Chapter 142: The Same Path

　　After Wen Leyang and Liu Zheng bid farewell to the enlightened person Tian Shu, they immediately departed from the abandoned Taoist temple, which was located in the suburbs of Shanghai.

　　Before the two youngsters walked far, they stopped walking in unison. Liu Zheng looked towards Wen Leyang, “You can feel that something is wrong too?”

　　Wen Leyang nodded, his words were baffling, “Logically speaking, your esteemed master is a proud and arrogant leader!”

　　The enlightened person Tian Shu had a kind heart. Not only was he pleasant to Wen Leyang, he had clearly stated that his resentment towards the senior generation was unrelated to the young lads. He even sent Liu Zheng to join Wen Leyang’s journey, to look for clues in the Painting Town.

　　Ever since Bushuo and Buzuo were taken away by the four family elders, Wen Leyang was constantly vigilant. Even though he was not considered very smart or very foolish, he still had a basic understanding of human nature.

　　The part that felt wrong was when Tian Shu sent Liu Zheng to join Wen Leyang to handle the matter together.

　　From the point of view of sword immortals, who received the god’s will to live in solitary and guarded the heaven, when one of the demon-suppressing Heaven’s cone nails on the Black and White Island was crushed, it was no different from digging their ancestor’s graves. Moreover, one of the three sword immortals of the Black and White Island, the enlightened person Tian Ge, was severely injured during the battle of Tuo Xie and Chang Li. His primordial energy was destroyed and he had to engage in closed-door recuperation for two thousand years. Anyone would feel deeply humiliated on his behalf, let alone the enlightened person Tian Shu that had lived through thousands of years.

　　Even though the most important matter now was to locate and defeat Hanba and compel Cone Nail to suppress the Black and White Island once again, judging by the enlightened person Tian Shu’s exceedingly arrogant behavior, it was highly unlikely that he would allow his disciple to join the descendant of Tuo Xie in handling this matter. Moreover, Wen Leyang was not a top master cultivator, whatever he was capable of doing, the little supreme leader Liu Zheng could do as well.

　　Nonetheless, in truth, both Wen Leyang and Liu Zheng could get along rather well.

　　Liu Zheng’s expression was a little solemn, “The esteemed master knew that an incisive opposing party was approaching. That was why he sent me away on some pretext. The enemy was certainly not someone we could deal with. How could I not see through his laborious efforts.”

　　Wen Leyang pointed at the big-muzzled weapon on Liu Zheng’s back, “We have the Thunder Heart Sand. We may not necessarily be at a disadvantage…”

　　As Liu Zheng was aware that the esteemed master was in trouble, he refused to leave. However, as he refused to stay in the Taoist temple and become his esteemed master’s burden, he could only bid farewell first and leave in preparation to withstand a battle on behalf of the enlightened person Tian Shu. He spoke to Wen Leyang, “The matter of the Black and White Island is unrelated to you. Please lend me the big-muzzled weapon first. If I survive this, I will certainly return the favor in the future…”

　　Wen Leyang tugged Liu Zheng and bent over. His skin was contracting and relaxing, his pores opening and closing, as he released his telegnosis ability that firmly covered his surrounding areas. His gaze stared straight into the abandoned Taoist temple where the enlightened person Tian Shu was taking shelter at the end of his visual field, “It’s not that I don’t want to help you but I am afraid that the enemy of the Black and White Island is related to my two grand masters. Moreover, do you even know how to use Xiaoyi’s blunderbuss?”

　　Upon saying that, Wen Leyang paused for a moment. He looked at Liu Zheng with a suspicious gaze as he laughed, “If the enemy is too violent, it is still not too late for me to run away…”

　　Before he could finish his sentence, a series of relaxing laughter echoed next to their ears abruptly, “These two young lads here are really savage. Are they using the Thunder Heart Sand to deal with the monk?”

　　Immediately, a bald monk’s body flashed out of the Taoist temple, waving his hand at them from afar.

　　Liu Zheng made the correct guess that an enemy was approaching. However, he did not expect that the opposing party had surpassed his telegnosis ability and was lurking in the Taoist temple. Liu Zheng’s eyes were almost cracking with rage. He squalled once as he removed the big-muzzled weapon on his back, He was stunned for a moment as he lowered the muzzle involuntarily. The person who was strolling out of the Taoist temple was an old acquaintance. He was Shan Duan, the small demon rabbit abbot of the Great Mercy Temple.

