The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 12 A Narrow Victory over the True Lord

After lunch, the group from Beitian Temple went together to the place where the corpses were being burned.

Someone had prepared dry firewood in advance, sprinkled it with hot oil, and arranged the corpses neatly.

Jiang Feng held prayer beads in his hand, his expression solemn, and a faint Buddhist light emanated from his body.

As if infected by the aura of compassion emanating from Jiang Feng, the servants behind him closed their eyes and prayed devoutly for the unclaimed bodies of the deceased.

Zhao Ming'er's eyes lit up as she whispered to Cui Ying beside her, "Jiang Feng is amazing, isn't he? He comes to the Beitian Temple every seven days to perform free rituals for the dead. Even this Yijing system was his idea, and the entire Sui Dynasty is following his example."

It was rare to see Jiang Feng so serious, and Cui Ying exclaimed, "If all Buddhists were like him, it would truly be a gate of compassion."

At this moment, Jiang Feng had already made preparations, lit the firewood with a torch, and solemnly began to recite the scriptures.

"By the Supreme Decree, your lonely soul transcends, all ghosts and demons, and all living beings receive grace..."

Upon hearing Jiang Feng's chanting, Cui Ying's expression froze, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Wait, how can a monk chant the Taoist 'Rebirth Mantra' to help the souls of the dead?"

"Huh? Is this a Taoist incantation?"

Zhao Ming'er covered her mouth in surprise, looking incredulous.

Jiang Feng turned around in equal shock: "Huh? I was reciting the Taoist 'Rebirth Mantra'?"

"@#￥%￥#@……"

After a moment of bewilderment, Cui Ying retorted, "Why are you even more shocked than I am? Don't you even know what you're saying?"

Jiang Feng looked utterly devastated: "That's impossible! The old abbot never corrected me before..."

Cui Ying frowned slightly: "It's alright, as long as it's useful. By the way, what's your abbot's Dharma name?"

Jiang Feng thought for a moment, then said with a puzzled look, "I don't know, it seems like no one has ever called him by his Buddhist name."

Wait a minute, do you think the old abbot might be a spy sent by your Taoist sect, with the aim of corrupting me, this once-in-a-millennium seed of Buddhism?

Cui Ying: "...I think if no one guides you, you'll go even further astray."

As she spoke, a word popped into her mind—evil cultivator!

If Jiang Feng hadn't been disciplined since childhood, he would definitely have been a rare and promising evil cultivator!

Zhao Ming'er retorted indignantly in Jiang Feng's defense, "How can you talk like that? Jiang Feng is a universally acknowledged enlightened monk!"

Cui Ying was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Who agrees?"

Zhao Ming'er said proudly, "Chen Huiru and I—don't ask me who Chen Huiru is, she's my niece—she stopped wetting the bed last year!"

Cui Ying: "..."

That's a truly convincing example...

Jiang Feng waved his hand helplessly: "Forget it, I'll ask the old abbot next time I meet him. Let me pray for these souls to be released from suffering first."

After saying this, he continued chanting incantations and sent these wandering souls to the underworld.

After a while, Jiang Feng buried all the ashes, stretched, and went to the lobby to rest with everyone.

During their casual conversation, Jiang Feng remembered Senior Brother Xiao, whom Cui Ying had mentioned, and asked, "When will your Senior Brother Xiao arrive?"

"We can arrive today."

When Cui Ying mentioned Senior Brother Xiao, a look of admiration appeared on her face. She said, "Senior Brother Xiao's name is Xiao Hai. He specializes in swordsmanship and has never been defeated in the twenty years he has traveled the world. His killing skills are undoubtedly the best in our Shangqing Sect."

"Ten years ago, he encountered a vicious dragon causing chaos in the Bohai Sea. He fought it for three days and three nights, and finally won by a narrow margin, slaying the dragon on the riverbank."

Nine years ago, he encountered a thousand-year-old demon in Zhongnan Mountain. He fought it for half a day and narrowly won with one move, destroying the demon on the summit of Zhongnan Mountain.

Eight years ago, he encountered an unknown ferocious beast in Jiangbei, and narrowly defeated it with a single move, killing the beast with his sword.

