Northwest Ruined Temple

The rain began to fall after dusk.

The Northwest Ruined Temple stood on a barren slope outside Sunset Forest. Half its gate had collapsed, tattered red cloth hung from the beams, and rain dripped through gaps in the roof tiles, pattering thick and fast against the ground. No incense burned before the temple. There was only the stale smell of blood, as though someone had killed something here many years ago and never managed to wash it clean.

Bai Jin stood at the temple gate and looked up.

"Terrible renovation."

Dugu Bo's face was cold. "You're still in the mood to critique it?"

"Habit." Bai Jin smiled. "Picking faults before a fight keeps me in a good frame of mind."

Tang San crouched, sending Blue Silver Grass creeping through the muddy water into the temple. The leaves had barely crossed the threshold when a section abruptly withered, as if licked by an invisible flame.

"There's a Killing Intent Array Pattern inside," Tang San said. "And it's mixed with Ice-Fire Poison Gas."

Killing intent flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes.

That poison gas came from his Medicine Garden. The Ghost Face Society had not only found the valley; they had stolen traces of its outermost aura and mixed them with the Slaughter array pattern. If they completed this thing, they might really create a temporary Outer Gate.

Bai Jin turned to the others from Shrek. "Same rules as before. Save people, sever the lines, and don't try to be heroes. If you really can't handle it, shout. There's no shame in that."

Ma Hongjun asked quietly, "Will shouting help?"

Bai Jin nodded earnestly. "Yes. I'll laugh more quietly."

Ma Hongjun: "..."

Applause suddenly came from inside the temple.

Clap, clap, clap.

A gray-robed man stepped out from behind the damaged statue. Half