Chapter 35

The ascetic monk was taken aback, his brows slightly furrowed. When the tiger demon spoke, he secretly used his mind-reading ability, and the tiger demon's words should have been true. He originally thought that the conflict between the Mountain and Water Sword Sect and the tiger demon, although not necessarily as Wu Zhenggong said, was due to some misunderstanding. He did not expect Wu Zhenggong to be so bold, completely distorting the truth and twisting the words.

The tiger demon before him appeared simple and stubborn, looking very grateful for kindness. In comparison, Wu Zhenggong was truly despicable. The ascetic monk realized that the white tiger had been wronged. After a moment's thought, the reason for the conflict between the Mountain and Water Sword Sect and the tiger demon became clear!

Generally, demons or spirits are the essence of birds, beasts, flowers, and trees. For cultivators, the original form of demons or spirits is excellent material for refining elixirs or magical artifacts. Moreover, when demons or spirits are captured, they can be controlled with certain secret methods, making them suitable as the sect's guardian beasts, protecting the sect or managing the medicinal gardens. In the cultivation world, many major sects have such guardian beasts and medicinal garden spirits.

Of course, these demons and spirits in major sects are mostly willing to become their guardian beasts, or they cultivate within the sect like other disciples. Only a small part may have committed evil in the cultivation world and were captured by sect cultivators, who then used this method to warn and control them.

As for the tiger demon, there is a spiritual elixir in the cultivation world called the Tiger Bone Spirit Elixir. The most important ingredient is tiger bone, not ordinary tiger bone, but the bone of a tiger demon. This elixir has the effects of strengthening the body and extending one's lifespan, making it particularly suitable for the early stages of cultivation to lay the foundation. It is a very rare spiritual elixir in the cultivation world.

The rarity lies not in the other auxiliary ingredients, but in the rarity of tiger demon bones. Tiger demons are different from ordinary tigers; in a certain sense, they are "people." Killing a tiger for its bones is understandable, but killing a tiger demon for its bones is problematic. After the fence was planted, humans and demons gradually communicated, and cultivators no longer simply treated demons and spirits as different beings but gradually treated them with a relatively equal attitude as "people."

Wu Zhenggong, leading three disciples, attacked the white tiger, probably to refine the Tiger Bone Spirit Elixir. Such intentions truly made the ascetic monk sigh. If it weren't for him encountering this today, with the tiger demon's newly transformed human form, even if Wu Zhenggong didn't act, the tiger demon would eventually die in the Three Talents Sword Formation of the three disciples.

Understanding this, seeing the tiger demon still wanting to repay his kindness by serving as a mount, the ascetic monk directly refused and carried Lu Zheng toward the Two Worlds Mountain. He was afraid the tiger demon would follow, so he used his divine speed, taking a few steps and disappearing from the tiger demon's sight.

The tiger demon, not expecting the monk to leave without a word, called out several times but received no response. Standing there for a long time, he finally turned around, transformed back into a white tiger, and ran into the forest, soon disappearing.

The ascetic monk reached the foot of the Two Worlds Mountain, sensing that the tiger demon had not followed, and felt relieved. He jumped up to the top of the Two Worlds Mountain. Lu Zheng's words earlier made him feel that this matter was quite suspicious, so he followed to save the white tiger.

Lu Zheng had not spoken since then and now said, "Great monk, is that tiger really a good person... a good tiger?"

The ascetic monk countered, "What do you think in your heart?"

Lu Zheng whispered, "I think he is a good demon, but..." He always remembered that his Ninth Brother was killed by a demon. Now, to admit that demons can be good felt strange. However, the white tiger was indeed wronged and very grateful, making him feel that the tiger demon was good, causing some internal conflict.

The ascetic monk continued, "You once asked me if there are good and bad demons in the world. Have you figured it out now?"

Lu Zheng finally seemed to understand why the great monk didn't directly tell him whether demons were good or bad, realizing the monk's good intentions. He asked, "Great monk, I understand that demons are like people, with good and bad. But why do demons transform into human form?"

