Starting as the young master of a medicine shop, he practiced swordsmanship for twenty years.

Chapter 438 Master, even Buddha has to use a gun to save demons in this world!

Kushi Town is located about 20 miles southeast of Linjiagang, in a barren hilly area.

The townspeople mostly make a living by mining limestone. Although not wealthy, it is one of the main routes to the northern mountains.

At that moment, the roar of military vehicles broke the afternoon silence of Kushi Town.

A convoy of twenty trucks, kicking up dry yellow dust, came to a steady stop under the slightly dilapidated archway at the entrance of the town.

Lieutenant Mo was the first to leap from the lead carriage. He was dressed in a crisp officer's uniform, his riding boots were gleaming, a pistol was at his waist, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

Behind them, thousands of elite soldiers quickly disembarked and silently formed a defensive formation.

Their uniforms, their well-equipped rifles, and their intimidating aura—all honed through rigorous training—instantly intimidated the crowd.

The local gentry and elders, who had been notified long ago and had been waiting at the town entrance, immediately came forward to greet them.

The leader was an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a long silk robe; he was the mayor of Kushi Town.

With a humble yet warm smile on his face, he strode forward and bowed deeply to Lieutenant Mo.

"Zhao Deming, the mayor of Kushi Town, together with the local gentry, respectfully welcomes Officer Mo and the arrival of the Dingnan Army!"

Behind Zhao Deming were more than a dozen well-dressed local gentry and wealthy people, who also bowed and made obeisance, showing the utmost respect.

Deep awe and trepidation filled the eyes of everyone present.

The Dingnan Army's reputation is known to all; they are the undisputed rulers of northern Qingzhou.

It was at the height of its military power, dominating six counties.

This officer, Mo, was the most trusted and fierce general under the command of "Lu Xuan, the Prince of Dingnan," so they had no choice but to be extremely careful.

"Are you the town mayor here?" Deputy Officer Mo glanced at Zhao Deming casually.

The next moment, his voice resounded throughout the entire area, "The commander-in-chief heard that Kushi Town was also disturbed by the corpse plague, and specially ordered us to come and inspect, wipe out the remaining evil, stabilize the local area, and ensure that there is no place for evil spirits to hide under the rule of our Dingnan Army!"

After speaking, Deputy Officer Mo's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Zhao Deming's face: "What's the situation in the town? Is there anything unusual?"

At this moment, Zhao Deming hurriedly replied, "Thanks to the great fortune of Commander Lu and the might of Officer Mo!"

Since the incidents in Linjiagang and Heishui Town the day before yesterday, I have organized the local militia to patrol day and night and keep the town gates tightly closed. Fortunately, no strange signs have been found in the town.

People were filled with fear, and many had already left. Now that Officer Mo has led the heavenly army here, we... we can finally breathe a sigh of relief!

His words were all flattery, and the surrounding gentry, seeing this, echoed him, "Yes, yes."

"We feel much more at ease now that Officer Mo is here!"

"With the arrival of the Dingnan Army, Kushi Town will be at peace!"

"When the Dingnan Army arrives, the clear sky will come!"

"The Dingnan Army is mighty! Long live Marshal Lu!"

Lieutenant Mo looked down at the group of bowing gentry in front of him, a smirk of undisguised arrogance playing on his lips.

"Hmph, you people are quite sensible, you're all sensible."

These condescending praises were as if Lieutenant Mo were bestowing a favor upon them. "Well said! Commander Lu is the sky over Qingzhou! He is our upright and just lord!"

Immediately afterward, the arrogant smile on his face vanished, and Lieutenant Mo's expression darkened. His gaze swept quickly across the hills outside the town, and he issued his order.

"Listen up, our army is to take control of all major roads within the town and blockade all surrounding passes immediately."
"Zhao Deming, you immediately find me the guide most familiar with the terrain. The entire town must mobilize resources to prepare three days' worth of provisions. There must be no mistakes!"

"By order of the Commander-in-Chief! At dawn tomorrow, our Dingnan Army will march forward and vow to wipe out all the demons and monsters in Heishui Town and Linjiagang!"

After a pause, Deputy Officer Mo almost gritted his teeth as he announced, word by word.

"Remember this clearly—on Marshal Lu's territory, under the onslaught of the Dingnan Army..."

"No demon or monster is allowed to become a spirit!"

The last sentence was like a thunderclap, making the hearts of the local gentry in Kushi Town tremble, and they nodded repeatedly.

"Of course! Of course!" Mayor Zhao replied repeatedly, stepping aside to make way and bowing in a "please" gesture.

"Officer Mo, please enter the town! A feast has been prepared. Although it is a simple meal from a small town, it is a token of our goodwill. We hope that you will do us the honor of attending."

