The young lama continued to lead Xu Xing forward, and then they saw the scene of the world being redeemed. Lin Yue had actually received a detailed report from his subordinates long ago, so he was mentally prepared. However, after seeing this scene, Xu Xing was utterly disgusted.
The final image was a mountain formed by naked people, and at the summit stood a resplendent golden Buddha. However, this was clearly not a proper Buddha statue, as the golden Buddha that appeared before Xu Xing was also naked. The people below were all reaching upwards, as if trying to grasp the Kama-Buddha.
Xu Xing couldn't help but close her eyes. At this moment, Xu Xing had not a shred of goodwill left towards this cult. Even if these people were distributing congee to beggars, it couldn't outweigh their crime of misleading people's hearts. This temple was a confluence of darkness.
Seeing Xu Xing close her eyes, the young lama mistakenly thought she was shy. He then continued, "Let's move forward. My master is currently holding a 'Wu Zhe Da Hui' inside the temple. If you wish to participate, we will guide you."
'Wu Zhe Da Hui' was originally a Buddhist scripture-reciting assembly where monks listened to lectures. However, later, the term's meaning changed to refer to group activities, often on a very large scale, involving hundreds or even thousands of people. The assembly the lama mentioned at this time certainly wasn't the former.
Xu Xing could no longer bear it and directly said, "No, I won't be visiting. I want to leave."
Afterward, Xu Xing turned and left. Lin Yue followed at a leisurely pace. Lin Yue silently thought, "Weak vigilance towards enemies and inability to carry out the plan. Both of these points will have to be written in the notebook later."
Seeing Xu Xing's reaction, the young lama felt somewhat regretful. "I was too forceful. Food must be eaten one bite at a time. I forgot this principle. Damn it, I shouldn't have done that."
However, the young lama suddenly remembered something and quickly caught up with Xu Xing, saying, "Benefactress, here are scriptures compiled by our Sect Master. Please accept them. And for you, sir, please accept this as well. Our Joyful Sect accepts both men and women; we welcome anyone who wishes to join."
Xu Xing didn't touch the lama at all, as she felt the person in front of her was disgusting from head to toe. Such a person should be killed directly. So, she said coldly, "No, I don't need it, and I don't want to learn your doctrines."
However, at this moment, Lin Yue instead accepted a small, pocket-sized scripture and smiled, saying, "I'd like to learn about this sect."
Upon hearing this, the young lama was overjoyed, thinking, "It's good that they took the bait. If this woman's family takes the bait, I can use this person, and the woman will eventually take the bait too. This just requires patience."
Then, the young lama earnestly said, "Since you are interested in our sect, sir, please study it carefully. If you wish to join, you can come and convert at any time. We also have female disciples who can perform the 'Joyful Ritual' for you."
Lin Yue nodded, said nothing, put the booklet in his pocket, and then moved away.
The young lama then escorted the two out, which was also a form of surveillance, preventing them from wandering around the temple.
After leaving the temple, Xu Xing immediately began to complain, "Brother Lin Yue, why did you take that booklet? Have you really been brainwashed by this sect? It would be best to eliminate such an evil cult. It's too much for you to be accepting their doctrines now."
Lin Yue replied calmly, "I did it to prevent you from being exposed. Do you know how easily you could have been ambushed while washing your face? What if the water contained poison? At best, your eyes would be blinded; at worst, you would die. Moreover, your vigilance is too weak. I took this booklet for your own good. They will think I'm interested. Otherwise, you are so beautiful, and if neither of us accepted this booklet, they might suspect we were gathering intelligence. You weren't calm enough."
Hearing Lin Yue say this, Xu Xing immediately understood his intention. Lin Yue was preventing her from being exposed, and in this regard, she should thank him for his help. Xu Xing's heart was in turmoil. She now desperately wanted to kill people, to kill everyone who deserved to die, and then destroy this city. However, subconsciously, Xu Xing felt something was wrong, something indescribable yet which prevented her from acting.
"Xu Xing, after entering the temple, I heard crying, the crying of many women. Do you know what that means?" Lin Yue revealed a little information at this rare moment.
Xu Xing quickly reacted. Of course, she knew what it meant. It meant that many women were imprisoned in the temple.
Xu Xing then remembered an old saying: "One person does not enter a temple, two people do not look into a well, three people do not carry wood."
Xu Xing finally understood the first part of the saying. Temples were places outside the law, especially those that worshipped evil Buddhas. If one person entered, they would be captured directly, and it would be very difficult to get out. Without someone accompanying them, it was hard to say when they might disappear.
"What should I do?" Xu Xing then asked Lin Yue.
Lin Yue replied calmly, "This is your mission. This should be your performance. I will not offer any advice."
