Chapter 156: Chapter 156: No Way Out

If the three of them fight with all their might, can a woman who is already exhausted resist? There might still be a chance.

This was the thought of Ming Qing and his companions.

However, if Xia Wenjin didn’t have absolute confidence, why would she reveal this?

As the three of them charged at Xia Wenjin again, they felt weak under their feet, finding it difficult to muster their strength; indeed, their inner strength was not as smooth as before.

Ming Qing was greatly alarmed and quickly withdrew his hand, but suddenly shouted sternly, “Someone, come!”

The eighteen monks on guard outside immediately rushed into the room upon hearing his voice.

Previously, when Ming Qing and his companions attacked, Xia Wenjin had already prepared for defense. She hadn’t expected him to call for help as soon as he gave up. Although Xia Wenjin had speculated whether these eighteen people were Ming Qing’s confidants or were completely unaware.

Now it seems they are indeed Ming Qing’s people.

This Shian Temple, most likely, is predominantly filled with Ming Qing’s people.

At this moment, Ming Qing and his companions found it increasingly difficult to muster their inner strength. They also didn’t know what kind of poison “Nerve Softening Disembowel Heartbreak Powder” was, having never heard of it before. Their hearts filled with uncertainty, they didn’t dare move.

Seeing the eighteen monks rush in, Ming Qing immediately pointed at Xia Wenjin and said, “Take her down!”

A sharp glint flashed in Xia Wenjin’s eyes.

She knew something was off with the Fertility Zen Temple. To see that it was actually monks led by Ming Qing defiling women’s purity made her both angry and hateful. Seeing these monks colluding with Ming Qing, one could only guess how many women’s purities had been ruined by them.

Thinking of the missing girls downhill, the mysterious trade methods, everything was incredibly close to her suspicions.

Those missing girls are likely on the mountain!

They might still be imprisoned or have already been violated to death. Xia Wenjin’s anger could no longer be concealed; she wanted to kill!

She knew that evil people existed in this world, capable of extreme inhumanity. However, using the guise of the Buddhist Sect to wreak havoc here for five whole years was intolerable.

Ignorance was one thing, but knowing meant she would fight with all her might to rid the people of this scourge.

The eighteen monks surrounded the room, trapping Xia Wenjin in the middle.

Xia Wenjin felt a bit regretful.

She had only tried the “Nerve Softening Disembowel Heartbreak Powder” to test her past life alchemy skills. There weren’t many materials, so she had only concocted about the size of a soybean before. After using it, this time, it was only about the size of a mung bean, only enough for one person. Mixed into the candle, the three still had the ability to fight, though their inner strength was slightly impaired, allowing for only sixty or seventy percent performance. Yet they were so afraid of death, scared stiff from acting, and instead called for help.

With so many people, she didn’t have a second dose of the “Nerve Softening Disembowel Heartbreak Powder.”

Then she would fight.

Anyway, she had a way out.

At worst, she’d activate the second plan.

Xia Wenjin launched an attack.

The eighteen monks wielded weapons, each holding a long staff that whistled through the air.

However, the strongest among them only just reached the Second-class Initial Tier. Despite Xia Wenjin’s body being weak, she had practiced martial arts since childhood and, after several months of her own tempering, still had the strength to fight.

Seeing the shadows of staffs like a mountain, within a net of intertwined staffs, Xia Wenjin weaved and dodged in that limited space, using her dagger to accurately strike her targets.

Blood splattered and shadows flickered amidst the whistling of staffs and the gleams of bald heads.

Ming Qing and his companions watched from the side, both anxious and angry. They never expected this young girl to be so skilled. Her movement technique was as if she was not bound by physical limits; staffs seemed about to hit her but she could still avoid, even managing to slice open nearby monks at the same time.

The dagger seemed to be a part of her hand, striking precisely.

But although she seemed relaxed in Ming Qing and the others’ eyes, Xia Wenjin was not at ease. Even a fierce tiger struggles against a pack of wolves, and she had expended a lot of energy fighting Ming Qing and his companions before being surrounded by eighteen monks.

In truth, she suffered several blows and scrapes from the staffs herself.

Though not cutting her, the staffs had left her in pain.

Moreover, her current predicament was clear; she had no backup.

Huangfu Jingchen had gone to the back mountain. As he had discovered something amiss there before, there must also be a fierce battle, preventing him from coming to aid her.

Kong Chan?

Forget it, that guy was more interested in self-preservation and wouldn’t voluntarily come to such a dangerous place.

As Ming Qing attempted to gather his inner strength again and noticed his body growing weaker, his heart panicked even more. He angrily said: “Use hidden weapons, replace with blades. Are you sparring with her for movement technique?”

The eighteen monks, unable to win, were already impatient. Chastised by Ming Qing, they felt humiliated, and two immediately discarded their staffs, revealing chain spears from their waists. Apart from five or six with no weapons, others wielded Water Dividing Needles, Short Knives, or Short Swords. The gleam of blades was chilling as the killing intent intensified.

Before, they used staffs—a fallback plan, allowing some flexibility if the situation still offered a way out. But now that it seemed impossible to capture her, they were ready to severely wound.

All with sharp blades, Xia Wenjin’s situation became all the more dangerous.

Following Ming Qing’s instructions, the eighteen formed a formation, staffs in front, blades, and chain spears in the middle, advancing step by step like a wall.

Xia Wenjin silently lamented. In truth, when the eighteen monks rushed in, she had planned to seize one of the Ming Qing trio as a hostage, but they had immediately retreated beyond the monks’ protective circle, leaving her no opportunity.

If forced against the wall by these monks and assailed with hidden weapons, there’d be nowhere left to hide.

Time to activate the second plan.

Xia Wenjin retreated, aiming for the window.

Although closed, the window was ajar.

Xia Wenjin’s second plan was to open the window and jump out.

On that side, she had fastened a rope. After jumping, she could catch it to prevent falling off the cliff immediately. However, it was extraordinarily steep there, posing difficulty in climbing back. This was a last-resort plan, merely temporarily ensuring survival.

This result left Xia Wenjin rather unsatisfied.

It’s a pity manpower was insufficient; next opportunity, she’d cultivate her past life allies.

Although she had uncovered the secret of Shian Temple and its unsavory activities, only she knew. Without catching them in the act, tomorrow, if Ming Qing’s men thought of ways to cover it up when facing the incense guest’s confrontation with the temple, reconstructing the truth would prove extremely challenging.

But these circumstances weren’t only because of lack of manpower. Tonight’s original intent was merely exploration, suspecting something wrong with Shian Temple but unaware that even the Chief Ming Qing was leading the rogue monks?

These suspicions were part of her hypothesis; yet the full-blown reality, with no breathing space, overwhelmed her.

Ming Qing’s eyes were filled with malice and intent to kill, yet he gritted his teeth and said, “Capture her alive!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep