Ch 239: A Show Of Force
Li Hanzhou originally thought the other party was waiting in the guest room, but after arriving, he didn’t see anyone, only then did he hear that they were in the plaza.
Li Hanzhou saw several people from the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division arrive, each wearing purple clothes.
The leader was in front of the Hidden Buddha Pagoda, carefully examining the Hidden Buddha Pagoda before him.
Studying it carefully.
“Li Hanzhou of Longevity Temple, I pay my respects to the Deputy Commander.”
Li Hanzhou walked up and said with clasped fists.
The Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division in front of him had already reached the Heavenly Gang Realm, a considerable strength.
Based on his strength, he was indeed qualified to serve as a Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division in one area.
His other subordinates also possessed Transcendent Realm cultivation levels.
Working for the Demon Suppression Division, they lived a life on the edge of a knife, without some strength it was completely impossible.
However, the Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division seemed not to have heard Li Hanzhou’s words, did not respond, and still stood there carefully looking at the Hidden Buddha Pagoda.
Seeing that the other party ignored him, Li Hanzhou frowned slightly.
It seemed that the visitor’s intentions were not good.
“My name is Gong Wenqing, and I currently hold the position of Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division.” After a long while, the Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division slowly spoke, “I have been in Yunzhou for quite some time, and this is my first visit to Longevity Temple. I’ve been too busy lately, and haven’t had the time. Today, I happened to be free, so I came to take a look.”
“You are Li Hanzhou?”
Gong Wenqing glanced at Li Hanzhou: “After coming to Yunzhou, I have heard some things about you.”
“Then I am truly honored.”
Since the other party didn’t give him a good reception, Li Hanzhou didn’t bother to be polite: “I wonder what brings you all to my Longevity Temple today?”
“Two matters.”
Gong Wenqing said indifferently: “First, besides serving as the Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division, I also oversee the affairs of Yunzhou. Previously, the Demon Race infiltrated Yunzhou, causing great destruction. However, after I took office, I discovered that Yunzhou’s finances are not so ideal. Your Longevity Temple, as a major sect within Yunzhou, and with a thriving business like the Qingfeng Tavern, it is your duty to make a contribution to Yunzhou.”
Hearing this, Li Hanzhou was stunned.
They came to ask for money?
The Qingfeng Tavern’s business was too good, it was indeed attracting attention.
When Ye Qingbei was in charge of White Cloud City, there was naturally no such problem. But since Gong Wenqing was airdropped in, a new official taking office, he naturally needs to make a splash.
“As a member of Yunzhou, it is only right to do something for the commoners of Yunzhou.”
Li Hanzhou didn’t say much.
Just consider it doing charity.
As the saying goes, don’t fight with officials, it’s better to spend money to avoid disaster. It’s fine to spend some money anyway, currently, Longevity Temple doesn’t lack money.
“And the second matter?” Li Hanzhou asked again.
“This.” Gong Wenqing put his hand on the Hidden Buddha Pagoda and said, “If I’m not mistaken, this thing should be the Hidden Buddha Pagoda of the South Sea Tianlong Temple?”
“Yes.” Li Hanzhou did not deny it.
“I also heard that your Longevity Temple is detaining a Master from the South Sea Tianlong Temple.” Gong Wenqing asked with a frown.
“Mm.”
“Release the person, and find a way to return the Hidden Buddha Pagoda.” Gong Wenqing said calmly.
Li Hanzhou found the previous requests reasonable; doing something for the people of Yunzhou City was nothing. But the latter request made Li Hanzhou feel that the Demon Suppression Division was overstepping its authority.
“Lord Gong, aren’t you overstepping your authority?” Li Hanzhou said coldly, “This is a matter between our Longevity Temple and Tianlong Temple, it’s not up to your Demon Suppression Division to interfere, is it?”
“Audacious!”
Several Demon Suppression Division officers, hearing Li Hanzhou’s words, immediately rebuked him.
Pairs of sharp eyes stared at Li Hanzhou.
But Li Hanzhou didn’t pay any attention to their sharp gazes.
“Heh.”
Gong Wenqing narrowed his eyes: “Who says it doesn’t concern me?”
“The South Sea Tianlong Temple is one of the four major Buddhist Sects of the South Sea. Monks from Tianlong Temple once came to my Divine Palace Kingdom to spread Buddhist Dharma. Now you are detaining their monks and even took their Hidden Buddha Pagoda. Tianlong Temple will not easily let this go. This will cause diplomatic problems between Dongyan Province and the South Sea!”
“Causing trouble for the Divine Palace Kingdom, you say this doesn’t concern me?”
Li Hanzhou was stunned by Gong Wenqing’s words.
What a big hat to put on him.
It even involved diplomatic issues?
But then Li Hanzhou understood that Gong Wenqing’s visit to Longevity Temple was mainly to assert his authority.
The Demon Suppression Division had just arrived in Yunzhou. Because of the previous Demon Race attack, most of Yunzhou’s sects suffered losses. The Demon Suppression Division was busy handling Yunzhou’s urgent matters and didn’t have time before. Now that they’re free, they want to assert their authority in Yunzhou, and naturally, they need to find a place to start.
Normally, this target should be the Grand Profound Sacred Land, the most prestigious sect in Yunzhou.
But the Grand Profound Sacred Land suffered heavy losses and is currently under reconstruction.
So the target became Longevity Temple, which suffered no losses during the Demon Race invasion.
They want to make an example of him, so that other sects will be easier to manage.
Perhaps Gong Wenqing also knew that many sects had already pledged allegiance to the Ninth Prince, Yu Qingyang, so he dared not act against them. Longevity Temple had not pledged allegiance to the Ninth Prince, so Gong Wenqing chose what he considered a soft target.
He wants money, and he wants to assert his authority.
Thinking of this, Li Hanzhou almost laughed.
He had originally thought that the Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division was some kind of heroic figure, but now that he had met him, he just wanted to spit in his face.
“I’m just a commoner from the countryside, I don’t understand diplomatic issues. I only know that this is between me and the South Sea. Lord Gong should first think about how to handle Yunzhou’s affairs, and don’t bother yourself with other matters.”
Li Hanzhou didn’t bother to continue talking to him.
“Sorry, I still have matters to attend to at Longevity Temple, so I won’t keep you. If you have nothing else, you may leave.”
After Li Hanzhou finished speaking, he ignored them and turned to leave.
“Li Hanzhou…”
Gong Wenqing watched Li Hanzhou’s departing back, slowly narrowing his eyes.
His eyes were filled with anger.
After returning, Li Hanzhou told Li Changshou about the matter.
After listening, Li Changshou also frowned and said: “Gong Wenqing is after all an airdropped Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division, and he is now in charge of Yunzhou’s military and political affairs. If we offend him, we may not have any peace in the future. Junior Brother, your temper is still too rash.”
“Tianlong Temple kept Qianzhu trapped for so many days, and now they want to renege and harm Qianzhu again before leaving. If we let them take back the Hidden Buddha Pagoda and release Huining, they will really think that our Longevity Temple is afraid of them.”
“This thing, I definitely won’t return it easily.”
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