Here to Kill

Liang Qu choked on the tea and coughed incessantly, only recovering after taking two deep breaths.

He stared at the Old Monk, utterly incredulous.

True Image?

Perfected Elephant capable of governing a prefecture or county, and being appointed as a general upon his arrival? That's incredible!

The Old Monk smiled and said, "How about it? Would you like to become my disciple?"

"No, no, Master, please have some tea."

Liang Qu chuckled, still refusing, and leaned back in his chair to adopt a more comfortable posture for conversation.

He figured it out; the Old Monk was easy to talk to, but he looked scary. However, he really had no intention of becoming a monk.

"Haha, I was right about you. You are a man of Benefactor character, unmoved by external things or power."

The Old Monk offered a word of praise.

Liang Qu scratched his eyebrows. "Master, if you are so powerful, what are you doing in our small county town? There are no big temples near Ping Yang County where we can communicate. The only one has been dilapidated for decades and is just a pile of broken walls and ruins."

The Old Monk made no attempt to hide anything. "I came to kill someone."

Liang Qu's brow twitched.

Putting aside the fact that it defies common sense for a monk to commit murder, wouldn't someone who could make a True Image travel thousands of miles to kill also be True Image? A small county town, not only six Hunting Tiger, but also two True Image? Is a county town really that terrifying? Powerful beings are clustered together, are they not allowed to develop in peace?

Seemingly sensing Liang Qu's strong thirst for knowledge, the Old Monk spoke frankly.

"It's not as terrifying as you think. They're just a few Heretical Monk from the Great Snow Mountain."

When I arrived in Yong Province, I witnessed them treating people like animals, turning corpses into gold, and indulging in lewdness. I even had sex with them.

The leader was incredibly powerful, but he has already been killed. Only two people managed to escape. When they were caught up in Qingzhou, only one person remained. Although I was injured and my Dantian was destroyed, he was no match for me.

Later, the Daoist priest Ge Jianhong of Louguan Platform performed divination for me and predicted that the person had already left Qingzhou and traveled to the Huaiyin Prefecture area. So I came here to look for him.

Liang Qu scratched his head. The more he listened, the more questions he had. He was starting to not understand. His Dantian was broken?

Martial Artist's Qi and Blood is contained within their body; breaking it would render them useless, wouldn't it? However, Martial Artist in this world cultivate their "essence," using their own "essence" to influence the "essence" of the outside world, True Image "essence." Perhaps there is another explanation.

I do know about the Great Snow Mountain Liang Qu; I just read it in a booklet, and I remember it very clearly—it's the source of the Jiang Huai River.

Few people enter, and few people leave.

The Old Monk in front of me sounded like a ruthless character who kills to protect life, and who severs karma rather than killing people.

Liang Qu tried to get more information out of the old monk, but the Old Monk had already fallen silent and sat in meditation, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

"So, Master has nowhere to go for the time being?" Liang Qu rubbed his hands together, a smile appearing on his face. "That's perfect. My little house was recently built, and the West Wing are empty. If Master doesn't mind, you can stay here and slowly search for people."

Although the Old Monk was True Image, Liang Qu had no intention of seeking refuge with anyone else.

But no matter what, he's the most amazing person he's ever met, so it would be best if he could stay.

The Old Monk pondered for a while. He had come all this way but had nowhere to stay, and his search for the person had yielded no results. He might as well rest here.

"Can!"

So the next morning, the craftsmen who came to work found an Old Monk in the house.

His Patch Robe was faded from washing, and he was frighteningly thin, unlike the plump, fair-skinned monks I usually saw.

When he greets people, his face is pressed against his cheeks, moving with his bone structure; it's rather creepy.

Liang Qu called out to the kitchen, "Aunt Zhang, remember to make an extra portion of vegetarian food next time you cook! Send it to the master in the West Wing, make a lot, more than what I make."

Martial Artist of the True Image must eat far more than a mere Martial Artist of Liang Qu.

Aunt Zhang, who was cooking, responded, and seeing that no one was around, she pulled Liang Qu in and they spoke in a low voice in the kitchen.

"Master, I shouldn't say anything, but you are a very respectable family, and I can't just stand by and watch you break the rules."

Liang Qu, puzzled, asked, "What do you mean?"

"This monk has a lot of yang energy. You're the only male in the Liang Family, he can't control it, and something bad is likely to happen!"

Liang Qu chuckled, wondering what it was all about.

Strangely enough, Buddhism is thriving and there are many temples in the Jianghuai region, and many people believe in it. However, if a temple were to be built nearby, they would absolutely refuse.

