Chapter 13 Hunting

What does Immortal Touch Pavilion have to do with Divine Doctor Venerable Wang? Jingsheng and Xiao Yi had no idea about it but they didn't doubt Yan Xing.

"Your Highness, how do you know?", asked Jingsheng.

"Immortal's Touch Pavilion emerged five years ago and ever since then, its influence had been spreading far and wide whether it be in the secular world or the Jianghu. From snacks, clothing, and jewelry to medicines and selling information, if it is from Immortal's Touch Pavilion then they are rated as number one. Their branch is spread out like spider web across the empire", Yan Xing said.

There was a tinge of respect in his tone. Yan Xing had always been curious about the master of Immortal Touch Pavilion but that person never appeared in public and had always been a mysterious figure. Someone capable of influencing both the secular world and jianghu in mere five years cannot be underestimated. Yan Xing held an admiration for this talented young master.

"It first emerged from the Qing City before spreading out to other towns and cities. Venerable Wang also shot to fame five years ago after he cured the Governor of Qing city whose life was said to be hanging on a thread at that time", Yan said with an intriguing smile.

"Your Highness thinks that Venerable Wang is someone from Immortal Touch Pavilion!", Jingsheng was smart, so he quickly understood.

"I am not hundred percent sure but I always have this suspicion from before", Yan Xing said as he continued munching the moon cakes.

The next day, Yan Xing and his group set out to hunt shortly after having their lunch. The forest was rich in flora and fauna. Princes and the sons of the noble and eminent families would visit this forest in their leisure time to hunt. It wasn't the first time Yan Xing and his friends came out to hunt.

"I was just craving venison the other day. Tonight let's have venison for dinner", Su Ming said unable to conceal the excitement as he inspect the bow in his hands.

"Heh... I doubt that with your mediocre archery skills you will only scare them away", Jun Yuan Scoffed.

Behind them, Jingsheng handed the bow and arrows to Yan Xing and mounted his horse. "You guys can continue with your bickering, we are leaving", said Jingsheng as he took the reins and left with Yan Xing leaving the two behind.

"The first one to kill a deer will be the winner", Yan Xing threw out those words without even looking back and disappeared into the forest.

"Are we competing!", Su Ming shouted before jumping onto his horse in one swift movement.

"Seems so", said Jun Yuan as he also mounted his horse and headed inside the forest.

Inside the forest, after making sure that they had shaken off Su Ming and Jun Yuan, Jingsheng and Yan Xing looked at each and nodded their heads. After that, they pulled the reins of their horse and they deflected from the original path.

Su Ming and Jun Yuan were not aware of their plan.

After an hour, at the periphery of the Cathaya forest, two men could be seen chasing after a deer. Both of them were wielding an arrow and a bow while riding on a horse. 

They were Yan Xing and Jingsheng. 

The sounds of hooves in the forest startled the birds awake and with a flap of their wings, they flew away as the two men continued to venture deep into the Cathaya forest chasing after the deer.

SwoOSH!!

Under the canopy of the Cathaya trees, Yan Xing shot out an arrow aimed at the deer but it missed the target. 

The deer was quite agile and within a few seconds, it disappeared into the forest. Yan Xing was not disappointed. He pulled out another arrow from his bow and continued to chase after the deer. Behind him, jingsheng gave a meaningful glance at the arrow that was embedded deep into the tree trunk and followed him.

After some time they came out of the forest and what greeted their vision was a temple. There was a temple at the rear end of the Cathaya forest.

It was a Guanyin temple.

Looking at the two men coming out of the forest with a bow and an arrow, the devotees who had come to the temple to ask for the blessings from the Goddess of Mercy and monks were startled and some devotees started to panic. 

Jingsheng quickly leaped down from the horse and after putting away his bow and an arrow, he put his palms together in front of his chest and gave a bow to the monk who had rushed to the front.

"Forgive us for our sudden intrusion. His highness the Fifth Prince and I were chasing after a deer and unknowingly came to this place while hunting"

Hearing that, the monks and the devotees were relieved. 

"Since both of you were brought here by accident, it may be considered a fate. Why not come inside the temple and pay respect to the Goddess", the monk said with an amiable smile on his face.

Early in the morning, Yan Xing had summoned Jingsheng and already told them of his plans. After entering the forest, they were to shake off Su Ming and Jun Yuan and after that head towards the north of the forest. Yan Xing knew very well the topography of the region near his villa, so he knows that after heading towards the north they only had to cross the Cathaya forest before reaching the Guanyin temple. 

Yes, it's the same Guanyin temple where the Second Miss of the Zhao family was sent to ten years ago. Everything was pre-planned. 

Yan Xing and Jingsheng followed the monk inside the temple. After offering an incense stick, they bowed towards the statue of the Goddess and came out.

"The temple is quite well maintained", Yan Xing casually remarked. Jingsheng was quietly following after him acting as a guard. 

The monk smiled and replied, "It's all thanks to the generous devotees" 

"looks like many rich devotees from the capital came here to pay respect to the Goddess", Yan xing said in a low voice.

The monk was silent for a few seconds and said, "It was not like this before, many years ago a senior monk saved a life of a child but.. sigh… in the process he died tragically" 

There was light melancholy in his tone as he continued, "The child could have died too but was lucky enough to be saved by a man that senior monk brought back to heal after he was found unconscious in the Cathaya forest"

After hearing the monk say that, both Yan Xing and Jingsheng looked at each other with a glint in their eyes.

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A/N: Support the book by throwing some Powerstones. The Author is ready with her Helmet.