https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-545-The-Remnants-of-Pacifying-Evil/12919005/
Chapter 544: Secret Worship
Chapter 544: Secret Worship
"Who have I offended..."
"Ever since I built this broken temple, I've stayed within its confines, never stepping out. Yet, I was forced by the Right Guardian to learn how to bestow marriages and bless people with children..."
"I've never given birth in my life, so what advice could I offer to those who come to pray for children?"
"But now that I've reached this point, why can't I find peace? They say building a temple is good, but the more temples are built, the more they seem to turn us into grandchildren. It was better back when I followed the Right Guardian, scaring passing merchants in the forest to steal their gold and silver."
"They used to call me the Scarlet Lantern Ghost, and I enjoyed a steady stream of offerings. Later, they called me the Harm of Mingzhou, but my days were still comfortable. Now they call me the Crime God, and I've lost all face..."
"I don't even know what I did to harm the city, but they're coming to destroy me..."
"At first, they said the worst that could happen was becoming a foot bath slave!"
"..."
Hu Ma, leading Li Wa Zi and the others, arrived at Red Gate Town, only to find it nearly deserted. Crimson lanterns hung throughout the town, swaying back and forth in the cold wind, emitting a mournful and chilling cry.
The incense masters, offerings, and managers of the society had mostly fled, leaving behind only those who hadn't grasped the situation, their faces filled with confusion as they clutched their weapons, unsure of what to do.
"When I first joined the Scarlet Lantern Society, there was no temple, but the members were strong and skilled, a formidable force."
Hu Ma couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the town: "Now that Mingzhou is showing signs of chaos, the gap between the martial arts sects and the true struggle for fate is becoming apparent. There are many capable people, but they are no match for the opposition!"
"However, it is precisely at times like these that our loyalty is most evident..."
A thought suddenly crossed his mind: "Could it be that after being in the society for so long, I finally have a chance to enter the core management of the Scarlet Lantern Society?"
He quickly instructed Li Wa Zi and the others to stay alert, tend to the animals, and look after the goods on the cart. With a proud and vigorous demeanor, they headed towards the town. Before they even arrived, Li Wa Zi and the others began shouting: "Hu Ma, the manager of Qingshi Town, has come to provide protection..."
Technically, the term 'provide protection' wasn't appropriate, but Hu Ma had considered that even if the Red Lantern Lady, as the Crime God, slightly overstepped her bounds, it wouldn't be a problem.
At that moment, inside a mansion in the town, the Left Guardian, Shen Hongzi, was in a state of panic. Ever since the news of the Truth Sect's impending attack reached them yesterday, the town's residents had been steadily decreasing.
Some left under the pretext of handling external affairs, leaving behind a sealed letter. Others claimed that their eighty-year-old mother was getting married and needed them to be the best man. These were the ones who still followed the rules. Many more simply fled without a word, even taking some items with them.
"Once this crisis is over, the Red Lantern Lady will deal with them all!"
She clenched her teeth in anger. The Scarlet Lantern Society wasn't entirely disorganized. During their battle with the Green Robe Malevolent Ghost, they maintained strict discipline. Those chosen, knowing they would surely die, still bravely faced the challenge.
However, the current situation was different. When they fought the Green Robe Malevolent Ghost, the Scarlet Lantern Society had the upper hand. But even if they didn't, they still had the strength to retaliate against those who broke the rules, even going as far as killing their entire families without batting an eye.
But now, facing the Truth Sect, not only were they at a disadvantage, but they might even lose the Red Lantern Lady's temple. There was nothing left to retaliate against. This was why the members of the society fled without any hesitation.
Even the Left Guardian, despite her harsh words, had no real plan in mind.
Just as she was watching the town's residents flee, unable to stop them, she suddenly heard someone coming to 'provide protection.' Her heart filled with joy.
She hurriedly went out to greet them, only to find Hu Ma with only seven or eight companions, pulling a large cart. Her face once again froze in bewilderment:
"What use are these few people?"
But then she had another thought, and her heart sank: "Now that we're facing a formidable opponent, those with skills have fled. If we truly value loyalty, then only my sister-in-law and this loyal young manager remain. What else is there to choose?"
"If I need to flee later, I'll take these two with me. Such loyal companions will be useful when we rise again..."
"..."
She quickly invited them into the town and directly to the mansion across from the Red Lantern Lady's temple. The Left Guardian herself served them tea, a privilege Hu Ma, as a mere manager, would never have received before.
Indeed, it seemed that in times of chaos, promotions came easily.
After they sat down and the tea was served, the three of them stared at each other. Hu Ma found an opportunity to speak: "The Truth Sect is formidable, and with our current manpower shortage, how can we compete with them?"
Hu Ma took a sip of tea and replied, "They are the ones being unreasonable. Why be polite? If they come, we fight!"
