Xuanji Temple

When he broke through to the second level, it had come as naturally as water flowing into a channel. Everything had gone so smoothly that Qin Sang had once smugly considered himself a cultivation genius. Now, however, he could not help doubting himself.

Even if he was not a genius, being of ordinary talent would be acceptable. He could not possibly be a fool, could he?

He did not know whether this was normal, but after so long without the slightest progress, his patience had been worn away bit by bit, and he inevitably grew somewhat restless.

Without a master to guide him, Qin Sang could only ponder it himself. Breaking through to the second level had been so easy, yet now he was stuck at a bottleneck. Aside from the cultivation method itself, could there be some other reason?

For instance, medicinal baths.

After gaining a foothold in Blood-Clad Tower, Qin Sang had found an opportunity to return to Three Witches City. Yet he had not seen Daoist Master Jixin or Mingyue. He heard that not long after the Daoist temple had burned down, they had handed it over to disaster victims, boarded a boat southward, and left Great Sui.

By his reckoning, that had been precisely during the days when King Dongyang and King Zhenshui raised their banners in rebellion.

Unable to find Daoist Master Jixin, Qin Sang could only seek another solution. He had also gathered several prescriptions in Blood-Clad Tower for strengthening the foundation and nourishing vitality, but regrettably, their effects were still inferior to the medicinal bath.

A sudden knock sounded at the courtyard gate.

Water Monkey said quietly from outside, "Hall Master, General Zhou has arrived."

Delight flashed across Qin Sang's face. He hurriedly rose and straightened his clothes, calling loudly, "Quickly, invite him in!"

Before long, Water Monkey led a middle-aged man in armor through the door. The man walked up to Qin Sang and immediately bowed low. "This subordinate, Zhou Mingguang, greets Mister Qin!"

Publicly, Qin Sang was an aide to Princess Dongyang and held no official post. Those outside Blood-Clad Tower all addressed him as Mister Qin.

Qin Sang reached out to support Zhou Mingguang and gave him a once-over with a smile. "General Zhou, we are old acquaintances. Why stand on ceremony? I troubled you to take a detour to Hunwu County this time, and I have been deeply uneasy, afraid I might delay the Commander's important military affairs."

Zhou Mingguang was General Mu's confidant. Two months ago, when Hening County fell, Qin Sang had met him once.

General Mu had taken Hening County without losing a single soldier, earning great merit. With the County Princess's recommendation, he had been promoted to Right Commander of the Valiant Camp. Zhou Mingguang had risen with the tide as well, becoming a Guerrilla General and taking command of the Crossbowmen Corps.

Qin Sang had also been rightfully promoted to Hall Master of Blood-Clad Tower, though the official document had not yet arrived.

The only thing that displeased Qin Sang was that Wang Liu, that brat, had delayed military intelligence yet not only escaped punishment, but had even stumbled upon a great advantage during the assault on Jiang Prefecture's provincial city. He was now also the Right Commander of the Xuanwei Camp.

"This subordinate would not dare!"

Zhou Mingguang had personally seen the hellish scene within Zhu Dazhuang's residence and treated Qin Sang with the utmost respect. "Mister Qin, the Commander asked me to convey his greetings. He originally wished to visit you in person, but military affairs were urgent, so he could only lead his troops along the main road to North Ping Prefecture. However, the Crossbowmen Corps under his command has been placed entirely under my charge—five hundred Divine Arm Crossbows in all, to be deployed at Mister Qin's command!"

"Good!"

Qin Sang clapped his hands, his delight plain to see. He had given most of the battle merits to General Mu and remained in Hunwu County for so long all for the sake of these crossbowmen.

His target was naturally Xuanji Temple within Hunwu County!

After learning from Venerable Yuanjue that Xuanji Temple possessed an Immortal Cultivator's legacy, Qin Sang had been considering how to get his hands on it.

His lightness skill was inferior to that of the foremost martial artists of the jianghu, and he could not infiltrate Xuanji Temple without a sound. Though Venerable Yuanjue was dead, Xuanji Temple still had a Xiantian Master and countless first-rate experts guarding it.

Naturally, he could use Yanwang's abilities to kill people in secret. But Xuanji Temple bore the name of a sacred land, and everyone in Great Sui knew of it. Once word spread that Xuanji Temple's eminent monks had vanished in a single day, all of Great Sui Kingdom would surely be thrown into an uproar.

After all, there were immortal masters watching over Great Sui Kingdom.

