CH extra 2

Extra 2: Dajing’s Old Affairs (II)

The Daoist Priest was startled at the sight of Xuan Qing’s action and with a frightened look on his face, he turned around and took a few steps back, “What are you going to do——”

Xuan Qing, holding his sword, smiled and replied, “I have a good relationship with the eldest prince, so I know him well. However, there is a demonic aura in this room, which is really strange.”

The Daoist Priest was furious, “You’re talking nonsense, how can I be a demon!?” Despite having said that, his words didn’t sound confident at all and he took a few more steps back. Now, on his side was the eldest prince, kneeling on the ground silently. The eldest prince had been looking very respectful as he knelt on the ground, but when the Daoist Priest retreated to his side, he suddenly rose up. Like Xuan Qing, he also pulled out his sword and slashed towards the Daoist Priest’s neck.

The Daoist Priest’s attention was on Xuan Qing so he was not expecting the move made by the eldest prince. In the end, because of his ignorance, he was cut. He let out a miserable scream and simply fell to the ground. The sharp sword blade in the eldest prince’s hand easily chopped off his head and the bright red blood splashed all over the room. Everyone in the room was stunned by this scene, but before they could react, they discovered something even more terrifying——the moment the Daoist Priest fell to the ground, a cloud of black smoke rose from his body and when the smoke dispersed, the Daoist Priest’s body actually turned into the appearance of a demon.

“Jinglun!” The emperor was still shaking with anger because of Bai Jinglun’s action, but when he saw the corpse of the Daoist Priest, he fell into silence.

Bai Jinglun, whose body and hands were covered with blood, looked calm. He threw the sword in his hand aside, knelt heavily towards the emperor, “Father, forgive me!”

The emperor surveyed the corpse on the ground for a long time before saying sorrowfully, “How did you know he was a demon?”

“Your son didn’t know.” Bai Jinglun replied, “Only after listening to Master Xuan Qing’s words did I end up guessing a thing or two.”

The emperor muttered, “Oh?”

Bai Jinglun continued, “I know that my beloved one is not a demon. However, Master Xuan Qing said that he had smelled a demon, so there can only be one demon and that is the Daoist Priest who told the big lie.” His cheeks were still stained with blood and he had little to no expression etched on his face. He looked tremendously different compared to how he usually was, “This demon Daoist Priest dares to deceive His Majesty, naturally, it is a death sentence. Your son simply took the courage to eliminate this demon for father.”

The emperor looked at his son and for a moment he actually felt that his love was quite strange, but he did not hate this version of Bai Jinglun, instead, he smiled and said, “But your beloved has already turned into a rabbit.”

“There are always ways in the world to turn people into something else.” Bai Jinglun replied, “Your son does not know anything about this, but now that Master Xuan Qing is here, there will always be a way to solve it.”

The emperor looked at Xuan Qing, who smiled and nodded, “She has turned into a rabbit because of the talisman, so she doesn’t need to do anything. In a few days, she should be able to recover.”

The emperor gave a nod and accepted Xuan Qing’s explanation.

The corpse of the Daoist Priest, who had died suddenly, was still in the room. The emperor called in the guards and ordered them to take the corpse out. He then smiled and said he had already set up a banquet and invited Xuan Qing to go, as if just now that incomparably harsh attitude was only the crowd’s imagination.

Bai Tianrui also accompanied them to the banquet, but the blood-covered Bai Jinglun, holding his poor rabbit girl, retired first to head back to his residence.

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After the wine and food, Xuan Qing got up to say goodbye and got into the same carriage with Bai Tianrui to leave the palace.

After the carriage drove out of the palace, Bai Tianrui, who had closed his eyes and leaned in the carriage to rest, suddenly re-opened them, “They say that monks do not deceive. Xuan Qing, I think you aren’t really a serious monk.”

With an innocent face, Xuan Qing asked, “Why does Your Highness say that?”

Bai Tianrui asked, “The girl that my big brother likes, is she really not a demon?”

Xuan Qing responded, “But from the beginning to the end, I never said that she wasn’t a demon.”

Bai Tianrui smiled and froze. He thought carefully about what Xuan Qing had said after entering the palace, and then suddenly realized that the monk’s words in front of him were rigorous from beginning to end. He did say that there was a demonic aura, but he did not say who the demonic aura was coming from.

Bai Tianrui was speechless.

