The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Outside the temple, the rapid clatter of horse hooves seemed to have been suddenly strangled, pausing abruptly in the still night. What followed was a chaotic cacophony of footsteps, like countless wild cats scurrying across rotten planks, rapidly approaching from afar, hammering at everyone's heart. This sudden change was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand ripples. The crowd, already nervous and uneasy at the approach of an unidentified individual, became even more panicked, like a herd of rabbits chased by a hunter, fleeing in every direction, seeking illusory shelter.

A man hiding under a table chattered with fear, his teeth chattering incessantly. He clutched his hands tightly against his mouth, fearing even the slightest sound would bring about his own death. Another man, hiding behind a Buddha statue, gripped his steel knife tightly, his palms slick with sweat, the handle slippery. He remained vigilant, his gaze fixed fixed on the door, like a trapped beast poised for a desperate struggle. A third, timid man, unable to bear the immense pressure, rolled his eyes and fainted, his body collapsing to the ground with a muffled thud.

Chen Zigui couldn't help but frown. It felt like countless ants were crawling around in his heart, itching and tingling, making him feel restless and uneasy. Who was this person? Why did they appear at this time? Could they be government officials? He tried to remain calm, but all sorts of terrifying images surfaced uncontrollably in his mind, making him even more upset.

Just as everyone was speculating about the newcomer's identity, a clear voice suddenly rang out from outside the temple, like a flash of lightning piercing the night sky, shattering the tense atmosphere within. "Master Abbot! I, Zhao Xiaojing, have been ordered to report!" The voice carried a hint of anxiety, as if blaming myself for not completing the mission on time, a touch of excitement, as if I were delighted to have finally found my target, and a hint of barely concealed pride, as if announcing his arrival and victory to everyone.

Following this shout, a young man dressed in black, thin but with a piercing gaze, strode into the temple. He walked steadily, his back straight, like a sword unsheathed, carrying an imposing presence. It was Zhao Xiaojing of the Qiming Group. Upon entering the temple, he spotted Chen Zigui standing at the entrance to the main hall. He hurried forward, knelt on one knee, and saluted with his fists clasped together. His movements were clean and precise, without a trace of hesitation. "Master Abbot, I have carried out all your instructions. Any further instructions?" Zhao Xiaojing said, winking furtively at Chen Zigui with a sly smile on his face, like a child who had succeeded in a prank.

Chen Zigui understood immediately. He knew Zhao Xiaojing was playing along, pretending to follow orders in order to confuse Lü Menzhong and the others. He nodded slightly and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Well done. Leave the rest to me." Then, he cleared his throat, raised his voice, and said to Zhao Xiaojing, "Well, get up."

Chen Zigui nodded slowly, his face calm, like a still lake, but his eyes held a hint of approval, affirming Zhao Xiaojing's performance. His peripheral vision, like a dragonfly skimming the water, flickered across a corner of the hall. The light was dim, and several figures lurked within, like ghosts in the night. They were none other than Lü Menzhong and his cronies. They poked their heads out like curious groundhogs, stretched their necks like snakes awaiting prey, and pricked their ears like alert hounds, eager to hear every word between him and Zhao Xiaojing, afraid to miss a single word.

Seeing this scene, Chen Zigui couldn't help but sneer in his heart. These guys really won't cry until they see the coffin! They won't give up until they reach the Yellow River! It seems that they won't give up easily unless they are given a taste of their own medicine! The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing an imperceptible sneer, and he already had a plan in mind.

He deliberately lowered his voice, keeping it within the range that only he and Zhao Xiaojing could hear, and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work, Xiaojing. You did a good job this time."

Zhao Xiaojing heard Chen Zigui's praise and smiled naively. He scratched his head and lowered his voice, saying, "Master Supervisor, thank you for your praise. This is what I should do. But why did you come in person? You didn't even notify me in advance so I could prepare."

"I also made this decision on the spur of the moment." Chen Zigui smiled faintly and said, "Some things require my personal intervention to resolve."

Zhao Xiaojing nodded slightly, understanding Chen Zigui's words. He knew the abbot had his own rules and procedures, and he only needed to follow his instructions without asking any further questions. He straightened his back and looked at Chen Zigui with a determined gaze, waiting for his next instructions.

Lü Menzhong and his group, hiding in the shadows, stretched their necks like rats eavesdropping around a corner, eager to press their ears to Chen Zigui and Zhao Xiaojing's mouths, hoping to hear their conversation clearly. However, Chen Zigui and Zhao Xiaojing deliberately lowered their voices, so they could only catch a few scattered words, such as "thank you for your hard work," "well done," and "personally."

These words, like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, stirred a thousand waves in Lü Menzhong's heart. Although they did not know the true identities of Chen Zigui and Zhao Xiaojing, it was clear from their conversation that the two men had a special relationship and seemed to be from some mysterious and powerful organization.

The more Lü Menzhong thought about it, the more frightened he became. A chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. They had originally thought that Chen Zigui was just a poor scholar who could do nothing but allow themselves to be bullied. But they had never imagined that Chen Zigui actually had such an unfathomable background, and so many well-trained subordinates.

"Could it be... could it be that we really have met a master this time?" Lu Menzhong groaned inwardly, a thin layer of cold sweat oozing from his forehead. He secretly raised his head and glanced at Chen Zigui from the corner of his eye.

Chen Zigui's face was as calm as water, his eyes as deep as an abyss, like an ancient well, making it impossible to see into his thoughts. Zhao Xiaojing, standing beside him, though he looked simple and honest, Lü Menzhong always felt that there was a glint of shrewdness in his eyes that made him not to be underestimated.

Especially Chen Zigui, when faced with Zhao Xiaojing's sudden appearance, he knew without a second thought that this must be Sister Cen Xiao's idea. He secretly laughed and cursed in his heart, wondering how come everyone in the Qiming group had become a talented actor after following Sister Cen Xiao for so long.

To avoid showing any flaws, Chen Zigui coughed lightly and put his fist to his lips. He turned slightly and pretended to glance casually in the direction where Lu Menzhong and the others were hiding. Then he lowered his voice and said to Zhao Xiaojing, "Xiaojing, while Hero Lu is here, please report the main matters quickly. Hero Lu is one of us, so there is no need to worry."

Zhao Xiaojing understood, his eyes rolling, a meaningful smile curling up at the corner of his mouth, and he replied respectfully, "Yes, Master Supervisor." He paused briefly, turned to the direction of Lü Menzhong and the others, clasped his fists and bowed, and said loudly, "Master Lü, this is the case. We have found a safe house for you in Linkang Prefecture." He paused, glanced at Chen Zigui, and continued, "Since the Master Supervisor said you have important missions, you can't stay in Buyue Gorge all the time." He deliberately lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "In addition, I have equipped Master Lü and his men with special clothes and weapons. I have also bribed the guards at the southeast city gate in advance. You can enter the city after midnight."