The biggest reason is the so-called "yang energy".

The area in front of the temple is flat, the area behind the temple is desolate, and widows emerge from the left and right sides of the great temple.

They believed that the presence of a Buddhist temple nearby would make it difficult for the family to have a son, or that male descendants would be prone to accidents.

However, Liang Qu did not believe in this.

Even if it were true, with the Ze Cauldron in his possession, how could this thing possibly reach the Ze Cauldron?

They don't even look at who's engraved on the tripod. Even Shakyamuni came, it wouldn't make a difference.

After breakfast, Liang Qu refined his blood in the Quiet Room, then ran to the stable and led out Red Mountain.

Today is the day of the new County Magistrate Circling the Azure Dragon's appointment. He has to go to the academy this afternoon to be assessed as the new County Magistrate, so he can't be absent.

He also wanted to broaden his horizons, as it was his first time seeing a new County Magistrate take office.

Liang Qu placed Red Mountain in the Martial Arts School of the martial arts school and walked to the front of the New Government Office.

The area was already crowded with onlookers, and the newly painted walls of the County Government Office still carried a distinctive smell of lime.

Liang Qu mingled in the crowd, wondering where the new County Magistrate would come from, and joined everyone in watching the spectacle.

At the stroke of dawn, a commotion arose among the crowd.

"He's here! The magistrate is here!"

Where?

"East!"

"Hey, look over there! See that carriage?"

Upon hearing the sound, Liang Qu looked over and saw a carriage speeding down the street. It was not the same one he had seen the day before; it was just an ordinary-sized carriage pulling a small sedan chair. It soon stopped at the entrance of the yamen.

The curtain was rolled up, and a middle-aged man in casual clothes lifted the hem of his robe and stepped down from the carriage.

What a handsome face!

He wore a turquoise brocade robe with gold trim, his hair was glossy and shiny, and even his beard swayed smoothly. He was truly a magnificent bearded man.

His strides were standard square steps, generous and dignified, quite different from those of a rural farmer.

Just a few steps away, the onlookers in the county developed a good impression of him.

"The County Magistrate! That's the new County Magistrate."

"What a handsome face!"

"That hair, how come it's so black? It looks like it's been oiled."

The thought of being given food for helping with road repairs, even if the land surveying was often careless, earned him the reputation of a good official in the hearts of the people.

The ceremonial guards and servants had been waiting for a long time.

Jian Zhongyi respectfully accepted the County Magistrate's seal from the ceremonial guards.

There were also sacrificial offerings. Jian Zhongyi bowed once to the spirit of the gate before the ceremonial gate, and then entered through the middle path.

When they came out, they had already changed into a Court Attire.

All the staff in the yamen, such as assistants, clerks, and runners, stood in their positions according to their rank and shift.

They followed Jian Zhongyi procession, making a round of inspections around the entire yamen.

"See? You must study hard in the future and become a high-ranking official like County Magistrate Jian!"

"County Magistrate Jian is truly a man of great style. I have been to so many counties, but I have never seen such a dignified magistrate!"

Completed the loop.

Jian Zhongyi, dressed in official robes, knelt facing north.

"I have been granted the honor of serving as County Magistrate by Your Majesty's grace. I dare not slacken in the slightest. I will certainly be diligent in my duties, govern the county affairs, bring benefits to the people, and make the region prosperous and strong, so as to repay Your Majesty's favor!"

"Good!"

"We have a just and upright official in Ping Yang County!"

"That's how it should be, that's how it should be!"

The people cheered and applauded continuously.

The constables issued the gong.

The first strike of the seven clappers signifies "It is difficult to be a ruler and it is not easy to be a subject."

The second strike of the five clappers represents "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness".

The third strike of the gong was for the inscription "Integrity, Prudence, and Diligence" on the plaque of the main hall of the yamen.

After striking the clapper three times, the drum is struck next.

The first is to beat the drum three times, signifying "obeying the imperial command".

The second is the fourth drumbeat, signifying "gratitude to the emperor for his grace."

The entire process was truly solemn and dignified.

No wonder so many people enjoy elaborate rituals.

Liang Qu stroked his chin, thinking.

After going through the whole process, even the most incompetent County Magistrate would appear imposing and extraordinary, especially someone like Jian Zhongyi who had a good appearance.

Next, Jian Zhongyi led the yamen officials to the City God Temple.

The crowd followed the County Magistrate in a great commotion.

Liang Qu wasn't in a good mood and didn't follow.

After paying respects to the City God, Jian Zhongyi should go to the academy to set exam questions.

There are plenty of opportunities to meet.