The ascetic monk smiled, "Demons transform into human form because, in the world, the human form is the most suitable for cultivation. The Buddha once said that the human form is hard to obtain. All beings have the nature of the Buddha, and although they can all cultivate to become Buddhas, the human form is the most convenient for cultivation.

However, this is not always the case. Many demons cultivate in their original form. Only those who have come into contact with transformation techniques from Buddhism or Daoism, or have been guided by some high-level cultivators, can transform into human form. The white tiger claimed to be from the Danxue Mountain. According to my knowledge, the demons gathered there have been guided by some high-level cultivators, making them different from demons in other places..."

The two continued to chat as they walked. After a while, Lu Zheng fell asleep again. By the time it was dusk, they had reached a sheltered spot. The ascetic monk put down the carrying frame, woke up Lu Zheng, and used his Heavenly Eye to observe the yin poison in his body. The qi masses were still in a delicate balance. Thinking that they would soon reach the Sun and Moon Pavilion, he felt somewhat relieved.

The ascetic monk looked at Lu Zheng, pondered for a moment, and said, "Little layman, there is something I want to ask you. Think carefully before answering me!"

Lu Zheng was puzzled, "What is it?"

The ascetic monk said, "I ask you, after the yin poison is cured, are you willing to follow me in cultivation?"

Lu Zheng, fearing he had heard wrong, asked, "Great monk, what did you just say?" He never thought the ascetic monk would offer to take him as a disciple, feeling somewhat disbelieving.

The ascetic monk, thinking he hadn't heard clearly, repeated, "I ask you, after the yin poison is cured..." but was interrupted by Lu Zheng's excited voice, "Willing, willing, great monk, of course I am willing!"

Lu Zheng's joy was indescribable. He had thought about this all the way, trying to test the ascetic monk, but the monk always avoided the topic. Now, the monk had unexpectedly brought it up, greatly surprising and delighting him.

Lu Zheng thought, the great monk must have had a plan all along. No wonder he didn't pay attention to me before, just teaching me various spells and telling me about the cultivation world. Thinking this, he smiled and was about to bow to become a disciple. Unexpectedly, the ascetic monk stopped him, "Wait, little layman, I can take you as a disciple, but there is one condition!"

Lu Zheng, full of joy, said without thinking, "Great monk, say it, I agree to everything!"

The ascetic monk said, "Listen to me first. If I take you as a disciple, you must agree to let go of the idea of revenge and not go after the snake demon."

Lu Zheng was stunned, stammering, "W-Why?"

He had thought of countless possibilities if he became a disciple, how the ascetic monk might refuse him, but now the monk had brought it up with such a condition. He even thought that if he became a disciple, he might have to become a little monk like Mingkong, and his Ninth Brother hated monks. He wondered if his Ninth Brother would be angry to see his bald head. He even thought he could temporarily shave his head and grow it back after learning skills.

But Lu Zheng never expected the ascetic monk to say such a thing. He couldn't understand why revenge and becoming a disciple were in conflict or why the monk would make such a strange request.

The ascetic monk looked at Lu Zheng, "You don't need to ask why. Just answer me this: can you let go of this hatred and not seek revenge?"

Lu Zheng still didn't understand, "Great monk, I'm learning skills to avenge my Ninth Brother. If I can't avenge him, what's the point of learning skills?"

The ascetic monk sighed, "So, you are determined to avenge your Ninth Brother and cannot let go of this obsession."

Lu Zheng, feeling anxious, tried to argue, but the ascetic monk stopped him, "Never mind, you don't need to answer now. We'll discuss it when we reach the end of the Two Worlds Mountain. You can think about it on the way. If you want me to take you as a disciple, you must let go of this grudge."

Lu Zheng was taken aback. Just a moment ago, the monk said he would take him as a disciple, but now he had such a strange condition. Was the monk deliberately making it difficult for him? If he couldn't avenge his Ninth Brother, what was the point of learning skills?