Xuan Qing still had that gentle look, as if the first person who just drew the sword was not him. Bai Tianrui disliked his seemingly “compassionate, but was actually heartless” look the most. His eyes darkened a little as he pursed his lips and kept quiet.

Xuan Qing seemed to be completely unaware of Bai Tianrui’s discomfort. He simply folded his hands with half-lidded eyes and gentle eyebrows.

The carriage stopped and just as Xuan Qing was about to turn around and get off, he was grabbed by Bai Tianrui, who was behind him. Xuan Qing looked up in surprise and asked, “Your Highness?”

Bai Tianrui glanced at Xuan Qing’s wrist, which he had just grabbed, and suddenly felt that he had been burned. He quickly let go of his hand and mumbled, “It’s nothing.”

Xuan Qing looked puzzled.

The two of them got down from the carriage and entered the residence.

Bai Jinglun was already waiting in the residence. He had already changed out of the blood-covered clothes and was sitting in the study, holding the frightened rabbit spirit in his arms.

The rabbit spirit in the arms of Bai Jinglun shivered with a pitiful look. Anyone who looked at her would feel their heart soften into mush.

Xuan Qing laughed: “Scared, right?”

“Yes, she’s quite scared.” Bai Jinglun replied coldly.

“Big brother.” Bai Tianrui smiled as he got together next to him, “You are a big tree that attracts the wind[1] . Although we all know that you don’t intend to be in that position, but other people, they don’t necessarily know that.”

Who wouldn’t want to become the one above all others? Facing such a huge temptation, how many people could really give it all up? Therefore, probably not many people would believe that Bai Jinglun, who had prestige and was also the eldest son, had no interest in the throne.

Bai Jinglun sighed, “You are right.”

Bai Tianrui continued: “Look, if you don’t fight, she will have to suffer such accusations. Any Tom, Dick and Harry, could call her a demon……”

Bai Jinglun’s expression gradually turned cold.

“Besides, did you really think Father did not see that the Daoist Priest had a problem?” Bai Tianrui, in front of his own brother, had always gone with the flow with no restrictions and at this time, he was also the same. He was different from Bai Jinglun. Although he was only a teenager, his sword skills had been very outstanding. He did not have to be bothered by mundane matters in the mortal world and no one dared to plot against him, “I think father just wants to take this opportunity to knock you out, the trees long for peace but the wind will never cease[2] ……”

Bai Jinglun interrupted sharply, “I know.”

His expression became more and more gloomy, but when he lowered his eyes to look at the white rabbit in his arms, his expression became much gentler, as if only this cute rabbit in front of him could arouse the tender feelings in his heart.

The rabbit was indeed cute, but it was born to be prey. Even if it became anxious, at most, it would only just give a bite.

Bai Jinglun took in a deep breath, “Master Xuan Qing has worked hard, why don’t you go and have a good rest first. When tomorrow comes, we can catch up again?”

“Alright.” Seeing that Bai Jinglun was not in good spirits, Xuan Qing also did not force him. He turned to follow the subordinates to his own resting room, leaving the two brothers, Bai Jinglun and Bai Tianrui, alone.

In the end, they were blood-related brothers and they could already tell what was in each other’s minds just by looking at each other.

Bai Jinglun said, “Tianrui, don’t get in too deep.”

Bai Tianrui chuckled, “Brother, what do you mean by that?

Bai Jinglun gave him a deep look and asked, “You don’t know what it means?”

Only then did Bai Tianrui stop laughing.

“Monk Xuan Qing is not simple.” Bai Jinglun continued slowly, “Although I don’t know where he came from, you and he are not the same.”

Bai Tianrui clenched his teeth, “I know.” He knew that he and Xuan Qing were not the same. This monk seemed gentle, but in fact, his eyes could not hold anyone. He was as compassionate as the Lord Buddha, but he saw all life as grass. No matter how powerful he, Bai Tianrui, was, in the eyes of Xuan Qing, he was about the same as a fish in the river.

Bai Jinglun had still wanted to say more words to his brother, but Bai Tianrui no longer wanted to listen. He got up and left and his figure showed a few traces of loneliness. Bai Jinglun let out a low sigh, looking at the still-not-too-good little rabbit in his hands, his heart already had a decision.

By midnight, there was another light rain.

