Headless Immortal

Chapter 105 Grand Temple Fair, Assassinating the Living Buddha

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Before dawn, it was as if the sleeping heavens wanted to open their eyes but couldn't bear to see the bleakness of the world. With a few slight tremors, they shook off some of the darkness and painted a thick layer of gray fog into a plain color.

It was early winter.

Jiujiang is located in the south, and there is no ice or snow. The winter in Jiujiang is characterized by white frost, fog, and breath turning into smoke.

Firecrackers crackled and popped in the thin mist.

The smoke from gunpowder mingled with the aroma of street food stalls, drifting far and wide. A poorly dressed beggar, wanting to smell it, coughed twice, choked by the fumes.

The little beggar loved to wander around crowded places, hoping to catch a bite to eat if a kind person gave them some food, which would help them get through the day.

The temple fair was certainly crowded, but that wasn't his purpose for coming this time. So even though his hands and feet were frozen and his thin clothes couldn't keep him warm, he didn't try to find a secluded corner to hide in. Standing in line with the crowd, holding his broken bowl, he felt conflicted. He wanted to get closer to the stove to warm himself, but he was also afraid of losing his place.

Several shackled monks wielded shovels that resembled iron spades, stirring up a large iron pot placed at the street corner.

The steam rose into the mist and floated like clouds, and the pure aroma of the cooked grains instantly extinguished the smoke of battle.

Listening to the sounds of swallowing and rumbling stomachs around him, the little beggar's mouth watered. He swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva and licked his dry lips.

Not wanting the wind to make it even colder, she quickly covered her mouth and face with her hands.

Looking back, the three lines were even longer than the dragon dance that was being prepared. Luckily, he was short and sandwiched between the adults around him, so he only shivered a few times.

Across half the road, beggars were being counted, while constables and sergeants chatted idly, sitting around a table waiting for mutton offal soup, the pungent and sticky smell lingering in the air.

When I was a little while later, the waiter brought out several large bowls of hot soup with chopped scallions, cilantro, and bits of oil floating on top.

The bailiff grabbed a hot flatbread, tore it into his mouth, chewed it vigorously, picked up the large bowl, slurped down the hot soup, and exhaled a long breath of hot air. His pale face immediately regained its rosy color, and his dry, chapped lips were coated with a layer of ointment.

The skinny man tugged at his collar and said, "This is no job for a human being. We have to get up early in the morning and guard Qingquan Temple."

The burly constable said, "Hey, from now on, it won't be called Qingquan Temple, it will be called Lord's Temple."

The name was changed three days ago, and the new signboard was hung up early.

The common people may not know, but they know a little about the inside story.

"I heard it's a great monster."

The bailiff looked at the burly bailiffs, and this was the only one among them who had passed the test.

The constable surnamed Zhang had neither participated in the siege nor faced the monster directly; he had only heard about it from others.

"Of course it's a great monster. I heard that the monster is ten feet tall and six or seven feet wide. Its iron fists are like stone mills. With just one punch, my cousin's fellow soldier died. The body was dragged back and was unrecognizable. You didn't see it. The old, weak, women and children were left crying terribly."

"How much compensation?"

"Twelve taels."

"so tall?"

"How can soldiers be compared to us constables? Some are paid by the government, some by the imperial court, and some by the county magistrate himself. Unlike us, we only get a few taels at most."

"Death is death. As long as you're not eaten by monsters and your body is completely destroyed, that's good enough. I heard that the Dou family was eaten by monsters. It was terrible. Their bodies were all mutilated."

"The Dou family has only themselves to blame, but these people from Peach Blossom Village are truly monsters who eat people without spitting out the bones."

The constable surnamed Zhang was still shaken, wondering what the magistrate was thinking, allowing a monster to build a temple in the city.

Without city walls to defend against monsters, closing the city gates won't stop them from devouring all the people in the city. These corrupt officials have truly lost their minds. Thinking it over, it's nothing more than the government colluding with monsters to eat people.

"Eat quickly, we still have work to do in a bit."

