Crumbling Into Dust

The leader squinted his dark and fierce eyes. He stared at the blazing fire for some time before announcing, "Let's retreat! Tell the higher-ups that she is dead."

In their opinion, Tang Ning was not someone who could live for more than a few days now. She was just a young girl, with no power, no practice of her cultivation. She was also tortured all along, which resulted in all the injuries that covered her body. Furthermore, she was bitten by more than a hundred rats. They didn't believe that she could survive any longer.

The leader scanned the people beside him with his dark eyes and said, "Remember, she's dead. You all better relay the same statement around and make sure everyone keeps their mouth shut. If not, everyone would have to die with Tang Ning!"

The hearts of the remaining Shadow Mercs trembled, and they immediately responded, "Yes, we understand."

"Let's go!"

The leader turned around and left, and the rest quickly followed behind. They came and left quietly, leaving the blazing night sky behind them.

There were only around a dozen people in the monastery, and they couldn't possibly put out the fire. The fire continued until the break of dawn before it gradually went out when everything in the monastery was burnt down, leaving behind only the ashes.

After an entire night of trying to extinguish the fire, the faces of the people in the monastery, including Tang Ning and the abbot, were black and covered with soot. Their robes were wet from when they were trying to put out the fire by using buckets of water, and some of them even burnt a part of their robes. All of them were in a shabby and embarrassing condition.

However, they did not realize their embarrassing situation and just continued staring blankly at the burnt down monastery. Their eyes were slightly red and teary.

Tang Ning, who was standing on the side, was feeling guilty. If not for her, their monastery would not have been burnt down by the Shadow Mercs.

"Master, our monastery is gone." One of the monks said as he sobbed.

"Sigh! Let's all cheer up. As long as everyone is safe, we can still rebuild the monastery anytime, even if it's gone." The abbot sighed softly as he consoled the other disciples.

Tang Ning stepped forward and spoke to the abbot seriously, "I will rebuild the monastery."

The abbot looked at the little monk in front of him. The little monk's face was black because of the smoke. The abbot couldn't recall which disciple this was, so he petted the little monk's head and said, "Amitabha, everything will become better."

Under the leadership of the abbot, everyone started tidying up the monastery. The fire has turned most of the things into useless ash, and the only useful things left were some pots, bowls, and stone stools.

Tang Ning rummaged through the debris and gathered anything that could still be used. She was still feeling uneasy in her heart as she looked at the pile of burnt down things in front of her.

However, even if she wished to rebuild the monastery, she had no money to do it.

No!

Indeed, she did not have any money, but she had the gold leaves she searched from the Shadow Mercs when she killed him.

"Come here, everyone." The abbot's voice rang out, and he waved his hand and gestured for everyone to surround him.

Everybody looked at one another and then went up to the abbot. They greeted him respectfully. "Master."

"After such adversity, all that's left are these pots and bowls. Now that the monastery has become inhabitable, you all shall go down the mountain today itself!" The abbot sighed.

"Master! We will not leave. Even if the monastery is gone, this place is still our home!" A monk kneeled in front of him and started crying.

"Master, we must rebuild the monastery, rebuild our home. Master! Master, we will not leave!" The monks said tearfully as they all kneeled in the abbot's direction.

Looking at this situation, Tang Ning was at a loss of words.