Tomb raiding: Today is another day I don't want to go home.

Chapter 96 Chenyun Temple

The sunrise on the second day foreshadows a bright moon and few stars tonight.

Zhang Qiling's left hand was unconsciously grasped by Yan Huai, who was lying on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), while the latter simply rested his head on his arm for a while before straightening up.

"Qi Yu?" This was the first thing Yan Huai did after waking up these past two days. He called out Qi Yu's name in his mind, and when he received no response, the disappointment and helplessness that he was not yet used to surged up instantly.

That's right. If Qi Yu really comes back, it will definitely remind him...

knock --

The sudden knocking interrupted Yan Huai's increasingly uncontrollable emotions. He didn't need to guess to know that it was Black Glasses. This guy came every day as if he was right on time. Zhang Qiling probably used to have the same routine!

"Enter."

The man kicked the door open and entered. It was indeed a man with black glasses, but he was currently chewing on half a meat bun, and the styrofoam boxes he was carrying in his left and right hands were even more exaggerated, filled with soy milk and fried dough sticks. Anyone who didn't know better would think that he had switched to wholesale again.

Perhaps noticing Yan Huai's confusion, Black Glasses glanced at him, then placed the styrofoam box on the wooden table before taking the meat bun from his mouth and saying, "After breakfast, take the mute and come with me somewhere."

"where to?"

"A Taoist temple!"

"what?"

Chenyun Temple, located in Xuanwu District of Beijing, was built during the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty. However, it was rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. Today, it is the largest existing Taoist temple in Beijing, and its abbot is Xie Lianrui.

Yan Huai looked up at the blue and gold plaque above the Taoist temple and pursed his lips: "Are you sure?"

At this moment, Yan Huai's hair was tied up high with a slightly long hood drawstring, with the hair gently draped over one side of his shoulder, making room for Zhang Qiling to lie on his back. The color of his eyebrows was moderate, and the furrowed brows gave him a hint of wanting to say something but being unable to express it, in short, speechless.

"Of course!" Black Glasses patted the styrofoam box in his hand, and under Yan Huai's "you're unreliable" gaze, he blurted out an even more unreliable statement, "The Taoist priest likes this kind of thing, so there's plenty for him today!"

What kind of bizarre bribery method is this? Yan Huai took a deep breath. Well, as long as there is hope, it is better than just wasting time like he had before.

"Let's go!"

Yan Huai followed behind Black Glasses to the red lacquered wooden door. Under the latter's obvious gaze, Yan Huai helplessly freed one hand from behind and knocked three times on the door knocker.

The Taoist temple is located in a quiet and secluded place, so the sound of knocking on the door can be easily heard by the people inside.

A few seconds later, a disciple dressed in Taoist robes stepped forward. He stood in front of Yan Huai and performed a formal Taoist salute. Just as he was about to ask why Yan Huai had come, he caught sight of the black glasses behind him and asked with a slightly surprised look, "Qi Shanren?"

"Hehe~ Little Taoist priest, you still remember Master Hei!"

"Of course I remember." The young Taoist priest had a calm and kind demeanor, making people feel comfortable and relaxed at first glance. He smiled and slightly raised his palm to Yan Huai beside him, asking in confusion, "What is this about Master Qi and others?"

"I've come here today to pay my respects to Master Xie. I wonder if you could do me a favor, young Taoist priest?"

The young Taoist priest glanced at Yan Huai and Zhang Qiling on his back without showing any emotion, and nodded, saying, "Then please wait a moment, kind sirs, while I give you my instructions."

Although his master had instructed him beforehand that whenever this Qi Shanren came, there was no need to announce his arrival; he could simply let him in. However, today's situation was somewhat special, as other people had come instead, so it was better to ask in advance.

"Alright, then young Taoist priest, go and come back quickly!"

Black Glasses' words seemed to have a hint of urging, but judging from his attitude, he seemed unhurried, as if what he just said was just a formality.

Yan Huai stood aside without interrupting, but he had a feeling that something was wrong. After the young Taoist priest went inside to announce the arrival, he looked at Black Glasses and said in a seemingly casual tone, "I smelled this person's scent at the Wang family's house."

