The Shadow Guards were going crazy.
The command they had received was to never, under any circumstances, reveal their master’s name.
Therefore, even when surrounded by the monks of the Pure Land Temple, they couldn’t say Yu Wenhua Ji’s name to extricate themselves.
The Shadow Guard Squad Leader had a flash of inspiration and angrily said, “I never thought the prestigious Pure Land Temple would be a place that harbors filth!”
“Hmm?” Abbot Yan looked down at him.
“Speak. If you can’t give a proper explanation, you’ll spend your next life cleaning the latrines here!”
“Now that the Demon Race and the Human Clan are in a full-scale war, you still dare to shelter a demonic butcher!” the Shadow Guard Squad Leader declared righteously.
“Your Buddhist teachings emphasize non-killing and avoiding sin, yet you’ve taken in a disciple who kills like a butcher! Isn’t that blatant hypocrisy?!”
Abbot Yan looked surprised.
The Buddha Faxiang behind him idly picked its nose, while the abbot himself wore an expression of looking at an idiot. “These days, have you ever seen a monk who isn’t a hypocrite?”
“???”
The Shadow Guard Squad Leader stared at Abbot Yan in confusion.
Abbot Yan was a renowned, enlightened monk famous throughout all of Shenzhou, respected by Buddhist temples everywhere…
How could such words possibly come from him?!
“Do you know why this old monk is respected?” Abbot Yan gave a roguish smile.
“Because, I don’t put on an act!”
The Shadow Guard Squad Leader was speechless with anger.
He found himself somewhat unable to comprehend the realm of these high-level monks.
In Buddhist debates, it was always the one who could act the most who was most respected.
Yet with Abbot Yan, it was inexplicably the opposite.
This was just too Zen. He couldn’t understand it, couldn’t understand it at all.
Still, he didn’t give up the argument.
He said angrily, “No matter what you say, that kid is a wanted criminal of the Great Sima Nation! Setting aside your grave crime of harboring a major fugitive! If the Demon Race truly conquers the Great Sima Nation, I’m afraid even you monks of the Pure Land Temple, from top to bottom, won’t be spared, not even the chickens and dogs!”
Abbot Yan chuckled. “That won’t happen. We’re pretty chill. If the demons attack, won’t we just run?”
“The fate of the Great Sima Nation rises and falls as one! What you’re doing is treason! If the day comes when the Human Clan declines and faces extinction, you will all be sinners bound for Hell!”
“Enough,” Abbot Yan’s gaze turned cold.
“A single Great Sima Nation is nothing. Monastic soldiers do not participate in political changes and will never side with anyone. But if the Demon Race one day truly rampages across Shenzhou with the intent to exterminate humanity… this old monk will be the first to charge forward! Killing every single one I see!”
“Even if it’s your own disciple?”
“Even if it’s my own disciple.”
The Shadow Guard Squad Leader was momentarily at a loss for words.
He suddenly felt that this Abbot might indeed have some unique qualities.
But from his own standpoint, there was nothing to ponder deeply.
He looked at Abbot Yan. “Going against the tide, you will pay the price.”
“Stop yapping and go clean the latrines!”
“…Can I clean the Scripture Repository instead? Didn’t everyone else go to clean the Scripture Repository?” the Shadow Guard Squad Leader asked weakly.
“Are you dreaming?! The Scripture Repository is such an important place, how could we let you in? Do you think you’re the Protagonist? Get going!”
Over at Yu Wenhua Ji’s place, he had waited a long time without any news of the Shadow Guards’ return.
Anxious and frantic, he was hesitating whether to personally put on night clothes and go to the Pure Land Temple to take a look.
However, a subordinate said, “Many powerful individuals who went to the Pure Land Temple never returned, only being released many years later, claiming to have cleaned latrines for a hundred years… There was even someone who cultivated into a Dung Immortal inside, attaining the Dao by cleaning latrines to the extreme.”
