Chapter Twelve: Nurturing Bandits to Maintain Power—Demons Gather at the Foot of Spirit Mountain

This is a state enforcement agency. Even with their authority, they usually have to be polite and courteous. They certainly wouldn’t take orders as casually as Beidou Yi does.

Moreover, he’s accused of a serious crime. How can they just ignore it and only trust Beidou Yi’s one-sided account?

“Wait a moment! The murderer is right here! You’re turning a blind eye. This is dereliction of duty. On behalf of the Xu Group, I will report you to your superiors!”

Seeing the situation, Guanren Xu’s expression changed drastically as he immediately shouted threats.

With the Xu Group’s influence in Wencheng, even the police chief there would be wary.

However, Baiwei Zhou belongs to the Special Security Bureau, whose authority surpasses that of the police station. How could she fear him?

Just because she’s easygoing with Beidou Yi doesn’t mean she is with others.

Within the Special Security Bureau, she is known for her cold demeanor and decisive actions, and her family background is also quite powerful.

“Guanren Xu! Don’t shout so loudly! If what Mr. Yi says is true, then you are suspected of colluding with foreign forces. When the time comes, you won’t need to seek me out—I will be inviting you for a little ‘tea.’”

“Also, if you want to report me, feel free to exhaust every channel you have. Take note: I am Baiwei Zhou, Deputy Captain of the Wencheng branch of the Special Security Bureau.”

Her voice was sharp and cold. After speaking, she ignored Guanren Xu, who stood there stunned, and turned with the officers to leave the conference room.

A brief silence filled the room, then the Xu group’s faces quickly regained their smiles as they warmly approached Yaoxu to engage in conversation.

This time, their promises were far more sincere, a thousand times more earnest.

Who here is foolish? The attitude of the enforcement agency toward Beidou Yi already revealed everything.

This man was not only physically powerful but likely possessed a very extraordinary identity.

Beside her, Zifu Xu looked at Beidou Yi, who sat in the main seat with his eyes closed, her expression full of complexity.

Who exactly was her once-familiar cousin now?

After sitting a while longer in the conference room and seeing the negotiations progressing smoothly, with Yaoxu and her mother firmly controlling the situation, Beidou Yi rose and left the room. He found Baiwei Zhou nearby, who was using a satellite phone to make some reports.

Seeing Beidou Yi approach, Baiwei Zhou finished her call after a few words.

“Have you confirmed the details?”

Beidou Yi asked.

“Ruan Guangqin of the Doli Group is closely connected with the Great Lotus Temple in Nanyang. This Great Lotus Temple is a deeply hidden force in the Nanyang region, venerating the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha as supreme. Its followers are spread throughout Nanyang, encompassing elites from military, political, and commercial sectors.”

“The head monk calls himself the Great Vow Lotus Master, a saintly figure with a physical body, true name Hu Benqin, originally from Chaozhou in Guangdong. He practices the profound Kṣitigarbha methods, once emulating Kṣitigarbha’s great vow to subdue demons and monsters and to pacify the human world’s purgatory. His method is said to grant invulnerability to weapons and mastery over the seven souls. He holds immense prestige across the Nanyang countries and can even influence regional affairs.”

“This time, Ruan Guangqin’s move against your family’s enterprise, combined with the main branch of the Xu Group, likely harbors ulterior motives.”

Baiwei Zhou spoke in a low voice.

Some of this information was top secret; if she weren’t handling affairs related to Beidou Yi, she wouldn’t have access to such detailed profiles.

As for the person Beidou Yi killed?

That individual was no innocent bystander. He had a criminal record, was a notorious troublemaker, and had entered the country with a forged identity. His death was a service to the people.

“Subduing demons and monsters, pacifying the human world’s purgatory? The Sutra of Dharma Extinction records that after the Buddha’s nirvana, the demon path flourished, demons disguised as monks, corrupting the Buddhist path. Judging by this person’s followers and actions, he must fit this description.”

Beidou Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You can discern that? Indeed, according to our intelligence, although he vows to exorcise demons, in reality, he fosters their proliferation. Under the pretense of ‘salvation,’ he shelters many practitioners of dark arts, using them as tools. His followers imitate him, and the proliferation of occult practices and sorcery in the Nanyang countries is closely tied to him.”

