Chapter 26

The Living Sword is Drawn

The neighborhood official smiled kindly, clearly confused. “These Taoist masters from the Lin Shui Temple said they wanted to apologize to you. Just a little misunderstanding earlier, right? Xiao Duan, I know Director Shao and Master Jiang. I burn incense at Lin Shui Temple all the time. If there’s any tension, just talk it out. You’re young—be more open-minded.”

“Y-yes, Sister. Of course. I totally understand. No hard feelings.” I nodded, my smile frozen in place like a stuck emoticon.

Shao Wuxing stepped forward politely. “Mr. Duan, may we speak in private?”

The official gave me a knowing look and stepped back. “I’ll leave you to it, then!”

Wait, no—! Please don’t go!

But she left anyway, thinking I was being polite, when in fact I was desperately trying to keep her around as my human shield.

I took a slow step back, plastering on my best fake-casual tone. “So… Master, what can I help you with?”

Shao Wuxing’s face turned serious. “There’s a demon hiding in your zoo. A powerful one. If it acts, the entire city could be at risk. We’re asking for your cooperation.”

…Here we go again.

“I get it,” I said dryly. “You’re spreading feudal superstition. The police let you go last time, huh? Want me to livestream this? ‘Daoist frauds conning civilians!’ Sounds click-worthy.”

Shao Wuxing actually laughed. “We’re not a cult! Lin Shui Temple has been passed down for a thousand years. We’ve even been named one of the ‘Top Ten Spiritual Civilization Units’ in Donghai.”

I blinked. That was… oddly specific.

I had just been talking nonsense, but now I wasn’t sure he wasn’t telling the truth.

Shao Wuxing held up one finger. “I can temporarily open your third eye. Let you see the demonic aura.”

“Back off! I’m not falling for that!” I waved my hands in front of my face. “What’s next, you drug me, sprinkle glitter on my forehead, and make me chant my PIN number?”

Shao Wuxing: “…”

Jiang Wushui muttered, “Brother, you’ve got to stop reading garbage forums.”

“Impossible!” I declared. “My friend’s cousin’s coworker’s dad was tricked just like this! You think I’m gullible? Think again!”

They stared at me in disbelief. I was seriously starting to feel like I’d broken them.

Jiang Wushui lost his patience. “Then what do you want?! How do we prove it to you?”

Shao Wuxing added desperately, “We’re not charging you anything!”

“Oh, that’s the classic scammer line,” I muttered. “The ones who give you free eggs before robbing your house…”

“…”

They were this close to combusting on the spot.

That’s when the third one—Luo Wuzhou, the short one who had been silent the whole time—finally spoke up.

His eyes gleamed. “Senior Brother, this man is clearly under a demon’s influence. I’ll bring him back to the temple and perform an exorcism!”

What?!

He lunged.

I screamed and bolted.

“Xu Wen! Call the police!” I shouted as I vaulted the tourist railing.

Behind me, I could hear him leap effortlessly over the same railing—without a running start.

Was this guy the final boss?!

“Lu Ge!!” I yelled as I ran.

Out of nowhere, Lu Ya emerged from a nearby exhibit, smooth as ever. He didn’t come from the bird hall—thank god—but the nearest building that wouldn’t blow his cover.

I ducked behind him and grabbed his arm.

“This Taoist is trying to abduct me! Brother, teach him a lesson!”

Luo Wuzhou paused, eyeing Lu Ya. Seeing a tall, cold-looking “older brother,” he assumed Lu Ya was a regular civilian.

“Sir,” he said solemnly, “Your brother doesn’t understand. This zoo harbors demons. I can prove it to you.”

Then—he actually tried to open Lu Ya’s third eye.

…

Big mistake.

Lu Ya casually raised one hand and summoned two weapons.

A sword in his left. A blade in his right.

Both gleaming faintly in the sunlight, radiating a dangerous, holy chill.

I nearly swallowed my tongue. “Wait wait wait—what are you doing?! You can’t kill anyone!”

But Lu Ya didn’t attack. He just pointed the glowing Living Sword straight at Luo Wuzhou’s forehead.

The tip hovered barely an inch from his skin.

The sword’s radiance pulsed. I braced for the gore.

But… nothing.

No blood. No wounds.

Instead, Luo Wuzhou just stood there. Frozen. Eyes glazed.

Then he dropped cross-legged onto the ground… and entered meditation.

Yes. Seriously.

Shao Wuxing and Jiang Wushui caught up and stared in stunned silence.

Lu Ya sheathed the blade, flicked his sleeve like some ancient immortal, and said coolly, “Let’s go. There’s nothing here for you.”

Then he turned and strode off like he owned the damn world.

I stood there, mouth hanging open like a carp, and then remembered I should probably follow him if I wanted to live.

…

We sprinted back to the surveillance room, and I checked the feed.

Sure enough, the priests were gone. But Luo Wuzhou was still in full lotus position, being gently carried away by the other two like some weirdly dignified sack of rice.

“What did you do to him?” I asked Lu Ya.

He looked very smug. “Just a little Buddhist trick. Made them think I’m a lay disciple with some… wisdom. They won’t come poking around again.”

I nearly spat out my water. “Hahahaha! Genius! Now they’ll think you’re exorcising demons here.”

Lu Ya gave a satisfied nod.

I eyed him skeptically. “You sure they’ll all fall for it? That monastery has way more priests, and the abbot hasn’t even shown up yet…”

“I spent some years in a Buddhist sect,” Lu Ya said casually. Then he saw my face. “What, you don’t believe me?”

“No, no! I totally do. Respect, Master Lu.” I gave him a thumbs-up.

Inwardly: Please let this work. Please don’t let them bring backup.

…

Back at Lin Shui Monastery.

Zhou Xintang stared at Luo Wuzhou’s meditating form, face twitching.

Still out cold. Still glowing faintly with spiritual energy. Completely unreachable.

“Are you sure?” Zhou Xintang asked, panic creeping into his voice.

Jiang Wushui looked ready to cry. “At first I thought it was an illusion—but that weapon aura, that technique… that was a real Living Sword!”

“And look at Junior Brother,” Shao Wuxing added, stunned. “He’s still in that state. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Zhou Xintang rubbed his face.

Living Sword. As in—Buddhist metaphor turned into actual weapon. Not just theory. Not just legend. Reality.

It was said that only those of the highest wisdom could wield such power—wisdom so pure, it could literally pierce the heart and awaken the soul.

Except… no one in history had actually done it.

Until now.

The monks exchanged terrified glances.

A demon? Whatever.

But that Buddhist layman?

That was a problem.

A huge one.

Because he didn’t just expose their disciple to demonic aura.

He left a piece of his own wisdom inside him.

…

And just like that, the Lin Shui Monastery’s golden child—brilliant, arrogant, the chosen heir to the sect—had been… converted.

Not to evil.

To Buddhism.

By a man with swords made of enlightenment.

And the worst part?

They had no idea who he even was.