Chapter 46: Chapter 43: Many Children, No Fear of Loss, and a Succession of Old Acquaintances

Of course.

At this moment, the others were mostly shocked.

But Elder General Qin was filled with rage!

"Wretched spawn, how dare you!"

He roared in fury.

He swung his sword to kill!

That’s right!

Elder Qin bellowed, thrusting his sword forward from behind Young Master Shiqi.

He had actually killed Young Master Shiqi on the spot.

Xu Lei and Hui Ming were both stunned.

They never expected Elder Qin to actually deliver a killing blow.

Young Master Shiqi’s eyes widened, but he died before he even had time to turn around.

It was hard to say if he regretted falling in love with Miss Xiaoyin before he died.

Xu Lei thought he probably didn’t.

’He probably regrets not being more careful and secretive when he was digging out hearts for Miss Xiaoyin to eat, so that no one would find out.’

’He should have reined her in when Miss Xiaoyin started killing people with her own hands.’

"This..."

At that moment, Elder General Qin stared at the sword in his hand, also stunned for a moment.

He had already been furious.

He had been struggling with how to deal with this Young Master Shiqi.

He never imagined his son would dare to attack the Divine Monk and his companion!

In that instant, Elder Qin had been overcome with rage.

"Amitabha Buddha. Elder General, how could you resort to this!"

Xu Lei said, "Young Master Shiqi couldn’t have harmed my little monk attendant!"

"The Divine Monk’s attendant is naturally extraordinary."

Elder General Qin sighed. "It’s just that I was furious at his failure to live up to expectations, furious at his wickedness!

Whatever, he’s dead and gone!

I have over twenty other sons anyway!

And over thirty daughters!

Losing one doesn’t matter!

This is for the best!

That moment just now made me reach a decision!

By killing him, I can finally give an account to all the innocent people who died horribly in this incident!

I can give an account to everyone!

Although, in the end, it was still my failure to discipline him properly!"

Hearing this, Xu Lei was at a loss for words for a moment.

But he had indeed learned before that Elder General Qin was very prolific.

He had fifty or sixty children.

Furthermore, some of his children were much older than this Young Master Shiqi.

Many had already started their own families and had children.

This Young Master Shiqi was born to a concubine he took in his old age.

’Indeed, when you have so many children, you don’t fear one dying prematurely. If one dies, you still have plenty left.’

’It doesn’t hurt as much.’

’This is one of the reasons why children in ancient times tended to be more respectful to their parents.’

’If you don’t listen, they will really mess you up!’

’It’s completely unlike back on Earth, where children are held up and cherished like precious treasures.’

’Some only children are practically little emperors at home.’

’In Elder General Qin’s family? Want that kind of treatment? Impossible!’

’Which child dares to throw a tantrum? You’d get a couple of hard slaps!’

Half an hour later, Xu Lei and Hui Ming left General Qin’s Mansion.

"Because of us, Elder General Qin actually did it himself, upholding justice by executing his own kin."

Xu Lei said, "There won’t be any trouble later, will there?"

"There shouldn’t be."

Hui Ming said, "That Elder General Qin was likely sincere. He is truly a man who understands the greater good!

Of course, if he were to cause trouble, rest assured, the Buddhist Sect would take action!

We just don’t want to fight the army!

We don’t want to waste our Magical Power!

But Daoist and Buddhist practitioners are not to be trifled with!

If he were to cause trouble!

Eliminating one or two generals would be a simple matter!"

What a domineering thing to say.

Xu Lei was relieved.

"Right, what about that Painted Skin Spirit? She didn’t get away, did she?"

Xu Lei added, "Who did you arrange to capture this Painted Skin Spirit?"

「Another ten-plus minutes passed in the blink of an eye.」

On a street corner.

"Amitabha Buddha."

A familiar, brawny figure appeared. He announced in a clear voice, "Junior Brother Wu Tan, long time no see."

"Senior Brother Wu Gui!"

Xu Lei said, "You came to the Prefecture City too?

In that case, you must have been the one to capture the Painted Skin Spirit.

No wonder Hui Ming wouldn’t tell me when I asked just now. He insisted that I guess.

Back then, I already suspected it was you who came."

"That’s right."

Wu Gui nodded. "The Painted Skin Spirit has already been captured by me.

Our success this time was largely thanks to you, Junior Brother Wu Tan.

Thank you."

"So, what are you going to do with the Painted Skin Spirit?"

Xu Lei asked, "Kill her? Refine her?"

"She is a Demon."

Hui Ming said, "Naturally, we will refine her to increase our Cultivation."

’Well now,’ Xu Lei thought.

’So much for a monk’s compassion.’

’It seems refining Demon Spirits is beneficial to their Cultivation.’

Then, Xu Lei decided not to dwell on it.

