254: Two Taoist priests

Lu Jianchuan held his breath and focused his mind. Only after the footsteps and conversation of Wei Ziqing and the two Daoist Acolytes had completely faded into the depths of the corridor did he emerge from behind a pillar. His objective was clear—the Side Wing Room where those two had appeared.

He approached silently and gently pushed open the ajar door. Inside was a simply furnished living quarter, complete with a wooden bed, table, chairs, wardrobe, and washstand. It was even bright and clean, without a speck of dust.

Lu Jianchuan did not let down his guard and began a quick yet meticulous search. The more he looked, the tighter his brow furrowed.

It was too "clean."

This cleanliness went beyond the scope of daily cleaning. The earthenware tea cups on the table were turned upside down, their interiors so dry there wasn't a trace of water or tea stains. They were cold to the touch, as if they had never been used.

As his palm brushed over the bed, he found the bedding neatly folded and the fabric stiff. Even with firm pressure, he couldn't feel the slight wrinkles or elastic memory that should have remained after someone had lain there. It was unnaturally brand new.

Opening the wardrobe, he found several green Daoist robes of the same style hanging inside. The fabric was pristine, with no signs of wear at the collar or cuffs, and even the fold lines looked like they had just been ironed out.

The room was indeed cleaned regularly, with no accumulated dust. However, all these items lacked one crucial thing—the breath of life.

There was no wear from frequent use, no marks left by personal habits, no warmth, and no evidence that a "person" had ever existed there.

Lu Jianchuan's gaze sharpened. This room was more like a meticulously arranged display window or a temporary stage.

Those two acolytes certainly didn't live here on a daily basis. They only appeared here occasionally, or perhaps they simply came from elsewhere specifically to perform on this "stage" for outsiders to see.

So, where did they actually come from?

Lu Jianchuan's gaze scanned every inch of the room's walls, floor, and ceiling once more like a searchlight.

Such deliberate disguise was bound to be covering something up. In this Ancestral Hall, there was definitely a hidden door or Secret Passage leading to the true core area that he hadn't discovered yet.

On the other side, Wei Ziqing was led by the two acolytes to a small pavilion in the Side Courtyard. After they accepted the "incense money," their attitude became noticeably warmer.

The older acolyte took the initiative to suggest, "Since the Devotee has come to visit by fate and is so sincere, this humble Daoist knows a bit of Physiognomy. Why don't I read the Devotee's palm? Consider it a way to forge a good connection."

Wei Ziqing immediately acted interested and held out his hand. "That would be wonderful! Thank you, Daoist Priest!"

The acolyte took Wei Ziqing's hand, his fingertips pressing lightly on the palm lines while he muttered under his breath, saying vague things like "the wisdom line is deep and far-reaching" and "there may be an opportunity in the near future." While Wei Ziqing pretended to listen intently, he was secretly observing.

Soon, he noticed an abnormality. Despite the cool early spring weather, a layer of fine cold sweat had broken out on the forehead of the acolyte who was "reading his palm," and his face had turned slightly pale. The man seemed to be enduring something with great effort. In the gaps between explaining the palm lines, he would unconsciously tug at his collar or quickly wipe his forehead with his sleeve, and his breathing rhythm was slightly erratic.

Just then, the other younger acolyte suddenly spoke in a natural tone, "Senior Brother, the time has come. You should take your medicine." As he spoke, he took a delicate small porcelain bottle from his robe, poured out a vermilion pill, and handed it over.

The Senior Brother looked as if he had been granted a grand reprieve. He immediately took the pill and swallowed it with water. In just a dozen seconds, the cold sweat on his face stopped, his slightly hurried breathing calmed down, and the small habit of tugging at his collar disappeared. He returned to his previous ethereal and peaceful demeanor. He nodded slightly to the younger acolyte. "Thank you, Junior Brother."

The younger acolyte then turned to the puzzled-looking Wei Ziqing and explained with a smile, "Please don't take offense, Devotee. My Senior Brother suffers from an old illness and chronic pain, which requires him to take medicine on time to suppress it. We've made a fool of ourselves before you."

