The dark muzzle of the gun pointed at him, its extended barrel and large caliber, along with the cold, emotionless expression of the man holding it… all of this made the young monk’s heart tighten with fear.

He could fight off a few jianghu wanderers single-handedly, following the path of a warrior monk, but he was far from the Spirit Refining realm and absolutely couldn’t dodge a bullet from a firearm.

The young monk’s eyes darted around as he quietly suppressed his anger, hiding his arrogance behind a beaming smile:

“Please don’t be rash, benefactor. This is Buddhist ground, killing is forbidden. If you truly wish to enter the temple, this humble monk will go report your arrival right away.”

Li Lingsu said sarcastically: “We wouldn’t dare trouble the great Buddha. We’re just ordinary mortals after all.”

As he spoke, he released the safety on the firearm.

The young monk stepped back in terror, swallowing hard…

Li Lingsu said in surprise: “Oh? So even Buddha fears firearms?”

The jianghu wanderers beside them burst into laughter, feeling vindicated.

Our Central Plains people are still the best, they thought. When faced with arrogant Western Buddhists, we can quickly unite and stand up for each other without hesitation, even though we’ve never met before.

A flash of hatred crossed the young monk’s eyes, but he waved his hands repeatedly: “It’s not that this humble monk is obstructing you. The abbot has already instructed that no outsiders are allowed in the temple. The Pagoda of Infinite Treasures has fulfilled its merits and will not open this year.”

He paused, then said pleasantly: “If you insist on entering, this humble monk will go report now. Please wait a moment.”

As he spoke, he cautiously took a step back. Seeing no extreme reaction from the man with the gun, he immediately turned and fled back into the temple.

“Senior, shall we continue probing?” Li Lingsu looked at Xu Qian. “That young monk is narrow-minded. He must have gone to call for backup. If we’ve probed enough, let’s leave.”

Xu Qi’an shook his head: “Not enough.”

The information they had so far was that Three Flower Temple was closed to visitors and not allowing outsiders in.

But Xu Qi’an still didn’t know how many experts were in the temple or their combat strength.

My cultivation is sealed, and you don’t look much better – you can’t even beat a peak Fourth Rank… Li Lingsu grimaced.

Then he saw Xu Qian hand over a small pouch.

“Take this and hide in an open area,” said Xu Qi’an.

“…Alright.”

Taking the pouch, Li Lingsu quietly slipped into the bushes beside the steps.

Xu Qi’an then turned to the jianghu wanderers: “You should keep your distance.”

He knew watching the drama unfold was jianghu wanderers’ favorite entertainment. Forcibly driving them away wouldn’t achieve the desired effect.

“Be careful, brother,” warned the man who had been humiliated earlier. “Great Feng suppressed Buddhism, so the Lezhou officials and locals don’t look kindly on Buddhists. That’s why the monks of Three Flower Temple are very clannish – right or wrong, they always side with their own.”

How come the monks of Qinglong Temple in the capital weren’t so clannish… Well, in the capital, even if they banded together it wouldn’t help… Xu Qi’an nodded:

“Thank you.”

The jianghu wanderers immediately retreated but stopped not far away.

Soon after, hurried footsteps approached. The broom-wielding young monk returned, leading a group of monks. Some wore kasaya robes, some wore monk’s robes. Some held prayer beads, others carried sticks.

The young monk pointed at Xu Qi’an, shouting: “Uncle Master Hui’an, this man’s companion was the one who pointed a gun at me earlier.”

Looking around, he said hatefully: “That person must have run away.”

A middle-aged man in a yellow and red kasaya stepped forward, palms pressed together:

“This poor monk is Hui’an, the temple’s guest master. Benefactor, why did you resort to violence in our Buddhist sanctuary?”

Xu Qi’an pressed his palms together in return, saying:

“We came with sincere hearts to worship Buddha, just wanting to enter the temple to burn incense. Who knew your young doorkeeper monk would not only speak wildly and insult people but also attack and injure my companion.”

