Chapter 201: Chapter 201

Kui Mulang was struck as if by lightning and exclaimed in shock, "Impossible! How could my Master come here?"

"And what right do you have to make my Master apologize? You, you, you’re talking nonsense! You’re deceiving me!"

Seeing that Kui Mulang was already in a state of utter turmoil, Sha Chen said, "Am I deceiving you? Do you think I’d dare to trick you with the affairs of a Saint?"

He truly hadn’t lied, for Tongtian Hierarch had indeed bequeathed tens of thousands of years of Golden Immortal mana to Tianpeng because of this matter.

It could be considered an indirect way of apologizing to them.

Sha Chen said, "You don’t believe me? Let me explain a Dao to you."

Then he expounded upon the Qingping Scripture. After hearing only a part of it, Kui Mulang was thoroughly convinced.

The Da Luo Chapter of the Qingping Scripture contained the insights of Tongtian Hierarch; even among the disciples of the Sect of Interpretation, not many had ever heard it.

Such complete insights would not be known to anyone outside his closest confidants.

Yet Sha Chen knew it, which proved that Tongtian Hierarch himself had personally shared it with Sha Chen. No wonder he ascended to Daluo Golden Immortal so rapidly.

Could it be? My Master really came, specifically to apologize to Sha Chen for my sake!?

Kui Mulang—Li Xiong—was completely shattered inside. He kowtowed and wept bitterly inside the Alchemy Furnace, striking his head against the ground.

Sha Chen released him, but Kui Mulang continued to kowtow, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Master, oh Master! This disciple has been unfilial! I have wronged you and failed to live up to your expectations, even thinking of betraying you to join Buddhism."

"Master, please forgive this disciple! I know my mistakes now. Guanyin from Buddhism approached me, asking me to orchestrate a trial in the Journey to the West to accept the karmic consequences. I was blinded by greed when I agreed. I am truly sorry, Master!"

He continued to weep bitterly, striking his head against the ground.

Lady Di Yong did not utter a word, but was secretly astonished. Her Master is truly formidable; just a few words and he’s made Kui Mulang’s eyes flood with tears.

Sha Chen watched Kui Mulang, his eyes flickering, planning to strike while the iron was hot and completely subjugate him.

Everyone knew that he shared a deadly feud with Kui Mulang. If he could subdue Kui Mulang, it would serve as the best cover.

Sha Chen then said, "Kui Mulang, stop crying. Do you understand your mistakes?"

With red, tear-filled eyes, Kui Mulang said, "Mr. Sha, I have realized my mistakes."

Since even Tongtian Hierarch had come to apologize to Sha Chen, Kui Mulang was completely bewildered about Sha Chen’s true status and could only address him respectfully as ’Mr. Sha’.

Sha Chen was quite pleased. "To acknowledge one’s mistakes is the first step to great improvement. You’ve done well. I hope you’re sensible enough to see that I’m not so bad myself."

Kui Mulang was perceptive and immediately kowtowed, saying, "Mr. Sha is very good, indeed very good! I realize my mistakes and beg Mr. Sha’s forgiveness!"

Sha Chen nodded, a calm and composed smile on his face, yet inwardly, his heart was racing. He was merely bluffing, invoking the Hierarch’s name. If Tongtian Hierarch were to appear at this very moment, he’d likely be made into a human lantern! However, he felt that Tongtian Hierarch still hoped to take him as a disciple and would be tolerant enough not to appear and expose him over such a trifle. So far, it seemed he was right.

