Chapter 194: Chapter 194

"You have discovered that the host has been asked by Guanyin to hand over Red Boy, and you have the following choices."

"Choice one: Hand over Red Boy, avoid making an enemy of Guanyin, and receive a reward of half a bottle of [Sweet Dew Jade Liquid]. Sweet Dew Jade Liquid: a divine water condensed from the Vase of Mutton-Fatjade belonging to Guanyin Bodhisattva, capable of reviving the dead and fleshing out bones. It contains endless Divine Power and can greatly enhance one’s Cultivation."

"Choice two: Refuse to hand over Red Boy and receive the [Tree of Oblivion Willow] as a reward. Tree of Oblivion Willow: a Spiritual Root willow tree from the Primeval Era, imbued with endless Divine Power. Its leaves may be used in medicine, made into Immortal Pills that strengthen the body, and if consumed raw, they can also bolster one’s physique."

Sha Chen gasped upon seeing the choices, astounded by the bountiful rewards.

Moreover, the system was thoroughly exploiting Guanyin, with all the reward options being her possessions.

Sha Chen wore a peculiar expression and, without hesitation, chose to refuse to hand over Red Boy. Even without the choice of rewards, he would not have handed him over.

Otherwise, why would he have gone to such lengths, risking offending Guanyin!?

Should Red Boy fall into Guanyin’s hands, her strength would surely increase significantly, and his secrets would be exposed.

Furthermore, Red Boy was a significant asset to Sha Chen; to hand him over would be like severing his own arm.

Sha Chen didn’t consider himself capable of such selfless sacrifice.

Red Boy was at his side, looking at Sha Chen as if he wanted to persuade him, but Sha Chen stopped him with a mental message.

"Don’t speak. I don’t know if that woman Guanyin can hear inside my cave dwelling, so let’s communicate using telepathy."

Red Boy understood and telepathically said, "Foster Father, you won’t hand me over, will you? If I’m handed over, I’ll surely die! That old hag Guanyin has been hunting me for years!"

Sha Chen replied, "If she had acted personally, would you have survived all these years?"

Red Boy said, "She didn’t appear personally, but I captured some of the Demon Kings who attacked me. After interrogating them, I found out Guanyin was the one pulling the strings."

Sha Chen’s face darkened, and he scoffed repeatedly.

To obtain Red Boy, Guanyin had resorted to any means necessary. He just didn’t know how she had commanded those Demon Kings to attack Red Boy.

As if aware of Sha Chen’s thoughts, Red Boy telepathically added, "Those Demon Kings claimed they were ordered by a Great Saint of the Demon Clan to attack me. The Great Saint among the seventy-two contingents of Demon Kings who previously besieged me was the Centipede Great Saint."

Sha Chen’s eyes flickered, his thoughts turning to one individual—the White Bone Saint.

The White Bone Demon once mentioned that Guanyin was good friends with her master, the White Bone Saint. Perhaps Guanyin had issued her orders through the White Bone Saint.

Sha Chen’s expression turned grim, his thoughts complex. Just through the White Bone Saint, Guanyin could mobilize numerous Demon Kings from the Demon Clan to hunt Red Boy for years. If she managed to bring the Bull Demon King’s entire clan under her command, she would become as powerful as a tiger that has grown wings.

Once my secrets are exposed, Guanyin will desperately try to seize everything from me.

Sha Chen didn’t conjecture about others with the worst intentions, but knowing the complexity of the human heart, he couldn’t guarantee that even a figure as compassionate as Guanyin Bodhisattva was without self-interest.

In the original story, Guanyin Bodhisattva was not without her anger. She scolded Sun Wukong for killing demons and even taught Monk Tang to deceive Sun Wukong with the golden headband.

She might not have committed any killings herself, but it would be truly naive to think she was incapable of killing.

Kindness is for the faithful; cruelty is for the enemy.

Even the gentlest sheep will kick.

Sha Chen telepathically said, "Now that you know the true faces of Buddhism, you should understand that if they capture you, the easiest outcome for you would be death. What’s more agonizing is being forcefully converted into one of them."