He pointed at the jianghu wanderers in the distance, then continued: “Only under those circumstances did we threaten him with a firearm to make him stop.”

“Nonsense!”

The young monk shouted angrily: “They were just meddling busybodies. They even threatened to kill me earlier. Uncle Master, if I hadn’t yielded, I might already be dead from their gun.”

Monk Hui’an nodded slowly, looking at Xu Qi’an and explaining:

“The abbot has ordered that our temple no longer receive pilgrims. We are simply following orders, what wrong is there in that?”

Xu Qi’an let out an “Oh”: “Attacking and injuring people, insulting them verbally – what wrong is there in that?”

Monk Hui’an seemed not to hear, continuing: “You threatened our disciple with a firearm. As the temple’s guest master, I certainly cannot stand idly by. Kong Jian, go repay this benefactor with a punch.”

From start to finish, he had never asked Xu Qi’an’s opinion or paid him any attention, simply going through the motions on his own.

A monk in blue robes stepped forward. He had a strong physique, his muscles straining against the loose monk’s robe.

Standing on the steps, he looked down at Xu Qi’an imperiously, palms pressed together: “Amitabha.”

The next moment, he cracked the steps beneath his feet as he leaped high, like a fierce tiger pouncing on its prey.

A warrior monk!

At that moment, the monk named Kong Jian suddenly tensed, sensing danger – danger from all directions.

Though there were no enemies or ambushes around, he sensed danger coming from everywhere.

His feet sank as he forced himself to land, then surged his energy, trying to dispel the invisible threats.

Whoosh… His energy turned into a gale, blowing up fallen leaves and dust from the stone steps.

Kong Jian’s vision went dark. His legs lost strength and his whole body went limp as he collapsed to the ground. Trembling, he raised a hand to point at Xu Qi’an:

“You, you…”

Xu Qi’an ignored him, looking at Monk Hui’an: “Well?”

The jianghu wanderers in the distance stared in shock. They hadn’t seen how Xu Qi’an had attacked at all.

Monk Hui’an’s expression grew solemn. He stepped forward, palms together: “Amitabha. Be compassionate, no violence is allowed.”

These words carried the power of Buddhist precepts, washing away Xu Qi’an’s hostility, and making his thoughts gentle and unable to generate anger.

Seeing this, Monk Hui’an moved on to his next action. He began chanting, his voice growing from indistinct to clear, from clear to deafeningly loud, echoing constantly in Xu Qi’an’s ears and his heart.

Unconsciously, thoughts of entering monastic life began to form in Xu Qi’an’s mind. Ideas that Buddhist dharma was the source of all profound truths, that Buddhism was the final destination of life, and other such notions arose.

He had experienced similar feelings during the Buddhist Dharma Duel.

Forceful brainwashing?

While resisting internally, Xu Qi’an pretended to be deeply affected, as if he had converted to Buddhism. Then he slowly climbed the steps, looking at the assembled monks with a gentle gaze.

“Heh!” The young monk revealed a smug smile.

Anyone who heard the full sutra would have their heart turn to Buddhism, crying and shouting to enter monastic life. For such people, Buddhism wouldn’t accept them immediately but would test their sincerity.

Sincerity could be shown by kneeling outside the temple for three days and nights, or by donating all one’s wealth to Three Flower Temple… There was no fixed standard, only whether one was truly sincere.

Of course, it was hard not to be sincere.

The young monk eagerly anticipated the scene of this man kneeling outside the temple, weeping and begging Three Flower Temple to deliver him.

As he imagined this, he suddenly felt a burning sensation in his lower abdomen, and his lower body swelled painfully. Looking down, his expression changed drastically – his crotch was tenting up dramatically.

“This, this, this…”

The young monk’s face was filled with terror.

The other monks erupted in chaos, experiencing the same thing as the young monk – faces flushed, mouths dry, minds filled with thoughts of breasts, and tents rising in their robes.

