Though the people of Yunlong Branch Abbey had anticipated something of the sort, hearing Yuan'an publicly call out Zhou Wuji still left them looking thoroughly displeased.
Yunlong Branch Abbey and Golden Leaf Temple had long agreed to debate the scriptures in the eighth month to decide who stood supreme.
It was only the fifth month, yet Golden Leaf Temple was already impatient to leap out and challenge Zhou Wuji.
The abbey's members all felt insulted. At this moment, regardless of which lineage they belonged to, the cultivators stood united against the outside threat.
Zhou Wuji had long anticipated their move and was not in the least surprised.
His fame had spread far and wide of late. Even with the Pacification Office keeping matters under wraps, Golden Leaf Temple was bound to know of his feats and held a measure of dread toward him.
Yuan'an rushing forward so impetuously was clearly a probe from Golden Leaf Temple to test the mettle of his martial arts.
The surrounding crowd broke into a clamor.
Most faces beamed with excitement. Yunlong Branch Abbey possessed great prestige, and Golden Leaf Temple had likewise gained immense renown in recent years.
Everyone knew there was friction between Yunlong Branch Abbey and Golden Leaf Temple, yet both sides had always maintained propriety, never openly falling out or coming to blows.
Yuan'an's public challenge this time was not merely directed at Zhou Wuji, but was a challenge from Golden Leaf Temple to Yunlong Branch Abbey as a whole.
Spectators never minded the spectacle getting bigger.
Everyone was also intensely curious: both the Daoists and the Buddhists enjoyed the court's patronage, but which of them was truly superior?
The view of ordinary folk was simple and direct: whoever could fight better was stronger!
The three young women—Zhang Yun, Peng Yuzhen, and Jin Ying—all looked toward Zhou Wuji with expectant expressions.
Through their various channels of information, they knew Zhou Wuji had slain rebel soldiers, cut down the Five Dragons Emissary, and nearly killed Chen Dalu with a single sword strike.
Merely hearing of Zhou Wuji's battle record sounded wildly exaggerated, almost unreal.
They were equally curious to see just how capable this handsome young Daoist who had newly emerged from the abbey truly was.
Facing Yuan'an's provocation, Zhou Wuji said nothing. Abbot Zhiyuan, Yizhen, and the others were all present; there was no need for him to speak.
Zhiyuan was seasoned and shrewd. He could see through the thoughts of everyone around them, including Zhang Shiheng and Peng Yue, who were both eager to see the abbey clash with Golden Leaf Temple.
A duel before the dignitaries of Yunyang Prefecture would indeed let them witness the might of the branch abbey.
Yet Golden Leaf Temple's tactic was underhanded: knowing full well that Zhou Wuji's swordsmanship was supreme, they came forward asking to "exchange martial arts."
Golden Leaf Temple was an offshoot branch of Dalin Temple, and their inherited martial art was the Vajra Palm, making them exceptionally skilled in unarmed strikes.
Clearly, they simply wanted to take advantage.
Though Zhiyuan's own martial skills were ordinary, he understood all too well the vast difference for a swordsman with a sword in hand versus without.
Even for a first-rank expert, holding a divine weapon was entirely different from being unarmed.
All that talk of using fingers in place of a blade was sheer nonsense.
Zhiyuan spoke directly to Abbot Xinjue: "Blades and swords are perilous things. It would be best not to compete, lest we disrupt harmony."
Xinjue's brows knit slightly. Yuan'an had stated it clearly enough, yet the old fellow Zhiyuan was cunning, insisting on phrasing a martial duel as a contest of blades and swords.
Just as he was about to speak, he caught sight of signal fireworks flaring above the distant city.
Behind him, Zhou Wuji also heard the faint muffled pops of fireworks exploding.
Turning around, he saw clusters of fireworks bursting above Yunyang Prefecture City.
In the bright morning sunlight, the sparks shone faintly, and one could only see dense swathes of black smoke drifting slowly on the wind across the sky...
Masters like Zhiyuan and Zhang Shiheng were already facing the city, and they all saw the fireworks sparkling in the sky.
Zhang Shiheng's face darkened, while both Zhiyuan and Xinjue took on solemn expressions.
Though Prefect Peng Yue was adept in respiration and qi-nurturing techniques, he knew neither martial arts nor Daoist spells.
He could only vaguely see smoke rising above Yunyang, unaware of what had occurred.
He looked toward Zhang Shiheng. "Commander Zhang, has something happened?"
"A Pacification Office alarm!"
Zhang Shiheng said coldly, "Prefect Peng, the matter is urgent. I shall take my leave first."
Without waiting for Peng Yue to respond, he gripped his saber and hurried down the cliff.
The onlookers had no idea what was happening, but seeing Zhang Shiheng depart with his hand on his weapon and murderous intent rolling off him, they grew anxious and uneasy.
From high on the cliff, Zhou Wuji saw clearly as the Pacification Office's cavalry kicked up great plumes of dust along the main road.
A premonition struck him: this time, Chen Dalu would either be broken out... or silenced.
Battalion Commander Zhang Shiheng had swept away a large force of elite Iron Clothes Guards without leaving a single explanation, abandoning Prefect Peng Yue behind.
Peng Yue still did not know what was afoot, and for a moment he could not help but hesitate.
Abbot Xinjue of Golden Leaf Temple said, "Your Honor, there is no need to worry. It is likely some trouble at the Pacification Office. With the commander rushing back at the head of his men, he will surely resolve it."
Hearing this, Peng Yue felt somewhat relieved. He had feared that the Five Dragons Gang was staging a sudden revolt; if rebels gathered in force and stormed the prefectural capital, his career as prefect would be finished.
If it was merely an issue within the Pacification Office, it was entirely Zhang Shiheng's headache and had nothing to do with him.
Still, Peng Yue did not dare place complete trust in the old monk. He turned to Zhiyuan. "What does Master think?"
Zhiyuan pondered for a moment before replying, "Regardless of what has transpired, Your Honor should return to the yamen at once to oversee affairs."
"The master speaks with great wisdom." Peng Yue snapped back to his senses, realizing he had been muddled. At such a critical juncture, no matter where trouble arose, his place was at the prefectural yamen.
Abbot Xinjue offered warmly, "Since we do not yet know what has occurred, allow me to dispatch several disciples to escort Your Honor."
Peng Yue was sorely tempted by the offer, but for a dignified prefect to travel flanked by Buddhist monks would simply draw too much attention.
He summoned Chief Constable Li Yuanqing and hurried back under the escort of the prefectural yamen's runners and guards.
With both the military commander and the civil prefect leaving in such haste, even the dullest bystander knew that something momentous had occurred.
Everyone's livelihood and families lay within the city; whatever had happened, they were eager to return and check on things.
Before long, only the delegation from the branch abbey remained atop Jilong Cliff. Everyone else had scattered, leaving behind a scene of disarray.
Daoist Yizhen turned to Zhiyuan and asked, "Are we not heading into the city?"
Zhiyuan shook his head. "We are of the Daoist gates. Our duty extends only to demonic spirits causing trouble and demonic sects sowing chaos. Nothing else falls under our charge."
Daoist Yizhen did not agree. "Abbot, Abbot Xinjue certainly does not think that way!"
"The monk's six senses are far from purified. Let him do as he pleases."
Zhiyuan took an open view; he had no interest in pandering and currying favor like Xinjue.
The Daoist order had its duties and its boundaries. Extending one's reach too far only invited resentment.
Entangling oneself too deeply in the interests of various factions might bring joy when profiting, but it brought disaster when trouble struck.
Zhiyuan preferred a conservative approach. He disliked the aristocratic clans, and he disliked the Zhang family most of all.
The Zhang family acted with such brazen arrogance that even the emperor regarded them with wary suspicion. That was by no means a good omen.
Yet Yizhen was unwilling to forfeit an opportunity to make an impression. "If demonic sects truly are sowing unrest and we fail to show ourselves, it will invite censure. In any case, preserving order in the prefectural city is our proper duty."
"That is true. Let us go take a look." Zhiyuan pondered and conceded that Yizhen had a point.
The branch abbey could ignore the Zhang family, but looking on with folded hands at such a moment would draw distaste from all levels of the prefectural seat, doing the abbey little good.
Zhiyuan led the group into Yunyang Prefecture City. The long avenue cutting through the city was bustling with pedestrians, and order had evidently suffered no disruption.
When they arrived before the Pacification Office, they saw large groups of Iron Clothes Guard agents gripping their sabers and slinging bows across their backs, their faces taut with tension.
Since Zhiyuan had come all this way, he naturally had to go inside to assess the situation.
He glanced at his retinue and said, "Yizhen, Wuji, come in with me. The rest of you, return to the abbey."
The others acknowledged the order and departed.
Zhiyuan led Yizhen and Wuji inside the Pacification Office. The agents all recognized Zhiyuan and dared not slight him, hurriedly dispatching someone to report his arrival.
Before long, Centurion Li Fei hurried out to greet them, cupping his fists in a salute from afar. "Master Zhiyuan, I had no idea you were coming. Please, come inside at once."
"Has trouble arisen?" Zhiyuan asked. "Is it convenient for us to enter?"
The Pacification Office served as the emperor's private armed force, wielding immense authority and handling cases that often had sprawling ramifications.
Zhiyuan truly had no desire to meddle in their affairs.
"Master Xinjue and his monks are already here as well," Li Fei replied. "This is a grave matter, and we were hoping you would join the deliberations."
