Chapter 1281: Plot to Seize

Sangha Monastery.

The heads of the Four Great Families gathered in the main hall. Before a massive table, only the four family heads sat at the four positions.

Even their most trusted guards were not permitted to enter. This was the highest-level meeting in the Southwest Region.

Today's meeting had a somewhat serious atmosphere.

As the Khenpo of Sangha Monastery, Yasha Langtai Deji wore a stern face, his eyes holding barely concealed anger.

His gaze drifted almost imperceptibly toward Pagyi Gesang beside him.

What happened yesterday naturally could not be hidden from the heads of the Southwest Region's Four Great Families.

La Min Ouzhu and Xia Zha Gyatso remained silent. This matter had nothing to do with them, so the two decided to watch and see how Yasha Langtai Deji and Pagyi Gesang would spar.

Deji was the first to speak.

"Yesterday, Dharma-protectors from Sangha Monastery were attacked while patrolling the border. The entire squad was annihilated!"

"Daring to attack the Dharma-protectors of the esoteric sect right here on the Snowy Plateau, these people must have been bewitched by Demons. Their sin is unforgivable!"

As he spoke, Deji's gaze slowly turned toward Pagyi Gesang.

"Chief Pagyi, according to the intelligence I received, those people later went to your Pagyi Family. Is this true?"

The gazes of the three family heads fell upon Pagyi Gesang.

Those monk soldiers were nominally from Sangha Monastery, but they followed the orders of the Yasha Langtai family. This was already common knowledge.

But Deji was challenging Pagyi Gesang in the name of the Sangha Monastery's Khenpo. It was up to Pagyi Gesang to see how he would respond.

Pagyi Gesang frowned. "Oh? Such a thing happened? How come I know nothing about it!" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

La Min Ouzhu's lips twitched slightly.

Still playing dumb at a time like this, you truly are a master of feigning ignorance.

Deji's expression turned somewhat cold. "So, you're saying those people have no connection to Chief Pagyi whatsoever?"

Pagyi Gesang chuckled softly, clasping his hands together and reciting a Buddha's name.

"Amitabha. The Pagyi Family has so many people, I can't possibly know every single one. We were in meetings all day yesterday. I went back to sleep, and just woke up when you called me over again."

He furrowed his brow. "Perhaps... they were just passing by?"

Deji snorted coldly. "Gesang, stop playing the fool. We have ample evidence in hand. The people are in your Pagyi Family."

"Defiling the Buddhist faith, killing Dharma-protectors of the esoteric sect, do you know how grave this sin is! What, are you planning to shelter those Demons?"

Pagyi Gesang shook his head.

"This is the first I'm hearing of this matter. It requires careful investigation. Alright, I'll look into it thoroughly once I return."

Suddenly, his expression turned serious. "If I truly discover someone committed such an act, our Pagyi Family will absolutely not spare them!"

Deji sneered inwardly.

He knew Pagyi Gesang wouldn't hand over the people so easily.

But, fortunately, he had already made arrangements in advance.

The men he sent out were among the top fighters of Sangha Monastery.

They would demand the people from the Pagyi Family in the name of the esoteric sect. If they dared refuse, the monk soldiers waiting at the Pagyi Family's border would directly attack the Pagyi estate.

Don't be fooled by the Pagyi Family's substantial manpower. When facing the monk soldiers of Sangha Monastery, they would ultimately be cowed. This was the influence of the esoteric sect.

After all, no one wanted to end up in the eighteen layers of hell after death.

Deji snorted coldly. "Even if this matter is clarified, your Pagyi Family cannot escape responsibility! Delaying is useless. The truth will always come to light."

"Unless, of course, those Demons can hide within your Pagyi Family forever!"

Pagyi Gesang chuckled. "Why does the Khenpo say such things? In my view, it's all a misunderstanding."

Deji angrily retorted, "Chief Pagyi! Killing a Dharma-protecting Vajra of Sangha Monastery, can that be a misunderstanding too? Do you dare say those words before the Buddha?"

A flicker of hesitation appeared in Pagyi Gesang's eyes.

They had grown up on the Snowy Plateau, holding a devout faith in the esoteric sect.

Perhaps their conduct didn't strictly follow Buddhist doctrines, but they still held a soul-deep reverence for the gods and Buddhas.

"Why must the Khenpo be like this? I merely believe this matter is suspicious and requires time to investigate."

"Besides, the Prayer Festival is about to be held. We have been preparing for it all this time. We shouldn't let some trivial matters affect the Festival's commencement."

Deji and Pagyi Gesang engaged in a war of words.

In truth, both men knew perfectly well what had happened.

The monk soldiers led by Loren had already wiped out countless mercenaries entering the Snowy Region.

If those people were strong enough, they would have killed Loren and his men long ago.

Deji was simply using this as a pretext to attack.

The other two family heads watched the show, but inwardly, they also felt immense satisfaction at the deaths of Loren and his team.

After all, those were the lackeys of the Yasha Langtai family. People hired by the other two great families had also been targeted by them frequently.

Deji sat in his chair, fingering his prayer beads, and let out a faint sigh.

"Ah..."

"Our Four Great Chieftain families share a common destiny. We prosper together, we suffer together. Now that the Prayer Festival is about to be held, we absolutely must not allow conflicts to arise at this time."

"Currently, the Lord of the Charnel Ground, blessed by the gods and Buddhas, possesses transcendent power to protect our entire Snowy Region."

"We should center ourselves around the Lord of the Charnel Ground and serve him devoutly."

"But at present, Sangha Monastery's strength is insufficient, even to the point where a Dharma-protecting Vajra was killed by Demons. How can this boost the confidence of the esoteric sect's followers?"

As he spoke, Deji's eyes swept over the three family heads.

"Therefore, I propose that our four families each contribute a portion of our strength to the Lord of the Charnel Ground, to enhance Sangha Monastery's prestige. This will also deter the petty scoundrels from outside regions!"

He raised his hand as he spoke. "My Yasha Langtai family will take the lead. I can contribute one thousand warriors and five thousand serfs. Including all their weapons and provisions."

Hearing this, Pagyi Gesang and the other two family heads finally understood Deji's true purpose.

He was using the pretext of Loren's squad being wiped out to demand the three great families hand over their military forces and serfs.

In the present day, population and military power represented authority.

This was tantamount to asking them to surrender their power.

The expressions of the three family heads turned ugly.

The Yasha Langtai family had done this sort of thing many times in the past. The power of the three great families had been slowly eroded.

Now, the territory, military strength, and population under their control were less than half of what they had when the Apocalypse first descended.

Yasha Langtai Deji made it sound good, taking the lead in donating, but he himself was the Khenpo of Sangha Monastery.

Whatever he donated would just move from his left pocket to his right pocket, still under his control.

Pagyi Gesang shot a glance at Deji, his expression cold.

Xia Zha Gyatso and La Min Ouzhu were both looking at him.

The Pagyi Family's strength was formidable, second only to the Yasha Langtai family.

If the Lord of the Charnel Ground hadn't come from the Yasha Langtai family, the Pagyi Family would be the strongest force on the Snowy Plateau today.

In comparison, the Xia Zha Family and La Min Family were relatively weaker.

Both were waiting for Pagyi Gesang's stance.

Author's Note