Chapter 23: An Wu, I Have Come

Even after crossing the main gate of Anguo Temple, Yaoshi Yuan remained skeptical of Huang Quan’s plan to seal the temple halls.

Her Embroidered Uniform Guard had spent the last year meticulously monitoring personnel movements at Anguo Temple, confirming that it was impossible for Huang Quan to have planted agents within the temple in just these few days. Given the divine protection shielding Chang'an City, it was equally impossible for Huang Quan to have murdered the monks and replaced them with impostors.

Huang Quan’s claim that he had planted a mole inside Anguo Temple was a lie from start to finish.

She had already prepared her rebuttal. If Huang Quan failed to seal the temple gates, she would immediately step forward and sternly rebuke him for his arrogance and self-sabotage. She would declare his failure a sign of his irresponsibility and lack of leadership, concluding that the only way forward was to follow her orders, for only she could lead everyone to victory...

Then, a deafening cacophony of bells shattered her fantasies.

Yaoshi Yuan watched, wide-eyed, as the monks scrambled to close every gate in every direction, throwing the bolts, including the small doors leading to the second floor, and even sealing the windows. In less than twenty seconds, the entire Anguo Temple was completely locked down, isolated from the outside world—a perfect setting for a crime.

Only the monks of Anguo Temple had the manpower to seal the gates in such a short time.

Although Yaoshi Yuan still didn’t know exactly what Huang Quan had done, there was no doubt that every single monk in Anguo Temple had become his "mole" at that moment.

What he said was actually true.

He had actually pulled it off.

Right under my nose, he had orchestrated a perfect plan, and I hadn’t even caught a glimpse of its foundation!

Sealing the hall was his plan, opening the golden vault was his proposal, and even this location for evading capture was his choice!

Chang'an City is my territory; how could he act so recklessly and get his way?

I am the daughter of the Duke of Jin and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; how is he more composed and capable than I am?

I am the fated master of the House of Thieves; why is he more outstanding than I am?

How? Why!

With the black wolf mask on, no one could see Yaoshi Yuan’s expression, but everyone could feel the heat erupting from her surging blood and the aura rising steadily within her.

"How dare you run wild in Anguo Temple!"

A tall, muscular monk wielding a staff vaulted over the counter. Seeing the armless monk collapsed on the ground and the blood staining the floor, his brow furrowed in a dark, fierce rage, looking every bit like a wrathful Vajrapani.

"I don't know what you have done to nullify the Buddha's protection over Chang'an, but those who deal in murder shall eventually be killed. Without the Buddha's protection, do you think you can act with impunity? Let it be known to you all: the Buddha has great compassion, but also great wrath!"

"Bende, Benci, Benming, join me in subduing these demons!"

"Yes, Uncle Chengming!"

The three surrounding warrior monks, who had been momentarily stunned, snapped to attention at the command of the tall monk, moving to surround Yan Qing and his three companions from all sides.

Yan Qing’s heart sank—this was one of the worst-case scenarios he had envisioned.

If the monks had been caught off guard, they could have utilized the information gap to eliminate the temple's combatants first. These monks, believing they were protected by Chang'an, would have died in confusion despite their formidable strength.

But once someone rallied them into a combat state, Yan Qing and his group would be forced into a head-on collision with the warrior monks of Anguo Temple!

As the saying goes, if you don't show your hand, people will never know how mediocre you really are.

With Yan Qing’s strength as a First-Tier Messenger, once a fight broke out, his true capabilities would inevitably be exposed, and everyone would realize he was just a little rookie. Even if they completed the mission, it would be an unbearable loss for him.

Could he really not avoid a direct confrontation after all his preparations?

Just as Yan Qing was battling these thoughts, Yaoshi Yuan stepped in front of them, her low voice carrying a cold, almost arrogant pride: "All of you, come at once. I’m in a hurry."

"Bold thief!"

The tall monk roared, charging at Yaoshi Yuan along with the other three, their staffs swinging through the air! This was no time for martial arts etiquette; they could not miss the chance to take out an enemy who had lowered their guard!

Simultaneously, Yaoshi Yuan tore open her black-wrapped bundle and withdrew two collapsible steel rods. With a twist, a turn, and a lock of her hands, they transformed into a gleaming steel spear!

She met their staffs head-on, offering no defense at all!

*Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!*

The monks’ staffs struck Yaoshi Yuan without hesitation, producing dull, air-tearing sounds. The staff of the tall monk, Chengming, crackled with red lightning, striking her with the force of a bell toll and erupting in a thunderous roar!

Ordinary warrior monks were First-Tier Messengers, possessing only the "Arhat Robe" as a defensive artifact. Yet, fueled by their life force, even their staff strikes could shatter jade and stone. Chengming was a Second-Tier Messenger; beyond the Arhat Robe, he possessed the "Thunder Pearl," a Second-Tier artifact that significantly boosted the lethality of any weapon he wielded.

For any ordinary person, the combined assault of these four would have reduced them to pulp; even solid rock or steel would have been pulverized.

