After listening to Bai Yichen's analysis, Yanbei added, "The Goat once wanted to use me to obtain your leads, to test if I had gotten a fragment of the treasure map. Fortunately, I've been in the Zodiac for many years and have some skills, so they haven't been able to track me down."
To this, Bai Yichen expressed his confusion, saying, "But I have a question: the Zodiac operates independently. Even if the Wheel King can use this reasoning on me, how can he make others comply? If each Zodiac member refuses to attend, wouldn't he become a joke?"
Yanbei let out a bitter laugh and replied, "Looking back now, it must be through coercion and temptation. For example, the Rat and the Pig advanced to the innate stage by assisting the Goat and the Snake, respectively. Other Zodiacs might have similar situations. Perhaps apart from me, only the Rabbit hasn't been completely drawn in."
It seems we have another innate enemy.
Bai Yichen directly asked, "Who else among the remaining Zodiacs is at the innate stage?"
"The Tiger is also at the innate stage; I even suspect he's not weaker than the Snake!"
Bai Yichen slightly rubbed his forehead and said, "It seems this matter is really not easy."
But then, with a serious expression, he asked, "So, would Brother Yan be willing to join this battle against Heishi?"
Yanbei laughed heartily, filled with a certain enthusiasm as he replied, "Of course! I've long been displeased with the Goat's behavior!"
He then sighed and continued, "Back when Brother Guanlan was still around, the Zodiac's actions were much better than they are now."
Guanlan? Isn't that the previous Abbot of Xuanzhen Temple?
Seeing Bai Yichen's astonished look, Yanbei explained. It turned out that Daoist Guanlan had once joined the Zodiac organization and was among its early members. During that time, he and Yanbei had hit it off, forming a bond of camaraderie.
Bai Yichen seemed to recall something and asked with a strange expression, "So how did you two find out each other's true identities?"
"We both didn't intend to search for each other's identities. Instead, after a few missions, we both felt we had similar temperaments, so we chose to be open with each other," Yanbei replied, shaking his head.
Bai Yichen couldn't help but frown slightly; in such a secretive organization, how could one easily reveal their true identity? Although it seemed Bai Yichen was doing something similar now, it was out of urgent necessity, not out of some mutual camaraderie.
As the ancient saying goes: the way of the sage remains unchanged through generations, and one is not burdened by feelings.
Bai Yichen even began to harbor some doubts that the incident that led to Daoist Guanlan's death might be related to this temperament of his.
Seeing Bai Yichen's silence, Yanbei assumed he was shocked by this revelation and continued, "Moreover, I suspect that during this gathering of the Zodiac, they might very well target me, the disobedient one, to investigate your identity from my mouth, even seeking the whereabouts of that fragment of the treasure map."
"So, originally, if you hadn't come to find me, I intended not to go. Not going would merely result in being expelled, which would also save me from being questioned and even risking my life."
Yanbei assumed a nonchalant attitude as if to say, "What can they do about it?"
"Hahaha, Brother Yan is truly a straightforward person," Bai Yichen chuckled and gave Yanbei a thumbs-up.
Yanbei then asked Bai Yichen about his plans. Bai Yichen shared his preliminary plans with him, and then the two discussed further, agreeing on their respective matters and setting a meeting place at Yukun Mountain.
As the hazy moonlight fell like a light veil, the two figures gradually disappeared into the night, leaving the area in silence.
...
The next day, at dawn.
After completing his morning training session, Bai Yichen took a gourd and headed into Qingkong Mountain, bringing some items to the back courtyard of Xuanzhen Temple.
"Hey, why are you here today?" Yunshou Zhenren asked curiously.
"Just finished the morning training, came to ask the Master for a pot of tea," Bai Yichen replied, shaking the yellow gourd in his hand.
"The old priest's tea is almost gone thanks to you," Yunshou Zhenren said, half-amused, half-exasperated.
But he still took out the remaining hundred-year-old tea leaves and waited for Bai Yichen to prepare.
Bai Yichen first opened the yellow gourd, and a fragrant pine aroma wafted out. He saw a clear dew trickling from the gourd's mouth and poured it into the teapot.
Then, he ignited silver charcoal, the red glow illuminating the bottom of the pot, causing the dew water to begin bubbling. The steam rising with the pine scent became even more ethereal.
"Oh... So this is the dew from the ancient pine picked in the morning from the mountain. This is indeed a good thing," Yunshou Zhenren looked on with anticipation.
The ancient hundred-year-old trees of Qingkong Mountain were mostly hidden deep within the mountain, making them hard to find. The dew collected in the morning was particularly rare for ordinary people to gather. Bai Yichen was in a state of clarity and purity, demonstrating his exceptional tea-making skills.
Finally, he presented two cups of fragrant tea.
Neither spoke, only savoring the tea. One cup moistened the throat, two cups dispelled solitude; Three cups searched the weary heart, four cups caused a light sweat, Dissatisfactions in life were scattered through the pores; Five cups lightened the body, six cups connected with the ethereal spirit, Only then did a gentle breeze arise under the armpits. They only stopped when the pot was empty.
"Good dew, good tea, good skills! There's an ancient saying, 'Melted snow brews fragrant tea.' But today, I feel your tea surpasses that. I didn't expect you, a young practitioner, to have such superb tea skills aside from martial arts," Yunshou Zhenren exclaimed in admiration.
"Master, you flatter me. It's merely a way to cultivate one's state of mind in my spare time, and it relies on these ancient tree tea leaves," Bai Yichen humbly replied.
This tea ceremony was something he developed in his first life as an assassin, to calm his mind and wash away the blood and violence accumulated over years of killing. Later, while in the palace, he learned from a consort with a rich family background and practiced for many years to master it.
Now, using it in conjunction with the Sitting and Forgetting Heart Refinement method was just perfect; indeed, the accumulation of past lives was not in vain, as even an ant could build a high tower.
With a clear mind, his eyes became even clearer.
Yunshou Zhenren naturally noticed something and directly stated that Bai Yichen was the best candidate for practicing the Heart Refinement method. He then gave him the remaining ancient tree tea leaves.
"However, you should often come to me to brew tea in the future."
Bai Yichen had no objections and graciously accepted.
"Alright, after enjoying this fine tea, my state of mind has indeed calmed down a lot. If you have something to discuss, feel free to speak," Yunshou Zhenren glanced at Bai Yichen, as if saying he already knew.
"Master, you truly have foresight. Recently, after contacting friends I made in the Jianghu, I've confirmed that the leader of Heishi, the Wheel King, has gained control over most of the power of the Twelve Zodiacs. He plans to strike during the birthday of Qing Song Zhenren, aiming for the treasure of the Ming Sect!"
Bai Yichen directly stated his deductions.
Yunshou Zhenren teased, "You've only been out for a short while and already made such high-level friends?"