Chapter 1422 - 1421: On Demon Island

This time casting the Heaven-Defying Fate Changing Technique isn't something that can be done in a day or two. After all, the medicinal power inside the Tripod Cauldron is surging violently; wanting to absorb it all cleanly is definitely not something that can be finished overnight!

These past few days, the Eagle King and the others hadn't left immediately. Since it wasn't easy for everyone to gather together, they were still enjoying the days of reunion!

However, Abbot Kongxu did not join Lin Kongxian and the others in their revelry. Instead, he stayed in his own room, chanting scriptures.

Wukong was imitating the posture quite properly, sitting cross-legged beside Abbot Kongxu. One hand was raised in a gesture of chanting the Buddha's Name, while the other held the Laughing Wood Hammer, knocking rhythmically on the Wooden Fish.

Abbot Kongxu had long ceased to yearn for the mortal world. Each time he chanted, he could sit for several days without moving in the slightest.

But Wukong was at the age for playing; he didn't have the kind of concentration that Abbot Kongxu possessed!

After less than half a day, Wukong was already unable to sit still, his body twisting and squirming as if bugs were crawling all over him. More than once he wanted to wake Abbot Kongxu, but seeing the Abbot completely absorbed in his chanting, he refrained from disturbing him.

Of course, with Abbot Kongxu's alertness, how could he fail to notice Wukong's fidgeting?

He suddenly stopped turning the Buddhist Beads in his hand, and his tightly closed eyes slowly opened.

"Take a break," Abbot Kongxu said.

Wukong, who was wriggling his body, heard Abbot Kongxu's words and forcibly suppressed the joy in his heart. He then saluted and said, "Yes, Master!"

However, Wukong's lips wriggled a few times, looking like he wanted to speak but was holding back.

Seeing this, Abbot Kongxu asked, "If you have something to say, just ask."

Wukong hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Master, I heard that Lin Fan senior brother went down the mountain to temper himself at eighteen. When can I go down the mountain to train?"

"Then you'll wait until you're eighteen as well," Abbot Kongxu said.

"Ah? I have to be eighteen too? That'll still take years. Master, my strength is already very strong now. Once I leave the mountain, I definitely won't get hurt!" As Wukong spoke, he conveniently displayed a few kicks, as if to show he already had the ability to protect himself.

Abbot Kongxu paid it no mind. He merely glanced faintly at Wukong's little face brimming with confidence and said, "The world outside is nothing like the simple purity of the Shaolin Temple. People out there have many distracting thoughts. You are still far too pure, so you are not yet suitable to go down the mountain for training."

"Ah? Why? Do I have to be just like Lin Fan senior brother? When I'm eighteen, will I suddenly stop being pure?" Wukong asked curiously.

Unfortunately, Abbot Kongxu only shook his head and said, "Whether you're eighteen or twenty, in the end you'll still be a pure child."

Wukong's face was full of confusion. "Master, this disciple is dull. I don't understand what you mean."

Abbot Kongxu said, "Because that brat is even more cunning and shrewd than his master, whereas you… are too pure."

Wukong was somewhat unconvinced by this answer, but he didn't dare to go against Abbot Kongxu's words and could only nod.

"Any other questions?" Abbot Kongxu asked.

"There's still… Master, say, if we eat meat and drink wine, what then?"

As Wukong asked, his face was filled with a cautious look, worried that Abbot Kongxu would see the nervousness written all over him.

Abbot Kongxu took a deep breath and said, "Eating meat and drinking wine is not some great sin. As the saying goes, 'Wine and meat pass through the intestines, while the Buddha remains in the heart.' It's like someone who eats vegetarian food every day, yet his heart is full of evil. No matter how much vegetarian food he eats, the Buddha will not bless him. What people do, Heaven sees. Just do right by yourself, keep to your roots and your precepts, and that is enough."

"Yes, Master. This disciple will remember! Then this disciple will take his leave first!"

After Wukong saluted, he turned and walked toward the door.

But just as Wukong reached the doorway, Abbot Kongxu suddenly spoke again: "Copy the Diamond Sutra once."

Wukong was startled, and his face immediately showed a depressed expression. He could only say, "Got it, Master," and then hurriedly rushed out of the room.

Watching Wukong's departing back, Abbot Kongxu shook his head and smiled helplessly. If Wukong hadn't asked that question, Abbot Kongxu wouldn't have brought up this matter.

After all, Abbot Kongxu had always been a vegetarian. That night after Wukong ate meat and drank wine, the smell of alcohol and meat clung to him. Abbot Kongxu caught a whiff and knew at once.

"This little fellow still needs to stabilize his temperament a bit more. If he can't be as free and unrestrained as Lin Fan, then he can only proceed steadily and step by step before he can go out and carve his own piece of the world. However… letting that Lin Fan brat take him down the mountain early to see the world isn't necessarily a bad thing either."

Abbot Kongxu said, lost in thought.

Then he closed his eyes once more, the Buddhist Beads in his hand began to turn again, and his mouth resumed chanting the Buddhist Scripture.

...

Demon Island!

To everyone in the Martial World, this place is not unfamiliar.

Decades ago, when Huaxia's Martial Arts splintered apart, a group of cowards who clung to life and feared death fled the Huaxia Martial Arts world and settled on Demon Island. You could say it's the shame of Huaxia Martial Arts.

Within Huaxia's Martial Arts circles, this act filled the hearts of many with raging anger.

Demon Island lies on a small island not far from Xiamen. The island is about the size of Yanjing City, yet it holds tens of millions of people.

This place is not the sort of immortal fantasy world people imagine, with Martial Artists flying all over the sky—those scenes only exist in movies.

Demon Island also isn't like those old-school wuxia films, where the buildings, clothing, and everything are ancient-style.

After all, when Huaxia's Martial Arts broke apart, it was already the Republican era, long separated from the old ways of thought.

Demon Island may not have skyscrapers, but many small buildings still stand tall. Over the years, some ordinary people have also stumbled upon this place by coincidence and then settled here.

There are no cars on the streets. Instead, there are quite a few rickshaws being pulled, and the most upscale vehicles are those sidecar automatic two-wheelers with a seat on the side that can carry three people.

The women wear qipaos, and the men mostly wear Zhongshan suits.

Happiness Street is the most bustling street on Demon Island. The street is crowded with people coming and going, and on both sides are all sorts of storefronts, though these shops are all contracted by the powerful forces on Demon Island.

The currency used for trade here is not Huaxia currency, but grain coupons and broken silver.

At the end of Happiness Street, there is a makeshift shed, and beneath the shed is a snack shop.

This snack shop is very busy, run by only one man and one woman. The man, though dark-skinned, is very handsome; his strong build doesn't give him a wild, ferocious feeling, but looks very well-proportioned.

The woman is very beautiful—tall and slender, standing there like a graceful jade pole, absolutely a top-tier beauty.