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May the Buddha's light shine upon us all, filling us with Dharma joy; may the Three Jewels bless us, bringing both blessings and wisdom; may we progress daily, reaching a higher level, and attaining supreme enlightenment soon…

Amidst the blessings, Brother Xie and his group returned to the mountainside, retrieved the bundled goods, and then headed in another direction, leaving the mountain.

During this process, Shifang seemed to have his consciousness shut down, and could only obey simple commands from the outside world.

Once they were out of the mountains, tears welled up in Shi Fang's eyes.

Shi Fang bit his lip tightly, not crying out loud, and faced the direction of Lanruo Temple, performing a Buddhist salute.

As he bowed, a radiant light emanated from Lanruo Temple, purifying the impurities in the mountains before soaring into the sky and descending to the underworld.

"Little Master, let's go." Brother Xie said after Shi Fang finished packing.

“You can just call me Shifang. I’ve already returned to secular life.” Shifang forced a smile. “The evil spirits destroyed my master’s Zen mind, and I was forced to return to secular life as well.”

It seems that Shi Fang wasn't just a puppet in the mountains all the time; he also knows many things that Xie Ge and the others don't.

Brother Xie wanted to ask for details, but he swallowed the words back. After all, it would be a bit cruel to make Shi Fang relive the nightmare.

Shi Fang seemed to know what Xie Ge was thinking. After placing the golden Buddha on the miniature altar in the basket, he slowly spoke.

"After confirming that the snowfall was caused by a demon, my master took me to the mountaintop to clear the way."

"Later, we saw a huge banyan tree that formed a forest from a single tree. The roots hanging down from its branches took root and grew into more trees."

"My master said that the banyan tree had become a demon, preferring shade to sunlight and relying entirely on blood and food to grow. After leaving these words, he took the golden Buddha to subdue the demon. When he came out again, his Zen mind was shattered."

"Little Master, what exactly happened?" Brother Xie asked.

Judging from Baiyun's various actions, Xie Ge felt that Baiyun was a master of profound Buddhist teachings. Now that he thought about it, whether it was the sound of the wooden fish or the half of the wooden fish stick that fell, it was all Baiyun reminding him.

If this state of white cloud represents a broken Zen mind, then what was he like before, and what was it that shattered his Zen mind?

"do not know…"

Shi Fang remained silent for a long time, then said, "I didn't go in with them..."

"However, I saw a radiant halo of light and a golden statue outside, and its appearance was different from both the original and current appearance of the golden Buddha..."

Brother Xie understood what Shi Fang was trying to say: it was possible, perhaps, that a Buddha had appeared, and judging from what happened later, the Buddha might not only have failed to subdue the demons, but had also sided with them.

No wonder that later, the monks who had already died would cry out in unison, "Your Buddha is dead..."

"Little Master, where do you plan to go next?"

Brother Xie asked, explaining that he was planning to groom Shi Fang as his successor if Shi Fang intended to stay, since Bai Yun had saved everyone.

"I want to go to the capital." Shi Fang took a deep breath and tentatively looked at Brother Xie. "Can I bring the Buddha statue with me?"

"Of course those are your things. I don't take ill-gotten gains. I still have that bottom line," Brother Xie replied decisively.

"Thank you very much," Shi Fang said gratefully. "Actually, at first, my master and I intended to send it to a cultivator in the capital so that it could play a role in eliminating evil..."

"Now that my master has passed away, I also want to complete this mission. Once I've finished it, I'll come back to find you."

"You're welcome anytime." Brother Xie patted Shi Fang on the shoulder. "But you can't leave now. We'll be home soon, so you have to stay for a meal. I'll prepare some dry rations for you."

“Of course, this humble monk… I also happen to be hungry,” Shi Fang said, trying to muster his energy.

The group continued onward. Their hometown was a village, a relatively large village with many residents and its own defense force.

Therefore, in terms of stability, their village is already top-notch at the village level, and it is comparable to the neighboring county town with its large population.

Because, in addition to Brother Xie awakening his battle spirit, Brother Xie the Second also successfully awakened his in this village.

