Chapter 23: An Wu, I’ve arrived
Even after passing through the main gate of Anguo Temple, Medicine Master Wen still didn’t trust Yellow Dog’s plan to lock the temple doors.
Her Embroidered Guard had thoroughly investigated the personnel movements in Anguo Temple over nearly a year, confirming that Yellow Dog couldn’t have planted men inside the temple in just these few days.
And given Chang’an’s divine protection, Yellow Dog couldn’t possibly have harmed a monk and taken his place.
Yellow Dog’s claim that he had an inside man in Anguo Temple was a downright lie.
She had already prepared her words—so long as Yellow Dog failed to close the temple doors, she would immediately jump out and scold him harshly for being presumptuous and irresponsible, stating that his failure showed his lack of accountability, and that the only way forward was to follow her command, as only she could lead them to victory…
Until the overwhelming sound of bells shattered her fantasy.
Medicine Master Wen watched with wide eyes as the monks hurriedly closed the temple doors on all sides, lowered the door barriers, including the small door leading to the second floor, and didn’t even ignore the windows.
In less than twenty seconds, the entire Anguo Temple was completely sealed off, inside and out, creating a perfect environment for carrying out a plan.
Only the monks of Anguo Temple could muster enough manpower to close those doors in such a short time.
Although Medicine Master Wen still didn’t know what Yellow Dog had done, there was no doubt: at this moment, all the monks of Anguo Temple had become “inside men”!
What he said was actually true.
He had really done it.
Right under my nose, he set up a flawless plan, and I didn’t even sniff out the basics of his scheme!
Closing the temple doors was his plan, opening the golden cabinet was his suggestion, and even choosing the escape route was his decision!
Chang’an city was supposed to be my domain—how could he act so freely?
I am the daughter of the Duke of Jin, the Supervising Commander of the Embroidered Guard—how could he be more adept than me?
I was clearly the fated leader of the Thieves’ House, so why was he better than me?
By what right!
Why!
After Medicine Master Wen donned her Black Wolf mask, no one could see her expression.
All they could feel was the burning heat of her energy surging, and her momentum climbing steadily!
“You dared to run wild in Anguo Temple!”
A tall martial monk brandishing a staff sprang forward from behind the counter.
He saw the severed-armed monk collapsed on the ground, and the blood pooling everywhere, and his brows immediately knitted tightly, his face darkening like an enraged Arhat.
“Though I do not know what you have done, removing Chang’an’s Buddhist protection, those who kill will be killed in turn; without the Buddha’s protection, do you really think you can act brazenly?
Let it be known to you all—the Buddha is infinitely merciful, yet infinitely wrathful!”
“Benevolence, mercy, and clarity—follow my lead to vanquish demons!”
“Yes, Uncle Chengming!”
The three monks around, who had just been momentarily at a loss, snapped out of it at the tall monk’s command, and surrounded Yan Qing’s group from all directions.
Yan Qing’s heart sank—that was exactly one of the worst-case scenarios he had imagined.
If the monks didn’t realize what was happening, they could use the element of surprise to eliminate the temple’s combat force first.
Those monks, believing Chang’an’s protection would safeguard them, even if they were strong, would die cluelessly.
But as soon as someone raised a rallying cry, guiding them into combat mode, Yan Qing’s group would have no choice but to clash head-on with the martial monks of Anguo Temple!
As the saying goes, if you don’t show your hand, others won’t realize how weak you are.
With only Yan Qing’s level of Messenger strength, once he fought, the result would surely expose all his weaknesses—then everyone would know he was just a rookie.
Even if the mission succeeded, the loss for Yan Qing would be unbearable.
He had done so much groundwork—could he still not avoid a direct confrontation?
Just as a fierce inner struggle brewed in Yan Qing’s mind, Medicine Master Wen stepped in front of them, her low voice carrying an almost arrogant coldness: “All of you, come at once—I’m in a hurry.”
“Bold little thief!”
The tall monk roared, swinging his staff along with the three others toward Medicine Master Wen.
Now was not the time for talk of martial ethics—they couldn’t miss an opportunity to incapacitate an enemy while caught off guard!
At the same time, Medicine Master Wen unwrapped the cloth around her bundle, pulling out two folding steel rods.
With a twist of her hands, they rapidly locked together and formed a refined steel spear!
She then advanced toward the martial monks’ staffs, without using the slightest defense!
Dong dong dong dong!
The monks’ staves landed on Medicine Master Wen without hesitation, striking with dull, splitting whooshes.
The tall monk Chengming’s staff was even wreathed in red lightning; when it struck her, it was like ringing a bell, erupting in thunderous booms!
Ordinary martial monks were First-Stage Messengers, with only the defensive token “Arhat Robe” on them.
But relying on their vital energy, even their stave strikes could shatter jade and crack stone.
Chengming, however, was a Second-Stage Messenger.
In addition to the Arhat Robe, he had the Second-Stage token “Thunder Pearl,” which could greatly enhance any weapon’s lethality.
Against ordinary people, the four-man assault led by Chengming could pound someone into a bloody pulp; even stone or steel would be reduced to rubble.
