A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

Jinshan Temple, Mahavira Hall.

The burning sandalwood made one's eyelids heavy, and the wooden fish was struck at a leisurely pace, in the same rhythm as an old monk chanting sutras.

Faming, wrapped in his golden robe, sat calmly in the main seat, his eyelids drooping, his hands casually twirling the prayer beads.

Zhang Yucheng and Liu Zhou stood on either side of the lower seat.

Zhang Yucheng held a teacup, casually blowing on the foam, taking a sip, smacking his lips, and smiling amiably.

"Hey, this tea tastes just right. Pre-rain Longjing? Local Yuhang brand? Much better than the cheap stuff our bureau gives out."

"You flatter me, Benefactor Zhang. These are just coarse leaves picked from a few wild tea trees on the back mountain, barely enough to moisten the throat."

"Coarse tea?"

Zhang Yucheng put down his teacup, his smile undiminished, but the conversation subtly shifted: "Master, you're too modest. Let's not beat around the bush. I'm here today on behalf of the Jinghai 749 Bureau to inquire about someone."

"Our department lost an employee a few days ago."

Zhang Yucheng leaned forward and stared at Faming.

"A proper government-employed position with all the benefits, including social insurance and housing fund. He works hard and is a good comrade."

"But a few days ago, they suddenly disappeared without a trace. We followed the trail, and guess what? The trail went straight to your Jinshan Temple."

"I heard that your temple invited us here for tea?"

Liu Zhou chimed in at the opportune moment, his voice so harsh it could break your teeth: "Detaining or kidnapping state officials without permission is a serious crime."

He emphasized the words "state civil servants" as if he were hammering nails into them.

The air in the main hall suddenly felt sticky.

All that was left was the wooden fish, "tap, tap, tap," striking so hard it made one's heart clench.

Faming slowly raised his eyelids, his gaze as calm as a still pond, with a hint of confusion appearing at just the right moment: "Benefactor Zhang, Benefactor Liu, what brings you to this?"

"Jinshan Temple is a pure Buddhist sanctuary, always strictly adhering to its rules. We are even afraid of harming ants when sweeping the floor. How could we commit such an evil act?"

"Furthermore, the monks of the temple have not been to Jinghai recently, nor have they descended the mountain, nor have they had any contact with your bureau. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstand?"

Zhang Yucheng's smile deepened, but the warmth in his eyes was long gone.

"But we almost fell for it. That thing, is it called Wangxiang? A rare monster that eats people's memories. It also carries the Buddhist guardian mantra that is unique to your Jinshan Temple."

"This protective mantra cannot be easily imitated by outsiders. Master Faming, don't you think this is a coincidence?"

Faming's hand, which was holding the prayer beads, paused almost imperceptibly.

But the expression on his face changed from confusion to helplessness, and even carried a hint of slight grievance of being wronged, making it seem like a real performance.

"Wangxiang? This humble monk has only ever seen its name in old books. As for the Buddhist Dharma protector mantra..."

"Alas, to be honest with you two, although this mantra is a Buddhist orthodox practice, it is quite widely circulated, and it is possible that some people from various schools and sects have occasionally learned it."

"Perhaps some unscrupulous individuals are impersonating Jinshan Temple to commit illegal acts, intending to frame us?"

"Benefactor Zhang, Benefactor Liu, this is a sacred Buddhist site; your reputation is more important than your life. This matter is absolutely not the work of Jinshan Temple. If you two do not believe me, please search us. However…"

His voice suddenly turned serious, carrying the undeniable pressure of a Divine Realm expert:

"To forcibly search an ancient temple without solid evidence is unreasonable and unacceptable. Even if it goes to the imperial court or the central government, this humble monk will seek justice. The Buddha is compassionate, but there are also fierce deities."

These words are soft yet firm, like a needle hidden in cotton.

They both absolved themselves of all responsibility and subtly issued a warning.

Zhang Yucheng knew exactly what was going on.

This old monk was certain they had no solid evidence.

