Arranged marriage, love blossoms; a fiercely devoted soldier dotes on her alone.

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Therefore, there are a lot of tourists at Yonghe Temple.

Most of those who choose to visit Yonghe Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year are believers, who come to burn the "first incense" to pray for good fortune, peace, and health.

Many believers think that burning the first incense stick at a temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year (commonly known as "the first incense stick") will bring good luck, peace and blessings for the whole year.

This custom is particularly prevalent in the capital and northern regions.

Moreover, the majority of worshippers at Yonghe Temple are male.

Why is that?

There is a saying among the people: "Men should be Yonghe, women should be Hongluo."

The belief that prayers offered by men at the Yonghe Temple are particularly effective has further attracted male worshippers to the temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Yonghe Temple is also the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing.

Yonghe Temple is also one of the most prestigious and popular Tibetan Buddhist temples in Beijing.

Historically, it was the residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was a prince, and Emperor Qianlong was born here. It is regarded as a "blessed land for the dragon to hide in" and has a special religious and cultural status.

The Yonghe Temple is most popular with worshippers throughout the year, especially on the first day of the Lunar New Year. According to statistics from recent years, the Yonghe Temple receives more than 10,000 visitors every day during the Spring Festival.

The first day of the Lunar New Year is the peak day for passenger traffic throughout the year.

For example:

It received approximately 6 visitors on the first day of the Lunar New Year in 2024.

The number of students on the first day of the Lunar New Year in 2023 also reached 5.2.

at this time,

The Sutra Repository of Yonghe Temple remained quiet and silent, just as it always was, a stark contrast to the bustling crowds outside.

The library is not open to the public. Believers and tourists can only offer incense on the first floor. The floors above the second floor are restricted areas. There are two security guards at the entrance 24 hours a day.

At that moment, a group of people walked over quickly.

Upon recognizing the man in the lead as the abbot, the two security guards immediately straightened up, saluted, and greeted him, "Greetings, Abbot!"

One of them asked again, "Abbot, what's going on here?"

The abbot put his hands together and said, "Amitabha, I'm bringing some important friends into the Sutra Repository. Please open the door quickly."

The security guards, seeing that the abbot had spoken, dared not delay and immediately opened the iron gate leading to the second floor.

The abbot then addressed Xiao Zhan and Xia Keke, saying, "Comrades, the Sutra Repository is one of the most important places in this temple, housing many precious cultural relics and scriptures. It is not advisable for too many people to enter."

Xiao Zhan and Xia Keke exchanged a glance and said, "Shen Jun, Zhang Guoqiang, you two come in with me and Director Xia. The rest of you, surround this area. From now on, tourists are prohibited from entering. Report any abnormalities immediately. If attacked, you may shoot and kill!"

Xiao Zhan issued this order because he considered that Liu Shiyuan had several high-ranking ninjas around him. These ninjas were elusive and skilled at stealth. If things went as he predicted, a fierce battle might break out between the two sides in the Sutra Repository. At that time, the comrades outside would not receive clear instructions and might miss opportunities. If they were suddenly attacked by the enemy and could not respond in time, it could cause serious losses to their side. Therefore, Xiao Zhan considered the problem carefully and issued the order in a timely manner.

"yes!"

The crowd responded in unison and then dispersed.

The two security guards were stunned.

I wonder what happened?

He turned pale with fright when he saw everyone pulling out their pistols.

The abbot, drenched in sweat and pale-faced, said nervously, "I...I...I guess I won't go up?"

Xiao Zhan: "You can stay here."

The abbot immediately breathed a sigh of relief, wiped his sweat, and said to one of the security guards, "Take the leader upstairs."

The security guard was too scared to speak.

Xiao Zhan waved his hand and said, "No need, I'll go up myself."

Because if an ordinary person went up and fought with a ninja, it would be like throwing their life away.

The security guard looked at Xiao Zhan gratefully, thinking to himself, "What a kind person!"

"Thump thump thump".

