Chapter 25
Liaowu was supervising Liaonian’s morning prayers. Since Xiaoyaozi hadn’t concealed his aura, Liaowu had sensed his approach to the temple.
Closing his scripture, Liaowu stood up from the meditation mat. “Xiaoyaozi has arrived. Let’s go out.”
Cultivators kept all their belongings in their storage rings, so there was nothing to pack. Liaowu opened the door and walked towards the temple entrance.
Liaonian scratched his head, feeling that his senior brother was too easygoing. Xiaoyaozi was provoking the Buddhist sect; they should make him wait.
But as he followed Liaowu, Liaonian gradually understood — deliberately making Xiaoyaozi wait wouldn’t harm him, but it would make them appear petty.
Xiaoyaozi waited patiently at the temple gate.
The two novices sweeping the steps glanced at him occasionally, but he didn’t mind.
Soon, Liaowu, dressed in white robes, appeared.
Even someone as arrogant as Xiaoyaozi admired the Buddha-son’s demeanor.
“Buddha-son, please, let us depart for Ping City immediately,” Xiaoyaozi gestured.
Liaowu joined his hands together. “Amitabha. Please wait a moment, Senior Xiaoyaozi.”
Wait?
Wait for whom? Could it be that demonic woman from the Hehuan Sect?
Xiaoyaozi narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had heard some rumors —
For example, the Hehuan Sect’s inner sect missions had started early, and a disciple had accepted the mission to pursue the Buddha-son.
Could it be Luo Heng Yu and Liaowu?
This Buddha-son was someone the Undying Sect had waited millennia for. If he truly fell for a demonic woman and lost his Buddhist path, it would be a huge joke for the Buddhist sect. However, while the Hehuan Sect might target the other three Buddha-sons, they probably wouldn’t target Liaowu. If this Buddha-son truly lost his Buddhist path, the Hehuan Sect wouldn’t benefit either and would be condemned by the entire cultivation world.
Xiaoyaozi was uncertain.
He didn’t have to wait long. Heng Yu arrived at the temple on her sword.
Today, she wore a red dress and a black cloak, her expression calm, as if she were about to embark on a journey.
“Now that everyone is here, let’s depart.”
Xiaoyaozi flicked his duster, which expanded and hovered in the air, serving as a flying artifact.
Just as Liaowu was about to use his own method of transport, Heng Yu summoned her flying carpet. “Let’s take this.”
A few hundred miles was a bit slow on a flying carpet, but for cultivators, it would only take half a day to reach Ping City.
So, instead of tiring themselves out flying on their swords, it was better to travel comfortably on the carpet.
After the three of them boarded the carpet, Heng Yu took out candied fruits, exquisite pastries, and even demon sunflower seeds from her storage ring, leaning back against a cushion and starting to eat.
In contrast, Xiaoyaozi, standing on his duster, had nothing.
Xiaoyaozi: “…”
He sped up, flying ahead on his sword, out of sight, out of mind.
Seeing Xiaoyaozi leave, Heng Yu sat up straight. “He lost his composure so quickly.”
Liaowu peeled a nut and smiled faintly upon hearing her words: Lord Luo was truly mischievous.
It often rained in Ping City, and the sky was always overcast.
Whether it was due to the lack of sunlight or the hardships of life, the people of Ping City rarely smiled.
This contrast was even more apparent to those who had just arrived from Hua City.
After entering Ping City, Xiaoyaozi led them directly to a restaurant.
Seeing his familiarity with the place, Heng Yu transmitted her voice to Liaowu. “It seems Xiaoyaozi came prepared.”
Liaowu replied, “If he wasn’t prepared, he wouldn’t have proposed the wager so readily.”
Heng Yu raised an eyebrow. “Are you afraid of losing?”
“This poor monk doesn’t care about the wager.” Liaowu paused, then added, “But I will do my best and not let down Lord Luo’s efforts.”
She wasn’t a Buddhist cultivator and had invested so much time and energy in this. It would be ungrateful of him to say he didn’t care about winning or losing.
Heng Yu sighed softly.
This monk wasn’t eloquent, but his words always touched her heart.
As they walked through the market, Heng Yu suddenly leaned closer to Liaowu and whispered in his ear, “Senior Brother Liaowu, has anyone ever told you that you’re adorable?”
Liaowu joined his hands together. “Amitabha. This poor monk doesn’t understand Lord Luo’s meaning.”
“I mean it literally,” Heng Yu smiled. “If no one has ever said that to you, then I’ll assume you’re only adorable in front of me.”
As Heng Yu leaned closer to Liaowu, Liaonian, who had been obediently following behind, tensed up, afraid she would do something inappropriate. He quietly approached and, hearing her words, almost tripped and fell.