……

With the sound of gongs, the lion and dragon dances kicked off the show, and the opera troupe began to perform. Acrobatics, fire-breathing, knife-climbing, monkey shows, songs and dances... all unfolded like a revolving lantern on the high platform erected in front of the temple gate.

Men, women, and children from all over the city, along with devout believers, packed the long street to the brim, and cheers could be heard from the two-story buildings from time to time.

This time, Master Lü did not go on stage to give a speech. Perhaps he knew that inviting monsters into the city was dishonorable, so he pretended not to know, since the common people were unaware of the inside story anyway.

Lu Qian, dressed in official robes, sat high on the second floor of the teahouse. At the table were the county magistrate, the county assistant magistrate, and other inspectors and clerks.

The advisor took the stage and gave a speech, explaining the benefits of inviting the "master," saying that the fishing would surely yield a bountiful catch, the weather would be favorable so that the land would not be barren, gold and silver treasures would be as common as dirt, and having enough to eat and wear would no longer be a dream.

There is only one condition: the deceased will no longer be buried in the ground, but will instead be sky-buried.

As for what sky burial is, the advisor did not explain.

The old village chief and the village head, who were standing together on the stage, nodded in satisfaction.

They thought they would be defeated if they were no match for the government troops, but the Living Buddha was one step ahead. Now even the county magistrate has to admit that the Living Buddha is superior.

The old village chief looked at the throng of people who had finally emerged from that secluded corner. Before, jewels were dirt, but now they were treasures. From now on, they would live a life of luxury.

The most important thing is to buy land, buy lots and lots of land, become a big landowner, and silently pray for the blessing of the Living Buddha.

The two exchanged a knowing smile and sang in unison, "The Living Buddha enters the temple!"

Firecrackers soared into the sky.

Dragon and lion dances led the way, followed by the sounds of bells and drums. A procession playing suona horns walked down the long street, followed by women scattering flower petals, and then neatly arranged shrimp soldiers and crab generals.

Upon seeing this, the crowd immediately stirred.

Although the county government issued a notice a few days ago saying that there would be spirits and monsters.

When they actually saw the monster, they were still startled.

Turning around, they saw well-trained, heavily armed soldiers and swaggering constables in black uniforms. The people who had been restrained behind the ropes began to discuss noisily.

People pointed and whispered, some with surprise, some covering their faces in fear, and others snickering, curious, or delighted... their expressions varied, making the scene even more lively.

Behind Sturgeon Warrior and Catfish Warrior followed crab soldiers carrying boxes.

The two monsters stretched out their large, fan-like hands, grabbed the pearls, and flung them out. The pearls bloomed in mid-air like raindrops, then dripped down and hit people.

Everyone panicked for a moment, but after seeing what it was, they were overjoyed with surprise.

"It's a pearl!"

What was initially a slow and gentle simmering of people suddenly felt like being cooked in a raging fire.

The pot exploded with a bang.

On the second floor, County Lieutenant Lei Ji's expression changed drastically: "My lord, there may be a popular uprising. Should we order the soldiers to...?"

Lu Qian raised his hand to stop him and said calmly, "If it wants to make a show of itself, then this county will make a show of itself for it."

The soldiers guarding the rope barrier changed their expressions, holding their spears horizontally to block the surging crowd. Just as the dam was about to burst, a huge palanquin carried by twenty-eight strong men burst out of the fog, resembling a giant shrine with a thin veil fluttering in the wind. Inside, a massive monster sat cross-legged, forming a hand seal.

With round eyes, a tapir-like nose, an elephant-like mouth, and sharp teeth, its multiple eyelids reveal intricate folds, showcasing a pair of black and gold pupils, and its bulky body is concealed by a hard shell.

雾，
It's bigger now.

Like shallow water spreading among wild grass, the bustling crowd gradually quieted down.

On the third floor of the restaurant across the street, Master Jueming's expression suddenly changed, and a hint of anger appeared in his eyes: "He has telepathy and is bewitching people's hearts."

