"You cur of an official!"
After leaving the guard station, Wuzheng spat viciously. Wu Di was not merely shameless in his greed; this was outright extortion.
Wuzheng asked Zhou Wuji, "What's the story with the Golden-Ringed Poison Bees? Why does that fellow care so much?"
"The main problem with the Golden-Ringed Poison Bees is their sheer numbers. They've occupied Red Leaf Ridge."
Zhou Wuji had visited Red Leaf Ridge with his master, but he had only taken a look from afar.
Red Leaf Ridge was covered in a kind of red-leaf smoketree. Its leaves were crimson as blood and never fell throughout the year, and in autumn it bore beautiful red-leaf flowers.
Golden-Ringed Poison Bees fed on the nectar of these flowers and had settled and multiplied on Red Leaf Ridge.
Golden-Ringed Poison Bees were extremely venomous. A single sting could kill an ordinary person.
There were countless Golden-Ringed Poison Bees on Red Leaf Ridge. Never mind a human-even that pig demon would be stung to death if it ventured in.
October was precisely the honey-gathering season when the Golden-Ringed Poison Bees were most active.
The red flower honey at this time of year was also at its freshest and sweetest, and contained spiritual Qi, making it extremely precious.
It was perfectly normal for Wu Di to use the villagers' lives to extort money. But his specific demand for red flower honey was very abnormal.
Zhou Wuji had never had dealings with Wu Di and had only seen him a few times. He had, however, heard his master's private assessment: Wu Di was wicked, ruthless, and greedy-a truly rotten seed.
More frightening still, the man made no attempt to conceal his wickedness. He was bound by neither morality nor propriety, nor even by laws.
A rotten seed who wielded power without restraint was truly terrifying.
Zhou Wuji could not help growing suspicious. Wu Di might very well be plotting against him...
Wu Di had met Zhang Xinhu yesterday, after all. Perhaps the two had discussed something.
Saving people was one thing, but he could not sacrifice himself in the process.
After hearing Zhou Wuji's explanation, Wuzheng also found the matter extremely thorny.
Faced with Golden-Ringed Poison Bees swarming across the sky, even setting up an altar to unleash Yin Thunder might not wipe them all out.
Just a few stings could prove fatal. The risk was too great.
He said to Zhou Wuji, "This is very dangerous. We must be cautious."
Zhou Wuji nodded. "It is dangerous indeed..."
The two returned to Huilong Temple. Zhou Wuji summoned everyone to the main hall, where Wuzheng addressed them as the newly appointed abbot of Hidden Dragon Temple, letting the many servants get acquainted with their new abbot.
With a Daoist who had undergone Seventh-Rank Register Reception serving as abbot, the temple could continue operating. The servants were all delighted to keep their livelihoods.
Wuzheng led everyone in solemn worship before the Northern Emperor's statue and offered incense, completing the ceremony for assuming the position of abbot of Hidden Dragon Temple.
Wuzheng was serious by nature, and his tall, imposing frame looked very dignified in his luxurious purple-and-gold ritual robes.
Zhou Wuji felt that Wuzheng looked far more the part than his master. His master had been round and plump, with a genial face, which had always led many people to misjudge him.
With Wuzheng presiding over Hidden Dragon Temple, he could also draw away a good deal of the fire directed at Zhou Wuji!
As for those within the temple, no one should dare betray him for the time being.
Zhou Wuji swept his gaze around. Neither the Daoists from the lower courtyard nor the temple servants dared meet his eyes.
Only the silly Wuming was unafraid. Instead, she kept gazing into his eyes, her bright eyes seeming both delighted and shy, brimming with radiant charm.
Zhou Wuji was in excellent spirits too. A man needed a beauty to harmonize yin and yang before he could return to natural harmony.
Before everyone, Wuzheng appointed Zhou Wuji hall master of Hidden Dragon Temple. Though the position carried little real power, it was prestigious and distinguished.
In terms of standing, he could be considered Hidden Dragon Temple's second-in-command.
As hall master, he would receive a fixed monthly "stipend" of ten taels of silver.
Ten taels of silver equaled an ordinary farming family's entire annual income. For a temple the size of Hidden Dragon Temple, this was already a very generous stipend.
Other duties, such as preaching Daoist teachings and setting up altars to deliver the souls of the dead, came with corresponding "ritual fees."
If the temple received plentiful incense offerings, there could also be an additional stipend at year's end. That depended on how well the temple was run, as well as the abbot's character.
As for the two positions with real power, chief steward and chief cook, which controlled logistics and all other expenditure, Wuzheng appointed his own people.
Zhou Wuji had no objection. He did not care about that little bit of money, nor did he have time to busy himself with trivial matters for its sake.
Only after authority and responsibilities had been divided did Hidden Dragon Temple truly establish an organizational structure and become able to function normally.
Wuming had only come to broaden her experience and would not participate in the temple's actual affairs, so naturally she held no position.
