Lin Yue knew one thing: after the grain was burned, Jiu Cheng would face a severe shortage of food. Tens of thousands of people were still waiting to be fed, presenting a colossal problem. If it wasn't handled properly, it would trigger a new disaster.
Therefore, Lin Yue had to quickly remind Xu Xing, saying, "Kill Xue Ba, take his head, and we'll retreat immediately. There's no time. While most people haven't realized the food shortage yet, let's go."
Xu Xing also nodded quickly. Although she was known as the "Xian" (immortal) among the people, Xu Xing wouldn't constantly manage them, as they were all burdens. If she got entangled, it wouldn't be easy to break free. As long as Xue Ba was killed, Xu Xing's mission would be considered complete, and she could return to Yuzhou.
Of course, before returning, Xu Xing still had to deliver Xue Ba's head to Zhaotong. One must keep their word. Since the grain was exchanged for the special ability potion, she had to deliver the goods to the other party. Only then would the transaction be considered complete, and no one could say anything more.
As Xu Xing and Lin Yue began their search, they soon found Xue Ba in a palace. At that moment, Xue Ba was still indulging with his beloved woman, in his final moments of madness.
Xu Xing frowned, about to say something, but Lin Yue acted first: "Scoundrel, die."
With that, Lin Yue threw a sonic bomb, which instantly hit Xue Ba's body. The sonic waves directly attacked Xue Ba's heart. Under such an attack, Xue Ba was killed in an instant, and his body went limp.
The woman on the bed screamed sharply upon witnessing this scene, her cry piercing through the air.
Lin Yue said to Xu Xing, "This is not suitable for children. Turn away."
After speaking, Lin Yue walked over with his saber and severed Xue Ba's head. He ignored the screaming woman, tore off a piece of curtain, wrapped the head, and left.
Xue Ba was too weak. In front of Lin Yue and Xu Xing, he couldn't even pose a threat. Lin Yue could kill Xue Ba with a casual move. Now, the palace had been breached, and Xue Ba had been killed. As for the remaining soldiers in the palace, they would be identified one by one by the rebel army and ultimately killed without mercy.
Lin Yue said, "At this point, let's hurry and leave, lest these people entangle you once they discover the granary has been burned. By then, it will be a problem to even leave."
Xu Xing had completed her mission. She thought this mission would take a long time, but in just one day, the city walls were breached, and Xue Ba and Dong Chao were captured and killed. The speed of mission completion was practically divine.
However, Xu Xing couldn't be happy now because Elder Zhizhen, who had once guided her, was killed. Xu Xing said, "Let me bury Elder Zhizhen before I leave. It won't take long, just half an hour."
Lin Yue looked at the chaotic scene in the city and nodded, "Then be quick. After burying the elder, we'll go to Zhaotong, rest for two days, and then return to Yuzhou to submit the mission. In any case, your mission this time is considered qualified, and I, as the examiner, will report it truthfully."
Xu Xing and Lin Yue then prepared to bury Elder Zhizhen. At that moment, some rebel soldiers brought someone over and said earnestly, "Xian, this fellow is named Shi Jiwen. It is said that he betrayed Elder Zhizhen, leading to Elder Zhizhen's death. We captured this guy; he was hiding in a well at the time."
Upon hearing this, Xu Xing's face turned cold. "I knew how could such a wise person like Elder Zhizhen be exposed. It turns out there was an inside traitor among the people. Since that's the case, you won't be spared. Take him away. After burying Elder Zhizhen, we'll use his head to offer sacrifices to the elder."
Shi Jiwen was still trying to defend himself: "I'm doing this for everyone's good! If the city walls are breached, everyone's property will be gone. I'm considering everyone's interests. Besides, what's so special about this old monk that he deserves to be mourned? He's just a useless person..."
Before Shi Jiwen could finish speaking, Xu Xing slapped him twice, knocking out most of his teeth and swelling his mouth. At this point, Xu Xing sneered, "You're still tough-mouthed, aren't you? How did your teeth fall out? A traitor is a traitor, no matter what you say. You'll be the sacrifice."
Next, Xu Xing had people carry Elder Zhizhen's body to Donglai Temple and began digging the soil under a pine tree. There were no coffins to be found, so they had to lay the coffin on the ground and inter Elder Zhizhen's remains. Xu Xing, fearing grave robbers, did not place anything valuable in the tomb.
"Elder Zhizhen, I am truly sorry for breaking the Buddha statue you enshrined. But rest assured, the person who caused your death has been captured. I will send him on his way when I return. Rest in peace. On the road to the underworld... No, you must have attained nirvana. As for this scoundrel, he shall go to hell." Xu Xing murmured to Elder Zhizhen in the coffin.
Suddenly, Lin Yue returned from the Buddhist hall, holding a piece of paper with a Buddhist verse written on it. He then handed it to Xu Xing.
"Take a look. This seems to be a verse left by Elder Zhizhen before his death. Truly a master, to have such profound insight," Lin Yue said with admiration.
Xu Xing took the paper, looked at the content, and read it word by word: "Meditating for fifty years, always seeing the Buddha's face. One day the clay statue broke, and the inner demon suddenly appeared. The clay statue received incense, and the stubborn stone was seen. It turns out in this world, the Buddha's form is my face."
