An Wu, I'm Here

Even after crossing the main gate of Anguo Temple, Yaoshi Yuan still didn't trust Yellow Dog's Closing the Hall Doors plan.

Her Embroidered Uniform Guard had thoroughly investigated the personnel flow of Anguo Temple for nearly a year, confirming that Yellow Dog couldn't have planted his people inside Anguo Temple in just a few days. And given Chang'an City's divinely blessed nature, Yellow Dog couldn't possibly murder the monks of Anguo Temple and then impersonate them.

Yellow Dog's claim that he had planted an inside agent in Anguo Temple was a complete and utter lie.

She had already prepared her words. As long as Yellow Dog failed to successfully close the doors of Anguo Temple, she would immediately jump out and sternly reprimand Yellow Dog for being presumptuous and bringing it upon himself. His failure was a manifestation of irresponsibility and lack of accountability, and the only way out now was to listen to her command. Only she could lead everyone to victory...

Until the overwhelming sound of bells interrupted her fantasy.

Yaoshi Yuan watched helplessly as the monks busily closed the doors in all directions, pulling down the door latches, including the small door leading to the second floor, and not even sparing the windows. In less than twenty seconds, the entire Anguo Temple was completely sealed off, isolated from the outside world, creating a perfect environment for committing crimes.

Only the monks of Anguo Temple would have so many people and be able to close the doors in such a short time.

Although Yaoshi Yuan still didn't know what Yellow Dog had done, there was no doubt that all the monks of Anguo Temple had become 'insiders' at this moment!

What he said was actually true.

He actually did it.

Right under my nose, he laid out a perfect plan, and I couldn't even find out the slightest bit of it!

Closing the Hall Doors was his plan, Opening the Golden Cabinet was his proposal, and even the location for escaping pursuit was chosen by him!

Chang'an City is clearly my territory, how can he be so unscrupulous?

I am the daughter of the Duke of Jin, the Overseer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, how can he be even more at ease than me?

I am clearly the destined master of the Thieves' Den, but why is he better than me?

Why!

Why?!

With the Black Wolf mask on Yaoshi Yuan's face, no one could see her expression. All they could feel was the heat of her surging Vitality and her rising momentum!

"How dare you run wild in Anguo Temple!"

A tall Martial Monk wielding a staff jumped out from behind the counter. When he saw the monk with the severed arm lying on the ground and the blood all over the floor, his brows furrowed, his face darkened, like an angry Arhat.

"Although I don't know what you've done to lift Chang'an City's Buddhist protection, those who kill will always be killed. Without the Buddhist protection, do you think you can do whatever you want? Let me teach you that Buddha has great compassion, but also great wrath!"

"Ben De, Ben Ci, Ben Ming, follow me to subdue the demons!"

"Yes, Uncle-Master Chengming!"

The three Martial Monks around him, who were still a little at a loss, immediately came back to their senses upon hearing the tall Martial Monk's instructions and stood in various directions, surrounding Yan Qing and the others.

Yan Qing's heart sank—this was one of the worst situations he had envisioned.

If the monks hadn't reacted, they could have taken advantage of the information gap to eliminate Anguo Temple's combat power first. At that time, these monks who thought Chang'an City would protect them, even if they were extraordinarily strong, would die in confusion.

But as long as someone raised their arms and led them into battle, then Yan Qing and the others would have to confront the Anguo Temple Martial Monks head-on!

As the saying goes, if you don't show your hand, people won't know how bad you really are.

With Yan Qing's strength as a first-transfer Herald, once he fought with others, the result would inevitably be that his details would be completely exposed. Now everyone would know that he was just a rookie. Even if he completed the task at that time, it would be an unbearable loss for Yan Qing.

He had made so many preparations, could he still not avoid direct combat?

Just as Yan Qing was caught in a moral dilemma, Yaoshi Yuan walked in front of them, her low voice filled with almost arrogant disdain: "Come at me together, I'm in a hurry."

"Bold thief!"

The tall Martial Monk shouted loudly, and together with three other Martial Monks, he swung his staff at Yaoshi Yuan! Now was not the time to talk about Jianghu morality; they couldn't miss this opportunity to cripple an enemy while they were off guard!

At the same time, Yaoshi Yuan unwrapped the black cloth, took out two folding steel rods, and with a twist, turn, and lock of her hands, they transformed into a refined steel spear!

She faced the Martial Monks' staffs head-on, without any defense!

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The Martial Monks' staffs did not hesitate, all landing on Yaoshi Yuan, producing a series of dull thuds. The tall Martial Monk Chengming's staff was even entwined with red lightning, striking Yaoshi Yuan as if hitting a bell, bursting out with rumbling vibrations!

Ordinary Martial Monks were First Rank Heralds, with only the 'Arhat Robe' as a defensive relic, but with their Vitality, even staff attacks could shatter jade and break stone; while Chengming was a Second Rank Herald, with not only the Arhat Robe but also the Second Rank relic 'Thunderclap Pearl', which could greatly enhance the damage of any of his weapons.

Against ordinary people, Chengming's four-man siege would be enough to turn them into mincemeat, and even mountains, rocks, and steel would be crushed.