Seven years ago, he encountered evil spirits in Kuaiji who were bewitching people...

Jiang Feng couldn't help but say, "Another narrow victory, right?"

Cui Ying nodded, somewhat stunned: "Yes! How did you know?"

Jiang Feng rolled his eyes and said, "Your Senior Brother Xiao always wins by a narrow margin against everyone. You might as well change your name to True Monarch of Narrow Victory."

Cui Ying: "..."

That sounds like it makes a lot of sense!

At that moment, a rainbow light fell into the courtyard. When the light dissipated, a man dressed in black appeared before everyone.

Upon recognizing the man, Cui Ying quickly stood up to greet him: "Senior Brother Xiao, you've arrived! We were just talking about you."

This man was none other than Yang Jian, who was using the alias Xiao Hai. Upon seeing his sister, who had sealed her memories and come to the mortal realm for training, a slight smile appeared on his face: "I'm not too late, am I?"

Cui Ying said, "It's not too late. With my senior brother here, he will surely protect the people of Yangzhou!"

Jiang Feng also came out and approached, performed a Buddhist salute, and greeted him, "This humble monk Jiang Feng greets True Lord Xian Sheng."

Yang Jian's pupils contracted instantly, and he looked at Jiang Feng in disbelief.

The Manifestation of the Holy True Lord?!

How could an ordinary mortal recognize his identity so easily upon their first meeting?!

What is the origin of this monk?

Cui Ying chuckled, looking at the dazed Yang Jian, and said with a smile, "Jiang Feng said that you always win by a narrow margin against everyone, so he gave you a nickname, 'The True Lord of Narrow Victory'."

Yang Jian: "..."

Are you being polite?!

I only won by a narrow margin. I deliberately threw the game because I was afraid that people would see my true strength!

Otherwise, those monsters, even if they were all gathered together, wouldn't be enough for me to cut down with one slash!

Before long, Jiang Feng led Yang Jian, who was not in a good mood, to his seat and introduced him to the others.

While organizing documents, Zhao Hongtu suddenly exclaimed, "Eh!" He took out two lists and circled them with a brush, saying, "I think I've found a clue!"

Jiang Feng stepped forward and noticed that he had circled seven or eight names. He asked, "What is the connection between these people?"

Zhao Hongtu's eyes lit up as he said, "Since the beginning of the month, a total of thirty-one people have died or gone missing in the county town, nineteen of whom were regulars at the brothel! This probability is too high; there's something wrong with the brothel!"

Jiang Feng asked in surprise, "Are you sure?"

Zhao Hongtu raised his head and said confidently, "There's absolutely no mistake!"

Jiang Feng breathed a sigh of relief: "Good, at least we have a clue."

After a moment's thought, he looked at everyone and said, "Cui Ying, you are in charge of keeping watch on the Mahayana Sect's stronghold outside the city. If anything unusual happens, notify everyone immediately."

Senior Brother Xiao, you are the fastest. You will be in charge of sweeping away evil spirits in the nearby counties and rescuing the people who have been targeted by monsters.

"County Magistrate Zhao, you are in charge of receiving the supplies from the Cui family, settling the refugees, having Li Fugui manage the accounts, and Zhao Ping'an in charge of purchasing materials for building the monasteries."

"Tomorrow, after the refugees gather, you and your aunt will oversee their hygiene to prevent the spread of disease."

"That's all for now. Anyone have any questions?"

Yang Jian said calmly, "We all have missions. What are you going to do?"

Jiang Feng said righteously, "I'm going to visit the brothel. The most dangerous place should be reserved for me, of course. You can't expect the upright and virtuous Magistrate Zhao to go to such a place, can you?"

Yang Jian: "..."

A moment later, after watching everyone disperse, Zhao Hongtu smiled and prepared to go home.

At this moment, Madam Chen grabbed his arm and said with a smile, "My dear husband, can you tell me how you recognized more than a dozen regular customers of the brothel at a glance?"

Zhao Hongtu instantly broke out in a cold sweat: "@#￥%￥#@……"

Jiang Feng ruined me!