Xuanqing Temple's Monks

"Immortal Master, just ahead is Zhao Family Village."

Zhao Quan said cautiously.

He didn't understand why this Immortal Master, who had been fine yesterday, was now wearing a Bamboo Hat.

At least he had brought a weapon, though it looked suspiciously like an Iron Staff.

Perhaps it was some kind of Immortal Artifact.

"Mm."

"Take me to see your Village Chief."

"No one else should show up. This Immortal Master dislikes crowds."

Song Chengan said.

After questioning Zhao Quan thoroughly yesterday, he had deduced that this Monster wasn't very strong—at least, once he used the Summoning God Technique, he had no fear of it.

So Song Chengan came.

He wanted that hundred taels far too badly.

As for the Bamboo Hat.

And the claim of disliking crowds, it was purely to avoid running into that Zhao Woman.

All because of that idiot Black Bear—otherwise, none of this trouble would have arisen.

"This humble one will take you to see the Village Chief right away!"

Zhao Quan served him with utmost care.

He had long heard that these Immortal Masters were unpredictable in mood, and he dared not show the slightest neglect.

"Old Village Chief! Old Village Chief!"

"I've... I've brought an Immortal Master!"

As he spoke, they arrived before a Big Mansion.

The mansion was truly imposing.

Even in Lingqiu City, only the wealthy and powerful could afford a residence like the one before Song Chengan.

It seemed this so-called Village Chief was also the Clan Leader of Zhao Family Village.

Song Chengan knew that in these rural settlements, most villages consisted of One Clan, with the Clan Leader holding supreme authority.

The upholders and beneficiaries of Patriarchal Law.

For most matters, they would resort to Patriarchal Law to resolve things—even to the point of using private punishment.

Lawless in the extreme.

Yet the Government Office favored it.

Because these clans kept the villages below stable.

Patriarchal Law might create injustices, but what did that matter?

The Government Office wanted stability.

As Song Chengan pondered, a group of people filed out—old and young alike.

They seemed to be the more prominent figures of Zhao Family Village.

At their head was a man in his sixties, leaning on a cane.

But what surprised Song Chengan was that the Old Village Chief's face turned troubled the moment he saw him.

Zhao Quan stepped forward and whispered something to the Old Village Chief.

Song Chengan waited quietly.

The Old Village Chief waved his hand, dismissing those around him, then approached. He cupped his hands cautiously. "May I ask which sacred mountain this Immortal Master cultivates on, and what Daoist arts he has studied?"

Song Chengan was a bit surprised.

This Old Village Chief had seen the world.

He cupped his hands in return.

"I cultivate far and wide, mastering ten thousand Daoist arts."

"Now, tell me about the Monster."

He couldn't exactly say, I cultivate on Mount Luo and learned my arts from a Monster.

If he said that, the Old Village Chief would likely report him to the Government Office on the spot.

The Old Village Chief let out a visibly relieved breath.

"Our village was peaceful, until this Monster appeared out of nowhere."

"It demanded we offer it virgin boys and girls. Naturally, we refused."

"So the Monster began killing one person every day."

"We had no choice but to go searching everywhere for an expert."

"A few experts did come at first, but as soon as they saw that monster, they all ran off in fright."

"Oh, and now a real expert has shown up, hasn't he?" Song Chengan said without a shred of modesty.

"Immortal Master, please let me finish."

The Old Village Chief cautiously studied Song Chengan's expression. "If you had come yesterday, Immortal Master, we would have been overjoyed."

"But coming today..."

"What about today?"

Song Chengan asked, puzzled.

"Don't tell me someone's already gotten rid of the monster?"

If that were the case, he'd have made the trip for nothing.

"It's not that the monster has been dealt with."

"It's that a High Monk arrived today—the Grand Sorcerer from Xuanqing Temple."

"The Grand Sorcerer has gone out to find the monster now."

The Old Village Chief said this much.

"So...?" Song Chengan raised an eyebrow.

This old man was hemming and hawing forever—what was he really trying to say?

Was he expecting me to duel it out with that Xuanqing Temple Grand Sorcerer?

If so, I'm out of here.

That Xuanqing Temple was no joke.

Three thousand monks in the temple, and the Abbot Monk was said to have Enlightened to Arhat Fruit Status.

How could I afford to provoke a force like that?

I'm just a Rogue Cultivator—I absolutely can't mess with these people.

It's not cowardice.

It's knowing when to bend with the wind.

"If the Grand Sorcerer sees that we've also invited an Immortal Master, he might take offense." The Old Village Chief hesitated.

Then he waved his hand.

Soon, someone brought over a tray.

The Old Village Chief took it.

"Immortal Master, here are ten taels of silver, just to cover your travel expenses."

"Please don't think ill of it."

"I see."

"So the Old Village Chief is worried that if the Grand Sorcerer sees me, he'll think your estate hired two people and get upset."

"At the same time, the Old Village Chief figures my cultivation can't possibly match that Grand Sorcerer from Xuanqing Temple, so you want to send me off."

"And when you said all that, you seemed a bit flustered—probably worried the Xuanqing Temple Grand Sorcerer might come back any moment."

"This..." The Old Village Chief's face showed some embarrassment.

"The Immortal Master truly is an enlightened one, seeing through this old man's every thought."

"Please forgive me, Immortal Master."

"It's not that I'm being petty—it's just that the Monster is far too vicious."

"I understand."

"In that case, I won't trouble your estate any longer."

With that, Song Chengan took the ten taels of silver.

Though he regretted missing out on the hundred taels, getting ten for a walk wasn't a loss.

He pocketed the silver and turned to leave.

"Immortal Master!"

"Immortal Master, please wait!"

But just as he'd left the village a short distance, someone came galloping after him.

He turned around.

It was Zhao Quan, his face full of urgency.

"Something on your mind?"

Song Chengan looked at Zhao Quan.

"I beg the Immortal Master to save Zhao Family Village!" Zhao Quan dismounted in a hurry.

"Oh? Didn't your village find a monk from Xuanqing Temple?"

Song Chengan found this odd.

"That monk... that monk... was wounded by a Monster, and his life hangs by a thread..."

"I beg the Immortal Master to return with me, save the monk, and save Zhao Family Village!"

Song Chengan hesitated.

They had just sent him off with ten silver taels; if he went back at the first call, it would seem rather cheap.

"Immortal Master, we were ignorant earlier. Please, Immortal Master, save us!"

Seeing this, Zhao Quan immediately knelt.

"Take me to have a look."

Song Chengan returned to Zhao Family Village once more.

There, he saw a monk with a pale face and breath as faint as a silk thread.

That monk was different from the Xuanqing Temple monks he had met before.

The Xuanqing Temple monks he had encountered in the past were all fair-skinned and tender, with arrogant, haughty looks and eyes that saw no one.

But this monk before him had a gaunt, withered face and dark skin. When he saw Song Chengan, his eyes revealed a plea for mercy.

Truly strange.

Perhaps he was an outcast at Xuanqing Temple.

"Immortal Master, please, Immortal Master, save him!"

The moment he saw Song Chengan, the Old Village Chief looked as if he had found a savior.

He was terrified now—if this Xuanqing Temple monk died in Zhao Family Village, they would be in for a world of trouble.

Were the monks of Xuanqing Temple easy to deal with?

"Everyone, stand back!"

Song Chengan lifted the monk.

Then, pressing both hands against his back, he channeled his True Qi into the monk's body.

Soon, the monk's complexion turned rosy.

"His life is no longer in danger. Just find a doctor to prescribe some medicine for internal injuries."

Song Chengan was puzzled.

How was it that this monk had not a shred of True Qi inside him?