| Qingxu Temple, Southeast, Jixiang Street |

As the saying went, relying on mountains and water for food, this street was not far from the concept of emptiness and naturally focused on selling incense offerings. Originally called Jixiang Street, it was later called Jixiang Street for some reason.

TL/ N: The latter Jixiang Street has the meaning of luck in Chinese characters.

***Bang, bang, bang, bang!***

"The sky is dry and the things are dry, be careful of the fire!"

As the fourth shift approached, the watchman Zhao Laoshi held a lantern in one hand and tapped the gong hanging on his elbow with the other, but his voice couldn't help but show some panic.

When passing through an intersection, even if he couldn't bump into his companion Ma San, he could at least echo each other. However, after shouting a few times today, there was no response from all around.

*Did Ma San encounter a thief?*

Just as he thought of this, two black shadows suddenly appeared in the alley next to him, and without hesitation, Zhao Laoshi collapsed to the ground.

"Brave man, spare my life! Brave man, spare my life!"

Zhao Laoshi quickly closed his eyes and shouted, "The rules are clear to me. Just take whatever you want. I didn't see or hear anything!"

"Damn it!"

But one of them laughed and cursed, "If you can't see or hear anything. What's the use of you watchmen?"

"Yes, yes!"

Zhao Laoshi still closed his eyes and shouted, "I am not as good as fart. I beg you to lift and elevate me, so just treat me as a fart and let go!"

"You scumbag..."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

The person who was laughing and cursing was still waiting to say something, but his accomplice next to him became impatient. He reached out to pry open Zhao Laoshi's eyelids and, taking advantage of the situation, pushed a dark object in front of him.

"Dragon... Dragon Forbidden Guard?!"

Although Zhao Laoshi was illiterate, as a watchman, he was not unfamiliar with the waist tag of an official. He quickly changed his mind and said, "I have no vision, and have mistaken the official for..."

"Shut up!"

Wang Zhen kept the waist tag in his pocket and pulled Zhao Laoshi from the ground, threatening fiercely, "I am supervising an Imperial Order case. If you dare to make a fuss and alarm the thieves, I will destroy your entire family!"

Zhao Laoshi quickly closed his mouth and obediently followed Wang Zhen into the nearby alley.

When he arrived at the alley and saw the appearance of the leader clearly through the dim starlight, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Qing... Master Qingtian?!"

"You f***..."

"You are Zhao Laoshi, right?"

Sun Shaozong raised his hand to stop Wang Zhen from scolding him and said with a warm smile, "Last time we investigated the case, we should have seen each other twice."

Seeing that Sun Shaozong still remembered his lowly name, Zhao Laoshi was so excited that his nose bubbles came out, and he was about to bow in fear and pay his respects.

But Sun Shaozong said again, "Now that the situation is urgent, I won't tell you about the past. I invited a few of you over here to help me catch the thieves of the White Lotus Sect."

Zhao Laoshi realized that besides himself, Ma San and Wang Tiezhu, the watchman of Ruyi Pavilion, were also standing not far away.

When they heard that they were going to help capture the thieves of the White Lotus Sect. The three watchmen were all ashen and trembling, neither daring to respond nor refuse.

"Don't worry, I won't let you take risks with your own lives. You just need to hide in the distance and work hard."

Sun Shaozong comforted the three of them with a few words, and only when their fear gradually subsided did he let Zhao Laoshi lead the way to Jixiang Street, where a family was located right in front of the oil workshop next to the Chahe River.

Seeing Zhao Laoshi being ordered to come forward and call for help, Wang Zhen clenched his single sword on the side, but couldn't help but question, "Your Excellency, although this oil mill is not small, if to hide more than twenty thieves, it may be..."

"Who said the thief is in the oil mill?"

Sun Shaozong asked in reverse and saw that the oil mill had already opened its door, so he took a step forward and rushed in.

"Hey, you..."

"Shh! Don't shout!"

"Are you blind? Can’t you even recognize Master Sun, the *'Divine Judgment'* of the Central Judicial Office?!"

The shop assistant who opened the door was waiting to stop, but was already stopped by three watchmen who were making noise.

Sun Shaozong arrived at the courtyard unobstructed, roughly identifying the direction, and then led Wang Zhen and others straight to the back door. He lowered the latch, pushed the door panel left and right, and pointed to a brightly lit place across the river, saying, "This is the hiding place of the thieves."

Wang Zhen took a few glances at the pergola and suddenly blurted out, "Helping each other when they are in humble circumstances?! No wonder they can accommodate more than twenty thieves, but there hasn't even been any news!"

The words 'mutual support' to a married couple were to never part, and to a brother was to help each other.

But if these words were mentioned in the vicinity of Qingxu Temple, they inevitably referred to the famous Xianggu Mansion by the Chahe River.