Lady Di Yong, on the other hand, was already stunned. She had never imagined Sha Chen would truly have connections with a Saint. And with Tongtian Hierarch no less, whom many demons most wished to follow! Though Laozi and Tongtian Hierarch both preached ’teaching without discrimination,’ and Buddhism also proclaimed ’equality for all beings,’ among the various Saintly factions, only Tongtian Hierarch truly embodied this principle, attracting countless immortals to his banner. Thus, during the Apocalypse Epoch, demons most loved to go to Penglai Island’s Zi Zhi Cliff to become disciples of Tongtian Hierarch. Lady Di Yong herself had once wished to become a disciple of Tongtian Hierarch. However, plagued by self-doubt over her insufficient power, she had never dared to try. Now that her strength was adequate, the Sect of Interpretation had already disbanded. Now, witnessing Sha Chen actually converse with Tongtian Hierarch—and Tongtian Hierarch even coming to apologize specifically for Kui Mulang’s sake—revealed just how significant Sha Chen’s influence was. So formidable! Worthy of being her Master, truly unfathomable.

Sha Chen tapped the table and said, "Li Xiong, come, share a drink with me."

Kui Mulang, filled with fear, said, "Mr. Sha, please forgive me, I am not worthy."

He remained kneeling on the ground, for he was still shaken to the core and unsure of Sha Chen’s intentions.

And what was most terrifying was that after believing Sha Chen’s words, he began to let his imagination run wild. Sha Chen’s rapid rise to power seemed to coincide with the return of his own Master, Tongtian Hierarch. Could it be that Tongtian Hierarch had selected Sha Chen after his return, providing special guidance that led to Sha Chen’s meteoric rise? This was highly likely. However, generally, even if the Sect Hierarch provided guidance to a disciple, he wouldn’t invest too much. Yet, Sha Chen had managed to make Tongtian Hierarch personally apologize. This signaled that Sha Chen’s status was probably far from simple. Especially since, even in the past, he had never heard of any fellow disciple under Tongtian Hierarch’s guidance making such terrifyingly rapid progress in cultivation in just over a hundred years. Besides, Sha Chen also knew various Divine Powers and possessed numerous Magical Tools. No matter how much support Tongtian Hierarch provided, surely he couldn’t cultivate such a monstrous talent, could he!? Kui Mulang pondered deeply. He felt that Sha Chen’s rise wasn’t solely due to Tongtian Hierarch’s patronage; Sha Chen himself must possess considerable power. Therefore, his respect for Sha Chen gradually deepened.

Moreover, when under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head. He had lost, and he accepted the consequences.

Sha Chen said, "If I tell you to sit, you sit. You’d best be sensible about it."

Kui Mulang dared not defy him. He quickly cupped his fists and sat down, though only the edge of his buttocks touched the seat.

Sha Chen gestured for him to raise his cup. Only then did Kui Mulang pick it up cautiously, evidently terrified by Sha Chen’s various methods.

Actually, Sha Chen found this secretly amusing. "It seems Kui Mulang truly is as the rumors describe: someone who bullies the weak and fears the strong. In the original tale, he followed Li Jing to besiege Sun Wukong but was terrified by Sun Wukong’s counter-attack. Later, during the Journey to the West, whenever he fought Sun Wukong, he would repeatedly be frightened out of his wits and dared not engage. On subsequent occasions when Sun Wukong faced trouble, Kui Mulang would always request permission from the Jade Emperor to offer assistance proactively. After descending to the mortal realm, he became extremely respectful towards Sun Wukong." Sha Chen didn’t know what Kui Mulang had been thinking during those times. But the current Kui Mulang was like a thief with a guilty conscience, utterly terrified from being beaten. Having been defeated by Sha Chen three times, and then threatened and intimidated with the mention of Saints, it was only natural for him to be so deferential. Sha Chen’s original plan had been to forcefully suppress Kui Mulang into submission. But now, seeing his combined approach of soft and hard tactics proving so effective, he realized his methods were more sophisticated than he’d thought. Moreover, since Kui Mulang still greatly feared Tongtian Hierarch, he was successfully cowed. This saved Sha Chen a lot of trouble.

After they had drunk to their hearts’ content, Kui Mulang fully admitted his mistakes, repeatedly kowtowing in apology, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Mr. Sha, I have wronged my Master! I had long heard he intended to rebuild the Sect of Interpretation, but I was too afraid to return. I declined the invitations from my fellow disciples and even advised some of them not to go back. I am truly at fault!"