Yet Medicine Master Wen, who took all their attacks head-on, only triggered gentle golden ripples on her body—completely unscathed.
“To withstand the Thunder Pearl’s enhanced strikes... is it a Second-Stage defensive token?”
This thought flashed through Chengming’s mind.
He figured the opponent was likely a low-attack, high-defense Second-Stage Messenger.
His guess wasn’t unreasonable—after all, replenishing spirit energy was extremely troublesome for Messengers.
Limited by spirit meter caps, Second-Stage Messengers often only carried one token: if they prioritized offense, they lacked defense; if they favored healing, they lost mobility.
At that moment, he heard Medicine Master Wen’s voice—low, yet brimming with murderous intent:
“Done hitting? Then it’s my turn.”
The golden light on her body flowed onto the refined steel spear, coiling around it like liquid.
She raised the spear single-handedly, her body taut like a drawn bowstring!
The monks showed no fear, planning to tank it with their Arhat Robes and seize the chance to keep attacking her.
Only Chengming realized something was wrong and began retreating, shouting, “Dodge now, that’s—”
Token: Vajra Armor!
With a loud shout, Medicine Master Wen swept the spear horizontally with one hand.
Golden light spilled like liquid from the tip, transforming into a golden spear arc that slashed across!
What she swung was not a spear—it was a sea of blood!
The Arhat Robes on the monks shattered instantly.
Even Chengming couldn’t escape.
Every one of them was cleaved at the waist.
Blood splattered across the floor, forming a crimson line.
Nearby reception monks scrambled backward, crawling and stumbling, staring in terror at Medicine Master Wen and her companions.
Chengming wasn’t dead yet.
With only half his body left, he tried to widen his eyes and stared at her Black Wolf mask, trembling as he said, “Rare… it’s a rare… token…”
Smack!
Medicine Master Wen pierced his skull with a single spear thrust, ending his misery.
She glanced back at the others and calmly said, “Let’s move, time’s tight.”
Even through the mask, she could see the surprised expressions on White Fox and Red Snake’s faces, and instantly felt a surge of satisfaction.
Now you see how powerful I am!
But when she looked at Yellow Dog, she felt her fury boiling again—he had actually just walked right past her, not even slightly impressed by her display!
This is a rare token!
Have you ever seen a rare token?
Do you even know what a rare token is?
Clearly not, or you’d realize how incredible I am!
What a clueless bumpkin!
She nearly jabbed Yan Qing in the back with her spear.
At that moment, as Yan Qing opened the counter gate to enter the inner hall of Anguo Temple, the trembling abbot monk inside suddenly pulled out a戒刀 and tried to sneak-attack Yan Qing from behind.
Medicine Master Wen stepped forward and swept her spear single-handedly.
The powerful spear shaft smashed the abbot monk against the wall—he slid down like a rag and lost consciousness.
When Yan Qing turned to look, she snorted coldly and scolded, “Watch your surroundings—don’t cause me trouble.”
“Sorry,” Yan Qing smiled, “Don’t act in a moment—my people are here.”
Yellow Dog’s people?
Now it wasn’t just Medicine Master Wen—Ying Ru Shi and Shang Xinlei also turned curiously to look.
Yan Qing pushed open the doors between the counter and the inner hall.
At once, a wave of heat mixed with a burnt stench rushed out.
“This really is... blasphemy,” Ying Ru Shi muttered.
Inside the inner hall, where statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas stood tall, lay several twisted corpses—all burned to charcoal.
When the doors opened, a martial monk still bathed in flames was screaming, but he couldn’t escape.
Three identical triplets blocked his way.
Even though the fire had reached them too, they remained motionless until the monk collapsed, no longer moving.
More than a dozen frail, pale nobles huddled in the corner, their faces filled with terror.
They dared not make a sound, as if afraid of awakening some evil spirit in the Buddha Hall.
In the center of the inner hall stood a youth holding a blade with one hand.
Half his body was scorched black.
His right hand was burned down to half an arm—the remaining stump looked like hot charcoal, ready to crumble at any touch.
His eyebrows and hair had been burned off.
The skin on the right side of his face was so charred it resembled twisted, aged bark—his once-handsome features now hideously grotesque.
He faced the entire hall of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, like a demon climbing out of purgatory.
Yet Medicine Master Wen, Ying Ru Shi, and Shang Xinlei all noticed one thing at once—
The youth’s White Iron Straight Blade was identical to Yellow Dog’s blade!
“An Wu, I’ve arrived.”
Yan Qing stepped into the inner hall and greeted him loudly.
The youth turned to look at Yan Qing, expressionless on his demonic face.
For a moment, Yan Qing thought he wouldn’t recognize him—
“You’ve come.”
An Wu paused and added, “We killed four. Three escaped. They complained.”
At that last sentence, Xue Yan, Yang Third Miss, and the others froze—and their expressions changed dramatically.
Every one of them tensed up, their hearts in their throats.
They didn’t even dare to breathe.
Nervously, they stared at the strange figure wearing the Yellow Dog mask, awaiting his response!