"What?" Upon hearing this, Black Glasses immediately turned his head, his eyes widening slightly behind his sunglasses, clearly unaware of the news. "You've got it wrong!"

"No mistake." Yan Huai felt a slight sense of relief. It seemed it wasn't a trap, which was good...

"The back hill of the Wang family has this smell, which is probably used to hide the bloodline tattoos of the Wang family."

"You mean..." that young Taoist priest might be a member of the Wang family?

Yan Huai shook his head uncertainly. The scent concealed the tattoo, not the bloodline. There was no red bloodline line of the Wang family in that young Taoist priest or even in the entire Taoist temple, so there must be some other connection between the two. But the specifics could only be found out after going inside.

"We'll see how things go in a bit."

"Tsk, fine..." It wasn't that Black Glasses was impatient; after all, no one would be happy if a time bomb was lurking nearby. The key point was that this guy surnamed Xie had saved him before. If it was a coincidence, that would be fine, but if it was intentional...

The gaze behind the black-rimmed glasses gradually turned cold, while the unruly curve of his lips became increasingly arrogant and domineering. Self-love is human nature, and this was especially true for Blackie.

A few minutes later, the young Taoist priest returned and welcomed the three people outside into the Taoist temple. His attitude had subtly changed, especially towards Yan Huai. Black Glasses noticed this, but neither of them pointed it out and let it happen naturally.

"Master is waiting in the backyard. Please come with me!"

"Thank you!" Yan Huai nodded in agreement, his emotions remaining completely hidden.

"No need for such politeness, kind sir!" The young Taoist priest's previously calm smile suddenly turned into a flustered one. He avoided the direction of Yan Huai's nod and stepped aside to let people pass.

Yan Huai and Black Glasses exchanged a glance, both seeing the doubt in each other's eyes. The former had some guesses, but the latter's expression was somewhat amused.

Yan Xiaohuai? You actually have several faces!

Yan Huai ignored the meaningful look in the black-eyed man's eyes and followed the young Taoist priest's guidance, stepping into the backyard of the Taoist temple.

Then I have to admit that this backyard is indeed a good place to calm the mind and cultivate one's character. There are rockeries nearby, water sounds all around, and movement and stillness complement each other.

There were no fish in the ponds we passed, and other creatures came and went freely. The environment was serene yet maintained the solemnity and dignity of the Taoist temple.

In short, the repairman is highly capable, and the residents are very good at choosing!

When Black Glasses was rescued, he had already experienced this Taoist temple up close. Now, decades later, he was surprised to find that the place is still unchanged inside and out, which is quite rare!

“Good people, Master is in the courtyard. You will see him if you take a few more steps forward. I will take my leave now.”

"Hey, young Taoist priest, wait a moment! Grab some soy milk and fried dough sticks before you go!" Black Glasses was unusually generous, his eagerness to give away money was quite strange, and Yan Huai was very uncomfortable with it.

"Master Qi, no need. I have already had breakfast. Please leave these to Master!" The young Taoist priest smiled and waved his hand. After bowing, he walked away quietly.

And so, the following scene unfolded: Black Glasses had just turned his gaze away from the departing figure of the Taoist priest with feigned regret when, in the next second, he met Yan Huai's eyes, which were fixed on the rare animal.

"What's wrong, Yan Xiaohuai? Do you suddenly feel like you've never seen such a handsome, dashing, charming, and generous pretty boy as Master Hei?"

Yan Huai was shocked by Black Glasses' shamelessness. He frowned deeply, rolled his eyes elegantly, and turned to leave with Zhang Qiling behind him, muttering, "Crazy..."

"Hey, how dare you talk like that! Who taught you to say that? Are you mute? You definitely are! Don't you know anything about respecting the elderly and caring for the young?!"

Yan Huai completely ignored the shouts behind him. He walked a few more steps along the clearly marked pebble path and then saw an elderly man in his seventies wearing a Taoist robe by the stone table in the center of the backyard. This man must be Xie Lianrui, the abbot of Chenyun Temple that Black Glasses had mentioned.