Chapter 360: Baoxiang Kingdom
On the Xuantian Continent, in the Western Regions, Buddhist nations stood in clusters, temples spread everywhere.
Here, the Great Thunderclap Temple reigned supreme, holding the highest position among Buddhist cultivators.
Baoxiang Kingdom was one of the ten great vassal states under the Great Thunderclap Temple.
Among the many Buddhist nations of the West, it was also a renowned name.
It was said that the founding ancestor, Great Sage Baoxiang, once cultivated within the Great Thunderclap Temple. Within the capital itself, the Hidden Buddha Temple still housed a Half-Saint guardian.
Lately, the royal capital of Baoxiang bustled with activity. The grand Water and Land Ceremony, held once every ten years, was about to take place at Baoxiang Temple outside the capital walls.
The entire city surged with people, endless carriages streaming in and out.
Several ordinary carriages rolled smoothly through the city gates.
In the lead carriage, the youth driving called out after they entered, "Senior Uncle Nie, we've arrived at Baoxiang's capital."
Inside, Nie Xiuyuan opened his eyes at the words, pushed open the window, and gazed at the unfamiliar city. He murmured, "Over a hundred years away, and everything here has changed."
Hearing this, Qin Yun, holding the reins, asked instinctively, "Senior Uncle, since you are from the Western Regions, why did you not follow the Buddhist path?"
Nie Xiuyuan smiled faintly. "In my youth, I did study Buddhism. The former abbot of Hidden Buddha Temple took me as a named disciple. He allowed me a hundred years to temper my heart in the mortal world. Once I had seen through worldly red dust, I was to enter the temple as a Buddha's Son.
But man's plans cannot match heaven's will. Everything changed that night."
As he spoke, a murderous intent surged across his usually calm face.
Though he did not release it deliberately, Qin Yun still felt a chill at his back. He dared not ask what had happened, only certain that it was something that had altered Senior Uncle's life forever. Otherwise, Nie Xiuyuan would not now be leading his brothers and uncles on a path of vengeance.
Qin Yun quickly changed the subject. "Senior Uncle, I've heard monks cannot marry or have children. Why then did that former abbot let you toil through the mortal world?"
Nie Xiuyuan answered slowly, "As they say: only by entering the red dust can one transcend it. In Baoxiang Kingdom, many monks take wives and have families before severing ties to the mundane and fully entering monastic life."
Sensing that the killing intent had lessened, Qin Yun let out a silent breath. "So that's how it is. Buddhism in Baoxiang is truly unique."
Nie Xiuyuan fell silent again, closing the window and shutting his eyes to resume cultivation, as if nothing had been spoken.
Half an hour later—
The caravan halted before a fine inn.
Since their party was large, they directly rented a courtyard behind the inn.
Once everyone settled, Cao Youqian asked, "Senior Brother Nie, when shall we act?"
Nie Xiuyuan smiled. "No rush. Seven days from now, at Baoxiang's Water and Land Ceremony, I will naturally encounter those two wretches."
Hearing this, Cao Youqian blurted out, "Could it be they cultivate Joyous Zen?"
Nie Xiuyuan shook his head. "No. Both are from noble houses. At such a grand occasion, they will surely appear. Then, I will strike."
The others gave him a thumbs-up at once.
Cao Youqian added, "Senior Brother, only you would think to act at such a time. But tell us, what are the names of those two? We still don't know."
"They are called King Jinlun and King Wuxia."
Nie Xiuyuan spoke the names calmly. Though killing intent surged within, he did not let it leak outward.
The group silently committed the two titles to memory.
Xiao Chen then said, "Senior Brother Nie, rest for a few days. I'll take Qianqian and the others out to have some fun."
"Alright."
Nie Xiuyuan nodded, saying nothing more.
Chen Qianqian and Bai Qian's eyes lit up at once.
All along the road, it had been nothing but traveling, never a chance to play. Now at last, they had the opportunity to go out and enjoy themselves.
How could Xiao Chen not notice the thoughts of his two junior sisters? He was the first to speak.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
The two girls each took one of Liu Yue'er's arms, laughing as they pulled her outside, while Xiao Chen followed leisurely behind the three women.
As soon as they left the inn, the three women strolled down the bustling street.
Being cultivators, no matter how crowded the masses, nothing could hinder their steps.
Before long, they reached a lively marketplace.
The two young girls bought a large pile of goods, and just as they were about to leave, a mocking voice called out from behind.
"Stop right there!"
Hearing this, Chen Qianqian instinctively frowned. Unlike Bai Qian, who had grown up protected by many powerful figures, she herself had been raised in a harsh environment.
Street abductions and forced harassment—she had seen such things countless times. A sudden shout like this clearly meant trouble.
But Chen Qianqian no longer feared such matters. She slowly turned her head.
There stood a foppish young lord dressed like a noble, his greedy gaze fixed on their group.
"What is it?"
Before Chen Qianqian could speak, Liu Yue'er, as the elder sister-in-law, stepped forward and asked.
The young lord scrutinized her. Even though she wore a veil, his sharp eyes could not be deceived.
With a single glance, he realized this woman was even more beautiful than the little fox girl and the younger ones beside her.
The corners of his lips lifted into a cold smile. "Beauty, you've stolen away my fox concubine. Tell me, how should I settle this debt with you?"
Liu Yue'er was no fool. Back when she had trained with her senior brother, she had faced many such provocations. But as their fearsome reputation as the Black and White Twin Fiends spread, such incidents had all but vanished—until now.
"Fellow Daoist, would you repeat what you just said?"
The young lord, hearing the words "Fellow Daoist," immediately understood these three women were outsiders. That meant they were already within his grasp.
"I said you stole this young master's fox concubine. How will you compensate me?"
"And how would you have me compensate you?"
Liu Yue'er asked with a faint smile. Xiao Chen, standing behind her, was ready to act, but she stopped him with a transmission of divine sense. With Senior Brother Nie's matters at hand, this was not the time for him to make a move.
The young lord might look like a spoiled wastrel, but he was not entirely brainless. He could hear the hidden meaning in her words.
"You've got spirit. This young master likes women like you. Men, seize these two who dared to steal my fox concubine. I will interrogate them thoroughly!"
"Yes, young master!"
The attendants behind him rushed at Liu Yue'er and the two girls.
But before they could get close, Chen Qianqian slammed out a palm strike, blasting the lackeys back. The loud commotion immediately drew the attention of many bystanders nearby…
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