We made you practice martial arts, and you've mastered the Great Golden Body?

After one incense stick~
"Esteemed benefactor, let's end our conversation here for today. This humble monk has some minor matters to attend to, so I will not disturb you any further." Fahai, dressed in a simple monk's robe, moved with light steps and bowed.

He slowly left the pharmacy, turned around and strolled away into the distance.

The faint aroma of medicine that filled the pharmacy seemed to gradually dissipate as Fahai left.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, casting a soft golden glow on Fahai's silhouette, making him appear exceptionally otherworldly.

When the elderly man with gray hair, supported by his servants, walked shakily out of the room, he watched Master Fahai's departing figure, recalled the scene of their conversation, and fell into deep thought, his mind filled with countless emotions.

This period of contemplation lasted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

During this time, the streets outside the pharmacy were bustling with people, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life contrasted sharply with the old man's inner peace.

"Little Wu." Finally, the old man spoke slowly, his voice, though aged, revealing an undeniable firmness.
"Hey, Master, I'm here." Xiao Wuzi responded quickly upon hearing the voice, his voice filled with urgency and concern.

Because the old man was very old and his hearing was not as good as before, Xiao Wuzi always had to raise his voice to ensure that his master could hear his response, which indirectly affected the pharmacy's business.

This is one of the reasons why the pharmacy's business has declined.

"Pack your things, we can leave Lin'an City now." The old man with gray hair looked at Fahai, who had already disappeared around the corner, and sighed helplessly.

"Huh?" Xiao Wuzi was stunned when he heard this. He didn't understand why his master would suddenly decide to leave Lin'an City.

This was completely inconsistent with his master's desire for stability.

However, although Xiao Wuzi was very curious about the old man's reason for this decision, he dared not delve into it and could only obey.

Of course, this is also a good thing for Xiao Wuzi.

This means that the old man may be passing on his last legacy to him, as traveling around the world is a luxury for ordinary people in this era.

"Don't want to leave?" The old man seemed to see through Xiao Wu's thoughts, smiled slightly, and his eyes showed a hint of dissatisfaction.

"No, no." Xiao Wuzi quickly shook his head and said firmly, "Everything is up to you, Master. I will send the servants to find a carriage right away."

"Hmm." The elderly man with gray hair nodded and continued, "This matter needs to be handled quickly. It would be best if we could set off within the next two days."

"However, it will take at least three days to set up this escort agency, plus..."

"Add more money!" The elderly man with gray hair made the final decision.

As the saying goes, fallen leaves return to their roots and find peace in the earth.

In such a feudal era, this kind of thinking was especially strong. He also wished to grow old and die in Lin'an City, but things did not go as planned.

If we stay in Lin'an City any longer, we might very well end up in that muddy village a little earlier than planned.

During his conversation with Fahai, the old man vaguely sensed an indescribable crisis.

Fahai's eyes, tone of voice, and even every subtle movement silently told him that Lin'an City was about to face an unprecedented storm.

At the very center of the storm were Xu Xian and Bai Niangzi, who had been the talk of the town in Lin'an during this time, especially the latter, who was as beautiful as a celestial being, unlike any mortal.

This is not a guess, but an intuition.

It is precisely with this extraordinary intuition that the gray-haired old man has been able to get to where he is today, outlasting all his enemies.

@
Fahai walked steadily into Lin'an City.

The city of Lin'an was bustling with activity, the streets and alleys filled with the aroma of various foods, and the cries of vendors rose and fell.

Fahai looked at everything before him with an unwavering gaze, as if the splendor before him had nothing to do with him, and he was merely a spectator in this world.

He walked slowly, measuring the earth step by step.

Fahai walked very slowly, wanting to blend into the mortal world. However, contrary to his wishes, passersby would always unconsciously avoid him when they saw him dressed in hemp clothing.

It seemed as if there was an invisible force field around him, keeping people away from him.

Finally, amidst the surprised or awe-inspiring gazes of the common people, he slowly walked out of the bustling street and steadily stepped into a quiet, secluded alley.

