Cutting Off the Mountain's Incense

The next morning, the bells of Golden Buddha Temple were rung as usual.

The melodious sound of bells echoed through the mountains, spreading in all directions.

The enormous Golden Buddha atop the mountain once again shone with golden light, illuminating the mountain gate, stone steps, and incense burner with splendor.

The monks in the temple continued to sweep the courtyard, set up incense tables, and prepare donation books, waiting for pilgrims from the foot of the mountain to come up.

However, after waiting for a long time, the mountain path remained deserted.

At this time of year, patients, women, wealthy people, and villagers would have already crowded the mountain path, vying to climb the mountain to pray for blessings.

But today, not even a stick of incense has been brought up.

The first to notice something was wrong was the guest monk.

He stood at the mountain gate, gazing at the empty mountain path, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

After waiting for another half hour, the sun had risen high in the sky, but there was still no one in sight at the foot of the mountain.

The monk in charge of receiving guests became suspicious and quickly walked to the Buddhist hall in the backyard to report to Huiming.

Inside the Buddhist hall, Huiming sat upright on a prayer cushion, his hands twirling prayer beads, his face kind and solemn.

After listening to the guest monk's report, he slowly opened his eyes, unhurriedly.

"It's normal for pilgrims to arrive a little late; there's no need to be anxious."

His tone was calm, as if he didn't care.

But the guest monk noticed that the speed at which the abbot was spinning the prayer beads in his hand had slowed down.

A few breaths later, Abbot Huiming's voice rang out.

"Go, send a young novice monk down the mountain to take a look."

"Yes." The monk bowed and withdrew. A short while later, he sent a clever young novice monk down the mountain via a small path from the Back Mountain to investigate.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the young novice monk came running back, panting heavily, his face ashen.

"Abbot! Abbot!"

He stumbled into the Buddhist hall, knelt down, and his voice trembled.

"The area below the mountain is Demon Suppression Guard! The mountain roads are blocked!"

"Ordinary people are not allowed to go up the mountain, and monks are not allowed to go down the mountain!"

"The pilgrims are being held back at the foot of the mountain and are currently in a standoff with the Demon Suppression Division!"

Huiming's smile froze. He slowly stood up, and the prayer beads in his hand stopped spinning.

"The Demon Suppression Division..."

He murmured to himself, a dark glint in his eyes.

Why did the Demon Suppression Division suddenly surround the mountain?

Did that young Deputy General discover something?

No, that's impossible.

That lieutenant Deputy General Yang, having accepted the gift, should already know the rules and have taken care of things properly.

Huiming took a deep breath, suppressing the unease in his heart.

"Go and invite Deputy General Yang to the backyard. Tell him I have important matters to discuss with him."

"Yes."

The monk in charge of receiving the order departed.

At the foot of the mountain.

The Demon-Suppressing Captain have sealed off all entrances and exits of the Golden Buddha Temple.

A series of figures in black stood at various points along the mountain path, the eagle and cloud patterns on their clothes gleaming coldly in the morning light.

At this time, hundreds of pilgrims had gathered at the foot of the mountain, but they were stopped by the Demon Suppression Guard and prevented from going up the mountain.

Some people knelt down and kowtowed, crying and begging to be let go.

"My lord! My child is waiting for the Golden Buddha to save his life!"

"Please, please let me go up the mountain! I'm willing to donate more money for incense!"

Someone started cursing loudly, their face full of anger.

"Why are you, the Demon Suppression Division, blocking us from going up the mountain?!"

"Golden Buddha Temple is a sacred site of the Living Buddha; you're cutting off our livelihood!"

"I'm going to the government office to sue you!"

Lu Mingchuan was ordered to lead his men to quell the situation at the foot of the mountain.

He stood at the entrance to the mountain path, and no matter how much the pilgrims cried and made a fuss, he only said one sentence.

"The mountain is closed today; no one is allowed to go up."

Some worshippers didn't believe it and insisted on trying to break through, but were directly pressed to the ground by the Demon Suppression Guard.

"Anyone who dares to obstruct the Demon Suppression Division's operations will be punished equally!"

"You are not allowed to go up the mountain today, in order to save your lives."

Lu Mingchuan's voice was cold and hard. Looking at the blindly bewildered crowd, he paused and then spoke slowly, "Once things are over on the mountain, you will naturally know what you have been worshipping."

