Chapter 6

He slowly shook his head, "I am a person from the East, that is true, but before I was reduced to slavery and sold by human traffickers, I studied under the Crane Ming Mountain."

He brings misfortune, she is misfortune, so no one should look down on anyone. Wu Fang glanced at him and said, "Since I saved you, shouldn't you repay me?"

He lowered his brows and cast his eyes down, "I am not a Taoist priest, but I carry a curse in my fate. I was fostered on Crane Ming Mountain since childhood. Ye Zhenyi is my only name, and I do not have a Taoist title"

He furrowed his brows as he scrutinized her, "The young lady is surrounded by a menacing aura, and her intentions are not good."

At that time, when she received Qu Ru, it was merely a matter of her calling him Master, and he responding in kind, thus completing the formalities. Now, with Zhen Yi being so earnest and serious, Wu Fang feels quite gratified, believing that his attitude is proper

Without taking a step forward, the hands in the sleeves clenched into fists, yet a smile remained on the face. "Even if my cultivation is exhausted, the instinct to subdue demons still exists. So, according to Daoist, what kind of demon am I?"

In Wu Fang's view, he was merely a slave who had been severely injured. She had saved him, and that was enough; she had no interest in understanding the underlying circumstances.

She raised her hand and said, "I do not want you to repay me with your life; just become my disciple and take me as your master. Since you have lost all your skills, you can no longer rely on catching demons for a living. As for me, I happen to possess a special skill that I can teach you, so you will no longer have to fear going hungry in the future"

"I thought you had never been to the Southern Yama and would not have heard of my name." She pushed open the window and leisurely scooped a ladle of water to pour over the flowers growing on the windowsill. The City of Heaven is like spring all year round, so the flowers bloom perpetually. A breeze swept through, and the faint floral fragrance wafted into the room, infusing the table and chair with its scent

He turned around and smiled, "I am not concerned about that; a man's appearance is not important. It is just that the young lady surprised me; it turns out that the rumored divine healer of Shatu is indeed the young lady."

Without any skills, it is likely that he is just a half-baked practitioner, lacking the finesse to descend the mountain with his senior brothers to vanquish demons. As a result, he was no match for that cat demon, who drained his cultivation and sold him here as a slave. Considering this, it truly seems that he is fated to misfortune, having a very unfortunate destiny.

After the heavy rain, the sky is clear and bright. Wu Fang stood under the Shali Pagoda, looking up. The top of the pagoda, after being exposed to the sun, had gradually faded in color, while the side facing away from the sun remained a deep, dark hue. The village head kept his word; the promised repairs after the rain were underway, and the funds had been allocated. About ten craftsmen and laborers were hired for the work. She watched as they hung in mid-air for a while, then returned indoors to tend to her clothes.

After some consideration, there is nothing shameful about the Spirit Healer of the Land of Shattered Earth; knowing it is simply knowing it

He said: "My eyes are so swollen that I can't open them, it's not that I'm asleep. At that moment, I also felt it was quite awkward to eavesdrop on your conversation, so I didn't say anything"

In fact, the intention behind accepting him as a disciple was originally more profound. Those who are devoid of spirit and soul are all men. If there are demonic influences at play, using him as bait under the premise of ensuring safety might lure the serpent out of its hole. As it turns out, after much ado, he has connections to Yin Mountain as well, so it would seem reasonable for him to accompany us.

In any case, it is unclear whether he was motivated by a sense of gratitude or if he truly felt the need for this skill; after some struggle, he ultimately yielded.

Wu Fang raised his head and glanced at him, "Did you not sleep last night?"

Without focus, the heart is elsewhere, "Did you not wish to keep him? I have accomplished that for you"

A thousand years ago, when she had just taken form, she was once pursued and attacked by a Taoist priest. This terrifying memory has persisted to this day, and she still harbors great fear towards Taoist priests. They possess spiritual power and can see through her true form. She and Qu Ru have been living carefree lives; could it be that everything is about to change simply because she saved this person?

There is no place that does not sigh; both the demons and the malevolent spirits are, in fact, cold-hearted and largely devoid of human compassion. When a child falls into their hands, it is inherently perilous. The fact that he would consider sparing the cat due to the child reveals that these years at Crane Ming Mountain have been in vain.

A man's appearance is deemed acceptable based on how he looks without hair. He is dressed in garments made by Qu, wearing a grayish-black robe with a neat right lapel, and coupled with a bald head, he indeed resembles a monk.

