It wasn't until he had been staring at Chenxiang for quite so ti and noticed his serious, unfeigned expression, that he asked in amazent, "Isn't he a fad good and benevolent immortal? Although formidable, he's not a cruel person."
Yet why such an immortal would beco Chenxiang's enemy was sothing he couldn't fathom.
After a long silence, Chenxiang finally said, "He is my uncle, and he has pressed my mother underneath Mountain Hua."
Once these words were uttered, not only Cui Heming but also the young girl possessed by the Taoist showed a look of shock.
"Chenxiang, you actually have divine bloodlines, no wonder you're so powerful," Cui Heming exclaid sincerely.
He looked Chenxiang up and down, clicking his tongue in wonder, which made Chenxiang feel sowhat at a loss.
"What are you doing?"
"You're a living descendant of immortals, with divine blood flowing in your veins. I've never seen an immortal before in my entire life."
"Have you had your fill of looking? If so, tell who can defeat him!" Chenxiang said, annoyed. He always felt like Cui Heming was looking at him as if he were so kind of rare animal.
Cui Heming walked around twice before he slowly said, "True Monarch of Pure Marvelous Dao is a war god of the three realms, undefeated in his life. If there's anyone who could fight him, I fear only the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong, could stand a chance."
By this ti, since Tang Monk had returned from retrieving the scriptures, the story of Journey to the West had gradually spread among the humans. Therefore, many people were familiar with Sun Wukong. They had also heard about his Havoc in Heaven, though Lu Yu actually played a part in spreading that tale.
"Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong," Chenxiang murmured to himself. He felt that this title was incredibly domineering, clearly indicating an extraordinary figure at first listen.
Speaking of Sun Wukong, Cui Heming's spirits were imdiately uplifted. It was the story of Journey to the West that had inspired him to seek the way of immortals. Naturally, he was very familiar with the characters in the story.
At this mont, he recounted them to Chenxiang like an expert, leaving Chenxiang with his mouth agape. He had thought he'd had rich experiences and known the strong ones of the world, but only now, after hearing Cui Heming's words, did he realize he was nothing but a frog in a well.
Be it the Seventy-Two Transformations Technique, Law of Heaven and Earth, or the divine skills that made one impervious to fire and water, immune to the cut of knives and thrust of spears—all were existences he dared not even dream of.
It wasn't until this very mont that he understood why his father had been so desperate. Possessing any one of these powerful divine skills would be enough to stand proudly atop the world, let alone soone who knew them all. The strength of his uncle was being fully revealed to Chenxiang for the first ti.
"So, if you truly want to defeat True Monarch, your only choice is to take the Great Sage Equalling Heaven as your master," Cui Heming said softly.
Imdiately, Chenxiang had a direction. He had made up his mind; no matter what difficulties and dangers lay ahead, he would find Sun Wukong and beco his disciple. Only then would he be able to rescue his mother trapped under Mountain Hua.
"Brother Cui, do you know where this Great Sage is now?"
"According to the story, after he returned from retrieving the scriptures and achieved enlightennt, he was appointed the Victorious Fighting Buddha and should still be at The Water Curtain Cave on Huaguo Mountain."
"Huaguo Mountain, The Water Curtain Cave?"
"Haha, that's what's written in the story. They say it's sowhere near Aolai Country on the continent of Dongsheng Shenzhou. I've never been out to sea, so I don't know exactly where this country is."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu couldn't help but show a disappointed expression. Where was he to find the country of Aolai?
Cui Heming could see the dejection in Lu Yu and thus comforted him, "If the stories are to be believed, you can co with . My family in Quanzhou belongs to the noble families, and I can ask so of the sea rchants who frequently set sail whether they know of Aolai."
Reassured, Lu Yu's spirits lifted, and he thanked Cui Heming with a smile.
"You've saved my life, and this is but a minor favor in return. However, the journey to Quanzhou is long and fraught with countless hardships and dangers. I'll need your expert protection every step of the way," he said.
Lu Yu nodded with a smile, knowing Cui Heming offered this as a way to assuage any awkwardness he might feel. He took this kindness to heart.
Having agreed, the two imdiately prepared to set off, only to realize that the little girl, whose body had been possessed by the Taoist, was still silently standing by, hoping fervently to be forgotten by the chatty Lu Yu.
However, he had underestimated Lu Yu's wariness of him, with his endless arsenal of tricks causing Lu Yu much bother, thus not letting his guard down for a mont.
So, Lu Yu pointed to the little girl and said, "Before we leave, we need to deal with him."
Cui Heming sighed as he looked at the expressionless little girl. "Isn't there a way to save her? After all, this child is innocent."
He truly couldn't bear to watch such a young girl die by his hand—it would be a terrible burden of guilt.
But Lu Yu shook his head; he could see that there was no soul in this body, presumably destroyed by the ruthless Taoist.
"Alas!" uttered Cui Heming with a slight sigh. Such a young life had been hard by evil Taoist practices, making this child of noble families lant the difficulties of life.
Lu Yu also sighed, closed his eyes, and prepared to take the life of the Taoist.
"You two unfilial descendants who betray your masters, you won't die good deaths. I'll be waiting for you in hell." The little girl's wooden face twisted into a look of venomous hatred as she scread hoarsely, a sharp contrast to her cute appearance, eliciting sighs of lant.
With a palm strike to his chest, the Taoist imdiately collapsed to the ground, breathless. This evil Taoist, whose sins were as heavy as a mountain, had finally t an end to his wicked life. This ti, absent any ans of resurrection, he could only face his death.
He watched, eyes wide, as his soul drifted from his body. It seed as though so mystical force between heaven and earth was guiding his direction.
Then, amidst a whirling sensation that turned the world on its head, he found himself in a mysterious space where two ferocious ghosts with hideous faces, wielding weapons, snatched the Taoist's soul and spirit and placed them on a bloody, gore-streaked stone mill. A few ghost soldiers, already ready, began to turn the mill.
Agonizing pain overwheld him, as the Taoist watched his own body ground into minceat, his nostrils seemingly filled with the pungent sll of blood—the very scent he had once been obsessed with but now filled him with endless terror.
Once his entire head was ground to dust, his body reset to its original state, and the ghost ssengers resud their work. Such were the tortures of hell, endless and inescapable, where one could never find release from eternal suffering.
Of course, Lu Yu and his companion had no idea of the tornts that befell evil Taoists like the one they'd encountered after death. They set the sinful Taoist temple ablaze with a single fire and, laughing, made their way toward Quanzhou.
Quanzhou, a city rich with the air of comrce, a pri hub for mariti trade. Its docks were lined with countless tall ships, their white sails sporadically dotted by resting seagulls.
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