That Painted Skin Spirit had killed so many innocent people; she truly deserved to die.

Besides, letting her die and join that Young Master Shiqi was perfect.

At least Young Master Shiqi wouldn’t be lonely.

"Senior Brother Wu Gui, you came all the way here from Longyuan Temple?"

Xu Lei said, "Was it just to subdue the Demon? What about things at Longyuan Temple?

Doesn’t our Buddhist Sect have any other experts to handle demons?

Did you have to be the one to come?"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Wu Gui said, "The Buddhist Sect naturally has other seniors.

However, I happened to be transferred to Anchan Temple here in the Prefecture City.

So it was only natural for me to take care of this Painted Skin Spirit."

"Senior Brother, you were transferred to Anchan Temple?"

Xu Lei paused. "Oh, let me guess. It’s because you all have been at Longyuan Temple for long enough.

After all, you possess the True Buddhist Dharma. Your lifespans are longer than ordinary Monks, and you age more slowly.

Therefore, you certainly can’t stay in one temple forever.

If you stay too long, people will definitely notice that something is wrong.

That’s why you were transferred here!

And someone else was transferred over there to take charge."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Wu Gui said, "Junior Brother Wu Tan is as perceptive as ever.

Yes, that is indeed the case.

In fact, Hui Ming and I had already stayed at Longyuan Temple for a bit too long.

If not for that, we wouldn’t have let you discover our secret, Junior Brother.

This has been a lesson for us."

"Also, Master Wu Tan, it might be better for you to live at Anchan Temple for the time being."

Hui Ming then said, "Master Wu Gui has already transferred your monastic registration to Anchan Temple as well.

You can now logically move into Anchan Temple.

After all, you made quite a splash at the Qin Mansion this time, which might attract a lot of attention.

If you continue to stay at the Wei Mansion, although you could say you are seeking alms, lodging temporarily, and so on...

...it will ultimately become inconvenient if you stay too long.

If some ill-intentioned people were to target you...

...they might not dare to act against you directly, but they might learn how much you care for the Wei Family.

It would be bad if they used the family to coerce you into doing something.

Once you are in the temple, you are a man of the cloth.

You will have no weaknesses.

Anyone who moves against you moves against the entire Buddhist Sect."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei also said, "Martial Nephew speaks wisely."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Wu Gui said, "At Anchan Temple, although Hui Ming and I don’t officially hold the highest positions, we can actually interfere in all of the temple’s affairs.

Junior Brother Wu Tan, if you still wish to indulge in beautiful women!

Then you can continue to serve as the Supervisor Zen Master of the Bu Zhong Hall at Anchan Temple!

This time, you helped us subdue the Demon, Junior Brother.

For the Buddhist Sect, this is a meritorious deed!

As long as it’s within reasonable limits...

...certain conveniences...

...can be opened for you, Junior Brother."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei nodded. "In that case, I will follow Senior Brother’s orders."

"Anyway, if your benefactor-master comes looking for you, Master, it would be somewhere near the Prefecture City, right?"

Hui Ming added, "Otherwise, you wouldn’t be lingering in the Prefecture City without leaving, Master.

Since that’s the case, there’s no difference between living at Anchan Temple and staying with the Wei Family in the Prefecture City."

Xu Lei naturally smiled as well.

’What I actually want most is for the Buddhist Sect to pass the Dao Seed on to me.’

’But I know that if I say it now, Hui Ming and Wu Gui will definitely not agree.’

’I still don’t know enough about the True Monks in the Buddhist Sect.’

’For now, I’ll bide my time.’

’Going back to being a Zen Master Bu Zhong is fine too.’

’Anyway, as the supervisor of Bu Zhong Hall, I can just perform "Charitable Giving" when I meet a female benefactor who wants to receive it.’

’It’s very flexible.’

’As for Wei Qingning, Zhang Xiaomai, and the others, if I want to meet with them...’

’...I can have them come find me at Anchan Temple.’

’Since Anchan Temple isn’t too far from the Prefecture City.’

「Three days later.」

Xu Lei had arrived at Anchan Temple and become its Zen Master Bu Zhong.

Moreover, he was the Supervisor Zen Master in charge of Bu Zhong Hall.

Before coming to Anchan Temple, he had, of course, returned to the Wei Family to say a proper goodbye to Wei Qingning and Zhang Xiaomai.

One day.

To Xu Lei’s surprise, on just his third day at Anchan Temple, another old acquaintance came to the temple looking for him.

Under a tree.

The wind blew, and leaves fell.

"Amitabha Buddha." Xu Lei turned his head and was slightly stunned to see a translucent, sparkling Jade Pendant dangling and swaying gently from an earlobe.

"Little Divine Monk," Liang Fangying said with a soft, smiling voice, "may I ask you for another son?"