When Qian Jin saw the burly monk at the Governor’s Mansion, he realized that things had become even more complicated than he had imagined.

The burly monk’s monastic name was Jing’an, a very common name. Although not to the extent that every monastery had someone by that name, at least two or three monks named Jing’an could be found in ten monasteries—but strictly speaking, that was a thing of the past.

The reason no one used this common name anymore was tied to a past incident.

It was said that one day, two monks both named Jing’an happened to be dining in the same restaurant. A friend familiar with Jing’an happened to pass by and greeted Jing’an—however, because they shared the same monastic name, both Jing’ans stood up in response to the greeting.

Then, one of the Jing’ans walked over to the other Jing’an.

"A monk does not speak falsehoods, how can you use my name?"

With that, this Jing’an unleashed a strike, shattering the other Jing’an’s head on the spot.

Only one Jing’an remained, so naturally, there was no mistake in recognition anymore.

After killing, this Jing’an naturally became a fugitive. Not only did the Capturers pursue him, but even the monastery he hailed from, Jing Shui Temple, wouldn’t spare him—yet just as the Capturers were about to besiege this Jing’an, he returned to the temple ahead of them and slaughtered all two hundred monks within.

Even the vicious weapon, Atmah, suppressed at Jing Shui Temple, fell into this Jing’an’s hands.

Was it the Longstaff that enticed Jing’an, or did Jing’an control the Longstaff? No one knew the real answer to this question. People only knew that in the end, this monk named Jing’an wielded the Atmah Longstaff, battled the numerous Capturers, and in a seamless fusion of man and weapon, caused the Capturers to suffer one defeat after another, with countless deaths in the attempted capture.

Because this Jing’an was overly formidable, students of the Imperial Academy also became very interested in him. They extended invitations, hoping Jing’an would work under them—however, this Jing’an didn’t accept anyone’s invitation but singlehandedly beat and killed all the messengers sent to him.

Such outrageous behavior naturally displeased the noble scions, but they dared not use other means against this Jing’an.

Simply because this Jing’an had accepted the invitation from the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

No one knew exactly what means the Prime Minister’s Mansion used, but this mad monk had become a powerful enforcer for them. Whenever there were any disturbances, as long as the mad monk took action, no rebels could go unchecked.

Of course, due to the mad monk’s excessive uncontrollability, many innocents inevitably died in the process, but at least from the Prime Minister’s perspective, these were considered necessary costs.

"Just, Master, please do not break too many things,"

Thinking of this, Military Governor Qian Jin couldn’t help but sigh.

He still remembered, the last time the mad monk acted, a single battle tore up three streets.

"This Yizhou City is remote and maintaining its current state is not easy, so I ask Master for grace, otherwise, the tax revenue of Yizhou City will..."

"Hey, why waste so many words."

Before Qian Jin could finish, the burly monk waved his hand dismissively.

"Isn’t it just an Evil Qi release? I’ll just go over and kill him, and that will be the end of it."

With that, the burly monk picked up his large staff.

"So where is he now? I recall the secret report said he was with you?"

"Uh, he’s not here today."

Facing a monk taller than himself by two heads, Qian Jin couldn’t help but shrink back.

If the monk had arrived a couple of days earlier, he might have actually caught Du Chengfeng at the Governor’s Mansion, but today, of all days, the monk was a bit late—early in the morning, Du Chengfeng had already left the Governor’s Mansion, having been away from his native Ji Bei villages for a while, he was planning to return to check things out and to ensure everything was safe.

And so, the mad monk had arrived a bit too late.

"But fortunately, he hasn’t left the city; he’s at the northeast corner of Yizhou City, there’s an old military camp there, he should be around that place."

"Very well, I’ll go and return shortly."

Thus, in just a blink of an eye, the mad monk vanished without a trace.

This made Qian Jin breathe a sigh of relief.

Though personally, he hoped Du Chengfeng would accept amnesty. After all, recruiting a formidable warrior for the court could be counted as his achievement. But in cases like this, when Du Chengfeng didn’t heed the amnesty and remained unruly, perhaps the decision from the Prime Minister’s Mansion was more accurate.

In the end, neither the Prime Minister’s Mansion nor the Jian’an court needed someone uncontrollable.

Even if he had achieved the level of Evil Qi release.

"Since you’re so eager to fight, go fight on your own."

Shaking his head and silently mourning for his old friend Liu Bolun for a moment, Qian Jin returned to his room to continue practicing the Mystical Technique.

Meanwhile, the mad monk had already arrived at the northeastern corner of Yizhou City, standing outside the old military camp.

"Where do you think he might be?"

Mad monk Jing’an hefted the large staff in his hand.

And the skulls embedded on both ends of the staff began to glow.

The sinister red glow seemed to hint at something, causing the mad monk to survey the surroundings quickly—soon, this bizarre longsword automatically shifted direction, pointing not far away.

And mad monk Jing’an moved towards it, hefting his large staff.

"Are you the one with the Evil Qi release?"

Looking at the man in front of him, with a longsword at his waist, mad monk Jing’an slightly frowned.

Just from his wide-sleeved, mystical appearance, one would never imagine that this man with a scarred face was a master of Evil Qi release.

Even the man himself hadn’t known.

"Evil Qi release? What are you talking about?"

The man with the longsword at his waist looked puzzled at the towering monk in front of him.

"Are you looking for someone? Perhaps I could help..."

"I’m looking for you!"

Mad monk Jing’an’s eyes widened in anger.

The audacity, to have his cover blown by him and still dare to play dumb right before his eyes—there’s a saying that a monk does not lie, and he hates lies the most!

"I intended to capture you alive and present you to the Prime Minister, but now it seems I cannot spare you!"

Saying so, mad monk Jing’an picked up the large staff in his hand.

As the staff’s shadows howled, the skulls on either end released a ghostly howl, and even without considering the terrifying Evil Qi it carried, this heavy swing could split mountains and crack rocks!

It’s said that the longer the reach, the stronger the power; the massive centrifugal force brought terrifying strength to the long staff—and at this distance, with just a longsword, it was utterly impossible to reach him.

Much less, the man drew from his sheath nothing but a broken sword.

"A broken sword?"

Mad monk Jing’an couldn’t help but taunt with a laugh.

With just a mere broken sword, he dared to take him on?

Just then, that broken sword was already pointed at the mad monk’s chest.