Outside the side rooms of Golden Buddha Temple.

Yang Xiao entered the side room where Abbot Huiming was located. Only Zhao Kui, Old Saber, and a few Captain who had participated in the investigation the previous night stood behind him.

Before long, Huiming emerged from an inner room on one side, accompanied by several monks.

He maintained the demeanor of a high monk, dressed in a red kasaya, with a kind face and his hands clasped together.

"Deputy General Yang."

Huiming walked up to Yang Xiao and bowed slightly in greeting.

"Why has the Demon Suppression Division sealed off the mountain?"

"Golden Buddha Temple has never been an enemy of the Demon Suppression Division, and the incense offered to the temple is all from the voluntary donations of the people."

"Yang's Deputy General will likely provoke public discontent."

His tone was calm, but his words carried a hint of questioning.

"I just think it's better not to worship this fake Buddha that harms people's lives." Yang Xiao's lips curled slightly, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

The room fell silent instantly after those words were spoken.

The monks' expressions changed drastically, their eyes flashing with guilt and fear.

Huiming's face also froze.

He stared at Yang Xiao, his voice lowering slightly. "Deputy General Yang, what do you mean by that?"

Yang Xiao didn't explain, but simply looked up at the Golden Buddha, a faint hint of mockery on his lips.

Huiming's heart sank; it seemed the other party already knew some of the inside story.

"Deputy General Yang, Golden Buddha Temple holds an extremely high position in the hearts of the people of Cloud Fir Commandery."

He suppressed the murderous intent in his heart, and his tone turned cold.

"If the Demon Suppression Division attacks the Golden Buddha Temple without any evidence, it will surely incite public resentment once the news gets out."

"At that time, not only will Deputy General Yang be held Deputy General, but the entire Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division will have to give the people an explanation."

He stared at Yang Xiao, a hint of threat in his eyes.

"I just wonder, in the eyes of the Demon Suppression Division, how does my small Golden Buddha Temple compare to the countless ordinary people?"

Yang Xiao chuckled after hearing this, then stared directly at Huiming, his eyes revealing a murderous intent.

"Who told you the news could get out?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the monks around Huiming changed drastically.

They suddenly realized something was wrong.

The Demon Suppression Division has always been extremely tough. This time, they may not only besiege the mountain as a deterrent, but also destroy the Golden Buddha Temple!

The monks exchanged glances, said no more words, and suddenly attacked.

They were all Dharma protectors of the temple, and had practiced the Liquid Condensation Body Tempering Method, making them incredibly powerful.

The three men pounced on Yang Xiao simultaneously, aiming for his throat, heart, and wrists with ruthless precision.

Yang Xiao stood still, and just as the leading monk's hand was about to grip his throat, he raised his hand and grabbed the other man's wrist, his five fingers tightening.

Click!

The monk's hand bones shattered on the spot.

The monk screamed in agony, and Yang Xiao stepped to the side and threw a punch.

Puff--

The monk coughed up blood and flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing to the ground and unable to get up again.

Upon seeing this, the other two monks' expressions changed drastically, and they tried to retreat.

But Yang Xiao had already closed in.

He kicked out, hitting one person squarely in the chest.

Bang--

The monk's sternum collapsed, and he was sent flying, crashing into the wall and instantly losing consciousness.

Yang Xiao turned around and punched the third man in the abdomen.

The monk's eyes widened, blood gushed from his mouth, and he collapsed to the ground.

Within a few breaths, the three guardian monks were crippled.

Its limbs were twisted, and Yang Xiao threw it to the ground like a dead dog.

"Huiming, is there anything else you want to say?"

Huiming looked at the monks groaning on the ground, his face ashen, and his eyes filled with unspeakable anger as he looked at Yang Xiao.

All the hard work and effort put into building this business has been wiped out overnight.

The next moment, he suddenly turned around, rolled up his robe, and rushed towards the Golden Buddha in the mountain.

He was incredibly fast, covering dozens of feet in the blink of an eye.

Yang Xiao didn't rush to move; instead, he raised his hand and waved to the side.

"Let the Captain lying in ambush at the mountain gate make their move. Capture all the monks in the entire temple on the spot, and kill any who resist."

The Demon-Suppressing Captain behind them immediately dispersed, exchanging signals as they moved to encircle the Golden Buddha Temple from various directions.

"Follow me to capture Huiming."