SLLBTT Chapter 42
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
⋇⊶⊰Chapter 42⊱⊷⋇
"Yes, it's spread throughout the palace now. They say you show no remorse in the temple, spending half a million in a month," Leng Jiao said. "But I think it's just a rumor."
Liu Jiao, contemplating the numerous bills he had signed, said, "Perhaps... it's not just a rumor..."
"What?"
Liu Jiao hadn't expected that even after leaving the palace, his legend still lingered within its walls.
"How could I have spent half a million?" Liu Jiao refused to believe he had spent that much money. After pondering for days, he decided to personally go to the abbot and get some answers.
Da Huangya and Ah Ye said, "We'll go with you."
"Why do you want to come along?" Liu Jiao said, "I can handle it alone."
"Are you really planning to confront the abbot directly?" Da Huangya asked.
"Of course, why not? The abbot is just a human," Liu Jiao said, "Might not even be able to beat a goose."
At the mention of not being able to beat a goose, both Da Huangya and Ah Ye shamefully lowered their heads.
Liu Jiao ventured alone to seek out the abbot.
Little did he expect that upon reaching the abbot's office, the head monk was nowhere to be found. Inquiring, Liu Jiao was told by the office clerk, "The abbot is away, preparing for a welcoming ceremony. What business do you have? I can inform him when he returns."
After some thought, Liu Jiao replied, "No need. I'll find him myself."
Once again displaying his prowess as a top predator, Liu Jiao moved gracefully between temple structures. Swiftly sensing the abbot's presence, he traced it to a quiet garden.
Initially intending to enter, Liu Jiao found the garden gate locked. However, it wasn't the lock that halted him. It was a stone monument outside the gate bearing the inscription "Northern Pagoda."
"Northern Pagoda?" Liu Jiao pondered. "Isn't this the same haunted Northern Pagoda the abbot mentioned?"
The thought made Liu Jiao's hairs stand on end. "Well... I'll find him another time," he decided.
Liu Jiao rushed back to his temple with a pitter-patter. As he reached the door, Ah Ye emerged to greet him, "How did it go? Did you get the answers?"
"Uh..." Liu Jiao scratched his head. "Didn't get any."
However, Da Huangya joyfully said, "That's alright. Five hundred thousand isn't much anyway. Your news trended on the forums, but it quickly got overshadowed by the 'confined Queen Dowager tipping a livestreamer with twenty million.'"
Liu Jiao was shocked. "The Queen Dowager tips a livestreamer with twenty million??? Is it true or false? Why would he do such a thing?"
"Life under confinement must be boring," Ah Ye said. "If I were confined for so long, I'd watch livestreams too."
With laughing quacks, Da Huangya said, "This is a joyous news!"
"Why is it a joyous news?" Liu Jiao asked in confusion.
Da Huangya explained, "Everyone is talking about the Queen Dowager rewarding a livestreamer. No one cares about your spending five hundred thousand anymore. Isn't that a reason to celebrate?"
"But the five hundred thousand was spent without any clear reason," Liu Jiao protested. "We definitely need to find out."
Before Liu Jiao could catch the abbot and get answers, the procession of the Snow Wolf King had already arrived at the Temple of Heavenly Emperor.
As the ruler of a kingdom, the Snow Wolf King's entourage was grand. The people at the Temple of Heavenly Emperor lined the path to welcome him. Flowers and red carpets were essential. Monks held flowers, chanting scriptures on either side of the red carpet. The Snow Wolf King sat in a black sedan chair, observing the solemn chanting monks on both sides, momentarily feeling like the protagonist of a funeral.
Due to the Snow Wolf King's noble status, visiting the Temple of Heavenly Emperor meant clearing the streets, with commoners stepping aside. Unable to get close, Liu Jiao, with a longing heart, jumped onto a nearby tree to gaze from afar. He saw a black and gold sedan chair on the red carpet, with the Snow Wolf King seated upon it.
The Snow Wolf King wore white as pure as snow, matching his snowy complexion.
In Liu Jiao's heart, the verse that lingered daily echoed again, "Round moon in the sky so full and bright. White clouds gleam in soft radiant light." He felt the last two lines, "Amidst the Heavenly Mountain's beauty, a spirit dance. Pure and bright, in a radiant trance," suited the Snow Wolf King better.
The Snow Wolf King was that pure and bright spirit.
Liu Jiao's heart involuntarily tangled.
At this very moment, the Snow Wolf King suddenly lifted his head, facing Liu Jiao's direction, and smiled faintly.
Liu Jiao's heart suddenly raced wildly, in disarray, nearly falling from the tree.
After a while, Liu Jiao calmed down, realizing he had let his imagination run wild.
At such a distance, the Great King probably couldn't see him, Liu Jiao thought, but his heart still felt excited.
Once inside the Temple of Heavenly Emperor, after bathing and offering incense, the Snow Wolf King was led to his quarters by the abbot. Monks and attendants waited on the side, while the abbot knelt before the Snow Wolf King, engaging in casual conversation. The Snow Wolf King inquired, "By the way, can I see the detailed monthly expenses of Liu Jiao?"
The abbot was shocked. He hadn't expected the Snow Wolf King to ask for details. Spending generously on the Beautiful Lady was only natural, wasn't it? Asking for details was rather petty! This Great King wasn't up to the usual standards!
The abbot cleared his throat and said, "Great King, this request came suddenly, and I haven't prepared for it."
"What? Do you need a special account book just for me?"
"Oh, no, that's not what I meant..." the abbot hastily explained, "It's just... with the recent preparations for the welcoming ceremony, things have been chaotic, and I can't recall the details..."
"Can't recall the details of the accounts?" The Snow Wolf King chuckled.
The abbot hastily shook his head. "No, it's just that we, in our temple, are all monks, not very professional..."
"No worries," the Snow Wolf King waved his hand, "I brought a professional auditing team with me to help you review the accounts."
The abbot's face turned pale. "A professional auditing team???"
The Snow Wolf King nodded. "Yes."
The abbot naturally hadn't expected that the Snow Wolf King, coming to the Temple of Heavenly Emperor to pay respects, would bring auditors. "Great King, you... just came to offer incense, but you also brought auditors..."
And no one had expected that on the rooftop of the temple where the abbot met the Snow Wolf King, there lay a snow leopard with a large tail.
After Liu Jiao stole a glance at the Snow Wolf King from the tree, he felt unsatisfied, so he followed here to sneak a peek at the Great King. He overheard the conversation between the abbot and the Great King.
"It seems the Great King is quite concerned about that five hundred thousand..." Liu Jiao felt even more guilty. "How did I spend so much of the Great King's money in just one month? He must be displeased."
Seeing the audit about to commence, the abbot quickly suggested, "Great King, why not first go to the Northern Pagoda for incense? It wouldn't be good to miss the auspicious time."
The Snow Wolf King nodded. "Very well."
Hearing that the Great King was going to the Northern Pagoda, Liu Jiao was even more surprised. Wasn't that place haunted? How could they let the Snow Wolf King go there!