Upon seeing this verse, Xu Xing immediately understood. Elder Zhizhen had finally achieved enlightenment before his death. He was saying that for fifty years, his meditation and worship were directed at clay and wooden statues, and this fifty-year obsession was the inner demon. Now, with a sudden enlightenment, he finally realized that worshipping Buddha was actually worshipping himself. Buddha is formless, and clay and wooden statues are not Buddha's true form. If there were a true form, it would be Elder Zhizhen himself. This was his realization.
"Elder Zhizhen, to be able to attain such understanding, he is truly a master. It is a great pity that he passed away today," Xu Xing sighed.
At this moment, seeing the verse left by Elder Zhizhen, Xu Xing felt much better. Elder Zhizhen had seen through life before his death, which could be considered achieving enlightenment. The ancient saying goes, "If one hears the Way in the morning, one can die in the evening without regret." Now, having attained the Way, he immediately passed away, which was considered attaining nirvana.
At this point, everyone began to bury Elder Zhizhen in the ruined temple. He had worshipped Buddha here for fifty years, and it was fitting for him to be buried within the temple.
Lin Yue looked at Shi Jiwen, who was still cursing and seemed determined to remain defiant. Lin Yue then said, "Kill him and place his head in front of the grave."
Xu Xing quickly said, "Do not defile this land. Take him outside to be killed, and throw his body into a cesspit so that he may never be reborn."
Earlier, Xu Xing had wanted Shi Jiwen's head to be offered as a sacrifice to Elder Zhizhen. Elder Zhizhen was a good person, and he cared about the suffering of the people. However, he ultimately died due to the betrayal of a traitor, which made Xu Xing feel it was not worth it for Elder Zhizhen. Dying at the hands of a scoundrel was of no value.
But after Xu Xing saw Elder Zhizhen's words, she understood. Elder Zhizhen had already come to terms with such matters; this could be considered a complete accumulation of merit. If the blood of a scoundrel were to stain the land, wouldn't it pollute the elder's grave?
Therefore, Xu Xing directly ordered him to be taken outside and killed, and then his body to be thrown into a cesspit, ensuring he would never be reborn.
This belief stemmed from various sayings. Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and folk beliefs all held this view. Cultivation was about returning to one's original, pure state, making the body clean and new. Contamination would pollute the body, and the place where bodily waste is processed was extremely impure. Those who died there would never be reborn.
Xu Xing and Lin Yue then left the temple. However, the city was still in chaos. Although Xue Ba and Dong Chao had been killed, the chaos had not ended. The rebel army, while fighting under the banner of revenge and justice, had revealed their brutal side after killing the enemy. Especially after the temple and palace were breached, countless treasures were laid out before the rebel army. The enemies were dead, and treasures were within reach, leading the rebels to begin a frenzied scramble.
These rebel forces were originally a loosely organized group. Even the people Xu Xing could control numbered only one or two thousand. Now, the rebel army had completely lost control.
The rebels, armed with weapons, were searching the entire city for Xue Ba's soldiers. Even worse, some were already arresting people who believed in cults.
"Xian has ordered that all enemies must be eliminated without exception. Anyone who has joined a cult, report quickly. If you harbor cult members, your entire family will be killed."
"By order of Xian, arrest the villains. Open the door, hurry and open the door."
... A group of people in the city began searching everywhere, using Xu Xing's name as their banner. Since Xu Xing was from Yuzhou, their actions today would ultimately fall upon Yuzhou, even if Yuzhou was not responsible for these deeds.
The women formerly favored by Xue Ba were condemned to death the moment the palace was breached. Their tragic fate was beyond anyone's comprehension. They had been forcibly brought to the palace and, after receiving favor, were confined to their rooms. Once the palace was breached, they would be killed by the rebel army, who deeply hated Xue Ba.
The female slaves imprisoned in the palace were rescued, and their tragic conditions were immediately witnessed. They wore chains and collars around their necks, unable to even stand. Confined in cells, they could only kneel on the ground. Upon seeing this, many rebels shed tears, as many of their own family members had been taken there.
Xu Xing and Lin Yue quickly moved away. As they were leaving Jiu Cheng, they saw a group of people smashing down a door. This place was the home of the uncle who had previously sheltered Xu Xing.
"What are you doing?" Xu Xing quickly went up to inquire.
Upon seeing Xu Xing appear, the rebel soldiers showed respectful expressions and replied, "Someone reported that the daughter of this family joined a cult, so we are here to arrest and kill the cult follower."
Seeing this, Xu Xing felt that things had gotten out of control. The rebel army was clearly preparing to escalate the situation. The villains had already died, and most of the city's soldiers had been killed, yet at this moment, the rebel army wanted to continue killing.
"Enough! I know this family. They are not bad people. You... you should focus on the aftermath," Xu Xing stopped their actions. The rebel soldiers also obediently left. Since Xian had spoken, they could only obey.
"Let's go quickly, while no one is paying attention. Once the madness ends, everyone in the city will become a burden," Lin Yue said to Xu Xing.
Xu Xing closed her eyes, smelling the scent of blood in the air, feeling somewhat troubled. The mission was completed, but many people in the city had died, many of whom should not have been killed. Her mission seemed to have not been completed very well.
"Let's go, let's go! Out of sight, out of mind." Xu Xing then left with Lin Yue, completely abandoning the matters within Jiu Cheng.