Yet, as Yaoshi Yuan endured the barrage, only faint golden ripples shimmered on her body. She remained unscathed.

*‘Able to defend against an attack bolstered by the Thunder Pearl? Is that a Second-Tier defensive artifact?’*

The thought crossed Chengming’s mind. He assumed she must be a Second-Tier Messenger with low attack but high defense.

His guess was not unreasonable. Since replenishing spiritual energy was extremely difficult for Messengers and limited by their capacity, Second-Tier Messengers usually only carried one Second-Tier artifact. If they prioritized attack, they sacrificed defense; if they prioritized healing, they sacrificed mobility.

At that moment, he heard Yaoshi Yuan’s low, murderous voice:

"Are you finished? It’s my turn."

The golden light on Yaoshi Yuan’s body turned into flowing liquid, wrapping around the steel spear. She held the spear high with one hand, her body tensed like a drawn bow!

The monks did not cower, intending to rely on their Arhat Robes to tank the hit and strike back while she was exposed.

Only Chengming realized the danger. He retreated, shouting, "Dodge! This is—"

"Artifact: Wisdom King Armor!"

With a roar, Yaoshi Yuan swept her spear horizontally with one hand. The golden light spilled from the spearhead like flowing water, transforming into a sweeping blade of golden energy!

She did not swing a spear; she swung a sea of blood!

The monks’ Arhat Robes shattered instantly. Even Chengming could not evade it. Every one of them was bisected at the waist, blood spraying onto the floor to form a line of gore. The surrounding visitor monks scurried away in terror, staring at Yaoshi Yuan and the others in horror.

Chengming was not yet dead. With only his upper body remaining, he struggled to widen his eyes, staring at Yaoshi Yuan’s black wolf mask, and trembling, he rasped, "Rare... it’s actually a Rare-tier... artifact..."

*Snap!*

Yaoshi Yuan pierced his head with a single thrust, ending his torment.

She looked back at the group and said calmly, "Let’s go. Time is pressing."

Even behind the mask, Yaoshi Yuan could see the surprised looks in the eyes of White Fox and Red Snake, and she felt a surge of triumph.

*Now you know how powerful I am!*

But when she looked at Huang Quan, her anger flared—he simply walked past, completely unimpressed by her display!

*I have a Rare-tier artifact! Have you ever seen a Rare-tier artifact? Do you even know what a Rare-tier artifact is? You must be ignorant, that’s why you can’t tell how amazing I am!*

*What a country bumpkin, completely uncultured!*

Yaoshi Yuan felt the urge to strike Yan Qing from behind with her spear. Just as Yan Qing opened the counter door and prepared to enter the inner hall of Anguo Temple, the cowering monk-manager suddenly pulled out a precept knife, attempting to ambush Yan Qing from behind.

Seeing this, Yaoshi Yuan stepped forward, sweeping her spear with one hand. The powerful, sturdy shaft slammed the monk-manager against the wall, where he slid down like a rag doll and lost consciousness.

When Yan Qing turned to look, she let out a cold snort and rebuked him: "Watch your surroundings. Don't add to my troubles."

"Apologies," Yan Qing smiled. "Don't move yet. My people have arrived."

*Huang Quan’s people?*

At this, not only Yaoshi Yuan, but Ying Rushi and Shang Xinlei all looked over with curiosity.

Yan Qing pushed open the door between the counter and the inner hall. A wave of heat, mixed with a burnt stench, rushed out from within.

"This is truly... a desecration," Ying Rushi murmured.

Inside the inner hall, where the golden statues of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas stood, lay several twisted corpses, all charred to coal. As they opened the door, a warrior monk engulfed in flames was still shrieking, unable to escape because three identical triplets were blocking his path. Even as they were singed by the flames, they did not budge until the monk collapsed and moved no more.

A dozen pale, frail nobles hid in the corner, their faces filled with terror, afraid to speak, as if fearing they might wake the demons in the Buddha hall.

Standing in the center of the inner hall was a youth holding a blade in one hand. Half his body was charred, and his right arm was burned down to a stump; it looked like glowing charcoal that might crumble at a touch. His eyebrows and hair were burned away, and the skin on the right side of his face was scarred and deformed, like twisted, aged bark, making his once-delicate features look hideous and frightening.

Facing the statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, he looked like a demon crawling out of purgatory.

But Yaoshi Yuan, Ying Rushi, and Shang Xinlei all noticed one thing simultaneously—

The white iron straight-bladed sword the youth held was identical to Huang Quan’s!

"An Wu, I’m here."

Yan Qing stepped into the inner hall and greeted him aloud.

The youth turned to look at Yan Qing, his demon-like face devoid of joy or sorrow.

For a fleeting moment, Yan Qing thought the boy might not recognize him—

"You’re here."

An Wu paused, then added: "We killed four. Three got away. They complained."

Hearing that last sentence, Xue Yan, Third Miss Yang, and the others froze, their expressions changing instantly.

Every one of them felt their hearts jump into their throats, unable to even breathe, watching the monster in the Huang Quan mask with trepidation, waiting for his response!