Chapter 195: Chapter 195

Guanyin was slightly shaken.

Just now, for a brief moment, she truly felt as if she were facing life and death.

It was as if she was being targeted by an ultimate sinister creature, an experience she had seldom had, even during the Apocalypse Epoch.

Yet those who had previously posed a threat to her life were all one-in-a-million influential figures. They were either supreme Da Luo or Quasi-Saints.

This place was merely the Flowing Sand River. The strongest here was Sha Chen, who had only just entered the Daluo Golden Immortal realm.

She was absolutely confident that Sha Chen posed no threat to her.

So then, who is threatening me from behind, and why would they appear at the Flowing Sand River at such a time?

Guanyin’s disquietude subsided a little as the distance grew, but the threat remained potent enough to endanger her safety.

As she left the bounds of the Flowing Sand River, the threat almost faded to nothing, barely meriting her concern.

Guanyin glanced at the Flowing Sand River, surveyed her surroundings, and then closed her eyes to calculate.

Muzha remained by her side, not daring to make a sound.

After a long while, Guanyin opened her eyes and said, "I can’t figure it out. It seems the calamity of the Journey to the West is already showing its signs, and fate itself is somewhat obscured."

Muzha asked, "Master, what shall we do then?"

Guanyin replied, "Let’s leave for now. We can look for Red Boy after he emerges. There are still more than three hundred years left."

With a profound look at the Flowing Sand River, she turned and left.

Muzha caught up and whispered, "Master, but there’s no guarantee Red Boy will make it out alive."

Guanyin said meaningfully, "He will certainly make it out. I see that Red Boy has a full and robust aura; he’s not one to die young. Besides, would Sha Chen really dare to kill him?"

Sha Chen breathed a sigh of relief and put away the Sky Shaking Bow and the Shooting Sun Divine Arrow.

Only then did he realize his hands were covered in sweat.

If possible, I really don’t want to clash with these powerhouses, he sighed inwardly. I wonder if Guanyin will go back and figure out a way to deal with me.

Frowning deeply, Sha Chen was troubled.

Red Boy, aware of the grave trouble he had caused, said timidly, "Stepfather, I know I was wrong. Please punish me."

Then, with a PLOP, he knelt before Sha Chen.

A pang of anxiety shot through Sha Chen’s heart. "Didn’t you manage to exchange the Elixir back for me?" he asked.

That was, after all, a tremendous sum of money, you rebellious child!

Red Boy immediately shook his head. "I didn’t fail in that. I exchanged about eighty to ninety percent of it, and all at a premium rate."

Sha Chen heaved a sigh of relief. That was acceptable.

He then asked, "So, where did you go wrong?"

Red Boy explained, "I couldn’t stand Jinmaohou, and I ended up fighting and killing him."

Sha Chen felt a headache coming on. This very incident had almost led to a fight with Guanyin today, even risking him being rendered homeless.

Raising his hand, he intended to slap Red Boy.

The foolish child must be taught a lesson.

But Red Boy was shrewd, quickly saying, "Stepfather, Jinmaohou intended to seize my Elixir, so in my frustration, I acted." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel[f]ire.net

Sha Chen retorted, "Don’t think you can fool me. You can’t defeat him in a fight; he is a Daluo Golden Immortal. How dare you provoke him?"

Red Boy replied, "That’s why later on I pretended to be dead, deceived Father into severely wounding him, and then I was able to launch a surprise attack to kill him."

Sha Chen said bitterly, "You truly are a rebellious child. I don’t have a rebellious child like you, tricking your own father and even me, your stepfather."

Scared, Red Boy shrank his neck and said, "Stepfather, I was just too angry at that moment. He really despised my selling of the Elixir and brought several Demon Kings to rob me."

Sha Chen was about to scold him. Though he had learned some details from Tianpeng earlier, he felt Red Boy was likely exaggerating.

As a Daluo Golden Immortal, and knowing Red Boy’s identity, how could Jinmaohou resort to robbery when a business deal didn’t work out? Did Jinmaohou no longer wish to mingle in the demon world?

However, in that very moment, Sha Chen had a flash of insight. He paused briefly, his gaze becoming complex.

It’s likely Jinmaohou’s robbery for the Elixir was merely a pretext. His true intention was to subdue Red Boy. I don’t know whether it was his own idea or Guanyin’s instigation. Regardless, the likely target was Red Boy himself.

Sha Chen initially hadn’t considered this angle, but in an instant, he felt it was a strong possibility.

After all, Jinmaohou had descended to the mortal realm ahead of time because of me. If Jinmaohou understood Guanyin’s intentions, it would make sense for him to act against Red Boy. Now that Guanyin herself had intervened to subdue Red Boy, Jinmaohou’s earlier actions seemed appropriate and reasonable.

Sha Chen patted Red Boy on the head and said, "Alright, get up. Actually, you’re not to blame for this."

He had done something wrong, and yet he wasn’t to blame?

Sha Chen sighed and explained, "Actually, the Elixir was just Jinmaohou’s pretext to act against you. His real aim was you."

Red Boy asked in surprise, "Stepfather, what do you mean?"

Sha Chen explained, "I’ve told you before. Buddhism wants to recruit you, likely to win you over and thus restrain your father and mother, along with the entire Bull Demon Family."

Upon hearing this, Red Boy clenched his teeth in anger.

Sha Chen had told him this more than once, and he naturally believed it without a doubt.