As for that thing called Wangxiang, Ji Zuodao had already split its head open and sucked out its brains. The remaining parts were devoured by the enraged monster, leaving not even a trace.

Now there's no way to prove it.

"A search is unnecessary."

Zhang Yucheng waved his hand, leaned back in his chair, his smile fading slightly, but his tone remained polite: "We at Bureau 749 are very particular about rules. Since the master says there's no such thing, then it must be a misunderstanding. However..."

"The younger generation in our employees' families are impatient, don't like to talk about evidence, and are prone to doing something outrageous."

"Young people are hot-tempered and might not know their own strength. If they accidentally bump into your temple's pagoda or Buddha statues, or damage the flowers and plants, that wouldn't look good. Don't you think so?"

This is clearly a threat from vehicles and horses.

Faming didn't even lift his eyelids, as if he hadn't heard the barb in those words at all.

He clasped his hands together and uttered a Buddhist chant that revealed neither joy nor anger:

"Amitabha. Benefactor Zhang, you are overthinking it. Jinshan Temple is protected by the Buddha's teachings, and ordinary villains cannot get close to it. If there are any ignorant people who want to cause trouble, the Vajra Protector and Venerable Weituo will teach them a lesson."

The negotiations have reached a complete deadlock.

One was all smiles, demanding the person; the other was polite but refused to acknowledge them.

One is cunning and ruthless, the other is nonchalant and carefree.

Having said all that, there's no point in arguing any further.

"Alright, since that's what you say, Master, then we won't bother you any longer."

Zhang Yucheng stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes, and put on his warm smile again: "This tea is really good today, thank you. I hope to have it again next time."

"Please take your time, esteemed guests."

Faming also got up, still with that compassionate look, and personally escorted him to the entrance of the main hall.

Watching Zhang Yucheng and Liu Zhou stroll down the mountain path one after the other, the forced gentleness on Faming's face vanished instantly, leaving only an icy indifference.

He turned around, glanced in the direction of the forbidden area on the back mountain, and a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his lips.

"Bureau 749? Zhang Yucheng? Liuzhou?"

"That's all there is to it."

"If it were when you were lawless, I might have been a little afraid of you, but now..."

"A tiger that has had its teeth pulled is only capable of roaring twice."

"Fa'an, Fa'an, you're really senile to place your hopes on this kind of scum."

He shook his head, as if regretting a worthless object, then turned and slowly strolled back into the depths of the main hall, where incense smoke swirled and the faint sound of chanting could be heard.

……

Down the mountain, at the 749th Precinct of the Yuhang Public Security Bureau, behind that old warehouse piled with junk.

The atmosphere inside the room was so heavy it felt like you could wring water out of it.

Ji Zuodao, with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips, leaned against the window frame, watching Zhang Yucheng and Liu Zhou push the door open and come in.

Behind him were Su Xiaoxiao, Ao Yan, Ni Yu, Xiong Meng, Jin Xiaoman...

Every single one of the capable fighters in the Demon Management Department is crammed into this tiny space, their eyes gleaming like hungry wolves.

"Couldn't reach an agreement?"

Ji Zuodao looked at Uncle Liu's face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot, and immediately understood what was going on.

"Talk my ass!" Liu Zhou plopped down on a chair, grabbed a glass of iced tea from the table and gulped down more than half of it before slamming it down on the table with a bang, sending dust flying.

"That old bald monk, slippery as an eel! He tries to absolve himself completely in every word, and even tries to shift the blame! What pure Buddhist sanctuary, what wrathful Vajra, I spit on him! He's all talk and no action, but a heart full of thievery and debauchery!"

Zhang Yucheng remained composed, dragging a chair over to sit down and rubbing his temples.

"He denies it. He insists he didn't arrest Dog Master, saying that Wangxiang and the Guardian Curse have nothing to do with them. Without evidence, we're in the wrong for forcing our way in, and he's using his righteous cause to intimidate us."

"So there's no room for negotiation?"

Ji Zuodao took the cigarette out of his mouth and twirled it between his fingers, his face expressionless.

But those who know him well know that the calmer he appears, the more intense the fire burns inside him.

