138: Invited to visit Western Xia

The Shopkeeper wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling a sense of relief in his heart.

No matter what, he had finally managed to deal with it.

He would worry about tomorrow's matters tomorrow morning.

After having breakfast the next day, Duan Zhengchun and Gan Baobao left the inn and continued their journey.

Along the way, they didn't encounter any more trouble.

They successfully arrived at the Western Xia Royal City.

“Brother Duan, what are you doing in Western Xia? Are you just here for sightseeing?” Gan Baobao asked curiously.

“Keeping an appointment...” Duan Zhengchun said.

“An appointment? With whom?” Gan Baobao asked.

“Well, the Empress Dowager of Western Xia, Li Qiushui.”

Duan Zhengchun did not hide it and directly stated Li Qiushui's name.

Gan Baobao had a look of surprise on her face; she had originally thought Duan Zhengchun was here for sightseeing, but she hadn't expected him to be here for an appointment, especially since the other party was the Empress Dowager of Western Xia, Li Qiushui.

By that calculation, the current Li Qiushui should just be an old woman in her seventies.

However, rumors had it that this Empress Dowager was extremely beautiful, a young and pretty woman.

Her beauty was such that even some young girls could not compare to her.

“Brother Duan, you're too amazing! To think you have such a relationship with the Empress Dowager of Western Xia.” Gan Baobao's eyes sparkled as she looked at Duan Zhengchun with an expression of worship.

“Don't you know whether I'm amazing or not?” Duan Zhengchun said with a mischievous smile.

“Oh, Brother Duan, there are so many people around, what are you talking about!” Gan Baobao's pretty face turned red as she quickly scanned her surroundings.

Finding that no one had noticed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, the sound of footsteps rang out, and two figures wearing Western Region monk robes walked in.

An elderly Foreign Monk who looked to be sixty or seventy years old was accompanied by a young red-robed Foreign Monk in his twenties.

However, the young Foreign Monk's appearance felt somewhat familiar to Duan Zhengchun, especially those large, fleshy earlobes.

Such earlobes were rare. In Duan Zhengchun's memory, only one monk had such earlobes: the State Preceptor of the Western Region's Tubo, the Great Wheel Bright King Kumārajīva.

But the current Kumārajīva was only in his twenties, a difference of over twenty years from his age in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.

If it weren't for his signature large earlobes, Duan Zhengchun wouldn't have guessed he was that Kumārajīva.

“Amitabha. Benefactor, could you provide some vegetarian food for us, Master and disciple, to fill our stomachs?” The old monk bowed with his hands pressed together.

“Go on, go on... you two Foreign Monks, don't affect our business here, leave quickly.” The Waiter directly spoke to drive the two away.

“You...”

The young monk was about to speak but was stopped by the old monk raising his hand.

“Amitabha, this old monk has intruded.” After the old monk finished speaking, he bowed and turned to leave.

The young monk glanced at the Waiter, coldly flicked his sleeve, and left, taking a few quick steps to catch up with the old monk.

“Brother Duan, what are you looking at? Aren't they just two Western Region Foreign Monks? What's there to see? Do you know them?” Gan Baobao asked curiously.

“They look a bit familiar, but I'm not sure if it's the person I know,” Duan Zhengchun said with a smile.

“Then why don't you go up and ask? Maybe it really is someone you know,” Gan Baobao asked.

“Forget it, I won't ask. Let's continue eating.” Duan Zhengchun shook his head.

These two were exactly as Duan Zhengchun guessed; the young Foreign Monk was indeed the future Great Wheel Bright King Kumārajīva.

The old monk was his Master, Great Master Suo Li Sherab Dragpa.

Furthermore, Duan Zhengchun could see the old monk's strength at a glance—the strength of a Grandmaster Peak, only a step away from the Heavenly Human Realm.

What he didn't expect was that this Suo Li Sherab Dragpa already had such strength yet was still begging for alms.

Even more unexpected was that he could remain completely unfazed in the face of the Waiter's humiliation.

And the Kumārajīva of this time was only at the strength of the Innate Late Stage.

But even so, he was a Genius-level existence in the Jianghu.

Of course, this Genius was considered a Genius in Tubo, but it was different in the Central Plains.

He could only be considered excellent.

Kumārajīva took a few quick steps to catch up with his Master. After thinking about it, he still asked the doubt in his heart.

“Master, that Waiter treated you like that just now, why did you stop me?”

“If you hadn't stopped me, I would have definitely beaten him until he was looking for his teeth on the ground,” Kumārajīva said fiercely.

“Be quiet, do not speak recklessly.” Suo Li Sherab Dragpa glared at Kumārajīva.

Kumārajīva was startled by the sudden change in his Master's gaze, and his Aura weakened significantly all at once.

“Amitabha, your Master knows what you're thinking.”

“Your Master could feel that there was a Master present at the scene, so we could not act,” Suo Li Sherab Dragpa said with a solemn expression.

“A Master? Master, aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill?”

“What kind of Master could be here? In such a remote and backward city, how could there be such a Master?” Kumārajīva asked in confusion.

“Your strength is insufficient; you cannot feel the other party's presence. If I had really let you act then, I'm afraid we, Master and disciple, would not have the chance to be speaking here now.” As Suo Li Sherab Dragpa spoke, he couldn't help but look back toward the location of the previous restaurant.

He knew he definitely hadn't felt wrong. At that moment, he had indeed wanted to teach that snobbish Waiter a lesson, but in that instant, he felt a sense of being watched. However, when he searched carefully, he found nothing at all.

What did this indicate? There were only two possibilities: the other party was extremely skilled at hiding, or the other party's strength was much higher than his own.

The feeling from that moment was just a warning; if he dared to act, he would have to bear the consequences.

Although he didn't know the other party's identity, he wouldn't gamble with his own life or his disciple's life.

Kumārajīva's expression shifted several times; he knew his Master would never lie to him.

He hadn't expected to encounter such a thing upon coming to Western Xia this time.

“Master, then did you sense who that person was? Could it be a Master from Western Xia?” Kumārajīva's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he spoke.

“I'm not sure, but regardless of the other party's identity, it's better for us to keep a low profile.”

“Go and get some food,” Suo Li Sherab Dragpa said.

“Yes, Master...”

Kumārajīva nodded and turned to leave. Money—he didn't lack money at all.

Before, it was just to deceive people's eyes and ears.

Their purpose for coming to Western Xia this time was for the martial arts Secret Manuals inside the Western Xia Imperial Palace.

This was also something his Master had discovered ten years ago. There was a place in the Western Xia Imperial Palace where many profound martial arts were inscribed.

However, ten years ago, his Master's strength had not yet reached Grandmaster, and he was discovered by the palace guards. If he hadn't run fast, he probably wouldn't have had this current opportunity to appear here.

This time, they came for the peerless Secret Manuals inside the palace.

Therefore, they still couldn't be too conspicuous now. If they were noticed by the palace people, everything would be for naught.

Soon, Kumārajīva brought back food.

There were pastries and some vegetarian dishes, but surprisingly, there was also a jar of wine and a roast chicken.

Suo Li Sherab Dragpa was not polite either; he grabbed a chicken leg, tore it off, began to feast heartily, and picked up the wine jar to take several large gulps.