Chapter 205: Chapter 98: Drought Demon 1, 2

The battle hasn’t completely ended.

Though the tsunami and the disaster of the fierce crocodiles have subsided, the cannibalistic fish scattered everywhere remain.

Not only in the Qing River, but even in the pools of wealthy landlords, a fish that devours people can unexpectedly appear.

Unfortunately, ordinary martial artists are unable to handle such fish, and the regular army of Cyan Wood Province, along with the secret martial artists temporarily assembled by the Prime Minister, have mostly perished in the great battle. Even those who survived are missing limbs.

Moreover, the number of citizens who have lost loved ones is abundant.

Victory has been achieved, yet there is not a shred of joy.

Outside Xinci Temple on Guangye Mountain, the wind carries the sounds of lamenting cries.

Children have lost their parents, and even their homes are gone.

Wives have lost their husbands, staring blankly around them, owning nothing.

The sick, the injured, and the homeless are everywhere.

The dead, with no remains, indistinguishable in appearance, lie either across the streets or in some pool, nibbled by the remaining cannibalistic fish.

A scene of hell on earth.

Jing Miao, a young girl seated in charge of Xinci Temple, has now grown in stature due to the Buddha residing within.

But she is increasingly at a loss.

"Nanny, what should I do?"

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch looked at the naive young abbot and said, "After the plague, epidemics are common. The abbot should not leave the mountain, but can sit in this quiet hall and do two things.

One, set up porridge stalls, provide alms food, and offer shelter to the homeless;

Two, organize martial artists to eliminate the fish that devour people."

"Those fish are hard to injure with knives and guns. Where would the temple find so many experts?" Jing Miao was apprehensive.

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "The Buddha has manifested divine abilities within this temple. After this, more visitors and seekers will come.

The Yu Sect, Esoteric Sect, and even... those who are aware of the Buddha’s name and wish to visit, join the crowd, seek opportunities in chaos. These can be the martial artists for the abbot to command."

"So many people?" Jing Miao struggled to sit straight, and panic began to stir within her.

The mere mention of Yu Sect and Esoteric Sect made her terribly anxious.

Just as she was thinking, a monk came to report, "The Cao family in Cyan Wood Province seeks an audience with the abbot."

The Cao family?

Jing Miao lifted her eyes.

The monk said, "The visitor claims to be the abbot’s mother, and also the abbot’s elder brother."

They are still alive!

Wonderful!

Jing Miao’s eyes instantly reddened, tears of joy gleaming within, her weary heart finding solace. A child who leaves home, even if determined at first, surely harbors a bit of rebelliousness within?

Having left the family, she firmly claimed separation, but her heart?

It must be known that though she was out in the mountains, having become a monk, she had constantly worried about her family these past few days.

Blood is thicker than water, how could she not be concerned?

But in the next moment, she saw the perplexed and even horrified look in the reporting monk’s eyes, and noticed the gaze from the Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch.

The air suddenly froze, an eerie silence fell...

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "First, let them stay in a side room of the temple. The abbot has many things to deal with."

The monk respectfully agreed and hurried away.

Jing Miao sighed lightly.

"I cannot be this abbot."

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch asked, "Then who will be?

You are the person of Prince Qing, recognized by the court as the true abbot, and now a group of heretical outsiders have gathered here.

You occupy this position, the Buddha has not objected, and others cannot say anything, both the righteous and the unrighteous acknowledge you.

Because you have remained in this position, organized this prayer assembly, and the Buddha has displayed divine abilities during your prayer assembly.

But if you leave, who else is suitable for the position?

Now Cyan Wood Province has suffered this disaster, countless have died.

In this disaster, Xinci Temple has established merit and become the backbone.

If you weaken, if confusion ensues, this backbone will be crushed."

Jing Miao: ...

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "Do you know why that monk looked at you with a puzzled gaze just now?"

Jing Miao said, "Because the abbot has become a monk, the abbot did not foster compassion for the whole world, but upon hearing that their family is unharmed, reacted like a little girl with reddened eyes. He... thinks the abbot should not be like this."

"Yes," the Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "What you are is no longer important; what matters is that in everyone’s eyes, you are the abbot of Xinci Temple. And Xinci Temple is already on the rise."

After speaking, the face, again disfigured, of the Flood Dragon Monarch said, "Fate and fortune, nothing is more mysterious. Events find their way to you, a young girl who must stand in a high position, support the facade of Xinci Temple.

Have you... regretted it?"

Jing Miao took deep breaths, sat cross-legged looking ahead, her eyes grew increasingly red.

Suddenly she rose from the mat and ran behind the statue, crying aloud.

After crying, she wiped her tears, sat back on the mat, and said, "Why regret?"

The Purple-tailed Flood Dragon Monarch said, "I previously mentioned that after the flood, diseases easily arise; the abbot should not leave the mountain. But now it seems you need to visit the city. When you see enough sorrow and hellish scenes, your heart will change."

Jing Miao nodded her head.

At this moment, another monk came to report, saying, "The Cao family seeks an audience."

Jing Miao looked at him and said, "The abbot went down the mountain, will not meet."

...

...

At this time, Li Xuan was lying somewhere deep in the mountains.

After leaving Xinci Temple, he did not even have the strength to return home.

Yet he absolutely wouldn’t stay at Xinci Temple.

Even if he had to sleep in the wilderness wrapped in wild grass, covered with mud for a night, he preferred it over the warm blankets prepared by the temple’s believers.

Although he was new to this incense business, Li Xuan clearly understood one thing: If you want to be a deity, you cannot mingle with the people, you cannot often be seen by the people.