The gentle morning sunlight spilled before the County Office gates.
A group of orderly Demon Slayer Envoys and Demon Slayer Envoys stood in two lines, seemingly waiting to welcome some important figure.
When Fang Mu arrived outside the County Office and saw the grand display, he was stunned for a moment.
"What are you standing there like an idiot for? Hurry up and get back in formation!"
Tu Qing, standing at the County Office entrance, shouted at Fang Mu when he saw him approaching.
Fang Mu did not argue. He silently returned to the Demon Slayer Envoys' formation and stood at attention.
Standing beside Tu Qing were Wen Xuan and several Bronze Toad Envoys of considerable status.
At the very center stood a dignified man who bore some resemblance to Tu Qing. The aura around him was exceptionally powerful.
If Fang Mu's guess was correct, this had to be Deputy Chief Envoy Tu Shan, Tu Qing's father.
Sensing the powerful aura within Tu Shan, Fang Mu could not help feeling somewhat solemn.
Tu Shan seemed to sense Fang Mu's gaze and turned to look at him.
Fang Mu quickly lowered his head, unwilling to draw Tu Shan's attention.
He was curious who was coming today. To think they would make such a grand display, even requiring Deputy Chief Envoy Tu Shan to personally come out and welcome them.
Tu Shan sized up Fang Mu before looking away, paying little attention to someone whose strength was only at the Sixth Rank.
Before long, a middle-aged, bald monk with a refined and gentle bearing arrived. He wore gray robes and carried a six-ringed tin staff.
"Tu Shan and all his subordinates respectfully welcome the Master to Qingzhu City."
"Amitabha. Deputy Chief Envoy, you are too kind. This humble monk happened to be passing through and came by to deliver salvation to the souls of the dead in the prison."
"It was this humble monk who disturbed you. I am truly sorry to trouble everyone with coming out to welcome me."
"Allow this humble monk to use Buddhist teachings to purify the Demonic Energy upon you all, as a token of my gratitude!"
As the gray-robed monk's voice fell, dazzling golden Buddha's light suddenly burst from his body.
The Buddha's light fell upon the Demon Slayer Envoys and Demon Slayer Envoys, scattering the cold Demonic Energy clinging to them.
Everyone felt much lighter. Their old injuries and ailments, which had accumulated in their bodies, were also healed beneath the golden radiance.
"Thank you, Master!"
"We will never forget the Master's grace!"
"The Master's virtue supports the heavens. May you enjoy immortal blessings forever!"
Outside the County Office, the Demon Slayer Envoys and Demon Slayer Envoys bowed one after another in thanks, each looking moved to tears.
Fang Mu mingled among the crowd and could only bow and offer thanks along with everyone else.
But through the Qi-Watching Technique, he observed that although the Demonic Energy within everyone had faded somewhat,
it was still far from being eradicated. Clearly, this only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.
Still, this allowed Fang Mu to understand that Buddhist teachings truly could purify Demonic Energy. As for how far they could go, however, that was difficult to say.
"All right, all right. Since you have received the Master's grace today, you must do your duties properly."
"Master, please. Come with me into the County Office for a meal!"
"In that case, I shall trouble you."
After Tu Shan invited the gray-robed monk into the County Office, Wen Xuan, Tu Qing, and the others filed in after him.
Fang Mu followed everyone into the County Office, his heart somewhat heavy.
He recognized the gray-robed bald monk's voice. He was the bald man who had released the Snake person last night,
and the very same person who had infiltrated the Sacrificial God Hall in an attempt to steal the power of faith.
Beneath his sanctimonious exterior, the man seemed to conceal a heart with ulterior motives.
After returning to the Demon Slayer Division's main hall, Fang Mu assigned the Demon Slayer Envoys inside a few simple demon-slaying missions.
At that moment, the bald monk followed Wen Xuan, Tu Qing, and the others into the Demon Slayer Division's main hall.
