A Welcome Feast
As night deepened, candlelight flickered in the side rooms of the Golden Buddha Temple.
Yang Xiao, Zhao Kui, Old Saber, Lu Mingchuan, and several Demon-Suppressing Captain sat in the room, discussing in hushed tones what they had seen during the day.
"The way that Golden Buddha used to cure illnesses is definitely not right."
Zhao Kui lowered his voice, his brows furrowed.
"Those patients looked better on the surface, but their breathing was much weaker, as if something had been drained from them."
"Only ordinary people can't see it; they'd think it was a genuine manifestation of Buddha's light."
Old Saber snorted coldly, his tone disdainful, "What compassionate Buddha light? It smells like corpse oil mixed with incense ash. None of these bald monks are any good."
"If you ask me, what's there to discuss? Let's just tear down their Golden Buddha Temple while it's dark!"
Lu Mingchuan pondered for a moment before reminding them, "The Golden Buddha Temple has a very high reputation in Cloud Fir Commandery and many believers. If we take action without concrete evidence, the people outside may not believe in the Demon Suppression Division."
"If the people at the foot of the mountain start rioting tomorrow morning, we probably won't even be able to get down the mountain, and that will only cause more trouble."
Several Captain nodded and looked at Yang Xiao.
"Deputy General Yang, when do you plan to investigate the temple?"
Just as Yang Xiao was about to speak, there was a knock on the door.
"Thump, thump, thump."
Three light taps, neither hurried nor slow.
Yang Xiao's eyes flashed, and he looked towards the door.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and a monk in a gray robe walked in, followed by two young novices, each carrying a tray.
The monk walked to the table, put his hands together, and bowed slightly.
"Gentlemen, you have come from afar. This humble monk has been sent by the abbot to present you with some small gifts."
He reached out and lifted the red cloth.
On the first tray, dozens of gold and silver coins were neatly stacked, forming a small mountain, gleaming softly in the candlelight.
On the second tray were several bottles of elixirs, a few warm jade pendants, and a stack of silver notes.
The generous gifts surprised the Demon-Suppressing Captain.
Those present were all seasoned veterans, so they could naturally see the value of these items.
The gold and silver alone are worth thousands of taels of silver. Add to that the elixirs and precious jade, and this tray of gifts is probably worth the entire fortune of several local tycoons.
The monk was respectful, with a gentle smile on his face.
"This is Golden Buddha Temple's way of expressing gratitude to the Demon Suppression Division for protecting Cloud Fir Commandery, and also a welcome feast for all of you lords."
He paused, then continued, "The abbot specifically instructed everyone to rest well in the temple tonight and not to go out, so as not to let the mountain winds disturb the peace."
"If you need anything, please just tell the monks in the temple."
The words were beautifully spoken, but the meaning was quite clear.
I've taken the money, so don't wander around tonight.
The Demon Suppression Division should turn a blind eye to the matter at Golden Buddha Temple.
Knowing that the Demon Suppression Division oversees the entire realm and wields the power to Demon-Slaying and monsters, such an action was tantamount to slapping the Demon Suppression Division in the face, and Zhao Kui's expression immediately darkened.
Old Saber sneered, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.
Several Captain also frowned, displeased.
This clearly shows that they are treating the Demon Suppression Division as a martial arts force that can be bought off.
Zhao Kui and Old Saber both thought that Yang Xiao would immediately lose his temper, but Yang Xiao only glanced at the tray indifferently and spoke calmly.
"Put it down."
The monk was taken aback, then overjoyed.
He quickly bowed in greeting, his smile widening.
"Thank you, Deputy General Yang, and thank you, esteemed officials."
"Your merits are immeasurable, and the Golden Buddha will surely protect you and ensure your safety and prosperity."
He muttered a few more words about Buddha's protection, then left with the young novice monk, satisfied.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned cold.
The Captain looked grim, their gazes fixed on Yang Xiao with a mixture of confusion and disappointment.
Old Saber snorted coldly, "Heh, I thought he was someone important, but he's nothing special."
Zhao Kui remained silent, his expression complex.
Lu Mingchuan didn't speak, but his brows were furrowed, clearly indicating that he didn't understand either.
In their view, accepting this money was tantamount to accepting the protection of the Golden Buddha Temple.
The Demon Suppression Division Deputy General accepted a gift from the Golden Buddha Temple, which will make him hesitant to investigate the Golden Buddha Temple again in the future.
Moreover, the source of this money was unclear to begin with.
The Golden Buddha Temple uses the claim of "healing through Buddha's light" to amass wealth, and these gold and silver treasures are likely all taken from those ignorant worshippers.
Accepting this kind of money is tantamount to sharing the spoils.
Yang Xiao, however, seemed oblivious to the changes in everyone's expressions.
He got up, walked to the door, gently closed it, and only turned around after confirming that no one was outside.
He looked at everyone, his tone calm.
"Get ready, we're going to raid the Golden Buddha Temple tonight."
Everyone was stunned.
Zhao Kui couldn't help but ask, "You just took their money, and now you're investigating them?"
Yang Xiao looked at him with some confusion.
"The money from Golden Buddha Temple was originally intended to be confiscated by the public."
"I'm just having them store it here temporarily; the stuff will be ours sooner or later."
Upon hearing this, the people in the room were initially stunned, and then reacted in various ways.
Old Saber then grinned.
"Ha, Deputy General Yang really sees things clearly." He shouldered his long sword, looked out the window, and said, "In that case, tell me what to do, and I'll listen to you!"
"Deputy General Yang, I misjudged you." Zhao Kui was silent for a moment, then his eyes showed more approval.
Lu Mingchuan then looked at Yang Xiao again, as if he were discovering for the first time that this young Deputy General did not play by the rules.
A slight smile played at the corners of his lips, and a strange glint flashed in his eyes.
"General Yang Deputy General impressive skills."
Yang Xiao shook his head. "Since you have no objections, I will go to investigate Golden Buddha Temple alone. You all wait in the side room and do not make any rash moves."
"It's too dangerous for Deputy General Yang to go alone. I'll go with you." Zhao Kui frowned.
"Abbot Huiming of Golden Buddha Temple is probably at the Aperture-Opening Realm now. There are too many monks in the temple, so it's easy for others to notice him."
Yang Xiao glanced at the crowd and, seeing that everyone was interested in going out to investigate, he declined, saying, "It's easier for me to act alone, and it's easier to excuse myself if I'm exposed. If there are too many people and we make a commotion, it will only alert the enemy."
"That's true."
Zhao Kui thought for a moment, then nodded. "General Yang, Deputy General careful. If anything goes wrong, we will come to your aid immediately."
Yang Xiao hummed in agreement, pushed open the door, and walked out of the room.
As night deepened, the Golden Buddha Temple fell silent.
The scene of abundant incense and solemn Buddha light during the day dissipates as night falls.
The backyard was sparsely lit, yet heavily guarded.
Yang Xiao moved quietly along the corridor, his steps as light as a cat's.
He noticed that the Golden Buddha Temple at night was completely different from that during the day.
The monks who chanted sutras and received pilgrims in the main hall during the day were nowhere to be seen.
Instead, a group of monks dressed in gray robes walked silently through the corridors.
Their footsteps were extremely light, almost inaudible; their eyes were sharp, and their aura was restrained—clearly, they were all cultivators.
Yang Xiao slowed his pace and followed a group of monks at a distance.
At the end of the corridor lies a spacious courtyard.
In the center of the courtyard stood a stone gate, half-closed, with a dim light shining through the crack.
Several monks pushed open the door and entered. Yang Xiao was about to follow them when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.
Who's there!?