Chapter Five: The Smiling Face Conceals a Dark Heart, Eight Bows as a Sign of Friendship

Engaging in a physical confrontation with him, if by chance his insidious treasure were to penetrate my lower body, although my profound skills may not necessarily allow my flesh to be destroyed, the prospect of having a large hole in my backside becoming public knowledge would be quite unseemly

It is truly tragic to have become a fairy and ended up in this situation! Brother Sha Wujing, after a few days, I will relieve you of the suffering of the Seven-Day Flying Sword. How about we become sworn brothers of different surnames and build a cave dwelling together?

"Good, good." The stout man seized the young Daoist's Yuan Ying, which was about to fly away, and swallowed it in one gulp. The fiery true energy circled around once before being completely refined, and he squinted his eyes and let out a satisfied belch

Sha Wujing glared and said: "What is my worldly way?"

Zhu Ganglie possesses a body of wood, which can avoid water, and has also acquired the memories of Marshal Tianpeng. He can traverse the Tongtian River, let alone the Liushah River, and follows Sha Wujing into the water. Sha Wujing built three stone houses underwater, impervious to water, allowing for free breathing. He threw the three mortals into one of the houses without worrying about their escape, and simply sat down to regulate his vital energy, ignoring Zhu Ganglie.

"Are you not the one who, after the Antian Conference, drunkenly barged into the Moon Palace to sleep with the Fairy Chang'e?" Sha Wujing's expression changed dramatically as he raised the Suolo Magic Staff and struck down with it. "I was just looking for you!"

Sha Wu suddenly stopped, turned his head to look at him, his brows furrowed in anger, and his gaze was unfriendly: "How do you know my background?"

"Bah!" Sha Wujing spat out a mouthful of thick phlegm and angrily said: "I have been cultivating since childhood, and my primordial essence has not been broken; where would I find a mistress? It is only because you wanted to bed a celestial maiden that you angered the Jade Emperor. I accidentally broke a glazed lamp and incurred the Jade Emperor's wrath, nearly leading to my execution! Fortunately, the Barefoot Immortal interceded on my behalf, administering eight hundred strokes to me, banishing me from the Heavenly Court, and sending celestial soldiers every seven days to stab me with flying swords a hundred times! Do you think I should seek vengeance against you?"

Upon witnessing this turn of events, Ziyang Daoist was already stunned. He let go of Sha Wujing and thrust his sword towards Zhu Ganglie. However, just as he made his move, the stout man extended a clean white hand, forming a hand seal with his fingers. Suddenly, he felt a violent explosion at his rear, and with a scream, a towering pillar erupted from his backside, instantly tearing his physical body apart.

Which one is your virtuous younger brother? You walk your own broad path, and I will walk my own narrow bridge. You are the Grand Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy, holding the second rank, while I am merely a fifth-rank attendant of the Golden Guard, not daring to aspire to your heights

We, practitioners of the immortal way, are free from distractions and single-minded in our pursuit of the Dao. You harbor notions of superiority and inferiority; are you not just an ordinary person? Zhu Ganglie said solemnly: "You do not dare to reach for higher status, yet today I shall lower myself and pledge to be your brother with eight bows of respect!"

Sha Wujing let out a cold laugh, not engaging with the topic, and flew into the Flowing Sand River, swiftly breaking through the water's surface and entering an underwater cave. Zhu Ganglie chuckled and followed him down. The Flowing Sand River is 800 li wide and stretches for thousands of li, formed by the Celestial River flowing into the mortal realm. The river water is weak water, and a stone tablet stands on the bank, inscribed with: "The realm of 800 li of flowing sand, the depth of 3,000 li of weak water. Goose feathers cannot float, and reed flowers surely sink to the bottom." Regardless of whether one is immortal or mortal, falling into the water guarantees sinking to the bottom, unless one recites the water-evading spell or transforms into a water creature to enter the river. The inscription reads: "The realm of 800 li of flowing sand, the depth of 3,000 li of weak water. Goose feathers cannot float, and reed flowers surely sink to the bottom." Regardless of whether one is immortal or mortal, falling into the water guarantees sinking to the bottom, unless one recites the water-evading spell or transforms into a water creature to enter the river.

Old Zhu hurriedly followed and said: "Why is the curtain of the imperial carriage so indifferent? After all, we were once colleagues!"

Zhu Ganglie turned around and said, "If I do not kill them, will I wait for him to go to Longhu Mountain to report and bring soldiers back to kill me? As for you, I came to assist you, yet you instead harm me. What is your intention?"

Zhu Ganglie received the next strike, causing his arm to go numb and his vital energy to scatter. He hurriedly said: "Hold on! Are you perhaps Chang'e's lover? Why do you want to fight me to the death?"

