CH extra 1

The Spring rain in Dajing was extraordinarily heavy.

The monk was wearing a bamboo hat and walking barefooted on the green paved floor. Fine and dense raindrops rustled down, wetting the corners of his clothes. Suddenly, a stone-like hard object was thrown at the monk’s hat, he raised his head and saw the smiling Prince sitting in the loft.

“Monk Xuan Qing, why are you here?” The Prince was holding a glass of wine in one hand, leaning down to look at the monk, as the other hand weighed a piece of silver with interest. It seemed that just now, this thing was used to throw at the monk’s hat.

The monk looked up at him and some of the rain fell onto his eyelashes. He blinked and the rain turned into droplets of water falling down his cheeks. At first, it looked like a tear and when the Prince took in this scene, he chuckled and yelled at him: “Monk, do you want to drink?”

The monk shook his head, saying he did not touch such things.

“Then come up, sit and chat with me for a while.” The Prince’s fingertips hooked the wine glass as he lazily said, “When the rain stops, I will take you into the palace.”

The monk folded his hands and nodded his head slightly.

A few moments later, the monk reappeared in front of the Prince and took off his straw coat. His shoulders were already wet from the rain, but he did not care. He put the straw coat aside and slowly walked to sit in front of the Prince.

“Long time no see.” The monk smiled, his appearance was born delicate and pretty with his half-lidded eyes. Looking at it this way, it gave off a somewhat compassionate taste. However, the Prince did not like this appearance of his. With his hand tilted, the cup of wine was poured all over the monk. The monk was surprised at his sudden actions and raised his gaze to look at the Prince. He was somewhat puzzled by the Prince’s action and asked: “Your Highness?”

“Call me by my name.” Bai Tianrui looked at him and said seriously.

Xuan Qing sighed, “Bai gongzi……”

“Annoying.” Bai Tianrui threw that wine glass to the side. The wine glass rolled down the table and onto the floor. Despite making a few crunching sounds, it did not break, “Since the wine is on your body, it is also considered breaking a restriction.” 

Xuan Qing quietly looked at Bai Tianrui, silent.

Bai Tianrui gave a somewhat indecisive tsk, “Alright, alright, I was just joking with you. I haven’t seen you in so long, how come you’re getting more and more boring?” As he said this, he propped up his chin and narrowed his eyes.

According to Xuan Qing’s understanding of Bai Tianrui, whenever he revealed this expression, it meant that he was probably angry. However, Bai Tianrui was perverse in nature, and often got angry for countless reasons, so this time Xuan Qing just sat still, waiting.

Sure enough, Bai Tianrui was annoyed only for a while, before he started to smile again, asking, ‘Did my brother tell you about the matter carefully?’

Xuan Qing replied: “Most of it.”

Bai Tianrui asked: “What can be done?”

“Still have to go see in order to know.” Xuan Qing said, “Where is the woman now?”

Bai Tianrui answered, “Imprisoned in the palace. You know, my Father said that if she really is a rabbit spirit, after a few days, her head will be cut off.” He smiled, “My brother was so anxious that his eyes were almost even redder than that rabbit’s. But you’re in a good position that you didn’t even bother hurrying over.”

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Xuan Qing replied, “There were some things on the way, and I was delayed.”

Bai Tianrui asked, “What was it?”

Xuan Qing smiled: “An old matter.”

Bai Tianrui persisted, “Whose old matter?” He stared at Xuan Qing, his tone tightening, wanting to get to the bottom of it.

Faced with this aggressive Bai Tianrui, Xuan Qing didn’t have the slightest intention of getting angry. He sniffed the rich wine smell emanating from his outfit, sighed, and responded, “Old friends I met in the past.”

Bai Tianrui asked, “Oh, you have friends?”

Xuan Qing smiled: “The world is big, who doesn’t have a few friends.”

Bai Tianrui replied, “You’re right.” In the end, Xuan Qing was reluctant to say anything.

