Twenty-two Demon Heads

  Cheng Jun was taken aback this time, his fingers drummed slightly in his sleeve before relaxing, and he smiled politely: "How can I be of service?"

  Yue Hua Dao Ren laughed and said, "How can this be considered a disturbance? Look at this deep mountain and old forest, isolated from the world, it's also a desolate place. It's not easy to have a fellow practitioner come, so I, the old Daoist, can't even fulfill my duty as a host? My small temple may not compare to those famous sects' grand halls, but in recent years, I've really renovated it. Not to mention others, compared to that little monk's mountain god temple, it's much better, isn't it?"

  Cheng Jun declined: "The mountain temple is indeed simple, but the little monk is not bad. I'm used to living here and don't intend to move."

  Yue Hua stroked his beard and said, "Fellow Taoist, you are from a prestigious family in Yunzhou, I suppose the principles of our sect are deeply etched in your mind?"

  Cheng Jun's heart moved slightly, and he secretly thought: The meat puppet has arrived. He said calmly: "This is natural, I have been taught since childhood, and I have always followed the teachings of the Taoist school."

  Yue Hua said solemnly: "As for the great matter of expelling demons and protecting the Tao, fellow Taoists will naturally take responsibility without shirking it?"

  Cheng Jun pondered his intention, and without hesitation, he said: "That's natural, with demons in front of me, I'll cut them down with one sword." As he spoke, he became excited, making a gesture to draw the wooden sword from the table. Yue Hua Dao Ren was startled, stretching out his hand to block him, but Cheng Jun had already withdrawn his hand and placed it on his waist, saying: "Although there is no three-foot clear blade at my waist, I have a belly full of hot blood and a heart of Tao."

  Yue Hua let out a sigh of relief and said, "Good, one of my worries has finally been settled. This matter has many roots - I'm sure you've also noticed that this Taoist temple was built in an inappropriate location. Do you know why my temple was established here?"

  Cheng Jun furrowed his brow and said, "You say... for the sake of eliminating demons and protecting the Tao? Where are these demons?"

  Yue Hua said word by word: "It's in the Mountain God Temple."

  Cheng Jun's mouth twitched, and he changed color, saying: "You say this... it's really unbelievable. I've also seen that little monk, if he's a demon, wouldn't I be able to tell?" As he spoke, his heart moved, and he thought to himself: He also knows about the strange things in the back hall of the Mountain God Temple!

  Yue Hua said, "I didn't say that Little Monk was a demon... At most, he's just a puppet in the hands of a demon, being used without realizing it. Hmm, there are three rooms inside and outside the Mountain God Temple, have you been to the innermost room, fellow Taoist?"

  "This is indeed something I don't have."

  Yue Hua said with a cold smile: "I'm sure the little monk won't dare to let fellow Taoists in. That's exactly where the source of evil spirits is. Do you know what's inside?"

  "What's wrong?"

  Yue Hua said: "It's a coffin! The old devil's lair is inside that coffin."

  Cheng Jun let out a sigh and spat out a mouthful of air, saying: "Those who use coffins as their dwelling place are probably not demons. I wonder if it's a demon, ghost or monster?"

  Yue Hua said, "I don't know either. Alas, it's embarrassing to say that I've long had the intention of getting rid of that demon, but unfortunately, that old demon is extremely wary of me and I still can't set foot on that mountain peak. I pity that young monk for falling into the demon's hands at such a young age, but there's nothing I can do about it, so I can only try my best to help him. I made an agreement with the young monk that every half month, he would send me a portion of his handmade incense, and if he couldn't come or if someone else made the incense, I would definitely notice and know that the demon had finally succeeded. At that time, there's no choice but to fight to the death. Fortunately, after a year has passed, the young monk is still the same."

  Cheng Jun said with a half-true and half-false tone: "Fellow Taoist, your compassion for the heavens and sympathy for humanity is indeed the sentiment of the Great Way."

  Yue Hua said, "However, mending the fold after the sheep has escaped is not as good as preparing for the rain before it falls. Indeed, if the demon succeeds, it will surely bring disaster to the region. Therefore, fellow Taoist, I have a request to make." He stood up and bowed politely.

  Cheng Jun was taken aback and hastily helped him up, saying: "I dare not, Daoist friend, please give your orders."

  Yue Hua's face showed a worried expression, and he said: "If we don't get rid of the demon, I'll be ashamed to be a Taoist. Now we can only rely on the power of our Taoist friends."

  Cheng Jun Dao said: "Fellow Taoist, why did you say that? Your cultivation is originally above mine, could it be that you are at a loss and I have a way out?"

  Yue Hua said: "No, you and I are different. That old demon has not guarded against you, perhaps you can gain an unexpected advantage."

  Cheng Jun's eyes rolled around and he said: "You mean, I should sneak into the back hall secretly and kill that old demon with one sword?"

  Yue Hua Dao Ren listened, coughed and said: "Fellow Taoist, don't joke. That old demon is so formidable, if you go up with your sword, won't you be discovered? I was thinking of asking Fellow Cheng to be an insider. On my side, everything is ready, only waiting for the east wind, just waiting for a favorable time. At that time, fellow Taoist inside and me outside, we'll work together to capture the old demon's lair and eliminate this great evil from the world."

