Killing Monks

They hadn't even arrived at Luoqing County yet, but Guangyuan and Chu Kuangjun had already spotted the Lu family's presence.

At a tea stall along the official road, traveling merchants taking a break were talking in hushed tones.

The passing caravans were marked with the prominent character "Lu," and even the horse-changing receipts at the post stations along the way were stamped with the Lu family's private seal.

To the people around Luoqing County, the Lu family was a behemoth.

When people from the martial arts world pass through this place and the Lu family is mentioned, most of them shake their heads and take a detour.

It's not fear, it's trouble!

It's neither worthwhile nor necessary to clash head-on with such a powerful clan that has been rooted for centuries.

Of course, there were also some stubborn young people who didn't believe in superstitions who came, but they never heard from them again.

The Lu family's domineering nature is ingrained in their very bones.

Right now, a caravan from the Lu family is coming from the other end of the official road.

There were more than twenty large carts, with iron-plated wheels and flags bearing the character "陆" (Lu) on their shafts, all ridden by chestnut horses.

The lead rider, dressed in a sharp outfit and with a long knife at his waist, swept his eyes across the road, causing pedestrians and merchants to give way.

A small merchant caravan from out of town was a little slow to move aside, and a rider from the Lu family pointed with his whip and said coldly, "Make way."

The caravan manager turned pale and hurriedly told his men to move the cart to the side of the road. The wheels rolled into a mud pit and almost tipped over.

Chu Kuangjun and Guangyuan stood under a roadside tea stall watching this scene.

"What a magnificent display," Chu Kuangjun said softly.

Upon arriving in Luoqing County, the Lu family's power became even more apparent.

On the most impressive street in the center of the county town, half of the shops have plaques bearing the name of the Lu family.

The Lu family's influence extends to grain shops, cloth shops, pawnshops, restaurants, and even pharmacies and coffin shops.

When pedestrians on the street see members of the Lu family, they will usually step aside to make way for them.

The Lu family mansion is located in the east of the city and covers a vast area.

The gate is painted vermilion, and in front of it are a pair of stone lions as tall as a person, staring with their eyes wide open and mouths agape, as if they want to swallow a person whole.

The walls are high, with layers of eaves visible on top, revealing countless courtyards.

The two stood on the street corner, looking at the tightly closed door.

"If we went up to him and introduced ourselves as Lu Fei's friends," Guangyuan said slowly, "what do you think would happen?"

"Will they be politely invited in, or thrown out? Or... detained outright?"

Chu Kuangjun shook his head, his meaning unspoken.

Previously, the Tang family had only sent people to inquire about Lu Fei's whereabouts, but the Lu family followed the clues and came to their door, kidnapping the entire family.

If those two were foolish enough to knock on the door, they would probably never return.

"But if we don't enter through the main gate, how are we supposed to gather information?" Chu Kuangjun frowned. "The Lu family has managed Luoqing County like an ironclad fortress."

"Look, along this journey, every inn, teahouse, and carriage shop—which one isn't connected to the Lu family?"

"If we ask two unfamiliar faces a few more questions, it might arouse suspicion."

Guangyuan remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the streets and alleys.

"I do know a place," he said, "where we might be able to find out some information."

"where?"

"The local temple."

Are there any temples in the area?

Guangyuan said, "There is no temple, but there is a monastery. Mingyue Monastery."

Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries formed their own distinct groups, and although they colluded with local powerful families and government officials, they still maintained their independence.

Chu Kuangjun's eyes lit up: "You mean, go to the temple to stay overnight?"

"Stop lodging, ask for lodging, offer alms, say whatever you want." Guangyuan turned around, "In short, find a place to stay first, then slowly inquire about other options."

The two did not linger, asked a few people along the street, and then headed towards Mingyue Temple in the west of the city.

The temple wasn't large; it was hidden at the end of a quiet alley, with white walls and gray tiles, and two old locust trees in front of the door, giving it a serene atmosphere.

The three characters "Mingyue Temple" on the lintel are somewhat faded, and the incense seems to be not very strong.

This is exactly what Guangyuan needs.

The lack of popularity of incense offerings indicates a shallow connection with the local community.

