Chapter 138: Cao Taiyue Guards His Arcane Arts Jealously

The fragrance of tea permeated the air in front of the Buddha hall. The two Daoist nuns, surnamed Li and Cai, gazed at the smiling Ye Chang across the rising wisps of steam.

This young man was blessed with a fine appearance, yet the two of them had encountered countless dashing and talented youths, many of whom even surpassed Ye Chang in looks. However, very few possessed his carefree, effortless grace and composed poise.

Even at this moment, a few of the refined young gentlemen from Luoyang were stealing glances in their direction from behind the mist.

Not a single one of them had apologized for fleeing for their lives and leaving the two women behind just moments ago; instead, they were still harboring some improper intentions. Did they truly take them for Daoist nuns who could be bullied at will?

With a look of disgust, they swept a brief glance of sidelong contempt at the peeping men, then simultaneously turned their gazes back to Ye Chang.

This young man shrouded himself in an aura of profound mystery.

Because they had been standing somewhat at a distance earlier, the two of them had not heard how Ye Chang came to be here, and their hearts were now filled with curiosity.

"The tea I am brewing is no ordinary blend. It is refined according to a secret method passed down by the Medicine King himself, which cannot be bought on the open market. Only a few close friends and trusted companions might receive some as a gift from the Medicine King's disciples." Ye Chang raised his teacup and spun a complete falsehood with his eyes wide open. "Though I am unworthy, I am on terms of profound friendship across generations with True Person Luo, a secondary disciple of the Medicine King, and was favored with a small gift of it."

Luo Shouyi possessed a tremendous reputation in Xiuwu, but in Luoyang, absolutely no one had ever heard of him. Therefore, while these noble scions murmured praises on the surface, inwardly they began to ponder just who this secondary disciple of the Medicine King might be.

"However, you need not be disappointed. To my knowledge, the Medicine King's disciples also intend to spread this immortal blessing far and wide across the world, and are currently devising ways to increase tea production... Do not look down upon this tea, for its origins are truly extraordinary."

Ye Chang spoke fluently, wearing a gentle smile and a calm tone. Everyone listening felt as though they were basking in a spring breeze. Among the Luoyang noble youths, someone silently muttered to himself: It is always said that this man has a fiery temper and is talented yet devoid of virtue, but why do I feel none of that upon meeting him? Ah, right, it must be because the rumors were false; perhaps those whom he had offended deliberately spread rumors and performed such base deeds to ruin his reputation.

"What is so extraordinary about it? I beg you to enlighten us, sir," someone chimed in, asking the question.

"This tea has a renowned name: Cloud and Mist Tea. It grows deep within the mountain ridges, nourished by mists and clouds, gathering the pure essence of the sun and moon, and absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Before the Qingming Festival every year, maidens of exquisite beauty are selected to pluck the tender buds using their orchid-fragrant tongues, and then warm them against the jade-like warmth of their bosoms..."

The two nuns, Li and Cai, standing nearby, simultaneously let out a soft snort of disdain. Although this Young Master Ye was blessed with a handsome appearance and an extraordinary bearing, he ultimately turned out to be a frivolous rake!

What appeared frivolous to them, however, was viewed as romantic, elegant, and full of flavor by the young nobles of Luoyang.

Everyone exchanged knowing glances. If it were not for the presence of the two female Daoists, someone might have started jeering out loud. Even so, someone still laughed, "Such a wondrous brew deserves to be sipped slowly. Young Master Ye is truly an extraordinary person; his reputation is well-deserved indeed!"

"Young Master Ye... reputation is well-deserved... so young..." The young lady of the Li family possessed a sharp wit. Upon hearing these words, realization suddenly dawned on her: "So it is him!"

The young lady of the Cai family, who was close to her, noticed her expression and leaned in to ask in a low voice, "Elder sister, do you know who this person is?"

"Ye Chang of Xiuwu—the very one who wrote 'the setting sun is infinite, but twilight is near'."

"Ah!" The young lady of the Cai family covered her mouth in surprise, casting an astonished gaze at Ye Chang. Her expression likewise grew complicated.