Wei Ziqing hurried to wave his hand. "No, no, the Daoist Priest's health is more important." A smile of understanding was plastered on his face, but his heart was filled with growing suspicion.

That scene just now—the urgent manner in which he took the medicine, and the instantaneous "recovery" afterward... No matter how he looked at it, it didn't seem like treatment for a common old illness. Instead, it inexplicably reminded him of something darker—like the symptoms of a drug addict and the relief after getting a "fix" in time.

Wei Ziqing exchanged a few more superficial words with them in the pavilion. The Senior Brother who had taken the medicine then politely but firmly began to see him out, using the need for rest as an excuse. Wei Ziqing followed his lead, thanking them repeatedly. Under the gaze of the two acolytes, he turned and walked toward the mountain path he had come from, his figure soon disappearing behind the trees.

However, he didn't actually leave. After rounding a bend and confirming no one was following, he immediately used the trees and rocks for cover to silently double back. He lurked in a hidden corner on the outskirts of the Ancestral Hall where he could see the entrance to the Side Courtyard.

He saw the Senior Brother who had taken the medicine walking back, supported by the younger acolyte. But after only a few steps, the Senior Brother suddenly stumbled and fell straight to the ground! The younger acolyte rushed to help him, only to see the Senior Brother begin to tremble violently, making strange "he-he" sounds from his throat.

Next, an even more bizarre scene occurred. An extremely pleasant, almost idiotic and strange smile suddenly bloomed on the Senior Brother's face. His eyes were unfocused as if he were seeing some blissful illusion, and he mumbled incoherent gibberish and giggles.

But this state didn't last long. The pleasure was quickly replaced by a sense of irritability, pain, and uncontrollable frenzy.

He began to scratch the back of his hands and arms frantically with his fingernails. He used so much force that bloody gashes appeared instantly, tearing the flesh. Yet, he seemed unable to feel the pain, showing instead a twisted, "thirst-quenching" urgency.

The younger acolyte pinned him down firmly, whispering something urgently. With great effort, he half-dragged and half-carried him, hurrying toward the Side Wing Room where they had first appeared.

The lurking Wei Ziqing saw everything, and the chill in his heart grew even deeper.

This was definitely no ordinary illness. It looked more like a state of losing control when a strong addiction wasn't satisfied or when drug side effects erupted.

He held his breath. Once the two had stumbled into the Side Wing Room, he approached as swiftly and silently as a civet cat, hiding in the shadows beneath the window.

Meanwhile, inside the Side Wing Room, Lu Jianchuan had already become alert from his search of the room. He had hidden himself in the shadows atop the roof beams in advance, holding his breath.

He saw the younger acolyte bring the semi-conscious Senior Brother—who was alternating between giggling and self-harm—into the room. He looked around warily. Both Lu Jianchuan's and Wei Ziqing's concealments were extremely clever and remained undetected. Then, he quickly walked to an old wardrobe against the wall.

He didn't open the wardrobe. Instead, he reached for a spot on the side that looked like wood grain and, following a specific order and pressure, continuously pressed and rotated several hidden protrusions and indentations.

Lu Jianchuan saw everything clearly from the beam, his sharp eyes etching every detail and the sequence of movements into his mind.

*Click... Creak...*

After a slight sound of mechanical parts moving, the wall next to the wardrobe, which had appeared to be one solid piece, silently rotated inward, revealing a pitch-black opening that led downward! A gust of air carrying the scent of earth and a faint, strange medicinal smell rushed out from the hole.

The younger acolyte dared not delay. He immediately supported his Senior Brother and quickly entered the Secret Passage. A few seconds after they went in, the wall slowly and silently rotated back into place, fitting perfectly without leaving a trace.

Everything returned to silence.

A few seconds later, Lu Jianchuan leaped down from the beam as lightly as a falling leaf, landing soundlessly. Almost simultaneously, the window frame rattled slightly, and Wei Ziqing flipped inside like a shadow.

The two quickly met in the empty "display room," exchanging a solemn and knowing look.