Chapter 736 - 737: What Is the Third Senior Sister Planning?

Chapter 736: Chapter 737: What Is the Third Senior Sister Planning?

Miaoyuan Temple.

After returning from Jingci Temple, Cui Hao did not immediately report his findings to the Eldest Senior Sister. Instead, he swaggered straight to Wu Wang.

The Jingci Temple incident alone only proved that the Small Vehicle Buddhist Teachings were finally about to unleash an irreversible tidal wave — it didn’t prove anything was wrong with their own team.

The crux of the matter was that although the Eldest Senior Sister suspected the Third Senior Sister of scheming...

What reason would the Third Senior Sister have to scheme?

Perhaps it was simply Wu Wang with his impure intentions. At least until Wu Wang was confirmed, Cui Hao had no intention of rushing to the Eldest Senior Sister with incomplete intelligence.

Minimizing misjudgments and faulty information — that was what made a competent scout.

Besides, Cui Hao had always rather trusted his Third Senior Sister.

Cui Hao strode into the Great Hero Hall, his gaze naturally drifting to Wu Wang seated in the hall, and chuckled:

"Oh my, you seem quite at ease."

Wu Wang raised his eyes slightly, looking at Cui Hao: "What guidance does Fellow Daoist have?"

Cui Hao sat down beside him with perfect ease, a playful grin on his face:

"Naturally, I’m here on the Eldest Senior Sister’s orders to ask how our esteemed Buddhist Son is progressing with his considerations."

Wu Wang sighed softly: "There are certain matters I cannot decide unilaterally. I must report back to Great Thunder Temple."

Cui Hao put on an expression of profound agreement, then continued with a light chuckle:

"As expected of a Buddhist Son — your methods are truly impressive."

Wu Wang looked confused: "What does Fellow Daoist mean by that?"

Cui Hao answered in a casual tone: "To use such a clumsy excuse to make the Third Senior Sister leave — that can only mean your methods are impressive. If I had tried that, the Third Senior Sister would have been merciful to leave me with even a layer of skin."

Wu Wang met Cui Hao’s teasing gaze but said nothing.

"We know what the Eldest Senior Sister told you, and we have our own count. But clearly, you don’t." Cui Hao leaned back lazily in his chair. "You need to understand something — what I’m offering you right now doesn’t have to count. Even what the Eldest Senior Sister agreed to doesn’t have to count."

"The one whose word truly counts is my Master. Can your request even reach Great Thunder Temple?"

"Also, we know perfectly well who currently calls the shots in the Buddhist Sect."

"If you won’t listen, do you think we’re stupid enough not to find someone who will make you?"

"The Eldest Senior Sister has already asked Master to contact your Honored Buddha. The command will probably arrive within days."

"There’s still time to pull back from the cliff’s edge."

Cui Hao tapped the table lightly, his tone casual: "I reckon you wouldn’t want to be dealing with an utter mess you can’t handle by the time your Honored Buddha’s decree arrives, would you?"

Wu Wang’s heart sank slightly. He watched Cui Hao lounging there, looking as though none of this had anything to do with him.

The tone might have sounded like negotiation, but it was really a notification.

Wu Wang and Great Thunder Temple certainly maintained close contact. Even under heavy pressure, he could still reach the Honored Buddha.

The Honored Buddha had been tacitly approving of everything he did — no reprimand, no extra suggestions, simply letting him manage everything single-handedly.

Even now that things had gone this far, the Honored Buddha merely told him to proceed with confidence.

Cui Hao’s words today naturally contained an element of prediction.

But there was also a real variable within — if Chu Xingchen truly went to seek out the Honored Buddha, then the Honored Buddha would likely back down.

And if he backed down, continuing with the current plan at this juncture...

The present Cui Hao only needed to dangle one possible outcome to make Wu Wang hesitate once more.

Just as Chen Baiqing had said — one must never underestimate Cui Hao.

So then, Yun Li really had been sent out as a smokescreen, hadn’t he?

Cui Hao remained seated, his gaze calm and languid as he watched Wu Wang, making no effort to rush him.

Wu Wang sank into contemplation, as though deliberating how to respond to Cui Hao.