Zhang Yucheng looked at Ji Zuodao, his eyes calm:

"Since he doesn't want to be polite, then don't blame us for resorting to dirty tricks. You're forcing me to go back to my old ways. Xiao Ji, did you get the stuff I asked you to take from the warehouse out yet?"

Ji Zuodao took out the human skin bag and shook it out.

A bunch of random bits and pieces rolled out.

The most eye-catching thing was a dozen or so misshapen cloth headgear.

The hood was so poorly made that it was unrecognizable, yet clear patterns were drawn on it with coarse black ink.

It's not a ghost face, it's not a skull, it's a set of mahjong tiles!

One of the ten thousand, two of the bamboo, red dragon, white dragon, fortune... all sorts of colorful symbols, it actually looks quite convincing.

Zhang Yucheng looked down at the pile of comical yet sinister headgear on the table, and slowly a carefree smile, exactly like Ji Zuodao's, spread across his face.

He picked up the one with two lines drawn on it, casually put it on his head, and even adjusted its position.

"Hey, this feels right. It's been so many years since I've done this, I'm totally rusty."

Zhang Yucheng's voice came out muffledly from under the hood, tinged with laughter.

Liu Zhou strode forward, grabbed the one with the 30,000 mark on it, and shoved it over his head, saying as he did so:

"Isn't this the stuff we used to rob the aristocratic families from before we even joined 749? I thought you'd thrown it away a long time ago."

The group of monsters in the warehouse were completely dumbfounded.

What's going on here? Why are you even putting on an act?

Ji Zuodao turned around, pointed at the pile of headgear at the still bewildered demons:

"What are you all standing there for? Pick one yourselves! Pick one that looks good to you! From today until we snatch Dog back whole—"

He paused, then spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his voice echoing in the empty warehouse:

"We're damn bandits!"

"Bandits?" Xiong Meng scratched his big head and repeated it in a silly manner.

"That's right! We'll deal with anyone who dares to defy us! We'll rob Jinshan Temple and be bandits who rob the rich to help the poor!" Ji Zuodao roared.

"oh!!!"

The monsters instantly understood, their eyes widening like searchlights, and all their previous frustration vanished!

Robbery? We're experts at that! It's our specialty!

"I want to get rich! I want to get rich big!" Jin Xiaoman was the first to rush forward and hug the "get rich" tightly.

"A blank tile! A blank tile looks clean!" Ni Yu frowned and reluctantly picked out the blank tile from a pile of one-treasure and nine-bamboo tiles.

"I want this one! It's round and plump, just perfect!" Xiong Meng grinned from ear to ear and slammed the tube down on his big head.

"Red Center! May your life be prosperous and thriving!" Su Xiaoxiao snatched the Red Center and put it on her head, which actually made her look quite charming.

"The one-of-a-kind is mine!"

"The nine of bamboo is mine! Nobody can take it from me!"

"East wind! I'll be the east wind!"

……

In the blink of an eye, the once lifeless warehouse was transformed into a sea of ​​mahjong tiles.

A group of bizarrely shaped, eerie-looking fellows, wearing uniquely designed mahjong tile headgear, huddled together, creating a scene that was both strange and wildly comical.

"Cough cough."

Zhang Yucheng coughed twice, trying to maintain order.

"Hey comrades, no, brothers! This operation of ours is rather special. It's a spontaneous act by civilians, and has absolutely nothing to do with the 749 Bureau. We're just bandits who stand up for justice! Understand? We're bandits! Roaming bandits!" Zhang Yucheng said in a very serious tone.

Wearing a "30,000" hood, Liu Zhou added in a deep voice, "Yeah, we're bandits, the ruthless kind! We rob any bald monk we see, and then we run for our lives, no hesitation!"

"That's right!" Ji Zuodao waved his hand. "Our slogan is—"

The demons (bandits) shouted at the top of their lungs, their voices nearly lifting the roof off:

"This mountain is mine! These trees are mine! If you want to pass, leave your dog behind!"

Just then, there was another knock on the warehouse door.

