The Great Bandit of Journey to the West

Chapter 14 Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix

The emperors of the Southern Dynasties were generally devout Buddhists, and monks enjoyed a high status, associating with high-ranking officials and nobles.

To maintain the purity and solemnity of temples, ordinary temples prohibit musicians from entering, and the restrictions are even stricter for prostitutes, who are not even allowed to go to the vicinity of temples.

Therefore, Jiang Feng's Wishing Temple was the only place they could go to offer incense and pray to Buddha.

There are indeed monsters in the county town, so it's perfectly normal that they don't go to offer incense. But to forbid them from going out a month in advance, does this Wang Mama have the ability to predict the future?

After leaving the brothel, Jiang Feng arrived at Li Fugui's house.

Even through the front door, Jiang Feng could smell the stench emanating from inside. He knocked on the door, and a servant ushered him into the living room.

Not long after, Li Fugui walked in from outside. Seeing Jiang Feng, he said with great joy, "Jiang Feng, it's been so long since you've come to my house! I'll go buy some wine and food; let's have dinner at my house tonight!"

Jiang Feng fanned his nose with his hand and complained, "I don't have the habit of eating while smelling like poop!"

"Hasn't the misunderstanding been cleared up? Why do you still keep animal manure at home?"

Li Fugui said in a low voice, "I didn't dare tell my dad..."

Jiang Feng was taken aback: "So, your dad still uses that thing to bathe?"

Li Fugui nodded awkwardly.

Jiang Feng's eyes widened in disbelief: "As expected, where there's a Crouching Dragon, there's a Phoenix Chick. I thought Zhao Ping'an was unbeatable when it came to being a master at causing trouble for his father, but it turns out there's always someone even stronger!"

Li Fugui scratched his head, his face showing an indescribable embarrassment.

Jiang Feng looked at him helplessly and said, "I've found you a job. Someone is funding a major renovation of the Wishing Temple. You'll be in charge of the accounts for me. The salary is ten strings of cash per month. County Magistrate Zhao will contact you in a few days."

Li Fugui nodded in agreement: "Okay, no need for wages, I'll supervise the work for you."

Jiang Feng said, "County Magistrate Zhao is in charge of supervising the construction, and you focus on managing the accounts. This sum of money is huge, probably enough to build the entire Zu'an County."

Li Fugui's expression changed: "With so much money, why don't you find someone else?"

Jiang Feng said sincerely, "I don't trust anyone else to manage the accounts."

Li Fugui was deeply moved. After hesitating for a long time, he finally made up his mind and said, "Okay, I agree! But aren't you afraid I'll try to take your money too?"

Seeing his sly, eager expression, Jiang Feng said speechlessly, "Even if I let you be as greedy as you want, do you dare to take more than ten coins?"

Li Fugui: "..."

What happened to the trust I was promised?! Give me back the feeling of being touched just now!

Seeing Li Fugui's indignant expression, Jiang Feng silently shook his head, stood up, and said, "Take me to your father, I'll exorcise the evil spirit from him! He's been soaking in that stuff every day, don't let him get any more 'marinated'..."

A moment later, Li Youcai, along with Wang Shi and three servants, stood in the courtyard.

Jiang Feng stood before them, his expression solemn, and said, "Your family has offended evil spirits. If left unchecked, your entire family will surely perish within three days!"

"The Buddha is merciful and has specially sent me to rescue you. Now, hold your breath and concentrate while I use my magic to destroy the evil spirits!"

Upon hearing this, Li Youcai trembled with fear.

The others wore strange expressions, some even expectant, wanting to see how Jiang Feng would drive away the non-existent evil spirit.

Jiang Feng took in everyone's expressions, closed his eyes, and quickly began chanting a spell.

"Pleasant Goat, Pretty Goat, Lazy Goat, Boiling Goat, Slow Goat, Soft and Fluffy..."

As the solemn incantation resounded, Jiang Feng's body shone with Buddhist light, illuminating the entire courtyard in a golden glow.

Within the Buddha's light, a cloud of black mist appeared.

Then a chilling, mournful wail came from the black mist, and after a twist, it turned into a man with long hair covering his face and a naked body!

Wang was dumbfounded: "!!!"

The servant screamed in terror, "Ah—!"

There really is a demon in my house!

Hearing the servant's scream, Jiang Feng suddenly opened his eyes, two golden beams shooting out from them. He shouted sharply, "You audacious demon! You dare to show off your petty skills before an expert! Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon, World Honored Ksitigarbha, Prajna Padma Hum!"

Jiang Feng unleashed a palm strike, and a golden dragon flew out from his body, swallowing the man whole!

The next moment, Li Youcai and the others knelt down and bowed to Jiang Feng.

"May Buddha have mercy, thank you Buddha for saving my life..."

Jiang Feng nodded slightly and said, "Buddha is merciful, but Buddhist disciples also need to eat. How about we settle the money for the exorcism first?"

Li Youcai quickly got up: "Of course, I'll go get it right away!"

After saying that, he quickly walked towards the backyard.

Wang was still trembling, her face full of fear, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing repeatedly to Jiang Feng, who was bathed in the Buddha's light.

She used to think her stepson was useless because he hung around with a fake monk all day, but now she realizes that he is actually a real Buddha!

[Your compassion helped Li Youcai avoid being pickled in excrement; your boundless love moved Heaven, and you are rewarded with ten years of magical power.]

Jiang Feng dispelled the Buddhist aura emanating from his body and said, "Clean the house thoroughly and prepare a guest room. This humble monk will be staying overnight."

Madam Wang quickly instructed her servants to do so, and then said with a devout expression, "Master, why don't you stay at my house for a few more days? I will certainly treat you well. Anyway, no one goes to your temple to offer incense."

Jiang Feng gritted his teeth silently: "You can swallow that last sentence! This is all temporary. Before long, my Wishing Temple will be bustling with worshippers and overflowing with wealth... cough cough, overflowing with believers!"

At this moment, Li Youcai returned with a gold bar, looking grateful, and said, "Thank you so much, Master, for saving my life. Please don't hesitate to ask if you ever need my help!"

"Fugui, quickly prepare the master's favorite food and accompany him for a vegetarian meal."

Li Fugui agreed and went out to the restaurant to book a banquet.

When he returned, all the excrement in the yard had been cleaned up, and the stench had dissipated completely after the mugwort was burned.

He took a deep breath and smiled, "Finally, I don't have to smell the stench anymore."

Jiang Feng rolled his eyes: "You brought this on yourself. By the way, I have a question for you. Has the Wang family been going out frequently in the past month, or suddenly started burning incense and praying to Buddha or anything like that?"

Li Fugui asked in surprise, "I don't think so. Why are you asking?"

Jiang Feng shook his head slightly: "It's nothing, I was just tricked."

When he cast the illusion, Madam Wang didn't react unusually. If she had joined the Mahayana sect, she would definitely see him as a heretic and evil spirit, and it's impossible for her not to feel any hostility.

He then inspected the entire courtyard but found no trace of Mahayana Buddhism.

Furthermore, if Wang really had a problem, why would she invite Wang Lao Er to her house for a secret rendezvous the day before Wang Lao Er was murdered?

Was it all just to have a life-or-death farewell cannon fight with the tiger demon before he killed him?

The madam of the brothel seemed to have told no lies, but she deliberately led him in the wrong direction.

Furthermore, since she had forbidden the girls of the brothel from going out before the monsters started causing trouble, the real culprit is probably this Granny Wang...