The Master's Conspiracy

The soft morning sunlight spilled onto the front of the County Office.

A group of orderly Demon Slayer Envoys and Demon Slayer Envoys, divided into two rows, seemed to be waiting to welcome an important figure.

Fang Mu, arriving outside the County Office, was momentarily stunned by the grand display.

"What are you gawking at? Hurry up and rejoin the ranks!"

Tu Qing, standing at the entrance of the County Office, shouted at Fang Mu as he approached.

Fang Mu didn't retort, silently returning to the Demon Slayer Envoy formation and standing at attention.

Beside Tu Qing were Wen Xuan and several Bronze Toad Envoys of considerable status.

And standing in the very center was a majestic man, bearing a slight resemblance to Tu Qing, with an incredibly profound aura.

If Fang Mu's guess was correct, this must be Vice Chief Envoy Tu Shan, Tu Qing's father.

Sensing the powerful aura within Tu Shan, Fang Mu couldn't help but feel a sense of gravity.

Tu Shan seemed to sense Fang Mu's gaze and turned to look at him.

Fang Mu quickly lowered his head, not wanting to attract Tu Shan's attention.

He was curious about who was arriving today to warrant such a grand reception, requiring Vice Chief Envoy Tu Shan himself to greet them.

Tu Shan glanced at Fang Mu before looking away, not paying much mind to Fang Mu, who was only at the Sixth Rank.

Before long, a middle-aged bald monk with a gentle and elegant demeanor, dressed in a grey robe and holding a six-ringed staff, arrived.

"Tu Shan and his subordinates respectfully welcome the Master to Qingzhu City."

"Amitabha, Vice Chief Envoy, you are too kind. This humble monk was merely passing through and decided to come and help purify the souls of the departed in the prison."

"It is I who have troubled you all with this reception, and I feel truly apologetic."

"Allow this humble monk to use Buddhist dharma to purify the Demonic Energy on all of you as a token of my gratitude!"

As the grey-robed monk finished speaking, dazzling golden Buddhist light suddenly emanated from him.

The Buddhist light shone upon all the Demon Slayer Envoys and Demon Slayer Envoys, dispelling the cold, sinister Demonic Energy from their bodies.

Everyone felt significantly lighter, and their old injuries and ailments, accumulated over time, were also healed under the illumination of the golden light.

"Thank you, Master!"

"We will never forget the Master's kindness!"

"May the Master's virtue be as vast as the heavens, and may his blessings be eternal!"

The Demon Slayer Envoys and Demon Slayer Envoys outside the County Office bowed in thanks, each with tears of gratitude.

Fang Mu, blending in with the crowd, could only offer his thanks along with everyone else.

However, observing with his Qi Observation technique, he noticed that while the Demonic Energy on everyone had indeed weakened, it was not enough to eradicate it completely, clearly a case of treating the symptoms rather than the root cause.

But this also made Fang Mu realize that Buddhist dharma did indeed have the effect of purifying Demonic Energy, though the extent to which it could do so remained uncertain.

"Alright, alright, having received the Master's grace today, you must all perform your duties diligently."

"Master, please, come inside the County Office for a meal!"

"In that case, I shall impose upon you."

After Tu Shan invited the grey-robed monk into the County Office, Wen Xuan, Tu Qing, and the others filed in, entering the building.

Fang Mu followed the crowd into the County Office, his heart feeling heavy.

He recognized the voice of the bald, grey-robed monk. He was the bald man who had let the snake-person go last night, and the one who had infiltrated the Sacrificial God Hall attempting to steal the power of faith.

Beneath his pious appearance, the man seemed to harbor a hidden agenda.

Back in the main hall of the Demon Slayer Division, Fang Mu assigned some simple demon-slaying tasks to the Demon Slayer Envoys present.

At that moment, the bald monk, accompanied by Wen Xuan, Tu Qing, and the others, arrived at the main hall of the Demon Slayer Division.

"Fang Mu, you will accompany the Master to the Mortal Prison dungeon to purify the souls. Fulfill any requests the Master may have."

"Yes! Master, please follow me."

For once, Fang Mu didn't argue with Tu Qing. He responded and respectfully led the way.

"Hmph!"

Tu Qing snorted coldly, not bothering to trouble Fang Mu further. He found a seat in the hall, waiting for Fang Mu and the others to return.

Leading the way, Fang Mu could sense the bald monk's gaze upon him from behind, and he dared not show any abnormality.

This bald monk's intentions were unknown, and his cultivation was rumored to be that of a First Rank Realm expert.

Unless absolutely necessary, Fang Mu was unwilling to make a powerful enemy.

Leading the bald monk to the first level of the Mortal Prison dungeon, the monk appeared extremely patient, purifying each cell one by one.

The bald monk used a great deal of golden Buddhist light, diligently purifying the Yin energy and resentment in every cell.

If not for knowing the bald monk's true nature, Fang Mu would have truly believed he had encountered a compassionate high monk.

Looking at the prison cells, Fang Mu couldn't help but frown as he watched the bald monk purify them.

At this rate, it would probably take several days to purify the entire Mortal Prison.

This made Fang Mu suspect that the monk's intentions weren't as simple as they seemed; perhaps the purification was just a delay tactic to spend more time in the prison.

So, what was his real goal?

As time passed, Fang Mu followed the bald monk through more than half of the one-star prison cells.

"Cough, cough, cough."

At this moment, the bald monk coughed violently, jolting Fang Mu, who had been somewhat lost in thought, back to attention.

"Master! Are you alright?"

Fang Mu quickly supported the swaying bald monk and asked with concern.

"It's nothing! This humble monk has simply expended too much energy. My Vital Energy is almost completely depleted."

"If I encountered a villain, with my current physical condition, I definitely wouldn't be able to resist."

As he finished speaking, the bald monk's gaze fell on Fang Mu's face, his words carrying a hidden meaning, as if directed at him.

"Master is joking. This is a prison, how could there be any villains!"

Fang Mu said with a casual chuckle, revealing nothing.

He had actually considered an opportunistic attack, but he immediately dismissed the impractical thought.

"Heh heh, I was just joking with Envoy Fang."

"This humble monk is feeling a bit tired and would like to rest. I wonder if Envoy Fang could call over any available Demon Slayer Envoys."

"Since they're idle, this humble monk can teach them some basic Buddhist teachings."

Fang Mu didn't immediately agree as he looked at the smiling bald monk.

He feigned concern and said, "Master, you've worked hard today. How about teaching them another day?"

"It's fine! I haven't been staying at the County Office for long."

"These next few days, I'll likely need to go all out to dispel and purify the Demonic Energy, so I won't have much free time."

"I'll trouble Envoy Fang for this. This humble monk has a book on cultivating Buddhist practices, and I'd like to gift it to you!"

"Fang Mu wouldn't dare!"

"Please accept it, Envoy Fang. It's not a valuable item."

"Thank you. Thank you, Master. Please wait a moment, Master! I'll go gather my subordinates now to receive Master's Buddhist teachings."

Fang Mu, with a face full of excitement, accepted the book from the bald monk and excitedly left the prison cells, heading outside.

Watching Fang Mu leave, the smiling bald monk couldn't help but reveal a cold sneer on his face.

With a flash of shadow, the bald monk vanished.

Fang Mu, having left the prison cells, dropped the smile from his face.

The bald monk's intentions were unclear, wanting to teach the Demon Slayer Envoys Buddhist teachings?

Was he trying to secretly control everyone through Buddhism?

Fang Mu was slightly alarmed, thinking it was best not to learn anything rashly. If he were to be tricked, he wouldn't even know how he died.