Cloud Fir Commandery, Golden Buddha Temple

Qingzhou City, a group of people were fully prepared to set off.

Yang Xiao wore a light blue demon- Deputy General robe, with a black cloak draped over his shoulders.

He carried a nine-foot-long Army-Breaking Spear on his back and rode a Half-Demon Horse.

This Half-Demon Horse was chosen from the stables of the Demon Suppression Division Bureau. It was jet black, with a calm and steady aura. It was a descendant of Demon Horses, and its speed and endurance far surpassed those of ordinary warhorses.

Behind him, hundreds of Captains, dressed in dark, close-fitting uniforms and with swords at their waists, stood solemnly.

Old Saber stood on the left, carrying a long sword; Zhao Kui, with a dark complexion, stood on the right; Lu Mingchuan, dressed in a brocade robe, stood in the middle of the formation; and the Captains lined up in order.

The sheer force of the procession was enough to intimidate any villains along the way.

"Set off."

At Yang Xiao's command, he spurred his horse forward.

Behind them, hundreds of Captains mounted their horses in unison, their hooves thundering and dust billowing as the group marched in a grand procession toward Cloud Fir Commandery.

Xiuling County is famous far and wide because of the Golden Buddha Temple located there.

The once barren and lifeless county is now bustling with people, and the restaurants and inns are filled with weary travelers.

If there's one thing they all have in common, it's that there's a kind of inexplicable light in their eyes.

Inside a roadside teahouse.

"I heard that the wealthy Zhang in the village had his wife run off with all the family's wealth, using it all to send incense money to the Golden Buddha Temple."

"How could this be?"

"Isn't it all for the sake of peace and prosperity for the family? I heard that the wealthy man's family has been having a lot of bad luck lately, so his wife believed what the Golden Buddha Temple said and donated a lot of silver."

"And then what?"

A man at the next table, seemingly struck by a sudden thought, couldn't help but chuckle. "That lady divorced the wealthy man and married an even richer family from the next county."

"Then the lady has gotten what she wanted, but it's a pity for the original Zhang brother, who worked hard all his life and still has no money left for his coffin."

"Forget about wealth, Golden Buddha Temple is the most effective place to cure diseases!"

An elderly man with a graying face picked up a mouthful of edamame and drank some wine, and couldn't help but interject:

"I heard that Old Zhang's wife was sick and couldn't get out of bed, Old Zhang carried her directly to the Golden Buddha Temple to pray for her."

"I burned incense before the Buddha, and my illness was cured when I got home."

The middle-aged man sitting next to me, holding his son in his arms, had a look of longing on his face. "I came here to see the Golden Buddha. My son caught a cold a few days ago and hasn't gotten better. I'm hoping the Golden Buddha can help him get rid of the ailment."

The group became increasingly enthusiastic as they talked, describing the Golden Buddha Temple as a place where the true Buddha manifested his power, their expressions as fanatical as those of devout believers.

On the official road, hundreds of Demon Horse passed by, kicking up clouds of dust.

As Yang Xiao approached the teahouse, he slowed his pace.

Hearing what the people around him said, he frowned slightly and turned to look at Zhao Kui beside him.

"Is the Golden Buddha Temple famous in Cloud Fir Commandery?"

Zhao Kui nodded, his expression complex.

"Deputy General Yang, the Golden Buddha Temple is quite famous in Cloud Fir Commandery."

He rode closer to Yang Xiao and lowered his voice, saying, "About ten years ago, a wandering monk passed through Cloud Fir Commandery. Seeing the people suffering greatly, he made a great vow in front of the crowd, saying that he would invite Golden Buddha to protect the people of this region."

"The next day, a huge Golden Buddha suddenly appeared on the mountain."

"That Golden Buddha was several tens of feet tall, half of its body was buried in the mountain, and its whole body was shining with golden light. It is said that it could illuminate a radius of ten miles at night."

"From then on, this miraculous method made Golden Buddha Temple famous and its incense offerings flourish, making it a sacred place of living Buddha in the hearts of the people of Cloud Fir Commandery."

Yang Xiao listened, finding it amusing.

Golden Buddha appeared overnight?

Only the ignorant masses would believe such a statement.

Zhao Kui continued, "Over the Golden Buddha Temple has grown larger and larger, with numerous believers and countless donations."

"It is said that the abbot of Golden Buddha Temple is a highly accomplished monk with profound spiritual attainment, possessing Half-Step Aperture-Penetration Realm into the Tongqiao realm."