After a moment's thought, Lieutenant Mo nodded: "Alright."

He needed to learn more about Heishui Town and Linjiagang from these people.

Then, Lieutenant Mo turned to his deputy and ordered, "The first company will guard the town entrance and control the high ground. The second and third companies will follow me into the town and remain on guard."

"Yes!"

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers moved in perfect unison.

Only then did Deputy Officer Mo step into Kushi Town, surrounded by Mayor Zhao and others.

Along the streets, some daring townspeople peeked through door cracks and window gaps at the well-equipped and imposing army, their eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of hope.

Mayor Zhao's mansion was indeed impressive, a veritable small fortress in this barren land.

The banquet was held in a spacious central hall, with the elegance of a Jiangnan garden.

The tables and chairs inside were gleaming, exuding the practicality and extravagance of a local tycoon.

Deputy Mo sat in the main seat, while Mayor Zhao and several local gentry sat below him, their faces full of forced smiles.

After a round of drinks, Deputy Officer Mo's gaze swept across the hall, and he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

The several banquet tables set up inside the hall were quite eye-catching.

Several recluses were seated at a table on the east side.

Three monks wearing bright yellow robes and two young monks sat alone at a table, with a vegetarian meal laid out in front of them.

The old monk at the head of the group lowered his head and looked down, his withered fingers slowly turning the dark brown prayer beads, seemingly oblivious to the stench of meat and alcohol emanating from the table.

The scene at the next table was quite different.

Several Taoist priests in green robes leaned their whisks against their arms, sipping locally brewed rice wine.

One of the long-bearded old Taoist priests made eye contact with Deputy Officer Mo and even nodded slightly in greeting.

In the far corner, a few men dressed as laymen stood out.

Although they were dressed in ordinary cloth, their waists were bulging and their eyes were gleaming. Among them, a burly man with calluses on his hands was slowly slicing roasted mutton with a dagger. The slices of meat were as thin as cicada wings as the blade passed through them.

Lieutenant Mo took a sip of wine without making a sound. These "talented people" from all walks of life must have come to slay demons and monsters.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall became awkward, Zhao Deming quickly raised his glass, stood up, and bowed to Deputy Officer Mo with a fawning smile.

"Officer Mo, these are all enlightened masters who care for the common people. They happened to be traveling in our town yesterday and heard that Officer Mo was going to lead the royal army to eradicate the corpse scourge. They all wish to do their part."

He spoke cautiously, for in this chaotic world, warlords were like local emperors, and they were most afraid of others stealing their thunder.

If Officer Mo were to believe that these people were invited by him to challenge the Dingnan Army, he would likely face imminent disaster.

To Zhao Deming's utter surprise, Deputy Officer Mo not only didn't get angry, but instead burst into hearty laughter, raised his glass, and stood up abruptly.

"Hahaha! Great! You've come at the perfect time!"

"It is truly an honor for our Dingnan Army to gather here today with all of you accomplished masters to discuss the grand plan to eliminate the demons!"
I, Mo, would like to raise a glass to you all, wishing you a resounding victory tomorrow and the complete eradication of the evil forces!

He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, his movements clean and efficient. Zhao Deming stood there stunned, while the group of local gentry looked at each other in bewilderment.

Lieutenant Mo looked around at the outsiders present, his gaze very sincere.

He always respected these truly enlightened masters, especially since the commander-in-chief had already given a clear order—to recruit extraordinary people from all over the world and work together to achieve great things.

"After we quell the troubles in Blackwater Town and Linjiagang tomorrow, I, Mo, will personally host a banquet to have a good chat with you all."

In these chaotic times, the Commander-in-Chief needs talents like you to join him in restoring order.

The meaning behind Lieutenant Mo's words was crystal clear.

It is fate that we drink together today. After we fight side by side tomorrow, he will bring all these talented people under the command of the Dingnan Army on behalf of the commander-in-chief.

Just as the banquet was in full swing, the old monk who had been chanting sutras with his eyes closed suddenly opened his eyes, put his palms together in a gesture of respect to Lieutenant Mo, and said: "Officer Mo, I have something to say that I must report."

His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the entire room.

"The corpse calamities in Blackwater Town and Linjiagang were far more dangerous than the rumors suggested."
Those zombies, having consumed vast amounts of human life essence, have spawned several silver-armored zombie kings, and countless vengeful spirits linger in both areas.

"That place is now a living hell."

At this point, the old monk's gaze fell on the pistol at Lieutenant Mo's waist.

"Even the most powerful firearms in the mortal realm, such as guns and cannons, would likely be unable to harm these demons in the slightest."