Moreover, the monk interrupted him before he could speak, proposing such a condition, which seemed to mean he didn't really want to take him as a disciple, using this question to make him give up. Lu Zheng felt a sense of injustice, feeling somewhat distant from the ascetic monk, and was very upset.

The ascetic monk, after speaking, sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes to meditate, no longer speaking.

Lu Zheng tried to call him several times but didn't. He had many thoughts, wondering if he should pretend to agree not to seek revenge, then avenge his Ninth Brother after learning skills. Without skills, he couldn't even find the demon, let alone kill it. But if he did this, he would be deceiving the monk. He felt very grateful and respectful to the monk, and although he was somewhat resentful now, he couldn't bring himself to lie to him.

Lu Zheng was different from Tang Xiaojiu. Tang Xiaojiu could lie easily without blinking, but Lu Zheng was simple and honest, feeling that the monk had been so good to him that he couldn't bring himself to lie. This meant he couldn't learn skills to avenge his Ninth Brother. What should he do? The more he thought, the more conflicted he felt, and tears welled up in his eyes.

That night, Lu Zheng didn't pester the ascetic monk for stories or even speak to him. The ascetic monk just meditated, making Lu Zheng even more upset. He ate a few mouthfuls of steamed buns and pretended to sleep, but eventually fell asleep without the monk calling him.

The next morning, the ascetic monk handed him a bamboo tube of clear water and a pill, smiling. Lu Zheng, just waking up, naturally took them. Suddenly, he remembered he was still angry with the monk, but since he had already drunk the water and taken the pill, he felt he had lost. Then he thought, the monk had offered the water first, so it should count as the monk acknowledging him, making him feel better. He said, "Hmm, the weather seems nice today!"

The ascetic monk responded, "Yes, in half a day, we will reach the Sun and Moon Pavilion!"

Although they only exchanged a few words, Lu Zheng felt their relationship had returned to its previous closeness. The previous anger seemed insignificant, and he obediently sat on the carrying frame.

Last night, Lu Zheng had another strange dream, the same as the previous one, with six divine dragons moving in the sky. One golden dragon lunged at him, roaring his name, and then spat out a pearl that entered his body. The two dreams were identical, and although he didn't understand why, he felt particularly energetic after waking up, as if he had never been poisoned. Sitting on the carrying frame, he looked at the scenery and hummed a few tunes he had learned with Tang Xiaojiu at the Spring Wind Tower. Tang Xiaojiu often hummed these tunes when he was idle.

After humming for a while, he found it boring and started reciting the Six-Word Brightness Mantra, starting softly and gradually getting louder, letting his voice drift into the wind and be carried away.

The ascetic monk, hearing his playful recitation, chuckled and asked, "Little layman, have you thought it over?"

Lu Zheng's voice stopped, and he grabbed the monk's shoulder, whispering, "Great monk, I really can't give up my revenge!"

The ascetic monk sighed, "Attachment is suffering. If you cannot see through this, your obsession with revenge makes you unsuitable for Buddhist cultivation. You are likely to fall into the path of demons in the future!"

Lu Zheng, hearing this, realized the monk wasn't deliberately making it difficult but was genuinely concerned for him. Although he didn't understand what the path of demons was, it was clear the monk was thinking of him. This made his resentment towards the monk disappear, and he asked, "Great monk, what is the path of demons?"

The ascetic monk was about to answer, but Lu Zheng continued, "Great monk, you don't understand. If I can avenge my Ninth Brother, even if it means falling into the path of demons, I don't care!"

The wind on the Two Worlds Mountain seemed to be surprised by Lu Zheng's words, pausing for a moment before continuing to howl.

The ascetic monk sighed, feeling uncertain about whether to take this child as a disciple. After a long silence, he said, "You have thought about it all the way. Now let me think about it. When we reach the Sun and Moon Pavilion, I will make my decision, okay?"

Lu Zheng, feeling warm, said, "Great monk, no matter what, I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life!"

They walked for another half day, and just past noon, the ascetic monk suddenly stopped, saying, "Lu Zheng, this is the fence!" They had finally reached the end of the Two Worlds Mountain.