Chapter 215 — Slaughter Beneath the Lanterns

" The Crown Prince of Jingping's face darkened slightly. "This treasure shall be given to the fated.

" Shen Mu said gravely, "Whoever believes himself able to overcome this humble one may come and try. I shall remain here three days. If in three days none can overcome me, then I shall return beyond the frontier!

" "Three days?

" Sun Nantuo looked all around, but still did not see the Dao-protector of the Loulan Golden Palace hiding in the shadows. He thought, "Three days' time — I will surely find where he hides. " The monks of the Nantuo Annex no longer came forward to challenge him. Shen Mu simply sat down in quiet meditation and waited. The onlookers round about gradually dispersed; the noble houses and great ministers of the capital each sent servants to linger there.

The Duke of Wei brought Wei Yong to the mansion of the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping and knocked on the gate. Old Fu came out and said with a smile, "What business has the Duke?

" "Where is the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping?

" asked the Duke of Wei.

"The master has gone to wander the mountains and rivers with his lady. " The Duke of Wei was startled and stammered, "His lady? What lady?

" "The Duke does not know.

The emperor bestowed a hundred palace maids on the master. The master was greatly pleased, and the very next day he took a liking to one of the women. That night they bowed in the hall and were wed, and drank the nuptial cup of wine.

When he rose, the master went out with his lady.

He is not in the capital. " The Duke of Wei's whole body shook, and his face turned strange. He stammered, "The Imperial Preceptor of Jingping is married. .

.

married, of all things.

.

. That fellow — I thought he would never have a feeling in his life, and to think he would take a wife. . .

And the wretch did not even send me word! " Old Fu smiled apologetically. "The master said all was to be kept simple, and so he did not even inform the emperor. " The Duke of Wei let out a turbid breath.

"Very well.

You lot are poor as church mice, and likely could not put on a feast in any case. I will have a servant wrap a red packet and carry over a few boxes. Did the Imperial Preceptor say when he would return?

" Old Fu shook his head.

The Duke of Wei let out a breath and muttered to himself, "There is something wrong with this barbarian, but since he is to remain here three days, there is no great hurry. Better to wait until the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping returns. " Night welled up; lanterns were lit throughout the capital, the night market opened its stalls, and the streets gradually grew lively.

The Duke of Wei sent Wei Yong to make inquiries. Wei Yong returned and said, "The New Year is near — less than a month away — and so the shops of the capital are all selling New Year goods. " "So that is it. Let us two stroll a while.

" The old man and the youth wandered here and there through the night market.

They saw that the well-bred daughters of the capital had come out from their chambers, dressed most brightly, bearing palace fans, admiring the lanterns along the way; when they glimpsed a young man looking their way they would hide their cheeks behind their fans, yet steal glances at those young men from behind the fans. Wei Yong was a man from the Duke of Wei's old home, and had not originally had much connection with the Duke; it was only by distinguishing himself at the Imperial Academy that he had come to the Duke's notice. As the two strolled, the Duke of Wei instructed him in the principles of cultivation. Just as they were speaking, they passed the Nantuo Annex.

The Duke of Wei caught sight of the gate and saw that Ban Gongcuo's figure was no longer there, and could not help but be taken aback. He saw a great many monks come pouring out of the Nantuo Annex in file, and at their center was Sun Nantuo; besides him were many Dharma-protectors and abbots of the Annex. A monk said swiftly, "Abbot, that barbarian slipped away just now under cover of the night market!

I have already had several brothers follow him! " "Cunning!

This barbarian laid a false trail, making us think he would stay here three days — who would have thought he would steal away the very same night! " "Our brothers are following him; they will not lose him! " Sun Nantuo's face was expressionless. He led the monks at a swift pace and said in a low voice, "We strike outside the city. " The Duke of Wei's eyes lit up.

He brought Wei Yong and followed, laughing, "That fellow Sun Nantuo puts on such a saintly air, and to think he is a wicked, cunning sort as well. Killing the barbarian in the city would surely draw censure; but to strike outside the city, destroy the corpse and erase every trace, and no one would ever know.

Let us follow and see how these monks commit murder and arson!

" Wei Yong followed him.

The old man and the youth trailed the many masters of the Nantuo Annex out of the capital. Monks kept squeezing out from the crowd to report Ban Gongcuo's whereabouts to Sun Nantuo, and gradually they left the city behind. Outside the capital there was a night market as well, brightly lit, stretching on for more than ten li, thronged with passersby and bustling beyond measure. The Duke of Wei and Wei Yong trailed behind the monks of the Nantuo Annex, going farther and farther, until before they knew it they had gone more than ten li. Here too there was a night market — and not only a night market, but a palisaded compound, with a wide wooden gate three or five zhang across, and on the gate hung a red wooden plaque.

The Duke of Wei raised his head and looked at the plaque. On it were written four characters: "The Holy Master Comes to Instruct. " The Duke of Wei's eye twitched.

He hesitated, and by then Sun Nantuo had already entered the compound.

Within, the lamplight was bright as day; iron cauldrons sat atop pillars, burning fierce lamp oil with a crackling roar. There were stalls of every kind in the compound, and butcher shops slaughtering pigs and sheep; hawkers' cries rose on the air, all very lively. It looked to be nothing but an ordinary night market. "What troubles the Duke?

" said Wei Yong, puzzled.

"The Holy Master Comes to Instruct — I have seen those words before. " The Duke of Wei's face was grave. "When Fan Xuanshu, the former Cult Master of the Nether Demon Cult, traveled abroad and came to an annex, the plaque hung before that annex's gate bore these words.

The Nether Demon Cult calls its Cult Master the Holy Master, meaning the Holy Master has descended to give instruction. .

.

This night market is the Nether Demon Cult's people.

. . " The Duke of Wei hesitated, then walked in. Suddenly an old man and an old woman stepped out before the gate and said with a smile, "Halt, Duke.

" The Duke of Wei was about to speak when of a sudden a sound like mountains collapsing and the earth splitting came. He looked in haste, and saw the vendors of the night market and the poets and beauties strolling there suddenly rise up in violence!

One by one the monks of the Nantuo Annex were stabbed by the vendors and passersby at their sides; heads flew up one after another, blood dyeing the air. Their blow struck home, and the killers withdrew in a rush, their forms flashing into the houses on either side. In the blink of an eye, all the monks around Sun Nantuo were headless trunks!

Sun Nantuo bellowed, and revealed the body of the Myriad-Armed Vajra, a hundred zhang tall, Buddha-light blazing forth, a thousand kinds of dharma instruments in his hands, awe-inspiring. At that very moment twenty elders came from all directions and hurled themselves at Sun Nantuo.

With a thunderous roar, that thousand-armed great Buddha was smashed to powder.

The Duke of Wei was dazed.

The night market had grown lively again; some were carrying away the corpses, while others were channeling in river water to wash the ground. "The Holy Master Comes to Instruct!