Chapter 661: High Efficiency

"Too exhausted last night, I haven’t had the chance to ask: Lady Peacock, why exactly have these assassins targeted you?" Meng Jingzhou inquired, his eyes gleaming with the righteous ardor of a true chivalrous hero.

Peacock pondered for a moment. These three had saved her life the previous evening; they were entirely trustworthy, and there was no harm in telling them. "This is hardly a fitting place to converse. Shall we return to my chambers and speak there?"

Three men and two women—the five of them made their way into Peacock's private quarters.

Peacock poured tea for the four guests, set down the teapot, and began to speak unhurriedly: "This matter begins after my master departed from our Daoist temple."

"The sanctuary my master presided over is called the Mountain and River Temple. Only the two of us resided within its walls."

"In his youth, my master incurred many romantic debts. His former flames would constantly seek him out. Over time, seeing that my cultivation had matured and I was fully capable of self-defense, he left the temple to flee his creditors under the guise of wandering the four corners of the earth."

"Once word spread of his departure, the frequency of those ladies arriving in search of him dwindled significantly, leaving the temple quite desolate, with only myself remaining."

"Then, quite suddenly one day while I was meditating in my chamber, I heard a tremendous crash within the courtyard. Hurrying outside to investigate, I discovered a blood-stained man collapsed upon the ground."

"The youth was strikingly handsome, yet his injuries were severe; his robes were utterly drenched in blood."

"I could not tell if he was merely blustering or if it was something else, but I always felt an underlying aura of wickedness whenever he spoke. It terrified me utterly. Under the cover of night, I packed my belongings, thinking that if I fled to a bustling, prosperous city, the assassins dispatched by that man would not dare pursue me."

"That is how I came to Spring River City, and it was here that I encountered my sister and you three young heroes."

"Upon awakening, the man proved to be a soul of few words, omitting even a token gesture of gratitude, and he simply refused to leave the temple. I could hardly cast an invalid out, so I had no choice but to let him lodge there."

"A cold, mocking smile played upon his lips as he remarked that from his childhood until now, no one had ever dared defy his commands—I was the first. He went on to declare that whosoever caught his fancy must either become his or become a corpse. If I refused to accompany him, he vowed to unleash an endless tide of assassins to hunt me down. With that, he vanished."

"The man remained in a deep slumber for nearly a week. I know not what manner of mystical arts he practiced, but his wounds gradually began to knit together."

"This marks the second time I have received the benevolent grace of the Buddhist path," Peacock remarked, her countenance brightening with a radiant smile.

"The... the Nascent Soul stage?"

"A second time?"

"Amitabha. So that is how it truly is."

Peacock stood utterly dumbfounded, wondering just how many spirit stones such a treasure was worth; even if she were to sell herself, she could never afford an object of such staggering value.

"Another month passed, and the man’s injuries were entirely healed. Quite suddenly, he seized my wrist, proclaiming that he had grown fond of me and desired that I journey by his side."

"Then I offer my profound gratitude to you, Master."

Shi Zhan withdrew a string of sandalwood prayer beads from his sleeve and proffered them to Peacock. "These beads, infused with the spiritual vows of this poor monk, can withstand the assault of a Nascent Soul expert for the span of fifteen minutes, while simultaneously alerting me to your peril. I pray you accept them, Lady Peacock, to ensure your safety."

Shi Zhan smiled gently, pressing them into Peacock's palms. "The Buddha has spoken: saving a single life excels building a seven-storied pagoda. This poor monk shall naturally reap his own karmic rewards; there is no need for you to offer anything in return. I only hope that in the days to come, you will eschew all evil deeds and perform acts of virtue. That alone shall suffice as recompense."

"Rest your mind, Lady Peacock! With us here, no assassin shall harm a hair on your head!"

"Having no time for hesitation, I carried the man into the house, cut away his tattered garments, and tended to his wounds."

"I... I cannot possibly afford this."

Peacock received the treasure as though it were the rarest prize, wrapping it carefully in a silken handkerchief and placing it tenderly within the folds of her garments near her heart.

"It appears last night's assassin was merely the first; there will surely be subsequent attempts on Lady Peacock’s life."

"I remained ignorant of both his name and identity, and his demeanor was exceedingly overbearing. His grip upon my wrist brought sharp pain, so the moment I broke free, I refused him outright."

