Killing Monks

As the Lu family's joyous day drew ever closer, Guangyuan noticed some unusual signs while walking around the city these past few days.

Carriages and horses streamed in and out of the Lu residence, mostly merchant caravans from out of town, delivering congratulatory gifts in a continuous stream into the grand gate.

This added some excitement to Luoqing County and sparked a lot of discussion.

What concerned Guangyuan even more was that officials had also arrived.

That afternoon, he spotted a familiar figure in the distance in the west of the city.

The man was shrewd and capable, with a black iron token at his waist. He was none other than Hai Yantian, the head constable of the Maritime Police Bureau, with whom he had once fought at the Prajna Temple.

Hai Yantian also saw him, paused for a moment, then strode over and said:

"Monk, what are you doing here?"

Guangyuan bowed with one hand, his expression calm: "The world is vast, where can't a monk go? But how's the investigation into the constable's case going?"

When the case was mentioned, Hai Yantian frowned: "We arrested a few more low-level thugs, all of them were just errand boys."

"This group is very well hidden, like ground rats. They retreat at the slightest sign of trouble, and they are very difficult to deal with."

Guangyuan pondered for a moment and said, "Since they are hiding and difficult to find, why not prepare some bait to lure them out?"

"Fishing?" Hai Yantian stroked his short beard. "That's one way..."

He abruptly changed the subject, staring intently at Guangyuan: "You're also interested in the Lu family?"

Just as Guangyuan was about to speak, Haiyantian's expression hardened, and he suddenly shut up and stepped aside.

A man in blue robes had appeared outside the tea stall at some point.

The man was tall and slender, dressed in a green robe that resembled distant mountains after the rain. His features were exceptionally handsome, and his black hair was unbound, with a few strands fluttering in the wind, adding to his air of nonchalance.

What is most eye-catching is the sword at his waist. The scabbard is simple and unadorned, yet it exudes a chilling aura.

He looked to be only in his early thirties, with a fair complexion and no beard, appearing much younger than Hai Yantian, whose face was weathered and worn. Yet, upon seeing him, Hai Yantian immediately bowed respectfully, his tone deferential.

"Zhan Jianjun".

Guangyuan's heart stirred. The one whom Haiyantian called "Sword Lord" was "Hengjian" of the Northern Zhou Ministry of Justice's Maritime Arrest Division.

The "Coastal Arrest Bureau" is responsible for apprehending the most notorious criminals in the country. Internally, it is divided into three divisions based on the strength of the targets: "Fierce Blade", "Horizontal Sword", and "Immortal Fist"!

Among them, there are twelve "Horizontal Swordsmen," each a master swordsman, known as the Twelve Sword Lords.

The man in blue nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Guangyuan, and said:

"Xiao Hai, is this a friend from the martial arts world you know?"

Hai Yantian quickly replied, "Reporting to Sword Lord, this is Guangyuan. I met him once before, and we became acquainted through a misunderstanding."

Guangyuan stepped forward, put his palms together in a gesture of respect, and said, "This humble monk, Guangyuan, greets Lord Zhanjian."

"Guangyuan?" Zhan Jianjun frowned slightly, as if recalling something.

He said, "A few days ago, in the Buddhist kingdom of Southern Tang, a vicious monk committed murder and rebelled against his temple, causing quite a stir. That person... could it be you?"

"That's right," Guangyuan readily admitted.

Zhan Jianjun's eyes turned cold: "Why did you kill? Why did you betray the temple?"

"Different stances," Guangyuan replied briefly.

"Killing someone and betraying a temple, is that considered taking a stand?" Zhan Jianjun's tone was calm, yet it carried an air of authority. "You are from the Southern Tang, and the affairs of the Southern Tang are none of the concern of my Great Zhou."

"But now that we're in the territory of the Great Zhou," he paused, his gaze sweeping over Guangyuan like a sharp sword, "then we must not cause trouble."

Having said that, he said no more and turned to leave.

With a flick of his green robe, he had already drifted several feet away.

Haiyantian clasped his hands in a fist salute to Guangyuan, then quickly followed.