Ye Chang's reputation was indeed large enough now, but not all of it was good. Recklessness, bearing grudges for the slightest offense, and lacking virtue despite his talent—such evaluations were frequently heard. As the two women looked at Ye Chang, their eyes held a trace of pity, as if thinking: *Such a fine person, why turn to wrongdoing?*

"In a short while, I expect this top-grade Cloud and Mist Tea will be available for purchase in the city of Luoyang." Unaware of how many times his image had shifted back and forth in the minds of the two young women within such a brief span, Ye Chang said with a smile, "However, given how precious this tea is, its price will certainly be exorbitant. It can only be enjoyed by households of immense wealth and prestige."

The others chimed in agreement, and conversation turned back to drinking tea.

Engrossed in their lively amusement, they temporarily set aside the terror they had felt earlier. After about half an hour, as the darkness began to descend, the young novice monk who had gone to deliver the message arrived in a hurry, accompanied by a bearded man.

This bearded man must undoubtedly be Cao Shaokui.

Sure enough, Shanxi offered a slight bow of apology and stood up to welcome the bearded man. Everyone had already learned that although Cao Shaokui was now living in seclusion in Luoyang, he had once served as the Grand Music Master, and thus no one dared to show any discourtesy, stepping forward to greet him as well.

After exchanging a few polite pleasantries with Shanxi, Cao Shaokui remarked, "Your disciple was incoherent and merely said he wanted me to subdue a demon. That is strange indeed—your Buddhist teachings are vast and your divine power boundless; why did you not subdue the demon yourself, instead of coming to seek my help?"

"Well... this was recommended by Young Master Ye here. Young Master Ye was once guided by the manifestation of Skanda, so what he says should be quite reliable."

***

Cao Shaokui looked over at Ye Chang, a hint of hesitation in his gaze. "And you are, sir?"

"I am the eleventh son, Ye Chang of Xiuwu." Ye Chang bowed deeply. "Greetings, Grand Music Master Cao."

"Ah, so it is you... People were speaking of you just yesterday. At the Chang'an market competition, your 'Song of the Six Hu Girls' certainly made quite a stir!" The surprise on Cao Shaokui's face instantly deepened. "Even Old Wang, despite losing, held you in high esteem."

"Old Wang? Wang Yuanbao?" Cao Shaokui's single remark instantly leaked information to Ye Chang. Ye Chang deduced that the person discussing him yesterday must have been none other than Wang Yuanbao.

At this moment, Wang Yuanbao was also in Luoyang. If they were to cross paths, things would certainly become lively.

"However, there is one thing I fail to understand: why was Young Master Ye so certain that I could subdue this demonic entity?" Cao Shaokui asked again.

Instead of answering directly, Ye Chang offered a mysterious smile. "Once Senior Cao hears Master Shanxi describe the nature of the apparition, you will surely know the origins of this creature."

Cao Shaokui glanced at him, then immediately began to question Shanxi in detail about the origin and cause of the incident.

As it turned out, Shanxi had recently acquired an ancient bronze *qing* (a chime bowl) that produced a clear, resonant tone far surpassing any ordinary object. He was immensely fond of it and hung it in the Buddha hall, making offerings to it day and night in the hope that its consecration before the Buddha would render it a premier ritual instrument of Dafuxian Temple.

Unexpectedly, once the chime arrived at the temple, strange occurrences began. It would often ring on its own for no apparent reason, emitting a persistent humming sound. Once or twice, Shanxi might not have taken it to heart, but when it happened day after day, it filled him with dread: Could it be that some malevolent spirit had taken up residence within the object?

Filled with anxiety yet daring not to remove the ancient chime—and knowing that the appearance of a demon within a monastery was hardly a flattering tale, thus keeping it a secret—he privately sought out a Daoist priest, offering him a hundred thousand coins to capture the demon. The priest had boasted extravagantly, yet all his various methods proved completely useless. In the end, he terrified himself into falling ill and reportedly kicked the bucket.

Hearing this, Cao Shaokui burst into a hearty laugh.

"What need was there for a hundred thousand coins? Tomorrow, prepare a spread of fine dishes. The monks of your Dafuxian Temple are gluttons at heart; your vegetarian cuisine follows the authentic Shaolin tradition, yet the monks are so stingy that such food is ordinarily impossible to taste... It is a rare opportunity indeed. Prepare a feast for me, and watch how I rid you of this demonic pest!"