"I have ruined my Master’s great endeavor and sabotaged the reconstruction of the Sect of Interpretation! I am a heinous sinner! Yet, not only did my Master not blame me, he even condescended to apologize for my wretched affairs!"

He babbled on and on, giving Sha Chen quite a headache.

However, it was evident that Kui Mulang was genuinely tormented and truly frightened. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩

Actually, Kui Mulang’s choice hadn’t been wrong. The Sect of Interpretation’s fortune had already waned, and any attempt at reconstruction would likely bear no fruit in the short term.

After all, Sha Chen knew that the great undertaking of the Journey to the West was unstoppable, and there was no indication of the Sect of Interpretation prospering during it. This proved that even when the Journey began, the Sect showed no signs of revival. It was even more likely that everyone was closely watching any attempts to rebuild the Sect of Interpretation. If it reached a certain scale, other powers would undoubtedly unite to target it. After all, during the Divine Enthronement Epoch, various factions had united against the Sect of Interpretation, none wishing for it to grow powerful again. Otherwise, the retaliation would be more than any of them could bear.

Kui Mulang’s choice was, in itself, beyond reproach.

In truth, there had been countless disciples in the Sect of Interpretation, but most perished during the Apocalypse Epoch.

The survivors, after Tongtian Hierarch was taken away by the Daoist Ancestor and the Sect of Interpretation disintegrated, scattered like monkeys when their tree falls.

They could no longer be considered disciples of a Saint; they even had to sever any ties with Saints to avoid being pursued by the Chan Sect, the Human Religion, and the Western Sect.

They had become remnants of a fallen power, so they had to live discreetly, tails tucked between their legs.

Thus, Sha Chen said, "Your choice is understandable. But remember, you can be anything, just not a traitor who betrays trust or sells out their master for personal gain."

Kui Mulang knelt on the ground once more, kowtowing and weeping. He began slapping his own face repeatedly. "Mr. Sha’s teachings are correct! This lowly one knows his wrongs! Please, Mr. Sha, say no more!"

Sha Chen motioned for him to stand. "Do you wish to atone for your crimes by performing meritorious deeds and making amends?"

Kui Mulang declared, "There isn’t a moment I don’t!"

Sha Chen nodded. "Your opportunity has come. It remains to be seen if you can seize it."

Kui Mulang eagerly asked, "May I ask, Mr. Sha, what opportunity is this?"

Sha Chen pondered for a moment, then said, "You scoffed earlier. I imagine you found my method of using Buddhist Saints to restrain the Chan Sect Saints highly inappropriate. You must have your own thoughts on the matter."

Kui Mulang said, "Mr. Sha, your strategic brilliance is vast, but you’ve erred in this. Driving the tiger to devour the wolf might work on others, but it’s useless against Saints."

"The hearts of Saints are unfathomable and beyond calculation. Mr. Sha, you intend to use your unique status to have the Two Saints of the Western Sect intervene and protect you. However, you do not wish to join Buddhism. Have you considered that this might instead draw the Two Saints of the Western Sect here personally?"

Sha Chen gasped, his scalp tingling, feeling as if thorns were pressed against his back.

He truly hadn’t considered this. If Jieyin and Zhunti themselves came here, given their utter shamelessness, they might act even more excessively than Yuan Shi! This place could be razed to the ground, not even a blade of grass left, and he himself would be stripped clean of everything!

Sha Chen broke out in a cold sweat, yet he maintained a composed facade. Kui Mulang, observing him secretly, nodded in admiration.

Truly worthy of being Mr. Sha! Unruffled by imminent peril, as steadfast as Mount Tai crumbling before him yet his expression unchanging!

Kui Mulang’s admiration deepened. He then lowered his voice and said, "Mr. Sha, your move isn’t ’driving the tiger to devour the wolf’; it’s ’inviting both the tiger and the wolf to arrive together’!"

Sha Chen asked, "Then, what is your esteemed opinion?"