Chapter 488

After discovering Diluan was abandoned, the first thing I thought of was the Empty Silence Abbott.

These two people formed a stark contrast.

Diluan appeared to be highly valued, but in reality he was merely a puppet others kept nearby; when the time came, they unhesitatingly peeled off his skin!

But the Empty Silence Abbott is different.

The Empty Silence Abbott is like a dog that doesn't bark, silent and still, then suddenly gives you a bite, yet it can be deadly!

Diluan is already useless; now whoever can be reused is either Feng Xianqiu or the Empty Silence Abbott.

General Jin said that already three batches of monks who volunteered as sacrifices have had their souls escorted by him into the Nether Realm City; are these monks' deaths related to the Empty Silence Abbott?

Figuring this out is crucial for me.

Fang ChuanZong immediately said he would take care of this, and he would help me find out as soon as possible.

After seeing Fang ChuanZong off, the remaining few all looked at me.

Hui Moqiong asked, "Xiao Jiu, are you sure Seventh Lord really went to the underworld?"

"I'm not sure," I said truthfully, "I merely found a few clues, but even if I have to go through a lot of trouble, I can't just let it go, right?"

Hui Moqiong nodded: "Too bad we can't help you."

He scratched his head irritably, lamenting, "I feel more and more like a good-for-nothing! When Seventh Lord needed me most, I couldn't do anything!"

I joked, "You also want to slack off?"

Hui Moqiong froze.

I said, "If Ah Yan is really in the Nether Realm City, this could involve a lot—not just the Nether Realm, but also the Chenghuang Temple and even the Yin Dang Hang."

Our pawnshop is a subordinate of Yin Dang Hang; from now on things are bound to be unsettled—I might at any time return to Cangwu Mountain to undergo Nirvana; whether I'll come back alive after that is still unknown.

Everyone fell silent again, none of us feeling confident.

If I had said this before, they would surely have told me not to be so pessimistic.

But now the situation is completely different.

I looked at Hu Yulin.

After something happened on Yin Mountain and Hu Sanmei was taken away, he has been feeling somewhat depressed and hasn't recovered.

"Brother Hu," I said, "for the next while, this pawnshop will be handed over to Fifth Lord Hui and Immortal Lord Huang; as for the Nine Flames District, I can only ask you to keep an eye on it—discuss any matters among yourselves."

Hu Yulin hesitated: "Xiao Jiu, the Nine Flames District was planned by Brother Hui himself; I'm not familiar with that area..."

"What's there to fear about not being familiar?" Hui Moqiong said, arms crossed, "I've just been transferred back to the pawnshop—I'm not dead, so if you're unfamiliar somewhere, just call me; failing that, I can personally go over and help you clean up the mess, right? Brother Hu, I think it's you who wants to slack off! Pull yourself together!"

Hu Yulin looked at Hui Moqiong's exasperated expression and was instantly speechless.

Li Qingying took my hand, and I could feel her unease.

I smiled at her and changed the subject: "Of course, Ah Yan and I have never been the type to simply accept fate; we'll surely come back fighting!"

Li Qingying nodded repeatedly.

"Xiao Jiu, go ahead steadily," Hu Yulin finally decided, "I'll take charge of the Nine Flames District; you can rest easy."

Hui Moqiong gave Hu Yulin's shoulder a strong pat, looking relieved.

After everything was arranged, outside it was already broad daylight.

After a night of turmoil, I was truly exhausted; I just had a bite of breakfast and then fell asleep.

After Hui Moqiong sees Hu Yulin off to the Nine Flames District, he will move back to the pawnshop.

The pawnshop has him and Li Qingying, plus Huang Fan; the three of them guarding it together puts my mind at ease.

That sleep was actually quite sound.

But in my hazy half‑sleep I kept feeling a little guy guarding me in my dreams, blinking his big eyes, with those two little horns‑like braids, looking adorable.

Fang ChuanZong always acts quickly; around three in the afternoon he called me, his tone grave: "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, my people stationed in Song Mountain have reported that roughly ten days ago the Empty Silence Abbott left the Great Dharma King Temple to go on his 'world‑wandering'."

Although I had a premonition, when Fang ChuanZong said the words "world‑wandering", I still couldn't help but be startled.

How ironic!

Initially the Empty Silence Abbott kept instilling the idea of "world‑wandering" into Liu Junyan, but in the end he failed to control her.

If Liu Junyan really was brainwashed by him, then perhaps all these things happening now are meant to be accomplished through her hands?

Precisely because Liu Junyan is uncontrollable, he had no choice but to leave Song Mountain himself and begin his "world‑wandering"?

"The Copper Coin Person has already tracked that old bald donkey away," Fang ChuanZong said angrily, "If it weren't for your reminder, Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, we'd be caught off guard again—truly impossible to defend against!"

"Yeah, impossible to defend against," I said, "Our focus lately has been entirely on Wangting Mountain and Yin Mountain, yet we overlooked the Empty Silence Abbott; does anyone in the temple know his upcoming 'world‑wandering' route? Perhaps we could set up an ambush in advance."

Fang ChuanZong said there wasn't: "That old bald donkey is too cautious; after the little novice died, he had no one left to help him with affairs, so he does everything himself."

"Then all we can do is wait for the Copper Coin Person's feedback," I turned and asked, "Any news from Dituan?"

Fang ChuanZong said he still had none: "Based on the clues you gave me, I focused on investigating the former Right Protector, but the Feng Clan's reviews of this person are all good, and… including your father, his reputation is also excellent."

Indeed.

My aunt always said whenever she mentioned my father that he was good to my mother, had made enormous contributions to the whole clan, and was a truly good person.

Earlier, when I saw the "Luan" totem on the black python's neck, I told my aunt about it; she has been looking into my father.

It's a pity we've been away from the Feng Clan for too long; the Feng Clan is now completely under Feng Xianqiu's control, any traces that should have been erased he's surely already wiped out—trying to investigate is hardly easy.

If we could actually find anything, my aunt would have told me already.

I hummed in agreement and finally said, "If we can't find anything, let's drop it for now—tracking the Empty Silence Abbott is more important."

We chatted a bit more before hanging up.

The Empty Silence Abbott really has moved out; it seems my guess was correct—he is the true confidant of the black python!

After years of effort and accumulation, his identity has long been well known; wherever he goes to a temple to preach and lecture, people can't wait to enshrine him.

This is faith.

Imperceptible faith is the hardest to shake.

I don't know what method he used to make those monks willingly sacrifice themselves; I only feel that this person is too terrifying.

I cannot forget the scene I saw when we first left Song Mountain, with Liu Junyan taking me back and forth.

Will those azure hawks raised by Empty Silence Abbott also follow him away?

He…… perhaps also knows witchcraft……