Chapter 157: Chapter 151 Flame Cloud Sect_3 Chapter 157: Chapter 151 Flame Cloud Sect_3 Under the promise of a hefty reward, those dozen or so ruffians not only ordered their minions to search everywhere for the Defrocked Monk, but also pleaded with other big shots in Chang’an City to join the search. Should they find Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, the Cen Family would surely offer a great reward.

Bearded Bully Niu Er informed Mangy Dog Zhang San, Mangy Dog Zhang San told Black-Hearted Pig Li Si, Black-Hearted Pig Li Si passed the word to Harmful Bird Wang An, and Harmful Bird Wang An relayed it to Smiling Tiger Old Sixth…

In this manner, among the ruffians of Chang’an, word spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and over a thousand ruffians of all sizes were mobilized, combing the streets of Chang’an like dogs in search of traces of Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts.

Today, the ordinary citizens of Chang’an City were bewildered. What was happening today to bring all these human-shaped beasts onto the streets? Such a bizarre spectacle was indeed a first for Chang’an City.

Logically, with a population of nearly ten million inside and outside Chang’an City and several dozens of temples harboring five to six thousand monks, looking for one specific monk in the vast sea of people was like searching for a needle in a haystack. However, Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, was unlike ordinary monks. Not only was he muscular, but he also had tattoos all over his body, standing out like a crane among chickens, making him extremely easy to recognize.

Within half a twelve two-hour period, Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, who were eating, drinking, and talking merrily at the Drunken Immortal Residence in Wolong Pit, were spotted by a passing ruffian, and the news immediately reached the Cen Residence. However, Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana remained completely unaware.

…

“We’ve found the man!”

“Well done!”

House Steward Cen San was overjoyed and immediately rewarded the ruffian who had brought the news, ordering them to continue tailing and wait for Lord Cen Changjin to return.

Soon after, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Cen Changjin, who had received the news, hurried back home from the Ministry. Upon his return, he found Cen Fuda lying on the bed with both legs broken, gasping for breath, with a doctor attending to his injuries.

“Which damned animal dared to harm my son?”

Cen Changjin was instantly furious, immediately turning to scold the idle followers who had been committing wrongdoings with Cen Fuda and the despicable ruffians who couldn’t care less.

Wang Lang the Protector seized the opportunity to ingratiate himself, holding his iron rod and saying:

“Master, I was just about to go and find that bald donkey to avenge the young official, but the house steward stopped me from going.”

“Cen San, what do you mean by this? Has my Cen Family been feeding you for nothing?”

Cen Changjin immediately glared at the house steward, but the steward was not flustered and meticulously explained the series of events and how he had dealt with the situation. Of course, he also explained the reasons for not rushing to seek revenge.

“Old steward, you’ve handled this matter well…”

After listening, Cen Changjin looked at House Steward Cen San with approval, nodding, and then he stroked his beard and frowned:

“I wonder which temple’s monk is responsible? If it’s a monk from an ordinary temple, it would be one thing, but if it’s a monk from Buddha Bone Temple, Famen Temple, or True Buddha Temple, then it’s going to be troublesome! Especially if it’s a monk from True Buddha Temple—that’s even more difficult, considering Abbot Emperor Tathagata is the Emperor’s Buddhist Master. Even the Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and State Preceptor wouldn’t dare to provoke him!”

Wang Lang, who never missed a chance to fawn, quickly interjected:

“Master, from what these useless lot say, the monk has tattoos, clearly not a decent monk. I haven’t been in Chang’an for long, but I’ve heard that the monks under Abbot Emperor Tathagata of the True Buddha Temple are all disciplined, devout Buddhists with kind hearts—Emperor Tathagata would never have a tattooed disciple. So, please let me go and get rid of that bald donkey to avenge the young official!”

Lord Cen Changjin gave Wang Lang the Protector a disdainful glance and said irritably,

“Do you think this is Five Finger Mountain County? You should know that in Chang’an, aside from the common folk, no one is easy to bully. Relationships are intricately complex, pull one hair and the whole body moves. As you’ve said, even the monks from other temples are not to be trifled with. They have the privilege of committing three sins without punishment! No one but the Emperor can punish them!”

While they were speaking, the physician had finished treating Cen Fuda and respectfully approached Lord Cen, saying cautiously,

“Lord Cen, your son has sustained internal injuries. Someone has shattered one of his legs, and there’s half of a chopstick stuck in the knee of his other leg. My medical skills are limited, I’m afraid I cannot cure him.”

“You…”

Upon hearing this, Lord Cen was instantly furious and was about to berate the physician when the steward, Cen San, immediately stepped forward to ask,

“Wang Lang, you are a renowned physician in Chang’an City, if even you cannot cure him, then who can?”

“Allow me to think…”

Plunged into thought, Wang Lang was then further questioned by the steward, Cen San,

“Is there really no other way?”

“Ah, yes!”

With a spark of inspiration prompted by Cen San, Wang Lang quickly offered his advice,

“Just because I cannot cure him does not mean others cannot. For instance, the Taoists from the Daoist sects are often heard to concoct miraculous pills that can cure all sorts of diseases and ailments. Healing the Young Official’s leg injury would naturally be no trouble for them!”

“Daoist sects’ Taoists?”

Upon hearing this, Lord Cen was first puzzled, then overjoyed,

“That’s it! We’ve got it!”

“…”

The crowd looked bewildered at the suddenly excited Lord Cen.

The very perceptive and capable steward, Cen San, immediately asked Wang Lang to step down. Once alone, Lord Cen said to those present with elation,

“We mortals cannot provoke those beyond our world, so we’ll use those from beyond to deal with them, employ the Dao to vanquish the monks!”

Lord Cen stood up, pointing towards Xikua Yard and commanded,

“Cen San, go and invite Cultivator Xie Wenren from the Flame Cloud Sect immediately!”

“Understood!”

Steward Cen San nodded with a mischievous smile, already aware of Lord Cen’s sinister plan, and quickly headed towards Xikua Yard.

Steward Cen San understood, but the others present were confused, especially Wang Lang the Protector. When steward Cen San left, he stealthily followed him.