The Condor Heroes: The Quanzhen Sect has produced a vengeful master!

"Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot. But the road to Buddhahood is full of thorns. Even if there are ten thousand evil people in the world who want to become Buddhas, they can't just think about it and actually do it."

"Since Buddha is willing to forgive them..."

"The saying goes, 'To send someone to the Buddha, send them to the Western Paradise.' What I need to do is send them to see the Buddha!"

"If they sincerely repent, I will be helping them and accumulating good karma; if they are not sincere, then killing them is just killing them!"

Zhu Ziliu paused, his hand holding the wine glass still.

This was the first time he had ever heard such a principle, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

After a long while, he downed the wine in one gulp, then shook his head with a smile.

"Excellent! You've gone all the way to the end!"

"Master Wang's reasoning is truly unprecedented!"

If Wang Jiuling were to speak in classical Chinese principles or give a serious, formulaic response, Zhu Ziliu would at most think that he had a chivalrous heart.

But this answer actually made Zhu Ziliu have a better impression of Wang Jiuling.

He no longer made things difficult for Wang Jiuling, but instead made a suggestion with a smile.

"Master Wang, since you can't see my master for the time being, how about this: I've been investigating a group of wicked criminals who committed murder and arson recently."

"If Master Wang is willing to do something chivalrous, why not help me? After this matter is resolved, I can return to Dali."

"Master Wang, if you travel with me, I can also help you with introductions, saving you from many inconveniences of traveling to Dali Kingdom alone. What do you think?"

Now that it has been confirmed that Wang Jiuling was not a man of indiscriminate killing, Zhu Ziliu proposed to accompany him.

Wang Jiuling thought about it and agreed; having Zhu Ziliu as an introducer was a good thing.

"Very well! Senior Zhu's invitation is my natural choice!"

Zhu Ziliu then recounted the events to Wang Jiuling.

About two weeks ago, Zhu Ziliu heard a rumor in several villages outside the city:

It is said that in recent months, a group of evil spirits have been committing evil deeds at night, specifically targeting young women and sending them to unknown places, causing suffering to several villages.

Asking a Taoist priest or reporting to the authorities was useless.

Zhu Ziliu passed through this place. He didn't believe in ghosts and thought someone was doing evil, so he secretly investigated.

Those black and white duo were the suspects that Zhu Ziliu had observed in recent days.

Zhu Ziliu followed them today, and that's how they arrived at the restaurant.

Upon hearing this, Wang Jiuling immediately felt a pang of regret. "If I had killed the Black and White Duo, wouldn't I have severed your trail, senior?"

Zhu Ziliu smiled and shook his head. "It's alright! I followed them to the restaurant today and have roughly confirmed that they have nothing to do with it!"

"but..."

Zhu Ziliu's expression darkened.

"However, those so-called evil spirits are really difficult to track down. In recent days, I have visited those villages and questioned the villagers, but I still haven't found many clues!"

Wang Jiuling's curiosity was also piqued, though he didn't believe in any evil spirits.

"I'll go take a look with you today, senior!"

After the two finished their meal, they set off to inquire about information in a nearby village.

But behind them, a gaze was fixed intently on them, unnoticed even by Zhu Ziliu…

In the afternoon, at the entrance of a village outside the city.

"Li Family Village".

Wang Jiuling and Zhu Ziliu stood at the village entrance. Wang Jiuling looked at the stone tablet at the village entrance and read it aloud.

"This village is the largest of the suffering villages! I think it should also have the most clues!"

Zhu Ziliu explained from the side.

Wang Jiuling nodded, and the two entered the village. Just as they passed the village entrance, several children wearing bibs ran out and blocked their way.

"Who are you? What are you doing in our Li Family Village?"

Zhu Ziliu walked up and spoke with a smile.

"Baby, don't you recognize me?"

The leader of the children looked at Zhu Ziliu carefully before a smile appeared on his face.

"Mr. Zhu? You're here again?"

Zhu Ziliu took out some odds and ends of food from his bundle and gave them to the children. The two of them were then led towards the village.

"When I came to investigate that evil spirit before, I saw that these children were smart and eager to learn, so I taught them a few words, which is why they recognize me."

Zhu Ziliu explained to Wang Jiuling in a low voice, and the two followed behind several children, soon entering the village.