"Such unbridled arrogance?" Meng Jingzhou raised an eyebrow. Even he, the august Holy Son of the Heavenly Court Sect, along with the rogue young Sect Leader beside him, did not behave in so haughty a fashion.

"The first instance was a tale recounted to us by our mother. Before my sister and I were even born—and while I was separated from my kin at a very tender age—my memories of that time remain dim."

"Sister, you ought to remember it with greater clarity than I, correct?"

Fu Ling offered a soft murmur of assent and began her narration: "In the beginning, our sire and mother found themselves unable to conceive a child for the longest time. By chance, they caught wind of an eminent monk at the Ancient Forest Temple who possessed a singular talent for granting prayers for progeny. Mother journeyed there and sought out that venerable monk, who was known as Master Yu Xin."

"Upon her return, Mother indeed found herself with child."

"Mother would frequently remark that our birth was a direct blessing from the Buddhist order, a grace bestowed by the Buddha himself, and that we must cultivate virtue and accumulate merit in the future to repay the divine benevolence brought into this world."

"After my elder sister went missing, Mother returned to the Ancient Forest Temple to seek Master Yu Xin once more, but unfortunately, by that time, Master Yu Xin had already entered Nirvana."

Lu Yang’s expression grew exceedingly peculiar. For Master Yu Xin's methods of granting children to yield results so swiftly, could they truly be considered orthodox?

Turning his gaze toward Shi Zhan, Lu Yang inquired, "Have you ever heard of the Ancient Forest Temple or this Master Yu Xin?"

Shi Zhan shook his head gently. "Temples under heaven are beyond count; this poor monk cannot possibly know them all. As for Master Yu Xin, I have likewise never heard of him. Perhaps he was a grand master who lived a life of profound seclusion amidst the mundane world."

Clang, clang, clang.

A sharp rapping echoed against Peacock's chamber door.

"Is Lady Peacock within?"

Peacock instantly grew vigilant, her gaze locking onto the door as a dense, palpable sense of impending crisis enveloped her heart.

"Who goes there?"

"Officers from the magistrate's office."

Peacock was baffled, her suspicion deepening. Why would the local authorities seek her out? When she reported the incident the previous night, she had already disclosed everything she could possibly recount.

Lu Yang frowned slightly. Utilizing his divine sense, he perceived that those outside were indeed constables—or at the very least, they wore the official uniform of the magistracy.

Furthermore, their cultivation was by no means low, possessing the strength of the Golden Core stage, and there was a faint, lingering scent of blood about them, indicating they had recently taken lives.

Lu Yang cast a meaningful look, signaling that with them present, there was no cause for alarm, and she should simply open the door.

Emboldened, Peacock opened the door to find three unfamiliar constables standing before her.

The officers were visibly startled to find three men and two women gathered inside Lady Peacock's chamber.

Why were there so many individuals present?

"Which of you two ladies is Lady Peacock?"

The leading constable could not distinguish between Fu Ling and Peacock, and to mistake one for the other would make them a laughingstock.

"I am she. May I ask what business brings you here?" Lady Peacock inquired in a neutral tone.

"This matter concerns Lady Peacock’s private affairs; we request that you step outside for a moment."

Peacock's suspicion intensified, and she shook her head firmly. "Everyone present is entirely trustworthy. You may speak here."

The leading constable hesitated for a brief moment before choosing to defer to Peacock's wishes.

"It is thus: based upon the reasons you provided last night regarding why you were targeted by the assassin, as well as the identity of the employer disclosed by the assassin himself, we reported this intelligence overnight. Utilizing these clues, we successfully tracked down the man who desires your death."

"The Provincial Governor deemed this a great blight upon the realm and commanded us to launch an immediate assault."

"Just moments ago, through a coordinated operation spanning multiple cities, we eradicated that man's stronghold and apprehended him. A total of three Soul Formation masters, fifteen Nascent Soul experts, and a number of Golden Core cultivators participated in this strike—I myself was among them."

"We merely wish to confirm with Lady Peacock: is this the individual in question?"

As he spoke, the constable withdrew a sheet of parchment from his robes. The man depicted upon it possessed handsome features, touched by a distinctly malevolent aura.

Peacock: "..."

The efficiency of the imperial government was terrifyingly swift.