This demonic woman!!!
Liaowu blinked, a look of confusion on his face.
A moment later, he understood her meaning, but —
He said, “This poor monk still doesn’t understand.”
He had only expressed his thoughts. What did it have to do with being “adorable”?
Liaowu felt he was a boring person.
If it was about being adorable, this smiling woman and his innocent junior brother seemed more fitting for the term.
Heng Yu winked and smiled meaningfully. “It’s fine. I know it’s true.”
Adorableness wasn’t something one displayed for themselves, but for others.
Liaowu: “…”
He turned his prayer beads, not responding.
Xiaoyaozi led the way. After about a quarter of an hour, they arrived at Leju Restaurant, the largest in Ping City.
Four young men in Daoist robes, all at the Foundation Establishment stage, stood beside the restaurant. Seeing Xiaoyaozi, they quickly cupped their hands and bowed. “Master.”
Hearing this address, Heng Yu understood their identities — they were Xiaoyaozi’s disciples.
She had thought Xiaoyaozi would be fighting alone, but he had arranged for helpers.
Xiaoyaozi nodded at his disciples.
He turned to Liaowu and said with a fake smile, “Buddha-son has helpers, so this poor Daoist also brought my disciples to assist with the preaching. There shouldn’t be a problem with this, right?”
Liaowu nodded without saying anything.
Heng Yu smiled, a hint of mockery in her tone. “Senior Xiaoyaozi, please do as you wish.”
Since his helpers were already here, saying there was a “problem” would make them seem petty.
Among the four disciples, the leader was handsome, with a stern demeanor and late Foundation Establishment cultivation.
Hearing Heng Yu’s words, he pursed his lips, his expression darkening. “This must be Fellow Daoist Luo of the Hehuan Sect.”
“And you are?” Heng Yu glanced at him indifferently.
“Zhou Chuang. I hope Fellow Daoist Luo will remember it.”
Heng Yu nodded. “Really? I never remember the names of insignificant people.”
She didn’t understand where his hostility came from.
But she wouldn’t care about the hostility of a mere late Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Zhou Chuang’s expression darkened further. “I heard from my master that my junior brother died at your hands, Fellow Daoist Luo. Although he strayed from the right path, we were close, and I will avenge him.”
Heng Yu said, “With your late Foundation Establishment cultivation, you dare speak of revenge in front of me?”
She casually drew her sword.
The sword flashed towards Zhou Chuang’s face with lightning speed.
Xiaoyaozi, noticing her action, flicked his duster; Liaowu raised his right hand and blocked the attack.
Their exchange happened in the blink of an eye.
A faint cut appeared on Zhou Chuang’s neck, and blood trickled down.
He blinked and stumbled back two steps, caught by his fellow disciples.
“See? Even with your master present, he couldn’t protect you. Don’t wander alone in the future,” Heng Yu sheathed her sword.
This was a busy market. A simple test of strength was fine, but a real fight would inevitably harm the surrounding mortals.
Xiaoyaozi’s expression darkened.
He inwardly cursed his eldest disciple for being useless, then said with a forced smile, “Fellow Daoist Luo is truly powerful. In that case, let’s not waste any more time and begin the competition.”
“Let’s set a time limit of seven days. After seven days, we’ll each hold a public lecture and see who attracts more believers. Buddha-son, what do you think of this arrangement?”
Liaowu pondered for a moment and nodded. “This poor monk has no objections.”
Xiaoyaozi said, “Good. Then let’s act separately.”
After parting ways, Xiaoyaozi led his four disciples into the restaurant.
Heng Yu and the others remained where they were.
She thought for a moment. “Let’s find a place to stay first.”
They needed to settle down before starting to preach.
Seven days was a bit short, but it was enough.
Liaonian asked, “Should we stay at this Leju Restaurant?”
“No need. Seeing Xiaoyaozi and his disciples every day won’t improve my mood,” Heng Yu shrugged. “Let’s walk further ahead. I saw a decent restaurant over there.”
After checking into the restaurant, the three of them went to their room.
It was already dark. After bathing, Heng Yu, her hair still slightly damp, went next door and knocked on Liaowu’s door. “Are you free now? I want to discuss tomorrow’s preaching competition.”
Liaowu raised his hand inexplicably.
“What’s wrong?”
His hand hovered in front of her shoulder.
Spiritual energy flowed from his fingertips, and Heng Yu felt her damp hair gradually drying.
She touched her hair — it was completely dry.
“The wind is strong at night. It’s better to dry your hair, Lord Luo.” He stepped aside and invited her in.
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