The hall fell quiet for a moment.

"Fifth Junior Brother, what brings you here today?"

Chen Baiqing’s cool, clear voice shattered the silence as she stepped into the hall, her calm gaze settling on Cui Hao.

Cui Hao’s lazy posture snapped taut instantly, a gentle smile appearing on his face:

"Oh, I’m here on the Eldest Senior Sister’s orders to ask whether Buddhist Son Wu Wang has made his decision."

Chen Baiqing took a seat across from Cui Hao, raised her eyes slightly, and asked with a puzzled tone:

"When did you receive the Eldest Senior Sister’s orders? She just sent for me."

Cui Hao grinned:

"Oh, it’s been a while. I was busy with something then, only just got around to it."

Chen Baiqing’s lips curved into a faint smile, her tone gentle:

"If you came to visit, just say so — why drag the Eldest Senior Sister into it? Aren’t you afraid she’ll add another mark against you?"

The moment Cui Hao heard this, his eyes went wide with understanding.

Damn!

The Third Senior Sister had been tricking him again!

She hadn’t come on the Eldest Senior Sister’s orders either — she’d probably come specifically to catch him in the act.

This whole exchange was likely meant to remind Wu Wang that Cui Hao had been lying through his teeth.

But...

This also meant the Third Senior Sister was probably truly involved in this matter.

Cui Hao met her gaze directly, his tone now serious:

"Then is the Third Senior Sister here for fun, like me, or did you genuinely receive the Eldest Senior Sister’s orders?"

Chen Baiqing’s gaze remained steady.

Cui Hao had been at her side for some time now. She naturally knew he had his own thoughts and reasoning, and would support both their Master and the Eldest Senior Sister.

If the Second Senior Brother was someone who could be won over...

Then Cui Hao was a hindrance that could be kicked aside — at least regarding this matter.

Chen Baiqing did not answer. Instead, she said directly:

"The Eldest Senior Sister is waiting for your reply."

Cui Hao rose to his feet. He understood that with the Third Senior Sister present, there was no way to truly trap or extract information from Wu Wang.

But still...

Why was the Third Senior Sister doing this?

And why did the Eldest Senior Sister seem to already know?

Cui Hao’s face lost its usual exaggerated expression. He gave a slight cupped-hand salute, then turned and left without another word.

Since the Third Senior Sister wanted him to ask the Eldest Senior Sister, then ask he would.

As Cui Hao departed, the hall grew quiet once more.

Chen Baiqing sat for a moment, then rose and turned to leave without a word.

"I..." Wu Wang now roughly understood the situation and tried to speak.

"I don’t like hearing excuses. Only incompetent people enjoy finding justifications for themselves. Besides, I have no expectations of you, so there’s no need to feel guilty."

Chen Baiqing’s footsteps did not pause. Her words drifted away with her retreating steps.

The matter was already settled. In two days, even if the Eldest Senior Sister wanted to reverse the situation, it would be too late.

Even if the ruler of Cangwu Kingdom agreed to implement the new policy, getting the plan off the ground and coordinating the various parties would take far more than two days.

The Fifth Junior Brother discovering or not discovering this now made no difference.

Wu Wang let out a helpless sigh.

These days, even playing the fool seemed to take some effort.

Cangwu Kingdom, Capital City.

Lin Luoyu held the jade token firmly, writing down every detail of the new policy and the deployment plan that Li Junzi and the Emperor of Cangwu Kingdom had agreed upon.

The jade token transformed into a streak of golden light and shot away.

Lin Luoyu gazed down from the city wall, watching armored soldiers and numerous Confucian cultivators heading out of the capital.

The new policy directives had already been dispatched at full speed, radiating outward from the capital in all directions.

Meanwhile, Xuanwu Kingdom had received the deployment order and was preparing to assist with military suppression.

Once the new policy made its presence felt in Cangwu Kingdom, Xuanwu Kingdom could then apply pressure to force its implementation upon the great families.

Whether the new policy succeeded or not...

The turmoil caused by the Small Vehicle Buddhist Teachings would ultimately be laid to rest under Li Junzi’s arrangements.

Only...

No one knew exactly how it would be laid to rest.

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