Perhaps the Immortal Realm was short of a toilet cleaner, so they let him ascend to continue cleaning there.
Such terrifying historical records made Yu Wenhua Ji’s hair stand on end, so he had no choice but to patiently wait a little longer.
If there was still no news, he would send an Envoy to negotiate, using the nation’s power to pressure them.
Those were the last three Shadow Guard Commanders. If they died too, his Shadow Guards would be effectively finished.
He would be so heartbroken he couldn’t sleep.
While Yu Wenhua Ji was worried sick, the Dry Hall Master was acting like it was New Year.
The visitor was none other than Alchemy Immortal Huang Dahou!
Huang Dahou was a truly distinguished guest! As one of the three great Danxiu in Shenzhou, he was already immensely wealthy! Later, during the epidemic poison’s rampage, he coordinated the overall situation with brilliant performance and had now become a genuine celebrity! His fame even surpassed that of Sun Shizhang, who had failed to develop the antidote!
Such a person naturally wouldn’t lack money.
For him to personally travel thousands of miles to visit the headquarters, there must be a major move afoot!
“I wish to purchase a batch of rare medicinal herbs. These herbs are said to only be found in the Nine Palaces Chamber of Commerce’s Supreme Treasure Vault,” Huang Dahou, wearing thick protective clothing, smiled at the Dry Hall Master.
“For a Danxiu like you to come to our humble shop to purchase materials, our shop is truly honored! Of course, no problem!” the Dry Hall Master laughed.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to see the Supreme Treasure Vault right now… However, for the sake of the vault’s security, I’m afraid I must trouble you to remove this heavy suit of clothing.”
Huang Dahou’s expression changed, as if this request from the other party had caught him off guard.
His face stiffened, and he spoke with some apprehension, “Must I take it off? You know I’ve always dressed like this, I’ve never taken off the protective suit in front of others before.”
“Apologies,” the Dry Hall Master narrowed his eyes, inwardly raising his guard.
“These are troubled times. To prevent evildoers from disguising themselves as others and setting their sights on the Supreme Treasure Vault… all guests entering the Supreme Treasure Vault must undergo detailed inspection, to prevent the tragedy of the Great Sima Nation’s National Treasury from repeating itself with our Chamber of Commerce.”
“This… alright,” Huang Dahou’s face was full of difficulty.
“Is there a changing room? I’m not accustomed to taking off the protective suit in front of others, and I also need to perform some poison suppression treatment.”
“Apologies! At least one person must observe your changing process. I can have other idle personnel leave, but no matter what, I must personally inspect you.”
The Dry Hall Master’s tone was gentle, but his attitude was exceptionally firm.
Even though the other party was Huang Dahou, he showed no sign of relenting.
“Ah, fine,” Huang Dahou sighed lightly and helplessly began to undo the protective suit’s adhesive straps.
“Don’t look around randomly.”
“Don’t worry, I have no interest in a man’s body.”
The Dry Hall Master was now fifty percent suspicious of Huang Dahou.
Having maintained the Chamber of Commerce for many years, he could spot a thief’s demeanor at a glance! Huang Dahou’s evasive eyes, his meek and hesitant manner, everything about him seemed problematic!
He had to monitor him closely, absolutely no slip-ups were allowed!
Huang Dahou slowly, bit by bit, removed the protective suit, taking off one component at a time.
Unbelievably, he was actually wearing a thick fur coat underneath the protective suit!
The moment the fur coat was seen, a flash of panic crossed Huang Dahou’s eyes.
His fingers subconsciously touched the fur collar around his neck.
It seemed to be a complete fox fur collar, sewn onto the shoulders, with the intact fox head still attached at the front.
The Dry Hall Master’s expression changed dramatically.
There really was a problem!
Jiang Ke’er! Don’t think I can’t recognize you just because you’ve disguised yourself as a collar!
“Guards! Seize this fake Alchemy Immortal and the Fox Demon!”
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