Chapter 189: Ancestor Lingyun, Lu Shaohua

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Ancestor Lingyun, Lu Shaohua

By his count, they had only left the Secret Realm a few months ago. For Hui Ke to have traveled all the way from the Western Domain to find him in the Eastern Domain, he must have spent a great deal of time searching.

However, when Chu Fan turned to look at the Little Monk, he couldn’t help but feel stunned.

The reason was simple: in the few months since he’d last seen him, the Little Monk had shot up in height.

When they first met in the Secret Realm, he had only been thirteen, not even reaching Chu Fan’s shoulder. Now, he was already level with Chu Fan’s ears.

But that wasn’t the most important part. What mattered most was that the Little Monk’s features had matured. Despite his shaved head, which still had some scars, his face was that of an absolute heartthrob.

Chu Fan, whose own looks could at best be considered slightly above average, stood in stark contrast to him.

Furthermore, despite having traveled for months, the Little Monk’s face wasn’t tanned at all. Instead, his skin looked as fair and flawless as Yun Xi’s.

’Damn it. Good thing this Little Monk joined a monastery. If he hadn’t, who knows how many innocent girls he would have led astray.’

"How did you find your way here?" Chu Fan asked.

"I traveled east, and after entering the Eastern Domain, I saw pillars of smoke from beacon fires everywhere..."

The Little Monk still hadn’t kicked his long-winded habit and went on and on for a while. To summarize, he had searched all over the Eastern Domain and finally asked a Cultivator, who told him that Chu Fan might be at the Lingyun Sect on Yunmeng Mountain.

"Benefactor Chu, could this be your wife?" Hui Ke’s eyes lit up as he looked at Yun Xi.

Chu Fan nodded.

Hui Ke placed his palms together and bowed to Yun Xi. "This humble monk is Hui Ke. Greetings, Sister-in-law."

His greeting left Yun Xi flustered.

It was her first time ever seeing a monk.

"H-hello!"

"Your grace and beauty are unparalleled, Sister-in-law. You are the most beautiful benefactress I have ever met. It is my great fortune to make your acquaintance!"

"Get lost! That’s your sister-in-law. What do you mean it’s ’your’ good fortune?"

"Benefactor Chu, you are too attached to worldly forms. Though I do not covet carnal pleasures, my eyes are still mortal. They naturally enjoy looking upon beautiful things. Gazing upon a beautiful woman can brighten one’s mood considerably. And when one’s mood is good, one’s work goes more smoothly. Is that not a fortunate thing?"

Chu Fan couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ’Damn, he actually has a point!’

His words, however, made Yun Xi blush.

’Damn it,’ Chu Fan cursed internally. ’This Little Monk... so glib, and with that face... It’s a good thing he’s a monk. Otherwise, all those young women... Amitabha!’

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Chu Fan couldn’t help but spit.

"Benefactor Chu, what is the meaning of this?"

"Nothing, nothing. A bug just flew into my mouth," Chu Fan said, waving his hand dismissively.

’Could you find a more pathetic excuse?’ Hui Ke rolled his eyes. ’You’re a Divine Separation Realm Martial Artist. You have a natural defense of True Qi. Never mind a bug having to make a detour several feet away from you—even if it ran into you, it would just die. How could one possibly fly into your mouth?’

"You can look around for a bit. I’m going to pay my respects to a senior. We can have a proper drink later," Chu Fan said.

Hui Ke’s eyes lit up again. "Let me accompany you. I can also recite the Rebirth Spell for the senior to help guide their soul to Paradise."

Chu Fan didn’t refuse. Taking Yun Xi by the hand, he walked toward Zhegu Slave’s grave.

Zhegu Slave’s grave had once been blasted open by a single palm strike from Yu Zongding, but it was later filled back in by someone else. Chu Fan, of course, knew nothing of this.

Several years had passed, and the grave was long since overgrown with weeds. Even if the mound was different from how it looked when Chu Fan first buried Zhegu Slave, it was now difficult to tell.

There were no incense sticks or Yellow Paper, only three deep kowtows on his knees.

With that, he had paid his respects.

Hui Ke did indeed chant scriptures before the grave, though neither Chu Fan nor Yun Xi could understand a word.