This humble monk humbly begs the General to immediately report to Commander Lu and issue a wide call to arms, summoning righteous warriors from across the land to jointly punish the evil spirits, otherwise…”

He sighed deeply and began to twirl the prayer beads again: "Amitabha. Well done, well done."

Mayor Zhao's wine glass, which he had just raised to his lips, froze in mid-air. He stared at the old monk, feeling utterly miserable.

“Master, oh Master! You are a monk, not someone who has renounced the world!”

These words were hardly admonition; they were clearly a public humiliation, a direct insult to Officer Mo, calling the entire Dingnan Army useless and a hindrance! He declared they were utterly incompetent, only a burden!

The Taoist priests and martial arts masters present at the table also felt a sense of unease. One of the Taoist priests in a green robe couldn't help but curse inwardly, "That old bald monk, what a blockhead!"

Could it be that they've gone mad from chanting sutras and reciting Buddhist scriptures all day, completely oblivious to the slightest bit of human nature and social etiquette?

At this tense moment, Lieutenant Mo not only did not get angry, but instead burst into a hearty laugh.

"Hahaha! The master is compassionate and cares deeply for all living beings. What he said makes perfect sense!"

He raised his glass and looked around at everyone with a calm gaze: "However, since my Dingnan Army dared to come here, we are naturally well prepared. As for the matter of eliminating the evil spirits, there is no need for you to worry about it, Master."

"Come!" Officer Mo raised his glass high: "This toast is to wish us a resounding victory and to restore peace and order to the people of Qingzhou!"

If it were the old Lieutenant Mo, being questioned about military authority so openly by the old monk, he would definitely have drawn his gun to establish his authority.

However, ever since he witnessed Commander Lu's extraordinary abilities to command the wind and rain and control mountains and rivers, his perspective has changed.

Although these righteous people may not speak in a pleasant way, they are all sincere people who are wholeheartedly devoted to serving the people.

In this chaotic world overrun by demons, it is precisely those who uphold their principles that are needed.

"Hahaha, Officer Mo is wise and brave, and has a great sense of righteousness!"

Seeing the wind blowing, Mayor Zhao immediately stood up and cheered loudly, his fat face instantly plastered with a fawning smile.

As soon as he took the lead, all the local gentry immediately realized what he meant and stood up to flatter him.

"Officer Mo's magnanimity is as vast as the sea; he is truly a hero of our time!"

"With a general like him in the Dingnan Army, how can we not eliminate the demons!"

"What General Mo just said really made us feel ashamed of ourselves!"

In an instant, flattery filled the banquet, and the tense atmosphere from before vanished.

Several clever local gentry even stepped forward to offer toasts, eager to use every flattering phrase they had learned in their lives.

At dawn, twenty military vehicles, fully loaded with soldiers and accompanying experts and spies, set off towards Linjiagang.

The convoy was already horrified by the scenery along the way, even before it reached its destination.

Ragged clothes were scattered along the roadside, and several starving corpses lay in the weeds, left to be eaten by wild dogs—this was the norm in chaotic times, where human life was as worthless as grass, and death was commonplace.

The convoy came to an abrupt halt about a kilometer from Linjiagang.

Lieutenant Mo raised his binoculars, and the outline of the town gate in the distance was faintly visible in the morning light, but could be clearly seen through the lens.

Scattered on the ground were white bones, and the soil was covered with crisscrossing drag marks, as if something had dragged the corpses all the way into the town.

Dark brown bloodstains soaked deeply into the land, yet strangely, not a single intact corpse could be found.

"Infinite Heavenly Lord."

A Taoist priest lightly waved his whisk, his face solemn. "These skeletons still retain a strong aura of death. It seems that the victims have all turned into zombies. I'm afraid... all the zombies in the town have gathered here."

Another old Taoist priest beside him added, "Judging from the terrain, the yin energy is gathering here, it's probably become a place for raising corpses."

At this moment, Lieutenant Mo lowered his binoculars and shouted, "All troops, listen up! Load your bullets, prepare your talismans, and get ready for battle!"

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers quickly formed a battle formation.

"Leave two hundred men to build a defensive line on the perimeter; we must not let any evil spirits escape."

Immediately afterward, Lieutenant Mo waved his hand and ordered, "The rest of you, follow me into town!"

Upon receiving the order, two hundred soldiers immediately jumped off the rear of the military vehicles and quickly set up machine gun positions on the perimeter, forming a tight blockade.

The remaining eight hundred soldiers stood in neat rows, their rifles gleaming with well-maintained shine, and red talismans were already affixed to their guns.

Within the town!

The doors and windows of the earthen houses on both sides of the street were tightly closed, like airtight coffins, where even a sliver of sunlight could not penetrate.

The scattered yellow talismans had long lost their power and were swirling in the eerie wind.