"Child! Where are all the adults from your village?"

Zhu Ziliu asked the children because he and Wang Jiuling noticed that the village was unusually quiet today. After entering the village, they didn't see a single adult except for the barking of dogs.

The leader of the children also showed a serious expression.

"Sir, our village is holding a river god worship ceremony today! All the adults have gone to watch the excitement, we children can't go!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ziliu's expression changed slightly.

"But is it because of that evil spirit?"

Upon hearing this, the children's faces showed fear, but they still nodded.

"Yes, sir! The village chief and the others are performing a ritual for the gods right now, so it's best if you don't disturb them."

Wang Jiuling and Zhu Ziliu exchanged a glance and decided to go and see. Zhu Ziliu squatted down, took out a rattle drum from his pocket, and successfully got the child king to take them there.

When we arrived at the back of the village and the front of the mountain, we could already hear the sound of gongs and drums.

"Sir! We children aren't allowed to go and watch the excitement, so I can only take you this far!"

Once the children got there, they refused to go any further. Zhu Ziliu and Wang Jiuling didn't mind and headed towards the direction from which the sound came.

Soon we saw a crowd ahead; it was quite lively.

The village chief was leading several young men in singing something, while Wang Jiuling and his companion watched from a short distance away.

It wasn't until the old village chief and others, covered in sweat, saw it from afar.

"Oh dear! Mr. Zhu has arrived? Why didn't you let me know beforehand? I could have sent someone to pick you up!"

The village chief was at least eighty years old, with a face full of wrinkles, but he was very polite to Zhu Ziliu.

Clearly, Zhu Ziliu had a good relationship with them, and he introduced Wang Jiuling to the village chief.

Afterwards, the village chief took the two to his house to rest.

"Village chief, which deity are you worshipping?"

Faced with Zhu Ziliu's question, the village chief sighed, his face full of helplessness.

"To be honest, sir, he is the river god of the river behind our village!"

"Alas! We've reported this to the authorities, but they can't control ghosts and spirits. We've offered sacrifices at the ancestral hall, but it's been to little avail. That evil spirit is truly..."

"We have no choice but to try worshipping the river god; maybe it will protect our Li Family Village!"

Unexpectedly, upon arriving in this village, they encountered a religious ceremony, and Zhu Ziliu quickly greeted them with a smile.

"Village chief, I've come today to investigate this matter as well! This is the helper I've invited!"

"There were some questions I didn't get clear about last time, and I'd like to find out more this time!"

Upon hearing Zhu Ziliu's words, the village chief shook his head with a wry smile.

"Mr. Zhu, I know you're a good man. You teach the children to write without charging them and you're willing to help us, but..."

The village chief pursed his lips, speaking earnestly.

"But that evil spirit is not something an ordinary person like you can handle!"

"You've come to investigate several times... If that evil spirit targets us, wouldn't you be in danger too?"

Zhu Ziliu quickly got up.

"Village chief, believe me, I do have some martial arts skills, and that wasn't an evil spirit, I..."

He was only halfway through his sentence when the village chief waved him off.

"Oh no, no! No matter how good your martial arts are, how can you fight against an evil spirit?"

The village chief waved his hand dismissively.

"Sir, you are a good man, and I absolutely cannot let you lose your life in vain! You should leave!"

Now, Zhu Ziliu really had no other choice.

The village chief simply didn't believe him, no matter how he explained.

Wang Jiuling, standing to the side, smiled as he looked at the helpless Zhu Ziliu.

He stood up and pulled Zhu Ziliu into the courtyard.

Zhu Ziliu was truly helpless. "Master Wang! You see, this is my predicament. I want to investigate, but they are unwilling to cooperate..."

"These past two weeks have been incredibly difficult for me!"

"Senior Zhu!" Wang Jiuling said with a smile.

"They've lived their whole lives here, unlike us who travel the world, so it's no wonder they have limited experience!"

"Even if you explain it to the village chief like that, he probably won't believe you!"

"He meant well; he didn't want to drag us down with him!"

Zhu Ziliu sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Then...what do you suggest we do?"

Wang Jiuling smiled mysteriously and gestured for Zhu Ziliu to come closer.

"Senior, we'll do this later..."