"Don’t think becoming part of Buddhism is a good thing. You’ll be bound by endless rules and regulations, serving them like a slave, with none of the freedom you enjoy now."

Red Boy telepathically conveyed his anxiety, "Foster Father, I don’t wish to become a Buddha, please save me."

Naturally, Sha Chen wasn’t going to stand idly by. He pulled Red Boy back and set up layers of Formations for isolation.

Then, he simply stopped paying any attention to Guanyin and Muzha outside.

Guanyin called out a few times, but Sha Chen ignored her.

Muzha also yelled several times, but Sha Chen still gave no response.

Guanyin said, "Master Sha Chen, you just went inside. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen asleep, and don’t say you’re in seclusion. This poor monk is sure you’ve heard me, so come out quickly."

"You don’t have to come out if you don’t want to, but just hand over Red Boy. He killed this one’s steed, and this poor monk must take him back to Lingjiu Mountain to face justice."

Still, Sha Chen remained silent.

Muzha said angrily, "Master, Sha Chen is truly outrageous. I think he’s definitely in league with Red Boy."

Guanyin replied, "Whether he’s in league or not is unimportant. The important thing is that he is harboring a demon, which means he is no longer a celestial being."

Sha Chen couldn’t allow them to slander him from outside, so he transmitted his voice, saying, "Bodhisattva, you can eat the wrong food, but you can’t say the wrong words."

Guanyin replied, "Here I thought Master Sha Chen might have been killed by Red Boy. Why have you taken so long to respond?"

She was obviously a bit angry.

For someone of her Cultivation level, her self-restraint and composure should naturally be immense. Yet, for some unknown reason, she seemed to become much more irritable whenever she came to Sha Chen’s place.

From behind the doors of the Black Tortoise Cave.

Sha Chen said, "The Bodhisattva isn’t wrong. I was indeed almost killed by that demon, Red Boy. Fortunately, I managed to barely subdue him. However, I cannot relax my guard, so I’m unable to open the cave dwelling for the Bodhisattva. Please forgive me."

Guanyin chuckled, "Master Sha Chen jests. If you open the cave dwelling, this poor monk will help you suppress Red Boy."

Sha Chen replied, "Bodhisattva, as I said, I truly cannot spare the attention to open the cave dwelling."

Muzha retorted angrily, "Sha Chen, you’re spouting nonsense! You’re truly in cahoots with Red Boy! He is merely a Greater Primordial Golden Immortal, while you are a Daluo Golden Immortal. Since you’ve already subdued him, how could you be unable to suppress him?"

Sha Chen sighed. "I thought so too. But who would have known that Red Boy possessed the Bahuang Lihuo Brick, given to him by the Bull Demon King? He launched a sneak attack and injured me. Helpless, I’m now locked in this stalemate."

He continued, "But Bodhisattva, don’t worry. Give me eight or ten years, and I will definitely suppress him to the point where he can never make a comeback."

Muzha was livid and about to protest further, but Guanyin stopped him.

He couldn’t contain his anger and said, "Master, this youngster is clearly spouting nonsense! The Bahuang Lihuo Brick is a supporting brick from Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad’s Alchemy Furnace. How could the Bull Demon King have given it to Red Boy?"

Guanyin, however, said, "It’s not impossible. In the past, when Sun Wukong kicked over the Alchemy Furnace, one Bahuang Lihuo Brick was knocked into the mortal realm, forming the current Flaming Mountain."

Muzha was taken aback and asked in astonishment, "Does this mean that what he said is true?"

Guanyin furrowed her brows. She felt that it should be false. But then again.Sha Chen spoke with such vividness and detail, even knowing about the Bahuang Lihuo Brick, that it didn’t sound like a lie.

After all, the matter of the Bahuang Lihuo Brick falling into the Bull Demon King’s hands was known to very few. Yet Sha Chen mentioned it so casually, it seemed likely to be true.But then again.

