Even after crossing the main gate of An Guo Temple, Pharmacist's Wish still did not trust Yellow Dog's plan to close the temple gates.
Her Brocade Guard had thoroughly investigated the personnel movements of An Guo Temple for nearly a year, confirming that it was impossible for Yellow Dog to have infiltrated the temple with his people in just a few days. And given the divine protection characteristics of Chang'an City, Yellow Dog couldn't have harmed the temple monks and taken their place.
Yellow Dog's claim of having planted an insider in An Guo Temple was a blatant lie.
She had already prepared her words; as long as Yellow Dog failed to close the temple gates of An Guo Temple, she would immediately jump out and sternly rebuke Yellow Dog for being self-righteous and reaping what he sowed. His failure was proof of being irresponsible and lacked accountability; now the only way out was to follow her command, because only she could lead everyone to victory...
Until the overwhelming sound of bells interrupted her fantasy.
Pharmacist's Wish watched helplessly as the monks hurriedly closed all the temple gates in every direction, pulled the door bars, including the small door leading to the second floor, and didn't even spare the windows. It took less than twenty seconds for the entire An Guo Temple to be completely sealed off, isolating inside from outside, creating a perfect crime scene.
Only An Guo Temple's monks would have enough manpower to close the temple gates in such a short time.
Although Pharmacist's Wish still didn't know what Yellow Dog had done, without a doubt, all the monks in An Guo Temple at that moment had become 'insiders'!
What he said was actually true.
He actually succeeded.
Right under my nose, he laid out a perfect plan, and I couldn't even figure out the gist of it!
Closing the temple gates was his plan, opening the gold cabinet was his proposal, and even the escape route was chosen by him!
Chang'an City is clearly my territory, how can he act so recklessly?
I am the daughter of the Duke of Jin Kingdom, the Commander of the Brocade Guard, how can he be more adept than me?
I am meant to be the destined ruler of the Thief's House, but why is he better than me?
Why!
Why!
After donning the Black Wolf Mask, no one could see the expression on Pharmacist's Wish's face; everyone could only feel the heat of her Qi Blood surging, feel her rising momentum!
"How dare you run wild in An Guo Temple!"
A tall Martial Monk holding a staff leapt out from behind the counter. When he saw the monks on the ground with severed arms and blood everywhere, his brow knotted, his face gloomy like an angry Arhat.
"Although I don't know what you've done, to have lifted the divine protection of Chang'an, those who kill will always be killed. Without divine protection, do you think you can act recklessly? Just so you know, the Buddha has boundless mercy, but also great wrath!"
"Ben De, Ben Ci, Ben Ming, follow me to vanquish demons!"
"Yes, Master Chengming!"
The surrounding three Martial Monks, who had been somewhat at a loss, immediately recovered at the command of the tall Martial Monk, positioning themselves to surround Yan Qing and the other three.
Yan Qing's heart sank—this was one of the worst scenarios he had anticipated.
If the monks hadn't realized what was happening, they could have used the information asymmetry to eliminate the combat power of An Guo Temple first. At that time, these monks, believing Chang'an City would protect them, would have died clueless, even if they were extraordinary.
But as long as someone raised a rallying cry and led them into combat mode, then Yan Qing and the others would have to confront the Martial Monks of An Guo Temple head-on!
As the saying goes, if you don't show your hand, others won't know you're actually so weak.
With Yan Qing's first-turn messenger's strength, once a fight breaks out, his background would inevitably be exposed. Now, everyone would know he was just a small fry. Even completing the task would be an unbearable loss for Yan Qing.
He prepared so much, yet was it still impossible to avoid direct confrontation?
While Yan Qing was internally struggling, Pharmacist's Wish stepped in front of them, her low voice carrying an almost arrogant disdain: "All of you come at me, I'm in a hurry."
"How dare you, little thief!"
The tall Martial Monk shouted angrily and, along with the three Martial Monks, swung his staff at Pharmacist's Wish! Now was not the time to talk about Jianghu morality—such an opportunity to take down an enemy when they were unprepared could not be missed!
Meanwhile, Pharmacist's Wish unwrapped a package draped in black cloth, taking out two folding steel rods, and with a twist and a lock of her hands, it transformed into a Fine Steel Long Spear!
She advanced towards the Martial Monks' staff without the slightest defense!
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
The Martial Monks' staffs struck Pharmacist's Wish without hesitation, creating a series of deep whooshing sounds. The tall Martial Monk Chengming's staff, wrapped in red lightning, struck her as if hitting a bell, exploding with a thunderous roar!
Ordinary Martial Monks are first-turn messengers; they possess the 'Arhat Robe' as a defensive token. Yet with their Qi Blood, even staff attacks can break jade and stone; and Chengming is a second-turn messenger, in addition to the Arhat Robe, he has a second-turn token, the 'Thundering Bead', which can greatly enhance the lethality of any weapon.
Against an ordinary person, Chengming and the three's siege would be enough to turn them into pulp, even stone and steel would be shattered.