This is not how Buddhism is used. He is now filled with contradictions. On the one hand, he is amazed by the Eighth King's potential and wisdom, and on the other hand, he despises his methods. He wants to guide the Eighth King onto the right path, but it is clear that his prejudices are deeply rooted.

Most importantly, he lacked the powerful means to subdue demons and monsters.

The jewelry was still being scattered, and many people were picking it up.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out. Just as several soldiers were about to intervene, a boy slipped out from under someone's crotch and stood upright in the street.

The small, thin figure blocked the massive procession, and the shrimp soldiers and crab generals immediately jumped out and pinned the boy down.

The gaunt boy clutched a smooth piece of iron, refusing to let go, and cried out defiantly, "Give me back my parents' lives!"

The Living Buddha of Taoyuan waved his hand to signal the soldiers to retreat, and calmly said, "Your father broke his promise and died because of his own desires."

The boy's eyes reddened, and he cried out, "Where is my mother?"

The Living Buddha Yinfa said, “I did not kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of it. It was my fault. This is the meaning of my taking charge of Meilan County, to prevent the people from dying in vain again.”

Cheng Yan felt aggrieved just looking at the red-eyed boy.

That bastard killed his father, indirectly causing his mother's death, and then used his mother's death to educate the people—how utterly shameless! What's the use of admitting his mistakes when the person is already dead?

He was about to look at Uncle Cat beside him when he realized that the tall figure in the cloak who had been standing there just moments before was gone.

The boy felt like his lungs were about to explode with anger.

His father had told him to keep the secret that night, and how could he not keep his promise if he was killed on his way to return the money? At first, he thought his father had run off with the money, but later, when the magistrate interrogated the Dou family, he learned that it was actually people from the county town who had murdered him.

Having lost his father, the pillar of the family, and with no savings left, he had no choice but to beg for food.

There was no food to eat, and my mother died.

He was already poor, but now his family is ruined and his people are dead, and this big bastard is still pretending to be compassionate by giving out porridge at the temple. Bah! He tried to struggle, but his little arms and legs were no match for these shrimp soldiers and crab generals.

Suddenly, he felt that he could move his arm.

Looking again, a mangled shrimp hand was hanging on his arm. Before he could even be shocked, he felt a dark cloud envelop him. Looking back, he saw a tall warrior wearing a black cloak, a Nuo mask, and dark blue armor.

The martial artist lowered his head, his pair of golden, demonic eyes shining on the boy.

The boy looked at the severed shrimp hand and the fallen crab arm, then at the tall martial artist wearing a Nuo mask. The distinct martial arts attire gave the boy a sense of purpose, and he burst into tears, kneeling on the ground with a thud, choking out, "Hero, hero, help me get revenge, please, help me get revenge."

Lu Xun picked the boy up from the ground and threw him away.

The boy's snot and tears flew into the air, and before he could react, Cheng Yan, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, caught them.

The Living Buddha, seated on the lotus throne, lowered his eyelids and said coldly, "It's you."

The glint in his eyes was hidden by his eyelids. If it weren't for the need to prioritize the overall situation and complete Mr. Ni's plan, and also to enhance his own power and become a Buddha in the temple, he wouldn't have endured it for so long.

The Living Buddha's eyes were filled with hatred, and he was afraid that he would suddenly burst out and tear Wutong Luxun apart.

Lu Xun calmly gazed at the Living Buddha of Peach Blossom Spring on the high seat. With a wave of his hand, Xue Mao grabbed the shrimp soldier with the severed hand and ripped off his head. The crab soldier, who was trying to escape, had just turned around when his head disappeared from his neck, his body still in a running posture. Blood spurted out in a jet and then gushed out.

The Living Buddha flew into a rage, his eyes blazing with uncontrollable hatred: "You're courting death!"

That damned beast has ruined his plans time and time again, and even Mr. Ni died at its hands. How can one not hate and be angry?

He wished he could eat its flesh and drink its blood.

Long.