She heard no sounds of fighting from within the cave dwelling, which was rather strange. It made her suspect: could Sha Chen have reinforced the defenses to the point where even she couldn’t hear what was happening inside!?

In the past, she could barely make out the sounds, though not clearly.

The last time she visited, she simply hadn’t let on.

Now, listening intently, there was silence.

Guanyin said, "Why is there no sound of battle?"

Sha Chen’s heart skipped a beat. Indeed, that hag can really hear what’s happening inside my cave dwelling—good thing I had a backup plan.

Sha Chen casually said, "Thank you for your concern, Bodhisattva. It’s because I’ve set up a sound-isolating Formation. Moreover, I am mainly focused on suppression; the actual fighting was over in an instant."

Guanyin said, "You can let me in, and I will help you subdue him."

Sha Chen rejected again and said, "Bodhisattva, have you forgotten? I am unable to spare the attention to open the cave dwelling."

Guanyin spoke with deep meaning, "In that case, this poor monk will break in and help you out."

She immediately brandished her horsetail whisk, striking the Black Tortoise Mansion. Instantly, the entire cave dwelling began to shake violently.

Sha Chen sharply inhaled. Has this old hag gone mad, trying to break in?

Red Boy quickly transmitted his voice, "Foster Father, she couldn’t really break in, could she?"

Sha Chen said, "Don’t worry, it won’t happen. This place is very secure, with the Black Tortoise Armor externally and the Apricot Yellow Flag of Wuji internally."

In truth, he was also unsure. He didn’t know the extent of Guanyin’s strength, nor was he clear if she possessed any methods to breach his cave dwelling’s defenses.

However, the earth suddenly quaked and the mountains swayed; the cave dwelling trembled violently.

This was a tremendous shock to Sha Chen. The vibrations even affected the two Immortal Fields of Innate Earth and Post-Heaven Earth, causing the plants within to sway violently.

If she keeps attacking , never mind the potential damage to the growth of my Elixirs and Immortal Herbs, I won’t even be able to calm my mind for Cultivation.

He gnashed his teeth in silent resentment. This old hag is truly ruthless.

Sha Chen hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the Sky Shaking Bow. With another swift movement, he also grasped the Shooting Sun Divine Arrow in his hand.

Seeing these two Magical Tools, Red Boy’s eyes widened in awe, practically drooling.

The legendary Sky Shaking Bow and Shooting Sun Divine Arrow are both in Sha Chen’s hands! His luck is simply heaven-defying!

Sha Chen communicated telepathically, "If she really has the ability to break into my cave dwelling, I will shoot her dead and then find a new place to hide."

Red Boy said, "How about we go to Flaming Mountain then? I can introduce Father King’s concubine to you, Foster Father."

Sha Chen gave him a sidelong glance. This damn kid still hadn’t given up on the idea.

He snorted and paid him no mind.

He wouldn’t go to Flaming Mountain. That would only confirm the rumors that he was colluding with demons, giving both the Heavenly Court and Buddhism an excuse to deal with him.

Sha Chen raised the Sky Shaking Bow, drawing it fully, and nocked the Shooting Sun Divine Arrow, aiming it at Guanyin Bodhisattva.

He murmured, "Guanyin Bodhisattva, you’d better pray you can’t break into my cave dwelling. I really don’t want to clash with Buddhism this soon."

Guanyin, who was channeling her vast Mana to destroy the cave dwelling’s defenses, suddenly felt all the hairs on her body stand on end. Her scalp tingled, and her face filled with terror.

She retreated repeatedly, which also startled Muzha into backing away, filled with bewildered apprehension. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel-fire.net

He exclaimed, "Master, what’s happened?"

Guanyin frowned and said, "I do not know why, but for some reason, I suddenly feel as if I’ve been targeted by a peerless, ferocious entity. In that instant just now, it felt as if I was facing a life-or-death situation."

Muzha was greatly shocked and said, "Is it Sha Chen?"

Guanyin looked towards the Black Tortoise Cave and furrowed her brows further.

She, too, was puzzled.

Just a mere Daluo Golden Immortal, yet he possesses something that could threaten her!?