The gate was half-closed.

Guangyuan stepped forward and gently knocked on the door knocker.

Before long, a middle-aged Taoist priest opened the wooden door.

He wore a faded gray-blue Taoist robe, was slender with slightly sunken cheeks, but stood upright like a pine tree, his eyes held a restrained brilliance, and his breathing was long and deep.

Upon seeing the two unfamiliar faces, he paused slightly, "And you two are...?"

Guangyuan bowed with one hand: "I am just passing through on my travels and would like to stay at your esteemed temple for a few days. Would you be so kind as to grant me this request?"

The Taoist priest's gaze swept over the two of them.

First look at Guangyuan, dressed as a monk, with short, strong hair.

When he looked at Chu Kuangjun again, his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment flashed in his eyes.

"Amitabha," the Taoist priest said, turning slightly to the side, his tone gentle yet firm, "This temple is a proper Buddhist site and it is not appropriate for female relatives to stay overnight. This female benefactor..."

"...I am a man," Chu Kuangjun said calmly.

The air suddenly became quiet.

The Taoist's expression froze.

He had lived for over forty years and seen many people, but the face before him, with its exquisite features, fair skin, and beauty that could be described as breathtaking, was actually that of a man?!

He blinked, then looked closely at Chu Kuangjun's Adam's apple and figure, and finally confirmed it.

"Ah..." The Taoist's lips moved, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out two words, "Excuse me."

He coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment and stepped aside, saying, "In that case, please come in, both of you."

He led the two to a side courtyard of Mingyue Temple.

The secluded courtyard is quiet and secluded, with several side rooms surrounding a small courtyard, and a few clumps of slender bamboo planted in the corner of the wall.

The Taoist priest led them to a clean guest room and pushed open the wooden door. The room was simply furnished with a hard bed, a square table, and two wooden stools, but it was quite tidy.

"It costs fifty coins a day for lodging and ten coins a day for vegetarian meals," the Taoist priest said, his tone returning to its usual calm and businesslike manner. "If you want meat dishes, the price will be calculated separately."

Upon hearing this, Guangyuan smiled slightly: "So you are a senior brother from the Zhengyi Sect."

The Taoist schools in the world are generally divided into two branches: Zhengyi and Quanzhen.

The Zhengyi sect allows marriage and the consumption of meat. The Quanzhen sect, however, requires strict adherence to precepts, prohibiting marriage and the consumption of meat.

The Taoist priest shook his head: "No."

"That must be Quanzhen's senior brother."

"Not necessarily." The Taoist priest said calmly, "Not all Taoists in this world belong to the Zhengyi or Quanzhen lineages."

A knowing glint flashed in Guangyuan's eyes, and his smile deepened: "What you say is true, senior brother. Just like the monks in this world, not all of them belong to the eight branches of the orthodox lineage."

The two looked at each other for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter at the same time.

The laughter contained something only the two of them understood.

The Taoist priest cupped his hands in greeting: "Bright Moon, I am here in quiet cultivation."

Guangyuan returned the greeting: "Guangyuan, may you travel far and wide."

"Although Mingyue Temple is small," Mingyue Daoist gestured with his hand, "it is still quite quiet. If you two don't mind, please feel free to stay here."

The two settled in and quickly packed their belongings.

In the evening, after the temple bell rang, Master Mingyue personally brought over a vegetarian meal.

Three bowls of brown rice, a dish of stir-fried wild mushrooms, a dish of pickled vegetables, and a small pot of homemade rice wine.

"Please make do with this simple meal."

The three sat around a stone table in the side courtyard.

The evening breeze carried the scent of autumn. Guangyuan picked up a wild mushroom with his chopsticks and asked casually, "Master, you must be cultivating in seclusion here, oblivious to the affairs of the martial world, focusing solely on reciting the Tao Te Ching, right?"

Master Mingyue took a sip of rice wine and shook his head, saying:

"Of the Tao Te Ching, I only read the first thirty-seven chapters carefully. The last forty-four chapters are mostly about how to conduct oneself in society and admonish rulers, which are of no use to me, so I don't bother reading them."