510: The hot-tempered Tang Monk swung his staff and beat people!

"S-sorry..." Qiao Linger lowered his head in a fluster.

"...It is fine." Fairy Biyou turned her gaze away and continued sorting the herbs, though her movements had slightly lost their previous fluidity.

In the following days, such "accidental" contacts seemed to increase.

Qiao Linger's health gradually improved, and he tried to move around inside the cave; occasionally, when his steps were unsteady, Fairy Biyou would always reach out to support him in time.

When Fairy Biyou went out to search for food and fresh water, Qiao Linger would always sit near the cave entrance, gazing longingly in the direction she left, and only when she returned would his eyes light up.

"Do not have improper thoughts about me. White Lotus committed suicide for your sake; you cannot betray her!" Fairy Biyou looked at Qiao Linger and said seriously.

"White Lotus!" Qiao Linger's face immediately turned pale. Although he had taken medicine at that time, he still had some consciousness and naturally knew just how much damage had been done to her.

Seven days and seven nights... White Lotus's fearful gaze...

"I'm sorry... The one who owes her an apology is me."

Qiao Linger's voice lowered, and deep pain and self-reproach surged in his eyes. That pain was so real it almost crushed his thin frame:

"It was I who harmed her... If not for me, she would not have..."

He closed his eyes, as if he saw once again the scene of White Lotus plunging the silver hairpin into her heart, blood spreading everywhere.

Seeing his suddenly pale and pained face, Fairy Biyou's heart also tightened.

She remembered that cold, blood-stained body in the Bodhi Hall, and she remembered the complex emotions in White Lotus's final gaze towards Qiao Linger before she died—there was hatred, love, and even more, a sense of relief.

She was silent for a moment, and eventually softened her tone: "The person has passed away, you... must grieve in moderation. The living must always look forward."

Qiao Linger shook his head, his hands unconsciously clutching his clothes: "How can I look forward? She died because of me, died so tragically..."

"Fairy Biyou, you do not understand; what I owe her can never be repaid in this lifetime."

"So, are you going to spend the rest of your life repenting, trapping yourself in guilt?"

Fairy Biyou could not help but retort: "She died for you, but if her spirit is in heaven, would she be willing to see you in this state?"

...

Lu Jiuyuan, the Monkey King, and little Nezha had not left Lingshan too far when they saw a figure descending from the sky.

Draped in a brocade cassock, holding a nine-ringed monk's staff! Wearing a gold-red monk's hat, he looked like a virtuous high monk!

It was none other than Tang Monk, Tripitaka, who had just smuggled himself out through the Reincarnation passage.

"This attire? It's Master! But this temperament is much sharper than Master's!" The Monkey King immediately knew who it was upon seeing this person.

"Is the Golden Cicada on this side like this? He looks like he can really fight!" Little Nezha was also somewhat surprised.

"Who are you? And this attire?" Tripitaka looked at the three of them.

"We come from Lingshan. My name is Lu Jiuyuan, he is the Monkey King, and he is Nezha!" Lu Jiuyuan explained with a smile.

Tripitaka's expression instantly sank. Now that the Buddha had met with disaster, all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were suffering in the underworld.

Lingshan was the dwelling place of demons.

Although this monkey looked seven or eight parts similar to his disciple, he had spent so many years with the Monkey King, how could he not recognize his own disciple?

This little Nezha looked even less like the real one, to an exaggerated degree. Although he was a bit cuter, fake is fake.

"How bold! Daring to transform into the appearance of my disciple, the Monkey King, and bringing a fake Nezha to deceive This poor monk!"

"Are you tired of waiting for those demon brats in Lingshan to die, and came here specially to seek death?"

Before his words even finished, without giving any chance for explanation, Tripitaka had already moved!

No complex incantations, no compassionate Buddhist chant, only a sharp, ripping shout:

"Hey! Take this staff, you Prodigy!"

His footwork shifted, as if he had mastered shrinking the earth into an inch, instantly crossing dozens of feet. He swung his heavy nine-ringed monk's staff in a full arc, bringing with it a terrifying, whistling sound as it tore through the air, smashing directly at the Monkey King beside Lu Jiuyuan!

This strike looked simple and brutal, heavy and powerful, fast as lightning, with golden light faintly appearing on the staff.

It was wrapped in monstrous killing intent amidst the Zen intent!

"Hey? You monk are so unreasonable!" The Monkey King let out a strange cry. He was originally wondering why this Master looked so aggressive and not quite right,

never expecting the other party to attack as soon as they spoke, and so fiercely at that!

But he was, after all, the battle-hardened "Great Sage, Equal to Heaven", and his reaction was incredibly fast.

Facing this staff coming down on his head, he neither dodged nor retreated. Instead, it stirred his competitive spirit, and he let out a laugh: "Well come! Let Old Sun test how much you are worth!"

His arm muscles bulged, and the golden-hooped rod instantly appeared in his hand. From bottom to top, he delivered a no-frills "Lifting Fire to Burn the Heavens" strike, fiercely meeting the attack!

"Clang—!!!"

With the point where their weapons clashed as the center, a visible circular shockwave exploded, completely clearing the clouds within a hundred feet. The mountain forest below was like it had been struck by a gale; giant trees toppled, and sand and stones flew!

The Monkey King only felt his arms sink heavily. The force transmitted from the golden-hooped rod was like a collapsing mountain, shaking his blood and Qi, causing them to surge. With a "crack" sound, he actually cracked the Void Realm beneath his feet into spiderweb-like fissures!

"What great strength!"

The Monkey King's Fiery Eyes of Truth widened, and he was both shocked and curious.

This monk's strength was simply not inferior to those demon kings who prided themselves on their strength!

Was this still the Master he knew?

The Golden Cicada of the Lotus Lantern World was cunning and slick, but far less violent and brave than this one.

And Tripitaka was also shocked in his heart.

This strike of his was delivered in anger; although he hadn't used his full strength, it was enough to split mountains and crack rocks. Ordinary demons would have their bones and tendons shattered instantly if they took one hit.

The "fake Monkey King" before him could actually take it head-on, and looking at his effortless demeanor and surging Battle Intent, it was clear he hadn't used his full strength either.

"A bit of skill! Indeed, transformed by a demon, with impressive strength!"

Tripitaka's eyes grew even colder, and his killing intent soared. For such demons, every one killed was one less!

Kill one, and there would be one less scourge in heaven and on earth!