Chapter 272: The Poor Monk Sees the Death Omen Star Above Your Head

The protection of Xuan Qi for officials of the Great You does not include preventing demons and monsters from getting close.

Moreover, the protection is not omnipotent; it has certain limits.

Strong individuals can completely break through the protection of Xuan Qi.

Xuan Qi is not a shield that can block all adverse factors; protection is only relative.

Having demons and monsters lurking near Shi Zhenhai is not impossible.

Of course, even if the other party is by his side and merely takes some soldiers as food, with Xue Baihu still doing well, this indirectly reflects a certain degree of protection from Xuan Qi on them.

"No wonder the Xuan Qi on Shi Zhenhai feels like 'kidney deficiency'—it turns out he was truly drained dry."

Jin Gang slapped his hand hard and said, "The leopard formed by Shi Zhenhai's Xuan Qi—how to put it? It's not formidable at all, and even has a few points of weakness and haziness."

Compared to the totem power Bei Yuan saw, it's far inferior.

Originally, I thought it was due to the decline of Great You's national fortune—Xue Baihu's Xuan Qi was also similarly weak and sickly like a tiger.

Now thinking about it, it's been worn down by that monster.

Know that Xuan Qi is not infinite; when encountering attacks, protection naturally consumes it, and once exhausted, it takes time to recover.

That monster practices yin harvesting and yang supplementation; once it drains all the Xuan Qi, Shi Zhenhai and others will only be left drained to death or completely eaten, leaving no corpse—these two outcomes.

Xue Baihu's face alternated between dark and clear.

Regardless of whether Tang Luo and the three truly found the culprit behind the guard post's disappearance.

They know he had an affair with Shi Zhenhai's concubine, and trouble would be great.

Although the concubine is a minor consort with no status, she could still be used as a reward or exchange, but only with the master's consent.

Shi Zhenhai still dotes on his concubine; before growing tired of her, how could he allow others to touch her?

"Master, how do you plan to deal with that monster?" Xue Baihu asked.

"No need for you to worry, Baihu." Tang Luo said, "Let's go."

"Wait!" Xue Baihu stepped in front of Tang Luo, "Please, Master, make it clear so I can truly put my mind at ease; otherwise, I'll have trouble sleeping and eating, and might do something rash."

By now, he had no choice but to threaten these immortals.

"Heh." Jin Gang snorted disdainfully, took a few steps forward, "This Baihu, what can you do? Let us open our eyes!"

The blue stone slabs under his feet were shattered by his kick.

Xue Baihu spoke fiercely but was timid inside: "I am an official appointed by the court, a proud Baihu—this is the guard post! What dare you do?"

"Whether we dare or not, don't you have a clue in your heart?" Jin Gang said with a sinister laugh.

Really interesting—he's actually threatening them, as if they were harmless little white rabbits?

Xue Baihu's tone softened slightly: "I actually just want the three of you to give me a way to live—is this request too much?"

These three fellows are really this stubborn?

I am a proud Baihu representing the court; to act against him is to act against the court.

Won't you consider the consequences?

"Amitabha." Tang Luo pressed his palms together and uttered a Buddhist chant.

Xue Baihu's face showed joy—can we talk properly now?

"Such idle parasites, national worms, useless in life—let them be liberated; it may even help sustain Great You's national fortune." Tang Luo continued, causing Xue Baihu's smile to freeze instantly.

"Monk!"

Xue Baihu's roar was blocked by Jin Gang's enlarged fist; at the same time, Tang Yuhan moved, drawing the sword at her waist, which flashed a faint red light.

Xue Baihu was right about one thing—this is the guard post.

It's inappropriate to entangle with him; the proper way is to settle this quickly and quietly.

Although Xue Baihu has some martial skill, his body has long been emptied by wine and lust, so his movements cannot keep up with his intention.

The Xuan Qi has also been considerably consumed by that monster, leaving him "weak."

In less than two seconds, he was dead at the hands of Jin Gang and Tang Yuhan—Tang Yuhan pierced his throat with a sword, withdrew it, and no blood flowed from the wound; the blade was also spotless.

"Let's go." Tang Luo said, without even looking at Xue Baihu's corpse.

Although his death gave Tang Luo a little merit power.

Since he was a guest brought in by Shi Zhenhai, the guards clearly knew; although some wondered why Xue Baihu didn't follow, they also couldn't well stop them.

Moreover, the very enlightened high monk Xuanzang Fashi said he had already found the culprit behind the guard post's disappearance and was now going to deal with it.

The guards were so happy they couldn't wait—how could they block them?

Three people and one cat, plus the Wang family servant who came along, Shun Shun Dang Dang, left the guard post in order.

When they returned to An City, the sky was gradually darkening; Tang Luo and the others weren't in a hurry to find that monster, for with Xiao Tian Quan around, it couldn't escape.

Better first to tell Wang De the situation.

No matter what, Wang De asked them for help, and Xue Baihu is already dead—we must inform Wang De so the Wang family can prepare.

After hearing Jin Gang's description, Wang De's wrinkled face also showed surprise; his beard was pulled down a strand without him noticing, and only after a while did he say: "Sorry, what does that master plan to do next?"

"Find that monster and liberate it." Tang Luo said.

"Please wait a moment, Master." Wang De thought and said, then ordered someone to summon Wang Xingshan.

"Ancestor, three immortal masters." Wang Xingshan greeted politely.