"Amitabha." The old monk couldn't help but sigh sadly, his withered fingers slowly removing the Buddhist beads from his neck. "It seems that some fellow practitioners have already perished here."

As soon as he finished speaking, the prayer beads in his hand suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, and the sound of chanting sutras was as loud as a bell, echoing continuously in the dead silence of the street.

Several Taoist priests in green robes attacked simultaneously, and the talismans on their peach wood swords spontaneously combusted without wind, turning into streaks of fire.

The martial arts masters displayed their unique skills, with copper coin swords, ink lines, and soul-capturing bells all making their appearance.

The group moved swiftly, closing in on the earthen house by the roadside in an instant.

The old monk pressed the prayer beads onto the door panel, and the golden light burned the wooden door like a branding iron.

The Taoist priest lightly touched the door with the tip of his sword, and the talismanic fire shot in through the crack in the door, while the Jianghu traveler's copper coin sword broke through the window.

"Ow-!!"

A shrill scream erupted from inside the door, accompanied by frantic banging.

The entire mud house was shaking violently, as if something terrifying was about to burst out of the door.

However, after the gate was forced open from the inside, several fully-fledged bronze-armored zombies, bathed in sunlight, emitted white smoke from their bodies.

In an instant, the roaring sounds from the earthen houses stopped abruptly.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the sky darkened without warning.

The sun, which had been shining brightly just moments before, now seemed to be swallowed by an invisible giant mouth, and a cold wind suddenly rose, stirring up dust and sand all over the ground.

"The celestial dog is devouring the moon, and evil energy is soaring to the heavens!" a Taoist priest exclaimed in shock, the compass needle in his hand spinning wildly.

The old monk's expression changed: "Oh no! The Golden Armored Flying Zombie has appeared!"

"No!" A wandering fortune teller suddenly threw out a coin divination chart. "It's not fully formed yet, but it can already trigger celestial anomalies!"

Everyone looked up and saw a blood-red pillar of light shooting into the sky from the depths of Linjiagang.

A strong wind suddenly arose, and sand and stones flew everywhere!
The sky darkened rapidly, visibly, and in the blink of an eye, it was pitch black, so dark that one could not see their own hand in front of their face.

However, despite such a dramatic change in the world, Lieutenant Mo and the eight hundred soldiers remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic.

"Light the torch!"

At a command, the hundred soldiers in the front row moved in unison and swiftly lit the torches in their hands.

Even more surprisingly, a crimson talisman was tightly wrapped around the handle of each torch.

The howling wind tried to devour the light, but the hundred flames seemed frozen in another time and space, remaining motionless and illuminating the surrounding area as bright as day.

"This...this is..." The old monk's pupils shrank sharply, and he even forgot to chant the Buddha's name.

"careful--!!"

The next second, the old monk's warning tore through the night sky.

His emaciated figure rose into the air, his hands holding Buddhist prayer beads high, and his words thundering from his mouth.

The rosary beads instantly burst forth with dazzling golden light, transforming into a barrier that rose into the sky.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, the golden light collided violently with a cloud of dark, ink-like malevolent energy.

The old monk fell like a kite with a broken string, and was hurriedly caught by two young monks.

He felt a sweet taste in his throat, blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and the golden light on the prayer beads in his hand slowly dimmed, with several fine cracks appearing on the surface.

In the air, a black shadow slowly emerged.

It was dressed in tattered black burial clothes, its face was distorted and bluish-black, its features were stiff and lifeless, and the chilling aura emanating from its body caused the ground within a radius of several feet to freeze into white frost.

"Amitabha..." The old monk, supported by his disciple, struggled to his feet. "What a vicious ghost! It has gained power!"

boom! boom! boom!
No sooner had the old monk finished speaking than a dozen gunshots ripped through the darkness, the flashes of gunpowder instantly illuminating the night sky.

The bullet, trailing a faint light, pierced through the sky and struck the vengeful ghost in mid-air with pinpoint accuracy.

The ferocious ghost, which had been so menacing just moments before, was now riddled with bullet holes, thick white smoke billowing from them.

The vengeful ghost let out a series of extremely mournful howls, twisting wildly in the air, and finally vanished completely before everyone's eyes, turning to ashes.

The whole place was dead silent.

All the talented and extraordinary people stared blankly at the soldier who had fired the shot.

On their rifles were red talismans that were exactly the same as those on the torches.

"Master, please catch!"

Without changing his expression, Lieutenant Mo casually tossed a rifle with talismans affixed to it to the old monk.

"In this world, even Buddha has to learn to use a gun to save demons."

The old monk instinctively caught the cold gun. He looked down at the rifle in his arms, then looked up at the soldiers with guns.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
What the hell is this?!

(End of this chapter)