The white-robed general bellowed furiously, "Nonsense!"
"General, the Master has a point. We can't afford another war between the two nations."
"That's right. In the end, it's us commoners who suffer."
"Words of a Buddhist Master must hold some truth."
"Let him go, General."
The very same townsfolk who had moments ago been hurling stones and insults at the Hureg prisoner had now turned on a dime, pleading for his release.
Ye Xuzhang watched, his heart pounding. The persuasive power of this monk, Duxin, was terrifying.
What kind of technique could so thoroughly manipulate a crowd in such a short time?
Suddenly, the air changed.
The temperature plummeted by several degrees.
A chilling wind swept through, and a thick mist rose, swirling ominously. Within the mist, ghostly silhouettes flickered faintly.
Wails of despair echoed, like countless anguished spirits sobbing and lamenting nearby.
"Hahaha!"
A voice, sinister and cold, boomed through the chaos.
"What an esteemed protector of the Buddhist Order!"
"Where were you when the people of Great Xia were being massacred? And now, when this Hureg dog faces justice, you step forward to defend him?"
The speaker revealed himself to be the gaunt figure of the Netherworld Ghost King.
Only now did Ye Xuzhang understand.
The Ghost King hadn't been tailing him—he'd been lying in wait for this Buddhist Protector all along.
Dark energy coiled around the Ghost King, forming a massive skeletal head that lunged toward Duxin.
"One of the Four Ghosts of the Demon Cult: The Netherworld Ghost King!"
Duxin exclaimed in shock. A brilliant golden light erupted around him, clashing directly with the skeletal construct.
The other monks immediately joined the fray, charging toward the Ghost King.
Their battle sent violent gales rippling through the area, scattering the onlookers.
Fortunately, the combatants soon moved their fight away from the crowd. Otherwise, such a clash between experts would have caused devastating collateral damage.
As the Ghost King and the monks departed, the townsfolk began to regain their senses.
"What just happened?"
"I feel like I was in a daze, thinking that monk's words made perfect sense."
"Me too! It's like my mind wasn't my own."
"Did I actually beg for mercy for that Hureg dog?"
"Damn it! My brother was killed by those barbarians, and I begged for this monster? What the hell is wrong with me?"
Seeing the growing outrage among the crowd, the general quickly issued an order.
"Carry out the execution!"
The executioner stepped forward, blade in hand, and began the gruesome process of lingchi—slow slicing.
Harudas's face twisted in agony, yet he made no sound. Upon closer inspection, his tongue had been severed and his teeth pulled out.
The execution, beginning at noon, lasted until dusk. Only after every piece of flesh was stripped from Harudas's body did it conclude.
The crowd dispersed gradually, leaving Ye Xuzhang to continue on his way.
As he traveled further, Ye Xuzhang once again encountered the Netherworld Ghost King.
The Ghost King, pale and bloodied, stood protectively in front of a young girl—Zhang Xiaoyu!
Surrounding them were the lifeless bodies of dozens of Buddhist monks, their corpses strewn across the ground. Even Duxin, gravely injured, lay barely breathing.
Ye Xuzhang observed the carnage in disbelief.
Duxin, a Fifth Rank Star River Realm expert, and the monks—many of whom were at the Sun-Moon Realm's peak, with even a Second Rank Star River Realm monk among them—had all been defeated.
The Ghost King had taken on these formidable foes and prevailed, proving the terrifying might of the Four Ghosts of the Demon Cult.
Yet reinforcements had arrived, including another monk whose aura rivaled Duxin's.
It was clear: had these reinforcements not shown up, the Ghost King would have walked away unscathed.
The Ghost King sneered, his voice laced with exhaustion and sarcasm.
"Heh, I really miscalculated today."
"I thought I'd only have to deal with one Protector. Who knew there'd be a second one…"
He turned to Zhang Xiaoyu, his tone softening.
"Why did you rush over to help me, girl? With your measly skills, you were no match for them. And besides, we don't even know each other."
Zhang Xiaoyu puffed her chest proudly. "I respect you, Elder, for your character. I couldn't stand those bald hypocrites ganging up on you, so I acted on impulse."
"Good girl!" The Ghost King chuckled.
"Such a shame. If I weren't destined to die here today, I'd have made you my disciple."
The second monk, standing tall with an icy demeanor, interjected.
"Amitabha. The Ghost King speaks truly. Neither of you will leave here alive. Your end is certain."
The Ghost King replied coldly, "Duyuan, this girl has nothing to do with the Demon Cult. Let her go."
Duyuan snorted. "Helping a Demon Cult fiend to attack Buddhist disciples, and you dare call her innocent?"
"A girl like her, daring such insolence at her age, will surely grow into a scourge upon the world. Killing her now is a service to all living beings."
Zhang Xiaoyu yelled angrily, "Hey, hey! Are you even human? I only insulted you, didn't even throw a punch!"
Duyuan retorted, "Aligning with a Demon Cult fiend and insulting Buddhist disciples is crime enough to warrant death!"
Hearing this, Ye Xuzhang's eyes turned icy, and a seething rage surged within him.
He had endured his dislike for these monks for long enough.
Defending Hureg barbarians, manipulating commoners, and now targeting an innocent girl?
Who the hell did these self-proclaimed "enlightened" monks think they were?
Ye Xuzhang had avoided exposing his strength and refrained from meddling in Jianghu conflicts. But now?
He couldn't hold back anymore.
As for keeping a low profile?
The Netherworld Ghost King was blind, and Zhang Xiaoyu wouldn't betray him.
As for the rest?
Kill them all, and there'd be no one left to talk.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]