Chapter 3 - 1: Fallen Fairy
"Your methods for vanquishing demons are truly impressive, Master."
The Heart-Eating Monk seemed to find Lu Changyuan interesting, especially since his words were so pleasant to hear. "I can see you have a great aptitude for enlightenment yourself, patron," he said.
Lu Changyuan shook his head. "I am just a foolish man from the mountains. But you, Master, are filled with compassion, willing to enlighten a simple villager like me. It shows the depth of your Buddhist Dharma."
"Do you know why I’m willing to enlighten you?"
Lu Changyuan shook his head.
"So you can die with a clear understanding! This way, I can consider it an atonement for my sins!"
The corners of the monk’s mouth stretched into a grin that seemed to reach his ears, creating an incredibly bizarre sight.
The Heart-Eating Monk was no saint. He had caught his breath and was now planning to eat Lu Changyuan to replenish his own stamina and deal with Qiu Yuehan.
Besides, he had already observed and tested Lu Changyuan. The man was clearly just an ignorant mountain peasant who understood nothing, completely defenseless.
’So what am I waiting for?’
But Lu Changyuan showed not a hint of fear. "I treated your wounds, Master."
The Heart-Eating Monk’s face suddenly turned savage. "If you’re going to see a job through, see it to the end! Why not heal me a bit more? Besides, the heavens sent this downpour to guide you here. It’s a sign that I should eat you to regain my strength."
As he finished speaking, the Heart-Eating Monk lunged.
"If you have to blame someone, blame that damn Qiu Yuehan from Miao Yu Palace!"
The Buddhist Sect’s Great Compassion Hand, reeking of a foul stench, shot straight for Lu Changyuan’s face.
Lu Changyuan roared, "Fairy, now!"
The Heart-Eating Monk’s attack was aimed at Lu Changyuan, but his back was perfectly exposed to the pillar—where Qiu Yuehan was hiding.
CRACK.
A bolt of lightning flashed.
It illuminated Lu Changyuan’s face, as well as the Heart-Eating Monk’s savage expression.
The flash of a sword, for but an instant.
The lightning glinted off the long, sleek blade, and the sword’s flash reflected the Heart-Eating Monk’s panicked face.
"You bitch! Despicable and shameless!"
The lightning and the sword—two flashes of light, both gone in a moment.
The temple was quickly plunged back into darkness. Lu Changyuan’s breathing was as calm and steady as the sound of the rain.
THUD.
Dust flew everywhere.
The Heart-Eating Monk stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground. A bronze, bell-like sheen appeared on his body but quickly faded.
Eating Buddha Sect’s Ghost Gate Cover.
Qiu Yuehan’s face was cold. "Your protective barrier is broken. You’ve lost."
The Heart-Eating Monk spat out a mouthful of blood and sneered, "You used all your strength and exhausted your Magical Power just to use Miao Yu’s Sixth Sword. And you were also hit by my Awakening Truth Words. You won’t be able to move for a while either!"
Seeing that Qiu Yuehan said nothing, merely standing in place and desperately regulating her breathing, Lu Changyuan knew the Heart-Eating Monk was telling the truth.
Qiu Yuehan had been hit by the Heart-Eating Monk’s spell. She had risked everything on a single strike from the shadows, but she hadn’t managed to kill him, only shatter his protective barrier.
The monk was suffering from backlash. The Fairy was suffering from the curse.
Neither of them could move.
’How interesting,’ Lu Changyuan couldn’t help but think.
So Lu Changyuan dusted off his pants and stood up. "You two, if I could have your attention. I have something to say."
Only then did Qiu Yuehan and the Heart-Eating Monk jolt to their senses in alarm.
’That’s right.’
They were both gravely injured and immobilized. Who was the only one who could decide the outcome?
It was Lu Changyuan.
The Heart-Eating Monk said hurriedly, "Young Patron, help me kill this demoness! I will guarantee you entry into my Eating Buddha Sect. From now on, you will be my Direct Disciple! I will ensure your path to Cultivation is a smooth one."
As he spoke, he slowly began to cast the Buddhist Sect’s Universal Relief Enchanting Spell.
’This is bad,’ Qiu Yuehan thought.
For a mortal, hearing this spell meant almost instantly converting to the Buddhist Sect.
Lu Changyuan leisurely strolled behind Qiu Yuehan. The Fairy’s rain-soaked hair clung to her straight back, tracing its elegant curve.
"Master, the Buddhist Sect’s precepts are quite strict, aren’t they? No meat, no alcohol, no marriage... I don’t think I could handle such a rigid lifestyle."
The Heart-Eating Monk grew anxious. "Nonsense! In my Eating Buddha Sect, ’wine and meat pass through the gut, while Buddha remains in the heart.’ We don’t need to follow any precepts!"
Lu Changyuan said calmly, "But you still have to chant scriptures every day, right? I have a bad memory. I can’t memorize Buddhist Scripture."
"Scriptures are for men to chant! Only those bald donkeys at the Ten Thousand Buddha Palace chant scriptures. We in the Eating Buddha Sect are all True Buddhas. We don’t chant!"
Lu Changyuan couldn’t help but grin. "Interesting. So in your Eating Buddha Sect, the ones who don’t chant are Buddhas, and the ones who do are just monks."
The Heart-Eating Monk nodded frantically. "Exactly, exactly! You have such an aptitude for enlightenment, Patron! A monk can never become a Buddha!"
Qiu Yuehan said coldly, "Nonsense!"
Lu Changyuan turned back to look at Qiu Yuehan. "Fairy, you heard him. He’s made me a very good offer. So, what are your terms?"
The rain was still falling.
It was pitch-black inside Compassionate Temple.
Two renowned Cultivators from the Cultivation Realm were being threatened by a single mortal.
Whoever offered less...
...would die.
Lu Changyuan took two steps forward, lifted the sword from Qiu Yuehan’s hand, and weighed it gently. "What a light sword."
Qiu Yuehan’s face was pale. She stared intently at Lu Changyuan, still not saying a word.
"If you don’t make an offer, Fairy, then I just might have to..."
Before he could finish, the Fairy spoke calmly, "You won’t."
Lu Changyuan asked, puzzled, "I won’t?"
Qiu Yuehan bit her lip. Strands of dark hair clung to her cheeks, making her look quite pitiful. "You were helping me from the very beginning. Helping me kill him. So, you won’t."
"There, you’re mistaken. I burn, pillage, and plunder—there’s no evil I haven’t done."
Holding the sword, Lu Changyuan turned and walked toward the Heart-Eating Monk. "Master, it seems your offer is better."
A glint shone in the Heart-Eating Monk’s eyes—he thought his Enchanting Spell had worked.
"You bitch, today is your day of reckoning! I..."
He hadn’t finished speaking.
When his vision suddenly began to spin.