They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 73 Two Lions, Running Fast?

A giant lion's head materialized in the sky west of Chang'an, with swirling dark clouds forming a ferocious outline, its gaping maw seemingly ready to swallow the entire city of Chang'an whole.

A commotion broke out in Chang'an. Countless people stopped in their tracks, gazing up at the sky with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

Some people cried out in trembling voices, "Auspicious signs have appeared!" while many others turned pale and prayed in hushed tones, their uneasy whispers merging into a buzzing sound.

Upon hearing the lion's roar, Wei Zheng abruptly stood up, staring intently at the enormous creature outside the window, his face grim.

To directly conjure a giant lion head outside Chang'an City and openly exert pressure—what arrogance!

As a human resources official, he had a duty to go and arrest him.

Chen Guangrui felt as if his heart was being gripped by an invisible giant hand, his breath caught in his throat, and his gaze was also fixed on the giant image in the clouds.

Why is it another lion?
Seeing that huge mouth, he vaguely guessed who this monster was.

Damn it, Manjushri, you like perms, don't you?

Wei Zheng looked at the horizon and recalled a past event.
According to ancient records, during the Peach Banquet in the past, a blue-haired lion monster under the seat of Manjushri Bodhisattva, who was not invited, became extremely ferocious and displayed the power to transform heaven and earth. It opened its huge mouth and tried to swallow 100,000 heavenly soldiers! The South Heavenly Gate was so frightened that the heavenly soldiers dared not go out to fight... Later, the monster was subdued by the Bodhisattva and became his mount.

Chen Guangrui frowned, keenly seizing upon the logical flaw, and also voiced his doubts.

"A blue-maned lion? That's not right, Lord Wei. Wasn't the blue lion spirit you captured that night Manjushri's mount? Then who is that in the sky right now...?"

Are two lions fast runners?
One is super male, the other has no eggs, how strange.

Chen Guangrui was puzzled and inwardly grumbling, having already guessed Manjushri Bodhisattva's wicked sense of humor a thousand times over, and had also stumped Wei Zheng with his question.

"This……"

Wei Zheng was speechless for a moment, and a look of extreme confusion appeared on his face. The scene before him clearly contradicted the information he possessed. He subconsciously stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming, obviously analyzing this illogical situation.

"Tuk Tuk Tuk!"

Just then, a rapid but restrained knocking sounded on the door.

Wei Zheng immediately composed himself and replied calmly, "Go in."

The study door was pushed open, and the old butler stood in the doorway, his body slightly hunched, a hint of tension barely perceptible on his face.

"Sir, there is a monk outside requesting an audience. He claims to be the abbot of Daxingshan Temple."

Daxingshan Temple? The abbot himself came?
What exactly did the monks from Daxingshan Temple want to do when they arrived at this time?
Wei Zheng and Chen Guangrui quickly exchanged a glance, both seeing the wariness in each other's eyes.

"Please ask him to wait in the front hall."

Wei Zheng's voice returned to its usual calm, but his eyes remained serious. He glanced at Chen Guangrui, "Please wait here for a moment."

At present, the Buddhist community is most concerned about the blue-haired lion that Wei Zheng captured, and no one has noticed Chen Guangrui yet.

What Wei Zheng had to do was not let this lion go, because he was well aware of Chen Guangrui's condition. Therefore, this time, he did not let Chen Guangrui come forward, but instead faced the Buddhist delegation himself.

A moment later, in the front hall, an elderly monk dressed in a bright red robe embroidered with gold thread and carrying a nine-staff staff entered. He had a slender face and long eyebrows that reached his cheeks, exuding the air of a high-ranking monk. He was none other than the abbot of Daxingshan Temple.

He clasped his hands together, bowed deeply to Wei Zheng, and spoke in a calm voice, yet with a barely perceptible urgency.

"Amitabha. This humble monk is Jiechen from Daxingshan Temple. I have met Lord Wei. I am disturbing you today because I have a matter of great urgency to ask you."

Wei Zheng remained expressionless, stroking his beard. His tone seemed to carry a hint of resentment from a man of integrity, yet he restrained himself.

"Oh? What urgent matter brings you to my humble abode, Abbot?"

The abbot raised his head, his gaze earnest, and went straight to the point.
"To be honest, Your Excellency, I have learned that a few days ago you captured a guardian beast in Chang'an, which should be... a blue-maned lion. This beast has a deep connection with our Buddhist sect and is a guardian spirit beast under a great Bodhisattva. Its master will be arriving in Chang'an soon, and has specially sent me here to humbly request Your Excellency to spare the spirit beast for the sake of Buddhism."

Wei Zheng already knew the truth in his heart; he had long known about Manjushri Bodhisattva's arrival, but he pretended to be completely clueless.

He frowned, his face serious, as if he were recalling something carefully, his fingers habitually twirling his beard.

"A blue-haired lion beast? Master, I am busy with official duties, dealing with military and national affairs all day long. I have never heard of capturing any... lion spirits. Moreover, this demon has sneaked into the palace with ulterior motives. If I really captured it, it must be to rid the people of a scourge! Tell me, who told you that I captured it? On what day, where in Chang'an, what are the characteristics of this lion beast, and which great Bodhisattva's divine beast was sent down to the mortal world to harm people?"

He spoke aggressively, firing off a series of questions, his sharp eyes scrutinizing the abbot, clearly probing his opponent's intentions and the attitude of the person behind him.

The abbot clearly hadn't expected Wei Zheng to react so strongly and insist on getting to the bottom of things. He was slightly taken aback, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes, but he forced himself to remain calm and said...
"Right Minister, please calm your anger! This humble monk...this humble monk has only heard rumors circulating in the streets. As for the Bodhisattva's name...Buddhism is vast, this humble monk truly dares not...dares not presume to know the Bodhisattva's thoughts..."

His words were hesitant and timid, clearly showing his extreme fear and reluctance to directly mention the name of Manjushri Bodhisattva.

Seeing the other party's evasive words, Wei Zheng sneered inwardly, but his expression grew even colder.

"Rumors circulating in the streets? You, Master, as a high-ranking Buddhist monk, would you so easily believe hearsay? Since you know nothing of the details and cannot even name the Bodhisattva, then let it be nothing but baseless rumors! I am completely unaware of this matter! If there is nothing else, Master, please return."

"You..." The abbot's face tightened from the rebuke, and he was about to argue.

suddenly!

The air in the lobby rippled violently, like waves on water!
A massive figure appeared silently at the doorway, blocking the abbot's retreat.

It was an extremely bizarre sight: a huge, ferocious blue-maned lion's head filled the field of vision, with a gaping maw, protruding fangs, and eyes as red as lanterns. Beneath the head was a robust humanoid body, with bulging muscles, skin that gleamed with a metallic sheen, and clad in simple animal hides and armor.

A fierce aura instantly filled the entire front hall, and the air seemed to thicken.

The moment the newcomer stepped into the hall, the ground trembled slightly.

His blood-red lion eyes ignored the terrified, retreating abbot, fixing their gaze fixed on Wei Zheng, who sat in the main seat. His voice, like two rough rocks rubbing together, made the rafters hum, filled with an unquestionable tone of command.

"No need for nonsense, Officer Cao, listen up! I am a disciple of Manjushri Bodhisattva, here to retrieve my Buddhist disciple on the Bodhisattva's orders. Don't say anything more useless, release him immediately."

(End of this chapter)