https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-53-Feeding-Demons-and-Enslaving-Humans-Chongming-Appears-/12984578/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-55-Life-and-Death-Body-and-Soul-All-Bound-by-the-Life-Wheel-/12984580/
Chapter 54: Mountain Lord and Tiger Demon, the Elder Monk's Vengeance!
Chapter 54: Mountain Lord and Tiger Demon, the Elder Monk's Vengeance!
"Amitabha Buddha~"
A familiar voice sounded in his ear.
Qin Zheng turned around and exclaimed with joy, "Master Chongming?"
The person before him wore a simple monk's robe, his body emaciated, and it was indeed the Elder Monk Chongming.
"Patron Qin, we meet again."
Master Chongming smiled slightly and spoke.
Qin Zheng nodded and then said, "I saw the old man with the Buddhist beads carrying your aura, and I thought something had happened to you."
Master Chongming's face still held a smile, as if nothing could affect him, no matter how great the matter.
But his next words caused Qin Zheng's smile to freeze.
"Poor monk, I am ashamed to say that I am no longer in this world."
No longer in this world...
So, he's dead?!
But why is he still standing before me?
Qin Zheng's heart was filled with momentary confusion.
He knew this world had demons and monsters, but he never expected there to be ghosts as well?
Master Chongming joined his palms together again and chanted a Buddhist mantra before speaking, "After leaving Black Goose City that day..."
He slowly recounted his experiences since then to Qin Zheng.
It turned out that after leaving Black Goose City, he hadn't had time to reach Tongguan Town when he felt a powerful demonic aura in the mountains.
After some consideration, the Elder Monk decided to deal with the demon first.
The reason was that the demon had a strong bloodthirsty aura, indicating it might be eating humans.
Following the trail, he eventually caught up with the demon at the Riverside Village.
It was a tiger demon that had transformed into a powerful being, as large as an elephant, with a human thigh in its mouth.
However, the tiger demon also had several deep wounds on its body, suggesting it had been defeated in a fight with other demons and fled from the Must Not Exist Mountains.
The reason for its presence in the Riverside Village was simple—to eat humans and heal its injuries.
Master Chongming, of course, refused, and a battle ensued.
But even though the tiger demon was severely injured, it was not something the Bone Refinement Realm Elder Monk could handle easily.
After a fierce fight, the Elder Monk was gravely injured.
To prevent further aggravating its injuries, the tiger demon agreed not to eat the villagers on one condition—the Elder Monk must become its soul ghost.
The Elder Monk, on the brink of death, agreed to this condition to save the villagers.
But unexpectedly, the tiger demon didn't eat the villagers; instead, it lured outsiders into the village.
Then, it conveniently devoured these outsiders to heal its injuries.
The large catfish in the river were also raised by the villagers under the tiger demon's secret method.
The purpose was to fatten the fish so that the tiger demon could eat them.
As Qin Zheng listened to the Elder Monk's description, he could sense the regret and remorse in his tone.
"I never thought that by saving the villagers, I would also harm the ignorant outsiders."
"The villagers here have been tainted by sin. I can't distinguish right from wrong."
The Elder Monk sighed helplessly.
This was the first time Qin Zheng had sensed such helplessness from him since they met.
Looking at the Elder Monk, now transformed into a tiger demon's soul ghost, Qin Zheng's heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Regret, sympathy, and anger...
Such a kind monk had ultimately met his end at the hands of a demon.
"Patron Qin, you should leave quickly. This place is not safe, and the tiger demon is too powerful for a human grandmaster to confront."
After a brief silence, Master Chongming slowly spoke.
Qin Zheng wanted to speak but stopped, then turned his gaze towards the banquet where several young men and women were feasting and drinking.
"Benefactor Qin, you have a compassionate heart like a Bodhisattva. In my life, I've misjudged many people, but this last journey, I did not misjudge you."
Seeing Qin Zheng's expression, a smile appeared on the Elder Monk's face.
He continued, "Benefactor Qin, rest assured. Though I've become a Soul Ghost, I've been reciting Buddhist sutras for many years, and these scriptures have long been etched into my soul."
"These sutras protect my innate nature, allowing me to temporarily break free from the Tiger Demon's control. At the same time, they've caused me to lose my physical body, but I still have the strength to act."
"As for those young heroes, I will save them. After I defeat that Tiger Demon, the rest will be up to you!"
After the Elder Monk finished speaking, he chanted a Buddha's name once more, then headed towards the lively banquet area.
Under the moonlight and firelight, the Elder Monk cast no shadow.
"Oh, right!"
The Elder Monk seemed to remember something and suddenly stopped, then turned to look at Qin Zheng.
With a slight smile, he said, "Benefactor Qi Yan and those children asked me to tell you something before they left. Their fate is not your fault."
"Don't feel guilty or burdened because of them."
"They also wanted me to tell you that the time you spent with them in the East City was the happiest time in their lives."
Upon hearing these words, Qin Zheng felt as if an electric current had passed through his entire body.
No wonder the Elder Monk didn't ask him about the group of children in the East City when he saw him.
It turned out they had already met before!
However, when they met again, neither of them was in this world anymore.
Qi Yan and those children...
Qin Zheng didn't know why, but his eyes suddenly became a bit moist.
The Elder Monk smiled faintly, then turned and walked towards the lively banquet, heading towards the ancestral hall.
At the banquet, as the food and drinks on the table diminished, the five young men and women's cheeks turned red, and they began to appear slightly delirious.
Behind the village elder, the young girl's face darkened slightly upon seeing this.
The village elder's mouth curled into a smile, and he looked up at the large fish roasting over the campfire.
Smelling the enticing aroma of the fish, he continued, "It's about time. We can offer the Mountain Lord his meal."
As soon as he finished speaking, the originally lively and noisy atmosphere suddenly quieted, and all the villagers present stood up.
On their faces, there were expressions of struggle, hesitation, coldness, and calmness.
"Village Elder, there's one more person not here."
At this moment, a villager stepped forward and spoke.
"It's fine. That person will be taken care of by the Soul Ghost."
The old man waved his hand dismissively.
The five young men and women, with blurry eyes and drunk expressions, looked at the standing crowd and the sudden quiet atmosphere.
They seemed to hang their heads powerlessly, muttering, "Mountain Lord?"
"Who is the Mountain Lord? What are we offering to the Mountain Lord?"
The old man's face was filled with kindness as he looked at them and said, "The fish roasting on the campfire, and all of you, are the offerings to the Mountain Lord."
As soon as these words were spoken, the light in their eyes shone beneath their hair.
They didn't look drunk at all! They were as clear-headed as could be!
Excellent, the Tiger Demon was indeed here!
This thought flashed through their minds, and they were about to flip the table and take action.
Just then, a powerful Buddha's chant resonated.
"Amitabha!"
"Mountain Lord, I've come to claim your life!"
(End of Chapter)
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