However, Yaoshi Yuan, who directly endured all their attacks, only stirred up bursts of faint golden ripples on her body, completely unharmed.

'Able to defend against attacks enhanced by the Thunderclap Pearl, is it a Second Rank defensive relic?'

The thought flashed through Chengming's mind, thinking that the opponent was probably a Second Rank Herald with low attack and high defense.

His guess was not without reason. After all, it was extremely troublesome for Heralds to replenish spiritual power, and limited by the upper limit of spiritual power, Second Rank Heralds often only wore one Second Rank relic. If they took care of attack, they couldn't take care of defense; if they took care of healing, they couldn't take care of movement.

Just then, he heard Yaoshi Yuan's low and murderous voice:

"Are you done hitting? Now it's my turn."

The golden light on Yaoshi Yuan's body turned into flowing water, wrapping around the refined steel spear. She raised the spear high with one hand, her body as taut as a slingshot!

The Martial Monks were not afraid, intending to rely on the Arhat Robe to withstand the attack, taking the opportunity to continue attacking Yaoshi Yuan.

Only Chengming realized something, retreating while shouting, "Dodge quickly, this is—"

Relic·Vidyaraja Armor!

Yaoshi Yuan shouted, waving the spear with one hand, the golden light pouring out from the tip of the spear like flowing water, turning into a golden spear mang sweeping across!

What she swung out was not a spear, but a sea of blood!

The Martial Monks' Arhat Robes shattered instantly, and even Chengming could not dodge. Everyone's body was cut in half at the waist, and blood splattered on the ground, forming a line of blood. The surrounding Guest Monks were so frightened that they retreated, looking at Yaoshi Yuan and the others in horror.

Chengming was not dead yet. With only half of his body left, he tried to widen his eyes, staring at Yaoshi Yuan's Black Wolf mask, and said in a trembling voice, "Rare, it's actually a rare, relic..."

Pa!

Yaoshi Yuan pierced his head with a spear, ending his torment.

She glanced back at everyone and said calmly, "Let's go, time is of the essence."

Even through the mask, Yaoshi Yuan could see the surprised little eyes of White Fox and Red Snake, and immediately felt a sense of elation.

Now you know how powerful I am!

But when she looked at Yellow Dog, she felt the anger burning through her stomach again—Yellow Dog actually walked straight past, not at all shocked by her performance!

This is a rare relic, have you ever seen a rare relic? Do you know what a rare relic is? You definitely don't know, that's why you can't see how powerful I am!

Truly a country bumpkin who's never seen the world!

Yaoshi Yuan wished she could shoot Yan Qing in the back. Just as Yan Qing opened the counter door, preparing to enter the inner hall of Anguo Temple, the shopkeeper monk, who had been cowering in the counter, suddenly drew a Precept Blade, intending to sneak attack Yan Qing from behind.

Seeing this, Yaoshi Yuan stepped forward, sweeping her spear with one hand. The powerful and vigorous spear shaft struck the shopkeeper monk against the wall, where he slid down like a rag, unconscious.

When Yan Qing turned to look, she coldly snorted and rebuked, "Pay attention to your surroundings, don't cause me trouble."

"Sorry." Yan Qing smiled. "Don't take action later, my people have arrived."

Yellow Dog's people?

Now, not only Yaoshi Yuan, but even Ying Ru Shi and Shang Xin Lei looked over with curiosity.

Yan Qing pushed open the door between the counter and the inner hall, and immediately a heatwave mixed with a burnt smell surged out.

"This is truly... blasphemous." Ying Ru Shi murmured.

In the inner hall, where golden statues of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas stood, lay several twisted corpses. All of these corpses were burned to charcoal. Just as they opened the door, there was still a Martial Monk bathing in flames, wailing miserably, but he couldn't escape, because three identical triplets blocked his path. Even though they were also affected by the flames, they remained motionless until the Martial Monk fell and stopped moving.

A dozen thin and pale nobles hid in the corner, their faces filled with terror, afraid to speak, as if afraid of awakening the evil spirits in the Buddha hall.

Standing in the center of the inner hall was a young man holding a knife in one hand. Half of his body was charred, and his right hand was burned to only half an arm. That half arm looked like charcoal that still had residual heat, as if it would fall apart and shatter at the slightest touch. The hair on his face had been burned off, and the skin on his right cheek had been burned and denatured, like twisted and aged tree bark, making his delicate face ugly and hateful.

He faced the hall full of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, like an evil spirit crawling out of purgatory.

But Yaoshi Yuan, Ying Ru Shi, and Shang Xin Lei all noticed one thing at the same time—

The White Iron Straight Blade held by this young man was exactly the same as Yellow Dog's blade!

"An Wu, I'm here."

Yan Qing stepped into the inner hall and greeted loudly.

The young man turned to look at Yan Qing, his devilish face devoid of joy or sorrow.

For a moment, Yan Qing thought the other party wouldn't recognize him—

"You've come."

An Wu paused, then said, "We killed four, three escaped. They complained."

Hearing the last sentence, Xue Yan, Yang Third Miss, and the others were first stunned, and then their expressions suddenly changed.

They were all so nervous that their hearts were in their throats, not daring to breathe, anxiously watching the strange man wearing the Yellow Dog mask in front of them, waiting for the other party's response!