In fact, Lin Yue was also encountering this situation for the first time. He also found it very tricky. Let alone the inexperienced Xu Xing, even the seasoned Lin Yue could not offer any good advice at this moment. It was not easy to solve the dead end of Jiucheng.
Xu Xing scratched her head and ears, completely unsure of what to do. The pain in her heart was indescribable. She watched the suffering people here, but after thinking about it, the only option she had was to assassinate the enemy leader. There was no other way.
However, even assassination could not achieve the goal of saving these suffering people.
Xu Xing had no choice but to wander aimlessly on the streets. At this time, Xu Xing had no appetite. Looking at the beggars everywhere on the street, Xu Xing didn't know what she was thinking.
At this moment, Xu Xing really wanted to use her special ability to make the entire Jiucheng collapse. That way, the mission would be completed, and this sinful city could be destroyed. However, Xu Xing did not have such strength now. She could shake down the city walls, but destroying a city of 200,000 people was still too difficult.
"Perhaps Andov from Europe could do this. It's a pity I'm not as powerful as him, and I don't have any hundred-year-old orchid seeds. I can't erupt at this moment," Xu Xing thought silently.
Xu Xing walked around the streets, and the sky gradually darkened. Besides beggars, there were no other people left on the street.
At this moment, a man with scars all over his body in a nearby building shouted, "What are you two young people doing on the street? Hurry and hide! Never mind, come to my place."
After speaking, the man opened the door and let Xu Xing and Lin Yue in. Seeing the sparse crowd on the street, Xu Xing remembered that many cities had curfews, and Jiucheng likely had one too, which was why the street had become so empty.
So, Xu Xing quickly entered the man's house and saw this middle-aged man. He had many scars on his body, some of which had scabbed over, while others were fresh wounds.
"Could he be a mercenary?" Xu Xing thought to herself.
In Xu Xing's opinion, only mercenaries would have scars all over their bodies.
The middle-aged man immediately began to scold, "You two young people must be here for the first time. How dare you walk around at night? If you are caught, you will be arrested directly. Little girl, since you are beautiful, you will be sold to a brothel. Young man, since you are strong, after being caught, you will be taken to a brick kiln."
Xu Xing then asked, "Why don't the beggars on the street get caught?"
The man replied, "These beggars are worthless. It's fine even if they are beaten to death on the spot. Those lackeys are too lazy to bother with beggars! Moreover, even if you are lucky enough not to be caught outside, you will definitely be targeted by the beggars in the end. Don't think these beggars are good people. If they go mad, they will defile you on the street."
Xu Xing then understood how dangerous it was to be on the streets of Jiucheng at night.
Xu Xing then asked, "Uncle, are you living alone?"
Xu Xing wanted to know if there were other people in this small building, so she casually asked. However, after Xu Xing asked this question, the uncle's expression changed. At this moment, he hugged a nearby pillar and began to smash it frantically. The sound of his head colliding with the pillar immediately made a "thump, thump, thump" sound.
Seeing this, Xu Xing quickly intervened and said, "Uncle, don't self-harm! I was just asking casually, not trying to touch your sore spot."
At this moment, Xu Xing thought the uncle had hyperactive disorder, otherwise, why would he start self-harming after just a few casual words? Moreover, looking at the uncle's injuries, it was clear that such self-harming behavior had occurred many times. These were not injuries sustained from fighting mutated beasts, but rather the result of continuous self-harm.
After being stopped, the uncle's head was already broken, and blood flowed down his cheeks. Then, the uncle said helplessly, "I have a family. I have a wife and a daughter, but they are all out working."
"Working? That's not a bad thing. Why are you so sad?" Xu Xing immediately asked.
The uncle did not answer at this time but shook his head and said, "I'll prepare rooms for you. You can stay here for now. As for what happened tonight, don't come out."
Xu Xing nodded. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Since the host had said so, she had no reason to object.
Next, Xu Xing and Lin Yue were arranged in a room. Lin Yue, being a gentleman, directly gave the bed to Xu Xing, while he leaned against a chair, preparing to sleep.
However, Xu Xing remained cautious. To understand the family's situation, Xu Xing chose not to sleep. Instead, she left through the window, entered the corridor from the rooftop, and hid in a corner.
As for Lin Yue, he did not follow. As long as Lin Yue used his special ability, all surrounding sounds would be unable to escape his notice.
The uncle sat in the room, not sleeping at all. Instead, he found many knives from a corner and began to sharpen them. The sound of sharpening knives was continuous and very creepy.
Xu Xing thought to herself, "Could this guy be planning to rob and murder us? He's already started sharpening knives."
However, the uncle who was sharpening the knives had no intention of making a move. After sharpening the knives, he tested one on his arm, and blood immediately gushed out. Looking at the new wound on his hand, the uncle laughed maniacally, "Hahaha... What a useless person!"