After turning it over and over in his mind, he decided it was safest to borrow the power of the secular world. Before five hundred Divine Arm Crossbows, even Xuanji Temple's abbot would not dare act recklessly—unless he wanted Xuanji Temple exterminated.

Hearing that Qin Sang's target was actually Xuanji Temple, Zhou Mingguang looked troubled. "Mister Qin, I have heard that Xuanji Temple has a Xiantian Master stationed there. A mere five hundred crossbowmen, I fear..."

"General Zhou need not worry!"

Qin Sang said confidently, "If the Xiantian Master dares kill anyone, I will handle him myself. The only concern is that the monks of Xuanji Temple may be unruly and unyielding, still loyal to the False Emperor and refusing to submit to the Prince's rule. That is why I need General Zhou to bring troops to intimidate them. If they know what is good for them and confess their crimes to accept punishment, the Prince does not wish to kill them all... I have already prepared wine and meat. Sorry for the trouble, General Zhou—take them back to reward the officers and soldiers. Set out early tomorrow morning so as not to delay the march. Once this is done, Qin Sang will reward you handsomely."

"This subordinate obeys!"

At dawn the next day, Qin Sang led Blood-Clad Tower's men to meet Zhou Mingguang. After eating, they marched at speed and, before noon, stationed their troops before Xuanji Temple's mountain gate.

An ancient temple lay hidden deep in the mountains.

The mountain wind stirred the dense forest, making it rustle and sigh.

The road up the mountain was entirely paved with bluish stone slabs half a step wide. It stretched from the foot of the mountain all the way to the temple gates, broad enough for five riders to travel abreast.

Xuanji Temple.

From the three vigorous, ancient characters came a breath of antiquity and solemn weight.

The two stone lions before the mountain gate glared fiercely, their eyes fixed upon the road below.

Fallen leaves whirled down the lofty steps. Not a single monk could be seen. The pair of vermilion gates, several zhang high, were shut tight, and within lay utter silence.

The autumn wind was bleak.

Before the temple stood a vast, level clearing. Qin Sang, dressed in the armor of an ordinary soldier, raised his head to gaze at this sacred land of the martial world. His eyes passed over the high outer walls and saw the upturned eaves within.

He could hear the tense breathing inside Xuanji Temple.

Zhou Mingguang, at the head of the force, waved a hand behind him. A succession of footsteps followed as over a thousand soldiers spread out in formation. All five hundred Divine Arm Crossbows were cocked, their bolts aimed at the vermilion gates.

Zhou Mingguang looked toward Qin Sang, who gave a faint nod.

"Switch to fire arrows!"

Zhou Mingguang roared. The moment his words fell, someone inside Xuanji Temple suddenly chanted a deep Buddhist invocation.

"Wait!"

Then a burst of hurried footsteps sounded within Xuanji Temple. The vermilion gates opened, and an old monk with a ruddy complexion, white eyebrows, and white beard emerged first.

Behind him, a crowd of monks filed out in a stream, their faces indignant as they gripped staves and pointed them toward the soldiers.

Seeing the kasaya upon the old monk, Qin Sang thought to himself that this man should be Abbot Yuanzhen of Xuanji Temple, Venerable Yuanjue's junior brother and one of the most revered figures in Great Sui's martial world.

"Amitabha."

Sorrow filled Abbot Yuanzhen's eyes. His gaze swept over the scene before settling on Zhou Mingguang as he asked solemnly, "This poor monk is Yuanzhen. May I ask the General's name?"

Zhou Mingguang said in a deep voice, "I am Zhou Mingguang. Though unworthy, I serve as a general under the Prince."

Abbot Yuanzhen nodded. Then his expression suddenly darkened as he demanded, "General Zhou, those within Xuanji Temple are all monks. We have always held compassion in our hearts, kept company with the green lamp and ancient Buddha, and never involved ourselves in worldly affairs. What crime have we committed to warrant such a great mobilization of troops against us?"

"Green lamp and ancient Buddha?"

Mockery filled Zhou Mingguang's face, and he burst into laughter. "The monk soldiers who helped the False Emperor defend Duling County and slaughtered countless sons of Dongyang County—were they disciples of some other household?"

Abbot Yuanzhen's expression did not change as he argued, "General Zhou, you do not know the full story. Those monk soldiers merely studied martial arts at Xuanji Temple. Once they descended the mountain, they no longer had any connection to Xuanji Temple. This poor monk already explained the matter face-to-face to the Heir Apparent. The General need only ask him to know."