"The Golden Buddha Temple has several hundred monks in total, and it can now be considered a second-rate force in Qingzhou."

Yang Xiao nodded, and the group continued forward.

The closer you get to Cloud Fir Commandery, the more you can reach the Golden Buddha Temple, which has a profound impact on the surrounding area.

Many people have Golden Buddha in their homes, and incense burns all day long.

Some people, when they fall ill, don't go to see a doctor. Instead, they stagger towards the Golden Buddha Temple, bowing with each step.

Some people even squatted by the roadside chanting scriptures, spouting phrases like "the Golden Buddha shines everywhere" and "karmic retribution."

Yang Xiao observed this and felt increasingly uneasy about the group, muttering to themselves.

This Golden Buddha Temple doesn't seem like a legitimate Buddhist temple; it looks more like some kind of religious organization.

When the group arrived outside Xiuling County Cloud Fir Commandery Prefecture, soldiers at the city gate checked them. Upon seeing that they were from the Demon Suppression Division, they immediately let them pass.

Instead of resting in the city, Yang Xiao led his team directly towards the Golden Buddha Temple.

By the time the group reached the foot of the mountain, it was nearly evening.

Yang Xiao reined in his horse and looked up at the mountain.

Halfway up the mountain, the outline of a temple could be vaguely seen, brightly lit and filled with the smoke of incense.

The most eye-catching feature is the enormous Golden Buddha halfway up the mountain.

The Golden Buddha is several tens of feet tall, half of its body is buried in the mountain, and its whole body emits a faint golden light, making it particularly conspicuous in the night.

The light didn't seem to emanate from the Golden Buddha itself; it was more like some kind of projection.

"Deputy General Yang."

Lu Mingchuan's voice came from beside him.

Yang Xiao turned his head and saw Lu Mingchuan approaching on horseback.

He lowered his voice and said, "There are still many people and pilgrims on the mountain. If the Demon Suppression Guards go up the mountain together, it will be too easy to disturb the pilgrims and cause disputes."

Yang Xiao nodded; he naturally understood this.

After a moment's hesitation, a decision was made.

He turned to the Captains behind him and announced loudly, "Everyone, find a place to camp and await orders."

"Zhao Kui, Old Saber, Lu Mingchuan, select a few more Captains to come up the mountain with me."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Captains responded in unison.

The group walked up the mountain path, with a constant stream of pilgrims along the way.

There were men and women, young and old, all with devout expressions, muttering incantations.

Some people knelt by the roadside and kowtowed, some walked forward holding incense sticks, and some bought offerings from roadside stalls.

The air was filled with the scent of incense, mixed with a faint sandalwood fragrance.

Yang Xiao walked along the mountain path, his gaze sweeping over the pilgrims along the way.

These people wore an almost fanatical devotion on their faces, their eyes filled with anticipation.

It's as if all suffering can be resolved simply by burning incense and kowtowing.

A sense of unease arose in Yang Xiao's heart.

This atmosphere is too much like a cult.

The obsession of such people is almost intractable. Once you get entangled with them, you can't just ignore them, and you can't fight them either. They are extremely difficult to deal with.

The main gate of Golden Buddha Temple is magnificent, and the square in front of it is filled with worshippers and the air is thick with the smoke of incense.

The temple was brightly lit, and monks could be vaguely seen moving about.

Yang Xiao stood in front of the temple gate, looking up at the mountaintop.

The enormous Golden Buddha stood atop the mountain, half-buried in the mountainside, gazing compassionately at everyone who passed by below, its entire body radiating a faint golden light.

The light was soft yet eerie, casting a hazy glow over the surroundings.

Yang Xiao stared at the Golden Buddha for a moment, a strange feeling rising in his heart.

"Deputy General Yang, what's wrong?" Zhao Kui asked in a low voice when he saw Yang Xiao stop.

Yang Xiao withdrew his gaze and shook his head.

"It's alright, let's go in and take a look."

Just then, a monk dressed in a gray robe came forward to greet them.

The monk was about forty years old, with a kind face, his hands clasped together, and a slight bow.

"Have you come to Golden Buddha Temple to pray for blessings, gentlemen?"

Yang Xiao glanced at the monk. "This Demon Suppression Division. Take me to see your abbot."

The monk's expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

"Please wait a moment, benefactor, this humble monk will go and inform them."