chapter 0588 part 2
Seeing the Mountain Demon pounce, the first row of Prefecture Army Soldiers, using the three-stage firing method, all squatted down. A row of Prefecture Army Soldiers with broad shoulders and thick waists stepped forward, gripping the Modao forged from Fine steel tightly with both hands, poised to strike.
"Slash!" Just as the Mountain Demon pounced over the heads of the first row of Modao Army, following the order of a Military Officer, these Modao Army soldiers simultaneously swung their Blades, slashing upwards.
For a moment, Blade Light flashed repeatedly, the sound of Metal and Iron clashing, and the Mountain Demon's sharp Scream echoed in the empty Street.
Several Modao that could cut through Metal and Iron like mud slashed at the Mountain Demon's Claws, which were as sharp as Daggers, and its tough Animal Hides, severing its two Claws and tearing open its belly. The leading Military Officer with a bushy beard swung his hands, the Modao sweeping up, the Blade Light on the Blade tip swallowing and spitting out Cold Light, cutting off the Mountain Demon's Head with one strike.
The Mountain Demon's massive Body shrank as if deflated, returning to the size of an ordinary Monkey, and heavily smashed onto the Street.
Two Prefecture Army skillfully stepped forward and put the Mountain Demon's headless Corpse and Head together into a Net Bag woven from Ink Rope.
"A Demon, there really is a Demon!"
"Those are the Prefecture Army from the city! As expected, they are formidable!"
"Why are they here?"
"Nonsense, have you forgotten? The Old Master Emperor is going to perform the Heaven Worship Sacrifice on Zhongnan Mountain!"
"Heaven Worship Sacrifice?"
"It's saying good things to the Heavenly Father so they can bless our Great Tang Dynasty with favorable weather!"
"You guys say, wasn't that Timely Rain two years ago brought down because the Old Master Emperor said good things to the Heavenly Emperor?"
Seeing the Monster killed, the Small Town Common People who had hidden in the Buildings came out one after another. Seeing the Prefecture Army there, they weren't afraid at all and gathered around to look at the Mountain Demon.
Clearly, they were very curious about this Monster.
At the little milk doll's pleading, Emperor Tang also held her and went forward to join the Excitement. Chen Xuanzang naturally followed.
Emperor Tang covered the little milk doll's Eyes with his hand. Her small hands kept pulling at his Fingers, her soft little Body twisting and struggling in his arms, insisting on seeing the Mountain Demon's appearance clearly.
Emperor Tang could only indulge the little one and released the hand covering her Face. However, this little one's courage was unexpectedly great. She didn't show much Fear towards the headless Monkey Corpse. Her dark, round Eyes were full of Curiosity.
On the contrary, Chen Xuanzang, standing beside Emperor Tang, looked at the Mountain Demon's separated Corpse and Head, a look of pity appearing on his Face.
"Fellow Devotees, this Demon, I don't think it's an Evil Demon..."
"Hmph!" At this moment, the Military Officer wearing Armor and holding a Modao heard Chen Xuanzang's words, his Complexion changed, and he looked at him fiercely.
"You fellow, what do you mean by that? Is it wrong for us to kill Demon Monsters!"
Under the Military Officer's Gaze, Chen Xuanzang opened his mouth: "Benefactor, I didn't mean that. I just saw that this Demon didn't seem like a ferocious type. If we could awaken its Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, it would also be a Merit!"
The Military Officer gave him a cold look, swung the Modao in his hand, pointing the Blade tip at the Mountain Demon's Corpse: "This Demon has been causing trouble on Zhongnan Mountain for a long time. After investigation, it has harmed three Human Lives and over ten Livestock. According to the Great Tang Law, it is To be Executed!"
"But, Buddhist Scriptures say, put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha immediately. As long as it sincerely repents, it doesn't necessarily have to lose its Life!" Chen Xuanzang was completely unaware that the Complexions of the surrounding Common People had all changed as they looked at him.
"Good Monk! How dare you speak such nonsense in front of Old Cheng!"
Just as Chen Xuanzang was refuting the Military Officer, a Bellow like thunder rang out.
A large hand reached out and grabbed Chen Xuanzang.
"You..."
Chen Xuanzang only felt the back of his Neck tighten. Just as he said one word, he was lifted up.
"Hmph!"
Chen Xuanzang's feet struggled constantly. He heard a Voice behind him say: "Still a monk with hair. Men, arrest him and escort him to the Great Prison. Investigate clearly whether he has any Relationship with that group of Rebels!"
A Big man wearing bright Armor casually threw Chen Xuanzang onto the ground. The heavy Force threw him down so hard he couldn't get up for a long Time.
Two Prefecture Army stepped forward, pressed down on his arms, and tied him up behind his back.
"His grandma's!"
The Big man cursed at Chen Xuanzang: "Damn it, Old Cheng is most annoyed by monks right now. When His Majesty returns to the capital, Old Cheng will definitely petition His Majesty to seal all the Temples in the World and drive all those monks into the mountains to mine stones!
As he spoke, he directly stepped on Chen Xuanzang's Head! Chen Xuanzang's Face was pressed against the cold Stone Slab, struggling desperately. He wasn't struggling for himself; he was struggling because he heard this Big man say he would petition the Emperor to seal all the Temples in the World.
How could this be? If these Temples were gone, how would the Sentient Beings turn towards goodness?
Wuwuwu—
Chen Xuanzang wanted to speak, but his mouth had already been preemptively stuffed with a Hemp Walnut by two Prefecture Army Soldiers, blocking his mouth.
Chen Xuanzang subconsciously looked in the Direction of Emperor Tang, wanting to ask for help, but the place where he had just stood was empty.
After tying Chen Xuanzang up like a Zongzi, the two Prefecture Army found a Prisoner Transport Vehicle and threw him directly into it. Besides Chen Xuanzang, there were other Prisoners in the Prisoner Transport Vehicle, mostly Major Bandits, Habitual Thieves, and Tyrants from the Zhongnan Mountain area.
With the Son of Heaven arriving at Zhongnan Mountain, the local Government naturally had to suppress the streets and Sweep away all hidden dangers.
Of course, this Mountain Demon was also on the list to be swept away.
"General! The Heaven Worship Sacrifice is about to begin, you should go up the mountain!"
Two Military Officers rode horses to the Big man's side, dismounted, and saluted the Big man.
"Hmph!"
The Big man glared fiercely at Chen Xuanzang in the Prisoner Transport Vehicle, got onto a yellow-maned Horse, and rode towards Zhongnan Mountain. Before leaving, he didn't forget to instruct: "For those who speak nonsense, tell the local Prefecture Office not to let them off lightly!"
"Understood!" The group of Prefecture Army clasped their Fists behind him in salute.
Inside the Prisoner Transport Vehicle, Chen Xuanzang, tied up like a Zongzi, lay helplessly looking at the Sky. A line of clear tears flowed from the Corner of his Eye.
He didn't even understand why he had fallen to this state. He had clearly just said something fair.
"Uncle Tang, why was that big brother tied up? Should we help him!" The little milk doll sucked her Finger, looking at Emperor Tang in confusion.
The little milk doll didn't want to call Emperor Tang 'Grandpa'; she had always called him 'Uncle'. Her smelly Imperial Father insisted she call him 'Grandpa'.
Emperor Tang didn't mind the Appellation. He slowly rode the White Horse along the Stone Slab Road of the Small Town: "Little one, I'll teach you a Reason: Let go of the Helping Complex, Respect Others' Fate. This Path was chosen by him, and he should learn to bear the consequences!"
The little milk doll nodded as if she understood, yet didn't.
(end of chapter)