457: Bandits or robbers?

"I really thank you so much... You sure know how to find work for me!"

Tang Xian listened to Tang Ku's plan to go to the Ashura Realm to find Sun Wukong's soul, as well as the specific plan to save Sun Wukong, with tears in his eyes; he was truly on the verge of crying.

"Aren't you quite badass? With so many skills, it'd be a waste not to use them... Besides, didn't that dad of yours send you here to help me? With an expert like you around, I can save a lot of trouble; I just need to focus on fighting!"

Tang Ku smiled bitterly.

Tang Xian curled his lips: "If I refuse to help you, will you hit me?"

"Yes!"

Tang Ku picked his ear, flicked away the earwax, and said, "If you refuse, I will calculate the bill for the food and drink you've had these past two days... Hmm, and the accommodation fees, the travel expenses I incurred because you destroyed the county, and funeral expenses and such... It totals about ninety-three thousand five hundred and sixteen taels and three mace of silver... I am a kind person, so I'll round it down for you; just give me ninety-three thousand five hundred taels..."

"Damn it, are you robbing me?"

Tang Xian said in shock, "Are you a bandit or a robber? In any case, you are not a monk!"

Tang Ku sneered, "I have already been very merciful. Not making you pay to rebuild Dingyuan County is already letting you off easy..."

Tang Xian felt aggrieved for a long while, then finally sighed helplessly: "When people are under low eaves, they must lower their heads... Heh, fine, let you have your way for now. When I recover my cultivation, I'll see if I don't beat you until your face blooms like peach blossoms!"

Tang Ku crossed his arms: "Wait until you recover your strength before saying that..."

Tang Xian gave a helpless, bitter smile, turned, left the main hall, and walked towards his room. The task Tang Ku gave him was not small; if he didn't plan it carefully, he might capsize in the gutter.

"Master, is this guy really reliable? Why does he look like a hooligan to me?"

Old Pig said, looking at Tang Xian's retreating figure with a puzzled expression.

"One cannot judge a person by their appearance; he has many credentials..."

Tang Ku said with a bitter smile.

"Master, what are credentials?"

Sha Wujing asked curiously.

"Credentials are... a proof of identity that officially acknowledges one's strength when a certain skill has been practiced to a certain level..." Tang Ku laughed, "Hmm, these are not the point; the point is that he really has ability..."

"Master, Master... Red Boy and his family of three are here, waiting outside the hall!"

Wu Zhen suddenly walked in and reported to Tang Ku.

Tang Ku smiled and said, "The Bull Demon King's family has never cared much for formalities, why are they being so polite today... Very well, I will go out to welcome them!"

As he spoke, Tang Ku stepped out of the door and indeed saw the Bull Demon King and Rakshasi with Red Boy standing below the steps. Seeing Tang Ku come out, the couple exchanged a glance, then immediately knelt on the ground with Red Boy and kowtowed to Tang Ku.

Tang Ku hurriedly went up to help them up, saying with a smile, "Brother Bull, why is this? A monk like me cannot accept this kowtow from you!"

Before the Bull Demon King could speak, Red Boy in the middle said solemnly: "Disciple Shancai Boy Niu Shengying pays respects to Guangdu Xin Buddha. If not for the Buddha's intervention, I, Red Boy, would still be lost in confusion. If I had experienced Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, my parents would likely not have been able to live on. Therefore, you deserve this bow! In the future, if you have any commands, Niu Shengying will spare no effort!"

The Bull Demon King and Rakshasi looked at Red Boy with approval. Rakshasi was full of gratification, secretly thinking: This child has finally grown up; he speaks so generously and appropriately.

Tang Ku touched his nose and laughed, "It was just a coincidence. Your father is my friend; when a friend is in trouble, how can I stand by and watch?"

Red Boy also smiled and said, "It is laughable that back then I even wanted to eat the Holy Monk to aid my longevity. This time, I, Red Boy, am making amends to you; please forgive me!"

As he spoke, he wanted to kneel again, but Tang Ku gently waved his sleeve, and a stream of Qi prevented him from kneeling. Then he said with a soft smile, "If I truly blamed you, would I have saved you?"

Red Boy and the Bull Demon King couple all laughed. Red Boy suddenly said solemnly, "Buddha, I heard that you are going back to Lingshan to search for the Great Sage Sun's soul? Hmm, if you do not mind, I am willing to follow by your side; I hope you will not refuse!"

"Heh, do you two know about this?"

Tang Ku raised his head and looked at the Bull Demon King and his wife.

"This is my son's own decision. Our cultivation has not recovered yet, so we will not get involved. After experiencing this tribulation, his power has actually increased significantly, and it is no longer below my peak period. Having him accompany the Holy Monk is also a repayment from us!"

Rakshasi said seriously, while the Bull Demon King just nodded from the side.

"Hmm, since that is the case, let him come with me. It just so happens that having served Guanyin in the Purple Bamboo Forest all these years, he can be considered half a member of the Buddhist sect. Going to Lingshan to experience the power of Buddhism will also be beneficial to his cultivation!"

Tang Ku smiled bitterly, "Hmm, Poor Monk has one more thing to ask... My two Disciples are now..."

The Bull Demon King slapped his head: "I almost forgot... Hmm, Holy Monk, those two Disciples of yours are fine, but... but they both have some quirks... One likes to turn into a rock and rolls around on the mountain all day, and the other likes to bury its head in the soil for no reason, burying it for a whole day, and then when it jumps out, it's like... like it's taken Five Minerals Powder..."

These two Disciples, one was the rock spirit Heishan, and the other was the vine spirit Xiao Cui. The two were not weak in power, but their intelligence had just awakened, and their Demonic Qi had not been eliminated. After entering the blessed land of Chang'an City, they would naturally repel it and become very uncomfortable. Moreover, the identities of the Bull Demon King and his wife were still a bit awkward, and they needed to take care of Red Boy, looking for Heaven And Earth Treasure and the like to treat his Physical Body, so they had not entered the city to live, and thus Tang Ku had entrusted them to take care of the two monster Disciples.

"Hmm, that is because their monster bodies have not fully transformed, so they still retain their instincts... This time I plan to take them to Lingshan to experience the baptism of Buddhism and accelerate the speed of their complete transformation!"

Tang Ku smiled bitterly.

"Oh, so that's it!" The Bull Demon King couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Old Bull is an animal spirit, so I really don't understand the cultivation process of rocks, trees, flowers, and plants... Hmm, wife, let's leave our child here to follow the Holy Monk's teachings, and we will go and gather those of the Yao Race to see if there are any friends from the three mountains and five sacred mountains who can help us. After all, this matter is imminent!"

Rakshasi smiled: "You are becoming more and more proactive... Very well, since there is nothing else to do, I will accompany you on this trip..."

As they spoke, the couple said goodbye to Tang Ku. Tang Ku eagerly tried to persuade them to stay for a meal, but after they politely declined, they left. Only then did Red Boy finally breathe a sigh of relief and say helplessly: "Thank God, they're finally gone... Buddha, you don't know how I've been living these past few days, listening to them nag every day; my ears have almost grown calluses!"

Tang Ku suddenly laughed: "I knew you were playing this game... Heh, alright, let's consider it fulfilling your filial piety... Once you achieve a positive result, make them happy!"