After the people outside left, the innkeeper returned to Lu Xuan.
With a squinting smile, the innkeeper gestured for Lu Xuan to follow him.
"Sir, your room and food are ready. Please co with ."
On the second floor, in the guest room!
The table inside was covered with food and wine, almost forming a small mountain.
After leading Lu Xuan to the door, the innkeeper was about to close the door and leave.
"Wait, innkeeper."
Lu Xuan, seated, saw the innkeeper about to leave and called out to him.
The innkeeper paused, confused, and looked back at Lu Xuan in the room.
"Sir, is there anything else you need?"
"Innkeeper, I have so questions I hope you can answer."
Lu Xuan stopped the innkeeper, hoping to learn about Lian Sheng Temple.
Earlier in the inn lobby, Lu Xuan recalled the innkeeper ntioning Lian Sheng Temple, so he assud the innkeeper knew about it.
"Please, ask anything, sir. I will tell you everything I know!"
The innkeeper hurried in and ca over to Lu Xuan.
The innkeeper was eager to please such an important custor as Lu Xuan.
"I rember you ntioned Lian Sheng Temple. I’ve never heard of it. Could you tell about it?"
Feigning curiosity, Lu Xuan concealed his true purpose.
"Ah, so you want to know about Lian Sheng Temple? I know it well!"
"I assu you’re not from Dengfeng County, or you would already know about it."
Lu Xuan nodded slightly, acknowledging the innkeeper’s speculation.
"Lian Sheng Temple is the most famous temple in Dengfeng County, renowned for its monks and effectiveness."
"However, Lian Sheng Temple rarely opens to the public, except this ti of year when it welcos pilgrims."
"So, the people you saw on the first floor earlier were pilgrims heading to Lian Sheng Temple."
"Lately, not only prominent figures from Four Directions Town but also people from other towns and even the county seat have been visiting."
The innkeeper added, "If I weren’t tied to the inn, I would visit Lian Sheng Temple myself."
"Even people from the county seat go there?"
The innkeeper’s words made Lu Xuan think of his younger sister, Lu Qingqing, in the county seat.
Shaking off the thought, Lu Xuan asked the question he most wanted answered.
"Innkeeper, where is Lian Sheng Temple located? If it’s as effective as you say, I’m interested in going to pray for my family."
......
As evening fell, the last light of day spread across the sky in a dim haze.
Lu Xuan rode a black stallion like lightning across the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
He had learned the location of Lian Sheng Temple from the innkeeper.
It turned out Lian Sheng Temple was not far from the county seat of Dengfeng County, just an hour’s ride away.
Once he unraveled the temple’s secrets, Lu Xuan could proceed into town to visit his sister, Lu Qingqing.
Three hours later, Lu Xuan stood in front of a large mountain, not far from its base.
Looking up, he saw a majestic structure atop the mountain.
The steps leading up were made of stacked blue stone slabs.
The sky was dim, but Lu Xuan saw dozens of figures at the mountain’s base.
These people should be monks from Lian Sheng Temple, right?
Were they guarding the pilgrims’ possessions?
There were many carriages parked not far from the base.
Lu Xuan scanned the mountain as thoroughly as he could.
Dismounting, he tied his horse to a tree in a safe place.
Not wanting to alert the temple, he planned to stealthily investigate Lian Sheng Temple.
At the back of the mountain!
Facing a steep cliff, Lu Xuan didn’t hesitate. He summoned his inner qi, and with a nimble leap, ascended the mountain.
The main hall of Lian Sheng Temple had its doors closed, a faint light escaping through a slit.
Two middle-aged monks around forty stood outside, vigilantly observing their surroundings.
A shadow, ghostly in its movent, appeared in front of them, towering over them both.
It was Lu Xuan, who had snuck into the temple through the rear mountain.
The monks’ eyes widened in shock, about to speak.
"You..."
Suddenly, before they could utter another word, a hand clamped over their throats, silencing them.
In re monts, the monks blacked out, unconscious.
Lu Xuan set the unconscious monks aside, a serious expression on his face.
"It’s not a simple temple, indeed!"
These seemingly ordinary monks were, surprisingly, martial artists of the Bone Refining Realm.
In Qingyun County, Bone Refining Realm martial artists enjoyed a bit of fa.
Yet, these monks were rely gatekeepers.
Lu Xuan peered through a crack in the door and found the main hall empty.
Without further thought, he gently pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Within the hall were neatly arranged prayer mats and offerings on a table.
A large statue sat cross-legged at the front, illuminated by candlelight, depicting a common folk deity.
Lu Xuan was about to leave, thinking there was nothing unusual.
"Hmm?"
He suddenly noticed the statue’s eyes and moved to the front for a better view.
What was this?
In the statue’s eyes was a delicate pattern of a pristine, blooming white lotus.
Normal people wouldn’t notice unless they stood directly before the statue.
"How bold!"
As Lu Xuan studied the statue further, a shadow darted from behind it, charging at him.
Rip!
The sound of tearing fabric echoed as Lu Xuan’s black robe ripped open.
In an instant, the robe tore to expose Lu Xuan’s explosive muscle lines, his chest rippling powerfully beneath.
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