The Peng Household had a long history and was famed throughout the martial world for its mechanisms. Even after the Jing Dynasty fell, the Peng Household continued on, surviving all the way into the era of True Qi Martial Path.
The reason the Peng Household had endured for so long was Zhao Xingming.
Twenty years later, Madam Peng died at the hands of the Xue Household. Zhao Xingming avenged his mother, and after mastering his martial arts, he used the Heart-Breaking Buddha Body to slaughter the entire Xue Household, leaving neither chickens nor dogs alive.
After the Jing Dynasty, the new dynasty established the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings. Zhao Xingming took a place on the Heavenly Ranking and reached the Divine Intent Realm in his thirties, becoming a peerless powerhouse renowned throughout the martial world.
"Madam Peng, Zhao Xingming... it seems that ruined temple is Rebirth Temple."
Lu Li's heart settled. He knew the Heart-Breaking Buddha Body was at Rebirth Temple, but White Crow Town had many temples. Finding his destination would surely take some effort.
He had not expected news of Rebirth Temple to come so easily.
If he was lucky, perhaps he could obtain the Heart-Breaking Buddha Body tonight.
After hearing Tian Wang's account, Liu Yueling's little face darkened with sorrow. Tears welled in her eyes. "She's so pitiful."
Seeing this, Lu Li hurriedly pulled Liu Yueling into a gentle embrace to comfort her.
Afterward, they entered White Crow Town without incident. Tian Wang seemed very familiar with the area and easily found them an inn to stay in. It was not Lixi Inn, and the price was correspondingly much cheaper.
Only then did Lu Li realize that prices at Lixi Inn were more than twice as high as those elsewhere.
The three of them temporarily settled into the inn. Liu Yueling was a child, after all; her emotions came quickly and faded just as quickly. Once Lu Li had comforted her, he headed out.
He intended to ask Tian Wang in detail about the location of that ruined temple.
He had not gone far before Lu Li stopped. Tian Wang was actually walking toward him of his own accord.
"Boss..."
Tian Wang rubbed his hands together, looking eager yet somewhat embarrassed. "I reckon you came to White Crow Town because you want to visit Rebirth Temple, right?"
Lu Li's gaze shifted. How did Tian Wang know he wanted to go to Rebirth Temple?
Before he could ask, Tian Wang leaned closer and said with a fawning smile:
"Boss, could you lend me a little? I want to place a bet at Rebirth Temple too."
Lu Li was puzzled when he heard that.
Seeing the strange look on his face, Tian Wang hurriedly explained, "Boss, I won't bet big. Just one or two mace. If I win, I'll give you half. If I lose, it'll all be on me."
Hearing that, Lu Li understood. The Rebirth Temple Tian Wang spoke of seemed to be a gambling den. Keeping his expression neutral, he asked:
"How many Rebirth Temples are there in White Crow Town?"
"Huh?"
Tian Wang froze, finding the question strange, but he answered honestly nonetheless. "There's only one Rebirth Temple."
"Only one?"
Lu Li looked into Tian Wang's eyes. "Then where is the ruined temple where that madwoman lived, the one you mentioned on the road?"
Tian Wang did not understand. After thinking for a moment, he answered uncertainly:
"That ruined temple used to be some kind of evil shrine, I think. Later, the authorities sent people to smash the Buddha statues inside and burn down the temple. But that was many years ago. No one knows what that ruined temple used to be called."
After listening, Lu Li rubbed his brow. His rough memories from the game differed somewhat from reality.
There were two temples. One was called Rebirth Temple and had become a gambling den; the other had once been an evil shrine. Yet the people matched up.
Standing where he was, Lu Li pondered for a moment before deciding to check them one by one. He beckoned to Tian Wang.
"Come on. We're going to Rebirth Temple."
As soon as he spoke, he flicked out a fragment of silver worth one mace. Tian Wang caught it, beaming with delight, and immediately led Lu Li toward Rebirth Temple.