He spoke quietly, and she listened quietly, feeling only astonished at the many coincidences in the world, having recently encountered one. She gazed at him intently, suspecting deceit, yet his gaze was resolute, and his heart was as heavy as iron

For demons, anything can become a tool as long as it serves their purpose. You have suffered so much at the hands of that cat, do you not wish to seek justice

In Middle-earth, it is said that a man should have gold beneath his knees, thus he merely bowed respectfully to her, saying, "Today I take the beautiful young lady as my master; once a disciple, always a disciple. In the future, I shall surely promote this school to repay the master's grace in imparting knowledge."

Looking back at the relic tower, it has been fifty years; it is time for the guardian of the tower to resign from their duties. Once they leave, it is uncertain how long it will take; if the stupa is left unguarded and the Buddha's bones are stolen, then the diligent efforts of the past fifty years will have been in vain

He was amused by his words, "You are not wrong, I indeed come from a dubious place. Do you know Miao Fu Island? It is in the sea, and the island is filled with evil spirits that feed on humans; I come from there."

She smiled slightly and said, "There is no need to promote oneself; it is sufficient to be a person of integrity. You need not feel wronged; I will live for a thousand years, and it will be more than enough for me to be your master." After a pause, she asked, "Why were you unable to defeat Cat Pi back then? Before its lifespan ended, it had to consume a cat to prolong its life, and the last time it consumed a human to transform into a human. What you encountered was precisely the ninth time?"

The world of monsters is beyond our understanding, Qu Ruhuang said, shaking his head. There is a significant difference between terrestrial and avian creatures.

Unconsciously smiling, "Perhaps Bai Zhun is also a bird."

Qu Ru asked from behind: "From today onwards, Zhen Yi and I are fellow disciples?"

The truth must be explored, but it is not so easy to implement. No one can accurately pinpoint the location of the Nightmare City. After returning from the City of the Extreme Heavens, the Yan Futuzhi sought information, but unfortunately, there were no relevant annotations or records regarding the Nightmare City.

Yanfuti is originally a world where humans and demons coexist. Before Master Lian subdued the land of the dead, it was the realm of the Rakshasas. Later, through education, it became a pure land where men are warriors and women are sky-goers. However, the southwest is filled with demons and monsters with nowhere to settle, and it is unrealistic to have them all convert. Therefore, Master Lian designated the Heavenly Pole and the surrounding cities as a refuge for these demons and monsters, preventing them from invading the Saha world and causing harm to humanity

After all, a young and strong lad can recover quickly after a couple of days of good food and rest. She sat silently in front of the bed, taking his pulse, and after a while, she withdrew her hand and said: "The pulse is steady; he should be fully recovered in three days."

"What, are you unwilling?" She noticed his indifference and felt a bit displeased. "How many demons and monsters have sought to take me as their master, and I have politely declined them all. Now that I am giving you this opportunity, should you not be grateful and appreciative?"

With a swift gesture, he stood upright and bowed deeply, "What the young lady said is true; a life-saving grace must be repaid with one's life."

Qu Ru, however, stated that it is impossible, "Birds do not like to claim dominion over the mountains, nor would they commit acts of cannibalism against their own kind."

Full of grand principles, he truly sounds like a person of the Dao. Wufang turned around and sat down at the table, poured himself a cup of tea, took a light sip, and looked up at him, "Is 'Zhenyi' your Dao name or your secular name"

In the past, Wu Fang had no particular feelings, positive or negative, towards that mysterious place; she merely laughed it off when she heard about it from others. However, the recent illnesses have been so strange that she feels utterly powerless. If she does not seek to uncover the truth, it is foreseeable that more people will come seeking the dead. Just like an outbreak of plague, all living beings in that land will eventually be wiped out. She is someone who values her reputation; the reputation of a healer is her second face. If this face is lost, her desire to be reborn will also be extinguished. Just like an outbreak of plague, all living beings in that land will eventually be wiped out. She is someone who values her reputation; the reputation of a healer is her second face. If this face is lost, her desire to be reborn will also be extinguished.

A high wall gradually rose in her heart, "You can exorcise demons, so your magical power should be above that of the enchantress. How could you have fallen to such a state?"

Zhenyi felt somewhat ashamed and lowered his head, saying, "After it transformed into a human, it kept pleading, holding a child in its arms. At that moment, the child was crying and I lost my focus, so... I ended up in complete failure."