Guangyuan stood there, watching the two figures, one in green and one in black, disappear around the street corner, lost in thought.

Just as he was about to turn back to Mingyue Temple, he caught a glimpse of a person slowly walking towards the street corner out of the corner of his eye.

a woman.

A woman with a full head of silver hair.

She looked to be around forty or fifty years old. Her face was not old, and she could even be described as beautiful. However, there was an unyielding fierce aura between her brows, and her eyes were as cold as a frozen pool in the twelfth lunar month.

She wore a plain white robe, which remained motionless as she walked. An invisible chill seemed to surround her, and wherever she passed, a thin layer of frost would form on the ground, and the air would seem to freeze.

Guangyuan paused in his steps.

Just then, Zhan Jianjun and Hai Yantian, who had just left, returned and stood in front of the white-haired woman.

Zhan Jianjun's hand was already on the hilt of his sword, his green robe fluttered without wind, and his voice was deep and resolute like iron:

"The White-Haired Witch, will she grow old with me?"

"The White-Haired Witch" Bu Xie Lao.

This name has been known in the martial arts world for over twenty years.

Rumor has it that she was eccentric, ruthless, and capricious. Her hair turned completely white due to practicing some kind of extremely cold technique, hence the name.

Bu Xie Lao glanced coldly at Zhan Jian Jun, a mocking smile playing on his lips:

"What? Does Great Swordsman Zhan want to fight me here?"

Zhan Jianjun's expression changed slightly.

This is the main street of Luoqing County, lined with shops on both sides, with pedestrians coming and going.

If they were to actually fight the "White-Haired Witch" here, given their combined cultivation level of "Reflecting the Moon," it's unknown how many innocent people would be harmed.

"This is Luoqing County," Zhan Jianjun said in a deep voice. "Aren't you afraid of alerting the Lu family by acting so presumptuously here?"

Even in the eyes of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Lu family was a special case.

Although Luoqing County is nominally under the jurisdiction of the government, in reality the Lu family has the final say.

Upon hearing the name "Lu family," a cold glint flashed in Bu Xie's eyes, and his expression became noticeably more serious.

"I have my own plans, and it's none of your business to interfere." Her voice was icy, and her true energy suddenly emanated outwards, causing fine frost flowers to condense in the air.

"Get out of the way!"

A chill swept in like a tide, catching several pedestrians off guard, causing them to shiver several times.

Zhan Jianjun remained silent for a moment, then slowly turned to the side.

He wasn't afraid of Bu Xielao, but the timing and location were both wrong for him to fight such a demon in this place.

Bu Xielao snorted coldly, and with a flash of white, he had already passed Zhan Jianjun's side and disappeared at the other end of the long street.

Zhan Jianjun stared in the direction she had left, his brows furrowed. He whispered a few words to Hai Yantian, and the two of them quickly departed.

Guangyuan took in this scene, and his heart grew heavier.

The unfathomable, disheveled old Taoist priest in Mingyue Temple, the white-haired witch Bu Xie Lao, and the sword-wielding Zhan Jianjun of the Haibu Bureau...

In just a few days, Luoqing County has become a place where all sorts of people mingle.

Nobody knows what kind of demons and monsters might lurk in Luoqing County.

He sighed and turned to walk towards Mingyue Temple.

The current situation is no longer under his control.

The only thing we can do is try our best.

Back at the temple, Chu Kuangjun was practicing his martial arts in the courtyard, his white robes fluttering and his palm strikes clear and powerful.

Guangyuan didn't say much, took off his outer robe, and stepped forward.

"Brother Chu, how about we spar a few moves?"

Chu Kuangjun withdrew his stance. Seeing his solemn expression, he didn't ask any further questions, but simply nodded: "Alright."

The two began to fight in this small courtyard.

These past few days, the two of them had nothing to do, so they practiced their skills in this small courtyard.

Guangyuan's reverse Buddhist technique was surrounded by black energy, while Chu Kuangjun's palm techniques were light and agile, carrying a holy white light.

One in black and one in white caused the wind to howl within the courtyard.

No one knows what kind of bloodshed will unfold in the Lu family a few days from now.