The nine-foot-tall figure shattered the shrine, which then splintered in all directions. The twenty-eight strongmen carrying the lotus platform gritted their teeth in agony, their faces contorted as they endured the terrifying force of the fall.

The strong laborers' knees buckled, and they all fell to their knees. Some even let go, trying to escape, but their shoulders were smashed by the pillars, and screams of agony filled the air.

thump.

The Living Buddha jumped off the lotus seat, and his feet caused a two-inch collapse, with cracks like a spider web.

"Protect the Living Buddha!"

Ao Xiao gathered, and the warriors of Taoyuan Township took out their armor and put it on, while Lu Xun, the shrimp soldiers and crab generals, surrounded them in the center.

The two strongmen stared intently, the otter scout aimed his crossbow, and the thunder toad jumped onto the eaves of a small building on the side, puffing out his cheeks and turning his bulging eyes slightly as he stared intently at the black-robed monster in front of the long street.

The Living Buddha pushed aside the demon soldiers in front of him, stepped into the circle, and lowered his gaze: "Even if you hadn't come, I would have come looking for you. You killed Mr. Ni, so you deserve to die!"

Lu Xun twitched his fangs and grinned, "Oh? You also know how to take revenge."

"Revenge is a matter of course."

Lu Xun sneered: "Since revenge is a matter of course, why do you need to find those reasons to stop that child from seeking revenge against you? You are high and mighty, and the common people are just livestock you raise. Those you like are fattened up for your own use, and those you don't like are killed and eaten. You not only want to kill and eat people, but you also want to kill and eat people in the light."

“That night, you asked me why I wanted to kill you. I said I was on my own. Your attitude changed drastically. You knew I had no government connections and that my death wouldn’t affect your plans.”

Lu Xun was always a master at reading between the lines, so how could he not understand the purpose of the Living Buddha's question?

He could have easily said that he came to slay demons and monsters, but he refused; he insisted on dissecting everything thoroughly.

Without him.

Because this is his truest desire, it doesn't need any other embellishment or modification, and it also avoids tainting the words "slaying demons and eliminating evil" with his own desire.

The old village chief angrily retorted: "You're talking nonsense. The Living Buddha treats us sincerely, ensuring that we have enough to eat and wear, live in peace and prosperity, and are no longer oppressed by corrupt officials."

The village chief's words drew countless echoes.

Lu Xun removed the Nuo mask from his face, untied his black robe and cloak, revealing a red face and green teeth: "He is using you to cultivate without realizing it. You are nothing more than insects in his petri dish."

"As long as sages exist, so too will great thieves. Rulers are born with original sin; governing well is atonement, while not governing well is continuing to commit crimes. Oh, right, I forgot, you people here are fond of being emperors. Emperors are never wrong; the fault always lies with the common people. They blame the common people for being too well-fed, or they blame them for not being well-fed."

People are afraid of being restless; even in death, they want to live a peaceful and prosperous life.

Danfan wanted to catch his breath rather than escalate the situation.

Lu Xun chuckled. How much better was he? If he hadn't thought there was still room for maneuver and that he could drive away the white-masked man with intimidation, he wouldn't have ended up like this.

He's miraculously brought back to life; he should be secretly happy. Many others die, but that's all that matters.

He ripped open the tube hanging from his waist, opened his blood-red mouth wide, and tilted his head back to drink deeply.

The dark red, viscous crow's blood entered my mouth.

The gilded demon eyes turned crimson.

His magical power surged around his body like smoke and clouds, resembling a blazing bonfire. His surging blood and qi, tinged with red, intertwined with his magical power.

happy.

True pleasure comes from settling scores and seeking revenge!

The red-faced, golden-toothed Yu Rong monster roared and howled: "Roar!"

Lu Xun leaped up from the ground, jumping more than ten feet in one bound.

The local militia and demon soldiers surrounding Lu Xun thrust their spears into the center of the circle. Seeing Lu Xun leap into the air, they immediately swarmed up to the center and held their spears upright in the sky.

(End of this chapter)