Chapter 281: Emergence from Seclusion Ceremony

Tang Luo and Kongming left under the slightly doubtful mood of National Preceptor Yuxuanzi.

Tang Luo's reminder to Yuxuanzi before leaving, "mutual watch and assistance," also made Yuxuanzi slightly uneasy.

They wouldn't plan to attack the Happy Temple at that time, stubbornly dragging their Longya Dao Gate into trouble, would they?

If they really did that, it wouldn't benefit them at all.

Longya Dao Gate has deep foundations; trying to drag them down with such means is as ridiculous as fishing and catching a shark.

Yet for some unknown reason, Yuxuanzi still felt uneasy, yet couldn't find the cause.

Actually, the situation of Longya Dao Gate is not as fearless as Yuxuanzi claimed.

Fearless, and merely fearless only.

"If only Master could emerge from seclusion soon..." Yuxuanzi sighed, his baby face showing an incongruous sense of vicissitude.

They left Chengtian Pavilion.

Kongming and Tang Luo strolled through the streets of Zhongdu, and after deliberate observation, they also discovered what Yuxuanzi said: the disciples of the Happy Temple were gathering in Zhongdu.

Identifying disciples of the Happy Sect is still relatively simple.

Bald heads, gray monk robes—basically, they are the outer disciples of the Happy Temple.

Inner disciples wear white monk robes, and some monks keep their hair.

Moreover, it somewhat resembles Tang Luo, which is also why that girl from the Louxing Lou mistook Tang Luo for a disciple of the Happy Temple.

As for appearance, outer disciples vary greatly—some are ugly, some are like embroidered pillows.

The appearance of inner disciples has risen a notch; at least they possess the bearing of outstanding individuals.

Some with profound cultivation, whether middle-aged, youth, or young adults, all have excellent appearance.

This is a kind of "virtuous cycle": the more handsome, the more likely they get double rest days; the more rest days, the stronger they become; the stronger, the more handsome.

Even if one was previously unattractive, high cultivation will surely make them look good; even if appearance doesn't change, improved demeanor will make them handsome.

Of course, the Happy Temple is not only monks; there are also not a few "nuns."

For example, Yike Shangren is a "nun."

"Dealing with a Golden Core True Person, Master, how confident are you?" As they walked, Kongming asked.

"Ten out of ten." Tang Luo said.

"Is Golden Core also ten out of ten?" Kongming couldn't help but ask.

Initially, it was ten out of ten confidence; now it's basically confirmed that the Happy Temple's Happy Bodhisattva will certainly achieve Golden Core—otherwise, they wouldn't dare spread the news, planning to build momentum.

So, is Tang Luo still ten out of ten confident against a Golden Core True Person?

"The highest confidence is just ten out of ten." Tang Luo said.

"..."

Kongming fell silent for a moment, unable to help recalling a little story about a top student.

You scored 98 points, the top student scored 100 points, you thought you were only two points behind the top student.

But in fact, you scored 98 because you could only score 98; the top student scored 100 because full marks is only 100.

"By the way, which mission number is this for you?" Kongming planned to test slightly.

"Let me think, first time was abdominal surgery, second time was train station... last time was the Black Fairy Tale Snow White Seven Deadly Sins, this is the eighth mission." Tang Luo said.

"... Your mission intervals are short enough." Kongming said.

According to his understanding, the time for eight missions of Gods and Demons Walking is at least one year and three months.

The average time is close to two years.

Tang Luo now, however, has completed eight missions in less than a year, far below the average time.

"And, after eight missions, you're this strong." Kongming said.

With a tone of "comparing people makes people die of anger."

"Before I entered the Gods and Demons game, I was still okay." Tang Luo said, "Saying it out loud, you might not believe it, but I once time-traveled."

"..." Kongming's facial muscles twitched twice.

He certainly didn't believe it—time-traveled? You might as well say you were possessed and merged by the fate's original master.

Having said all this, Kongming also understood Tang Luo didn't want him to ask further, so he timely shifted the topic, chatting about the Happy Temple.

However, he didn't know Tang Luo was speaking the absolute truth, not just changing the subject.

It can only be said that Kongming overthought again.

Because Tang Luo is full of confidence, Kongming also didn't go looking for Fufengxue and Afei outside.

Afei aside, Fufengxue's strength is certainly not weak, but compared to Tang Luo... if they came, they'd probably just come to join the fun.

The situation of the Happy Temple is unclear; going deeper might very well trigger a mission.

If luck is good, they could share a mission, then after a few glances, directly complete it.

They also didn't have this idea of clinging to a big thigh.

Including Gangang and Tang Yuhan, neither planned to directly get involved in this matter; at most, if there are any fish that slipped through the net, they could help resolve them.

But with Tang Luo, relying on Tang Luo's might to complete missions, is not what the two currently want.

On one hand, this bit of arrogant bone and pride certainly exists; on the other hand, they constantly remind themselves this is abnormal—if they develop dependence, it would be detrimental to themselves.

If destroying the Happy Temple forms related missions, they should be undertaken by Tang Luo and Kongming together.

Of course, because there is a major mainline mission, these branch missions can be freely shared with other Gods and Demons Walkers—as long as Gods and Demons Walkers meet and agree.

"After resolving the Happy Temple, Master, what are your plans?" Kongming asked.

"Will you directly complete the mission?" Tang Luo didn't answer immediately, but asked back.

