Chapter 784 Fire!

"Does Your Highness still feel there's something wrong with this matter?"

Looking at Yuwen Ye standing in the center of the Buddhist hall, though facing the benevolent-looking Guanyin, his eyes were filled with coldness and murderous intent, making people uneasy. Mu Xian remained silent for a long time, and finally couldn't help but ask in a soft voice.

Yuwen Ye said in a deep voice, "Jiang Chongen is utterly useless in terms of ability, and frivolous and immoral in terms of character."

Mu Xian immediately realized something: "Your Highness means—"

Yuwen Ye said, "It is really strange that this person suddenly surrendered, especially since Liang Shide's side did not suffer any major defeats. It's just that the two prefectures of Song and Xu were captured by Shen Tu Tai, which should be a military warning for him, but there is no fear of death."

"..."

"As for Jiang Chongen, he is someone who can live a life of luxury but would never dare to take risks easily."

Just then, footsteps sounded in the corridor outside.

Both of them instinctively shut their mouths, then heard a young man's voice scolding them with a laugh: "You, Master made it so clear last night not to sleep in, but you still didn't listen. You'll be punished to sweep the yard later—Jianzhen, what are you thinking about?"

Another childish, immature voice hesitated and said, "I really did see someone just now."

"You're talking nonsense. The abbot cleared out the backyard long ago and no one is allowed to get close. There's no one here."

“I really saw it.”

"Hmph, you must have seen this in your dream while you were sleeping in."

“I wasn’t talking in my sleep. I really did see a few people carrying firewood to the back of the Sutra Repository. And, senior brother, I don’t recognize any of those people. They don’t seem to be one of our fellow disciples.”

The sound grew closer and closer. When they passed the entrance of the Buddhist hall, they saw two monks, one big and one small. The little monk was only seven or eight years old. His round head was as honest and cute as a kind child. But what he said made Yuwen Ye's heart sink.

He suddenly said, "Stop!"

The two monks were startled by the sudden sound. They turned around and saw Yuwen Ye, dressed in brocade robes and with an air of extraordinary bearing, standing in the Buddhist hall. He was accompanied by an elegantly dressed attendant. They immediately guessed his identity and hurriedly knelt at the entrance of the Buddhist hall, not daring to make a sound.

Yuwen Ye took a step forward: "What did you just say?"

The young monk glanced up at him instinctively, but met his cold, piercing gaze. Startled, he lowered his head again and stammered, "No, no—"

Yuwen Ye said sternly, "Speak!"

His shout startled Master Xinzheng, who had just instructed the monks in the backyard to serve the noble guest properly and not to disturb him before rushing to the Buddha Hall to attend to him. Master Xinzheng hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Your Highness, what's going on?"

Yuwen Ye's unease grew stronger. He reached out and pulled the little monk up from the ground, saying in a deep voice, "He just said that he saw a stranger in the backyard."

"What!?"

Master Xinzheng was also startled and hurriedly said, "How is this possible? Jianzhen, what did you see!"

Although the young monk was frightened, the presence of the abbot helped him regain his composure. He stammered, "I... I just saw some strangers carrying firewood and walking behind the scripture pavilion. I've never seen any of them before, and they don't seem to be from our temple."

"ah!"

Xin Zheng was greatly alarmed, and just then, several monks below the lecture hall in front of him suddenly shouted: "The Sutra Repository is on fire!"

The sound was like a bolt from the blue. Yuwen Ye threw the child aside and ran ahead. Mu Xian was about to follow when he heard Yuwen Ye shout from afar, "Mu Xian, immediately order your men to surround Dayan Temple. Don't let a single person escape!"

Mu Xian immediately accepted the order: "Yes!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yuwen Ye had already taken two steps up the stone steps, rushing past the lecture hall like lightning. Several monks were still hesitating whether to go to the scripture pavilion to put out the fire—after all, the abbot had repeatedly warned them not to go near the scripture pavilion all day—when they felt a gust of wind sweep past them, lifting their robes. Before they could react, they saw the hunched-back Master Xinzheng, his face pale, hurriedly following them, calling out, "Quick, quick, send someone to put out the fire!"

The crowd then hurriedly followed.

In the blink of an eye, Yuwen Ye had already rushed into that unfamiliar courtyard.

Although he was not familiar with the layout of Dayan Temple, he had just seen a plume of black smoke rising from the backyard and the air was filled with an increasingly strong smell of burning. The location was obvious to him. As soon as he rushed into the courtyard, he saw that the unfamiliar scripture pavilion was tightly closed. Although it was not locked, the doorway and the only open window were piled with firewood, which was now burning!

Someone deliberately set the fire!

But at this moment, shock and anger could no longer suppress the anxiety in his heart. Seeing the flames climbing upwards with the help of the wind, almost sealing off the tall doors and windows, it was clear that the people inside had not yet escaped!

May you have everything you desire! May you have everything you desire!

The thought of how clumsy she always looked when she walked made Yuwen Ye's heart ache, and he immediately rushed inside!

Just as he was about to rush forward, a hand grabbed his sleeve from behind. Yuwen Ye turned around and saw the monk Xinzheng, who was covered in sweat and had a deathly pale face. He was already terrified, but still managed to hold onto the nearly irrational Yuwen Ye and cried out, "Your Highness, Your Highness is in danger!"

"open!"

"Your Highness, you mustn't!"

Considering his advanced age and status as a Buddhist leader, Yuwen Ye could not resort to force. He could only forcefully pull his sleeve back, but the old monk held on tightly, pleading with him, "Your Highness is of noble birth and should not put yourself in danger," while also calling to the monks who had followed him up, "Hurry up and go save them!"

The monks were also carrying buckets and brooms, pouring water onto the fire while vigorously patting the flames.

However, the attic was made of wood, and by this time the beams and pillars had already begun to burn. Even if dozens more buckets of water were added, it would be like a drop in the ocean.

A young and strong monk suddenly yanked open the door with his staff, and flames rushed in as if propelled by the flames, instantly filling the entire first floor of the pavilion. Yuwen Ye's eyes were instantly burned red by the flames!

"open!"

With a swift swing of his long arm, he finally flung the monk Xinzheng aside, and his disciples rushed forward to support him.

But the old monk still dared not give up. Even though he was far from the court and old and senile, he knew very well that this Prince Qin was the greatest reliance of the Great Sheng Dynasty. If he was injured here, or even if the entire Dayan Temple was burned alive, he would still be held responsible!

Master Xinzheng scrambled forward, trying to stop Yuwen Ye, shouting frantically, "Your Highness, Your Highness, you can't! The Scripture Pavilion has—"