Chapter 782 - 428: Beating the Drum at White Emperor City

"Snatching a temple?"

Li Yan was a bit taken aback and shook his head with a smile, "I’ve seen people rob money and women, but it’s my first time seeing a temple being snatched."

Wang Daoxuan, on the other hand, looked towards White Emperor City with a thoughtful expression, "Although White Emperor City is not a Cave Heaven Blessed Land, it’s a gateway in Shu, where countless poets and writers have left their works, immortalized through the ages, with countless passing ships. It’s a prime Red Dust Temple."

"It’s probably another Buddhist-Taoist layman dispute..."

At this point, the Daoist was speechlessly shaking his head.

He’s seen quite a lot of such things.

In this world, there’s a particular way about constructing Taoist temples and Zen temples.

At the foot of the mountain, it’s a Red Dust Temple, except in key areas like the City God Temple and Baotong Zen Temple, where layfolk, monks, and Taoists usually dwell.

Mid-mountain, it’s half secular, half celestial.

At the top mostly reside cultivators, away from worldly disturbances.

Because of the Mystical Sect’s existence, the Buddhist-Taoist conflict in this world is in a rather peculiar state.

The top echelons play a slow game, vying for orthodoxy and national sacrifice, generally not breaking face, and sometimes having very good relations.

But at the lay level, it’s a different story.

Because temples and Taoist temples concern incense offerings and have potential profits, involving fields and local influence, naturally there’s a scramble.

Over these matters, many lives are lost.

However, the disciple of "Fast Ship Zhang" bent down, cupped his fist and smiled, "Daoist, you got it wrong, it’s not a Buddhist-Taoist dispute, but a chamber of commerce conflict."

"On top of White Emperor City, there used to be the ’Three Merits Temple’, worshipping the River God, Earth God, and General Ma Yuan. I’ve heard the Kuizhou Governor plans to dismantle the temples and build the ’Yizheng Temple’, to honor Liu, Guan, and Zhang."

"Originally nothing much, but somehow, the Salt Gang and Chuanshu Commerce began fighting, with one in favor and the other opposing, and they’ve clashed several times already."

"Just a few days ago, Chuanshu Commerce hired people to forcibly tear down the temple. Hearing this, the Salt Gang immediately came to stop it, fighting until now..."

"I see."

After hearing this, Li Yan immediately lost interest and said while shaking his head, "Let’s go, snatching a temple is just a guise, it’s more likely a clash of interests. Let’s not get involved."

"Yes, Young Hero Li."

"Fast Ship Zhang" also nodded in agreement.

Walking the pugilistic world, while one shouldn’t shy away when it’s time to unsheathe the sword, it’s also unwise to recklessly invite trouble.

But nothing ever goes smoothly.

Just as they wished to leave, trouble found them.

A fast ship could be seen speeding from near Kui Gate, with a man standing high on its mast.

His footing was firm, standing steady against the waves and the rocking of the ship, his body unwavering, with a whistle in his mouth, altering the rhythm continuously.

On the deck ahead stood Lu Jiu from the Salt Gang.

This whistle was some sort of a signal, and under White Emperor City, the battling parties immediately halted, while both large and small ships of the Salt Gang disengaged from the fight and surrounded them.

In an instant, the channel ahead was blocked.

"Stop, don’t move!"

"Go any further, and don’t blame us for being rude!"

The Salt Gang was already squabbling with people, so the ones dispatched were professional thugs, some half-naked, squinting and glaring hooligans, while others, with ox-hide and copper-buckled belts around their waists, held weapons typical of pugilistic world individuals.

That whistle just now was exactly the Salt Gang’s signal.

Even if they didn’t know who they were to stop, with this signal, whether successful or not, they’d receive generous rewards from the gang.

"Fast Ship Zhang" and others immediately grew alert.

When the rear ship followed up and they saw Lu Jiu onboard, Li Yan immediately understood, a trace of anger rising in his eyes.

He had made quite a name for himself in Ezhou, yet the enemies he provoked grew stronger. This time entering Shu, he planned for low-profile actions, but unexpectedly, the Salt Gang wouldn’t let go.

"Young Hero Li, where are you in such a hurry to go!"

On the deck, Lu Jiu flicked open a fan, fanning twice on his chest, seeming to suppress his anger.

Li Yan shot him a cold glance, "None of your damn business!"

"Good!"

Lu Jiu laughed instead of getting angry, "Such courage for someone so young, to make such a reputation. But don’t you see where this is?"

"Entering Shu, if you’re a dragon, you better coil up for me, if you’re a tiger, you better crouch down!"

"Rash kid, such big words!"

A distant elderly voice followed, with a thick Ba Shu accent, "Lu Lao Jiu, since when did Shu become the Salt Gang’s turf?"

The speaker was an elder, head wrapped in white cloth, dressed in black robes, a red belt at the waist, and holding a rustic pipe.

This attire was unmistakably that of the Brotherhood.

Li Yan followed the voice, eyes narrowing sharply.

Next to the old man stood a man, his features sharp, with a vertical line on his forehead, holding a steel blade, dressed like a ordinary pugilistic world man.

He had had dealings with this man, who was Tian Jue, a Commander from the Capital’s Captain Bureau, secretly investigating Zhao Changsheng’s whereabouts under orders from the Emperor and Daoist Luo Mingzi.

Suspecting an insider in the Law Enforcement Hall, their group followed the Ministry of Industry to Ezhou, vanishing into hiding after suppressing evil spirits at Liangzi Lake.

Could Zhao Changsheng be here too since they’re in Shu...

Li Yan’s heart was on alert, and as his eyes met Commander Tian’s, he immediately averted his gaze, pretending not to know him.

Meanwhile, hearing the Brotherhood elder’s mockery, Lu Jiu also retorted with a sneer, "Old Tang, we’re just following orders. You’d best not meddle today, or else it won’t just be us Salt Gang giving you trouble!"

Hearing this, the elder first furrowed his brow, but then for some reason turned pale and stopped speaking.

Only then did Lu Jiu let out a cold snort, looked at Li Yan, and said in a deep voice, "Young Hero Li, we’re all pugilistic world peers, so let me say it nicely once more."

"This matter is not for you to meddle in. Hand over the person to us, keep being your young hero, and our Salt Gang can even help you with Xiang Man’er. Why bother looking for trouble?"