"That was a long ti ago."
"Golden Eye Feng" shook his head and said, "It was about twenty years ago. I was still young then, and I rember those Japanese monks were all dressed in rags, looking very miserable. When they entered Luoyang, it attracted quite a crowd."
"They claid to have co from the sea, admiring the fa of Baima Temple, enduring all kinds of hardships just to enter the temple and cultivate, and they even brought so gifts."
"Since the Tang Dynasty, Luoyang has declined and has long lost its past glory as the Divine Capital. Even rchants from the Western Regions were rare, so these Japanese monks were highly regarded."
"They usually kept a low profile, who would have thought they harbored such intentions..."
"Hmph!"
Wang Daoxuan snorted coldly, "Of a different race, their hearts must be different!"
Li Yan slightly nodded, having already speculated in his mind, he suddenly spoke up, "Monk, you've been away from ho for years, don't you miss the cherry blossoms of Honzon Temple?"
Once these words were spoken, the monk's expression changed slightly.
No need for him to speak, Li Yan had already confird his guess.
After Zhao Changsheng's exposure, the court attached great importance to collecting information on him. Both the Captain Bureau and Xuan Sacrificial Officer dispatched personnel to specifically investigate and hunt him down.
Much intelligence from Japan was collected due to the opening of the sea.
The hidden Japanese monk at Xiangji Temple ca from the Ichijo Sect.
This sect is Japan's Jodo Shinshu, equally restless.
During the Japanese Warring States, they owned nurous shrines and land, and had their own military force, even capable of taking on so daimyos, engaging in fierce battles with Oda Nobunaga.
After Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan, he adopted a policy of soft control over them, relying on the "land survey" and "sword hunt orders," to strip them of land and armant, but also gave support at the sa ti, ultimately subduing them.
Most monks of the Ichijo Sect had co to terms.
So still resist, but the tide has turned, they were no match, had to join ronin gangs or seek refuge overseas.
Li Yan originally thought the demon monk at Xiangji Temple was among them or was simply recruited after Zhao Changsheng's resurrection.
But now it seems, it was not the case.
Such a large-scale layout was not the work of Zhao Changsheng alone.
He also had support from forces in Japan!
Thinking of this, a fierce glint flashed in Li Yan's eyes, "Sister Long, give him sothing harsh."
Sha Lifei and others were sowhat surprised to hear this.
While traversing the pugilistic world, carrying out various tasks, interrogation by torture was inevitable.
Normally, Sha Lifei alone could handle it.
Having Long Yan'er step in ant using Gu Poison, leaving the opponent unable to live or die.
It was the first ti they'd seen Li Yan in such a manner.
Although curious, no one asked more questions.
Long Yan'er didn't waste words, slowly rotated her right hand, and moved in front of that monk.
Clatter~
A centipede the size of a palm swiftly crawled out from her sleeve, its body sparkling with tallic luster, its densely packed joints moving with a rough sound.
Just looking at it was horrifying.
The monk, upon seeing this, was filled with fear, but gritted his teeth to remain calm, clasping his hands together, eyes closed, chanting, "If you hear my na, sincerely believe and rejoice, even ten utterings, if not born, I will not attain true enlightennt, except for the five grave sins, slander against the true dharma ah~"
Halfway through the chant, he scread in agony.
The black centipede had crawled to his head, its fangs biting sharply, while its countless sharp limbs tightened with its body like steel cones piercing his scalp, the blood oozing rapidly turned black.
This centipede Gu worm, even its legs carried poison.
The venom was so potent, the monk's entire scalp instantly turned black and cyan, his already swollen face puffed up to a dark red, completely losing any semblance of humanity.
"I'll talk! I'll talk!"
He kneeled, pleading painfully.
"Tch!"
Sha Lifei sneered disdainfully, "Thought he was a tough guy."
But the monk, disregarding his mockery, spoke after Long Yan'er ceased controlling the centipede Gu, "I am simply acting on orders, begging you all to spare my life."
Li Yan asked coldly, "Do you know Zhao Changsheng?"
The monk hurriedly shook his head, "I don't know him."
Seemingly afraid Li Yan might misunderstand, he quickly added, "I don't dare utter a single lie, truly don't know."
"Oh?"
Li Yan was sowhat surprised, "Then who do you serve?"