The Sweet Potato Burn, who had been glaring at Hu Ma, pretending not to recognize him, heard this and immediately slapped his thigh, saying, "Then let's fight!"
"..."
The Left Guardian thought to herself that when they rose again, she wouldn't bring these two along...
Just as she was pondering how to respond, a sudden sound of 'ka-ka' echoed outside. A gust of wind blew into the town, causing sand to fly and stones to roll. The windows, doors, and lanterns in the town swayed violently.
She was startled by the sudden arrival: "They're here already?"
...
...
Many people had gathered outside the capital city of Mingzhou. In the midst of the swirling Yin Wind, a black sedan appeared, accompanied by two maids, four servants, and a red-haired fire ox. Seated inside the sedan, wearing a black cloak, was the Heaven's Will General, followed by several dozen riders.
Behind them were two rows of grandmasters holding green banners, and over a hundred Truth Sect followers with an air of gloom and murderous intent. The crowd was so dense and dark that it seemed as if everyone who had stayed in Mingzhou City had come along.
Such a spectacle not only shocked the people of Red Gate Town but also the citizens along the way and even the noble lords within Mingzhou City. They all sent people to keep a safe distance and gather information.
The Truth Sect followers, with their murderous aura, rushed to Red Gate Town but did not enter. About three miles away, they suddenly reined in their horses and stopped. Several grandmasters carrying the green 'Reasoned Script' flags stepped forward and thrust their flags into the ground.
"Chi!"
The eight green banners were simultaneously planted in the ground, and the eight grandmasters began to circle the flags, chanting incantations.
As they circled and chanted, the flags started to spin, stirring up gusts of Yin Wind. One by one, vengeful spirits emerged from beneath the banners, carried by the wind, and headed straight for the Red Lantern Lady's temple.
Those with weak fire energy could even see, within the Yin Wind, spirits covered in chains crawling swiftly on the ground, making their way towards the Red Lantern Lady's temple.
"Wow, they didn't even introduce themselves or ask about any crimes. They're just here to arrest someone?"
Hu Ma, standing in front of the Red Lantern Temple, sensed the commotion outside and was startled. "Their style is even more domineering than the Pacifying Evil Office!"
Ignoring the sweet potato burn's excited winks, he turned to look at the red lantern inside the temple across the way, thinking, "It can't be that weak, right? It was Brother Er Guotou's choice, after all."
"Chi!"
Just as he was thinking this, the Yin Wind in the town grew stronger, blowing down wooden frames. Inside the small Altar Deity Temple, which was only a few square zhang in size, the red lantern's light suddenly glowed eerily.
The light filled the tiny temple and even broke through the roof tiles, illuminating the dark blue night sky.
As the red lantern lit up, the other unlit red lanterns hanging around the town also began to glow one by one. In an instant, the town was filled with red lanterns, resembling a crimson lantern array.
Even though the Red Lantern Lady was timid, she was determined to resist as so many evil spirits rushed into her temple to capture her. Faintly, one could hear voices of protest, like "It's a mistake!" and "Don't bully me!"
It seemed as if she was struggling against an unreasonable arrest, protesting her innocence.
The only issue was that her resistance seemed a bit too intense. As the red light spread, a chilling Yin Wind blew through the air. The evil spirits that had crawled out from beneath the banners had just extended their claws and thrown out their iron chains.
In an instant, they were met with the red light of the lantern, and like snow melting in the spring, the iron chains broke into pieces. The faces of the ferocious spirits were torn apart by the red light.
"Chi, chi..."
Three miles away, among the eight green banners planted by the Truth Sect, two suddenly tore with a sound of ripping cloth. The Truth Sect followers guarding these banners were flung backward, spitting blood, and it was clear they wouldn't survive.
This unexpected commotion startled everyone nearby, not just the Truth Sect but also the Left Guardian Shen Hongzi, who was momentarily stunned.
"Hold on, is the Lady's power really that strong?"
"..."
The red light from the temple, which had just brightened, dimmed slightly, as if in confusion. "Om?"
...
...
"Resisting the punishment ghosts and harming the law enforcers!"
Three miles away, the Heaven's Will General, seated high on his horse, witnessed this scene and his face changed abruptly. With a chilling voice, he shouted, "I've always said that this small Altar Deity Temple has a mysterious origin and privately receives incense offerings."
"Now, seeing her power, it's even more formidable than I imagined. How can a small temple, established less than a year ago, cultivate such abilities?"
"I suspect she must have secretly accepted evil worship to gain such skills!"
"..."
However, the lady in the black sedan, Hu's elder sister, was also startled by the commotion. She deeply agreed with the first half of the Heaven's Will General's statement but hesitated about the latter. "Her power indeed doesn't seem fitting for an Altar Deity."
"But if it's unlawful worship, why is it so open and aboveboard?"
(End of Chapter)
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