Chapter 58: Turbulence at the Demon-Slaying Conference

Chapter 58: Turmoil at the Demon Extermination Assembly

Faxi Temple, in front of the mountain gate.

Ascending a thousand stone steps, winding through a hundred turns. Amidst the faint, serene tranquility beneath the shade of trees, a quiet elegance of floral fragrance permeated, ceaselessly adding a touch of magic to the ancient temple, with a hint of melancholy and vicissitude in its quietude.

An Jing climbed to the top of the mountain, panting heavily, his hands on his knees, gasping for breath, “Tan Yun, quickly give me the water skin.”

“Hmph!”

Tan Yun, pouting, threw the water skin to An Jing.

This little girl is still angry. Next time, I’ll just buy you more pastries.

An Jing opened the water skin and took a big gulp, then looked behind him, only to see Zhao Qingmei following him at an unhurried pace.

“Husband, you must be tired. Let me wipe your sweat.”

Zhao Qingmei took out her personal handkerchief and wiped the sweat from An Jing’s forehead.

It smells so good.

Immediately, a fragrant aroma filled his nostrils, making An Jing’s heart flutter.

“Third Master, I didn’t expect your Physique to be quite good?”

An Jing looked at Li Fuzhou and couldn’t help but smile.

Sanmiao Mountain was not big, and the four of them climbed for more than half an hour before finally reaching the mountain gate of Faxi Temple.

Logically speaking, it was normal for Zhao Qingmei, a Young Miss from an official Family, who had learned some shallow martial arts, to be strong and healthy, without a flushed face or heavy breathing. However, for Li Fuzhou, an old scholar who frequented Brothels every night to listen to music, to be like this was too abnormal.

“This old man is well-versed in the Dao of maintaining health, so my Physique is naturally not bad,” Li Fuzhou said lightly.

Seeing this, Tan Yun secretly thought: What do you, Little Doctor, know? My Master can travel eight hundred li by day and a thousand li by night. What is this little mountain path?

“Yes, frequenting Brothels every night to listen to music, that is the Dao of maintaining health for Third Master,” An Jing said with a smile.

“You don’t understand the affairs of scholars.”

Li Fuzhou glanced at An Jing, with a look that said, ‘What do you know?’ “There are particularities to listening to music in Brothels. There is great knowledge in a small space, and skill hidden within the depths.”

The affairs of scholars, can they be called whoring? That’s called listening to music in a Brothel.

An Jing glanced at Li Fuzhou, thinking to himself: I was also a scholar before, but I won’t say it.

The four of them walked along the mountain gate towards Faxi Temple.

“Several benefactors, these are incense sticks for worship.”

As the two approached, a handsome monk handed An Jing a bundle of incense sticks.

“Thank you.”

An Jing took thirty coins from his purse and put them into the Karma box, then glanced around, unable to help but exclaim, “So many yamen constables, it seems a large portion of Yu Prefecture City’s quick-hands have come.”

After entering the mountain gate, it was the Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings. Besides a large number of tourists and incense-burning pilgrims, there were scattered constables.

Among these tourists, there were also some Jianghu figures. Their purpose was not just to visit Faxi Temple, but rather to attend the Cao Gang’s Demon Extermination Assembly.

“It’s really lively.” Tan Yun, who naturally loved a bustling atmosphere, couldn’t help but cheer up when she saw so many people.

“Madam, you all go and wander around. I’m utterly exhausted,” An Jing sighed, instinctively holding his waist.

He had important matters to attend to later, so he naturally couldn’t follow Zhao Qingmei and the others.

“Alright, Tan Yun and I will go offer some incense, and then we’ll go to the Reincarnation Hall to see the Water and Land Dharma Assembly.” Zhao Qingmei then glanced at Li Fuzhou and instructed, “Third Master, you just follow the Young Master-in-law.”

“No need, I’ll rest for a while, then go find that brat Han Wenxin. Doesn’t Third Master also want to see that Water and Land Dharma Assembly? Don’t disturb his elegant mood,” An Jing waved his hand.

If Old Man Li followed him, it would be troublesome for him to get away.

Zhao Qingmei insisted, “Then wait until you find Han Wenxin, and then let Third Master go offer incense. It’s not convenient for you to be without someone by your side.”

