14: Killing the Water Monkey on a Rainy Night

“Thank you all for opening the door and letting me take shelter from the rain.

My name is Liu Cai, from Litang County. I’m traveling with my page, Er Ma, to the capital for the imperial examination. We’re just passing through, so please excuse the intrusion.”

Liu Cai bowed.

He wore a green robe and had a jade-like countenance, exuding a scholarly charm that made for an excellent first impression.

As soon as he appeared, several of the brides-to-be’s eyes lit up.

“You are too kind, benefactor. Come closer to the fire and warm yourself,” Monk Fayun replied with his eyes closed.

“Thank you.”

Liu Cai turned around, opened his book basket, took out his damp books, and placed them aside to dry.

It must be said, good looks certainly have their advantages.

Before long, Liu Cai began chatting with the group of brides-to-be.

He spoke of sights and sounds from his journey and strange tales from his books.

In particular, a few excerpts from ‘boudoir forbidden books’ made the young wives blush, yet their eyes remained fixed on Liu Cai.

“What’s the fun in just eating steamed buns?

Er Ma, take out some meat pies and share them with everyone.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

The page opened his bamboo box and basket, took out meat pies wrapped in oil paper, and distributed them to the crowd.

“How could we impose?”

“It smells so good.”

“Wow, it tastes really good, even better than Old Xu’s braised pork hock.”

Without further ado, the women took a bite.

Just as Xiao Cui was about to put it in her mouth, a large hand suddenly knocked the meat pie to the ground.

Everyone was stunned.

“Sir, what is the meaning of this?

I kindly offered you some food. If you don’t want to eat it, that’s fine, but why did you knock it over?”

Liu Cai stood up and angrily asked.

Gu Changsheng straightened up but did not answer directly: “Just now, Liu Sheng mentioned quite a few strange tales.

Coincidentally, Gu, having traveled extensively, also has some experiences to share.

Legend has it there’s a water-dwelling anomaly called the Water Monkey.

In the water, it possesses immense strength, often puncturing travelers’ boats, dragging them into the water, devouring their flesh and blood, and sucking out their brains.

Once it leaves the river and lacks the nourishment of water, the Water Monkey becomes weak.

Of course, there are always exceptions.

On rainy nights, when water vapor is abundant, Water Monkeys also come ashore to hunt, often disguising themselves as scholars to lure travelers.

However, no matter how good the disguise, it’s hard to hide the water trails beneath their feet.

Liu Sheng, wouldn’t you agree?”

No sooner had he spoken than a woman shrieked, “Look, so much water at his feet!”

Everyone looked in the direction of the scream and only then noticed the trickling water trails beneath Liu Cai’s feet, pooling into a puddle.

Logically, after being baked by the fire for so long, he should have been dry by now.

Something was wrong!

“Heh heh, why so much talk?

Wouldn’t it have been easier to just eat the meat pies?”

Liu Sheng sneered, his face contorted, dense black fur growing on his body, his palms turning dark, and his claws enlarging like cattail leaf fans.

His clothes burst, and the two transformed into one large and one small Water Monkey, pouncing towards Monk Fayun and Gu Changsheng.

In their perception, the two men’s Vitality and Blood were the most vigorous.

They were excellent blood sacrifices.

Immediately, everyone screamed in terror.

“Perfect timing.”

Gu Changsheng’s black Qi surged, pouring into his wolf-hair brush. With a flick of his fingers, the brush tip bloomed with Sword Light.

Whoosh—

A wisp of yellow-skinned phantom, wrapped in Sword Qi, streaked past.

Beast Pointing Art + Sharpness Art!

With a crack, a head rolled to the ground.

On the other side.

“Hah!”

A Buddhist chant entered his ears, and Monk Fayun opened his eyes.

A golden palm emerged from his kasaya, as if coated in gold dust, gripping Liu Cai’s sharp claws like an eagle’s talons, rendering him immobile.

With a slight exertion of force, the sound of breaking finger bones was heard.

The golden alms bowl ascended into the air, emitting several golden rays. Accompanied by wails, Liu Sheng was drawn into the golden alms bowl.

‘A small demon not even in the Foundation Building Realm dares to provoke us.

Truly seeking death.’

Gu Changsheng shook his head.

Suddenly, Monk Fayun’s voice came to his ear.

“Benefactor, could you entrust the demon corpse to this monk to take back to Chuyun Temple for super-transcendence? This monk is willing to exchange it for a Bodhi Seed.

This Bodhi Seed, when consumed, can regenerate flesh and bone; it is a precious Spirit Medicine for healing.”

Fayun pulled out a clear, emerald green fruit from his Pregnant.

A slight sniff revealed a refreshing fragrance.

It was clearly a rare Spirit Medicine.

‘Though the Bodhi Seed is good, unfortunately, it is not what I seek.’

Gu Changsheng said in a deep voice: “You can have the demon corpse, Great Master.

You just need to agree to one condition.”

“What condition?”

“Let me paint a portrait of you, Great Master.”

The journey thereafter was smooth and uneventful.

Two days later, the silhouette of Chenping County was visible in the distance.

When they were still a few miles from Chenping County, Gu Changsheng proactively suggested they part ways.

“Amitabha, benefactor, you have deep Buddhist affinity. Are you truly not considering cultivating Buddhist Dharma?”

Monk Fayun clasped his palms together.

Along the way, he had chattered incessantly, almost causing Gu Changsheng’s ears to callus.

Of course, during their evening conversations in the dilapidated temple, he also learned a lot of information.

For example, the division of Realms.

Cultivators are divided into Visualization, Foundation Building, True Core, Profound Cave, and Yang God based on their strength.

In fact, a True Core Cultivator is already a great Cultivator in a region, capable of founding a sect and being called an Old Ancestor.

Cave Profound Ancestorss are only found in a few major sects and factions in the human world.

The Yang God Realm is almost a legend.

Beyond the Yang God Realm, even less is known.

Furthermore, cultivation methods are diverse.

They are broadly categorized into three Great Daos:

Buddhist Dharma, Daoist Dharma, and Demonic Dharma.

Among them, Demonic Dharma is the most perilous and widespread in its harmful influence.

It is a visualization method derived from using demons as a cultivation blueprint.

The most famous is the Animal Husbandry Method created by the Myriad Longevity Old Ancestor.

It is widely spread and highly influential.

As Demonic Dharma cultivation deepens, the degree of bodily mutation increases, greatly escalating the risk of Qi Deviation.

For example, Gu Changsheng, who has undergone the Fusion of more than ten types of sixth-tier Jade Faced Fox Method, has long been unrecognizable and incredibly bizarre.

For ordinary Cultivators, shortly after starting, their minds would likely twist, transforming them into Devil Heads.

Of course, with the Golden Finger, the risk of Qi Deviation for Gu Changsheng is almost non-existent.

“Great Master, there’s no need to persuade me further,” Gu Changsheng replied.

Becoming a monk? He had no interest.

As for Monk Fayun’s cultivation method, he had already obtained it.

After a few days of interaction, he secretly observed Monk Fayun and, apart from being a bit talkative, he indeed had no ill intentions.

Fayun sighed softly, remained silent for a moment, and then pulled out a triangular talisman from his robes.

“This is a Peace Talisman blessed by a Golden Buddha, which can calm the mind and condense Qi.

If you wear it day and night, benefactor, it can reduce the chances of Qi Deviation.”

“Then many thanks, Great Master.”

Gu Changsheng took the talisman, and a gentle, peaceful energy permeated his body, like smelling flowers in a spring field, making him feel refreshed and invigorated.