"Where's my Golden Bell Shield? Is it broken?"
That was Hui Lie's last thought in this world.
...
As the large monk advanced threateningly, Jin Xu used his usual magic "Hand Palm Thunder."
Since it was Hui Lie who had moved forward, to outsiders, it appeared as though he had thrown himself towards the Taoist's right hand.
A fleeting image of an earthy yellow copper bell appeared.
Only to be engulfed by the golden thunder light.
"Young Taoist, could you spare... spare some air?"
Xu Qian had originally wanted to capture someone alive to interrogate for information about the Demon Sect.
But after sensing the terrifying power of Jin Xu's strike, he gave up.
Under that golden thunder light, let alone the Golden Bell Shield, even the legendary six feet golden body of Buddha might not withstand it.
Jin Xu is terrifying indeed!
At that moment, the small elder Taoist in white at the entrance of Qianyuan Temple had stopped vomiting blood. He stood with his mouth wide open in shock watching the Jin Xu who landed the blow.
My goodness!
The calamity that even a Divinity Transformation Stage might would face seems nothing compared to this.
Tianjiang Taoist, who was leaning against a pillar in the great hall, was even more frightened as the golden thunder light brushed past not far from the two of them!
Him and his junior sister were first injured by Hui Lie, initially believing they were doomed, but they ended up being saved by this patrol officer from the Great Xia. They hadn't even had time to feel happy about being rescued when,
they realized this patrol officer couldn't defeat Hui Lie!
Their anxiety had just abated when it surged once again.
And then, the large monk was gone.
Seeing the completely vanished great hall beside him, Tianjiang felt a surge of relief. Thankfully, if it had been off by even a bit, they would have ended up buried with that demon monk.
"Junior sister, did you secure all the money father left us?"
"Jiang, cough... I assure you, it's all in my storage bag."
Seeing the vanished great hall beside her, the woman in the pale yellow dress also felt a surge of relief. Had she not packed up ahead of time,
the money her father left her would have disappeared with the great hall.
After casting "Hand Palm Thunder," Jin Xu felt mentally refreshed.
An inexplicable emotion in his heart was released along with the golden thunder light.
However...
The young Taoist looked around at the now "exceptionally transparent" Taoist temple.
Then glanced at the man and woman leaning against the pillar.
Hmm, he wondered if his remaining money was enough to compensate for the house.
No, what remaining money did he have!
It had all been devoured by those two fools!
Fortunately, Qianyuan Temple was located in the southeast corner of Qian Deng Town, beyond which there were no other businesses or residential houses.
Otherwise...
Jin Xu reflected that in the future he might as well use his fists; his grasp on "Hand Palm Thunder" didn't seem quite right.
Then the young Taoist turned to Xu Qian and asked, "What did you just say?" He remembered that when he had cast "Hand Palm Thunder," this Great Xia patrol officer seemed to have shouted something.
"I said to keep your... Oh, never mind, I'll need you to accompany me to Yuhua Temple in a bit."
"There's a reward."
Xu Qian added.
Jin Xu nodded, being helpful is every Taoist's virtue.
It definitely wasn't because he needed money to pay for the damages.
Yes, definitely not!
Xu Qian stepped forward to check on Tianjiang Taoist and the woman in the pale yellow dress.
The Little Fish Demon also warmly helped treat their injuries.
After some treatment and questioning, the information they gathered from the two varied somewhat from what the small old Taoist in white had said.
The same was that today's attacking monk was indeed the abbot of Yuhua Temple; the two temples had always been at odds, and Qianyuan Temple had been gaining the upper hand.
But they had never intended to kill their adversaries; everyone was just seeking worshippers after all.
Broadly, it was a fight over beliefs; more narrowly, it was about securing sustenance.
Differently, Tianjiang Taoist's increase in cultivation was due to the Second-Transformation Gathering Spirit Pill, not the Transformation Fruit.
The so-called drastic changes in nature and monopolizing his junior sister were nonsense; the two had long harbored feelings for each other, only unknown to Tian Gou Taoist.
