Chapter 1820: Chapter 1847: Liaowang’s Wrath
The other side of Yue Xing.
Covered in red fur, Liaowang regained his senses under a cliff, while Ma Niubi and Yu Huan Shui hung back, observing secretly from afar.
“Did Liaowang turn into a red-haired monster because of the act of breaking the jar? I remember Li Xiaobai constantly questioning the purpose of breaking the jar. I didn’t think things would turn out like this.”
Yu Huan Shui’s expression was grave; he didn’t understand Liaowang’s sudden change.
“Our master is also missing. We clearly ran together, yet only we ended up here.”
Ma Niubi was puzzled as well.
“No matter, I’ll take action.”
Yu Huan Shui whispered, “Fan Jin passing the imperial exam and Sima Guang breaking the jar are well-known stories reflected in reality, but Liaowang transforming into a red-haired monster doesn’t seem to relate to any story.”
“In short, once an action resembling a story behavior is taken, one will change into that kind of form. We must be careful not to be led by the nose by characters from the stories.”
While speaking, a graceful figure silently glided past the two, without them noticing.
The woman carried a flower basket, seemingly oblivious to their presence, and walked right through them, heading towards Liaowang.
Yu Huan Shui was startled: “She’s a master!”
Ma Niubi watched for a while: “Mr. Yu, do you feel this woman seems familiar, reminiscent somewhat of Master Liaowang’s Visualized Item?”
Yu Huan Shui nodded: “What nonsense, this is clearly an old lady, but she does look familiar.”
Liaowang’s Visualized Item was also a woman, likely an important figure in his life.
He recalled from Li Xiaobai’s memories that Liaowang had once befriended a Demon Sect woman, deeply entangled with her, even willingly falling from grace and being scorned by the Buddhist Sect to save her.
Yet the woman before him was not her; this was an elderly lady, albeit with good posture, the wrinkles in her skin betraying her true age. This old woman was remarkably aged beyond recognition.
“This woman must have been flirtatious in her youth.”
Yu Huan Shui remarked.
Ma Niubi humbly inquired: “How flirtatious?”
“Swinging her hips while walking is flirtatious.”
“Hush, the old lady has passed by; this should be a new story. We need to watch carefully and prevent Liaowang from falling in.”
…
Under the cliff.
The crazed look in Liaowang’s eyes faded, replaced by his usual wisdom and calmness.
He looked down at his body, expressionless.
“Amitabha, breaking the jar was indeed the key action; it seems this monk has fallen into the trap.”
Liaowang murmured, saving people remains the priority. If given another chance, he would still choose to break the jar.
However, this risk combined with past experiences has led him to surmise that these inexplicable beings demand various favors and not to follow their words eagerly.
Once an action aligns with the plot, one falls into the trap.
“Liaowang…”
A soft call suddenly came from behind.
“Amitabha, dare I ask who is the benefactor…”
Liaowang clasped his hands together, chanting a Buddhist mantra, as he prepared to turn around but abruptly halted.
“Liaowang…”
The voice called again, aged and hoarse, yet overwhelmingly familiar.
His body shuddered; it was a voice etched into his very being, unforgettable for a lifetime.
Silence lingered under the cliff.
Liaowang spoke first: “Benefactor, is that you?”
The elderly woman replied: “It is me.”
Liaowang steadied his breath: “You’re an illusion; she would never come.”
The elderly woman responded: “An illusion, but also real, residing within your memory. Turn back, I miss you dearly.”
“Would you deceive this monk?”
“No.”
There was a slight tremor in Liaowang’s shoulders: “Is turning back an action consistent with the plot?”
The elderly woman laughed: “Yes, but even so, you would still turn back.”
“Indeed, this monk shall turn back.”
Liaowang’s body trembled; he knew the person behind him was the woman he had hidden in his heart, not an illusion, not conjured out of thin air, but the real Hu Meizi!
This Demon Sect saintess he met in the Immortal Spirit Continent, she would never deceive him.
