The person who leapt out from between the trees was none other than Li Ang. He dashed forward, slapping his palm onto a youth who was about to jab a stick into a paper mill worker's eye socket. The blow sent the youth flying viciously, smashing into a group of oddly-dressed individuals and instantly scattering their formation.

The sudden appearance of Li Ang immediately drew the attention of both parties. Everyone unconsciously stopped their actions and looked towards the Asian Monk (Li Ang had gotten a set of linen monk's robes from the mayor before leaving, which he donned over his outer clothing).

"HUFF..."

With an air of authority, Li Ang let out a long breath. He withdrew his hand, stood straight, and said indifferently to everyone, "Who are you?"

The paper mill workers and the oddly-dressed people exchanged glances, unsure of the Asian Monk's background and how to answer him.

In the silence, a middle-aged man wearing a light blue paper mill uniform (while everyone else was in dark blue) walked out. He said hesitantly to Li Ang, "I'm Carpenter Hoenburg, the owner of Hornburg Papermaking Company in Antimony Town, and these are my workers. These people are... uh, an illegal organization that has taken over the forest owned by my company."

Upon hearing the paper mill owner's words, the strangely-dressed crowd grew agitated and loudly decried, "You lying demon! Who are you calling an illegal organization?! Everything we do is for the earth and the forests, for the great and sacred cause of environmental protection! We are responding to Her Majesty's call for environmental conservation!"

"But you haven't received organizational recognition from the Antimony Town Official, and you have, quite literally, occupied the forest I purchased, hindering our production!"

The paper mill owner's brow furrowed, and he angrily retorted, his fervor matching theirs, "Moreover! You've kidnapped my two children! You've brainwashed them, infusing them with your dangerous, irrational ideology of forest supremacy!"

With tempers flaring again, the two groups began to vehemently accuse each other, each shouting their own grievances. The scene was as bustling as a modern marketplace during a major sale.

"Stop quarreling!" Li Ang shouted, flicking his Soul Reaping Bronze Scythe and splitting a nearby tree, one so thick a person could barely wrap their arms around it.

"SWOOSH!"

The scythe easily cleaved through the sturdy trunk. The towering tree seemed to tilt in slow motion, gradually leaning, accompanied by the RUSTLE! RUSTLE! RUSTLE! of trembling branches, before it finally crashed to the ground with a thunderous BOOM!

Li Ang cleaving the tree in a single strike truly shocked both groups; they had only heard in legends of warriors in this world who could easily shatter stone tablets.

A burly young lumberjack's eyes lit up, and he murmured to himself, The storybooks didn't deceive me! There truly are warriors in the world who possess Fighting Energy!

Li Ang glanced at him and said indifferently, "I'm not any kind of warrior, merely a Monk from the Eastern Tang. You're fighting right in front of me. If you end up killing each other, that would be quite unfortunate. As the saying goes, 'Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda.' You'd be better off finding somewhere further away to continue your brawl, lest you die in front of me, preventing me from saving you and ultimately adding to my negative karma."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, utterly confused. What the hell kind of logic was that?

"Hmm? You refuse?"

Li Ang, completely disregarding the stunned crowd, frowned slightly and said indifferently, "Are you determined to fight to the death in front of me, add to my negative karma, and thus prevent me from achieving enlightenment?"

His tone turned unfriendly. The scythe in his hand swayed gently, as if, at any second, he might fiercely swing it to reap lives.

Facing this somewhat eccentric Monk, both the paper mill workers and the oddly-dressed people felt a tinge of trepidation and subconsciously took half a step back.

"Let's go."

A youth with a painted face said hesitantly to his companions, preparing to head deeper into the forest.

However, just as he took a step, he saw Li Ang flash towards him, scythe swinging. Its cold, sharp tip hovered right before his throat.

The youth's body involuntarily stiffened. He was unable to move, his legs trembling with fear.

Li Ang narrowed his eyes and asked unpleasantly, "Where do you think you're going?"

Feeling the sharp blade pressing against the skin of his neck, the youth was on the verge of tears. He could only raise his hands shakily to show he had no hostile intent.

The youth stammered, "I... I just want to take my companions back to our home, deep within the forest."

"Home?"

Li Ang's eyes widened. "Oh, so you want to leave this place to find reinforcements and then come back to besiege me, is that it?"

Who wants to besiege you?! The youth desperately wanted to retort, but seeing as his neck was about to be sliced open, he decided to say nothing.

At this moment, several of Li Ang's teammates had also arrived and stealthily encircled the crowd.

Seeing the situation change, the paper mill owner hesitated before saying to Li Ang, "This... Esteemed Monk, we mean no harm. If you don't mind, may we leave first?"

"That won't do."

Li Ang said with a straight face, "I've changed my mind. Since 'saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda,' I've decided to let you continue fighting to the death. That way, I can save those on the brink of death and rack up some merit for myself. Come on, keep fighting. Don't stop."

The paper mill owner was dumbfounded, standing rooted to the spot in utter confusion.

"Hahaha! Just relax."

Seeing this, Li Ang laughed heartily, put away his scythe, and patted the rigid youth's shoulder in a friendly manner. He said casually, "I am a Monk, after all. How could I do something so detrimental to heavenly harmony?"

"Ha... ha... ha."

The youth's face was stiff as he forced an awkward laugh. Following his lead, the others also laughed awkwardly.

Li Ang nodded and said earnestly, "I only enjoy observing a vegetarian diet and chanting sutras... as well as robbing homes, committing arson, and killing anyone who sees my true face."

Everyone's expressions froze again. Li Ang laughed once more. "Just kidding."

"PHEW..."

The crowd subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Ang then added, "How could I possibly observe a vegetarian diet and chant sutras?"

The onlookers were stunned yet again.

Everyone present, including the spectating player teammates, felt an intense, visceral frustration, as if their insides were clenching. They desperately wished they could rush forward and pummel this Asian Monk countless times.

But under the threat of that massive scythe, no one dared to move.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you."

Li Ang twirled his scythe in a flourish and said calmly, "As a Monk, I have a responsibility to prevent the tragic casualties unfolding before me. Now, tell me exactly why you're fighting."

Li Ang hadn't suddenly intervened to stop the brawl between these two groups out of some spontaneous act of kindness. It was because the uniforms worn by the paper mill workers were emblazoned with "Antimony Town"—the location of the next Magic Mirror fragment.

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