Killing Monks

On the eighth day of the ninth lunar month, it is inauspicious to engage in any complicated matters, break ground, or break contracts. It is auspicious for weddings, receiving auspicious gifts, and completing ceremonies, as the auspicious star Tianxi shines upon it.

It was also a joyous day for the Lu family.

However, there was no festive atmosphere at the entrance of the Lu residence.

No, it's not deserted.

On the contrary, from the main gate of the Lu residence to the east and west street corners, there were guards every five steps and sentries every ten steps, all dressed in black and carrying long swords at their waists.

Each person had a solemn expression, their eyes scanning the passersby like hawks. Rather than welcoming guests, it was more like they were on guard against something.

When ordinary wealthy families hold a happy event, a continuous feast should have been set up in front of their door to entertain neighbors and relatives, with laughter and chatter filling the air.

But the Lu family had nothing.

Even the guests who came to offer their congratulations were few and far between, and most of them hurriedly entered, their expressions solemn and without smiles.

Guangyuan, dressed in faded old monk's robes, was stopped by the gatekeeper as soon as he reached the door.

The receptionist was a capable-looking middle-aged man. He looked him up and down a few times, and seeing that he was dressed simply, he frowned and said, "Monk, there are important matters to attend to at the manor today, so we will not be serving vegetarian food. Please go elsewhere."

Guangyuan bowed with one hand, his expression calm: "This humble monk has come to chant sutras at the invitation of Mr. Lu Chengming."

The guest master's expression changed slightly.

He looked at Guangyuan carefully again.

This monk was composed and had clear eyes; he didn't seem like a charlatan. More importantly, in Luoqing County, no one should dare to impersonate Lu Chengming.

After a moment's hesitation, he stepped aside and said, "Please."

Upon entering the Lu residence, Guangyuan was taken aback.

The courtyard was deep and secluded, decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, red silk ribbons hanging high, and the character for "happiness" covering the walls, making it extremely luxurious.

Yet, amidst the festive atmosphere, there was an indescribable sense of oppression.

Although there were quite a few guests, most of them sat in silence, and when they did talk, it was in hushed tones.

Men, women, young and old, dressed in various styles, but without exception, they all had solemn expressions, even a hint of wariness.

This isn't a wedding banquet; it's more like a trap.

Guangyuan's gaze swept across the area, and he quickly found Chu Kuangjun and the slovenly old Taoist priest at a table in the corner of the courtyard.

The old Taoist priest was still wearing that tattered robe, leisurely peeling peanuts with his legs crossed, sipping the hot tea that the servant had just poured for him. Chu Kuangjun sat beside him, dressed in snow-white robes, his beauty unparalleled, standing out conspicuously in the dim light of the courtyard.

Guangyuan walked over and sat down, lowering his voice: "Strange."

"It's strange." Chu Kuangjun nodded, gesturing around, "Look at those people."

Guangyuan had already taken note of this.

There were at least four or five groups of people in the courtyard, each with a distinct aura and a subtle distance between them.

On the west side sat Zhan Jianjun and Hai Yantian. Although they were not wearing official robes, their demeanor could not be hidden from discerning people.

Two middle-aged men, one fat and one thin, were on the east side. Ever since Guangyuan entered the room, they had been stealing glances at Chu Kuangjun with eager yet strange looks in their eyes.

"Those two are suspicious," Guangyuan said softly, "They've been watching you."

Chu Kuangjun followed the gaze, just as the two men turned their attention away and casually picked up their teacups.

"I understand." He nodded, already having made up his mind.

The old Taoist priest seemed oblivious, grabbing another handful of peanuts and muttering as he peeled them, "The Lu family's tea is alright, but the peanuts aren't roasted properly..."

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose from the direction of the main hall.

Everyone's eyes turned to look.

Then a person walked out of the hall.

The man was around fifty years old, with half of his hair already white, yet he combed it meticulously.

He was dressed in a black and red outfit, with a dark-patterned brocade robe over it, and a jade belt around his waist. His figure was as upright as a pine tree.

