Chapter 196: Chapter 96: Flooded City, Incense Becomes Blade

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "The Buddha is not dead."

Jing Miao:...

She was silent for a moment, then calmed down, clasped her hands together, silently recited the scriptures several times, and then said, "Well then, I will give you the position of abbot.

All I seek is the ancient Buddha and a peaceful mind."

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch looked at Jing Miao and said, "Is peace of mind really all you seek?"

Jing Miao said, "Let’s not talk about me, let’s talk about the present."

She looked calmly at the Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch.

Once, she saved this woman, and later this woman saved her. The exchange of favors forged a bond of goodwill. After that, when the woman came to her again, she softened, fearing solitude, thinking it would be good to have such a relative in the temple.

Thus, her feelings for the Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch are actually quite complex.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "The Buddha said this heavy rain is caused by a monstrous demon."

Jing Miao chuckled blandly.

A monstrous demon?

Isn’t the Buddha of the Yu Sect a monstrous demon?

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "My Xinci Temple is better off on the mountain, but State City in Cyan Wood Province will be flooded. Since the Buddha said so, he must want to deal with the demon. I sincerely hope the abbot will gather the city people to pray to the sky to quell the storm."

Jing Miao said, "How would they believe me?"

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "The Buddha has divine abilities. Select a few to come forward and worship for blessings. Once the Buddha bestows blessings upon them, they will naturally believe."

Jing Miao wanted to speak, but suddenly fell silent.

She suddenly realized, why did she ask this?

It seems as if she has been drawn into a dark whirlpool...

"Can I... can I still go down the mountain?" Jing Miao suddenly asked.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch smiled bitterly and said, "Even if I escort you away, it would be perilous, unless... you manage to safely reach Prince Qing, only then will there be a glimmer of hope. The mountain has gathered too many terrifying people, and such people are still converging from all directions."

"Prince Qing..."

Jing Miao almost dare not think of this name; she thought her mind was tranquil enough, yet this man’s name still made her heart race.

This man nearly became her husband.

If only he were obscure, that’d be fine, but he held immense power, protected her, protected Xinci Temple, and his protection was so good, so assured, that even remnants of the Yu Sect could escape here to hide without detection.

But she no longer dared to seek Prince Qing.

She was close to her father, and her father died.

She was close to her master and senior apprentice, yet they turned out remnants of the Yu Sect, and they died too.

She and Li Xuan parted ways. Li Xuan quickly rose to prominence and directly became Prince Qing.

She... is an ominous woman; those close to her meet misfortune, those distant from her find good fortune.

Why trouble Prince Qing again?

Jing Miao took a deep breath, countless thoughts spinning in her mind.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch added, "However, this time, I feel the Buddha has undergone many changes. The Buddha seems to have some warmth now, rather than being cold. He wants more incense offerings, yet this time he seems intent on subduing demons."

Jing Miao remained silent.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "The Buddha also mentioned you have a wise root."

Jing Miao looked up in astonishment.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch recounted the situation in the hall at that time, then said, "Sheluda belongs to the Esoteric Sect’s Joyful Sect, practicing Joyful Zen.

If he comes seeking you, you would already be fallen, and would willingly perform these tasks.

Yet the Buddha still chose to have me find you, showing he values you greatly."

Jing Miao:...

Though she sits in a grand temple in the province, has become the abbot, protected by Prince Qing, she is without virtue or merit, and unworthy of her position. Countless people secretly whisper, "She rose to power solely because Prince Qing kept her in mind and she was very lucky."

But, does she want to hold this position?

What she truly wants is to return to years ago, to the days before the plague broke out.

Frankly, she’s just a lonely girl not knowing how to step down from this high position in Xinci Temple.

"Grandmother..." Jing Miao suddenly changed her address.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch looked at her with gentle eyes.

Jing Miao asked, "Will State City in Cyan Wood Province truly be flooded?"

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "If it’s just heavy rain, it won’t flood, but the Buddha has personally said a monstrous demon is involved, so State City in Cyan Wood Province is destined to be flooded."

Saying this, she suddenly stood up, walked to the door, and pulled open the two doors, revealing the situation outside the Zen courtyard.

Beyond the threshold, water has already accumulated. There are fallen leaves, broken flowers, and residual grass floating on it, and two or three fish are either leaping or swimming within.

Jing Miao walked out casually.

Beneath the eaves, there hung an unbroken curtain of rain, falling with a constant sound.

At that moment, a leaping fish in the courtyard suddenly flew upward, unexpectedly flying toward Jing Miao’s calf.

In mid-air, it opened its mouth wide, revealing sharp teeth like melon seeds, its dull fish eyes carrying a ferocious gleam.

Jing Miao’s beautiful eyes widened, petrified in place, without a reaction.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch timely rushed in, palm carrying scorching white energy, striking down.

Smack!

The fish, under force, crashed against the stone slab in the courtyard, emitted a sound like metal fracturing.

The stone slab shattered, the fish shattered as well.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch pulled the frightened Jing Miao close, then went to inspect the fish.

She touched the surface of the broken fish corpse, finding it seemed coated with a layer of steel, while its sharp teeth still gave off a foul smell and a cold shine in the storm.

"This..."

"This!!!"

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch looked up to the sky, for the first time in her life felt a sense of terrifying despair.

If the torrential rains were carrying these horrifying man-eating fish, how many people would perish?

Not far away, Jing Miao’s face was pale; her gaze swept over the fish, then the sky, and she said, "I... I’ll go gather the entire province’s people to pray for the rain to stop... I’ll go now... go."