However, unlike Brother Xie, who led a team out to make his way in the world, Second Brother Xie preferred to stay in his hometown, leading his village's guard team to maintain peace in the area.

Chapter 394 Your Honorable Name? Xie Bi'an

"Big brother! Something's happened!"

As they approached Xiejia Village, the scout at the front of the group quickly ran back, panting heavily.

Brother Xie pressed his hand down, and everyone in the caravan behind him immediately sprang into action, forming a defensive circle in the blink of an eye.

"What happened?!"

"Brother, why don't you come and take a look?"

Brother Xie dismounted. The scout's attitude was a bit strange. Even if a nightmare had struck and his hometown had been burned to the ground, his reaction should have been one of endless rage and revenge, not the way he was now.

Once they reached a more open and relatively high place, Brother Xie suddenly understood why the scout was like that, and everything in front of him left him somewhat bewildered.

Is this really my home, that ordinary Xiejia Village?

In the distance, four large flags were planted at the four corners of the village, their pale yellow colors fluttering in the wind.

Behind the flag was a city wall with engraved patterns. This city wall was a full five meters high, much higher than some of the city walls in their county town.

The county's city wall was built thirty years ago. At that time, ordinary people were just ordinary people, without fighting spirit or convenient channels to gather the strength of the masses, so the city wall was only a little over four meters high.

If these city walls could be barely erected with the help of Xie Erge's battle spirit, then the few towering arrow towers were completely beyond Xie Family Village's capabilities. The yellow light emanating from these arrow towers was clearly visible even in daylight, and in the very center of the village, a line stretched straight to the sky.

The line that connected to the sky seemed to be hanging something, but even after squinting for a long time, Brother Xie couldn't make out what it was. He could only vaguely see a transparent outline as the light shifted.

"It's just that things have gotten a little better at home, no need to make a fuss over it," Brother Xie reassured the scout and himself.

As the caravan continued on its way, their figures were spotted by the personnel on the arrow tower.

"Big brother?"

When Brother Xie led his team to the front and back of the gate, Second Brother Xie poked his head out from the city wall and asked.

"It's me, what's going on?"

Upon seeing the familiar faces, Brother Xie breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, his mind filled with questions. He had only been away from home for a few months, how could things have changed so much?

"Let's go in first," Xie Erge said, waving his hand behind him.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, the closed gate began to rotate, and the flowing light on it divided the gate into several sections before it disappeared into the city walls on both sides.

gudu~

Some people in the caravan swallowed hard, almost choking on their own saliva. They had never seen anything like this before, and the shock was just like when they first witnessed the awakening of the battle spirit thirty years ago.

As they entered the village, Xie Erge was waiting for Xie Ge inside. Beside him stood a man dressed in a Taoist robe, exuding righteousness. His face truly conveyed three words: a sense of security!

Before Brother Xie could speak, Second Brother Xie immediately introduced, "Big Brother, let me introduce you. This is Master Lin Zhengying, and Master, this is my eldest brother."

"Master, have mercy," Brother Xie greeted, his eyes constantly scanning the person in front of him.

Since the emergence of the War Soul, the prestige of Buddhism and Taoism has declined considerably. To be honest, he hasn't seen a Taoist priest with such a Taoist demeanor in a long time. The most he's seen are fortune tellers setting up stalls on sidewalks.

“Your Excellency, the Supreme Heavenly Emperor,” Lin Zhengying replied.

Brother Xie paused for a moment. This was the first time he had ever heard this term. Usually, Taoists would greet each other with "Amitabha Buddha".

"May I ask your name, cultivator?"

While Brother Xie was pondering, Lin Zhengying followed up with a question.

"You're too kind, Daoist Master. My name is Xie Bi'an," Xie Bi'an replied. He hadn't used his full name in a long time; he had almost forgotten it.

Then, Xie Bi'an noticed that after he introduced himself, Master Lin Zhengying looked at him with a strange gaze. He didn't know how to describe it, but it was somewhat affectionate.