　　Wen Leyang’s expression was a combination of surprise and doubt. He knew that the small demon rabbit Shan Duan was the disciple and the disciple’s disciple of Chang Li but he was still a monster that had engaged in cultivation for over a thousand years regardless. He was unlike Wen Leyang who was so benevolent and honest. He would probably kill Tian Shu in order to prevent future troubles, such that Tian Shu would not come seeking revenge from Chang Li in the future.

　　Shan Duan lifted his legs and walked lightly. It only took a few steps for him to arrive in front of them. He took a look at the two boys’ expressions. He smiled as he shook his head, “The enlightened person Tian Shu is in a good condition now. The monk dares not harm the grand old man. If you don’t believe me, feel free to return and ask him.”

　　Liu Zheng laughed with great difficulties, “Of course the divine monk will not harm my esteemed master teacher. When did you arrive here?” His mouth was talking, but his heart was still concerned. He took out his cellphone from his pocket and called his esteemed master.

　　Wen Leyang was astonished. He did not expect that a person like the enlightened person Tian Shu was also using a cellphone. It seemed that the infrastructure of the Black and White Island was pretty good considering that there was cellphone signal there…

　　As Liu Zheng was making the call, he did not speak, but his expression was obviously relaxed. It was evident that Tian Shu had picked up the call.

　　Wen Leyang held onto the small demon rabbit Shan Duan out of joy, “Since when did you arrive in Shanghai?”

　　Shan Duan chuckled as he answered, “Just arrived, I went to Eyang Mountain but failed to locate Leyang Wen, so I came directly to Shanghai. I rushed over to the City God Temple, just in time to bump into all of you who were fleeing the scene. Hence, I followed.” As he was saying that, a strand of ferocious countenance flashed past his expression. He lowered his voice, “If you weren’t with Tian Shu at that time, I would have directly kill them. Hehe, surprisingly, the Kunlun Sect originated from the Black and White Island!”

　　Shan Duan’s voice was akin to a piece of thread that flowed directly from his lips to Wen Leyang’s ears. Liu Zheng, who was talking on the phone at the side, could not hear him at all.

　　Wen Leyang was startled. He hastily shook his head as he advised repetitively, “The enlightened person Tian Shu is a pretty good person…”

　　Shan Duan burst out laughing, “How can you tell that he is a rather good person? He knew that I followed all of you into the Taoist temple since the beginning. Of course, he would speak of a few noble words of bold and dignified bearing! Young lad, you are too virtuous and sincere. If I were to attack him before your face, surely you would try to stop us desperately, that was why I waited for a while. Tian Shu had an intelligent mind as well, he understood that I did not attack because I was concerned about you, that was why he sent his disciple to leave with you, hoping that he could salvage that young lad Liu Zheng’s life.

　　The well-nourished brain cells of these old demons that had lived up to hundreds and thousands of years were fat, huge and beyond handy, Wen Leyang heaved a sigh in his heart as he asked Shan Duan, “So why did you decide not to kill him?”

　　Shan Duan shook his head shyly, “Before I entered the Taoist temple, my sole intention was to kill him, but by the time you left the Taoist temple, I had already diminished such intention. Killing Tian Shu was as easy as pie but the matter of detaining Xiang Liu’s evil soul, ultimately, still fell into their hands.”

　　This mater of locating Hanba was albeit treacherous, but from Shan Duan’s point of view, there was still an opportunity to succeed the plan. However, even if they manage to find Xiang Liu’s evil soul, if they were to try to detain it, no Buddhism sect’s supernatural power of the demon sect’s magic art could do it. They could only count on the profound orthodox sect like the Black and White Island that spent millenniums to deal with Xiang Liu. Out of the three great master cultivators of the Black and White Island right now, one was recuperating in closed-door cultivation, another one was comatose from severe injuries, there was only Tian Shu’s half-life that was left. After Shan Duan eavesdropped on the entire sequence of events, he gave up on the idea to murder Tian Shu.

　　When Shan Duan was speaking, his eyes were always overlooking the far away Taoist temple where Tian Shu was. His tone of speaking became more and more earnest, “My child, you have a virtuous and sincere heart, but when you are dealing with the Black and White Island, you must always be vigilant at all times so that you can’t be harmed!

　　Wen Leyang heaved a sigh but he did not speak.

　　Shan Duan suddenly sounded awe-inspiring, “We will still need to depend on the Taoist priests from the Black and White Island to look for Hanba and to squeeze Xiang Liu’s evil soul. On the other hand, they have no need for our presence. We are already at a disadvantage here! Ask your conscience, if you were in Liu Zheng’s position when you are looking for Hanba and Xiang Liu, if there is an opportunity for you to kill Grand Master Tuo Xie, will you do it?”