Kongming slightly shook his head: "Unlikely. That day Cao He said, the Great You has three major worries: the Northern Plains, the Burrowing Insects, and the Demons; the actual situation is not much different; I estimate, each of these three major worries has at least been eliminated by sixty to eighty percent, only then could we possibly complete the mission and return."

The Northern Plains worry, needless to say, has already been thoroughly resolved by Tang Luo.

Even the Grand Shaman died directly underground.

The sole remaining shaman, Wu Yang, was terrified of Tang Luo and would absolutely never harbor any designs on Da You.

The top combat strength of the five tribes suffered extremely heavy casualties; internally there were those who wanted to rise to power, and externally there were tribes wanting to take advantage of the chaos to rise up — they could beat each other's brains out. This worry, let alone eighty percent, even ninety percent has already "gone."

Regarding the parasites of the state, Joyous Temple might count as a relatively important part of them.

And then there are those greedy court officials who scrape the people's fat and marrow; even with Kong Ming's ability, it cannot be accomplished in a single stroke.

The demons and monsters rampaging within Da You's borders — right now only Zhang Xiuping and the other two are striving to deal with them, and they are still far from meeting Kong Ming's estimated requirements.

Even if Joyous Temple is resolved, there is still no shortage of things for Tang Luo and the others to do.

Kong Ming felt they would probably stay in this mission world for about a year or so.

As of now, not even half the time has passed.

"Then let's go outside the capital to subdue demons and exterminate devils," Tang Luo said. "You must have gathered a lot of relevant intelligence, right?"

"Naturally," Kong Ming nodded.

He coordinated from the center; all kinds of intelligence related to demons and monsters from every corner of Da You were gathered as much as possible.

Once matters in the capital were more or less settled, Kong Ming would also leave the capital to go resolve those rampaging demons and monsters.

Not to mention, he has also been continuously providing more direct intelligence for Fu Fengxue and them.

Occupying a high position, the information one can obtain is naturally more than what those at the bottom get.

"Give me a copy; when the time comes this poor monk will convert it one by one," Tang Luo said with a smile; he liked this mission world very much.

Looking out, everywhere was the power of merit.

"If you are not in a hurry to return, then at that time I won't need to deliberately leave the capital either," Kong Ming said.

"Hah, Old Kong, your role in the capital is comparatively greater," Tang Luo said with a laugh.

"You make it sound like I have no martial strength at all and am only suited for central coordination," Kong Ming shook his head helplessly.

His combat strength is naturally not weak; setting Tang Luo aside, for this mission he, Fu Fengxue, and Tang Yuhan are the first echelon, the strongest combat power.

"More suited," Tang Luo corrected. "Don't belittle yourself; I heard the Dragon King say you can still fight."

"... Truly, thank you for the comfort," Kong Ming said.

"No need to thank."

————

Two days' time passed like a white colt through a crevice, gone in a flash.

Today was already the day the Joyous Bodhisattva of Joyous Temple emerged from seclusion; the area around Joyous Temple was incomparably lively. Having received the news a day earlier, many people had already sent generous gifts.

Many believers spontaneously gathered nearby, breathing in the sweet incense scent that permeated the surroundings.

Joyous Temple's true inner disciples numbered one hundred fifty-one; on ordinary days in the capital there were around one hundred.

Now there were already one hundred forty people here; only eleven had not returned due to various reasons.

Outer disciples numbered over seven hundred who had come, plus those invited to attend the ceremony; on the spacious plaza inside Joyous Temple, nearly a thousand people had already gathered.

Outside the incomparably grand main hall doors stood two people.

One was Yi Shangren; although clad in plain white robes and wearing a nun's cap, she had a head of blue-black hair hanging down from behind, like silk brocade.

In her hand she held a whisk, a faint smile on her face, her appearance dignified and beautiful, like a holy maiden — not a trace of licentiousness could be seen.

The other person was naturally Chan Master Wuyue.

Tall and robust build, bald head, upper body half-clothed, revealing wheat-colored skin and streamlined muscles.

His looks could only be called regular, yet he possessed a unique bearing; those swept by his gaze could not help but give rise to a feeling of wanting to submit — not out of fear, but a submission born of desire.

Be it man or woman, all were the same.

In fact, this Chan Master Wuyue should count as the most unrestrained person in Joyous Temple regarding men and women; he took both men and women, regardless of gender.

When the time came, Chan Master Wuyue and Yi Shangren both pressed their palms together at their chests and began reciting scriptures.

The disciples inside Joyous Temple followed along in recitation; the attending onlookers around them, amid the chanting voices, revealed a smile they themselves had not even noticed.

Feeling their bodies light and floating in the clouds, while countless little hands massaged every part of them — utmost enjoyment.

Their mouths, too, recited scriptures they completely could not understand.

The believers outside the gate spontaneously knelt down, their expressions joyful and devout.

"Truly... a herd of heterodox demons and crooked ways."

Tang Luo smiled, alone, walking through the streets outside Joyous Temple.

Those kneeling believers were parted by an invisible force, clearing a path; they regained clarity and wanted to do something, but each knelt on the ground, utterly unable to stand, even speaking was difficult.

Arriving before Joyous Temple's wide-open gates.

Tang Luo's gaze crossed the plaza and landed on the main hall's tightly shut doors.

At this moment, the tightly shut main hall doors slowly opened, and one person walked out at a measured pace.