Xiao Zhan rushed up to the second floor in three strides, with Xia Keke and the other two following closely behind.

In the spacious and bright hall on the second floor, rows of bookshelves were neatly arranged, and many scriptures were placed on them.

Xiao Zhan was a sniper with exceptionally sharp eyes. Through the gaps between the bookshelves, he spotted two figures lying in the corner.

He was overjoyed; he had guessed correctly.

He immediately warned Xia Keke and the other two following behind: "Something's happening. Everyone, get into combat mode."

Xia Keke, Shen Jun, and Zhang Guoqiang were all seasoned veterans, and the three of them immediately drew their pistols.

Xiao Zhan had already rushed forward first, and sure enough, he saw two old monks, both in their seventies or eighties, lying on the ground.

Both old monks had their eyes wide open, and their necks were covered in dried blood; they were already dead.

Xiao Zhan said in a deep voice, "The two elders are dead. Everyone search carefully. The old man should be here."

"Director Xia, you and Captain Zhang go up to the third floor to search."

Xia Keke replied, "Understood."

Xiao Zhan bent down to examine the two dead men and found that they had both died from having their throats slit by a single blade. The cut was thin and narrow, consistent with the characteristics of a samurai sword.

He then spoke into the headset: "Both victims were killed instantly by having their necks severed by a samurai sword. Liu Shiyuan and Miki Hirofu are hiding in the library. Everyone be careful."

The three people in the earpiece replied, "Understood!"

Xia Keke and Zhang Guoqiang went up to the third floor, but apart from the bookshelves, they didn't see anyone.

Xia Keke: "Xiao Zhan, no target found on the third floor."

Xiao Zhan stood up and looked around. Shen Jun stood beside him, holding a pistol and watching the surroundings warily.

Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow and said, "Everyone, don't panic. The target knows invisibility; how could he be easily discovered?"

Shen Jun whispered, "Instructor, I can feel a kind of airflow in the air."

Xiao Zhan made a gesture to Shen Jun.

Shen Jun nodded and picked up his pistol.

Xiao Zhan stood there quietly, his eyes closed, as if the world had nothing to do with him.

In fact, Xiao Zhan entered a state of self-realization, observing his nose and mind, opening his body and mind to feel all the changes around him.

gradually,

Xiao Zhan sensed a slight airflow not far to his left, like the movement of air caused by someone walking...

Xiao Zhan suddenly opened his eyes, pointed to the left front, and shouted, "Shen Jun, fire!"

Shen Jun had been waiting for this moment. Upon hearing this, he didn't hesitate and fired a shot in the direction Xiao Zhan was pointing.

"Bang."

A gunshot rang out, startling the library.

"oops."

A scream.

"Bang!"

A figure fell to the ground next to the bookshelf, and a spurt of blood gushed out.

Xiao Zhan's figure blurred, and he pounced forward with lightning speed...

The moment the figure fell to the floor, it twisted its body, performed a somersault, and sprang up from the ground. At the same time, it swung its right hand, sending a chillingly cold glint towards Xiao Zhan's neck...

"brush!"

As Xiao Zhan rushed forward, he saw a samurai sword aimed at his neck and immediately ducked down.

"Whoosh."

The samurai sword swept past Xiao Zhan's head, taking away a strand of hair. It was just a hair's breadth away from severing Xiao Zhan's neck.

But sometimes, the battlefield is just that fantastical...

Of course, Xiao Zhan was able to dodge this terrifying blow because of his own powerful strength.

The ninja was somewhat surprised to see his slash miss its mark; he hadn't expected Xiao Zhan to react so quickly.

In a battle between masters, life and death hang in the balance.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan had already gotten close to the ninja. His body suddenly trembled, and he used the Iron Mountain Lean move from Bajiquan to slam into the ninja's chest.

"Click."

The ninja's sternum collapsed instantly from the impact, and he was thrown five or six meters away.

"Clang!"

The ninja's body crashed into a row of bookshelves.

"puff!"

The ninja spat out a mouthful of blood, then collapsed limply to the ground, motionless.