　　Wen Leyang was horrified, he suddenly understood Shan Duan’s words. They were the descendants of Tuo Xie and Chang Li. They needed the Taoism art of the Black and White Island to detain Xiang Liu’s evil soul, while the people of Black and White Island had no need for their help at all. Naturally, Wen Leyang and the rest would not try to harm the people from Black and White Island but when the opportunity presented itself to the people of Black and White Island, no one could guess what their next move was going to be.

　　Wen Leyang pondered for a moment, he nodded towards Shan Duan solemnly. He then gave out a laugh as he diverted the topic, “So are you joining us to go to the Painting Town?”

　　On the other hand, Shan Duan shook his head, “I still have an extremely important matter on my hands. I will not follow you to the Painting Town. It is a good thing that the Leyang family should not be a dangerous place. As long as you do not bump into Hanba, you should be able to handle it.”

　　Wen Leyang frowned, he was both surprised and suspicious in his heart. The purpose of Shan Duan’s trip to Shanghai was certainly to offer reinforcement to him. Yet, there was something even more important that Shan Duan wanted to handle there.

　　Shan Duan laughed as he explained, “I have only thought of this matter. Upon listening to the Taoist priest Tian Shu’s words, we should also look for Grand Master Chang Li’s whereabouts at the same time.”

　　Wen Leyang was slightly calmer now. He was about to inquire further about Shan Duan’s matter, when Shan Duan shook his head and laughed, “Concentrate on your journey to the Painting Town. There is no benefit if you are constantly concerned about other matters. Once you departed from the Painting Town, give me a call!”

　　Upon saying that he procured a red-colored Buddhist prayer bead the size of a longan fruit from his chest pocket and passed it to Wen Leyang, “Since the day the Great Mercy Temple was built, the Buddhist prayer bead has been worshipped in front of the Buddha’s altar. It has received over a thousand years’ worth of meditation. It is the precious that is most useful in restraining Yin’s corpse’s malevolent energy. In case you bump into Hanba, use this Buddhist prayer bead and there is still a chance for you to escape. However, this precious can only be considered as a treasured equipment and not a treasured weapon. It uses the Buddhism Sect’s Great Mercy’s intention to dissolve the zombie corpse’s tyranny, it is useless in the face of an ordinary person.

　　Wen Leyang cautiously stored the Buddhist prayer bead in his chest pocket. At that time, Liu Zheng was done making the call, he chuckled as he gathered forward to salute Shan Duan, “Divine monk since when have you taken an interest in eavesdropping? You made us think that an enemy was approaching.”

　　Shan Duan hastily returned the salutation. He smiled as he answered, “Please do not be offended by my lack of manners. The monk too has his own obligatory difficulties. I am bidding my farewell here.” Upon saying that, he looked towards Wen Leyang once again, “Take care of yourself, it is all peaceful and well on the Nine Peaks Mountain now. Don’t need to worry. On the other hand, I have already instructed Hope Aware to send Xiaoyi and the rest back to the Wen family village, such that they will not burden your journey.”

　　Upon saying that, he turned around and left without looking back.

　　The both of them watched the small demon rabbit Shan Duan leaving until his shadow disappeared out of their horizon, Liu Zheng switched back his gaze and looked at Wen Leyang, “So he is also the descendant of Tuo Xie?”

　　Wen Leyang shook his head.

　　Liu Zheng laughed, “So he is the descendant of Chang Li!” He continued, “It is not that difficult to guess actually. Other than the descendants of Chang Li, no one else will give unprincipled protection to the Wen family.”

　　Wen Leyang diverted the topic of conversation, “Are you still going to the Painting Town?”

　　Liu Zheng did not answer Wen Leyang’s question but asked dully, “Why did Shan Duan not attack or kill my esteemed master?”

　　Wen Leyang answered honestly, “The divine monk’s intention is the same as you and I. The reassembly of the Black and White Island’s demon-suppressing great formation is the priority.”

　　Liu Zheng nodded, “If Chang Li and Tuo Xie were to reappear in the mortal world and the important matter is handled, eventually the Black and White Island and they will be involved in a great battle.”

　　Wen Leyang laughed, “We can discuss those matters at that time! There is no purpose for us to fight now.”

　　Liu Zheng was stunned for a moment before he laughed. He regained his prior smiley expression earlier, “The esteemed master did not recall his Taoist sutra earlier. My estimation is that the grand old man realized that since he had already embarrassed himself, then he would continue to embarrass himself… and you were saying let’s go, let’s go to the Painting Town.”

　　Wen Leyang stomped his foot in rage, “But where is the Painting Town? I would have left earlier if I knew where it was!”