Although they were waiting for the rain to stop, the Spring rain didn’t seem like it had any intention to stop. Bai Tianrui didn’t mention anything about leaving so Xuan Qing found it quite difficult to bring the topic up. He just watched as he drank cup after cup. Xuan Qing had seen this Prince’s wine capacity before, he was a very good drinker. Just these several drinks wouldn’t even get him drunk. 

So he continued to drink and only until the sky was dark, did this Spring rain finally stop.

A carriage came from outside the inn and when Bai Tianrui noticed it, he put down the wine cup in his hand, dusted off his clothes, and stood up: “Let’s go.”

Xuan Qing got up.

Bai Tianrui gave him a sidelong glance and said with a smile, “But before you face His Holiness, monk, you should come with me to my residence.”

Xuan Qing asked, “Why?”

Bai Tianrui replied, “You are covered with the smell of alcohol. Wouldn’t it be a little bit disrespectful if you met my Father like this?” He laughed and came towards Xuan Qing’s ear, murmuring, “This smell of alcohol, you best be careful. Otherwise, they will treat you as a drunken monk.” That look and the tone of speech, was like a smug child who had done bad things.

Xuan Qing had always been very tolerant of children, so he just smiled and said okay in a gentle manner.

The carriage went all the way forward, through the heavily guarded palace gates and into the palace.

Bai Tianrui very quickly found new robes for Xuan Qing. At first, Xuan Qing thought they were casual clothes, but after putting them on, he realized that they were also monk’s clothes. They were almost identical in style to his, except that the color had turned white.

When Xuan Qing was changing his clothes, Bai Tianrui was watching from the side. He was muttering something and although it was done so quietly, it was still heard by Xuan Qing.

What Bai Tianrui had said was that white really suited him.

Xuan Qing, however, did not say a word. After changing his clothes, he muttered Amitabha Buddha to Bai Tianrui, indicating that he was ready to leave.

Bai Tianrui turned around to lead the way for Xuan Qing. The two followed the long corridor all the way forward and along the way, he noticed that the corridor still hung with fiery red palace lanterns. It was probably from the New Year and had yet to be taken down. However, at this time, the red didn’t look lively and instead exuded a lonely taste.  

After walking for a long time, they finally arrived outside the study of the current emperor. Bai Tianrui called someone to go in to inform of their arrival, and then stood outside with Xuan Qing, waiting.

“Master Xuan Qing, His Holiness invites you.” The palace attendant serving the emperor soon delivered the news.

The two entered together and saw the emperor sitting on the side along with a gloomy-looking Bai Jinglun. When Bai Jinglun noticed Xuan Qing’s arrival, his expression was slightly relieved, but soon tightened up again. The emperor greeted, “Master, you are here.”

Xuan Qing smiled, “I was delayed by some matters on the way and came a little late, I hope Your Holiness will not blame this monk.”

“How can I blame Master?” The emperor said, “This time I invited you to come here because I have a request.”

Xuan Qing said, “Your Holiness, please speak.”

The emperor then pointed to Bai Jinglun, who was currently kneeling on the ground, and said in a cold voice, “My son wants to marry a woman, which is a beautiful thing. However, an immortal master suddenly appeared and pointed at the woman and said that she was a rabbit spirit——” His expression was extremely cold and he could hear the taste of anger in his tone, “Countless people died at the hands of demons in Dajing that year and it was only thanks to the Heavenly Ruler that we were saved. Now, how could I allow a rabbit spirit to defile the imperial bloodline?!”

Xuan Qing smiled, his expression looking light, “I wonder where that immortal master is now?”

The emperor said, “Right inside the palace!”

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Xuan Qing pondered for a moment before responding, “I can’t make a judgment without seeing the person. How about this, Your Majesty, you summon that immortal master and the woman here together……”

“Alright.” With a wave of his hand, the emperor asked his subordinates to invite those two people here.

Xuan Qing asked again, only to learn that the immortal master also resided in the palace. His origin was a bit bizarre, but he seemed to have some skills, otherwise, the emperor would not be so gullible to his words.

Taking advantage of the time he sent his subordinates to summon the two people, the emperor asked someone to show Xuan Qing a seat.

