The monk's words were ninety percent true, but he held back ten percent, deliberately omitting the existence of the guardians within Lotus Temple.
Unfortunately for the monk, he had chosen the wrong target. Bai Qi was no ordinary person; he was a seasoned player who had memorized the entirety of "Chen Long's Adventures," every detail etched into his mind. He instantly saw through the monk's little trick but chose not to expose him.
Shortly after "Chen Long's Adventures" first aired, there was intense speculation online about the monk's true identity, given his slightly disheveled appearance.
One popular theory suggested the monk was the previous guardian of Lotus Temple, supported by a considerable amount of evidence.
At the time, Bai Qi found the netizens' arguments quite convincing. But now…
When Bai Qi apprehended the monk, he had also investigated his background. The monk was absolutely not a guardian of Lotus Temple, as the netizens had speculated.
The monk had originally been a practitioner in a secluded mountain monastery. He stumbled upon information about Lotus Temple in the monastery's ancient texts and was immediately captivated by the powerful magic scrolls housed within.
Later, the monk was expelled from his own temple for breaking monastic vows and began searching for Lotus Temple.
More importantly, if the monk had already been the guardian of Lotus Temple, he would have been intimately familiar with all the incantation-based magic during his years there. Why would he need to go to such lengths to retrieve the magic scrolls from Lotus Temple after escaping, when he could have simply created his own incantations?
Therefore, even without knowing the monk's exact identity, Bai Qi could deduce that the monk was definitely not a guardian of Lotus Temple.
After listening to the monk's tale, Bai Qi's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked up at the sky.
The dark clouds overhead gradually dispersed, revealing a full moon.
The monk was right about one thing: Lotus Temple only appeared on the night of the full moon. And tonight, it was the full moon.
"Since you've told me all that, and we happen to be at the right time, why don't we look for it? Ancient wisdom says, 'only when the tiger's fangs flash in the moonlit night can the hidden tiger be seen.'"
With the Shadow Ninjas acting as his scouts, Bai Qi moved with ease. Soon, the ninjas relayed a message: Lotus Temple had been found, but another group had arrived before them.
"Someone else is after Lotus Temple? Let's go. I want to see who it is."
Pushing through the bamboo forest, Bai Qi spotted a massive structure in the distance. Two ancient bronze lion statues guarded the entrance, and the old walls hinted at a distinctly Chinese architectural style. It was undoubtedly Lotus Temple.
However, on the open ground before the entrance, Bai Qi saw a black stealth fighter jet emblazoned with an eagle insignia. Without a doubt, it belonged to S.H.I.E.L.D.
Bai Qi was surprised that S.H.I.E.L.D. was also interested in Lotus Temple. Moreover, they had clearly reached the temple before him and had already entered.
But this was fine. Let them scout the way. After all, Lotus Temple housed a rather ill-tempered guardian.
Just as Bai Qi expected, not long after, a window on the second floor of Lotus Temple shattered. Two agents in black tactical suits leaped out, followed by a beam of energy that sprayed from the window, instantly encasing anything it touched in a thick layer of ice.
Confirming that the two agents were neither Black, nor one-eyed, Bai Qi felt a sense of relief.
They seemed to be just some minor, unknown agents.
However, even dealing with two minor agents required caution.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was a tightly knit organization, and mishandling this situation could easily lead to a swarm of agents. Furthermore, his Shadow Ninjas were too distinctive. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s influence spanned the entire United States; they would undoubtedly know that the Shadow Ninjas were his subordinates.
Therefore, Bai Qi decided to use a new toy he had recently acquired to play with these two agents.
Two Shadow Ninjas emerged from the Shadow Realm, carrying a massive popsicle. Within the ice block was the stitched-together monster Bai Qi had brought from the ancient castle.
The two agents who had fled Lotus Temple returned to its entrance.
"What do we do? We can't defeat the guardian inside. Should we call for backup?"
One agent raised his hand, stopping his partner. "Wait. I have a way to deal with the guardian. Let's try one more time. If it doesn't work, then we'll call for backup."
Unless absolutely necessary, the agent truly didn't want to call for backup. Calling for backup would be tantamount to admitting mission failure. This was the agent's first mission with his partner since completing their training, and he didn't want it to end in failure.
Seeing his partner's determination, the other agent nodded. "Alright. I'll risk my life with you one more time today."
Just as the two were about to re-enter Lotus Temple, the ground trembled slightly, and a towering figure burst forth from the bamboo forest.
"What the hell is that monster!"
The agents were startled by the sight of the stitched-together monster. However, years of rigorous training had instilled in their bodies an instinctive reaction to sudden danger.
Seeing the charging stitched-together monster, the two agents instinctively drew their weapons and opened fire.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
This stitched-together monster was no ordinary specimen; it was a special gift Bai Qi had carefully selected for them.
The monster still possessed the body of a black bear, but its skin was covered in a layer of hardened exoskeleton, resembling that of an ant.
The bullets bounced off its exoskeleton.
Seeing that their bullets were ineffective, the two agents immediately switched tactics. They dropped their handguns and sprinted in opposite directions. One of them also threw a flashbang at the monster.
The blinding light made it impossible for the monster to see. By the time the light dissipated, the two agents had disembarked from their jet, each armed with a submachine gun.
Without further ado, they unleashed a barrage of bullets onto the monster. The exoskeleton on the monster's body began to shatter and peel away at a visible rate, revealing its soft flesh beneath.
Bai Qi had underestimated S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technology. The two agents were keeping the stitched-together monster at bay, and at this rate, it would be worn down and defeated before long.
As the overwhelmed stitched-together monster was about to collapse, a triumphant smile spread across the agents' faces.
But would Bai Qi allow them to win so easily?
Of course not.
Bai Qi released another stitched-together monster. While not as powerful as the first, it was enough to break the current stalemate.
"What the heck! Where did another monster come from?"
The sudden appearance of the second stitched-together monster caught the agents off guard. One of them was struck by a powerful blow from the monster, sending him flying five meters away, three of his ribs broken.
The previously advantageous situation had instantly vanished.
Just as Bai Qi believed the two agents were doomed, they surprised him once again.
The injured agent pressed his electronic watch on his wrist, and two half-meter-tall vehicles sped out of the jet. Under the agents' control, the machine guns mounted on the vehicles opened fire, riddling the stitched-together monster with bullets.