Wuming did not mind in the least. Once everyone dispersed and left, she tugged Zhou Wuji's sleeve and asked, "Senior Brother, are you really going to Red Leaf Ridge?"
She cared deeply about saving the villagers and had already gone to ask Wuzheng what had happened.
When she heard that Wu Di wanted red flower honey and that Senior Brother Wuji had said he would take a look at Red Leaf Ridge, she became very worried.
"Yes, I'll take a look. If it's too dangerous, I'll have to give up..."
Zhou Wuji intended to enter the mountains and kill a few monsters first, then see whether he could refine the Five Yin Pouch.
If he could refine the Five Yin Pouch, he could go take a look at Red Leaf Ridge.
If he could not, he would simply have to give up.
Although he was willing to do some good, he would not disregard his own life to do so.
Entering the mountains was very dangerous, and he did not want to discuss it with Wuming. The silly girl could not help and would only add to the trouble.
Wuming said worriedly, "It's too dangerous. Don't go, Senior Brother."
Looking into Zhou Wuji's eyes, she said softly, "There must be other ways to save them. There's no need to take risks."
Zhou Wuji could feel Wuming's heartfelt concern. He gently patted her shoulder. "I know what I'm doing. Don't worry."
He smiled and said, "I'm so clever. I won't do anything foolish."
Wuming was deeply moved. To save villagers he had never even met, her senior brother was practically throwing caution for his own safety to the winds.
Such benevolence, righteousness, courage, and valor truly deserved to be called righteousness towering to the heavens. She admired him beyond measure!
After a moment's thought, she took two Northern Pole Heavenly Gang Divine Talismans from inside her robes and pressed both into Zhou Wuji's hands.
"Senior Brother, I won't need them here in the temple. Take them to protect yourself."
The two divine talismans cost a hundred taels of gold, equivalent to an ordinary farmer's income for a hundred years.
Even Zhou Wuji felt this was too extravagant, but when he saw Wuming's bright, shimmering eyes, the polite refusal on his lips became, "Thank you, Junior Sister. I won't stand on ceremony with you."
As he spoke, he could not help taking Wuming's delicate hand. It felt so soft and smooth, truly comfortable. Eh, why was it a little damp...?
Looking at Wuming again, he saw that her lovely face was already covered in a rosy blush, with even the roots of her ears reddening. He sighed inwardly. What an innocent child...
Wuming was so nervous that her palms were sweating, yet she forced herself to look composed. "As long as I can help you, Senior Brother!"
She added softly, "Senior Brother, you absolutely mustn't take risks!"
"Mm, mm..."
Zhou Wuji returned to his room to pack. The mountains were extremely dangerous and the terrain complicated. His usual blue Daoist robe was loose with wide sleeves, so he could not wear it into the mountains. It would be far too inconvenient.
He changed into a blue, narrow-sleeved jacket with a knee-length hem that allowed him to move easily.
He also changed into a pair of tall leather boots. The mountains were full of venomous snakes and insects, along with all sorts of thorny bushes and sharp wooden splinters. Tall leather boots would offer good protection.
There was also the rain cape his master had left behind. It was woven from several materials, the most important of which was the hair of a sixth-rank monster.
The rain cape could be called impervious to water and fire, and could also withstand slashes from swords and sabers.
But it was woven material, after all, and could not stop a direct thrust from a blade.
Its drawback was its great weight. Together with the conical hat woven from the same materials, it weighed twenty jin.
This rain cape had always hung in his master's bedroom. In the past, whenever the fancy struck him, his master would put it on and go fishing in the rain.
Zhou Wuji had previously thought it too heavy. Wearing the set would severely restrict his agility and offer no practical benefit in combat.
Now that his physical strength had increased greatly and his True Qi had reached a higher level, the rain cape and hat had become useful.
Most importantly, the rain cape could withstand the bee swarm's stings, which was extremely useful.
He packed both Grain Avoidance Pills and Golden Yang Pills, along with steel balls, White Eyebrow Needles, and the rest.
Considering the many demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends in the mountains, Zhou Wuji also invested three strands of origin profound spirit to raise the Golden Light Incantation to major accomplishment.
Golden light could scour away evil Qi and intimidate demons and ghosts. It was particularly effective against insubstantial ghosts and evil spirits.
Zhou Wuji stayed at the temple for a day. At first light the next morning, he entered the Siming Mountains alone...
Around noon, a kitchen servant left the temple under the pretext of buying vegetables.
Zhang Xinhu soon received word that Zhou Wuji had left the temple.
Zhang Xinhu went to Wu Di. "Zhou Wuji isn't at the temple. I hear he's gone to Mount Siming. Company Commander, now is the perfect time to act!"
Wu Di smiled smugly. "Rest assured, Brother Zhang. In just a few days, I'll have that brat's head delivered to your residence..."