A middle-aged, overweight man wearing the uniform of the Yuhang 749 Bureau, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, rubbed his hands together and sneaked in.

Upon entering, the fat man's face twitched slightly when he saw the warehouse full of "mahjong tiles," but then he laughed even more heartily.

"Hey! Brother Zhang! Brother Liu! My lords! Sorry for keeping you waiting! There was a traffic jam on the way, I'm a little late!"

The visitor was Xu Chuan, the director of the 749th branch of the Yuhang Public Security Bureau.

Zhang Yucheng walked over, put his arm around Xu Chuan's thick shoulder, and whispered:

"Old Xu, enough with the nonsense. You know everything. We bandits are going up the mountain tonight to smash up brothels. Your Yuhang Bureau has only one mission."

Xu Chuan narrowed his small eyes into slits, patted his chest, and his fat jiggled:

"Leave it to me, brother! Go ahead and smash everything! When you've had enough, give me a signal, and I'll bring my men down like a whirlwind! We'll drive you audacious bandits away in a spectacular fashion!"

"We will ensure the scene is handled flawlessly and the matter is resolved cleanly, classifying it as a robbery by bandits. The heroic Yuhang Branch of the 749th Bureau successfully defended the ancient temple and repelled the bandits!"

He paused, licked his lips, and his smile became somewhat obsequious:

"However...brother, you can't shortchange me on my 30% share, as we agreed before."

"You know our local bureau is extremely tight on funds. The brothers put in the work, so we should get some compensation for running errands, tea money, and emotional distress, right?"

Ji Zuodao walked over and slapped a heavy, pre-prepared small cloth bag into Xu Chuan's hand.

"Director Xu, we understand the rules. This is a deposit. After the deal is done, you'll get 30% of the lost treasures from Jinshan Temple. We'll keep the accounts as clean as a monk's head."

Xu Chuan hefted the cloth bag, listening to the crisp clinking sounds inside, his eyes crinkling into a wide grin.

"Great! Section Chief Ji is a straightforward man! Then I wish all of you heroes a swift success and a resounding victory."

"Those three vans outside with fake license plates, you'll never find their way back. All the gear is under the seats, top-quality stuff from the black market, no criminal record. Talismans, explosives, magic cones... plenty!"

"OK."

Ji Zuodao turned around and looked at the group of bandits in the warehouse, who were dressed in a flamboyant manner but exuded a murderous aura.

Night was seeping in through the high windows of the warehouse.

In the distance, the direction of Jinshan Temple was hidden in the vast twilight, with only a faint golden light on the mountaintop, which seemed both mocking and enticing.

"Brothers."

Ji Zuodao's voice came from under the hood, calm, yet with a resolute and cold hardness.

"Grab your weapons."

"Go up the mountain."

"Pick up our Dog Lord—"

"go home!"

"roar--!!!"

A low, suppressed roar echoed through the warehouse.

A group of "bandits" silently and swiftly poured out of the warehouse and filed into the three unassuming bread carts outside the door.

The engine roared low, the wheels rolled through the dust, and it quickly disappeared into the deepening night, speeding towards the mountain outside Yuhang City, shrouded in a faint Buddhist light and twilight.

Xu Chuan stood at the warehouse entrance, watching the taillights of the car disappear, and the smile on his face slowly faded.

He weighed the money bag in his hand, glanced in the direction of Jinshan Temple, and clicked his tongue.

"Faming, Faming... Of all people to mess with, why did you have to provoke these living ancestors..."

"And they even tied up someone else's dog..."

"The moon over Jinshan Temple tonight is probably going to be a bit red."

He shook his head, put his hands behind his back, hummed an off-key tune, and swayed away.

Next, it's time to gather the troops and prepare for a spectacular show of "divine soldiers descending from the sky to bravely drive away the bandits."

As for whether the stage will collapse?

What does that have to do with Xu Chuan?

He only wanted the 30% "hardship fee" and a impressive resume of "heroically repelling the bandits".

The night is still long.

A storm is brewing, and the wind is already blowing through the building.