Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1281: Plot to Seize

Sangha Monastery.

In the grand main hall, the patriarchs of the Four Great Families assembled. Surrounding a enormous table, solely the four family leaders occupied the key seats.

Not even their most loyal bodyguards were allowed inside. This gathering represented the utmost confidential summit in the Southwest Region.

The atmosphere during today's assembly carried a heavy tension.

Yasha Langtai Deji, serving as the Khenpo of Sangha Monastery, displayed a grim expression, his eyes brimming with scarcely hidden fury.

His glance shifted subtly towards Pagyi Gesang seated next to him.

The events of yesterday, of course, couldn't remain secret from the leaders of the Southwest Region's Four Great Families.

La Min Ouzhu and Xia Zha Gyatso stayed quiet. Since this issue didn't concern them directly, both chose to observe the clash between Yasha Langtai Deji and Pagyi Gesang.

Deji broke the silence first.

"Yesterday, Dharma-protectors from Sangha Monastery got ambushed during their border patrol. The whole team was wiped out!"

"To dare assault the Dharma-protectors of the esoteric sect here on the Snowy Plateau, those culprits must be under demonic influence. Their crime cannot be forgiven!"

While speaking, Deji's eyes gradually fixed on Pagyi Gesang.

"Chief Pagyi, based on the reports I've gathered, those attackers headed straight to your Pagyi Family afterward. Is that accurate?"

The attention of the other three patriarchs turned to Pagyi Gesang.

Though those monk soldiers belonged nominally to Sangha Monastery, everyone knew they answered to the Yasha Langtai family.

Yet Deji was confronting Pagyi Gesang under the banner of Sangha Monastery's Khenpo. Now it depended on how Pagyi Gesang would counter.

Pagyi Gesang knitted his brows. "Oh? Did something like that occur? I'm completely in the dark about it!"

La Min Ouzhu's mouth corners twitched faintly.

Acting clueless even now—you really are an expert at pretending not to know.

Deji's face grew icy. "Are you claiming those individuals have zero ties to Chief Pagyi?"

Pagyi Gesang let out a light laugh, pressing his palms together and chanting a Buddha's name.

"Amitabha. With so many folks in the Pagyi Family, how could I track every one? Yesterday we held meetings the entire day. I retired to rest and only just arose when you summoned me here."

He creased his forehead. "Maybe... they merely passed through?"

Deji huffed disdainfully. "Gesang, quit the act. We possess solid proof. Those people are right there in your Pagyi Family."

"Corrupting the Buddhist teachings, slaying Dharma-protectors of the esoteric sect—what a heinous offense that is! Are you intending to harbor those Demons?"

Pagyi Gesang shook his head.

"I'm hearing about this for the first time. We need a thorough probe. Fine, I'll investigate it fully upon my return."

All at once, his face hardened. "Should I confirm anyone in our family did this, the Pagyi Family will show them no mercy!"

Deji sneered to himself.

He anticipated Pagyi Gesang wouldn't surrender the culprits without a fight.

Thankfully, he had prepared beforehand.

The operatives he dispatched ranked among Sangha Monastery's elite warriors.

They would claim the suspects in the esoteric sect's authority. Refusal would trigger an assault from the monk soldiers poised at the Pagyi Family's borders straight onto their stronghold.

The Pagyi Family boasted large numbers, yet against Sangha Monastery's monk soldiers, they'd inevitably yield. Such was the esoteric sect's dominance.

After all, nobody wished to suffer the torments of the eighteen hells post-mortem.

Deji snorted once more. "Even if we sort this out, your Pagyi Family bears the blame! Procrastinating won't help. The facts will surface eventually."

"Unless those Demons plan to burrow inside your Pagyi Family indefinitely!"

Pagyi Gesang smiled. "Why speak so harshly, Khenpo? To me, it seems like pure misunderstanding."

Deji shot back in rage, "Chief Pagyi! Slaying a Dharma-protecting Vajra from Sangha Monastery—is that a misunderstanding as well? Dare you utter that in front of the Buddha?"

A brief uncertainty flashed in Pagyi Gesang's gaze.

Raised on the Snowy Plateau, they cherished profound devotion to the esoteric sect.

Their actions might stray from strict Buddhist precepts, yet a deep awe for gods and Buddhas lingered in their souls.

"Why push so hard, Khenpo? I only suspect something fishy here and need time for a proper check."

"Moreover, the Prayer Festival approaches soon. We've focused preparations on it all along. Let's not allow minor issues to disrupt the Festival's start."

Deji and Pagyi Gesang traded sharp barbs.

In reality, both understood the full story clearly.

Loren's monk soldiers had already eliminated numerous mercenaries venturing into the Snowy Region.

Had those intruders been powerful enough, Loren's group would've fallen long before.

Deji merely seized this chance to strike.

The remaining two patriarchs spectated, but deep down, they relished the demise of Loren and his crew.

Those were Yasha Langtai family's underlings, after all. Hires from the other two families had often fallen victim to them too.

Deji remained seated, twirling his prayer beads, and released a soft sigh.

"Ah..."

"The Four Great Chieftain families are bound by shared fate. We rise as one, we fall as one. With the Prayer Festival nearing, we must avoid any infighting now."

"At this moment, the Lord of the Charnel Ground, favored by gods and Buddhas, wields supreme might safeguarding our whole Snowy Region."

"Let us unite around the Lord of the Charnel Ground and worship him with utmost piety."

"However, Sangha Monastery lacks sufficient might, to the extent a Dharma-protecting Vajra fell to Demons. How does this inspire faith among the esoteric sect's believers?"

His eyes scanned the three family heads as he continued.

"Thus, I suggest our four families offer parts of our forces to the Lord of the Charnel Ground, bolstering Sangha Monastery's standing. This shall also ward off those lowly outsiders!"

He lifted his hand while declaring. "My Yasha Langtai family leads by example. I offer one thousand warriors and five thousand serfs, complete with their arms and supplies."

At these words, Pagyi Gesang and the other two finally grasped Deji's real aim.

Leveraging the annihilation of Loren's squad, he sought to extract troops and serfs from the three families.

In these times, manpower and armies signified control.

This equaled demanding they relinquish their dominion.

The three patriarchs' faces darkened.

The Yasha Langtai family had pulled such maneuvers repeatedly before, gradually whittling down the other three's might.

Currently, their lands, troops, and populace amounted to under half of pre-Apocalypse levels.

Yasha Langtai Deji phrased it nobly as leading the donation, yet as Sangha Monastery's Khenpo, his contributions merely shifted within his own grasp.

Pagyi Gesang cast a chilly look at Deji.

Xia Zha Gyatso and La Min Ouzhu eyed him expectantly.

The Pagyi Family wielded immense power, rivaled only by the Yasha Langtai family.

Were it not for the Lord of the Charnel Ground hailing from Yasha Langtai, Pagyi would dominate the Snowy Plateau.

By contrast, Xia Zha and La Min families lagged behind.

They awaited Pagyi Gesang's position.

Author's Note