Legend has it that Auntie Li, the owner of this *’mutual support’* family, was born with a pair of wise eyes. Even through two layers of cotton pants on the street, one could see how much a man's capital was. Therefore, there were many talented individuals under her banner.

In addition, two tantric lamas were hired as gun and stick instructors, and the people under the banner could be said to have both internal and external cultivation, with excellent skills in both blowing and pulling bullets.

This *'mutual support'* was divided into two courtyards, front and back, which were no different from other houses outside. They opened their doors to welcome male guests from all directions and made a living by firing guns and sticks.

That inner courtyard was specifically designed for wealthy and resentful women.

Given that women inevitably face various concerns and pressures when visiting brothels, this *’mutual support’* Xianggu Mansion was specially built on a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides.

Every night, five or six willow leaf canopies shuttle back and forth on the two-mile-wide river, bringing in female guests who would come to visit.

Except for a few independent individuals, female guests often covered their faces with scarves and masks, lit boats and danced gracefully all night, which could be said to be both mutual support and forgetfulness in the world.

As a result, this backyard, which has always been a mysterious place, was difficult for outsiders to glimpse without being introduced by familiar guests.

But just after the fourth night.

In a secluded, small building in the backyard of Xianggu Mansion, the famous Auntie Li paced back and forth, and the flickering candlestick became restless.

"Insence Master Li."

Someone in the corner couldn't help but speak up, "If there's anything urgent, why don't we invite the venerable back now?"

"No, no, no!"

Auntie Li quickly waved her hand and said, "It's not easy to meet a suitable woman who can entertain him. How could you disturb him at this time?"

***Hmph!***

Someone sneered and stretched out their bear-like body, raising their fists and grinning, "In my opinion, it's just that you've been in the Capital for a long time, and you've forgotten how to teach the people below. If you were in Northern Shaanxi, any member of the sect would dare to be so disrespectful. I, Liu Junbao, will tear him up alive!"

Auntie Li gave a bitter smile upon hearing the words, but did not engage in any conversation with him. She just propped up her neck and kept looking outside.

Liu Junbao, nicknamed *'Holding the sky with one hand,'* relied on his courage to traverse the northwest green forest. He was the number one fierce general under the White Lotus Sect. Originally, he did not pay attention to such women. At this moment, when he saw that Auntie Li ignored him, his heart immediately became angry.

"Old sister."

He sneered and said, "Why don't you tell me the identity of that person so that I can discipline on your behalf?"

This offended Auntie Li's taboo. Although that person was somewhat difficult to control, he was the ace among her subordinates. How could anyone else spy on him?

She lowered her face and was about to strike Liu Junbao with words to let him know whose territory this was, when someone outside the door scolded, "You're too presumptuous! Is this something you can ask?"

Before she could finish speaking, a thin old man walked in and scolded him with a heavy face, "The identity of *'No. 3'* is a secret in the sect, and it will be of great use in the future. Apart from the sect leader and Insence Master Li, even I cannot inquire about his identity!"

Although Liu Junbao was rebellious, he softened his spine in front of the old man and obediently listened to his lesson before apologizing and saying, "Master, I..."

The old man raised his hand to signal that he didn't need to say much, then turned his head to look at Auntie Li and said solemnly, "Incense Master Li, it's so late to gather everyone, but what important news have you received?"

This person is Ge Zhan, the Deputy Leader of the White Lotus Sect. Due to his high moral character and prestige, he was not inferior to the Leader, so many people refer to him as a respected person.

"Report to the Venerable."

Auntie Li said cautiously, "A message has come from No. 3, saying that he hopes his brothers who are going to the Capital will act carefully and preferably temporarily stop their activities. At least wait until he sees off his pregnant wife, and then..."

Seeing Ge Zhan’s face becoming increasingly gloomy, she quickly stopped the conversation below and knelt, saying, "It's all my incompetence that allowed No. 3 to be so arrogant and impolite!"

"It's none of your business."

Ge Zhan shook his head slowly and said solemnly, "There is an old saying that goes, *'When water is clear, there is no fish, and when people observe, there is no disciple.'* It is understandable that the people below have some of their small plans."

After a pause, he said again, "Alright, you can pass on the message to him for me. The search for the saint can’t be delayed for a day, but I can arrange for my brothers in the sect to escort his wife away from the Capital first."

This was clearly taking the other party's wife as a hostage!

Auntie Li secretly complained in her heart but didn’t dare to disobey Ge Zhan's orders. She was about to grit her head and take orders when she saw someone rushing towards her. He bent over and reported, "Master, an oil mill across the river has caught fire..."

Ge Zhan was getting restless, and even after hearing such trivial matters, she rushed over to report to him. He couldn't help but scold, "Absurdity! What does it have to do with us when the other bank of the river is on fire?"

