Chapter 193: Chapter 193

Sha Chen’s statement had effectively backed Muzha Walker into a corner, leaving him in a dilemma. To help, or not to help?

If he chose to help, Red Boy was not yet clearly at a disadvantage. Secondly, in what capacity would they offer assistance? Keep in mind, Red Boy had killed Jinmaohou and bore a grudge against them. If they decided not to help, Sha Chen might very well cause trouble. They would also likely miss the opportunity to subdue Red Boy, rendering their three years of meticulous planning null and void.

For a moment, Muzha found himself missing the days a century prior when he could easily manipulate Sha Chen. And Sha Chen wouldn’t have dared to speak to him in such a manner.He would only have had to reply, "Are you teaching me how to do my job?" and he could have easily shut Sha Chen up.But now he dared not speak in such a way, because Sha Chen’s strength had reached the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm, far surpassing his own.Even though he held a significant position, Sha Chen was no longer someone to be trifled with. Without any missteps, there was no need to show Sha Chen any deference. Moreover, even if Sha Chen made a mistake, it was the Heavenly Court’s job to discipline him, not for someone from Buddhism to point fingers. After all, Sha Chen had not yet joined Buddhism.

Sha Chen said, "Walker, why do you not speak? Could it be that you find those demons too strong, too difficult to defeat, and therefore you hesitate?"

Muzha immediately seized the opening, saying, "Yes, my strength is meager; those demons seem very formidable. I’m afraid I am powerless."

Sha Chen said, "Does Buddhism not preach, ’If I do not enter hell, who will?’ Walker, have you understood?"

Muzha was immediately choked by those words. Sha Chen’s comment was a devastating blow to the soul. Yet he really had no way to refute it and could only twitch his cheeks in solitary embarrassment.

However, the Monks by his side couldn’t stand it any longer; they were proud and esteemed members of Buddhism. Everywhere they went, they were revered, looked up to by thousands. For a minor river deity to keep on striking at the heart and making it difficult for Elder Muzha was truly excessive. They were unaware of Sha Chen’s circumstances and merely saw Muzha as easygoing and overly nice. Therefore, they pointed at Sha Chen, hurling insults.

"You, a mere river deity, what right do you have to order our elder around?"

"Are you teaching our elder how to do things?"

The Monks were indeed like wrathful deities, each of them with fierce expressions and bristling with hostility, completely lacking the calm composure expected of monks.

After they spoke out, Muzha’s expression changed dramatically, and he quickly scolded them.

Muzha shouted, "Silence! How dare you be so presumptuous?"

Sha Chen said with a somber tone, "Muzha Walker, I saw that demons were fighting and kindly reminded you, giving you an opportunity for merit. Yet, you allow these insolent servants to shame me, which is truly despicable. Although you are a Disciple of Guanyin Bodhisattva, I have attained the realm of Daluo Golden Immortal, and the dignity of a Daluo Golden Immortal must not be insulted. If you don’t provide me with an explanation, I might truly invite the Walker into my abode for a cup of tea."

His aura suddenly locked down on Muzha and the others, suppressing them so that the Monks dropped from the sky like dumplings.

Muzha was even more frightened and deeply shaken. Under Sha Chen’s aura, he felt an overwhelming pressure. Is this the formidable power of a Daluo Golden Immortal!?He felt both envy and jealousy, as well as deep fear.

He yelled, "You sinners, will you not immediately apologize to General for Folding the Curtain? My master is nearby; don’t make me complain about you to him!"

He said this deliberately to let Sha Chen know that Guanyin was close by and to prevent any rash actions. Indeed, Sha Chen only reprimanded them but did not attack, much to Muzha’s relief.

The Monks were in utter fear, struggling in the Flowing Sand River until Muzha used his flying gourd to catch and hold them up so they wouldn’t drown. After a harrowing brush with death, the Monks knelt on the gourd, begging for mercy.

"Immortal, spare our lives, spare our lives! We apologize for any offense, please forgive us. We will not make the same mistake again."

Sha Chen snorted coldly. "It’s all of you who tarnish the image of monastics in the eyes of the public. But one does not beat a dog in front of its owner. I’ll spare you for the Bodhisattva’s sake. Get out of here."

The Monks felt as if they had been granted amnesty, hurriedly bowing their heads in thanks, thoroughly humiliated. Seeing this, Muzha felt both embarrassed and furious but was powerless to do anything.

He calculated the timing and felt that if he could delay a bit longer, the Pleiades Star Official could take action, subduing the seventy-two Demon Kings and rescuing Red Boy.

But, although he wanted to stall for time, Sha Chen would not offer him that chance. Instead, Sha Chen asked, "Walker, how should those demons be dealt with? If they keep fighting, it will lead to the destruction of sentient beings, which surely isn’t something the Walker wishes to see, right?"

Muzha replied, "Indeed, but I am only of average strength. I fear I am too weak to help."

Sha Chen said, "No problem, I’ll help you."

Muzha was shocked and tried to stop him immediately.

But Sha Chen suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no! I see that among the fighting demons, one is Red Boy, and the others appear to be the Centipede Demon King and the seventy-two Demon Kings. If they continue, the thirty-six nations beneath Qitian Mountain will be destroyed." Then he added with concern, "Unfortunately, I’m not willing to leave the Flowing Sand River. Even if I wanted to go and suppress them myself, I am powerless to do so."

Muzha was on the verge of leaping forward to prevent Sha Chen from taking action.

When Sha Chen uttered these words, Muzha suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, his face a mask of distress, but inwardly he was bursting with joy. He wanted to laugh, but he had to feign anger and distress,

Sha Chen said with a peculiar expression, "Does Walker wish for me to take action?"

