Meiniang's gazes instantly turned icy.
Tang Bohu knew the capabilities of his two wives and quickly winked at them.
And he refused, saying, "Changgu, I am already married. How can I go to such a place again?"
"Why don't you and I find a tavern and have a good chat?"
Xu Zhenqing frowned, then looked at Yue Yao and Nie Meiniang, and said, "Bohu, you're not one to be afraid of your wife."
"Besides, we're just going for drinks and to have a few courtesans accompany us; we're not doing anything excessive."
"Also, when us men do things, why should we care about what women think?"
Brother, please stop seeking death, okay?
Tang Bohu smiled bitterly in his heart, about to refuse again, but Xu Zhenqing's face hardened: "Bohu, if you refuse repeatedly, are you really afraid of your wife after getting married?"
"If this reputation gets out, many people will laugh at you."
As he spoke, he looked at Yue Yao and Nie Meiniang: "When men are talking, why do women always stay here and not leave? Is there no etiquette?"
Alas... Bohu sighed in his heart. Just for that sentence you just said, a severe beating is unavoidable... Brother, I've tried my best; you're the one determined to seek death, don't blame me.
Indeed, after Yue Yao and Nie Meiniang heard him, the chill in their eyes intensified, but to prevent their husband from being scorned by Xu Zhenqing, they simply smiled faintly.
"Young Master Xu is right, it is we sisters who have been impolite."
With that, they turned and went back into the house.
Xu Zhenqing laughed heartily: "Bohu, you must assert your masculine vigor in the future and not be controlled by women!"
"Let's go, we won't return until we're drunk today!"
He pulled Tang Bohu out without further explanation.
Tang Bohu initially didn't want to go, but then he had a thought: this was a good opportunity to go to Xiangguo Temple outside the city to eliminate that Jue Sheng and vent some anger for his wives!
So, he went along with Xu Zhenqing.
After returning to their room, Yue Yao and the other gnashed their teeth, their killing intent surging!
"Bastard!"
"If Husband weren't here, this one would have slapped this scoundrel to death!"
Nie Meiniang snorted coldly, "Sister, he is Husband's friend, we cannot take his life."
"However, breaking his arms and legs and making him lie in bed for ten days to half a month is certainly possible."
Yue Yao frowned, "But if Husband finds out, won't he blame us?"
"We'll instruct our subordinates to do it. If Husband asks, we'll just deny it."
Yue Yao nodded, "Let's do that. My Yihua Palace people are all in Suzhou, so I'll leave this matter to you, Sister."
"Sister, rest assured, I will arrange the personnel immediately."
They arrived at the Baihua Brothel Xu Zhenqing mentioned.
When the top courtesans heard that the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan had come as guests, their eyes lit up, and they vied to accompany them.
In this era, famous Scholars sometimes didn't even have to pay when visiting brothels; the girls would even pay them.
The reason was simple: if those Scholars composed a poem for the girls, their value would skyrocket the next day.
Tang Bohu had no interest in any top courtesans.
The only reason he came here was to facilitate his plan to kill Jue Sheng.
At the wine table, he fiercely plied Xu Zhenqing with drinks, and soon had him drunk and unconscious.
Afterward, he asked the madam to open two rooms, arranged Xu Zhenqing in one of them, and even found a courtesan named Yunxiang to accompany him.
He himself went to the other room, took out his disguise tools, and changed his appearance.
This time, he adopted a completely new face.
The reason for this was entirely to avoid suspicion from others.
After all, when his previous appearance appeared in Great Song, he was in Great Song.
Then, when he was in Yongyuan City, that appearance went to Bo Chi Mountain to snatch the spirit herb.
If he still used his previous appearance in the capital, people would inevitably think, 'Isn't that too much of a coincidence?'
The mysterious person appeared three times in succession, and Tang Bohu was always nearby. What exactly was their relationship?
After changing to a completely new appearance, Tang Bohu first checked the surroundings, confirmed that the Third Wife's subordinates were not present, and then left the city.
He knew in his heart that his two wives would never lightly forgive Xu Zhenqing for what he did today!
But with him present, they wouldn't act, they would at least wait until tomorrow...
By the time he reached outside the city, dusk was already falling.
Tang Bohu had just walked about ten li when a noisy sound of footsteps came from afar.
Immediately, there was a chorus of discussion.
"Senior Brother Jue Sheng, the more I think about this, the more something feels wrong. That Tang Sanzang clearly had no escape route, so why did he suddenly disappear?"
"Plus, that kid's attitude during the day, the more I think about it back home, the more suspicious it seems!"
"Hmph, I also feel something is off."
"Let's go back and check now. If Tang Sanzang is truly being harbored by him, then don't blame us for being impolite!"
These people discussing were precisely those impolite monks from earlier in the day.
Tang Bohu sneered, "What a coincidence."
He hadn't expected that Jue Sheng, whom he was looking for, would be among them.
With a thought, Tang Bohu went to meet them...
Seeing a tall, imposing young man walking towards them, Jue Sheng's eyes narrowed, and he quickly stopped.
The newcomer means trouble... His gaze was solemn as he stared in Tang Bohu's direction and asked in a deep voice, "Who goes there?"
His answer was dozens of fierce sword energies!
The powerful and earth-shattering Shaoshang Sword!
The grand and majestic Zhongchong Sword!
And the clever, elusive Shangyang Sword.
Tang Bohu unleashed dozens of these three different types of sword energy in an instant!
That Jue Sheng was merely in the Xiaoyao Heaven Realm, and the remaining monks had only just entered the Xiantian realm, so how could they be Tang Bohu's opponents?
Puff, puff, puff... A series of muffled thuds sounded, and blood mist erupted from everyone's bodies as they fell to the ground, their faces filled with disbelief.