Baiwei Zhou looked at Beidou Yi with some surprise. She had just learned these shocking secrets herself.

“Feeding the wolves to gain strength is nothing new. Haven’t you seen that at the foot of Mount Ling, as in Journey to the West, demons abound? Yin and yang harmonize, good and evil circulate. Without demons wreaking havoc, who would believe in the Buddha?”

Beidou Yi already understood the true nature of that saintly being in Nanyang. His gaze shifted to the southeast.

Although he had secluded himself these years, avoiding worldly affairs, he was well-read and had graduated from the prestigious philosophy department of Dechang University. Though a celestial demon himself, he was remarkably erudite.

The five aggregates and six desires weaken the spirit, while the classics calm the mind and spirit.

“If given the chance, I shall seek him out to learn his demon-subduing methods,” Beidou Yi said calmly.

This man had vowed to exorcise demons—would he be able to subdue this ‘freedom demon’?

“Don’t act recklessly!”

Baiwei Zhou was shocked to the core by Beidou Yi’s words.

A clash between such figures would cause immense upheaval, risking a bloodbath and even destabilizing the region.

Moreover, that was the other party’s territory; having been saintly for many years, his foundation was profound, and who knew what tricks he might conceal.

By contrast, Beidou Yi was young and had only recently broken through that realm, his foundation evidently insufficient.

Even among saintly beings, there are levels of power.

Others might speak carelessly, but hearing this from Beidou Yi, she truly believed he would act on it.

Though they had only met a few times, she already understood his nature well.

He was straightforward and fierce, unwavering in his words, a man of his word, and without taboos.

“Not for now. The time is not ripe.”

Beidou Yi glanced at her as if she were facing a formidable enemy and found it somewhat amusing.

Hearing this, Baiwei Zhou finally relaxed and decided to report the matter immediately.

“By the way, there’s something I need to tell you. I have already reported your situation to our superiors. They have decided to let me handle your liaison for now. Though you are a saintly being with a physical body, this is the modern world—you can’t rely on strength alone. Perhaps we can offer you some conveniences.”

“Therefore, can you tell me what you plan to do next? Maybe I can help with some small matters,” Baiwei Zhou asked tentatively.

If her colleagues had seen this scene, they would have been stunned.

When had the decisive and ruthless Deputy Captain Zhou ever been so cautious, speaking gently and softly?

But this also reflected the attitude from above: Beidou Yi showed goodwill, and they reciprocated.

In any country, a saintly being with a physical body is someone worth making every effort to win over.

“Liaison? I think it’s surveillance,” Beidou Yi remarked ambiguously.

“How can you call it surveillance? Don’t use such harsh words. I even vouched for you today. Don’t you have any gratitude?”

Baiwei Zhou continued her gentle coaxing.

If this tone were used with anyone else, it would be normal. From her, it was almost like a plea.

Hearing this, Beidou Yi paused slightly.

The other party was telling the truth—without her leading the team today, the Xu Group incident would have been more troublesome.

After a moment’s thought, Beidou Yi said, “Since you put it that way, I don’t mind sharing a little. Next, I plan to learn martial arts.”

“Learn martial arts?”

Baiwei Zhou was momentarily stunned, as if hearing something unbelievable.

“You’re already a saintly being with a physical body. Such beings are rare in the world and have reached the pinnacle of their path. Who could possibly teach you martial arts? If you don’t want to say, don’t pretend I’m a fool.”

She rolled her eyes in disbelief.

“I’m not fooling you. I truly don’t know martial arts. I’m just physically stronger than ordinary people, with a bit higher mental strength and better body control. Aside from that, I have no special skills.”

Beidou Yi spoke honestly.

The Freedom Heart Technique develops brain function and helps one control their body, but it has no offensive or lethal techniques. His current strength partly comes from his saintly physical constitution and partly from his innate demonic combat instincts.

In some ways, he was no different from a savage beast relying on instinct to fight.

Baiwei Zhou opened her mouth but didn’t know how to respond.

You’re sure that’s only “a bit stronger”?