Li Fei understood Zhiyuan's hesitation. In truth, even if Zhiyuan had not come on his own, they would have sent for him.
Zhiyuan nodded; so long as it was official business, it was fine.
At his side, Zhou Wuji asked in an undertone, "Lord Centurion, has Chen Dalu escaped?"
"Uh..." Li Fei glanced at Zhou Wuji in mild surprise. The young man was quick-witted indeed, guessing at once that it involved Chen Dalu.
Zhou Wuji's expression darkened slightly. He and the Five Dragons Gang were locked in a blood feud; now that Chen Dalu was loose, endless trouble would surely follow!
He was not afraid of Chen Dalu. Though the man was a sixth-rank martial artist, losing his mother Gu had severely crippled his cultivation, posing little personal threat to Zhou Wuji.
The crux of the matter was that someone stood behind Chen Dalu. To break a prisoner out of the Pacification Office's penal dungeon—even with Zhang Shiheng away—required a formidable master.
Inwardly, Zhou Wuji cursed: The Pacification Office is truly useless. And Zhang Shiheng calls himself the foremost expert in Yunyang—what a waste of space...
Zhiyuan's expression was grim as well. Chen Dalu's individual prowess was negligible, but he was the head of the Five Dragons Gang. Escaping like this, there was no telling how many people he might incite to riot—this was enormous trouble!
Without another word, Li Fei led the three men toward the Pacification Office's northern courtyard, the prison dedicated to holding captives.
The moment they stepped into the courtyard, they saw several corpses strewn across the ground, their bodies mangled and broken in gruesome deaths.
All of them wore iron-colored robes, unmistakably agents of the Pacification Office.
Blood splatters coated the walls, the ground, and the gates.
The heavy iron gate leading into the prison interior had been violently blasted open, now conspicuously twisted and warped out of shape...
Zhang Shiheng and Abbot Xinjue stood by the doorway, examining the damage.
Hearing footsteps, Zhang Shiheng turned and gave Zhiyuan a curt nod, saying nothing.
Zhiyuan stepped forward to inspect the deformed iron gate and asked, "A prison break?"
Zhang Shiheng scowled. "Chen Dalu actually had accomplices. That was something I did not anticipate."
The tall, imposing Abbot Xinjue remarked, "The intruder struck with ferocious, unyielding power. It must be a fifth-rank martial arts expert."
Zhang Shiheng nodded in agreement with Xinjue's assessment.
The guards watching over the prison had almost all been felled by a single palm strike, their bodies ruptured, attesting to the intruder's ferocious palm power.
Only a fifth-rank martial master could possess such terrifying strength.
Zhiyuan remained silent. For things to turn out so disastrously meant Zhang Shiheng was in trouble, but once Chen Dalu caught his breath, he would certainly retaliate viciously against the branch abbey as well.
Standing to one side, Zhang Yunfeng suggested in a low voice, "Commander, Chen Dalu is heavily wounded and cannot have fled far. The pressing priority is to search the entire city..."
The Pacification Office's dungeon was no ordinary place; they had given Chen Dalu no respite in recent days.
This was not only to extract information about the Five Dragons Gang, but also to ravage his body, denying this sixth-rank martial artist any opportunity to resist.
Never had they imagined anyone would dare storm the Pacification Office to break a prisoner out!
Now that Chen Dalu had escaped, fear seized Zhang Yunfeng, and he was more desperate than anyone to recapture him.
Zhang Shiheng cast a frigid glance at Zhang Yunfeng. Seal off and search the entire city? How could his nephew be so utterly foolish?
Yunyang City had over a hundred thousand households and more than a million souls. There were also numerous aristocratic clans whose estates housed thousands of compounds, riddled with secret passages and hidden chambers.
With a cultivation level like Chen Dalu's, he did not even need shelter from an ally; if he merely hid away in an empty room, who could locate him in a short time?
Moreover, anyone daring enough to raid the prison would have prepared thorough escape plans. By now, Chen Dalu might have already slipped downriver to who knew where.
Locking down the city for a manhunt would accomplish nothing beyond harassing the populace and courting outrage!
Sensing his uncle's displeasure, Zhang Yunfeng shrank back and sheepishly held his tongue.
Amid the heavy silence, Zhou Wuji suddenly spoke up clearly: "Commander, Chen Dalu has likely returned to Old Dragon Island. If we head there right now, we may yet find him."
Before Zhang Shiheng could respond, Zhang Yunfeng scoffed, "Old Dragon Island is already under our control. Chen Dalu is either hiding in the city or running as far away as possible. Anyone with half a brain could guess he might go there—how could Chen Dalu be so stupid!"
Zhang Shiheng glanced at Zhang Yunfeng, suddenly feeling that compared to Zhou Wuji, his nephew was not quite so foolish after all...
Chapter 106