Xuanmiao readily agreed. After receiving permission from Guan Chang and Bai Song, he strode out of the room with an air of arrogance.
The monks outside watched him expectantly, eager to know the outcome.
Xuanmiao clasped his hands together, chanted a Buddhist invocation: "Namo Hsi-huan Buddhist!"
Then, he continued in the Indian language: "This is all a misunderstanding. These eighteen are the reincarnated forms of the eighteen protectors under the Hsi-huan Buddhist, sent here to guard the faith. I did not recognize them earlier, and for that, I apologize for causing you all suffering."
The monks on the ground, who had been looking worried, instantly became excited.
The eighteen riders had not delivered fatal blows earlier to keep prisoners alive and interrogate them about Hou Junji's whereabouts. Thus, these monks had only lost their combat ability, with no life-threatening injuries.
Although some were injured or disabled, these monks understood that such outcomes were inevitable in a melee of this scale.
Thinking that these eighteen formidable individuals would become protectors of the temple, they immediately put the recent conflict behind them.
Seeing the monks' change in demeanor, Xuanmiao continued: "The Tang people who were abducted a few days ago were a monkey that attained enlightenment from before the Buddha. It stole our Buddha's artifacts and descended to the mortal realm to cause havoc.
"Issue my Buddha's decree: all monks are to leave the temple and search for that person's trace!
"Any who discover him and report back promptly will be promoted to Arhat protectors!
"I, myself, will personally select an exceptional Buddha-mate as a reward!"
As Xuanmiao finished speaking, the monks became ecstatic. Enduring their injuries, they crawled up from the ground and responded in unison.
"Namo Hsi-huan Buddhist, we respectfully obey the Buddha's decree!"
With that, they limped out of Nalanda Monastery and headed west.
Nalanda Monastery was the center of faith in Tianzhu. The monks who left this place were regarded as Buddha's messengers in the eyes of the common people.
Therefore, these monks not only searched themselves but also mobilized the entire city's populace to join the search.
Among a crowd of dark-skinned people, finding a few with yellow skin was as easy as finding a lit lightbulb in the dark.
In less than half a day, someone provided a clue, stating that Hou Junji and others had been seen at the foot of a mountain twenty li west of Vaisali.
When a monk returned to report, Guan Chang, along with Zhao Long, Huang Sheng, Zhang De, Bai Song, and thirteen others, followed the guiding monk to the location. Wang Duan and the remaining five were left to guard Nalanda Monastery and keep an eye on Xuanmiao.
Xiao Douya, who served as the interpreter, was also brought along. Upon arriving at the place, Xiao Douya's expression turned nervous, as if she was afraid of something.
"Ya, what's wrong? Tell Uncle San," Zhang De asked, noticing her unusual expression.
"The two mountains before us, the left one is called White Tiger Mountain. Legend has it that ten years ago, a widow with a reputation for bringing misfortune was driven out of her home and lived here in seclusion. The name White Tiger Mountain originated from her.
"The right one is called Silkworm Peak. It is where the Brahmin clan's weaving workshop is located. Because the linen produced here is strong, and the overseer is a woman who is skilled at spinning silkworm thread, it earned the name Silkworm Peak.
"For men who enter these two mountains, death is certain!
"My father was captured and brought here and never returned. Others bullied Douya because her family had no men, seized their property, and beat my mother to death. Douya escaped and was fortunate to meet Uncle San."
Xiao Douya burst into tears, which greatly pained Zhang De. He stepped forward, pulled her into his arms, and patted her back, saying, "Don't cry, don't cry, Uncle San will stand up for you!"
He then looked at Guan Chang and said, "Brother, what are we waiting for? Let's charge in directly! Who cares about White Tiger Mountain or Silkworm Peak? Let's kill them all, find Hou Junji, and return to Shenyang!"
Guan Chang's gaze fixed on the two mountains before them. On the mountainside of White Tiger Mountain, there was a thatched hut. At the foot of Silkworm Peak was a large courtyard. This courtyard was only about two to three hundred meters from where Guan Chang and the others were currently standing.
According to Douya, the widow driven out of her home on White Tiger Mountain would not have the capability to capture Hou Junji and his group.
Therefore, it could only be the courtyard at the foot of Silkworm Peak. Moreover, judging by the distance, this courtyard was the closest.
"Let's attack the courtyard first!"
Guan Chang declared, then mounted his horse and charged towards the courtyard.
Zhang De, Huang Sheng, Zhao Long, and Bai Song followed suit, mounting their horses and riding after him.
Their warhorses galloped forward and soon stopped before the courtyard.
Guan Chang turned to Huang Sheng and said, "Fourth brother, please ask the owner inside to come out and speak!"
"Got it!"
Huang Sheng took out his longbow, tore off a strip of cloth, wrapped it around an arrow, lit it with a flint, and shot it directly into the courtyard.
It was early winter in Shenyang and Chang'an, but the weather in Tianzhu was still scorching hot. The thatch on the courtyard's roof ignited upon contact with the fire.
Soon, countless panicked screams of women echoed from within the courtyard.
After a short while, the courtyard gate opened, and a woman emerged, followed by over a dozen maidservants.
The woman's attire was the most luxurious Guan Chang and his men had seen since entering Tianzhu.
She was dressed in silk, appearing to be woven fabric from the Jiangnan region of the Great Tang. Her face was veiled, with a red auspicious mark on her forehead. The combined gold ornaments on her ears were at least one or two liang.
The moment the woman stepped out of the courtyard, she saw the bow in Huang Sheng's hand. Thinking of the flaming arrow that had landed in the courtyard, she knew it must have come from this person.
Thus, the woman placed one hand on her hip and pointed at Huang Sheng, shouting.
"Jiligu lupu pupupu~~! Nian ge nan di papapa~~!"
Guan Chang and the others could not understand a single word of the strange Indian language.
Xiao Douya, nestled in Zhang De's arms, voluntarily stepped forward to translate: "My lords, she is cursing!"
"What the heck? This little wench, wait till Uncle pokes her eye out!"
The irascible Zhang De spurred his warhorse forward, brandished his Great Halberd, and lunged directly at the woman.
The woman retreated a couple of steps, waved her hand, and her maidservants rushed forward to block Zhang De's Great Halberd.
As soon as they engaged, two maidservants were sent flying by Zhang De's Great Halberd. However, despite Zhang De's strength, he couldn't knock these two maidservants down. Instead, the moment they landed, they pounced forward again.
"All of you, attack! Except for the one with the veil, show no mercy to the others!"
Guan Chang noticed the unusual capabilities of these maidservants and charged forward with the remaining Yan Yun cavalry.
With the order to show no mercy, the Yan Yun cavalry struck with lethal intent. The dozen or so maidservants were swiftly cut down.
Having traveled for nearly a year to capture Hou Junji, concepts like pitying the fair sex were non-existent!
After all the maidservants were dealt with, Zhang De and Bai Song, one on each side, held their Great Halberds to the veiled woman's neck.
"Ya'er, ask her where the people captured from the temple earlier are hidden."
Xiao Douya quickly relayed the question to the veiled woman. Seeing her maidservants being dispatched like chopping vegetables by the Yan Yun cavalry, the veiled woman was already terrified.
Upon hearing Xiao Douya's question, she quickly pointed inside the courtyard and said something.
"Uncle San, she says, they are inside the courtyard!"
ps: Second update, one more chapter.