The infamous reputation of the City of Nightmares is well-known to all, while the Black Gold Temple is too far removed from it; in fact, most people will never have the opportunity to visit it in their lifetime. However, as the saying goes, three people can create a tiger; the more it is talked about, the more that place becomes a second living hell. The ruler of the City of Nightmares must also be the most terrifying demon king.

He did not expect her to make this request, and for a moment, he was somewhat taken aback

Qu Ru was so grateful that she felt like crying, "Master, you have treated me so well. Don't worry, I will take good care of this junior brother." Her words revealed a hint of longing, truly making one worry about the future of Zhenyi.

"Why are there only men..." She counted the Bodhi beads and walked slowly, "In the past half month, not a single female patient has come. Is this illness transmitted only to men and not to women?"

To speak frankly, it seems rather unyielding. She showed some courtesy, "I once asked the overseer, and he could not provide a clear explanation. The last time I inquired with you, you merely stated that you are from the Eastern lands, and that is all I know."

There was no way to alleviate his sorrow, and he awkwardly comforted him by saying, "It won't be long before it grows back..."

Qu Ru thought it was quite obvious, "If the mastermind is the Lord of Nightmares, then he must be playing a grand game. If he wreaks havoc on everyone within a hundred miles, won't there be nothing left but women? At that time, he would stand out alone, monopolizing the beauty, and not to mention the Lord of the Capital, even the Bodhisattva would not be as carefree as he is."

I had thought he would understand the need for tact, after all, it was his life that was saved by someone else. However, he did not accept it.

He fell silent for a moment, his tone filled with helplessness. "I heard during my hardships that the cat demon was expelled from Chang'an by the sect. My senior brother chased it to the Xianhai Sea, and it kept heading west, going to Jiuyin Mountain. Jiuyin is located to the west of Yanfuti. I can only lament that I have no wings under my ribs, preventing me from going there. Otherwise, I would surely slay this demon and avenge this deep-seated hatred."

Qu Ru felt somewhat fortunate; if she were to leave now, she would be unable to let go of her Zhenyi Gege. After half a month, Zhenyi's injuries should have healed considerably, and by then, whether he chose to stay and watch the tower or leave, she would be at ease.

Thus, upon arriving in this land, encountering any individual could potentially mean meeting an anomaly. Wouldn't this Taoist priest, who has taken it upon himself to capture monsters, be overwhelmed with work

He closed his eyes briefly, and a flavor reminiscent of the vicissitudes of life emerged in his words. "In the second year of Taiji, there was chaos in Chang'an City caused by the cat demon. At that time, I, along with my fellow disciples, was capturing the cat demon. During one pursuit, I was careless and inadvertently fell into the trap of the cat demon, resulting in the loss of my cultivation."

Wu Fang was taken aback, "So it turns out to be a Taoist priest?"

However, it seems that he cannot be confused; he still shakes his head, saying, "I cannot smell the scent of blood; even if there is a murderous aura, it is pure." After saying this, he smiles and continues, "The paths of demons and monsters are merely a few, yet the paths taken after transforming into human form are countless. Your choices are closely related to your future outcomes. A spiritual healer benefits the world; even if the ones saved are mere ants, it is still an act of accumulating virtue and doing good."

Or perhaps we should wait a little longer until the next patient arrives for treatment, and then inquire about the route to Mount Jiu Yin. Once we reach Jiu Yin, the rest will not be far off.

Zhenyi seemed to struggle a bit, and after pondering for a long time, said: "Aren't you going to ask about my background, miss?"

After listening to Wu Fang, I felt that although the words were rough, the reasoning was sound. The truth of the matter can take on countless forms. While the speculations may not be reliable, who can guarantee that such possibilities do not exist

The swelling on his face gradually subsided, allowing the features of his nose and eyes to become distinguishable. Additionally, his skin, once marred by bruises, revealed its original color, although it was still occasionally interspersed with traces of blood. Ultimately, there would come a time of complete recovery. At present, his appearance should be quite acceptable; not only is he not unattractive, but he is surprisingly handsome.

She no longer spoke much, allowing him to recuperate properly, and walked out of the room by herself

He thanked her, removing the cloth band from his head, revealing the stitched-up seams. He walked to the mirror and looked at himself, laughing at his own reflection: "So this is what I look like after shaving my head."