Xu Xing, upon hearing the old monk's words, scoffed, "So what if I'm violent? I will use violence to subdue violence, just you wait and see. You can't achieve anything without using violence, but now, by using violence, I can change the world."
At this moment, Xu Xing did not object to the old monk's words. Wasn't he just saying she was violent? Let him say it. Anyway, she was about to kill people. Even if she wasn't violent, she couldn't complete the mission. In Jiucheng, there were at least five thousand soldiers. If you counted their families, she would have to kill at least ten thousand people. In such a situation, Xu Xing had no other means besides using violence.
Meanwhile, Lin Yue gave a wry smile and said, "Old monk, I apologize. My sister is in a bad mood. You should go back. We'll hide here for a while and then leave. As for this Buddha statue, I'll find a way to compensate you later."
At this moment, Lin Yue and Xu Xing were wanted. Although they were not worried about being caught, as they were both ability users of the combat type, Xu Xing had no equal in close combat. As long as someone touched her, a powerful shockwave would be instantly transmitted into their bodies. On the surface, there might be no wounds, but their internal organs, such as the heart and brain, would be instantly destroyed.
However, if their identities were exposed and the scoundrels in Jiucheng escaped, it would mean mission failure. Therefore, at this moment, Lin Yue did not want to offend the monk.
The old monk was wearing a tattered monk's robe that had been worn for a long time. It was not only patched but also washed to a faded white. Coupled with the desolation of the temple, it was likely that besides the old monk, no one else was present here.
Xu Xing felt the strangeness of the current world. There was a proper temple here, yet there were few people worshipping. However, those evil Buddhas that caused immense harm could still deceive countless ignorant men and women. This indicated that worshipping Buddha was useless at critical moments.
"Where did you two come from?" The old monk had already sensed something was wrong. For him, the shattering of the Buddha statue was naturally a very painful thing. At this moment, the old monk gradually realized how these two young people had shattered the great Buddha.
Although the great Buddha was made of clay, it was also compacted with yellow earth, with grass and branches as support. It was not easy to shatter it. Moreover, Xu Xing and Lin Yue were even empty-handed at this moment. At this time, the old monk saw that these two young people were definitely not to be trifled with.
Xu Xing said indifferently, "What does that have to do with you? It's useless to tell you. You're at least fifty or sixty years old. Even if you want revenge, you'll only be throwing your life away. I advise you to go back and chant Buddha, at least you can stay alive."
The old monk looked at Xu Xing sitting casually on the offering table. This was a great disrespect to Buddha. However, seeing Xu Xing's current demeanor, she completely disregarded offending Buddha. For a moment, the old monk did not know what their identities were.
"What is their purpose in appearing here? Are they evolved ones? Or are they here to save Jiucheng? But at this time, who would come to save us?" Xu Xing did not tell the old monk her identity, so the old monk could only speculate. For now, he only knew that these two young people were not the city lord's subordinates, but he still didn't know where they came from.
Xu Xing and Lin Yue had infiltrated the palace and killed several people. When Xue Ba learned of this, he was furious. He severely punished hundreds of city guards, then closed the city gates and searched the entire city.
At this time, the temple also became a target of the search. The temple gate was knocked upon: "Open the door, hurry up and open the door, we're searching."
Seeing this, Xu Xing and Lin Yue prepared to leave, but the old monk said at this moment, "You don't need to go. I'll take you to hide."
Xu Xing was somewhat surprised to hear this. She had shattered the Buddha statue, yet this old monk was still willing to help her. Xu Xing had never encountered such a situation before. The old monk wanted to repay kindness with enmity, which Xu Xing had never encountered in the apocalypse.
Xu Xing looked at Lin Yue and asked, "What do you think?"
Lin Yue replied, "You decide."
Xu Xing then replied, "I decide? Then let's stay. If this old man dares to play any tricks, I'll act directly."
The old monk did not object. Instead, he led Xu Xing and Lin Yue into a hidden room and opened a floor tile. Beneath the floor tile was a cellar. Xu Xing and Lin Yue exchanged glances, then jumped down. Xu Xing was not worried at all. Even if she were locked in the cellar, Xu Xing could tear it apart.
Afterward, the old monk covered the floor tile again, and the cellar became pitch black.
Xu Xing quickly said, "Brother Lin Yue, quickly listen to what's happening outside and see if the old monk will sell us out."
Lin Yue nodded and began to listen to the sounds from outside, as if trying to know what was happening outside. Meanwhile, Xu Xing had an opportunity to think. She took this time to consider how to complete the mission. Although she had successfully discovered the hidden mission, killing five thousand to ten thousand people was still not easy.
After hiding the two, the old monk immediately went to open the door. A group of people carrying guns walked in, looking around as they said, "Master Zhizhen, we are here to search this place. Please do not obstruct us."
The old monk calmly said, "Then go search inside. However, no one has entered here for a long time."