"Fellow Daoist, come with me. We are preparing to depart this afternoon. Perhaps you would like to come with us to the capital."

Hearing Lin Zhengying's words, Xie Bi'an was even more confused. Why was he going to the capital? What was he going to do in the capital? However, his subconscious told him that he should probably follow the person in front of him.

As Lin Zhengying led Xie Bi'an towards the center of the village, Xie's second brother told Xie Bi'an about the changes that had taken place in the village during this period.

Three months ago, the village was targeted by a strange entity. When Xie Erge led the guard team to fight to protect the village, a sword light appeared, splitting into countless rays of light that pierced through the demons and monsters surrounding the village.

These creatures, whether tenacious or strangely resilient, seemed to have lost all resistance under the sword light, turning directly into ashes.

In this situation, the demons and monsters in the distance all turned around and prepared to retreat.

With three deafening bangs, three black dragons surging with dark energy plunged into the demons and monsters, engulfing all who touched them, and then disappeared into the sky along with the black dragons.

Then, Master Lin Zhengying, dressed in a Taoist robe, and Zhao Li, dressed in a vest, appeared before them.

Brother Xie readily invited his two benefactors into Xie Family Village.

"Originally, Master Lin and Master Zhao were just about to rest and leave, but after hearing your name, they suddenly changed their minds and stayed. The village's walls, formations, and defensive structures were all set up by these two benefactors," Xie Erge whispered to Xie Bi'an.

Does my name have such great power?

Xie Bi'an's doubts did not lessen but increased. However, he at least knew one thing: the Taoist priest in front of him not only had real skills but also had done a great favor for the entire Xie Family Village.

After walking for a few minutes, Lin Zhengying led the two down underground. Xie Erge looked around curiously, as it was his first time here.

"Zhengying, you've come at the right time. Today's observation data is in; the rate of decline is accelerating, more than twice as fast as yesterday..."

As Zhao Li spoke, he noticed Xie Bi'an behind Lin Zhengying, then stopped and observed for a few seconds. "Xie Bi'an?"

Xie Bi'an nodded.

“Okay, you can join. I agree. Sit down for a while and we’ll finish our discussion.” After saying that, Zhao Li continued to talk to Lin Zhengying about the materials.

Xie Bi'an scratched his head. He hadn't been back for so long, and he wanted to go home to see his parents instead of just sitting here.

"Brother, Father and Mother both said that after you come back, you should go directly with Master Lin and follow his arrangements. If you don't listen, don't come home." Second Brother Xie seemed to know what Xie Bi'an was thinking and said in a low voice.

Xie Bi'an didn't know what to say. It was a tradition in Xiejia Village to repay kindness, but it was still a bit sad that he had to set off again before he could even see his parents when he got home.

Chapter 395 Execution

In the afternoon, after a short rest, Xie Bi'an will embark on his journey again to the capital, a place that is both the safest and the most dangerous, a veritable den of demons.

"Brother Xie!" Shi Fang ran out carrying a basket on his back. "I heard you're going to the capital. Can you take me with you?"

Feeling a little sad from the rush, Xie Bi'an looked at Lin Zhengying and Zhao Li beside him. He guessed that these two would not take Shi Fang with them. They didn't even want Xie Erge, the warrior who had awakened his battle spirit. Of course, there was also the reason that the defense of Xie Family Village needed someone to take charge.

However, Xie Bi'an couldn't quite understand the expressions on Lin Zhengying's and Zhao Li's faces.

"May I ask the Dharma names of these masters?" Lin Zhengying asked.

"Shifang, um... I've already left the monastic life." Shifang scratched his head, thought for a while, "Just call me by my secular name, my name is Lü Peilin."

"It's him," Lin Zhengying nodded to Zhao Li.

"What a pleasant surprise! Since you're willing to come along, let's set off." Zhao Li agreed to Shi Fang's joining, much to Xie Bi'an's astonishment.

As the team set off, Xie Bi'an looked back at his hometown and saw two familiar figures on the city wall—his parents.