The person hurriedly explained, "The shopkeeper poured the burning oil jar into the river, and now half of the river is burning red. Our two secret guards patrolling the river were so scared that they abandoned the ship and fled to the shore."

"Insense Master Wang felt that the fire was a bit suspicious, so he asked me to report, wishing the Venerable to send someone to the other side to see what was going on."

Ge Zhan's eyebrows furrowed even deeper, and he took a few steps outside, only to see that with just a few words of effort, most of the sky outside was dyed red by the flames.

There was indeed something fishy going on!

Tonight was just a gentle breeze brushing, even if it burned down the oil mill, it shouldn't spread so quickly.

"Liu Junbao!"

Ge Zhan immediately ordered, "I'll go to the back door and see what's going on. You stay here and gather everyone!"

Before Liu Junbao could respond, he strode towards the back door.

Upon seeing this, Auntie Li and others hurriedly followed over.

As soon as they saw him approaching, several people rushed forward in panic. The leader was none other than Insense Master Wang, who didn't mind avoiding anything. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Master, I'm afraid this fire is coming towards us! Several oil mills across the street are pouring oil into the river and throwing many bedding and furniture down..."

Ge Zhan's face became increasingly gloomy. Without saying a word, he crossed over Insense Master Wang and others and went outside to take a look. However, he saw that the two-mile-wide river was almost filled with blazing flames, and the entire Xianggu Mansion seemed to be surrounded by a dancing dragon.

***Bang, bang, bang!***

He heard the brass gong ringing incessantly on the opposite side, but they were not shouting the slogans of extinguishing the fire, but rather, "The Governor has an order, and all the damage tonight will be compensated twice as much. If there are any hidden individuals, they will be punished as thieves!"

Sure enough, those eagles caught Sun and came knocking on his door!

Ge Zhan couldn't help but secretly cry in his heart. Originally, he led his people to hide in the Xianggu Mansion. One reason was that he held the idea of darkness under the lamp, thinking that the government wouldn't think he dared to stay nearby.

Secondly, it was to covet the three sides facing the river here and to properly set up sentries, which was not only convenient for blocking the government's scouts but also convenient for taking refuge in the river at any time.

Who would have thought that the Imperial Dog would be so ruthless, using tung oil to start a fire and blocking off a ten-mile-long stretch of a river?

Auntie Li didn’t know how to choose a place, so she chose to be next to Jixiang Street, where there were as many as seven or eight shops selling lamp oil and sesame oil

"Venerable."

At this moment, Incense Master Wang chased after him and said with a soiled face, "What do you think we should do now? I don't know who leaked the news..."

"What are you saying about these things now?"

Ge Zhan turned around and angrily said, "Let everyone take the *'Inviting God Pill'* and follow me to kill them!"

Speaking, he turned around and turned back towards the original path of the small building.

Auntie Li, Incense Master Wang, and others listened to the words *’Inviting God Pill,’* and their faces were a bit frightened, but they didn’t dare say much, and could only put their thoughts behind them.

Seeing them approaching the small building to the left, Liu Junbao had already approached with someone holding a half-zhang long plain knife and grinning, "Master, don't say anything. I'll lead the way ahead and take care of it..."

As they spoke, a pair of startled wild *’mandarin ducks’* pushed the door out. Seeing this scene, they were so scared that they turned around and wanted to retreat into the courtyard. However, Liu Junbao caught up with them with a brisk step and cut them into four sections with a knife in his hand!

He shook his hand lightly, shook off the blood from the knife, and then continued, "Take care of yourself and kill them!"

"Okay!"

Ge Zhan took the single sword thrown by his subordinates and saw his disciple act like this. He was also full of pride and raised his voice, saying, "Today, our master and disciple will launch a large-scale killing in this Capital..."

***Boom!***

Before the word could be spoken, a roar echoed from the vicinity of the Second Gate, followed by a thunderous roar, “Sun Shaozong of the Central Judicial Office has been ordered to apprehend the White Lotus Sect. Everyone should remain in place and don’t act recklessly. Anyone who violates this rule will be killed!”

Having been in the Capital for a long time, Ge Zhan naturally heard of the name Sun Shaozong and knew even more in his heart that today it was difficult to survive.

He never imagined that Sun Shaozong had only four subordinates by his side [leaving two on the other side], so he quickly ordered everyone to take the elixir, take wine and medicine, and then waved his arms and shouted, "Maitreya is born, Ming Wang is born!"

"Maitreya has appeared, and the enlightened ruler is born!"

"Maitreya has appeared, and the enlightened ruler is born!"

All the comrades cheered in unison, and with just a few roaring words, a hint of crimson blood appeared on everyone's faces.

Seeing the heat approaching, Ge Zhan looked, and Liu Junbao let out a loud growl, "Kill the dog officer, enjoy the peace!"

He lifted his sword and led the crowd to charge out.