He practically took full responsibility for the matter, clearly fully confident in his grasp of how to resolve the "demon." Ye Chang was not surprised, but those around him wore looks of utter astonishment. Among the Luoyang nobles, one who could not contain himself muttered under his breath, "Never heard that the Grand Music Master knew how to capture demons..."

The two female Daoists, Li and Cai, exchanged glances, inevitably feeling a sense of regret.

Having been thoroughly frightened just moments before, they had genuinely wished to witness Cao Shaokui capturing the demon. But to wait until tomorrow... It was not easy for them to slip out, and their schedules were strictly managed; there was no guarantee they would have the time to join in the fun tomorrow.

"Why wait until tomorrow? Subdue the demon for this humble monk today, and I promise you a feast of fine dishes tomorrow," Shanxi said, overjoyed. As an old friend of Cao Shaokui, he knew the man rarely made empty promises. Since he spoke thus, he truly had a way.

"Not a chance. You monks are the stingiest of all, and you always break your promises."

"Those who have left the secular world do not tell lies..."

"Rubbish." Cao Shaokui laughed and poked fun at him before continuing with a serious expression, "I haven't brought the tools to subdue the demon with me yet; I must return and make slight preparations. I will definitely arrive tomorrow, so you may rest easy."

Reflecting on it, Shanxi realized it made sense. A fangshi subduing demons always needed to prepare certain ritual implements and magic tools, so he pressed the matter no further.

Cao Shaokui turned back to Ye Chang. "Young Master Ye has yet to answer my earlier question: why were you so certain that I could deal with this demon?"

"This is not a matter worth troubling Senior Cao to ask," Ye Chang replied, evading the question.

Suspicion stirred in Cao Shaokui's heart, as he felt something was amiss. Furthermore, the tea Ye Chang had treated him to—a fragrance far surpassing ordinary brews—only heightened Cao Shaokui's sense that the young man before him was far from ordinary.

"Does Young Master Ye happen to know what method I will use to subdue the demon?" Seeing that direct questioning failed, Cao Shaokui changed his tack.

"I have a slight inkling," Ye Chang smiled.

Cao Shaokui looked at Ye Chang with lingering doubt, recalling how this youth had enabled those Hu girls to stage an exclusive performance at the market competition, cutting a unique path that completely overshadowed the courtesans of Pingkang Lane. He figured Ye Chang must be someone well-versed in musical rhythms and acoustics. If that were truly the case, it was possible he might have guessed the method.

Still, he felt compelled to test it.

***

With this thought, Cao Shaokui said, "Since my retirement, I have enjoyed reading miscellaneous books in my leisure time. I have read every single volume of the *Illustrated Romance and Storytelling of the Three Kingdoms* compiled by Young Master Ye, leaving none out. Right now, I have an idea: why don't you and I emulate Kongming and Gongjin, each writing a single character on our palms to see if they match?"

The popularity of the manhua far exceeded Ye Chang's initial expectations; the things he had genuinely hoped to propagate through the new printing technology remained obscure instead. Faced with such an outcome, Ye Chang could only express his helplessness, having no way to alter it in the short term.

He needed a catalyst.

Cao Shaokui's words piqued everyone's interest. The two nuns, Li and Cai, who had been preparing to leave, involuntarily halted in their tracks.

If Ye Chang were indeed to write a character on his palm, it would certainly be an interesting sight.

Instead, Ye Chang shook his head. "Writing the character at this moment holds no meaning. How about this: tonight I shall stay here at Dafuxian Temple, and tomorrow during the vegetarian feast, I will impose upon your hospitality for a share as well. How does that sound?"

Shanxi had every reason to agree and pressed his palms together to bow to everyone. "It would be just wonderful for Young Master Ye to stay. As for the other patrons, if you have leisure tomorrow, please grace us with your presence as well."

The young lady of the Li family suddenly felt a pang of disappointment. The young lady of the Cai family could not help leaning in closer, muttering in her ear, "This Eleventh Young Master Ye really knows how to put on airs... so utterly uncooperative!"

