Chapter 457: Teleportation
Liang Shixian led Chengcheng County’s clerk, principal, constables, and helpers—over a hundred people in total—waiting respectfully at the border between Bai Shui County and Chengcheng County.
Up ahead, a large procession crossed the county line and entered Chengcheng’s territory.
At the forefront was a man dressed in civil official robes, his face radiating pride. Behind him trailed a large group of servants, officials, and an enormous logistics team.
The disaster relief inspector, Wu Shen, had arrived.
Wu Shen now served as the emperor’s envoy, bearing the heavens’ mandate to aid the afflicted—accompanied by one hundred thousand taels of silver. Naturally, his presence was imposing.
He strutted proudly, convinced he was Shaanxi’s—no, all of Shaanxi’s—most dazzling star.
Upon spotting Liang Shixian, Wu Shen pointed his nose skyward.
Liang Shixian hurriedly performed the grand ritual of obeisance reserved for the emperor himself first. Only after this ceremonial deference could normal conversation resume: “Your humble servant, Liang Shixian, awaits the heavenly envoy.”
Having savored his display of authority, Wu Shen spoke lightly, “I bear celestial gifts to relieve the people of Chengcheng County. You… Huh?”
Wu Shen sucked in a sharp breath. “How… can this be?”
Liang Shixian instantly grasped his shock and smiled. “This county received blessings…”
He nearly said “from Dao Xuan Deity,” but hesitated. Explaining a deity unfamiliar to the inspector might invite suspicions of cult activity—trouble for both him and Chengcheng County. Simpler to remain vague.
“… blessings from a divine being. The Dragon King sent rain.”
Wu Shen: “!!!”
Nonsense! Utter rubbish! He dismissed it instantly. Luck or favorable geography—this county simply escaped drought.
“It seems this region needs no salvation from me.” Wu Shen’s pride deflated. Throughout his journey, desperate eyes had followed him, craving his silver and grain, empowering him with the thrill of absolute authority. He’d reveled in deciding who received aid. Yet here, his grandeur felt meaningless.
Liang Shixian smiled calmly. “Indeed. Chengcheng requires no relief. The heavenly envoy may direct these limited resources elsewhere—to aid those truly suffering.”
“In that case,” Wu Shen declared, “I shall pass through Chengcheng directly to Heyang County.”
Heyang doesn’t need saving either, Liang Shixian thought. But no need to say so. Feng Jun there will explain.
Right now, his sole desire was to see this envoy swiftly depart.
Rustle… rustle…
From the roadside grasses drifted a lazy voice. “Ah… slept splendidly…”
“Who goes there?” Wu Shen’s guards snapped their waist knives from their sheaths.
More rustling followed. Then, the tall grasses parted, revealing a disheveled monk. His robe was filthy, his hat and sandals ragged. A gourd dangled from his left hand, a tattered leaf fan fluttered in his right.
Liang Shixian’s group, who daily gazed upon the towering golden statue of Dao Xuan Deity in their city, instantly recognized Li Daoxuan’s face! Yet here he was… dressed as a monk. Confusion froze them all.
Wu Shen’s group stared too. Jigong the Monk? No… no. Jigong is legend, not flesh and blood. This must be some young monk mimicking the eccentric sage.
Still, the guards kept hands on knife hilts, alert.
The slovenly monk straightened his hat and flicked his fan. Though tattered and creating little breeze, he seemed content. Wearing a cheeky grin, he beckoned to Wu Shen.
“Wu Shen. Native of Xinghua, Jiangsu. Passed imperial examinations forty-first year of Wanli reign. During Tianqi’s second year—memorialized repeatedly against the Eunuch Party? Stripped of rank by Wei Zhongxian and dismissed, right? Only reinstated two years ago… Tsk tsk…”
Silence. Utter shock.
A guard jerked his knife forward. “Insolence!”
Wu Shen flinched. A monk emerging from daylight grass, knowing his name… his history? Terrifying!
No ordinary monk.
“Seize him!” Wu Shen ordered lowly. “Alive! I want to know which spy sent him.”
Guards rushed Li Daoxuan.
Laughing, Li Daoxuan stepped back—vanishing into the grasses.
The guards charged after him… grasping empty air. He’d disappeared!
Poof!
Suddenly, he sat perched on a distant tree, grinning down at them.
How? How had he crossed that distance instantly?
Bewildered but resolute, the guards sprinted toward the tree.
The monk leaped down—plunging back into the grasses.
The guards lunged wildly. Emptiness!
Then—poof!—there he was, perched on yet another distant tree.
Everyone: “…”
To them, chasing this monk was impossible. Unbeknownst to them, he moved a silicone figure within a miniature world. When Li Daoxuan shifted the figure with his hand—swift as a human wave, traveling five meters per second—the miniature world perceived it as one kilometer per second. Two ancient li in the blink of an eye.
Like lightning flashing.
Like magic incarnate.
The guards’ knife hands trembled slightly. Wu Shen gaped.
Instantly—the monk flew.
Suspended thirty to forty feet high, he floated through the air, drifting smoothly until landing silently before Wu Shen.
Facing the inspector, he fanned himself slowly with the battered leaf fan.
“Well, Wu Shen? Still wish to arrest me?”
Arrest a man who flies? Everyone stared, utterly paralyzed.
One guard found courage. “Fiendish monk! Who…”
His companion clamped a hand over his mouth, whispering fiercely: “Not fiend! Holy monk! Jigong… That must be Jigong!”