Here, the darkness and narrowness stand in stark contrast to the bustling outside.

And this alley happens to be the very place where he and Xiaoqing had their thrilling battle.

Traces of the battle still remain on the walls of the alley—crisscrossing cracks that seem to tell of the intensity and cruelty of that fight.

Broken tiles were scattered all over the ground, contrasting with the mottled walls, adding to the desolation and bleakness. In the air, there seemed to be a faint trace of the tension and killing intent of that day's battle.

Fahai's gaze lingered on these traces for a moment, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He murmured to himself, "I never expected that there would be such a hidden master in Lin'an City."

He murmured to himself, his tone tinged with helplessness and感慨. Recalling the great battle more than a month ago, a wave of emotion still surged within him.

Before his thrilling battle with Shen Bailian, Fahai had always been arrogant and never imagined that there was a martial artist in the world who could hurt him.

However, Shen Bailian's appearance was like a thunderbolt, completely overturning Fahai's long-held perceptions and judgments.

That burly man with piercing eyes was not only incredibly powerful, but what was even more astonishing was that he followed the purest form of power.

Every punch he threw seemed to have the power to shatter mountains and rivers; every step he took seemed to shake the very foundations of heaven and earth—such astonishing power.

Even a master like Fahai had to feel awe and re-examine the world's martial power structure.

Thinking of this, Fahai sighed deeply again, a sigh filled with helplessness and self-reflection.

His gaze became solemn and profound, as if it could pierce through the mists of time and space, and glimpse the crises and challenges of the future.

He knew all too well that the world was far more complex and dangerous than he had imagined. Countless unknown forces and secrets lay hidden in this vast land, and a single misstep could plunge one into utter ruin.

Therefore, Fahai began to cherish every training and experience even more. He knew that only by constantly improving his strength could he gain a foothold in this perilous world.

This is one of the key reasons why, in this operation, he deviated from the norm and did not directly capture the snake demon, but instead chose a more cautious and thorough strategy.

Fahai came to a profound understanding that a true strongman must not only possess extraordinary martial prowess, but also profound wisdom and a long-term vision.

Only in this way can we safeguard the peace and tranquility of this land amidst the ever-changing world, freeing the people from the suffering of war and allowing them to enjoy true peace. Fahai withdrew his thoughts and continued towards his destination. Before arriving in Lin'an City today, he already had a general plan on how to capture Xiaoqing.

However, it seems that it still needs to be revised.

However, Fahai already had some plans in mind.

At this moment, the vermilion gates of the county government office were wide open, as if welcoming every visitor.

However, the two constables at the gate appeared extremely lazy. They leaned against the door frame, chatting with each other, their faces beaming with relaxed and cheerful smiles, completely lacking the dignity and vigilance that constables should have.

Their eyes revealed a weariness and helplessness towards their job, as if they were merely going through the motions rather than protecting the peace of the city.

When Fahai arrived at the county government office, he saw the situation and couldn't help but frown slightly.

A hint of disappointment and helplessness flashed in his eyes, as if he were lamenting the coldness of the world and the decline of human nature.

Fahai shook his head slightly, thinking to himself: It's not so strange now that there are snake demons causing trouble in Lin'an City.

After all, if even the guards protecting the city are so lazy and negligent, how can they possibly withstand the invasion of those evil spirits?

Isn't that a joke?

However, Fahai knew that as a monk, although he had little interest in worldly affairs, protecting the common people and eliminating demons were his duties.

He came here for only one purpose: to get rid of the snake demon in Lin'an City.

Fahai withdrew his gaze, walked to the gate of the county government office, looked at the two guards, put his hands together, and chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Amitabha."

"This humble monk, Fahai, requests an audience with the magistrate to discuss important matters."

His voice was calm and firm, revealing an unquestionable authority.

Upon hearing Fahai's words, the constables all stopped their conversation and looked him up and down.

Fahai was dressed in a monk's robe, with a thin face and deep, wise eyes that seemed to see into people's hearts.