“The senior brothers’ bottoms look so tempting…”

“Women, I need women…”

“It’s so uncomfortable, so painfully swollen…”

The monks looked at each other, an eerie atmosphere fermenting between them.

When they saw each other’s gazes roving over their bottoms, they retreated in horror, eyes full of wariness and distrust.

Everyone coveted their fellow monks’ bottoms, but no one wanted their bottoms to be coveted.

Monk Hui’an’s face reddened, his mouth dry. Seeing the surrounding monks fall into chaos, he immediately pressed his palms together, trying to use Buddhist precepts to help his fellows dispel distracting thoughts.

But just then, a figure emerged from the shadows behind him, striking him unconscious with a chop of the hand.

At the same time, this figure activated a lust gu, spraying more aphrodisiac gas.

The monks’ gazes grew increasingly heated and frenzied. Some monks turned their gaze towards Xu Qi’an’s bottom.

…Xu Qi’an used shadow jump to escape the crowd.

The monks burning with lust immediately turned their gaze to the only unconscious person present – Hui’an.

Choosing a target unable to resist the most primitive genetic transfer is the instinct of every living being.

Hui’an was in danger!

“Red beauty, white bones. The form is emptiness.”

Suddenly, a low chanting voice came from behind Xu Qi’an. Everyone who heard this voice had the thought “Women will only slow down my sword-drawing speed,” achieving great enlightenment.

The monks trapped in uncontrollable lust all awoke with a start, shaking off the influence of hormones.

They pressed their palms together in shame, repenting their misdeeds.

Xu Qi’an whirled around. A zhang behind him stood a young monk with striking features characteristic of Western Region people.

Deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, handsome appearance.

Xu Qi’an’s heart sank suddenly. He secretly released colorless, odorless poison gas and aphrodisiac.

The young monk pressed his palms together, lowered his eyes, and smiled, saying: “Benefactor, for monks, all four elements are empty.”

At least Fourth Rank… Xu Qi’an made his judgment.

The young monk continued: “However, the Dharmapala Vajra specifically slays those who oppose Buddha. Benefactor, you have resorted to violence in this Buddhist sanctuary. Come with me to meet the Dharmapala Vajra.”

Once there, I’ll either be “eliminated to protect the Dharma” or brainwashed by you… Xu Qi’an didn’t resist the hand reaching towards him, smiling as he asked:

“What is the master’s dharma name?”

“This poor monk is Jingxin.”

Same generation as Jingsi and Jingchen… Xu Qi’an glanced at the hand on his shoulder, asking: “What if I’m unwilling to go meet the Dharmapala Vajra?”

Monk Jingxin shook his head: “Then it’s no longer up to you, benefactor.”

So domineering indeed!

Xu Qi’an maintained his smile, looking in a certain direction: “I think it’s no longer up to the master either.”

Jingxin followed his gaze, his expression immediately growing solemn.

On a distant hill, twelve cannons were lined up, aimed at Three Flower Temple on the mountaintop.

A young man in ordinary clothes with an ordinary face held a torch, smiling as he looked at Jingxin.

“Tsk tsk…”

Xu Qi’an said with a smile: “I wonder if Buddhism, like Confucianism, believes in ‘better to be shattered jade than intact tile’?”

Jingxin said slowly: “Benefactor, are you with the imperial court?”

“If you say so,” Xu Qi’an’s mouth quirked up.

Jingxin withdrew his hand from Xu Qi’an’s shoulder, saying no more as he silently brushed past.

Xu Qi’an waved to Li Lingsu in the distance, then descended the stone steps. Li Lingsu opened the pouch, retrieving the cannons.

“What just happened?”

“I… I couldn’t understand at all.”

“Is that brother really from the imperial court?”

“He must be, otherwise where would twelve cannons come from?”

The jianghu wanderers in the distance stared in shock. Apart from understanding the tactic of threatening the monks with cannons, they were completely lost about the earlier maneuvers.