There were countless Jianghu Masters in Faxi Temple. If her husband were to be injured by them, that would not be good.

After Zhao Qingmei finished speaking, she took Tan Yun and headed towards the Mahavira Hall in the distance to offer incense.

An Jing glanced at Li Fuzhou and sighed heavily.

He didn’t know why Zhao Qingmei always made Old Man Li follow him. Then, a thought stirred in his mind, as if he had realized something. Could it be that Qing Mei deliberately had him supervise him?

Little Doctor, do you think this old man wants to follow you?

Li Fuzhou, seeing An Jing’s gaze, snorted coldly for no reason in his heart. If it weren’t for the Cult Master being afraid you’d be stewed, why would this old man be so tired?

At this moment, An Jing saw a familiar figure in the distance and couldn’t help but call out, “Detective Qin, where is that brat Han Wenxin?”

That person was none other than Detective Qin, one of the only two detectives in Yu Prefecture City. At this moment, he was clutching his stomach, laughing so hard he was bent over for some unknown reason.

“Him? He’s squatting in the side hall corridor,” Detective Qin said, suppressing a laugh, “You should go quickly and take a look.”

“What’s wrong?”

An Jing looked at Detective Qin struggling to suppress his laughter and couldn’t help but ask.

He had planned to have Han Wenxin look after Zhao Qingmei and the other two. With him there, ordinary Jianghu small fry shouldn’t dare to act too presumptuously.

“You go see for yourself, I can’t explain it well.”

Seeing this, An Jing was also very curious and quickly walked towards the corridor ahead.

“Brother Han, Brother Han!”

At the end of the corridor, a burly man in a constable’s uniform was squatting, facing the wall.

From his build, it should undoubtedly be Han Wenxin.

Hearing An Jing’s words, Han Wenxin turned his body and removed the bamboo hat from his head.

The moment he turned around, An Jing was startled and exclaimed, “You, who are you? Why are you wearing Brother Han’s clothes?”

The person in front of him was not a person at all. His face was black and blue, with no clear intact spot, swollen like a pig’s head, even more exaggerated than Zhou Xianming’s back then.

“I-I’m Han Wenxin.” The person’s voice carried a hint of a sob, and a familiar tone could still be heard from his muffled speech.

“You’re that brat Han Wenxin?” An Jing swallowed, somewhat uncertainly.

What on earth happened to Han Wenxin?

Why to this extent?

Li Fuzhou also followed, then looked bewildered, clicking his tongue in wonder, “If you didn’t speak, I, Li, would truly think a pig had stood up.”

“I…I really am Han Wenxin,” Han Wenxin said with a mournful face.

“You say.” An Jing frowned, somewhat uncertainly, “How do you prove that you are Han Wenxin?”

Han Wenxin held up three fingers and solemnly said, “I, Han Wenxin, am irreconcilable with gambling and drugs.”

“It really is you, brat.”

An Jing heard this and immediately confirmed that the person in front of him was undoubtedly Han Wenxin. Only this constable leader made no mention of the yellow character.

“What happened to you?”

Han Wenxin wiped tears from the corners of his eyes, “I…I might have been infected by Zhou Xianming. Last night, I was lying at home when a black-clad man suddenly rushed in and asked: ‘Are you that brat Han Wenxin?’ The three of us drank too much last night and were a bit muddled, so I answered, ‘Yes, so what?’ Who knew that black-clad man would beat me up without a word…”

An Jing was a bit puzzled, “This is truly strange.”

Zhou Xianming was a scholar with no power to truss a chicken, while Han Wenxin was the constable leader of Yu Prefecture City. What kind of grudge or enmity did that black-clad man have with them to beat them so violently?

And it seemed that his hatred for Han Wenxin was even deeper than for Zhou Xianming.

A black-clad man appeared in Yu Prefecture City, specifically bullying the weak and beating others? Even the constable leader suffered, so it seems this black-clad man’s strength is definitely not weak.

There’s a very loyal old saying: a Fellow Daoist dies, not this poor Daoist.

“I don’t know where I offended him,” Han Wenxin lamented.

“Alas.”

An Jing patted Han Wenxin’s shoulder, “With your personality, it’s normal to offend people unintentionally.”

Han Wenxin was about to retort when a scenic view caught his attention.