However, Pharmacist's Wish, who faced all their attacks head-on, only stirred a faint golden ripple on her body, unharmed.
'Able to withstand an attack enhanced by the Thundering Bead, is it a second-turn defensive token?'
The thought flashed through Chengming's mind, thinking the opponent was probably a low-attack, high-defense second-turn messenger.
His guess was not without reason, after all, replenishing Spiritual Power for the Messenger was extremely troublesome, limited by the Spiritual Power cap, the Second-Turn Messenger often can only wear one Second-Turn Token, if they pay attention to attack, they cannot pay attention to defense, if they pay attention to healing, they lose mobility.
At this moment, he heard the low and murderous voice of Pharmacist's Wish:
"Finished? Then it's my turn."
The golden light on Pharmacist's Wish formed into flowing water and entwined around the Fine Steel Long Spear. She raised the spear high with one hand, her body taut like a slingshot!
The Martial Monks were not afraid, planning to rely on Arhat Robes to withstand, taking this opportunity to continue attacking Pharmacist's Wish.
Only Chengming realized something, retreating while shouting: "Quickly dodge, this is—"
Token · Bright King Armor!
Pharmacist's Wish shouted loudly, waving the spear single-handedly in a sweeping motion, the golden light at the tip of the spear sprayed out like flowing water, transforming into a golden spear glow sweeping across!
What she swung out wasn't a long spear, but a sea of blood!
The Martial Monks' Arhat Robes shattered instantly, even Chengming couldn't dodge, everyone's bodies were severed at the waist, blood splattered on the ground forming a blood line. The surrounding Guest Monks were so scared they scrambled back, looking at Pharmacist's Wish and others in horror.
Chengming wasn't dead yet, with half his body left he struggled to open his eyes wide, focusing on Pharmacist's Wish's Black Wolf Mask, trembling: "Rare, it's actually a rare, token..."
Bang!
Pharmacist's Wish pierced his head with a spear, ending his suffering.
She glanced back at everyone, calmly saying: "Hurry up, time is tight."
Even with the mask on, Pharmacist's Wish could see the surprised little eyes of White Fox and Red Snake, instantly feeling a sense of pride.
Now you know how powerful I am!
But as she looked at Yellow Dog, she felt anger burning again - Yellow Dog really walked over without any shock at her performance!
I have a Rare Token, have you ever seen a Rare Token? Do you know what a Rare Token is? You definitely don't know, so you can't see how powerful I am!
Truly an ignorant mud-leg!
Pharmacist's Wish wished she could shoot Yan Qing from behind, just then Yan Qing opened the counter door, preparing to enter the inner hall of An Guo Temple, the Shopkeeper Monk inside suddenly pulled out a Precepts Saber, attempting to ambush Yan Qing from behind.
Seeing this, Pharmacist's Wish stepped forward, sweeping with her spear single-handedly, the strong and vigorous spear shaft knocked the Shopkeeper Monk against the wall, sliding down like a rag, unconscious.
When Yan Qing looked back, she snorted coldly and scolded: "Pay attention to your surroundings, don't give me trouble."
"Sorry." Yan Qing smiled, "Don't act, my people are here."
Yellow Dog's people?
Now not only Pharmacist's Wish, but also Ying Rushi and Shang Xinlei looked over curiously.
Yan Qing pushed open the doors of the counter and inner hall, a wave of hot air mixed with a charred odor surged out immediately.
"This is really... desecration." Ying Rushi murmured.
In the inner hall with golden statues of Bodhisattva Buddha stood, lay several twisted corpses, all burned to charcoal, as they opened the door, a Martial Monk bathed in flames howled miserably, but could not escape, as his way was blocked by three identical triplets. Even themselves were affected by flames, they remained still until the Martial Monk fell and moved no more.
A dozen thin and pale nobles huddled in the corner, their faces frightened, dare not speak, as if afraid to awaken the evil spirit in the Buddhist hall.
Standing in the center of the inner hall was a young boy holding a saber with one hand, half his body burned, his right hand burned to only half an arm, that half arm looked like it was still warm charcoal, as if it would crumble upon touch. His eyebrows and hair burned off, the skin of his right face warped into twisted aged tree bark, making his delicate face become hideously monkish.
He faced the entire hall of Bodhisattva Buddha, like a ghost climbed out from hell.
But Pharmacist's Wish, Ying Rushi, and Shang Xinlei all simultaneously noticed one thing—
The White Iron Straight Saber the boy held was exactly the same as Yellow Dog's!
"An Wu, I'm here."
Yan Qing stepped into the inner hall, loudly greeting.
The boy turned to look at Yan Qing, the ghost-like face no sadness, no joy.
For a moment, Yan Qing thought the other wouldn't recognize him—
"You're here."
An Wu paused, then said: "We killed four, three ran away. They complained."
Upon hearing the last sentence, Xue Yan, Third Miss Yang, and others first froze, then their expressions changed drastically.
Every one of them was so nervous their hearts jumped to their throats, afraid to breathe heavily, anxiously watching this person wearing a Yellow Dog mask, waiting for his response!