Sha Chen continued, "This time, you were chased by the seventy-two Demon Kings, and you know it was Guanyin’s doing. She must have been nearby; otherwise, how could she have appeared so promptly? But she was nearby all along, yet she didn’t make a move. Do you know why?"

Red Boy was extremely clever. With Sha Chen’s hint, he immediately understood and said, infuriated, "I killed her mount, yet she didn’t rush to appear! She must have planned to show up at the last moment, slay the Demon King, and then gently subdue me."

Sha Chen nodded. "As long as you understand."

He was very satisfied. Red Boy seemed filled with hatred towards Guanyin and Buddhism. Following this, I don’t need to worry too much about Red Boy being subdued. Even if he’s captured, he won’t yield. Because I had pointed out the critical issue, even in death, Red Boy would not join Buddhism, as that would harm his parents. Previously, during the Journey to the West, he was ignorant, so it was excusable. Now that he knows, if he still joined, he wouldn’t be Red Boy anymore. This way, I wouldn’t need to risk saving him when he faces life-and-death dangers in the future. Great.

Sha Chen added, "This time, although you killed Jinmaohou, and it was fraught with danger and offended Buddhism, it also allowed you to see Buddhism’s true colors. It could be considered a blessing in disguise."

Stepfather is making excuses for me. Despite the mistake I made, he’s still considering my feelings and comforting me.

Red Boy decided he must find a concubine for his stepfather; his father’s fox spirit would be a good choice.

I really am a filial son, he thought to himself.

Sha Chen had Red Boy rise and then personally went to cook a simple, homely meal.

After Ao Lie and his sister left, he had taken the time to gather some ingredients and re-harvested some peaches and osmanthus flowers to start a new batch of brewing.

The new liquor, buried in Acquired soil, was richer and tastier.

Moreover, this batch was quite large. He took only a portion to store in the cellar; most of it remained buried in the Acquired soil.

A small portion of the finest peach wine and finest osmanthus wine was buried within Primordial soil. It was small in quantity but even more delicious and filled with abundant Divine Power.

Sha Chen was certain that even the peach wine from the Queen of the West on Kunlun Mountain did not possess such abundant Divine Power. He was also sure that Chang’e of Guanghan Palace had not brewed osmanthus wine of such richness and abundant Divine Power.

Only my place has this exclusive delight.

Sha Chen wouldn’t casually drink it. It was reserved for when significant figures like the Tongtian Hierarch paid a visit, whom he would then serve.

There’s no choice. The Tongtian Hierarch could easily bestow over a hundred thousand years’ worth of Golden Immortal Cultivation, or readily quote from the Da Luo Chapters of the Qingping Sutra. Such guests deserved better wine. After all, I don’t want to formally take a master and get entangled in worldly karma, but I still wish to freeload, so I can only please the Saint this way.

Red Boy, sipping the wine, still felt uneasy. "Stepfather," he asked, "by doing this, won’t I bring trouble to you?"

Sha Chen said, "You’re not just bringing me trouble; you’re causing me enormous problems."

Bringing up the matter, he lost his appetite.

Drinking his wine, he said, "Luckily, I had you keep quiet and not spread the news that you’re my adopted son. Otherwise, the grass on my grave would be about thirty feet high by now."

Red Boy, also fearful in hindsight, acknowledged his mistake. He lowered his head to drink his wine. He wanted to eat but didn’t dare lift his chopsticks.

Stepfather is very angry, and I’m very afraid.

Suddenly, Red Boy’s eyes lit up. He brought out a few Qiankun Bags and said, "Stepfather, these contain the Immortal Pills I’ve exchanged for. Please have a look."

Sha Chen took them and saw the shining multitude of Immortal Pills, exactly what he needed for his Cultivation.

Immediately, his face broke into a joyful grin.

This is the happiest moment for me today.

Smiling amiably, he said, "Alright, eat your meal. Don’t think too much. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. If Guanyin comes, go find your biological father."

Red Boy said, "Stepfather, I was chased all the way back and had to consume many of the Immortal Pills you refined to survive until now."

He asked with concern, "Stepfather, you won’t blame me, will you?"

Sha Chen replied, "How could I? Your survival is the greatest happiness for me."

In fact, my heart is aching terribly, but I have no choice but to accept it.

Red Boy added, "By the way, Stepfather, during the chase, I also killed many of those Demon Kings and seized their Magical Tools and resources. They are all in the Qiankun Bags."

Sha Chen nodded. He had already seen them.

That’s why several Qiankun Bags were needed; there were just so many items. The quantity is probably about ten times what the seven spider spirits brought back, and a bit more than what Ao Lie brought.

Speaking of the spider spirits, Sha Chen felt a bit nostalgic.

Those seven adopted younger sisters... I wonder where they’ve gone, or if they miss me, their older brother. It’s been some years, and they haven’t brought any resources back. Now that I’ve reached the Daluo Golden Immortal realm, these resources, though seemingly plentiful, are not enough for my consumption.

Red Boy, unable to keep secrets, saw Sha Chen was happy and seized the moment. He took out a huge Golden Core.

Grinning, he asked, "Stepfather, do you recognize what this is?"

Sha Chen gasped. "Could this be a Great Demon King’s Golden Core?"

Red Boy laughed. "Indeed! Stepfather, you may not know this, but this is the inner core Jinmaohou cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years. I specifically brought it back to offer to you, although, regrettably, his Primordial Spirit escaped."

Jinmaohou had been quite capable, attempting to create an External Incarnation by condensing a second Golden Core within his body, but he never expected it to end up benefiting Red Boy.