Xuan Qing sat on the bed, listening to the rustling sound of rain outside the window interspersed with the sound of breaking air—it was the sound of sharp weapons stabbing. Xuan Qing tilted his head and through the half-open window gap, he saw a young man practicing sword in the rain. The teenager was seventeen or eighteen years old and although his body hadn’t yet opened up, he was vaguely able to see the sharpness he would have in the near future. The long sword in his hand slashed out a piercing sword Qi and in the darkness of the night, it looked very conspicuous. The rain moistened the teenager’s hair and forehead so that his sharp face was somewhat a bit softer. Xuan Qing took a look and then withdrew his gaze. The Spring night was long, he just didn’t know when this rain would stop.

The next morning, Xuan Qing was woken up early by Bai Jinglun.

The eldest prince, who usually looked calm and unhurried, showed an unprecedented panic at this time. He rushed into Xuan Qing’s room with his chest heaving up and down, panting sharply: “Master Xuan Qing, Master Xuan Qing——”

“What’s wrong?” Xuan Qing asked.

“She’s gone, she’s gone——” Bai Jinglun didn’t even have an outerwear over him as he came over in his pajamas, he could tell at a glance that he was self-disorganized.

Xuan Qing instantly understood what Bai Jinglun meant and frowned, “That little rabbit of yours?”

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“Yes.” Bai Jinglun exclaimed, “Last night she was still sleeping well at the head of my bed, today when I got up, she was gone……”

Xuan Qing said, “I’ll go check.”

Saying that, the two headed off to Bai Jinglun’s room. After Xuan Qing carefully examined the area, he frowned.

Bai Jinglun asked, “Master Xuan Qing, did someone come and take her away??”

Xuan Qing shook his head and replied hesitantly, “There is…….no third person’s breath here.”

Bai Jinglun exclaimed, “How?! Someone must have gotten word from Father and knew how much I liked her——that’s why——”

“No, there is no third person’s breath here.” Xuan Qing, however, figured out what was going on and sighed, “If she was going to leave, it would probably be on her own will.”

Bai Jinglun froze.

Xuan Qing also revealed a helpless look.

Bai Jinglun was stunned in place for a quite some time before he understood what Xuan Qing meant from his tone and demeanor. And with a look of disbelief in his eyes, he muttered in a trembling voice, “She, left by herself?” His eyes showed panic, “How could she leave by herself? She still looks like a rabbit, if others see her, won’t she be hurt as a demon?”

Xuan Qing called out, “Jinglun.”

Bai Jinglun looked up.

Xuan Qing sighed, “She’s actually not as weak as you think.”

Bai Jinglun looked at Xuan Qing expressionlessly.

Xuan Qing continued, “Since the Heavenly Ruler has laid the Grand Formation on Yaoguang, demons that are too weak cannot survive on Yaoguang, she……may not need as much protection as you think.”

Bai Jinglun’s face was pale, he had wanted to speak out several times, but he could not say the complete words. Xuan Qing looked at him compassionately, until Bai Jinglun desperately grabbed the corner of his outfit. In the end, it was teenage Bai Jinglun whose tone carried a crying voice, “Xuan Qing, I do not want her to go. Please, I beg you, help me find her, Okay?”

Xuan Qing sighed, “Okay.”

Since taking Bai Jinglun’s gold, he was destined to be entangled with the Dajing Imperial Family for decades. Whether it was fate or sin Xuan Qing couldn’t say, but in the end, it had already happened so he could only let nature take its course.

Although the white rabbit had left, it did not deliberately conceal its breath. Xuan Qing took some time before he ended up finding her in the outskirts of the Imperial City of Dajing. At this time, she had changed from rabbit form to human again. Her appearance was still charming and pitiful, but when faced with Bai Jinglun, who begged her to go back, she showed a different kind of determination.

“I won’t go back.” She lifted the hair around her ears and whispered warmly, “Although I like you, I don’t like it there.”

Bai Jinglun was dumbfounded.

She continued, “You can go, I won’t go back.”

Bai Jinglun hissed, “You don’t have to be afraid, I can protect you.”

She asked, “Protect me?” She skewed her thoughts and smiled, “Well……when you can protect me, come back and find me.”

Bai Jinglun clenched his teeth harshly, turned, and then left.

Xuan Qing followed behind and saw his fist clenched tightly. His nails probably pierced through the skin as a little trail of blood could be seen dripping down his fingers.

Xuan Qing lowered his eyes and let out a low sigh of Amitabha Buddha. With wandering thoughts, he thought that people in the matter of love really made people feel troubled. And with troublesome matters——he would never touch them.

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[1] Idiom: a famous person attracts criticism; If you’re rich or famous, people will envy you.

[2] idiom: the world changes, whether you want it or not.