The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 43 The First Monk of the Great Sui Dynasty

Zhang Guo, who was still young, was far inferior to those invited by Yang Guang in terms of both cultivation and reputation.

Jiang Feng had seen the list, which included Qi Hui, the master of Loudao Temple, Wang Yuanzhi of the Shangqing School, and Yuan Shoucheng, the true nemesis of the Jinghe Dragon King.

Neither of them is something Zhang Guo can pull off in his current situation.

On the Buddhist side, Yang Guang invited Jizang, the founder of the Sanlun School, the Tripitaka Master Jñānagupta from North India, and Jiang Feng, a great master of Buddhism known as the foremost monk of the Sui Dynasty.

The rest of the people were all "minor characters" like Zhang Guo.

Zhang Guo gritted his teeth in anger: "Tell me, what do you mean by 'all are small fry like Zhang Guo'?"

Jiang Feng looked at him in surprise: "You can read minds?"

Zhang Guo retorted fiercely, "What mind-reading nonsense! You just accidentally blurted out your innermost thoughts!"

"Furthermore, you're nothing but a nobody—the greatest monk of the Sui Dynasty! I think you're just 'the greatest monk of the Sui Dynasty'!"

Jiang Feng's eyes narrowed: "His ability to make sarcastic remarks is no less than mine; this kid must not be allowed to live."

Zhang Guo was so angry that his liver hurt. He sighed and said, "Forget it. Meeting you today is my destiny to suffer this calamity."

"You're in charge of managing us conscripts, right? Our food and lodging are your responsibility, aren't they?"

Jiang Feng nodded: "Most of them have a place to stay. As for wild monks and Taoists like you, we'll arrange for you to stay at the Honglu Inn. I'll take you there."

After saying this, Jiang Feng parted ways with the Jinghe Dragon King and took Zhang Guo to the Honglu Temple Inn near the Zhuque Gate.

The Honglu Temple Guesthouse was generally used to receive foreign guests and was also called the Foreign Guest Station. It housed merchants from various countries and envoys who came to pay tribute.

The foreign guests inside were dressed in various styles; some wore white hats and white robes, while others wore rolled-brimmed hats and cross-collar brocade robes, with small copper abacuses hanging at their waists.

There was also an Indian man who was barefoot, with a white bone necklace around his neck and a cinnabar mark on his forehead, talking in hushed tones with a woman whose face was veiled by a light gauze.

The woman exuded an aura of holiness. She was also barefoot, her feet as white as jade and spotless. It was unknown what kind of cultivation technique she had practiced.

Upon seeing the veiled woman, Zhang Guo's eyes lit up: "This must be the legendary Holy Maiden of India. Although her face is covered by a light veil, her stunning beauty can still be vaguely seen from her eyebrows and eyes."

Jiang Feng glanced at the woman's attire, his expression turning strange: "Yes, she should be from the Brahmanism of India. Some people have translated her as the Holy Maiden of India, but the correct translation is actually a temple prostitute."

If you're interested, I can go over and introduce you. The pimp fee... oh, I mean, a referral fee of one silver ingot will do."

Zhang Guo: "@#￥%￥#@……"

So who was the genius who translated it as "Saintess"? It's too easy to misunderstand!

As they were talking, a middle-aged man dressed in a silk robe walked in, followed by two servants. A dozen little girls were tied together in a row with a hemp rope and led in by the two servants.

Upon seeing the middle-aged man arrive, the Indian holy maiden smiled and stood up, then went to a room and led out more than a dozen Indian girls.

Zhang Guo's expression changed slightly: "To dare to illegally buy and sell people in broad daylight at the Honglu Temple Guest House, they really have a lot of nerve."

Jiang Feng asked, "How did you figure out they were doing illegal business?"

The Sui Dynasty allowed the buying and selling of people. As long as the people were not kidnapped or trafficked, they could legally purchase slaves by signing a contract of sale with the government.

Although they were called servants, they were actually slaves. Even if they were beaten to death by their masters, the government would not care.

Powerful families often kept tens of thousands of slaves, and even some temples and Taoist monasteries kept thousands of servants.

Zhang Guo said with a dark face, "Those little girls have vacant eyes; they've clearly been bewitched."

Moreover, they were all pretty, with delicate skin that didn't look like they did manual labor often, and their clothes were almost completely unpatched; they were clearly from respectable families.

"Once the mind-control spells on them are lifted, it will be easy to find out whether they have been trafficked."

As he spoke, he was about to break the curse.

Jiang Feng grabbed him and said, "Don't alert them yet. I'll follow them after they finish their transaction. You stay here and rescue these kidnapped children."

Zhang Guo nodded silently and casually went to the seat next to them.

The transaction was completed quickly, and the middle-aged man led a dozen or so Indian girls out of the post station.

Jiang Feng used his invisibility technique to follow closely behind, and after a few turns, he arrived at a magnificent mansion.

On the banks of Qujiang Pool, pavilions and terraces are nestled among the water, and nobles and dignitaries used to enjoy boating and banquets. This mansion was one of their places of entertainment.

The middle-aged man led the girls into a large hall and bowed to a young man sitting in the main seat: "Master, this group of girls is from India, there are thirteen of them in total."

The young man nodded slightly: "Among women from various countries, Indian girls are the most obedient. Take them away and train them well. Have them perform a dance when we entertain the Duke of Yue and others next month. Teach them the rules carefully, so as not to disgrace the Dugu family."

Is it the Dugu clan again?

Zhang Xiu, who was still invisibly in hiding, frowned slightly. Just as he was about to investigate where the girls were being held, the young man suddenly spoke up.

"You've come uninvited, and you're leaving without even greeting me, your host?"

Suddenly, a suction force slammed the two doors shut. The young man stood up, his eyes fixed on Jiang Feng's location, looking completely confident.

Jiang Feng revealed himself, looking curious, and asked, "How did you figure that out?"

The young man sneered and pointed to the mirror-like white jade ground: "Invisibility magic can fool my eyes, but the light and shadow on the ground cannot."

Jiang Feng, somewhat skeptical, used the invisibility spell again and discovered that the white jade floor in the area where the shadow was located did indeed appear somewhat dim. He couldn't help but exclaim, "What amazing perception!"

"Who are you, and what brings you to my residence?"

The young man stared into Jiang Feng's eyes, a glint of light appearing in his eyes.

Bathed in the dim light, Jiang Feng became slightly dazed, as if he had been bewitched, and his eyes gradually became dull.

"I am Muddy Butterfly! I've come here to discipline my good son!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Feng's eyes suddenly cleared, and he threw out a yellow talisman with his right hand, which sent a bolt of lightning striking the young man!

The young man was terrified and had no time to dodge. His chest was charred black by the lightning, and he was sent flying backwards, crashing into the wall behind him.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, the young man saw Jiang Feng about to activate the lightning talisman floating in the air and cried out in panic, "Stop! I have no grudge against you, please don't kill me!"

Jiang Feng stopped what he was doing and asked sharply, "What's your name, and what's your relationship with the Dugu family?"

The young man gritted his teeth, his expression furious: "You don't even know who I am, and you want to kill me?"

"Um?"

Jiang Feng moved his sword finger in dissatisfaction, and a burst of crackling lightning immediately flashed around the yellow talisman.

The young man trembled with fear and quickly said, "My name is Dugu Shan, and my aunt is Empress Dugu! You can't kill me!"

Jiang Feng scoffed dismissively: "The Empress can't save you. Take me to where the girls are being held, or I'll show you your brains!"

As he spoke, an AK47 appeared in his hand, and he fired a shot at Dugu Shan's arm without hesitation.