Chapter 700 - 428: Returning to Headquarters! Fuyuan Temple! (Part 3)

Chapter 700: Chapter 428: Returning to Headquarters! Fuyuan Temple! (Part 3)

The scene inside the town compared to the wilderness outside seemed like two different worlds.

The streets paved with blue stones were relatively spacious, flanked by rows of shops, with banners fluttering. There were shops selling groceries, restaurants, teahouses, opium dens, and even a small Western watch store.

The street was bustling with people, some wearing long robes and mandarin jackets, some in short outfits, and there were even a few figures in suits and ties.

However, when Lu Xuan’s convoy drove by, all the hustle and bustle seemed like someone pressed the pause button.

Vendors stopped shouting, pedestrians hurried to the sides of the road, their faces showing mixed expressions of fear, numbness, and a hint of scorn that was hard to detect.

Children were quickly pulled back into the houses by adults, and the shop assistants instinctively hunched their shoulders.

In this Ping’an Town, and even in the surrounding counties, Lu Xuan and his "Southern Army" were an indisputable authority, a local emperor who determined their life, death, wealth, and poverty.

The convoy did not stop in the town center but drove straight through, heading towards the west of the town.

The further west they went, the sparser the buildings became, and the environment seemed more serene, eventually stopping in front of a Daoist temple that was prosperous with incense offerings.

This Daoist temple had white walls and green tiles. Although it bore the marks of time, every corner showed signs of meticulous upkeep.

Above the temple gate hung a black wooden plaque inscribed with three gilded characters, "Fuyuan Temple."

The temple doors were wide open, and incense visitors came and went in an endless stream. Wisps of incense smoke drifted from within the temple, creating a lively scene distinct from the bustling town center.

At the temple’s forecourt, devout men and women rubbed shoulders, including elderly women with baskets, mothers leading children, and well-dressed merchants.

A few young Daoist apprentices shuttled through the crowd, guiding visitors.

However, when the army arrived, the lively scene instantly quieted down.

The incense visitors retreated in panic to the sides, and several young Daoist apprentices at the gate quickly stood up, pleasantly surprised as they looked at the military vehicles.

The vehicles came to a stop, and the adjutant jumped down first, eagerly opening the car door.

Lu Xuan stepped out, his gaze sweeping over the incense-filled Daoist temple, a tinge of amusement flashing in his eyes.

The three Daoists were also "invited" off the vehicle by soldiers, standing in front of the gate with their complex expressions.

"Clear the area," Lu Xuan said succinctly.

The adjutant immediately understood, leading a squad of soldiers forward to disperse the incense visitors: "The Fuyuan Temple is closed today; everyone must leave immediately!"

Amidst the sound of panicked footsteps and low murmurs, in a short while, the originally bustling front of the temple turned desolate, leaving only the Daoists inside the temple standing aside in fear.

The old Daoist did not dare to neglect his duty and quickly stepped forward to lead the way.

With his hands behind his back, Lu Xuan stepped through the temple gate, where ancient trees towered in the courtyard, incense smoke swirled from the incense burner, and in the main hall, the statues of the Three Pure Ones appeared majestic. The offering table was filled with fresh fruits, clearly indicating a thriving incense business.

"Commander, you are here to..." the old Daoist cautiously probed with unease.

With his hands behind his back, Lu Xuan stood with a gaze like lightning, slowly sweeping over the main hall, side hall, and the vaguely visible Scripture Pavilion at the back.

"I, the Commander, have said, from now on, the Fuyuan Temple is temporarily closed, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter or leave."

The old Daoist’s heart instantly sank to the bottom. Who knew what this unpredictable commander’s intentions were?

Just as unease filled his heart, Lu Xuan’s next words left the old Daoist dumbfounded, almost doubting his own ears.

"Do you have any of those filthy things locked up here, like ghosts brought by incense visitors for nourishment of the incense? Take this Commander to see."

"Locking up ghosts?"

The old Daoist instinctively uttered these four words, his eyes widened in disbelief.

Why would a warlord commander holding great power and known for his cruelty suddenly take an interest in these eerie things instead of focusing on gold, silver, and weapons?

And wanting to "open his eyes"?

Do these ghostly things have spectators interested in seeing them?

Steadying himself, he carefully replied, "In response to the Commander, the temple indeed holds some... but they are not for incense nourishment,

Rather, they are malicious ghosts and vengeful spirits that caused harm to the village and could not pass on by themselves,

My disciples and I have sealed them within specially made magic artifacts, pasted with talismans, and recite scriptures daily to dissolve their resentment and help them transcend, accumulating merits, and dare not use them for evil ways."

The old Daoist hurried to explain, afraid Lu Xuan might misunderstand Fuyuan Temple as practicing some sinister path.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan’s lips curled into a meaningful smirk.

Transcend? Merit? He didn’t care about these.

What he cared about was whether these imprisoned "filthy things" could now be refined into urgently needed "system points."

"Whether it’s righteous or evil, I, the Commander, will judge for myself," Lu Xuan said blandly, "Lead the way, let’s take a look."

Hearing this, the old Daoist felt bitter. The malicious ghosts imprisoned emitted strong resentment, though suppressed by Evil Suppressing Talismans, they had to be approached with caution daily.

If this calamity of a commander wished to see, and if anything went wrong... But he dared not defy, and had to brace himself, bowing, "Yes... Yes, Commander, please follow this humble Daoist."

He led Lu Xuan past the main hall, through a quiet corridor, arriving at an even more secluded independent courtyard behind the temple.

A giant yellow talisman paper was pasted at the courtyard entrance, its vermilion runes much more complex than ordinary talisman slips.

The old Daoist took out an old copper key from his robe, unlocked the copper lock on the courtyard gate, and as the door opened.

Inside the courtyard, there were no flowers or plants, only various peculiarly shaped instruments arranged in the center.

A purple-gold bowl that constantly trembled lightly, a black gourd with the contours of anguished human faces on its surface, and an antiquated bronze mirror... and more.

Each instrument was covered with layers of talisman paper, with the contents inside trying to break free but being blocked back by the golden light of the paper.

"Commander, these are it, inside that purple-gold bowl is a drowned water ghost, highly resentful, the black gourd holds a violent soul of a butcher who died a wrongful death, the bronze mirror contains a wisp of a hundred-year-old seductive ghost’s remnant soul, skilled at beguiling people’s hearts..."

Lu Xuan’s eyes gleamed as he quickly scanned over these magic artifacts.

Excellent!