Chapter 1282: Lure the Tiger Away Tactic

After Deji finished speaking, he looked at the three people seated there.

“Everyone, Sangha Monastery needs your help. This offering is not for any mortal, it is for the gods and Buddhas.”

“Who here supports this, and who opposes it?”

The three below glanced everywhere but avoided speaking first.

Deji smiled slightly and looked toward Pagyi Gesang.

“Chief Pagyi, I have already declared my stance. I am willing to contribute men and supplies. What is your opinion?”

Pagyi Gesang was singled out and could no longer remain silent.

He gave a light laugh, met Deji’s gaze without flattery or fear, and said calmly,

“The Pagyi family’s foundation has been passed down from our ancestors. As a descendant, I dare not hand it over casually.”

“But since Khenpo has spoken, we are willing to contribute more sacrificial meat.”

They could give some supplies, but men—absolutely not!

Deji’s expression chilled.

He had not expected Pagyi Gesang’s attitude.

Over the past two years, Pagyi Gesang’s momentum had appeared to weaken whenever he faced Deji.

That led Deji to believe the entire Snowy Plateau Region was already under his control.

Although the Lord of the Charnel Ground dislikes conquest, he was still part of the Yasha Langtai family.

Even if it were just a matter of grabbing a tiger skin to hoist a banner, it would be enough to make the other three families wary.

But today he discovered Pagyi Gesang had changed.

Deji could not understand where Pagyi Gesang had found the confidence to openly refuse him!

His demand was not exorbitant: one thousand warriors and five thousand serfs. It would sting the three families a little, but would not cripple them.

In the past, he had used this blunt-knife method—taking a little at a time—to slowly nibble away at the three families’ power.

But today, what was going on with Pagyi Gesang?

Who had suddenly given him the nerve to confront Deji?

Deji frowned, his gaze turning dangerously cold.

La Min Ouzhu and Xia Zha Gyatso also had not expected Pagyi Gesang to be so defiant.

Deji suddenly laughed.

“Chief Pagyi, what I asked for is to be offered to Buddha. You wouldn’t want Sangha Monastery to lose face when the Prayer Festival is held, would you?”

Pagyi Gesang smiled faintly. “The gods and Buddhas are merciful and will not care about these trivialities. All of us in the Pagyi family are devout toward Buddha. Buddha will understand.”

“Amitabha!”

Deji suddenly loudly intoned a Buddhist phrase.

He stared coldly at Pagyi Gesang. “Pagyi Gesang, do you think you can represent the will of Buddha, or can I?”

Now that Pagyi Gesang had Zhang Yi backing him, he felt secure.

He leaned back in his chair and sneered.

“Khenpo, you have only occupied that seat for two years. Can you already claim to speak for Buddha?”

Deji ground his teeth in anger at Pagyi Gesang.

“All right, all right, it seems your Pagyi family truly wants to oppose Sangha Monastery!”

Pagyi Gesang stood up. “Our Pagyi family sincerely reveres Buddha, but we will not allow others to use Buddha’s name to fulfill their private desires!”

Having said that, Pagyi Gesang stood up, left his seat, and strode out of the shrine.

The three watching were stunned. The Pagyi Gesang they knew—did he have such boldness?

La Min Ouzhu’s eyes flashed with an odd light, as if she suspected something.

If he had not obtained powerful support, how could Pagyi Gesang have this confidence?

Deji angrily slapped the table.

Pagyi Gesang was openly challenging his authority. If he did not deal with this properly, his prestige across the Snowy Region would be seriously undermined.

Deji suddenly turned his head toward La Min Ouzhu and Xia Zha Gyatso, then narrowed his eyes coldly.

“Head of La Min, Head of Xia Zha, what are your stances?”

Deji’s anger was no longer concealed. The two exchanged glances, feeling rather helpless.

Their family forces did not match the Pagyi family.

Even without deploying the Lord of the Charnel Ground, the Yasha Langtai family could probably wipe out their families without too much difficulty. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Moreover, there was a Lord of the Charnel Ground backing them.

Under pressure, Xia Zha Gyatso took a deep breath and said, “Within three days, we will deliver those personnel and supplies to Sangha Monastery.”

Deji’s face relaxed a little, then he looked to the only woman among the western family heads, La Min Ouzhu.

“And you, Head La Min?”

La Min Ouzhu’s face was pale, not from fear but from anger.

But in front of Deji, she could not lose control.

She gritted her teeth and said coldly, “The La Min family will also deliver these within three days!”

Deji’s mouth finally curled into a smile.

“You are all intelligent people. Doing as I say is the correct choice.”

“Just wait and see—those who oppose the will of gods and Buddhas will certainly pay the price!”

He folded his hands behind his back, appearing supremely confident.

La Min Ouzhu and Xia Zha Gyatso exchanged a look, knowing Deji would surely move against the Pagyi family.

Although they were reluctant to give up resources, they were secretly eager to see the Yasha Langtai and Pagyi families tear each other apart.

They quietly wondered how Deji would act, and where Pagyi Gesang’s courage to stand up to Deji had come from.

...

Pagyi family city.

Three Dharma-protecting Vajras from Sangha Monastery moved through like they owned the place, heading straight for the Pagyi family courtyard.

Of course, these three would not actually pass through the Pagyi family’s heavily guarded defenses.

Even a powerful Delta-level superhuman could not withstand the web of firepower from tens of thousands of soldiers.

But they came from Sangha Monastery, the sacred place revered by every follower of the esoteric sect.

Once the soldiers learned their identities, and heard the attackers who had ambushed the Vajras were in the Pagyi household, their will to resist drained away.

Even those who still pointed guns at the three only pretended to threaten them; few dared to actually fire.

When the steward Lhobu received the news, panic was written all over his face.

“A lure-the-tiger-away tactic!”

He hurried without pause to Zhang Yi and the others’ residence, urging them to avoid the spotlight for a while.

“Please follow me into the cellar. The Pagyi household is so big—if they can’t find you, they’ll naturally leave.” Lhobu said to Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi raised a brow and smiled.

“They’re looking for me? Interesting. But there isn’t really anywhere to hide, is there?”

“But—”

Lhobu was about to say more when Zhang Yi patted his shoulder.

“If they want to find someone, do you think they can just vanish by hiding?”

Among superhumans there are those skilled at tracking, and those who can manipulate minds to force people to blurt out the truth.

Those coming to find them must include such talents. Without precise intelligence, they wouldn’t come so brazenly.

Zhang Yi didn’t stir up trouble, but he wasn’t afraid of it either.

He was a well-paid mercenary hired by the Pagyi family. If he had accepted their money, didn’t that mean he ought to do something in return?

Author's Note