Well, it's settled then; the small old Taoist in white is truly a bootlicker, and a deep-seated one at that.
The pair also told Xu Qian that they had informed the monk that they planned to close down Qianyuan Temple that day, yet for some reason, he still opted for lethal measures.
Xu Qian thought it over and still told them it concerned the Demon Sect's Transformation Fruit; consuming it leads to a great increase in cultivation, a drastic change in nature, and an amplification of inner desires.
He hoped that they would notify him in a timely manner if they encountered similar situations in the future.
The two parties exchanged jade talismans for communication.
"You have suffered undue calamity," Xu Qian shook his head and sighed.
Tianjiang Taoist gave a bitter smile and helped his recovering junior sister to stand up.
The two bowed to Yu Yaoer, who had healed their injuries, and then walked towards Jin Xu.
"Thank you, Taoist Jin, for saving our lives."
The two bowed deeply.
"How much does this house cost?"
The young Taoist pointed to the gap blasted open by his "Hand Palm Thunder."
"Ah?"
The two Tianjiang persons were taken aback.
Jin Xu continued, "I'm currently short on funds, but once I earn some remuneration, I will come to compensate you for the damages, you might..."
Before he could finish, the two interrupted him,
"Taoist Jin, you saved both of our lives; do you think our lives are worth less than this Taoist temple? Besides, we never intended to keep this place anyway.
"So, no need for compensation."
After saying this, the two bowed to Jin Xu and then supported each other as they walked towards the exit of the temple.
As they passed by the old Taoist in white robes,
The woman in the pale yellow dress spoke to him,
"Big Senior Brother, you are a good person, but... I have Jiang."
After speaking, the woman in the pale yellow dress and Tianjiang Taoist supported each other, walking towards Gusu City.
The young Taoist in white robes watched the back of his junior sister.
"Pfft."
Another mouthful of blood spurted out.
...
No need for compensation; this was an unexpected joy.
Thinking this, Jin Xu left Qianyuan Temple with Xu Qian, heading in the direction of Yuhua Temple.
As they passed by Tian Gou Taoist, the young Taoist thoughtfully had Little Fish Demon perform a Healing Skill on him to prevent him from bleeding to death.
When the three reached a street corner, they saw several constables peeping around.
They looked like they wanted to investigate but were afraid of dying, yet they couldn't just ignore their responsibilities either.
Xu Qian stepped forward to negotiate.
Upon hearing that a higher authority had already resolved the issue, the constables rushed to Qianyuan Temple, competing to be the first.
Tidying up aftermaths was what they were best at.
"If you encounter a young Taoist in white robes who keeps vomiting blood, don't be afraid; he's one of us."
"Mr. Xu, don't worry!"
Qian Deng Town wasn't large; after passing two streets, Jin Xu and his companions arrived at the main gate of Yuhua Temple.
The young Taoist furrowed his brows and spoke out.
"Little Yu, can you sense if there's still that familiar demonic aura inside this temple?"
On the way, the young Taoist had asked Yu Yaoer how, being a fish, she could distinguish demonic auras so clearly.
Little Fish Demon had replied,
"Sir, a sensitive sense of smell is one of the essential conditions for becoming a good chef!"
Well, actually, she wanted to try if the Transformation Fruit could be used in a new recipe, so she had specifically noted the smell.
"I can't sense it, sir. The temple is full of the scent of blood, masking other smells," Yu Yaoer said, looking somewhat embarrassed, as she had been bragging about it on the road.
The scent of blood?
Hearing this, Xu Qian drew his long sword from his waist and shouted towards the gate of Yuhua Temple,
"Seventh-grade night watchman of Great Xia, Xu Qian is here! What evil spirit dares not to come out and surrender immediately!"
After shouting, he sincerely moved closer to the young Taoist.
He had realized that matters involving the Demon Sect were never easy to handle and decided not to be reckless; sticking close to Jin Xu was the best policy.
Glancing at Xu Qian who had moved closer, the young Taoist remained silent.
At that moment, the temple door creaked,
And opened on its own.
ps: Writing at night feels like the empty house is full of people.
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