Knowing that Sha Chen couldn’t make a move, Muzha became nonchalant and said, "Of course. Buddhism is merciful; how could we just watch demons fight and countless mortals die?"

Sha Chen said, "Walker is truly merciful. Fortunately, though I cannot go there myself, there is no problem suppressing those demons from a hundred thousand li away."

He then reached out, grabbed the Sky Shaking Bow, and drew it with an arrow nocked, condensing a beam of light into an arrow. With the Nine-Layered Rings Shot, he fired into the distance.

Muzha was shocked and wanted to intervene, but it was already too late.

Sha Chen’s archery was profound; across a distance of a hundred thousand li, he instantly killed nine Demon Kings who had sustained minor injuries.

Suddenly, the other Demon Kings were taken aback and began dodging everywhere, allowing Red Boy to break free from the battle circle.

The Centipede Demon King was terrified and shouted, "Who is it that’s helping this cursed child from behind?"

But no one responded. He shouted loudly, leading the other Demon Kings in pursuit.

Having recognized the beam of light as an arrow, Red Boy knew Sha Chen had acted, and he was thrilled. He headed toward the Flowing Sand River. The Demon Kings were in pursuit behind him.

The Pleiades Star Official hid in the dark, holding the God Needle of Usagi Day, staring at the empty mountains with a distant look in his eyes. What happened to his assignment to subdue the seventy-two Demon Kings? How could they have all gone!?

WHIZ. WHIZ. WHIZ. WHIZ.

Sha Chen continued to take action, firing countless beams of light from the Sky Shaking Bow, deadlier than flying swords and infinitely powerful, as if he truly could shoot down the sun. The seventy-two Demon Kings pursued Red Boy but were shot down one by one along the way.

Muzha was horrified and distressed, saying, "General for Folding the Curtain, why didn’t you shoot down Red Boy?"

Sha Chen said, "That is the son of the Bull Demon King; I dare not."

Muzha became so angry he nearly spat blood. At this time, you remember to be afraid!? With a cold face, he continued, "General for Folding the Curtain, by saving Red Boy, could it be that you wish to ingratiate yourself with the Bull Demon King? Have you fallen to become a demon!?"

Sha Chen replied, "Walker, watch your words. My heart is set on the path; I shall never be a demon. It’s not that I saved Red Boy; I just feared their fight would harm the innocent."

Muzha said, "Now that Red Boy has escaped and the demons are not fighting, why don’t you stop?"

Sha Chen said, "Evil must be eradicated completely, Walker. Isn’t such a simple truth taught to you by the Bodhisattva?"

Then he fired again, killing dozens more Demon Kings, until finally the remaining ones were too scared to continue. The Centipede Demon King and others didn’t dare to continue their pursuit and stopped in terror, only casting a deep glance toward the Flowing Sand River before turning to flee.

Muzha was both shocked and furious. At this time, Red Boy had already arrived at the territory of the Flowing Sand River. Seeing Sha Chen lend a hand, he meant to express his gratitude to his righteous father.

But Sha Chen was the first to shout, "Red Boy, you demon, you dare to attack Walker and the Monks? How ungrateful, blaming good intentions for your faults! They just beseeched me to save you. It seems I can’t let you off."

Red Boy was stunned for a moment. But in an instant, he snapped back to reality.

Laughing loudly, he said, "Indeed, I’ve gone mad and want to kill those baldies! Who told them to shine their bald heads in my eyes?"

Then with a single breath of Samadhi True Fire, he burned those dozens of Monks to death and even rushed at Muzha.

Frightened, Muzha retreated repeatedly while simultaneously grabbing the demon-subduing iron rod to strike at Red Boy.

The two clashed. With Red Boy gaining the upper hand, Muzha was greatly disturbed and stumbled into the Flowing Sand River.

Sha Chen said, "Walker, do not panic; I will help you."

Then with a loud shout, he reached out and grabbed Red Boy in his hand, suppressing him and pulling him into his sleeve.

Walker emerged from the water and saw Sha Chen subdue Red Boy with his own eyes. He was about to thank him, but then he saw Sha Chen say, "Walker, no need to thank me. Red Boy is quite capable, causing trouble even in my palm. I’ll take him back for Refining right away."

Then, he opened the door to his Cave and went straight in.

Muzha was still stunned and hurried inside after him, saying, "General for Folding the Curtain, hand Red Boy over to this Monk."

Sha Chen swept him away with a wave of his hand, saying, "You are too weak; you can’t defeat him. Even if I handed him to you, you wouldn’t be able to suppress him. After I subdue him, I will let you decide his fate."

Muzha followed, but the gate was already closed.

At that moment, a Buddha’s light descended, enveloping the Flowing Sand River. It was Guanyin who appeared, standing on the lotus platform, gently descending. The water of the Flowing Sand River seemed unable to bear her weight, overflowing the banks. Around the Seven-colored Precious Lotus Platform, within ten li, not a drop of water remained. And she stood in front of the door of the Black Tortoise Cave. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on noveⅼfire.net

The Buddha’s light shone everywhere; Guanyin had arrived.

Sha Chen, inside the Cave, was sweating profusely, thinking to himself, Good thing I was a step ahead; it was too dangerous. If she had found the chance to enter the Cave, my life would have been at risk.

Guanyin, outside the Cave, said, "General for Folding the Curtain, this monk has come. Red Boy has killed this monk’s mount. Please hand him over to this monk for judgment."

This time, Sha Chen did the same as before.