Chapter 23

Is it any of my business whether the Imperial Preceptor of the Great Song Dynasty is a demon or not?

This was what Xuankong was thinking, not understanding at all why the King of the Mountain Sprite had sent someone to kidnap him.

When a country is about to fall, there must be evil! The King of the Mountain Sprite scratched his head and angrily said, "Are you really a disciple of the righteous path, or how could you speak such a shameless word?" Xuankong was stunned by the ghost's rebuke, but then he retorted angrily, "What does it have to do with you whether I am a disciple of the righteous path or not?"

To be honest, the King of the Mountain Sprite was originally a spirit that had become powerful in the mountains. If he hadn't assessed that he couldn't match Xuankong, he would have long taken action to subdue the demon.

He roared again and asked, "Who is being shameless, you or me? Why should our Laoshan Sect send people and exert effort to fight against the old demon Ci Hang Pudu?" Xuankong understood the King of the Mountain Sprite's intention.

But because he understood, he became even angrier. The Northern Sect had many high-level experts, and if they were unwilling to take action, it was one thing, but to want to use the Laoshan Sect as cannon fodder was another.

The King of the Mountain Sprite, after all, had a thin skin. After being scolded by Xuankong, his face turned red. He stammered, "If you hadn't discovered that the Imperial Preceptor Ci Hang Pudu was a demon, why would you have saved Lord Nie?"

When Deng Lizi arrived, the King of the Mountain Sprite was actually hiding nearby.

Feeling that he was no better than Deng Lizi and also considering the relationship with the Kongtong and Quanzhen Sects, the King of the Mountain Sprite hesitated, which allowed Xuankong to take the lead. He didn't know that Xuankong's plan was to use the hunter surnamed Nie to advance the plot, so he could see the famous Nie Xiaoxian sooner.

However, Xuankong's thoughts had changed now.

His predecessors were obsessed with "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio," and this life, he only wanted to fulfill his long-held wish. Besides, he had already seen the sisters Xiangyu and Jiangxue, who were indeed the most beautiful in the world. He didn't think it was worth risking his life for a beauty he hadn't even met.

So, Xuankong kept refusing, saying that he had acted to protect the reputation of the Laoshan Sect, dealing with Princess Yunluo and Deng Lizi. He refused to agree to the King of the Mountain Sprite's request to go to the capital and challenge Ci Hang Pudu.

He had a clear understanding of his own abilities. With such a low level, challenging a boss alone would be suicide.

After scolding enough, Xuankong calmed down and suddenly asked, "Why did you send two mountain cat spirits to drag me here in the middle of the night?"

The King of the Mountain Sprite was momentarily speechless. He had forgotten what he wanted to say to Xuankong after being scolded. He looked at Xuankong, who was also looking at him, and both were speechless. The King of the Mountain Sprite said, "I thought you were a righteous disciple, so I wanted to get to know you."

Xuankong asked, "Now? Do you know me?"

The King of the Mountain Sprite frowned, "I know you, but I don't want to be friends with you anymore."

Xuankong was puzzled, "Why?"

The King of the Mountain Sprite angrily said, "If someone scolds you out of the blue, would you still want to be friends with them?"

Xuankong was a bit embarrassed, he laughed and said, "Don't say that. Actually, I'm quite easy to get along with, as long as you don't plan to use our Laoshan Sect as cannon fodder." The King of the Mountain Sprite shook his head, "Your Laoshan Sect? When I roamed the world, there wasn't even a name for the Laoshan Sect."

Xuankong was casual, "Soon, the Laoshan Sect's reputation will spread throughout the land."

The King of the Mountain Sprite was puzzled, "Why do you say that?"

Xuankong laughed, "Because I, the young master, am about to leave the mountain and travel the world!"

The King of the Mountain Sprite was speechless, deeply regretting his loose tongue for chatting with Xuankong. He waved his hand, dispelling the mist sealing the cave entrance, and said coldly, "I have nothing else to say..." He looked at Xuankong, indicating that he should leave.

Xuankong took a few steps towards the cave entrance, then turned back, "Don't you have anything else important to tell me?"

The King of the Mountain Sprite was puzzled, "Isn't the possibility that the Imperial Preceptor of the Great Song Dynasty is a demon important enough? What could be more important than that?" Xuankong sneered, "Even if your ancestors were demons, it wouldn't matter to me. Think again, is there anything you forgot?"

The King of the Mountain Sprite thought for a moment and affirmed, "There is indeed nothing else."

Xuankong gritted his teeth, "You sent people, no, sent demons to carry me and my bed from the mountaintop to the halfway point just to tell me that Ci Hang Pudu might be a demon?" Seeing the King of the Mountain Sprite nod innocently, Xuankong felt like he was about to vomit blood.

He was still thinking about who would protect the hunter surnamed Nie after he left the mountain. Now that he knew the King of the Mountain Sprite existed, he wouldn't seek trouble for himself. He said helplessly, "You should focus on protecting the hunter surnamed Nie. The world below is too complicated, not something we can get involved in."

Seeing Xuankong's eyes on the dragon pearl above his cave, the King of the Mountain Sprite felt guilty and said, "Young master, wait. The dragon pearl on top of my cave is..."

"From the Western Sea Dragon Clan, I know!" Before the King of the Mountain Sprite could finish, Xuankong leaped and grabbed the dragon pearl from the cave wall. When he examined it, he could see a white jade dragon swimming inside.

"Jade dragon, a rare treasure!" Xuankong gave the King of the Mountain Sprite a thumbs up.

The King of the Mountain Sprite suspected he had been tricked by Xuankong. Indeed, his mother was right; the most terrifying thing in the world wasn't demons and ghosts but a two-legged creature called a human. Xuankong tightly held the dragon pearl and asked, "What is the origin of this dragon pearl?"

After all, a dragon pearl to the Dragon Clan was like the Purple Mansion Golden Pill to a cultivator, a crucial item for storing one's magical power. He was afraid it might be stolen goods.

The King of the Mountain Sprite thought for a moment. Since the treasure was already in Xuankong's hands, he might as well tell the truth, "This dragon pearl belongs to the Third Prince of the Western Sea. When Ancestor Chongyang attained immortality, the Third Prince sent it as a gift."

"The Third Prince of the Western Sea?" Xuankong thought, he had been to the Western Sea a few times but had never met the legendary Third Prince.

"The Third Prince doesn't live in the Western Sea," the King of the Mountain Sprite saw Xuankong's doubt and explained with a bitter smile, "The Jade Dragon Prince, named Ao Lie, once set fire to the pearl given by the Jade Emperor, violating the heavenly laws. He was saved by the Bodhisattva Guanyin of the Southern Sea and transformed into a white horse to protect the pilgrim on his journey to the West."

"After the successful journey to the West, the Third Prince also benefited and was bestowed the title of the Eight-Part Heavenly Dragon of Great Power by the Buddha, naturally shedding his past and transforming his dragon power into Buddha power. I received a talisman from the Master of Baiyun Temple to protect Lord Nie. Before I left, the Master was worried that Ci Hang Pudu wouldn't give up, so he gave me this treasure to protect Lord Nie..."