Rebirth Temple lay in the southern part of town. The night was already deep, and the doors of every home along the streets and alleys were tightly shut. Only a fairly large temple remained brightly lit, with two lanterns hanging before its vermilion gates.
Two men in black stood at the entrance. They were tall, sabers hanging at their waists, standing silently like two guardian deities.
Lu Li arrived with Tian Wang, one ahead and one behind. With a glance, he saw thick calluses on the hands holding the sabers, but no inner qi. They were merely agile ordinary men.
The lanterns cast a faint red glow. Above the temple gates, the signboard bore the striking words: "Rebirth Temple."
"Gentlemen, we're here for some fun."
Tian Wang seemed thoroughly familiar with the place. Lowering his voice, he took out ten copper coins and handed them over.
One of the men in black accepted them, gave them an indifferent glance, then nodded slightly. "Go in."
Lu Li followed Tian Wang inside. It looked like a temple from the outside, but there was not a single monk within. Everywhere he looked, he saw only gamblers indulging in lust and revelry.
Gambling tables of every size filled the temple, surrounded by gamblers with bloodshot eyes and flying spittle.
Lu Li also saw boldly dressed, scantily clad prostitutes approach the gamblers who had won, casting seductive glances at them.
Then money changed hands. One person linked arms with the other, and they headed to a dim corner without a single curtain to shield them, openly beginning their carnal affair.
The air reeked of extravagance, mixed with warm bloodiness, alcohol, and sweat. The deafening clamor assaulted his ears. Lu Li withdrew his gaze and frowned lightly.
Though he had arrived at an earlier point in the timeline, he was now certain this was not the Rebirth Temple he had been seeking.
Moreover, Lu Li had no interest whatsoever in a gambling den. He knew this world well: money and power were inferior to martial skill and strength.
Tian Wang, however, was extremely excited. Seeing Lu Li surveying the place, he pulled him farther inside.
"Boss, these outer halls are boring. How about we go to the inner hall and watch dogfights!"
Lu Li shook his head, about to refuse, when his expression suddenly stiffened. His gaze turned toward the inner hall.
After reaching the Second Layer of Meridian Opening, Demon Martial Path had made his senses far keener than those of ordinary people. At that moment, he could faintly hear children crying, vicious dogs growling, and the presence of martial artists.
There were martial artists in the inner hall, and more than one.
"Fine. Let's take a look."
Lu Li's expression remained calm as he followed Tian Wang into the inner hall.
The inner hall was completely different from the outer hall. The instant they entered, a half-reclining Buddha statue filled their view.
The statue lay tilted, sunken along one side of a large square pit over a zhang deep. The pit was spacious, and many people stood around it, most dressed in bright finery.
"Mighty General, hurry! Bite that little brat to death!"
"Damn it, I bet four hundred copper coins on that little brat, and he turned out to be a spineless coward!"
Some people cursed, their faces twisted as they stared fixedly into the pit, looking as though they wished they could jump in and fight the black dog themselves.
"Hm?"
Lu Li swept his gaze around, then his eyes narrowed.
Inside the square pit, a black dog covered in bulging muscles was frantically tearing apart a small, gaunt figure wrapped in dog hide, like a crawling monkey.
Crack!
A crisp sound of breaking bones rang out. Crimson blood splashed as the massive black dog clamped down hard on the "monkey's" neck. The latter let out a muffled whimper, then its limbs dropped limply to the ground.
Under the dim light, the Buddha statue's compassionate face was stained with glaring red blood, looking utterly ghastly.
"This is dogfighting?!"
In the pit, the massive black dog lowered its head and gnawed at the corpse. The gamblers around it, their eyes red with gambling fever, shouted their approval. Lu Li stared fixedly at the "monkey's" corpse, his pupils contracting as his body trembled.
What monkey was that? It was clearly a child wrapped in dog hide!
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