The soldiers were polite to the old monk and did not scold him. After entering the temple, they began to look around. The temple was overgrown with weeds and looked very desolate. The soldiers found nothing.
Just then, a soldier discovered that the Buddha statue in the Great Hall had been shattered. After discovering this, he quickly asked, "Elder, why is the Buddha statue here shattered?"
Elder Zhizhen replied, "A few days ago, some drunkards came in and caused a disturbance, and they pushed the Buddha statue off the altar, resulting in this situation. These drunkards have already left, but the Buddha statue is broken."
Upon hearing this answer, the soldiers did not pursue the matter further. It was just drunkards causing trouble, and there was no need to investigate. They were only responsible for looting, or rather, collecting taxes. They would not concern themselves with anything else.
"Master Zhizhen, you live alone in this temple. If you discover any suspicious individuals, you must report them to us. They are a man and a woman, and they are wearing chef's uniforms. Such dangerous individuals will definitely endanger the safety of Jiucheng. Therefore, you must inform us if you see them." After searching, the soldiers said to the old monk.
Master Zhizhen retorted at this time, "Then what did these two people do that you are searching like this?"
"It's not a problem to tell you. These two scoundrels infiltrated the palace and almost assassinated the city lord. They also killed many people along the way. They are very likely evolved ones. Such people are truly terrifying. Several of the people killed had no external wounds, but their hearts were damaged. It is likely the legendary Seven Injuries Fist," the soldier said with a serious expression.
Upon hearing this, Master Zhizhen was shocked and said, "They are such dangerous individuals! If I discover these two, I will definitely inform you. You should go and search other places quickly."
The soldiers then left the place without suspecting that anyone might be hiding in the temple. This was because they had already searched the temple and found no danger. Moreover, they trusted Master Zhizhen very much, so they left immediately.
After the soldiers left, Master Zhizhen quickly opened the cellar and said to the two below, "You two, they have left. You can come out now."
Xu Xing and Lin Yue then emerged from the cellar. Master Zhizhen immediately knelt before Xu Xing and Lin Yue, his forehead touching the ground. This was almost the highest form of etiquette. When showing respect, "prostration" was often used to describe it. The "five bodies" referred to the four limbs and the head, with hands, feet, and forehead touching the ground, which is called prostration. After performing this gesture, the old monk's action completely stunned Xu Xing and Lin Yue.
"What are you doing? You didn't betray me, and I won't kill you. You don't need to beg for mercy," Xu Xing quickly said.
As she spoke, Xu Xing tried to help the elder up. It was believed in folk customs that juniors should not accept the kowtows of elders, as it would shorten their lifespan. Therefore, Xu Xing felt that she could not bear it.
Unexpectedly, Master Zhizhen said to Xu Xing and Lin Yue, "I am not kneeling for myself, but I am begging you on behalf of the hundred thousand people of Jiucheng. I beg you two to save the people of Jiucheng and eliminate the evil in Jiucheng."
Both Xu Xing and Lin Yue were very surprised to hear this. This was the first person who had made such a request to them in Jiucheng.
Xu Xing immediately said, "You don't need to do this. Even if you didn't say it, we would do it. To be honest, I came from Yuzhou. My city lord is the renowned Shen Feng, the 'Strong Grass in the Wind.' I was ordered by him to come here to eradicate evil."
After Xu Xing learned that Master Zhizhen had not betrayed her, she knew that the old monk before her was a good person. Not only did he not pursue the matter of the shattered Buddha statue, but he also helped her hide her tracks, which was a very rare thing. At this moment, Xu Xing directly revealed her identity to him.
When Xu Xing revealed her identity, Master Zhizhen's eyes immediately welled up with tears, and he sighed with emotion, "There is still justice in the world. It is truly great mercy and great compassion for Lord Feng to come and save Jiucheng."
Xu Xing and Lin Yue helped the old monk up and then said, "Don't speak of our Shen Feng. We are going to kill people next. Although the enemy has over five thousand, if I kill a hundred people every day, it will only take fifty days to kill them all."
After speaking, Xu Xing was about to leave. It seemed that even though Xu Xing had learned of the hidden mission, her way of thinking was still old-fashioned. Besides killing, she had no other ideas.
Lin Yue respected Xu Xing's choice. Xu Xing's recklessness was also due to her nature. She was inherently ignorant of schemes and stratagems, and no one had taught her these things. Therefore, when completing missions, her approach was to start killing. It was only fifty days, after all. Xu Xing could endure it.
However, at this moment, Master Zhizhen quickly said, "Absolutely do not alert the enemy. Once Dong Chao and Xue Ba, these two demons, learn of your identities as ability users, they will definitely flee. At that time, these two demons will continue to kill people outside. We must resolve this once and for all."
Xu Xing was immediately surprised by this, as she had never expected an old monk to understand such matters. It seemed that this old monk was also not simple.
"Then what is your intention?" Xu Xing asked.
Master Zhizhen said sincerely, "If you two adults do not mind, please allow this old monk to lend you a hand."