"You..."
Hui Yuan's Face was full of disbelief.
If Senior Brother hadn't explicitly said they needed to give the Demon Suppression Division some Face, why would they waste their breath here?
But the other party, far from appreciating it, actually dared to attack his Senior Brother!
"Do you know who he is?! Do you know who we are?!"
"You're finished! You are truly finished!"
Hui Yuan pointed at Jiang Yuechu and roared, "The Baosha Temple will never let this matter rest! You wait! No one, above heaven or below earth, can save you!"
Jiang Yuechu didn't acknowledge his roar; she merely scanned her squad of subordinates, who all wore different expressions.
"Unauthorized interference with the Demon Suppression Division's handling of a case and obstruction of public duties—according to the laws of Great Tang and the rules of The Department, what crime is this?"
"..."
Everyone exchanged glances, none of them knowing what trick this newly appointed Squad Leader was playing.
Especially Liu Ke.
His heart was already churning like turbulent rivers and seas.
Previously, when this person surnamed Jiang ignored the weeping pleas of the common people, he had assumed she was cold-hearted and merciless.
But how, in the blink of an eye, did she start fighting with the monks of the Precious Temple?
Why was this?
Could it be... they failed to reach an agreement?
Seeing no one answer, Jiang Yuechu's brow furrowed slightly.
"Hmm?"
A burly man standing in the corner shivered in fear under her gaze and spoke instinctively.
"Reporting... Reporting to Your Excellency, according to the rules of The Department, those whose actions are severe... can be executed on the spot!"
"Very good."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, her gaze returning to the two monks.
"Then why aren't you arresting them?"
As her voice fell.
The courtyard remained deathly silent.
No one moved.
Compared to Jiang Yuechu's matter-of-fact indifference, Liu Ke felt his scalp tingling with dread.
Arrest them?
These were people from the Baosha Temple!
It was the Baosha Temple, deeply entrenched in the Longyou Circuit, to whom even the former Commander had to show some meager Face!
His previous confrontation and verbal clashes with Hui Yuan were just youthful impulsiveness, relying on the uniform he wore to speak some grand words.
But now, this Captain Jiang, was actually going to be serious?!
Terrified, he quickly stepped forward, intending to speak up and dissuade her.
"This matter... this matter requires careful long-term consideration! The Baosha Temple has deep Foundation in the Region; offending them rashly might invite enormous trouble! Perhaps..."
He hadn't finished speaking.
*Slap!*
A crisp, loud slap exploded in the courtyard.
Everyone was stunned.
They saw the large, stout Monk No Abstinence, who had somehow walked up to Hui Yuan, deliver a solid, heavy slap right across the Young Monk's Face.
Hui Yuan was completely dazed by the slap; he covered his Face and looked at No Abstinence in disbelief.
"You... you dare hit me?!"
"Amitabha."
Monk No Abstinence withdrew his hand, recited a Buddhist name, his Face filled with compassion for the world.
"this poor monk saw you were possessed by a demon, so I specifically helped you clear your mind. No need to thank me."
This slap instantly stunned everyone present.
Chen Tong's eyes lit up upon seeing this; he seemed to have instantly found his backbone, and with a furious roar, he was the first to charge forward.
"You motherfucking bald donkey, daring to act tough with us!"
He kicked Hui Yuan to the ground, and his fists rained down like drops.
The other burly men in the courtyard also awoke as if from a dream, howling as they pounced forward.
"Hit him!"
"Teach him a lesson for showing off to us!"
For a moment, fists and feet flew in the courtyard, accompanied by continuous screams.
Although Hui Yuan possessed some cultivation, how could he withstand the beating from this group of wolf-like, tiger-like men?
In just the blink of an eye, he was beaten black and blue, completely unable to fight back.
County Magistrate Qian, slumped on the ground, had absolutely no idea how to resolve the situation.
Only Liu Ke remained frozen in place, staring blankly at the chaotic scene before him, utterly bewildered.
Jiang Yuechu slowly walked up to him.
"Just now, weren't you the one yelling the loudest?"
She looked at Liu Ke's flushed Face, her eyes holding a hint of mockery.
"But when it's time for you to actually act, why are you standing here chattering at me?"
"I..."
Liu Ke opened his mouth, but a single word caught in his throat, and he couldn't utter anything else.
Jiang Yuechu didn't bother listening to his explanation; she turned around without a word.
She didn't speak, but this silence was more uncomfortable than any sharp retort... Soon, the two monks were tied up securely and brought before Jiang Yuechu.
Chen Tong and the others had been brutal; the two monks who had just moments ago appeared solemn and dignified were now beaten black and blue, their robes covered in footprints, looking utterly wretched.
"Let me go! You bunch of lackeys relying on others' power! Do you know who I am?!"
Hui Yuan was still roaring relentlessly, his eyes filled with venom, "My Master is the Chief of the Disciplinary院 of the Baosha Temple! If you touch me today, I guarantee none of you will live!"
"Junior Brother, silence!"
On the ground, Hui Ming struggled to raise his head and sternly ordered him to stop.
He had finally understood completely.
The woman before him was fundamentally different from the Demon Suppression Division officials he had dealt with in the past.
She disregarded rules, ignored Face, and was immune to threats.
He had only just revealed a hint of threat inside the room, and the other party had immediately kicked him out, giving him no chance to react.
The repressed resentment in his heart almost burst through his chest.
But now, he was the fish on the chopping block, and she was the butcher.
Enduring the sharp pain in his cheek, he forced a smile at Jiang Yuechu that was uglier than crying.
"Your Excellency... Your Excellency, please calm your anger. It was my Junior Brother's youthful arrogance and loose tongue that offended you. this poor monk... this poor monk apologizes to you on his behalf."
"The Baosha Temple was in the wrong regarding today's incident. We will no longer interfere. I beg Your Excellency, for the sake of the Buddha's Face, to show mercy and allow my Junior Brother and me to leave. Everyone at the Baosha Temple will surely be grateful for your kindness and will definitely repay you handsomely in the future!"
As long as he could return alive and report today's humiliation to the sect.
Hmph... A mere eighth-rank squad leader, even if she possessed some skill, was nothing more than a slightly larger ant before a behemoth like the Baosha Temple.
However.
Jiang Yuechu merely looked at him with indifference, slowly drawing the Horizontal Saber from her waist, inch by inch.
*Clang—*
Hui Ming's expression froze; he instantly understood something.
This... this woman really intended to execute them on the spot?!
"Do you... truly intend to fight the Baosha Temple until both sides perish?!"
Hui Ming could no longer maintain his facade. "The Baosha Temple has been established in the Region for hundreds of years, with no fewer than dozens of Minggu Realm experts and Core Formation Realm Elders presiding! If my Junior Brother and I die here today, within three days, the experts from my temple will personally arrive to demand your life!"
"That uniform of yours can protect you for a time, but not forever! If you have the guts, hide in the Demon Suppression Division for the rest of your life and never come out!"
Jiang Yuechu did not speak.
She simply raised her eyes.
What kind of eyes were those?
There was no anger, no killing intent.
There wasn't even the slightest ripple of emotion.
Sunlight fell upon her cold, pale Face, resembling winter snow and wind.
Her thin lips parted slightly, her voice flat.
"If they can kill me, let them come."
The instant her voice fell.
A flash of saber light erupted.
*Pfft.*
Two fine heads flew into the sky.