Not long after, the guards brought in a delicate girl and a man in Daoist clothes. When the two of them saw Xuan Qing, they were both stunned.

The girl’s appearance wasn’t too beautiful but won with her aura of pity. While the man showed a wary look at Xuan Qing.

“Master, I know you and Jinglun are close, but I think he has been hoodwinked by this matter.” The emperor’s voice was cold, with a meaning that could not be denied, “So, whether she is a rabbit spirit or not, I hope the master will judge properly.” The implication was that Xuan Qing should not bend the law for personal gain and deliberately conceal the truth.

Xuan Qing nodded his head.

He got up and headed over to the two people, observing them carefully. He then frowned and said, “I do feel the demon Qi.”

The breath in the room instantly became heavy.

“Demon Qi?” The emperor’s tone was cold, “Is Master sure?”

“Naturally, I am certain.” Xuan Qing smiled as he said this.

“Then how do we discern it?” The emperor asked.

Before Xuan Qing could say anything, the Daoist Priest laughed, “Your Majesty, don’t worry, I have a method to make the demon reveal its original form.”

The emperor asked: “Oh? What method?”

The Daoist Priest suddenly took out a blood-colored talisman from out of nowhere. When Xuan Qing caught a glimpse of this talisman, his eyes narrowed slightly. Just as he was about to speak, the Daoist Priest started chanting loudly, and then with great speed, the talisman was attached to Bai Jinglun’s lover. The girl looked confused, but once this talisman was placed on her, she let out a harsh scream the next moment. She then shriveled up on the ground as her body suddenly shrunk and in full view of everyone, she turned into a snow-white rabbit.

Everyone in the audience was shocked by this scene, especially the emperor. He slapped the table and became furious, yelling, ‘this really is a rabbit spirit. Bai Jinglun, look at what you have done!’

“Your Majesty, wait.” Seeing that the whole situation would soon be settled, Xuan Qing suddenly spoke to stop it from happening. His voice was still gentle like usual and made the atmosphere, which was about to erupt, instantly calm down. The emperor said: “Master Xuan Qing, what else do you want to say?”

Xuan Qing smiled, “Although I do not know the use of that talisman, to discern a demon with this method is not quite credible.”

The Daoist Priest, however, didn’t know Xuan Qing’s origin. He smiled coldly and asked, ‘this Master, you say this method is not credible, then I wonder what other methods you have in order to discern the demons?’

Xuan Qing replied, “Naturally, there is.”

The Daoist Priest asked, “What method?”

Xuan Qing said, “There are countless ways for demons to imitate humans in this world, but there is one method that is the most reliable.”

The Daoist Priest seemed to have felt something and suddenly, he revealed a little bit of uneasiness. Xuan Qing smiled and asked, “This immortal master, are you not curious about what method I’m talking about?”

The Daoist Priest forced himself to calm down and snorted, “What method?”

Xuan Qing responded, “As long as the demon is dead, it naturally cannot imitate again and will definitely return into its original form.” Although his tone was as gentle as water, the words that came out were chilling, “If you happened upon someone who you can’t tell the difference, simply cut off that person’s head. Then you will know right away, whether they are human or demon.”

“Be that as it may! But in case you get it wrong……” the Daoist Priest immediately had back chills from Xuan Qing’s stare. He also didn’t know why this gentle-looking monk in front of him would give him such a strong sense of threat, but he continued anyway, “In case you get it wrong, wouldn’t it be a human life as a grass[1]?! “

But Xuan Qing simply responded indifferently, “Immortal Master, your words are a bit heavy. Life and death are not as important as that. Early attainment of ultimate happiness, perhaps it isn’t a bad thing.”——as he said this, he drew the sword on the side of his waist.

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The author has something to say:

Taking my time to write extra-ing[2]

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[1] Idiom: Killing people like scything grass (i.e. a politician acting with total disregard for the life of his countrymen). 

[2] Might not make sense in English, but meaning as is (i.e. doing something) In Chinese, it is quite often used as a way of saying they are doing something (though not grammatically correct in English). So “happy-ing” means being happy, and “extra-ing” just means the author is writing the extras (despite it being redundant).