The rain had stopped for a while, but there were still not many people in Jiuyou Town.

After all, if it were summer, people might be happy to come out for a walk after such a heavy downpour, and they could save on air conditioning costs.

But this was winter, and a rainstorm would only make the already cold weather even colder. Nobody wanted to stroll around at this time, especially since it was mealtime. Tourists staying in hotels would just order room service and avoid the suffering of going outside.

At this moment, five motorbikes stopped outside the town, with passengers on the back of four of them.

The rider without a passenger took off his helmet to reveal heavily smoked eye makeup—so heavy it could pass for a Halloween-themed party look, void of any beauty and allure, just frightening.

Moreover, he had shoulder-length brown hair and immediately took out a small mirror to touch up his makeup after removing his helmet.

Everyone around looked at him with disdain, which was a significant reason why no one wanted to ride with him.

"Stop fixing it. You might as well spend that money on plastic surgery," someone couldn't help but say.

The person applying eyeliner paused, almost rolling his eyes into the sky, and said in a sharp voice, "Is it a crime for an old lady to enjoy makeup?"

The voice was extremely piercing, as if someone were squeezing his throat, with a pretentious tone.

Obviously... this was a sissy.

"Why did you stop?" a Black man who had taken off his helmet asked.

The sissy finished touching up his makeup, gave a smile he thought was charming, and with a limp wrist said, "There's no way an old lady would stop for no reason. I just wanted to remind you all, the signal is changing, and we must speed up."

"What do you mean by changing?"

"It means that the position is different from last time. Without seeing it with our own eyes, we can't be sure what's happened, but the two most likely possibilities are:

First, it's just a normal location sharing.

Second, Wu Yu has been exposed, and someone is using his device to deliberately lead us in the wrong direction."

The Black man was immediately wide-eyed: "That disgusting bastard hid the chip in his ass. I can't imagine what kind of heavy-taste person would pry open his ass to get it out."

The sissy sneered, "Don't forget, our opponent is Yan Huang, plus the former Boss Lady. How could someone like Wu Yu, who's not even an Instructor, fool those two?"

Everyone fell silent instantly.

Indeed, no matter how foolproof a plan is, one must consider who the opponent is.

It's like a child lying, able to fool peers but not often their own parents.

"Regardless, being able to personally take down such a legendary figure, I'm quite interested," the Black man said carelessly.

It's not blind confidence, but the lineup this time was unprecedented.

The nine present were all veteran Instructors, and with a group of Ninjas including Belock and Uesugi Yumi, there was no reason to fail.

At this point, someone asked, "Belock is nearby. Should we wait for him to join us?"

As soon as this was said, the Black man expressed disdain: "If it were two people, it would be worth waiting, but with only one left, I think there's no need, right?"

The sissy glanced at his phone and said, "The closest route is up the mountain; the road will be difficult since it just rained. Time waits for no one, so let's set off and inform Belock and his people to hurry as well."

After speaking, he put on his helmet, started the motorcycle, and didn't head directly into the town but went around the outskirts.

...

Meanwhile, the mud-covered Lin Zhiyan finally arrived at the foot of the mountain as night fell.

Without pausing, she ran directly toward Anping Temple.

At this time, the temple gates were closed and no longer open to pilgrims, but Lin Zhiyan wasn't there to offer incense. She directly knocked on the temple gate.

"Bang bang bang bang bang!"

Lin Zhiyan knocked urgently. If she weren't afraid of causing unnecessary trouble and misunderstandings, she would have jumped into the backyard. But after considering it, she felt it was more appropriate to enter through the main door to clearly state her purpose.

This was also why Xiao Feng chose Lin Zhiyan to descend the mountain. If the young girl or Lin Jiaxuan came down, they likely wouldn't have knocked politely but would have climbed over the wall.

And entering by climbing would definitely get them mistaken for thieves, especially if the Martial Monks didn't cooperate—that would be very troublesome.

Before long, a young Monk opened the gate, and upon seeing Lin Zhiyan, he placed his hand in front of him and bowed: "If the female benefactor wishes to offer incense, please come tomorrow."

"I'm not offering incense. I'm here on urgent business. Please help me find the Abbot," Lin Zhiyan said.

Upon hearing this, the Monk's eyes showed a hint of sadness, and he shook his head: "The Abbot has already passed away. Please return, benefactor."

After speaking, he began to close the door.

"Wait!" Lin Zhiyan quickly held the door, astonished: "We met the Abbot just a few days ago; how could he have passed?"

The Monk calmly replied: "Monks do not lie; the Abbot truly has passed away."

At that moment, a voice came from inside the temple: "What's going on?"

The Monk turned his head and bowed: "Uncle Master, this female benefactor wishes to see the Abbot."

Lin Zhiyan then noticed that the one asking was a familiar face—the Monk responsible for collecting money during the drumming project before.

The Monk obviously recognized Lin Zhiyan as well and smiled: "So the female benefactor has returned. The Abbot passed away on the day he met you. Please return."

"The same day?" Lin Zhiyan's brow furrowed.

But now was clearly not the time to get entangled in whether the Abbot was dead or alive. She took out the "卍" pendant given by Xiao Feng and said, "This was given to us by the Abbot. He said it wouldn't be long before it becomes useful, and with it, the temple's Martial Monks would help."

Both Monks simultaneously showed shock. No wonder they couldn't find the pendant while organizing the room—it had already been given away.

Moments later, the Monk they had seen before spoke: "Amitabha, thank you, female benefactor, for returning the Abbot's relic."

Lin Zhiyan immediately sensed the wrongness in his words, quickly retrieved the pendant, and changed her tone: "When did I say I was returning it?"

"This pendant was an item carried by the Abbot, known throughout the temple. How do you prove it wasn't stolen or taken by force, but a gift from the Abbot?" the Monk's tone turned stern.

Lin Zhiyan's expression gradually cooled, replying in a cold voice: "Simply because I know it can command those Martial Monks, isn't that enough?"

"Of course, it's not enough," the young Monk chimed in. "Perhaps you tricked the Abbot into revealing it, or I suspect you are the ones who harmed the Abbot."

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