Chapter 55

"Master Ji, what exactly is this exchange meeting?" Qin Yu asked Ji Quan, curious about what kind of meeting it was that could attract He Ping.

"Don’t call me Master anymore. We are all members of the Xuanxue Society now, so let’s just call each other brothers. Since I’m older, you can just call me Brother Ji, and I’ll call you Brother Qin. As for this exchange meeting, it’s a tradition of our Xuanxue Society. Each year, one of the branches is chosen to host it. This year, it happens to be in GZ, and our branch is in charge. The exchange meeting is essentially an opportunity for members of the Xuanxue Society to exchange ideas within the industry. Feng Shui is a profound and complex field, and we often encounter difficult questions. Through the exchange meeting, we can discuss and analyze these issues with our peers, which is much more effective than working alone."

"Brother Ji is right," Qin Yu agreed. Feng Shui and physiognomy are vast and intricate, encompassing many disciplines. It is indeed difficult to improve one’s skills by working in isolation.

"However, to attract more peers to the exchange meeting, each year the branch hosting the meeting prepares a magical artifact. Any member who stands out and wins the competition can obtain that artifact. This time, to expand the influence of the exchange meeting, our president has invested a lot, even taking out a long-cherished artifact."

Ji Quan’s words made Qin Yu’s eyes light up. Could it be that He Ping came for the artifact? He then asked, "Brother Ji, can members from other branches also participate in the exchange meeting?"

"Of course. As long as you are a member of the Xuanxue Society, regardless of where you come from, you can participate. Over the years, the Xuanxue Society has formed an unwritten rule: the branch whose member wins the artifact in each exchange meeting will have the right to host the next one. So, this exchange meeting will attract many peers from other places."

Ji Quan didn’t mention to Qin Yu that each exchange meeting has a debate segment, and only the winner of the debate can obtain the artifact. This is also the best opportunity to gain fame in the industry, so many Feng Shui masters prepare carefully for it, hoping to outshine others in the debate.

Of course, if the artifact falls into the hands of another branch, it would be a significant blow to the branch hosting the meeting. Since debates inevitably involve competition, it would be embarrassing for the entire branch to watch someone else take the artifact, especially when they have prepared so much. It’s like preparing a dowry and a wedding procession, only to find that someone else has taken the bride at the last moment, using your own dowry and procession.

Ji Quan didn’t reveal these details to Qin Yu because he was a new member and needed to understand some things on his own. Regardless, the core of the exchange meeting is positive, though the competition among branches has become more intense in recent years.

After filling out the forms, Qin Yu’s membership was finalized. There were still a few people waiting downstairs, so he didn’t want to delay too long. He said goodbye to Ji Quan and took the elevator back to the ground floor.

"Done?"

Mo Yongxing, who was chatting idly with the receptionist, saw the elevator door open and patted Qin Yu on the shoulder, asking.

"Yeah, the forms are filled out, but there’s still a process to go through. The application needs to be reviewed by the Xuanxue Society headquarters, which will take three to five days."

"Who asked about that? I’m asking about the exchange meeting. Did you find out anything?" Mo Yongxing rolled his eyes. He didn’t care about Qin Yu’s membership; he was more interested in the exchange meeting to understand He Ping’s purpose in coming to GZ.

"Not much, but there’s a magical artifact at the exchange meeting. If you can outshine everyone, you can get the artifact. I think He Ping might be here for that."

"You can investigate the artifact’s function. Since it’s for the exchange meeting, the information about it won’t be kept secret. Maybe you can trace He Ping’s purpose from the artifact’s function."

"Alright, I’ll have someone look into it." Mo Yongxing replied seriously, but his serious demeanor didn’t last long. He patted Qin Yu on the shoulder and said, "Qin Yu, your cousin and that girl are getting along well. Looks like there’s a chance. I didn’t expect you to be so enthusiastic about matchmaking."

"Get lost!" Qin Yu swatted Mo Yongxing’s hand off his shoulder and looked over to where his cousin was. As Qin Yu said, his cousin and Tong Min were talking, and Tong Min was giggling, not even noticing that Qin Yu had come down.

"My cousin is finally getting it! My aunt’s wish to have a grandchild can come true soon." Qin Yu’s face lit up. Before coming, he had been through a thorough review by his grandmother, aunt, and mother, and he had promised to help solve his cousin’s single status. Seeing his cousin making progress, he felt relieved, and the task was almost complete.

"What are you talking about?"

"Hey, Xiao Yu, you’re down. We were just talking about the nearby Guangxiao Temple. Xiao Min said she hasn’t visited Guangxiao Temple in one or two years."

"Guangxiao Temple isn’t far. Let’s go and visit. I’ve heard a lot about it."

His cousin was already calling Tong Min by her first name, indicating that their relationship was progressing quickly. Once a bachelor sees a girl he likes, he can move quite fast.

Guangxiao Temple, located in the YX district, is the oldest temple in GZ City and the headquarters of the GD Province Buddhist Association. It is also the birthplace of Southern Chan Buddhism, founded by the Sixth Patriarch, Huineng.

Those unfamiliar with Buddhism might not have heard of Guangxiao Temple, but if you mention the famous wind and banner debate by the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, it might ring a bell.

According to legend, during a lecture on the *Nirvana Sutra* by the Venerable Yin Zong at Guangxiao Temple, a wind blew the banner, and two monks began to argue. One said the banner was moving, the other said the wind was moving. The Sixth Patriarch Huineng heard this and said, "It is not the wind that moves, nor the banner that moves, but the mind of the good man that moves."

The two monks were shocked and reported this to Venerable Yin Zong, who immediately recognized that the speaker’s understanding of Buddhism was far superior to his own. He quickly invited Huineng to the dais to give a lecture.

Huineng’s lecture stunned the monks below, and Venerable Yin Zong immediately shaved Huineng’s head and became his disciple. From then on, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng began to teach and spread Buddhism, founding the Southern Chan lineage.

The group bought tickets and entered Guangxiao Temple. The first place they visited was the famous Yifatower, also known as the Sixth Patriarch’s Hair Tower, built to commemorate the Sixth Patriarch Huineng’s ordination. The tower is made of gray sand, octagonal, with a Buddha niche on each level. Qin Yu took a quick look and estimated it to be about 7-8 meters tall. Due to the passage of time, the tower’s paint had peeled off, and some of the Buddha statues were blurred, but this only added to its sense of history and age.

After paying respects at the Yifatower, the group proceeded to the Great Hero Hall to worship. The Great Hero Hall houses the statues of the Three Holy Ones of Yanhua, Ananda, Kasyapa, and other venerables. Qin Yu wasn’t very familiar with Buddhist figures, but he could recognize a few. Mo Yongxing, however, knew more and introduced them to the group.

"In recent years, I’ve traveled with my sister to many famous Buddhist temples. Seeing so many, I’ve come to recognize them," Mo Yongxing explained, noticing Qin Yu’s confusion.

When Mo Yongxing mentioned his sister, Qin Yu’s mind drifted back to the scene in the Tongbo Mountain cave, thinking of Mo Yongxin’s alluring demeanor, which made his heart race and his body heat up.

"Amitabha!" Qin Yu silently recited a Buddhist chant, quickly pulling his thoughts back. He looked up at the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, feeling embarrassed to have such thoughts in front of the Buddha. If the Buddhist believers knew, they would surely criticize him.

PS: This chapter was written during work hours, so I had to be careful of my boss. Thanks to Zui Ying for the support, it’s amazing to have a new reader become a patron. I’m hiding behind my monitor, grinning foolishly!