The Li lady nodded, and both of them shot Ye Chang a fierce glare. Since Ye Chang's attention was elsewhere, he naturally did not notice. However, among the Luoyang noble youths, there were those whose eyes never left the two women. Seizing the opportunity, one of them called out to invite them, "Little Ladies Li and Cai, you must come tomorrow as well! I'll ask the master of Dafuxian Temple to prepare two extra portions of vegetarian food just for you!"

This remark caused the two young women to blush with shyness. Without answering, they abruptly turned and hurried away.

"Insulting fair maidens—that calls for a penalty, a penalty!" Such jeering voices drifted from behind.

The young lady of the Cai family let out a regretful sigh. The young lady of the Li family bit her lower lip, pondering for a good while before declaring, "Naturally, we have no intention of eating the vegetarian food of this Dafuxian Temple. But as for that demon-subduing method, and what kind of demon it actually is—if I don't find out clearly, my heart will feel unsettled... Tomorrow, we shall come back and join in the excitement!"

"This... what if our family finds out and blames us?"

"You and I left home in the first place to seek the immortals and inquire after the Dao. If this Grand Music Master truly possesses wondrous arts capable of subduing demons and evil spirits, he must be a person of the immortal path. Asking him how to seek the Dao will give us a clear direction," the Li lady whispered in a low voice.

"That Eleventh Young Master Ye... he seems even... stranger than Grand Music Master Cao," the Cai lady remarked. Having merely felt anxious earlier, upon hearing the Li lady's explanation, she too made up her mind; yet her thoughts were less concealed than her companion's, and she inadvertently spoke her mind aloud.

The Li lady looked at her and giggled softly, causing the Cai lady's face to flush red as she brandished a dainty fist and playfully struck her.

Being within the temple grounds, the two dared not be overly uninhibited, and so, exchanging witty banters, they walked out the gates.

Dafuxian Temple had originally occupied the residence of Wu Zetian's mother, and was later moved to Jide Lane, formerly the mansion of Yang Su from the previous Sui dynasty. Yang Su's estate had originally spanned an entire ward; although Dafuxian Temple did not occupy quite that much space, its scale was nonetheless grand. The reliquary pagoda within the temple soared sixteen zhang high, comprising over twelve hundred buildings. Accommodating Ye Chang and his entourage here was a simple matter. Shanxi, who held a position of considerable prestige within the temple, immediately assigned a small courtyard for Ye Chang and his group to dwell in.

Having enjoyed their tea, everyone dispersed in high spirits, and Ye Chang returned to the small courtyard. He had brought quite a number of attendants with him on this trip to Luoyang; leaving aside Shanzhi, Jia Mao'er, and Wuguli, he had brought eight more men—four Chang'an vagrants who had come to attach themselves to Jia Mao'er, and four from the Ye family's own clan. With more than a dozen people in total, along with pack animals, occupying this courtyard did not feel empty at all.

Buddhist temples observed the rule of "no eating past noon," so dinner was handled independently. Once their stomachs were filled, night had fully descended. Candles flickered dimly throughout the temple amid continuous strains of Buddhist chanting. Dwelling in the midst of it all, Ye Chang felt a sudden sense of trance.

Around the hour of *xu* (between 7:00 and 9:00 PM), when the night was pitch dark, Ye Chang was just preparing for bed when he heard someone knocking on the courtyard gate. "Patron Ye? Young Master Ye?"

The sound startled Ye Chang. Wuguli went to open the door, only to find the aged monk Shanxi standing outside with a young novice. Behind Shanxi stood two foreign monks, rather short in stature and somewhat reserved in appearance.

"Master Shanxi visiting at this late hour—what guidance might you have?" Ye Chang asked.

"Truth be told, these two disciples of the Buddha have long admired Young Master Ye's reputation and earnestly wish to pay a visit," Shanxi explained.

The two short monks behind him immediately stepped forward and bowed to Ye Chang. "Sramanas Rongrui and Puzhao pay their respects to Young Master Ye. May Young Master Ye be blessed with peace."

Hearing their somewhat peculiar accents, Ye Chang did not think much of it at the moment, returning the bow while politely saying, "You flatter me." Yet Jia Mao'er beside him furrowed his brow, stepped closer, and muttered in a low voice, "Japanese monks."