Coercion (Second Round: Please Keep Reading)

True Yang Temple.

The temple master, Yan Jingqiu, sat in the main hall with a smile on her face. Beside her stood a solemn-looking middle-aged man dressed in True Yang Daoist robes.

A group of richly dressed people stood in the center of the hall. At their head was a middle-aged man with a thin mustache, eyes as deep as pools, and an inherently imposing bearing.

Any important figure from the inner city would have recognized him as Mo Chunsheng, head of the Mo Family, one of the Inner City's Four Elders, and the man secretly in control of Black Serpent Martial School.

Mo Chunsheng clasped his hands and respectfully bowed to Yan Jingqiu. "Temple Master Yan, I have come here for no other reason. My son, Mo Ming, is about the same age as Yan Ling, so I have come to propose a marriage. What does Temple Master Yan think?"

"Fine."

Mo Chunsheng's expression brightened with delight. "Temple Master Yan truly speaks plainly. Since you have agreed to this marriage, we shall return to prepare the betrothal gifts and choose an auspicious day for the formal engagement rites."

"Fine."

"Really? Then shall we pick a time to arrange the children's engagement? I wonder what you think..."

"Fine."

"Temple Master Yan?"

"Fine."

Mo Chunsheng: "..."

Mo Chunsheng looked utterly stifled. This was already his third time coming to propose the marriage.

Every time, the renowned Temple Master Yan before him responded in exactly this manner.

Her attitude was mild and approachable. She neither refused nor opposed him, but naturally, she did not agree either.

She left all his prepared rhetoric with nowhere to go, and he could not find the slightest fault with her.

That damned old hag!

Mo Chunsheng cursed inwardly, then rose and said in a deep voice, "Since Temple Master Yan has already made up her mind, I shall not press the matter further. But should Temple Master Yan change her mind, you may contact me at any time."

"Fine."

Yan Jingqiu smiled and raised a hand. "Xu, see the guests out!"

The middle-aged man standing behind her quickly stepped forward. Mo Chunsheng did not waste any words either, turning to leave with his large entourage.

After the people from the Mo Family and Black Serpent Martial School had left, Yan Ling emerged from behind the hall, her face full of indignation and her entire body trembling with anger.

"Mother, how many times has the Mo Family done this already? Why won't they just give up?"

Several months ago, Yan Ling had encountered Mo Ming of the Mo Family while out on a mission. He had latched onto her afterward, even going so far as to have the Mo Family head come and propose the marriage.

But while the falling flower had affection, the flowing water had none. Yan Ling had also learned in private that Mo Ming was a notorious playboy, and quite a few young women of the inner city had suffered at his hands.

The two sides had remained entangled ever since, with no end in sight.

"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, a mere Mo Family cannot stir up much trouble."

Yan Jingqiu gently stroked Yan Ling's head, several streaks of cold light flashing through her eyes.

"No matter how far True Yang Temple declines, so long as I live, it will remain the fourth greatest martial school in the inner city. No one can shake it!"

In the courtyard, on the bluestone path.

"Another failure. That old Daoist hag is very cautious." Mo Chunsheng's eyes turned faintly cold.

"Don't worry, Master Mo. With our inside-outside coordination, True Yang Temple will not hold out for much longer."

A man walked shoulder to shoulder with Mo Chunsheng, his expression calm.

It was none other than the man who had been standing behind Yan Jingqiu earlier—Yuan Xu, a true disciple of True Yang Temple!

"Father! True Yang Temple is so short on people, while we have so many. Why don't we just make a move directly?"

Mo Ming stepped out from the crowd. His eyes seemed to burn with flames. Whenever he thought of that innocent young Daoist nun, an inexplicable heat rose within him.

That pure young girl, untouched by the ways of the world—the more he tried to suppress his obsession, the stronger it became.

"You don't understand." Mo Chunsheng shook his head.

"True Yang Temple's master, Yan Jingqiu, began cultivating Daoism at ten and martial arts at thirteen. At twenty-eight, she reached mastery. She was once known as the 'number one expert of Black Dragon City.' Even though she is now advanced in age and her vitality and blood have waned, no one dares test her current condition."