Meanwhile, Xu Qi’an and Li Lingsu met up at the temple arch at the foot of the mountain.

“You’re with the imperial court?” Li Lingsu handed the pouch back to Xu Qi’an.

Xu Qi’an took the pouch, tucked it into his robe, and asked in return: “Because of these magical weapons?”

Li Lingsu nodded.

Besides the cannons, the pouch also contained bed crossbows, cart crossbows, firearms, and military crossbows – all heavy destructive magical weapons.

Only Great Feng’s elite troops could be equipped with magical weapons on this scale.

Faced with Li Lingsu’s intent gaze, Xu Qi’an looked into the distance, saying casually:

“Just some trinkets I won playing chess with the Overseer years ago. If you like them, want me to give them to you?”

Won… won playing chess with the Overseer… Li Lingsu’s pupils dilated slightly in disbelief.

“No, no need!”

He waved his hands repeatedly, inwardly reassessing Xu Qian’s identity and cultivation. Living for several hundred years, the Third Rank would be the minimum. And to be able to play chess with the Overseer, even winning so many magical weapons from him.

This… this probably isn’t something a Third Rank could do…

“When I return to the sect later, I must consult the Celestial Venerable. Perhaps the Venerable knows the background of this Xu Qian. There aren’t many top experts in the Nine Provinces. Even if they’re not familiar, they’d know of each other’s existence.”

The Holy Child thought to himself.

Whew! Good thing you understand. If you’d shamelessly accepted them, I wouldn’t have been able to take it back! Xu Qi’an secretly decided to be more careful when constructing his persona in the future.

“Senior, that monk from earlier had high cultivation. I couldn’t even see how he appeared behind you. Do you know what happened?” Li Lingsu asked.

I didn’t see him at all… Xu Qi’an said calmly: “Just a trivial skill.”

Inwardly he thought, if Third Ranks can’t enter the Pagoda of Infinite Treasures, the Buddhist sect is very likely to send that Monk Jingxin into the pagoda.

He just didn’t know if there were any other Fourth Ranks besides Jingxin.

Jingxin was a Chan master, not a warrior monk. This was very troublesome. For warrior monks, Xu Qi’an had many ways to deal with them, but Chan masters countered lust gu, poison gu, and mind gu.

Moreover, with Three Flower Temple closed to visitors and a Third Rank Vajra in residence, forcefully breaking in was almost impossible. So how to enter the temple?

Right, the Divine Witch Cult also wanted to enter the Pagoda of Infinite Treasures. The two sides were bound to clash. Could that be used?

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard Li Lingsu curse in some unfamiliar dialect. The Heavenly Sect’s Holy Child’s expression changed drastically.

Ahead, a procession was slowly approaching. Nine strong men carried an enormous palanquin without a top, its curtains drawn. Inside were two beautiful women with distinct auras but identical faces.

The two mistresses of the East Sea Dragon Palace.

Dongfang Wanrong and Dongfang Wanqing.

Flashes of pain called “kidney deficiency” flickered in Li Lingsu’s eyes. His mouth twitched slightly as he lowered his head, leading the horse and saying softly:

“Senior, let’s leave quickly.”

Xu Qi’an gave an “Mm” of assent.

The two led their horses along the roadside, heads slightly bowed, walking forward.

Keep a low profile, I’m just an ordinary person now. With the pride of those two sisters, they won’t pay attention to an unremarkable passerby… Li Lingsu desperately controlled his heartbeat and breathing, pretending to be just an ordinary person.

Overly nervous emotions and a racing heartbeat could easily be detected by Fourth Rank peak warrior Qing-jie.

As the two parties converged at a point, about to brush past each other, Li Lingsu suddenly saw Xu Qian beside him raise his foot and kick him hard.

“!!!”

Li Lingsu stumbled, crashing into the East Sea Dragon Palace procession.