Zhu Ganglie chuckled and said: "Brother, why don't we build a celestial cave here? Neither heaven nor earth can interfere. It is far better than being bound as a servant in the heavenly palace, calling myself a solitary hermit. Wouldn't that be delightful?"

The Ziyang Daoist hurriedly performed the Yuan Ying shell escape, and a beam of light shot straight towards Longhu Mountain

Zhu Ganglie, with a long rainbow-like aura, was about to capture the Yuan Ying when a sudden surge of immense demonic energy came from behind. He quickly swung his halberd to defend himself. The demonic energy flickered and then dissipated. Sha Wujing calmly said, "Why must you go to such extremes, Dao brother?"

Zhu Ganglie was unconcerned, wandering around. He observed that the waters of the Quick Sand River were abundant with aquatic creatures, many of which were bizarre and strange. Crabs, water bugs, water scorpions, and even some untransformed flood dragons were rampaging and fighting recklessly beneath the water

Sha Wujing opened his mouth but did not speak. Suddenly, he said: "Forget it, forget it, mentioning my former name is also embarrassing. Call me whatever you like!"

Sha Wujing snorted coldly and said, "I am not called Sha Wujing."

What is your name

The fat man changed color: "So you are also a mundane person!"

The three of them from Ziyang were struggling to capture the monster, feeling anxious and fearing that the Tangsih spirit would escape. If it entered the Quicksand River, it would be difficult to catch it again. Suddenly, they saw a chubby figure with a smiling face flying up from below. Although he was dressed like a wealthy gentleman, he exuded a pure aura of immortality, clearly a loose cultivator from this realm. They quickly smiled and said: "It would be best if a fellow cultivator could assist us!"

As soon as Ziyang Daoist finished speaking, he suddenly felt a slight sting at his lower body. While he was puzzled, his hands did not stop; he commanded the flying sword to trap the catfish spirit, preventing its escape, and called out: "Fellow Daoist, are you not going to make a move?"

Sha Wujing pondered for a moment, then clasped his hands and said: "Thank you for your assistance, fellow traveler. If someone from Longhu Mountain comes, I will stand in for you." He reached down and grabbed three mortals, then flew towards the Flowing Sand River.

Sha Wujing looked at him with suspicion and said, "If you can help me escape this disaster, what harm is there in calling you my elder brother? If you lack this ability, stop your clamor and leave my cave as soon as possible"

Sha Wujing was touched on a sensitive point by his words, sighed, and said: "How I long for a carefree and easy life, but every seven days, the heavens send a flying sword to pierce me, leaving me utterly humiliated. None of these water creatures respect me, so how can I establish a sect? Although they do not submit to me, they are still respectful, and I feel embarrassed to consume them. When I am hungry, I can only seek out someone to eat."

Zhu Ganglie laughed heartily and said, "You can rest assured, just watch my methods!" He secretly plotted without mentioning it.

Sha Wujing snorted and then rode the cloud towards the Flowing Sand River. Zhu Ganglie closely followed, laughing and saying: "Brother..."

Zhu Ganglie glanced at Sha Wujing's expression and said: "Brother, you were only struck by the Jade Emperor 800 times, while I was struck 2,000 times, nearly losing my soul. My entire cultivation has been reduced to only 20%! I was also thrown into the pigpen by the heavenly generals and became a monster. It seems that our fates are intertwined."

Just as he was about to strike! Zhu Ganglie shouted fiercely, and with a flick of his hand, the precious golden rod fell on the young Daoist's head, instantly creating nine holes. He then turned and unleashed a stream of fire, reducing another Daoist to ashes, with even the Nascent Soul unable to escape.

Sha Wujing's expression softened slightly as he snorted. He was an honest man, and seeing Marshal Tianpeng apologizing to him, he found it inappropriate to turn hostile. Moreover, he held a considerable fear of the Fatty's explosive acupuncture technique.

How unfortunate! The little pig's stomach is indeed small; just one Yuan Ying has filled it up! I wonder where pig feed is sold? I will inquire around and buy three to five tons to nourish it.

Zhu Ganglie remarked, "Sha Wujing, my virtuous younger brother, today you can also be considered a spirit. Why not subdue some demons and establish a cave dwelling to claim the title of king and ancestor?"

So that is the reason. It is my fault; I lost my virtue after drinking and implicated my brother. The fat man bowed deeply, offering him a grand apology.

Zhu Ganglie chuckled and said: "We once served together in the same court, could it be that you do not remember me? I am the Xianjie in charge of the 100,000 water troops of the Tongtian River, and I have been conferred the title of Marshal Tianpeng! In terms of rank, you must address me as 'Sir'!"