"Fang Mu, accompany the Master to the Mortal Prison dungeon to deliver salvation to the souls of the dead. Do your best to satisfy any of the Master's requests."
"Yes! Master, follow me."
Fang Mu rarely refrained from arguing with Tu Qing. After answering, he respectfully led the way.
"Hmph!"
Tu Qing snorted coldly but did not make things difficult for Fang Mu. He found a seat in the main hall and sat down, waiting for Fang Mu and the others to return.
As Fang Mu led the way, he could sense the bald monk studying him from behind. He did not dare reveal the slightest abnormality.
The bald monk's purpose was unclear, and he was supposedly a First Rank Realm expert.
Unless absolutely necessary, Fang Mu was unwilling to make a powerful enemy.
After bringing the bald monk to the Mortal Prison's First-Star Dungeon, Fang Mu found that the monk was remarkably patient. He actually purified the dungeons one by one.
The bald monk summoned vast amounts of golden Buddhist radiance and earnestly purified the yin energy and resentful energy in each dungeon.
If Fang Mu had not already known the bald monk's true nature, he really would have believed that he had encountered a great and compassionate high monk.
Watching the bald monk purify one dungeon after another, Fang Mu could not help secretly frowning.
At this pace, even if he spent several days purifying them, he probably would not finish the Mortal Prison.
This made Fang Mu wonder whether the monk was a drunkard pretending to care about the wine—in other words, whether the purification was merely an excuse to delay matters and remain in the dungeon.
Then what was his true purpose?
As time passed, Fang Mu followed the bald monk through more than half of the First-Star Dungeon.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
At that moment, the bald monk began coughing violently, snapping Fang Mu back to his senses.
"Master! Are you all right?"
Fang Mu hurriedly supported the bald monk, who had risen and was swaying unsteadily, and asked with concern.
"It is nothing. This humble monk has merely expended too much energy. My Vital Energy is nearly exhausted."
"If we were to encounter a criminal, given my current condition, I certainly would not be able to resist."
As his voice fell, the bald monk's gaze settled on Fang Mu's face. His meaningful words seemed to be directed at him.
"Master, you are joking. This is a dungeon. How could we possibly encounter a criminal?"
Fang Mu did not reveal his thoughts and merely chuckled.
He had actually considered launching a surprise attack, but immediately dismissed the impractical notion.
"Hehe, I was only joking with Envoy Fang."
"This humble monk is somewhat tired and would like to rest for a while. I wonder whether Envoy Fang could call over some Demon Slayer Envoys who have time to spare."
"They have nothing else to do anyway. This humble monk can teach them some basic Buddhist teachings."
Seeing the smiling, amiable bald monk, Fang Mu did not agree immediately.
He pretended to be concerned. "Master, you have worked hard today. Why not teach them another day?"
"It is fine. I will not be staying at the County Office for long."
"I will probably have to devote myself fully over the next few days to dispelling and purifying the evil and resentful energy, leaving me no time to spare."
"I must trouble Envoy Fang to take care of this. I happen to have a book on cultivating Buddhist teachings here. I will give it to you, Envoy."
"This—how could I accept it?"
"Just keep it, Envoy Fang. It is nothing valuable."
"Thank you. Thank you, Master. Please wait! I will go summon my subordinates right now so they can listen to the Master's teachings of Buddhism."
Fang Mu put away the book the bald monk had given him with an excited expression, then eagerly left the dungeon and headed outside.
Watching Fang Mu leave, the smiling, amiable bald monk could not help revealing a trace of a cold smile.
As a shadow flashed past, the bald monk disappeared without a trace.
After leaving the dungeon, Fang Mu wiped the smile from his face.
The bald monk's intentions were unknown. Why did he want to teach Buddhist teachings to the Demon Slayer Envoys?
Could he be planning to use Buddhist teachings to secretly control everyone?
Fang Mu felt a chill in his heart. He decided it would be better not to study it recklessly. If he fell into a trap by accident, he might not even know how he had died.
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