Yuan Kong reached out and stored all the items from the box into his spatial ring.
This spatial ring had been lent to him by Chu Xingchen when they last parted. Chu Xingchen had said he pitied him for having to carry everything on his person, so he was lending it temporarily—Yuan Kong would have to return it eventually.
Yuan Kong had figured that with so many debts, one more wouldn't matter. He'd pay it back someday.
If he'd had this spatial ring from the start, he wouldn't have been reduced to gnawing on grass in the beginning.
Throughout his travels, Yuan Kong hadn't earned much money. Then again, the people who needed his help were mostly the kind who couldn't afford to pay.
A single meal was usually enough to send him on his way.
He naturally had no money. Otherwise, he would have replaced his beggar-level clothing long ago.
After putting everything away, Yuan Kong looked at the abbot and said:
"On my travels, I met a villager from Yuzhou City. He said that evil cultivators are running rampant in Yuzhou City now. The Demon Suppression Bureau is unable to suppress them, and the people are suffering. Many have already fled the city, just hoping to survive."
The abbot pondered briefly before responding:
"There have indeed been some minor movements by evil cultivators recently. The Demon Suppression Bureau has sent people to handle it, but the evil cultivators are extremely cunning. The Bureau hasn't found solid evidence or caught many of them."
"Sacrificial rituals by evil cultivators have also been occurring outside Yuzhou City. Rumors have been spreading, and people believe the Demon Suppression Bureau is powerless against the evil cultivators' methods."
"The claim that the Demon Suppression Bureau can't handle the evil cultivators' disturbances may be false, but the deaths are real. For ordinary mortals, you only get one life. You can't gamble on the next victim not being you."
"Most of the fleeing refugees are from outside the city walls. They can't stay in the city for long, and to protect themselves, they have no choice but to flee outward."
"Inside the city, things are still relatively peaceful and orderly."
Yuan Kong nodded gently.
The abbot looked directly at Yuan Kong and asked:
"Is Senior Uncle coming back this time to deal with this matter?"
"My cultivation is still meager, but I have to do something for the place that raised me." Yuan Kong bowed and smiled lightly. "What my senior brother taught me could never produce a heartless person."
The abbot also bowed slowly:
"If you ever get tired, remember you can always come back. Chanlin Temple is still Chanlin Temple, and you are still my Senior Uncle. Your room is still being kept clean."
"Of course. Where else would I sleep at night?"
Yuan Kong answered with a laugh, then turned and left.
The abbot watched calmly as the young monk walked away.
He narrowed his eyes.
In the abbot's gaze, the young monk transformed back into the small, proud little Yuan Kong of the past.
The abbot smiled faintly.
Demon Suppression Bureau.
Xu Linglong wore the uniform of the Demon Suppression Bureau, leaning casually against a tree with a relaxed expression. She watched the busy members coming and going, along with a few who were secretly sizing her up with looks that bordered on distasteful.
Joining the Demon Suppression Bureau had been as easy as drinking a glass of water for Xu Linglong.
The Bureau was always short-staffed, though they still wouldn't accept people with truly terrible aptitude.
On top of that, the Bureau's frontline combat rate was far higher than that of ordinary sects.
Only impoverished minor cultivators with spirit roots would choose to join the Demon Suppression Bureau in exchange for cultivation resources.
Xu Linglong had only needed to display a modest level of cultivation and a few simple tricks to get in.
Over these days, she had also thoroughly mapped out the entire layout of Yuzhou City and the Demon Suppression Bureau.
Chu Xingchen's reputation in Yuzhou City was considerable. Whether it was the Sect Conference or Yuan Jing's repeated visits to Chu Xingchen's sect, both were topics of lively discussion in the city.
Especially since Chu Xingchen had also distributed money to the people of Yuzhou City and hosted a grand gathering—later rumored to be for his eldest disciple's birthday.
And then there was the sect address Chu Xingchen had left behind in Yuzhou City.
The sect's grand formation was unmistakably the work of the Tianyan Sect. Sure enough, Chu Xingchen had ties to the Tianyan Sect from the very beginning.
Because it was a Tianyan Sect formation, even though the caster was not a specialist, the caster's cultivation was high enough. Xu Linglong couldn't cleverly break through the formation without being detected.
So she could only survey the sect from the outside and couldn't search it personally.
But it was enough. Nothing in this world could be done perfectly.
Xu Linglong had also gotten a thorough sense of how Chu Xingchen typically treated people.
A general personality model had already formed in her mind.
Next, it was time to arrange a surprise for Chu Xingchen.
Chu Xingchen had indeed taken all the sect's key figures with him. Those he left behind did have friendly relations with him, but once the cultivation gap became too large, so-called friendships became the legendary kind of friendship.
The greatest use of such friends was bragging—"I know him."
Not expecting that friend to actually do anything for you.
At the very least, Xu Linglong didn't believe Chu Xingchen would drop everything he was doing and make a special trip to Yuzhou City just for A Nian.
But nothing in this world was perfect.
Xu Linglong had sorted through all the interpersonal connections and keenly noticed one person—Yuan Kong.
The name of the Buddhist Child Yuan Kong was well known throughout Yuzhou City.
According to intelligence, Yuan Kong had originally been unable to cultivate. But later, Yuan Jing, the abbot of Chanlin Temple, had used formless great power to compensate for Yuan Kong's spiritual root.
A Buddhist Child—at the very least, he could eventually reach the Integration realm.
Chu Xingchen leaving treasures at Chanlin Temple was also a piece of gossip in Yuzhou City.
A Buddhist Child. Chu Xingchen leaving treasures.
There was also news of Yuan Kong from Zhengyin Dharma Temple, personally rescued by Chu Xingchen.
So many coincidences couldn't just be coincidence.
At the very least, in Xu Linglong's eyes, Yuan Kong had reached the point where he was worth testing.
Tracking Yuan Kong's movements had taken Xu Linglong considerable effort.
Now all she had to do was wait for Yuan Kong to return to Yuzhou City.
Then stir up trouble, and Yuan Kong would seek help from Chu Xingchen.
She needed to eliminate her own influence from the equation as much as possible. Even if Bai Xuanling accompanied Chu Xingchen, it would be fine.
To ambush a figure of that caliber, naturally they had to go all out.
Of the Eight Celestial Demons, four had already arrived.
Even if Bai Xuanling personally came to protect him, they would have to leave him behind too.
The killing strike would only come once. Xu Linglong naturally had to do her absolute best.
But it wouldn't matter if Chu Xingchen didn't come. After all, every plan has its miscalculations.
Chu Xingchen was meticulous, and this was a critical moment. It would be normal for him not to come in person.
He might simply send some sect disciples to handle it instead.
In that case, she would just need to drop more bait to draw Chu Xingchen's attention back.
Yuan Kong was not the end of the scheme—he was only the beginning.
Xu Linglong was confident. As long as Chu Xingchen set his eyes on Yuzhou City even once, she would absolutely be able to hold his gaze and not let go.
Until he came to see for himself.
"Linglong, news has come from Linqu Village on the west side. We've been ordered to investigate."
Xu Linglong looked in the direction of the voice and saw Zhao Wanqing, at the peak of Foundation Establishment, her sword at her hip, one hand resting on it, standing at a distance and speaking to her.
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"I'm coming." Xu Linglong rose leisurely.
This person had also passed along quite a bit of intelligence about Chu Xingchen.
With a gentle smile on her face, Xu Linglong walked toward Zhao Wanqing. At the same time, her eyes flicked toward Bai Bo, who had concealed his form and gave her a slight nod.
Her smile deepened.
Yuan Kong had entered the stage.
The show was about to begin.