Chapter 178: The Old Monk’s Transformation

Chapter 178: The Old Monk's Transformation

"So, you admit it?" asked Minister Qu.

"Baiyu, lower the torches!" said Emperor Xiao Yin, turning his head to speak.

The torches were lowered, and Baiyu used his longsword to cut open the bindings on the captives. The crowd stretched their necks to look.

"Well, look who’s here—nothing but Tatars!"

"Great Wei would never ally with Tatars!"

Xiao Yin looked at Minister Qu and sneered coldly. "I have heard, Minister Qu, that recently you took a concubine from the Tatar tribe, and even your son has brought two Tatar women into your household, correct?"

"Yes, they are from our vassal state. We in Beiling are allowed to marry into the Tatar tribe," said Minister Qu.

"Let's talk about this, Minister Qu. Do you know how many assassins have died here?" asked Xiao Yin.

"There are too many assassins, and it's dark, how could I count them? Your Majesty, do you really need to push this?" Minister Qu was clearly frightened by Xiao Yin's demeanor and began to step back.

"A total of eight hundred and twenty-eight assassins have died, and seventy-two are still alive. Minister Qu, so many people are watching. We must give the townsfolk an explanation and conduct an immediate interrogation here to let them know who sent these assassins!" said Yuan Hui, stepping forward. "This general's interrogation methods were somewhat famous in the army!"

"Yuan Hui, this is Beiling!" Minister Qu shouted coldly.

"Yes, we are here to help Beiling rid itself of those who would smear it and attempt to harm our Great Wei Emperor. What, does Beiling admit that you sent assassins to kill our emperor?" said Yuan Hui.

Yuan Hui's presence was also very strong.

His skills were extraordinary. If not for Ruo Xi Baby being angered and using a thunderbolt to deal with these assassins, Yuan Hui and Baiyu alone could have handled them.

It would just have been more exhausting.

"You came from the northern border, ravaging everything in your path. Do you realize this is Beiling's capital city? You barged into the capital, and that's why the assassins came to kill you. If you hadn't come, would the assassins have come for you?" Minister Qu's eyes shifted, and as he finished speaking, he shouted, "Men, attack!"

The imperial guards surrounded them, and the clashing of weapons and armor echoed everywhere.

"It seems this battle can't be avoided tonight. Let's see, what do I have in my space? Oh, a truth talisman—not bad for an old monk. By the way, where's the old monk?"

At this critical moment, where did Jing En run off to?

"The talisman needs to be stuck onto this person to be effective. The old guy ran off. What’s the plan for Baby now?"

Ruo Xi Baby was a bit troubled, and she twisted her small hands. Suddenly, she looked down at Elder Brother Jingyu.

Jingyu was standing with his hands behind his back next to her, and when he saw her looking, he reached out and grabbed her hand.

Ruo Xi Baby thought for a moment and decided she couldn’t care too much anymore...

"Amituofo!"

A deep, resonant voice echoed from the bridge.

Minister Qu turned to look at the bridge.

On the bridge, Master Jing'en was walking slowly, wearing his monk's robe.

"Minister Qu, for your own selfish reasons, you’ve shown no mercy, disregarding the lives of the people. Aren't you afraid of ending up in the deepest hell?" Jing'en's expression was cold, and his robe was so blindingly bright it was hard to look at.

Ruo Xi Baby snorted lightly. "Hey, old monk, stop playing games. Get over here."

"Young master, are you well?" Before Minister Qu could react, Master Jing'en hurried over to the emperor, adjusting his kasaya as he spoke. "Jing'en went to fetch the kasaya. I had a custom-made one from a tailor shop in Beiling, and I thought this would be the perfect time to wear it!"

Everyone around fell silent.

Just moments ago, they truly believed an enlightened monk had arrived.

Now, he looked more like a grandpa playing with his grandchild.

"Master Jing'en, although you are an enlightened monk, you are from Great Wei. I've also heard that you've killed quite a few people along the way. So, I, as an official, do not accept your title of enlightened monk!" Minister Qu said.

"Whether you accept it or not doesn't matter. The hearts of the people are what matter. As a local official, you don't think of the people. As the Minister of War, you fail to protect them. What are you doing having so many soldiers draw their bows?" Jing'en said, turning around.

A dense mass of Beiling soldiers stood behind him, their bows drawn.

"Hmph, are these Beiling soldiers all idiots as well? Their brains need a good cleaning!" Thought Ruo Xi Baby. With a flick of her hand, she directed her intention forward.

An almost invisible force propelled the powder toward the soldiers.

"Apologies, Emperor of Great Wei!" Minister Qu didn't want to continue the confrontation. Outside the soldiers' perimeter, the townsfolk were raising their fists and cursing at them. If not for the soldiers blocking them, they would have surely rushed over and torn Minister Qu apart.

The townsfolk knew exactly where these assassins had come from.

The Emperor of Great Wei had only been in Beiling for half a day—how could he have rounded up so many Tartar assassins?

"Minister Qu, old monk still advises you to behave yourself!" Jing'en stepped forward, raising his hand and shaking it repeatedly.

Ruo Xi Baby, in her uncle's arms, looked at this and thought: "..."

Ruo Xi Baby was speechless.

This old guy really thought he had too many talismans, so he just used them casually.

Using so many talismans on one person was deadly!

"Hmph, old baldy, why should I behave myself?" Minister Qu raised his hand.

At that moment, all the soldiers raised their bows toward Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin raised his hand and tightly hugged Ruo Xi Baby to protect her.

Ruo Xi Baby pulled at her uncle's sleeve with her little hand. "Come on, Uncle, don't worry. Those regular arrows won't hurt me. Let's see if his talismans actually work!"

In the face of danger, Ruo Xi Baby remained the calmest in the scene.

Xiaoyue and Black Feather stood close to Xiao Yin.

Nurse Jin, Eunuch Gao, and Yuan Hui, among others, surrounded Xiao Yin and Xiaoyue, using their bodies to shield them.

Outside of them were the Black Armor Guard and the men Yuan Hui brought.

"Hmph, Beiling will soon belong to the Qu family. The old emperor is on his deathbed, and once he's gone, Beiling will be mine!"

"Heavens, has Minister Qu gone mad? No wonder he is so cruel. He wants to be emperor?"

Outside, the townsfolk, who had been ready to charge in, were now even more enraged.

"For his own gain, he treats us like ants. This is unacceptable!"