Upon hearing this, the monk hesitated, but seeing Long Yan'er raise her arm again, beca instantly terrified and explained everything, "We ca under orders from the Dharma Master."
"Is the Dharma Master the Sect Leader?" Wang Daoxuan furrowed his brow and asked.
The monk nodded, "You could say that, the Dharma Master is the abbot of Honzon Temple, married to various families, even many temple leaders heed his commands."
"I used to belong to the Iga Family of the Eastern Seacoast, later entered Honzon Temple to cultivate."
"Twenty-five years ago, the Dharma Master suddenly summoned us, saying we were chosen ones, destined to be disciples of the Buddha when the Buddha Country arrives, then ca to the Divine Capital to follow the Mang Mountain Ghost Emperor's orders."
Li Yan squinted, "Mang Mountain Ghost Emperor... is it Wang Xuanmo?"
The monk, at that mont having no further scruples, nodded and admitted directly, "Yes, he used to be called that, but nowadays no one has seen his appearance, every ti he transforms into an ascetic old monk to et with us."
Wang Xuanmo was indeed one of the nine!
Li Yan continued asking, "What is his plan, ultimately?"
The monk shook his head, "I don't know, the Ghost Emperor never allows anyone to know the complete plan."
"Luoyang City has been declining over the years, people's livelihoods deteriorating, our task is to impersonate the Maitreya Sect, preaching secretly in the countryside, once the ti cos, inciting the mob to storm Luoyang City and wreak havoc..."
"Does Baima Temple know of this?"
"No, we have been undercover for years, acting in secrecy, the monks assigned to monitor us have been set up and recruited by the Ghost Emperor, even City God Temple and Captain Bureau, many were caught with leverage."
"Once the ti cos, they will cooperate with us."
Li Yan asked coldly, "Did a Hidden Treasure Man Zhao Lvzi get captured by you?"
"And what about the paper doll incident in Luoyang City, what's the story?"
"Zhao Lvzi..."
The monk thought carefully, shook his head, "I don't know any Zhao Lvzi, but indeed a Hidden Treasure Man was captured by the side of Mang Mountain, the specific reason is unclear."
"The Luoyang paper doll incident was actually a mistake."
"The side of Mang Mountain ordered three thousand paper dolls, the materials were already refined, but lacked craftsmanship, so soone posed as a wealthy rchant distributing them to the city's Paper Mache Shops."
"Originally there was no issue, but unexpectedly, a shop owner who knew a bit about Mystic Sect Techniques noticed sothing odd about the paper dolls, and out of curiosity, used vermillion to mark the eyes, thus perishing, the paper dolls ca alive prematurely."
"We ca to the Ghost Market under orders, Golden Eye Feng leaked rumors probing the origins of the Ghost Emperor, so simply put him in jail, we were commanded to ambush, eliminate all involved in this incident..."
Listening to the monk's account, Li Yan also pieced together the story, solemnly asked, "When is the attack planned?"
The monk lowered his head, "We don't know either. The orders received are when the Yellow River floods Luoyang, we launch the riot, storm Luoyang, destroy all Taoist Temples and monasteries, including several halls of Luoyang Royal Mansion."
"Yellow River flood..."
Li Yan's mind raced, "The Heluo Chamber of Comrce is offering a sacrifice to the River God, might be related."
Sha Lifei mused worriedly, "So many threads, and the enemy is strong, who knows how many are undercover, it won't be easy..."
"No matter how difficult, can it be worse than Chengdu Prefecture?"
Li Yan shook head, "This Wang Xuanmo claims to be the Ghost Emperor, most likely he's gathered a multitude of fierce ghosts and yin soldiers, hiding yet fearing repercussions, Yu State being the Central Plains heartland, there are plenty capable of suppressing him."
"Shaolin!"
Golden Eye Feng nodded imdiately, "Indeed, Shaolin is not far from here, a fast horse could make the round trip in three days, but I'm a commoner, have no dealings with those eminent monks."
"No problem."
Li Yan spoke solemnly, "Due to the Chengdu incident, Divine Land Xuann has been alerted, Old Sha, you and the Daoist and Wu Ba, head to Shaolin imdiately, look for Zen Master Zhitung, who talked with at the Qingcheng conference."
"They will contact the Yu State garrison, even if all of Luoyang is thrown into chaos, it can be quelled."
With that, he looked into the distance, "We'll explore Mang Mountain, and first rescue Zhao Lvzi..."
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