Han Wenxin nudged An Jing, exclaiming in surprise, “Look quickly, that’s Young Miss Cao. She’s a famous golden flower in Yu Prefecture, and it’s said she hasn’t married yet. Eh, she’s walking towards us.”

An Jing looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Cao Ling’er in a light purple dress, looking somewhat ethereal, her feet adorned with embroidered shoes, walking towards them with lotus steps.

He was naturally not unfamiliar with Cao Ling’er; the Yin Qi in her body was cured by himself.

Han Wenxin quickly fumbled to put on his bamboo hat, afraid of offending the beauty.

“Little Dr. An, Ling’er greets you.”

Cao Ling’er came before An Jing, bowed slightly, and then said sweetly.

An Jing smiled and asked, “Young Miss Cao, no need to be so polite. May I ask if your health has improved recently?”

Cao Ling’er said gratefully, “Much better. If it weren’t for Little Dr. An’s miraculous recovery, Ling’er would probably still be unconscious now.”

Miraculous recovery?

Han Wenxin, at his side, subconsciously raised an eyebrow, and the fire of jealousy immediately surged, frantically shouting in his heart: Young Miss Cao, Little Dr. An can bring about a miraculous recovery, and so can I!

An Jing asked curiously, “That’s good. I heard Old Madam Cao say that you were infected by Yin Qi at Faxi Temple. How come today…”

Cao Ling’er hesitated for a moment, then said, “Little Dr. An is not a Jianghu person, so you might not know. Today is a grand event where the Cao Gang has invited the four great Families and various forces from Jiangnan Province. It is said that the Peerless Swordsman will be beheaded and displayed to the public.”

An Jing naturally knew what day it was, but he didn’t expect the Cao Family to attach such importance to it, with even Cao Ling’er, a Cao Family descendant recovering from a serious illness, attending.

“Little Dr. An, you must be careful,” Cao Ling’er bit her tender lips and said softly.

“Thank you for your concern, Miss Cao. With Officer Han here, I’ll be fine,” An Jing said with a smile, but secretly wondered in his heart, judging from Cao Ling’er’s expression, it seems today’s Demon Extermination Assembly is not simple.

“Alright, then Ling’er will go first. I will thank Little Dr. An for saving my life when I have time in the future.”

Cao Ling’er nodded, then quickly walked towards the depths of Faxi Temple.

“Brother An, I feel that this Cao Ling’er is not right.”

After Cao Ling’er left, Han Wenxin emerged, looking strange.

“Young Master-in-law, you must always remember, let feelings arise, but stop at propriety. Do not make mistakes you shouldn’t.”

Li Fuzhou also nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with Han Wenxin’s words.

“What’s not right? Isn’t she quite good and normal? You two just tend to think crookedly.”

An Jing looked at Li Fuzhou with a guilty conscience and said, “Third Master, didn’t you say you wanted to contemplate the Three Lives Stone? I just saw it, it’s to the left of the Hall of Heavenly Kings.”

“Alright, then Young Master-in-law, you can wander around slowly.”

Li Fuzhou felt relieved seeing Han Wenxin by An Jing’s side.

An Jing was just an ordinary doctor, so there was no way he could provoke a top-tier Master from the Jianghu. If it were some Jianghu small fry, Han Wenxin could handle them.

Jianghu small fry and Han Wenxin were destined to be bound together.

With that, Li Fuzhou walked away into the distance.

“Where is the Demon Extermination Assembly held by the Cao Gang?” An Jing couldn’t help but ask after Li Fuzhou left.

Han Wenxin replied, “In the Reincarnation Hall, it is said to be before the Water and Land Dharma Assembly.”

“I understand.” An Jing nodded slightly, a faint gleam appearing in his eyes, but he felt a little worried in his heart. Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun seemed to have gone to the Reincarnation Hall.

“What is that old man doing following you?” Han Wenxin looked at Li Fuzhou’s back, then connected it with An Jing’s expression, and suddenly realized, “So he’s an insider?”

“Don’t talk about that. Do me a favor,” An Jing said, putting his arm around Han Wenxin and smiling.

“What favor? If it’s taking care of Young Miss Cao or Tan Yun, I’d be very happy, but I have to think about which one to take care of first.”

A chapter of three thousand characters, asking for votes. Three more updates this weekend.