One of the guards seemed to sense something. After confirming the identity of the monk in front of him, his expression changed drastically, and he dared not be negligent.

This is a notorious jinx; wherever it goes, monsters will appear.

After speaking to his companion, he hurriedly went inside to inform the county magistrate.

Before long, the county magistrate, dressed in official robes, hurriedly came out to greet him, his face showing a mixture of doubt and curiosity, clearly surprised by Fahai's arrival.

After all, Master Fahai of Jinshan Temple was a figure known to everyone in the Song Dynasty.

Each appearance of Fahai was often accompanied by a major event.

The magistrate couldn't help but wonder to himself: What is the purpose of this master's visit?
Fahai bowed slightly and greeted the magistrate before speaking frankly: "Your Honor, there is a snake demon causing trouble in Lin'an City. I wish to use the power of the entire city on the Dragon Boat Festival to force it to appear with realgar wine. I hope Your Honor will cooperate."

His tone was calm and firm, without the slightest hesitation or retreat.

His eyes revealed a firmness and determination, as if telling the magistrate that there was no room for negotiation and that it had to be done.

Upon hearing this, the magistrate was greatly alarmed. He suddenly raised his head and stared intently at Fahai, as if trying to discern something from his face.

A moment later, he turned to his attendant and asked him something in a low voice, their conversation seemingly unrelated.

Then, he hesitated and said to Fahai, "Master, this matter of the snake demon is without evidence. If it disturbs the people..."

His words carried a hint of concern and worry.

After all, he is currently in office and hopes to be re-elected. If he disturbs the people because of something baseless, it will undoubtedly have a negative impact on his career.

Upon seeing this, Fahai couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He was well aware of the magistrate's concerns and worries, but he also understood that as a monk, he had a responsibility and obligation to protect the people of this land from evil spirits.

So he clasped his hands together again and said calmly, “My lord, the snake demon is hiding in the city and will cause trouble sooner or later. If we don’t get rid of it now, it may lead to a great disaster.”

During the Dragon Boat Festival, snakes fear realgar wine, presenting a perfect opportunity. With a little magic, I can ensure everything goes smoothly. If Your Excellency ignores this, and the court investigates, I fear…”

Upon hearing this, the magistrate's face immediately turned ugly.

He thought to himself: Since Master Fahai has come to our door, this matter must be of great importance.

Furthermore, since the master has proposed such a meticulous plan, he must be very confident in it. If I refuse to cooperate now and something goes wrong, I will truly be held responsible.

Thinking of this, the magistrate took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He looked at Fahai, his eyes filled with determination and resolve: "Master, rest assured, I will cooperate fully. I only hope that you can get rid of that snake demon as soon as possible and keep my Lin'an City safe."

His voice trembled slightly, and he secretly resolved to have Li Gongfu and Shen Lian protect him during this time.

Upon hearing this, Fahai breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, the other party was an official appointed by the imperial court, and if the other party was really unwilling to cooperate, he really had no way to force them.

Even if it were possible, it would definitely damage the harmony.

A strong dragon will not overwhelm a local snake.

Fahai wore a faint smile, knowing that it was no easy feat for the county magistrate to make such a decision.

So he nodded slightly and expressed his gratitude to the magistrate: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency. I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations."

His tone was full of gratitude and respect, as if he were assuring the county magistrate that he would definitely complete the task.

Subsequently, Fahai and the county magistrate began to discuss the specific plan.

They decided that on the Dragon Boat Festival, all the people in the city would drink realgar wine together in order to force out the snake demon lurking in the city.

Meanwhile, Fahai would also use magic to ensure the entire plan went perfectly. Throughout the discussion, Fahai maintained a calm and resolute demeanor, as if everything was under his control.

The county magistrate sometimes nodded in agreement, sometimes looked doubtful, but was eventually moved by Fahai's persuasiveness and decided to fully cooperate.

With their combined efforts, the two quickly finalized a general plan. (End of Chapter)