Chapter 790: Chapter 490: The Annihilation of the Divine Dragon Temple (Part 2)
However, just as the three were about to inquire, Zhao Douan reined in his horse, stared ahead, and said in a deep voice:
"From now on, follow my commands."
The Divine Dragon Temple had arrived!
Ahead, a vast and solemn temple complex, spanning a large area. Red walls and yellow tiles, the glazed roof of the Buddhist temple shimmered under the sunlight.
The Divine Dragon Temple once experienced booming incense, with countless devotees inside, and the sky was almost never free of the curling incense smoke.
But since last year’s ban on Buddhism by the court, the Divine Dragon Temple had become desolate and deserted.
Now, the main gate is tightly shut, with not a soul nearby.
However, the sound of hooves from Zhao Douan’s group still startled the temple. As they reined in and stopped, a side door next to the large closed temple gate opened, and several monks in robes walked out.
Leading them was the temple’s "Guest Hall Master" responsible for receiving devotees.
"Amitabha, when did Junior Guardian Zhao return to the capital? And why have you come to our Divine Dragon Temple?"
The middle-aged Guest Monk was uneasy, trembling with fear at the sight of a large cavalry, and was even more startled when he recognized Zhao Yanwang, who had been missing for months, as the leader.
Zhao Douan did not dismount, held the reins in one hand, gripped a whip in the other, and with narrowed eyes and a gentle voice, said:
"Oh? You don’t know why I am here? You should know what Xuan Yin has done then."
The middle-aged Guest Monk looked bewildered:
"The abbot? The abbot has been meditating in the temple. Since spring, he has ordered all monks to close the doors and meditate in isolation. Could the Junior Guardian explain more clearly?"
Zhao Douan frowned slightly:
"You don’t know? Xuan Yin is no longer in the temple? Then you should at least know that Long Shu and others have left?"
The Guest Hall Master grew more perplexed:
"The abbot is not in the temple? This... I do not know. As for Long Shu Bodhisattva and some monks, they indeed left the temple some days ago. It was said that due to unrest outside, they went out of the city to protect some small external monk temples..."
Zhao Douan showed no expression. Observing no sign of deceit from this hall master, he roughly guessed the reason:
Whether it was the battle of the Sealing or the assassination attempt in Baihua Village, both were extremely secretive and deadly events.
It is likely that only Xuan Yin and a few temple high-ups knew and participated.
This Guest Monk, although in charge of a hall, does not hold enough status and probably still does not know what the Divine Dragon Temple is involved in, let alone that a great calamity looms.
Not just him, but the entire Divine Dragon Temple, having been abandoned by Xuan Yin, is likely filled with a group of ignorant mid-to-low-level monks.
But... does this matter?
"Everyone, listen," Zhao Douan ignored the man, speaking loudly:
"Seal the entire Divine Dragon Temple immediately. Let not even a fly escape!
Your Majesty has decreed that the Divine Dragon Temple is guilty of rebellion and unrest, a crime beyond redemption. From today, the Divine Dragon Temple shall be destroyed, all Buddhist properties and land seized, and the monks within arrested and imprisoned, awaiting trial. Anyone daring to obstruct will be killed on the spot!"
A large crowd of Jinyi drew their swords, arms raised high:
"Anyone daring to obstruct, kill immediately!!"
Saying this, horse cavalries split into two groups from Zhao Douan’s sides, galloping and surrounding the Divine Dragon Temple.
Zhao Douan led the remaining people straight to the main gate:
"Break the gate! Arrest them!"
What? Rebellion?
The Guest Monk and other monks felt as if struck by lightning, wanting to ask questions, but upon seeing Zhao Douan and others draw their swords, they were overcome with terror, turning back to flee into the temple.
Zhao Douan was in no rush to catch them, commanding the Jinyi to dismantle the gate.
Watching his subordinates struggle, he shook his head, deeply missing his trusted Lihua Hall confidant Hou Renmeng from the Sealing Team.
"If old Hou were here, breaking the gate wouldn’t be so cumbersome?"
As he sighed, the large gate of the Divine Dragon Temple came crashing down, the central doors wide open, and Zhao Douan swaggered in, leading the way into this nearly millennia-old ancient temple.
At this moment, the entire temple was in an uproar. Monks ran out, only to retreat in shock before the fierce-looking officers and soldiers.
Some Martial Monks, blood rushing to their heads, attempted to block, only to be cut down by the swords of the Imperial Court’s Jinyi.
"The officers have broken in!"
"They’re killing people!"
"Quick, fetch the abbot!"
The monks fled in terror as if the world were ending, unaware of what had transpired.
Zhao Douan proceeded without haste, pressing forward inch by inch. As they traversed the front hall and entered the courtyard, numerous monk soldiers in dark yellow robes, wielding sticks and long knives, surged forth like a tide.
Blocking the officers and soldiers.
"These are Martial Monks from the Arhat Hall, all possessing cultivation. Real combat will inevitably cause casualties." Haitang furrowed his brows.
The Divine Dragon Temple was divided into several halls, with the Arhat Hall being responsible for combat strength.
"Zhao Douan!? What do you mean by this? Do you think our Divine Dragon Temple is without anyone?!" A voice like thunder roared abruptly.
Standing amidst the crowd, Zhao Douan glimpsed a large-eared, dark-faced man with eyes like bronze bells, chest half-exposed, and hefting an exceedingly heavy Zen stick decorated with eighteen copper rings, striding out from a group of Martial Monks.
He was exceptionally tall, and his monk shoes thudded heavily on the ground.
With anger etched on his face, he resembled the rumored wrathful King Kong.
"Chief!" The other monks seemed to have found their backbone.
Zhang Han, standing beside Zhao Douan, whispered:
"This is the chief of the Arhat Hall, a Martial Monk from the Worldly Realm. Though not as strong as a Bodhisattva, his martial prowess is formidable. Even if we teamed up, resisting would be difficult. Unless Lord arrives..."
Zhao Douan was unwilling to listen any further, replying coldly:
"Where is Bian Ji? Let him come forward and speak. I have no interest in wasting words with nameless lackeys."
The Arhat Hall chief, hearing this, scowled darkly as the bottom of a pot. Having long immersed himself in temple life, he seldom ventured out, thus his reputation was muted.