Liaowang turned around, gazing at the person before him: “This monk wishes to see you once more.”
She was still dressed in that enchanting attire, a black skirt, revealing clothing, exuding a seductive aura, her eyes capable of stealing one’s soul.
The only difference was a face now aged and withered.
Hu Meizi laughed joyfully; “I wanted to see you too, hence why I made you turn.”
Liaowang: “You… haven’t changed a bit.”
“Nonsense, how is it that this monk never seems to age? I cannot ascend to the Central Origin Realm and have grown old beyond recognition.”
“However, monk, you now look truly ugly, fur growing all over.”
Hu Meizi stepped forward, touching Liaowang’s face, her eyes full of tenderness and reluctance.
Even the people in memory have emotions; she had not seen the man she thought of morning and night for so many years.
Liaowang felt inexplicably restless, hastily plucking at his red fur, wanting to face Hu Meizi in human form.
“Stop plucking, I know it’s you. Say something, let me hear your voice.”
Hu Meizi said.
Liaowang’s throat choked, countless words surged in his heart, but ultimately he only uttered: “Has this monk fallen into the trap?”
“Touching me means you have fallen.”
“If so, why did you want this monk to turn back?”
“Without turning back, I could not see your face. Besides, if I didn’t make you turn back, would you not turn back?”
“How much longer do you have?”
“Not long to live, seeing you just once more, I am satisfied.”
Hu Meizi placed her hand over Liaowang’s lips: “Listen carefully, you are the epic hero in my heart. How could mere Blinding Technique hinder your path? I am just a tool to make you turn. The real story lies in the Valley of Forgetfulness behind you. Legends say that turning back leads to death amidst Femme Fatale’s embrace.”
“Though you are a Buddhist monk capable of callously forsaking me and ascending alone to the Upper Realm, I have no worries about you.”
“The plot aligns; they are about to strike. Remember, besides conquering the starry sky, have some time to return to the Immortal Spirit Continent and erect a monument for this old body.”
Hu Meizi’s body levitated, seemingly drawn towards the cliff wall, gradually becoming ethereal.
As she said, she was only a tool to lure Liaowang to turn, the real story was just beginning.
“You… reach out…”
“This monk has grown stronger, I can now pull you back…”
Liaowang stammered, reaching out and waving frantically, but ultimately failed to grasp that arm.
Hu Meizi laughed happily, as she vanished into the stone wall:
“Sadly, what emerged was an elderly lady at death’s door; it would have been nice to be a few hundred years younger.”
“By the way… I’ve never blamed you…”
Liaowang’s eyes lost focus; he rushed to the stone wall, clenched his fists, and struck the cliff violently, rocks rolling, and within breaths dug out a tunnel, yet saw no sight of the beauty.
He was enraged, casting away thoughts of the plot story, fur crazily sprouting all over him, tirelessly excavating beneath the cliff until the entire mountain ridge was pierced through, only then did he slightly pause.
But at that moment, a group of young women’s laughter echoed around, accompanied by a jarring drake-like shout calling out something, that was Yu Huan Shui’s voice.
Following the sound, he saw Yu Huan Shui and Ma Niubi shouting loudly.
“Master, hurry and run; the story has begun!”
“This mountain has issues. The act of looking back at the mountain is truly the one that aligns with the plot. The old lady is here to distract you!”
“Darn it, monk, you knew it was a trap, why did you still turn? Indeed, women are only burdens dragging down your success!”
Yu Huan Shui resented for not realizing earlier, knowing it was a trap and still stepping into it. This monk who seemed so calm daily, how could he falter at the critical moment.
The cliff area was already enveloped by wisps of pink mist, although it was unclear what was about to happen, it was undeniable that the unknown offensive had launched.
Liaowang returned to the starting point, standing before the cliff, his expression gradually becoming invincible:
“Run?”
“Didn’t either benefactor hear Hu Meizi’s words? She knew that these trivial means had no effect on this monk, hence she asked me to turn.”
“In such moments, not only will this monk not run but will stand here and directly repel all intruders!”