The number one expert of Black Dragon City?!

Mo Ming froze abruptly. He had never expected that the mild-mannered female Daoist from earlier had once possessed such a glorious record.

"Stronger than the current city lord?" Mo Ming asked, unconvinced.

"Ten years ago, she fought a match with the current city lord." Mo Chunsheng's gaze flickered, as though he had fallen into memory.

"And the result?"

"The current city lord lost by one move."

Hiss!

Mo Ming sucked in a sharp breath.

He had seen the city lord with his own eyes and knew just how monstrous the current lord of Black Dragon City's martial talent was. Yet someone like that had lost to Yan Jingqiu? It was simply inconceivable.

"Therefore, this marriage alliance is merely superficial."

Mo Chunsheng narrowed his eyes slightly, a gleam flashing through them.

"Ming'er, remember this. What we truly seek is True Yang Temple's secret, untransmitted technique."

"That's right. True Yang Temple's secret, untransmitted technique is the true foundation of Black Dragon City's number one expert. That old Daoist hag has not even taught it to us true disciples."

A vicious glint swirled in Yuan Xu's eyes.

"Then we will have to rely on Young Master Yuan to think of more ways in the future." Mo Chunsheng patted Yuan Xu on the shoulder.

"Naturally. As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances. That old Daoist hag is so stubborn and set in her ways; she cannot blame us disciples for growing estranged."

Yuan Xu nodded slightly.

Just as the group walked out through the temple gates, they saw a tall young man with fair skin entering with a pack on his back.

Mo Ming, within the group, met the man's eyes. Then the two brushed past one another.

"Brother Long, who is that?" Mo Ming found him somewhat familiar.

"That man seems to be one of the new inner disciples that old Daoist hag took in a few days ago. His name was Lin something..."

Yuan Xu frowned, seemingly unable to recall it for the moment.

"True Yang Temple actually has new disciples?" Mo Chunsheng was slightly surprised.

"Yes. No one knows whether that fellow is an idiot. I heard he came from the outer city and was this year's top newly promoted inner disciple among the outer city martial schools..."

Yuan Xu suddenly slapped his hand. "Lin Nan."

A newly promoted inner disciple from the outer city...

"Lin Nan?! It was him?"

Mo Ming finally remembered the matter of casually recruiting some part-time guards from White Snake Martial School while wandering around the outer city that day.

"So he's that brat from White Snake Martial School." A strange look flashed through Mo Ming's eyes.

In the main hall of True Yang Temple, Lin Nan faced Yan Jingqiu and her daughter, respectfully clasping his hands in a disciple's salute.

"Disciple Lin Nan greets Master!"

"Since you have chosen True Yang Temple, I must tell you a few things about the rules here."

The smile on Yan Jingqiu's face did not fade. "True Yang Temple has three true disciples and twenty-three inner disciples, divided into three teams: the demon-hunting team, the intelligence team, and the defense team."

"The demon-hunting team has the most members and is the core of True Yang Temple. They mainly cultivate the True Yang Zhaoyuan Formula and are responsible for hunting evil spirits and demons in the southern district of the city. The intelligence team consists of secret agents responsible for mapmaking, primarily cultivates lightness skills, and gathers intelligence. The defense team handles logistics, talismans, and medicine supplies."

"...We disciples of True Yang Temple receive no monthly stipend. Our main income comes from taking demon-hunting missions. Therefore, if you want silver, you can only take missions and earn it yourselves."

"Furthermore, completing missions earns contribution points, which can be exchanged for True Yang Temple's secret arts and all kinds of intelligence."

At this point, Yan Ling's lips curved faintly upward. "I forgot to tell you: when it comes to intelligence on demons and evil spirits, True Yang Temple is unmatched in Black Dragon City. We are absolute professionals."

"Alright, now you have a chance to choose. You may decide for yourself which team you wish to join."

The demon-hunting team, the intelligence team, the defense team...

True Yang Temple's management seemed rather loose.

Lin Nan pondered for a moment. "Which team in True Yang Temple is the most dangerous?"

"Naturally, the demon-hunting team!"

"Then I'll join the demon-hunting team! I've always enjoyed danger!"