What's most intimidating are his eyes, black as ink, which sweep across the courtyard like a cold knife scraping the bone, carrying the oppressive aura of someone who has long held a high position.

It was Lu Chengyu, the head of the Lu family.

His gaze moved slowly across the courtyard. When he passed the disheveled old Taoist priest, his expression changed slightly, but then returned to normal.

Lu Chengyu walked up the steps in the courtyard, looked around at everyone, and said loudly:

"Today is my son's wedding day. Chengyu thanks all of you fellow martial artists for your support."

His voice was loud, yet it carried a cold politeness.

A few scattered responses came from inside the courtyard:

"Master Lu, you're too kind."

"On this joyous day, I have no choice but to come."

Congratulations!

The congratulatory greetings were scattered and disjointed.

Lu Chengyu, however, seemed unconcerned, nodded slightly, and turned to instruct the butler beside him:

"The auspicious time is approaching; prepare for the ceremony."

As soon as Lu Chengyu finished speaking, a series of urgent musical performances rang out from the corner of the courtyard.

The suona horns were high-pitched, the gongs and drums were deafening, and the atmosphere was joyous, but in this somber atmosphere, they sounded particularly abrupt and jarring.

Everyone held their breath and watched.

From the corridors on the east and west sides of the courtyard, a group of people emerged from each side.

On the east side, Lu Fei, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, stood tall and straight, his face calm as still water, except for his eyes, which shone with an astonishing brightness, like two burning flames.

His gaze slowly swept across the courtyard, and when he saw Guangyuan and Chu Kuangjun in the corner, his pupils trembled slightly, his lips moved slightly, but in the end he said nothing.

That one glance was worth a thousand words.

On the west side, Tang Shuangshuang walked over, supported by two matchmakers.

She was also wearing a bright red wedding dress, but without a red veil. Her pretty face was as pale as paper, and her expression was so indifferent that it was almost numb. Only her tightly pursed lips revealed a hint of stubbornness that was not easily detected.

The two met in front of the main hall.

There was no laughter, no congratulatory words, and even the wedding attendant kept her mouth shut. The entire courtyard was so quiet that you could hear the rustling of the red silk in the wind.

The emcee announced the ceremony loudly:

"Bowing to Heaven and Earth—"

Lu Fei and Tang Shuangshuang turned around, faced the sky outside the courtyard, and slowly bowed.

Their movements were precise, yet they resembled two puppets being pulled by strings.

"Bowing to the parents twice—"

The two turned towards the main hall.

In the main hall, only Lu Chengyu sat. He sat upright in the armchair, his hands resting on his knees, his gaze fixed on the newlyweds below, his face expressionless.

Tang Shuangshuang's parents did not attend.

The guests in the courtyard exchanged glances, all understanding each other without saying a word.

"Husband and wife bow to each other—"

Lu Fei and Tang Shuangshuang stood facing each other, paused for a moment, and finally bowed to each other in worship.

In the instant when their red robes intertwined and their figures overlapped, Lu Fei whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:

Trust me.

Tang Shuangshuang's eyelashes trembled, but she did not respond.

The ceremony is complete.

Normally, this would be the time to escort them to the bridal chamber and begin a joyous feast.

But Lu Chengyu slowly stood up.

He walked to the edge of the steps in front of the hall, looked down at the guests filling the courtyard, and spoke in a low but clear voice:

"Please give me the knife."

Why hire a knife for a joyous occasion?

Among the guests, they knew what was going on, but remained indifferent.

Guangyuan and Chu Kuangjun exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking simultaneously.

The disheveled old Taoist priest was still peeling peanuts, and a crisp "crack" sound was particularly jarring in the deathly silence.

Lu Chengyu seemed not to hear, only looking up towards the direction of the ancestral hall.

Before long, ten guards in black entered the ancestral hall in single file, their steps heavy.

They were in pairs, each carrying a black box about six feet long on their shoulders.

The box was made entirely of lead and iron, extremely heavy, and had no decorations on its surface.

With each step the guards took, the bluestone slabs beneath their feet trembled slightly, indicating that the contents of the box were surprisingly heavy.

Ten people carried the long box to the open space in front of the hall and carefully put it down.