After paying his respects to Zhegu Slave, Chu Fan slipped away into the mountain forest by himself.

Before long, he returned with a few wild rabbits and pheasants.

Yun Xi helped him clean and roast them.

Hui Ke stood to the side, eloquently recounting his adventures over the past few months on the road.

Chu Fan was once again treated to a display of the Little Monk’s eloquence.

"So, you’ve killed a lot of people on your journey?"

"That’s not the right way to put it, Benefactor. Their Heart Demons had already taken root. I was merely sending them to repent before the Buddha. That isn’t killing."

"Right, right, you’re absolutely right."

"Didn’t you say you were going to spread the Buddhist Technique? What’s your plan? How many people can you possibly convert all by yourself?"

"The Eastern Domain is rife with war, and the people are living in dire straits. Though I am but one person and my strength is meager, I will not sell myself short. The Buddha aids those with whom he shares a karmic bond; one must naturally respect the Karma Technique. What in this world can be accomplished overnight?"

Chu Fan fell silent. No matter the subject, Hui Ke could speak with such righteous conviction that it was impossible to argue with him.

They drank and chatted idly, enjoying the delicious food. They talked from the afternoon until dusk, and from dusk until the moon hung high in the sky.

Finally, the three of them simply lay down to sleep by the campfire in their clothes.

Early the next morning, before they even had breakfast, the Little Monk left, having agreed to meet Chu Fan again in half a month in Shuoyue City.

"Yun Xi, you rest here. I’m going to see the Old Ancestor!"

"See the Old Ancestor?" Yun Xi asked, a little confused.

"We both grew up in the Lingyun Sect, after all. Even though I hold some resentment toward the sect, the Old Ancestor is still worthy of respect. He is the Lingyun Sect’s Stabilizing Needle, and he hasn’t involved himself in worldly affairs for so many years. Since I might have a way to free him from having to hole up by the Spirit Vein just to prolong his life, I should at least try!"

Though those were his words, how could Yun Xi not understand his unspoken meaning?

He was, at his core, a sentimental person.

「At the entrance to the cave on the rear mountain of Lingyun Peak.」

When Chu Fan arrived, two disciples blocked his path.

"I’m here to see the Old Ancestor!"

"Chu... Without the Sect Leader’s direct order, we dare not let you pass." The two disciples didn’t know how to address Chu Fan, so they mumbled his name before explaining their predicament.

They had been at the Martial Arts Arena yesterday and witnessed Chu Fan’s commanding presence. After the disciples talked about it that night, many things began to take shape in their minds.

When they learned what Chu Fan had accomplished in the past few months, every one of them was utterly shocked.

Some were envious, others were jealous, but most of them looked up to him.

"Let him enter."

Before Chu Fan could say anything, an ancient voice echoed from within the cave.

Chu Fan nodded to the two disciples and walked into the cave.

Inside the pitch-black cave, an old man who looked to be at death’s door sat like a withered tree beside the Cold Pool.

As Chu Fan entered, the old man’s tightly shut eyes snapped open. His gaze was like a bolt of lightning, as if trying to see right through Chu Fan.

"This junior greets you, Senior."

"Even your master, Ling Zhexing, must respectfully address me as Martial Uncle-Grandmaster. What’s this? Though you are no longer a disciple of the Lingyun Sect, would it kill you to refer to yourself as ’this disciple’ before me?" the old man said gently.

Though his words were a reprimand, his tone held no trace of actual blame.

"So, you already know what has happened at the Lingyun Sect these past few years, Senior?"

"I know a thing or two. But I am trapped here, barely alive and unable to take a single step away. The Lingyun Sect has indeed wronged you."

Chu Fan waved his hand. "That’s all in the past. Leaving the Lingyun Sect was a blessing in disguise for me. Otherwise, how could I have reached my current level of achievement?"

"It is the Lingyun Sect that has lost its chance to soar to the heavens. And so, I must swallow my pride and ask one thing of you. If the day comes when the Lingyun Sect is in peril, I hope you will lend your aid."

"Senior, you truly overestimate me. If the Lingyun Sect were in trouble, what ability would I possibly have to help? That is a task best left to you, Senior."

"I am bound to this place. If I were to act, it would mean certain death. What could I possibly do?"

"That is precisely why I have come to see you, Senior."