Longyou, Qinzhou.
The forbidden grounds behind Jeweled Temple.
This should have been a place of Buddhist peace, but now a sickening, sweet stench of blood hung in the air.
Three figures stood guard outside the pitch-black cave mouth, forming a triangle.
"Three days."
Wangfan stared fixedly into the depths of the cave, his throat dry.
"Senior Brother, can Wangchi... really be trusted?"
Beside him, Wangnian wiped cold sweat from his brow. The flesh on his plump face would not stop trembling.
"What choice do we have?"
"Abbot's time was nearly up. If he took this gamble, he might still have a sliver of hope. If he just sat and waited for death..."
Before he could finish—
Roar—!!!
A beast's agonized roar exploded from deep within the cave.
Then—
Rumble—
The entire rear mountain seemed to shake.
Black smoke, thick with demonic aura, surged from the cave mouth.
The withered yellow plants turned straight to ash the instant the black vapor touched them.
"This... this is..."
All three men's faces changed, and they instinctively retreated several steps.
"Damn it!"
Wangnian gritted his teeth. "I told you Wangchi was a madman! The Spirit-Seizing Technique could never be that easy..."
But—
Just as the three of them were sick with worry—
"Vile beast! You still dare to run wild?!"
The voice belonged to the young monk, Wangchi!
Then—
Hum—
The demonic aura that had been raging unchecked—
Froze in an instant.
"Roar... howl... whimper..."
The beast's anguished cries swiftly changed from fury to terror, then finally to pitiful pleas for mercy.
At last—
They grew faint, until they vanished entirely.
The forbidden grounds behind the temple fell deathly silent once more.
"Did... did it work?"
Wangfan swallowed, staring wide-eyed at the pitch-black cave mouth in disbelief.
Wangnian and Wangjue exchanged glances, hardly daring