  Cheng Jun showed a hesitant expression and said: "This, I may not have this skill..."

  Yue Hua Dao Ren said, "Fellow Taoist, you must make up your mind. That little monk is now only being misled by the old demon and has not yet truly fallen into his clutches. If fellow Taoist hesitates, the little monk will be lost forever."

  Cheng Jun's face was filled with indignation, and he said, "That's right, it should be like this. I'll take care of this matter. I'll go back now and investigate the origin of that old demon. Fellow Taoists, wait for my good news." With that, he stood up with a whoosh and strode out in big steps.

  Yue Hua Lao Dao was startled by him and hurriedly said: "Fellow Taoist, there's no need to be so anxious..."

  Cheng Jun turned back and said, "Can't wait any longer. Such evil spirits, the more we let them live for a while, the more I feel uneasy. Like this, you slowly prepare, I'll go check on Lao Mo's situation, and soon I'll send word to you."

  Yue Hua Lao Dao smiled and shook his head, saying: "You're really young and vigorous... Alright, since that's the case, fellow Taoist, go ahead and do as you please. However, to avoid startling the snake in the grass, please don't leak any news to Little Monk. After all, he has been tempted by the old demon for many days, and it's likely he won't be able to turn back easily."

  Cheng Jun Dao said: "I have my own measure for this. I bid you farewell." He bowed deeply and turned to leave.

  Yue Hua Lao Dao saw him off at the door, and as they walked to the gate of the building, Cheng Jun suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned around, and said: "That's right, isn't it true that you've never set foot on the mountain before?"

  Yue Hua nodded and said, "Yes."

  Cheng Jun looked at him and said: "That's strange, since you've never been to the peak, how do you know that there is a coffin placed behind the Mountain God Temple?"

  Yue Hua's words left everyone stunned, the atmosphere suddenly becoming awkward. Cheng Jun looked at him with a hint of a smile, which flashed by like a shooting star, and then he clapped his hands together, saying: "Forget it, these are just trivial matters. I'll take my leave now, farewell." With that, he bowed again and departed.

  Yue Hua returned to the upper floor, sat back behind the desk, stretched out his hand and stroked the black wooden sword, lost in thought. After a while, he said: "What do you think..."

  The room was empty, and after a moment, a wisp of black smoke rose from the ebony sword, twisting in mid-air before coalescing into a skull the size of a chariot wheel.

  That skull opened its mouth and let out a hoarse roar: "That damned rabbit, actually dared to chop me up for firewood, is this tolerable or not?"

  Yue Hua suppressed his smile and said, "Senior, don't be in a hurry. He's just a young master who doesn't know anything. He's just talking nonsense."

  The skull was silent for a moment, then said: "Those who are born into aristocratic families are indeed some superficial and useless dandies. This kid is already quite perceptive compared to those good-for-nothings from the Yan Yu family, and he even knows that there's such a thing as Feng Qi Mu... but he still has that stinky virtue and is naive and muddle-headed, self-satisfied and unaware of his own limitations." After pausing for a moment, it continued: "However, his innate talent is truly good - seven parts divine bone, opened seven spiritual apertures. If placed in Yan Yu, he would be a true favored son of heaven."

  Yue Hua's face, originally calm, suddenly twisted and revealed a few ferocious features. "Yes, the genius of Tian Zong - truly born with the material for cultivation, but it fell into the hands of a bumpkin! Born with seven parts of immortal bone, opened seven spiritual orifices when entering the path, and in ten years of cultivation, only reached the third level, not even reaching the Rotating Light Realm. What kind of waste is this? If it were me, if it were me..." He slammed his hand on the table.

  The skull chuckled twice and said, "It's not just you, even I couldn't help but be moved when I saw him. At his age, with such talent, if I had gotten to him earlier, why would I have needed to risk experimenting with the Innate Body?"

  Yue Hua suddenly stood up and said, "In my opinion, let's capture him and make him a prenatal Dao body embryo. With his innate seven parts of immortal bone, it would be much easier to remake him than the current patchwork."

  "That skull suddenly said: 'You are not allowed to move him.'"

  Yue Hua paused for a moment and asked: "Why?"

  "That skull said: 'My plan, although I have 80% confidence in it, is after all the first time since the creation of heaven and earth. If something goes wrong, I won't be able to try again a second time. This little guy has delivered himself to me at this critical moment, which is a great opportunity. If I don't succeed this time, I'll just occupy his body, which is better than nothing. Did you hear that? This person belongs to me. If you make any rash moves, I'll kill you!' As he spoke, the skull suddenly swelled up to the size of a person, its two black eye sockets staring at Yue Hua Lao Dao."

  Yue Hua's face flashed with a hint of gloom, and he said, "Alright. If the Xiantian Dao body is formed, how do you want me to refine him? You won't stop me, will you?"

  Skull Road said: "At that time, it's naturally up to you, by the way, there is still one person left in the Pre-Heavenly Dao Body, don't delay, go and marry that woman from the Chai family now."