Chapter 201: Backstab

There must be something strange when things go against the norm. This isn’t a novel, so no one’s intelligence would suddenly drop for no reason.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Watching Gao Yu’an who looked like he was about to attack, various thoughts suddenly popped into Xiang Jiannan’s mind.

He saw Monk Nengren and the others look up at the sky, then their eyes shifted down, their tone carrying disdain:

“Does Master Gao intend to make an enemy of my Galan Temple?”

Master seems a little flustered.

His thoughts became clear after Monk Nengren spoke.

As the old Taoist priest stepped forward, Xiang Jiannan felt he understood. All his feelings were because of his master. From the moment Monk Nengren and the others entered the temple, the Taoist seemed like a different person. His words and actions were not like before, and more importantly, he didn’t run away.

The mainstay he had always relied on had fallen, which was why he had those thoughts earlier. Monk Nengren’s forced entry must have had its reasons. At least for now, he had taken away the old Taoist’s calm demeanor.

In Ping’an Temple, there was a lack of a spiritual pillar.

“Make an enemy of Galan Temple? Monk, do you know how many monks are in Galan Temple?”

“What if I know? What if I don’t?”

Although he showed no expression as Gao Yu’an got closer, Monk Nengren’s heart was not as calm as it appeared. After answering a question that had nothing to do with the old Taoist priest, he stood there stiffly.

“Enough with the nonsense, attack him!”

Just when he thought his master had regained some of his usual demeanor, directly defining his question as nonsense, Xiang Jiannan heard An Wensheng’s voice.

The voice came from the Incense Hall, or more specifically, from the black umbrella in Wang Yixing’s hands.

The words were clear and impatient, clearly because he had been holding back. The sentence was like a bugle call. He saw his master wave his Taoist robe, and Monk Nengren and the others immediately retreated, splitting into three groups, standing two by two.

The old Taoist’s sleeve-waving action was not lethal, but it made them all feel like they were facing a formidable enemy.

“Prefectural City God, why not come out and meet us?”

Standing still again, no longer moving forward, and maintaining a certain distance from Gao Yu’an, Monk Nengren spoke again.

As he spoke, a bead emerged from the top of each of their heads, emitting a bright light that made it difficult to open one’s eyes.

Dark, black beads… No wonder his master was suddenly so flustered.

As soon as the six beads appeared, he became normal again, as if he had finally released a breath. Xiang Jiannan saw his master grin and laugh.

The old Taoist priest never laughed so exaggeratedly. In his opinion, this was a release after a long period of suppression.

After the wild laughter, he returned to his original state, facing Nengren and the others again, his attitude becoming very lazy:

“This Taoist was just asking. People of the Buddhist faith in the Great Zhou Dynasty, you can’t be like this with such little composure.”

After speaking, he extended his finger and hooked it twice in the air. The umbrella that Wang Yixing had been holding in his arms instantly shot straight into his hand.

Xiang Jiannan felt a pain in the back of his head. He felt like the black umbrella had poked him in the middle.

It inexplicably became very painful.

“Everyone, please open your eyes!”

Having obtained the umbrella, he was about to open it. His eyes were fixed on the beads above the monks’ heads. Gao Yu’an spoke as if he were a street performer.

He saw him throw the umbrella into the air a few times, then grab the handle and open it unusually quickly.

A puff of green smoke passed, and An Wensheng and his ghost messengers tumbled out of the black umbrella.

Their landing posture was not very elegant. The Bearded Ghost Messenger was at the bottom, and they piled up on each other like arhats.

“What is the matter that you seek from this City God?”

Having freed himself from the ground, his official aura was not lost. An Wensheng quickly composed himself and asked Nengren.

He seemed to be like the old Taoist priest, also eyeing the beads above the monks’ heads. His gaze was not at all concealed, signaling Nengren and the others to get straight to the point.

“The newly appointed Prefectural City God, An Wensheng.”

Looking at the arrogant An Wensheng in front of him, Nengren said a sentence and just smiled. He saw the bead above his head slowly rise a few inches, its light becoming weaker and weaker. After a few breaths, it seemed like it was about to go out.

Then, as if he had been instantly awakened, he put his hands together. In a situation that Xiang Jiannan could not have imagined, he began to imitate the old Taoist priest’s rhetoric:

“This monk is just taking a look today. Master Gao, if fate allows, we will meet again.”

Immediately after, before anyone could react, their figures changed. When they tried to find their target again, only the wide-open temple gates were still trembling slightly.

“Could these monks be possessed by some evil?”

He didn’t expect things to end so suddenly. Caught off guard by Monk Nengren and the others, Xiang Jiannan and Wang Yixing were a little disappointed after they reacted.

What did they take Ping’an Temple for? These monks came and went as they pleased. Was there no one who could control them! Although this might be the best way to end things.

“Possessed? They already had it in their hearts.”

The crisis was resolved, and he snorted coldly. Realizing that his words might not have been appropriate, An Wensheng coughed:

“Taoist, did you take a fancy to those things? If you get them, remember to give me a few.”

The old Taoist just glanced at him sideways, then returned to the Incense Hall, refusing to communicate with him any further.

“Master, were you scared during the day?”

In the evening, Wang Yixing did not stay in the Taoist temple. After washing up, he sat on the stone bench with his master. Xiang Jiannan had had this feeling all day.

The old Taoist’s fluster during the day must have been caused by those six beads. Before and after they appeared, his master was completely different.

“Where did that come from? This master is already old, and I can see everything in the world very clearly.”

He didn’t agree with Xiang Jiannan’s question. He stood up and looked at the night sky above his head. Gao Yu’an thought for a moment and said:

“It was just confusion. Many years ago, this master was also like today, not knowing what was ahead.”

“That’s the fear of the unknown.”

He forcefully introduced a theory.

Feeling that the old Taoist was admitting he was afraid by saying this, Xiang Jiannan followed up quietly.

Even someone as strong as his master would have this experience. It was really strange. What exactly were those six beads?

“Unknown? Disciple, you have little experience, so you cannot understand the feeling in this master’s heart at that time.”

He turned around, shook his head, and spoke with certainty. Gao Yu’an then seemed to remember something:

“Do you think Monk Nengren and the others are fine?”

“Their entry into the temple this time was not to vent their anger.”

“Then what was it for?”

He hadn’t heard anything from them during the day. Now, hearing his master’s words, Xiang Jiannan stood up and asked. He saw the old Taoist stare at him without speaking, then stomp his foot hard.

The sound under the night sky made him stunned. He had something to say but didn’t say it. The old Taoist was really back to his old self!