"Do you know about Shi Zhenhai keeping a concubine?" Wang De asked.

Wang Xingshan was startled, replied: "I know a little, but his attitude is quite firm, so I can't say much. Still, please rest assured, Ancestor—even if this woman bears a son or daughter, it won't threaten Qi'er."

The "Qi'er" he referred to is his grandson, Shi Zhenhai's eldest son.

"If only it were really this simple." Wang De sighed lightly, then explained the whole matter.

Even Wang De's qi cultivation faltered upon hearing the truth; Wang Xingshan was no better, stunned for a good while before asking: "Then this matter..."

Speaking halfway, he suddenly realized, flung open the lower hem of his robe, and knelt directly before Tang Luo.

"Don't kneel, I can handle this," Tang Luo said.

"Get up. Since you know about this, you must also know where that woman is now, right?" Wang De asked.

He summoned Wang Xingshan, not to have him kneel before Tang Luo—well, also to have the family head represent the Wang family in seeking Tang Luo's help and show their attitude.

"Well..." Wang Xingshan showed a hint of embarrassment, "I really didn't know clearly. Tomorrow, tomorrow there will definitely be accurate news."

Shi Zhenhai's concubine was just a minor figure; compared to the disappearance at the garrison, it wasn't even a big deal.

Wang Xingshan never imagined she was the "mastermind."

"No need, we can find it ourselves," Tang Luo said.

"Please, Master... if you can suppress the matter, then do so as much as possible," Wang Xingshan said without hesitation, bowing deeply.

"Hmm." Tang Luo acknowledged and left the Wang family.

Wang Xingshan and Wang De looked at each other, both seeing the bitterness on the other's face.

Whether the Wang family can get through this now depends entirely on that Master Xuanzang.

The Wang family also counts as a local powerhouse, but they never expected to end up without even the qualification to help, only able to do various cleanup work.

Soon, the two put aside their thoughts and discussed how to properly wrap up the matter.

With Master Xuanzang and his group's strength, slaughtering that demon should not be a problem, but there is a deceased Xue Baihu in the garrison, and Shi Zhenhai... who knows what fate awaits him.

Wanting to properly resolve this is also not easy.

"By the way, these past few years, especially the ill-gotten gains from the last half year or more—have they all been returned? Have those who should apologize done so?" Wang De suddenly remembered and asked.

"Already doing it," Wang Xingshan said.

The Wang family's practice of doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, the family precept of doing one good deed a day, was established because of Master Xuanzang's instruction back then.

Now that Tang Luo has appeared, how dare they not renew their observance?

Fortunately, the Wang family hasn't gone too far; otherwise, deep-rooted issues would be hard to reverse, and Wang Xingshan might even be converted by Tang Luo in reverse.

After leaving the Wang family, the Heavenly Roaring Dog jumped from Tang Yuhan's arms to the ground and led Tang Luo and the others toward the place where Shi Zhenhai's concubine was.

The speed wasn't fast, and they would occasionally stop.

No matter how you say it, that demon's aura-concealing technique is quite thorough; it only leaks some during intercourse and eating.

Really, only the Heavenly Roaring Dog could do this; any other excellent tracker wouldn't find a single clue.

It's not that Shi Zhenhai or the Wang family are incapable; the enemy is just too deeply hidden... plus there's the darkness under the lamp.

The disappearance happened before that concubine entered and left the garrison, and who would have thought demons were lurking right beside oneself?

As for why we're so sure, Shi Zhenhai's concubine is the demon, the true culprit.

What a joke—would a demon lurking beside Shi Zhenhai do so out of love?

If it were out of love, it wouldn't give Shi Zhenhai a green hat.

Under the Heavenly Roaring Dog's guidance, Tang Luo and the others arrived outside a high-gated compound, the gate tightly shut, the surroundings quite quiet.

A serene and elegant place—hm, also very suitable for keeping a concubine.

King Kong stepped forward, placed both hands on the gate, and pushed hard; the gate bolt, as thick as an adult's arm, snapped directly, fell to the ground, and made a landing sound.

Tang Luo and the others entered in single file, not worrying about startling those inside.

After closing the gate behind them, before them stood a three-story small building, with two small huts beside it.

With the small commotion Tang Luo and the others made, two people walked out of the small hut.

A girl of about ten or eleven, and a woman who looked quite strong and sturdy.

Lamplight flickered on the top floor of the small building, and a shadow could be seen swaying.

"Who are you?" the woman held a thick wooden staff, one man guarding the pass, ten thousand cannot open, "Daring to come here, you must be tired of living."

"Amitabha." Tang Luo revealed his identity, "I am the monk Xuanzang, come to find the mistress of this place."

"Where did this lecherous monk come from? Get lost, old lady!"

The woman showed no mercy, swinging her staff directly at Tang Luo, producing a whistling sound.

Unexpectedly, the girl who looked somewhat naive and shrinking also acted at this moment, casually flicking her wrist, a hidden weapon shot straight toward Tang Luo's head.

Much more vicious than the woman.

"Ding!"

A crisp sound, the black sharp long nail was blocked by Tang Yuhan's sword, deflected, and fell to the ground.

The thick staff was also seized by King Kong, who snatched it away and easily broke it into two pieces.

"How is it you?"

The woman and girl's faces changed simultaneously, and from behind came the voice of the master of the house.

"Master Shi." Tang Luo smiled, "This poor monk sees the death omen star on your head."