Chapter 505: Chapter 505

The Shi Hou arrived at Longevity Temple and felt as though this place was entirely foreign compared to the outside world. Outside, people were barely clothed and starving, while here the Daoist robes were clean and they were well-fed.

He initially thought that coming here would allow him to learn Immortal Law, but instead, Dan Yangzi merely comforted him briefly and then allowed him to start as a small Taoist. He was given a Daoist robe by Zheng Kan and began life at the Daoist Temple.

Shi Hou changed into the Daoist robe and carefully stored his previous clothing. His tasks included chanting scriptures, and Dan Yangzi's argument was simple: How could he possibly begin with no foundational knowledge?

This reasoning convinced Shi Hou. He performed basic tasks while trying to study the scriptures, but they were complex and profound with no guidance, leaving the Monkey scratching his head.

Night fell, marking the end of the Monkey's first day as a Daoist disciple. Although, thinking about the children during the day, he couldn't fall asleep, he tried reading the scriptures but still couldn't find inner peace, so he got up and went to the doorway, only to see two people were standing guard.

With a swift glance, the Monkey placed a pillow in his bed to appear as if someone was there, then quietly climbed over the window to the rooftop, glancing around before heading toward the brightly lit great hall.

The brightest place at night in Longevity Temple was Dan Yangzi's location. As Shi Hou approached, he overheard Dan Yangzi talking to someone.

"How was the harvest this time?"

"Master, we gathered twenty-three boys and girls this outing."

"Master, we've circled this area for thousands of miles several times, and children are not crops that grow anew every season."

Dan Yangzi was silent for a moment before asking, "And what about the Monkey Demon?"

The responding disciple was Zheng Kun.

"The Monkey Demon possesses ample spirituality and behaves well, yet we don't know how to deal with him."

Dan Yangzi stroked his beard, appearing sage-like, yet his words contrasted sharply with his demeanor.

"Children's hearts can be refined into medicine for life extension, I wonder how much longevity the Monkey Demon's heart would add?"

Shi Hou instinctively grinned with rage and was about to attack, yet having spent so many years in the Dream World, he hadn't been beaten senselessly by Yang Jian for nothing. He controlled his body immediately and made no sound, quickly contemplating his next actions.

Inside the hall, the two were completely unaware that the Shi Hou they discussed was outside eavesdropping.

Zheng Kun spoke with excitement, "Master, the Monkey Demon Refining Pills would certainly be tremendously beneficial. Master, your Immortal Ascension day would then be close at hand!"

Dan Yangzi was quite pleased with the flattery.

"Rest assured, if that day truly comes, then everyone's fortune is assured."

Shi Hou did not continue listening and instead returned to his room as though he knew nothing and nothing had happened, continuing to work and chant scriptures during the day while secretly searching for the place where the children were held.

After half a month, through his cleverness, he finally found the location. That night, he changed clothes and snuck out again, not to eavesdrop this time but to say farewell.

Despite possessing extraordinary Martial Arts skills and exceptional physical attributes, destroying the entire Longevity Temple would not be difficult, yet he knew committing such an act would leave him without anyone to heed his explanations; he needed to leave the area.

Before departing, he wished to see his only friend Zhang Chu and the elderly lady who had once made clothes for him.

Even without cultivation, Shi Hou's physical prowess was exceptional, and by midnight, he returned to the modest courtyard where a sense of unease enveloped him as it was covered in white cloth.

As he opened the door, he saw Zhang Chu drunkenly lying on the small table where the elderly lady once used to eat, surrounded by empty bottles. By now, he knew what had occurred.

"Zhang Chu, Zhang Chu!"

Shi Hou shook Zhang Chu a few times, Zhang Chu groggily awoke and seeing Shi Hou, grabbed him by the collar and pressed down.

"Dead Monkey, give me my mother's life back!" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novｅlfire.net

Despite his emotional dulled senses now, Shi Hou could feel his friend's agony, and Zhang Chu screamed a few times before letting go and sobbed bitterly.

He knew it wasn't Shi Hou's fault. That day, using several years' savings from living frugally, he traded for an Elixir, thinking it was a life-saving medicine for his mother, only to realize it was a lethal poison.

He didn't understand the science behind the medicine; he just knew that after his mother took it, she passed away.

The medicine was useless.

Perhaps the Elixir contained something that temporarily restored vitality at the cost of consuming more Life Force. Zhang Chu's mother was already at the end of her rope; there wasn't any Life Force left to expend. After taking the pill and briefly regaining some color, she didn't even have a deathbed recovery before passing on.

Shi Hou tightened his robe, feeling a faint melancholy within, knowing that the person who first made clothes and prepared him meals would never be seen again.

Then, overwhelming anger surged!

The Monkey's eyes glowed red as he grabbed the still-weeping Zhang Chu, striking him square in the face.

"Why cry? Those at the Longevity Temple are wicked fiends, selling fake medicine and consuming children's hearts for Alchemy. Do you dare follow me in taking down that temple?"

The honest Zhang Chu, hearing about consuming children's hearts, felt a chill rush from the tailbone straight into the crown of his head, despite being drunk.

"This, isn't this just like a demon?"

Shi Hou decisively declared, "They are Demons. I ask, will you fight?"

Fierceness flashed in Zhang Chu's eyes.

Neither of them were masterminds, so they formulated the simplest plan—Shi Hou would kill, Zhang Chu would set fires.

On the following day, Shi Hou stayed home while Zhang Chu went out to purchase weapons and food.

Meanwhile, Longevity Temple had mobilized all its Taoists to search for Shi Hou, but they found no trace of him.

Dan Yangzi stared in gloomy silence at the two disciples who had been tailing Shi Hou.

"Useless, what did you two do all day?"

"Master, that, that Shi Hou's movements are unpredictable; we truly can't keep track!"

Dan Yangzi would not listen to their excuses and signaled silently to Zheng Kun, who understood and led several disciples to drag the two away, returning shortly.

"It's done, Master. Though the two have some cultivation, they're still not as good as the hearts of children for Alchemy."

Dan Yangzi glanced at Zheng Kun and said, "The Shi Hou fled. Having their hearts is better than having none. In a few days, we will go for another excursion; this time, further afield."

Dan Yangzi began preparing for the next search for Alchemy materials, while the Shi Hou he so desired had already taken Zhang Chu to the forest behind Longevity Temple.

At present, Shi Hou held a large iron rod as a weapon while Zhang Chu wielded a hatchet, with pig fat for lighting fires in the bundle on his back.

These few things were all Shi Hou and Zhang Chu had. Standing high above, they overlooked the prosperous Longevity Temple below, neither expected this seemingly orthodox Daoist Temple would commit such heinous acts.

By the end of tonight, it would cease to exist.

"Have you memorized the location where children are kept?"

Zhang Chu nodded and then asked, "Just to the east. Are you sure you can handle the Demons inside?"

"Just a bunch of chickens and rabbits."

As darkness fell, large sections of Longevity Temple were engulfed in shadow. Shi Hou, clutching the iron rod, intruded from the west of the temple. The patrolling Taoists merely heard the whoosh of blunt objects slicing through the night air before being smashed into a pulp.

It was Shi Hou's first time killing, but he felt no unease. He signaled Zhang Chu to begin lighting fires as he continued to charge forward, diverting the Taoists' attention, giving Zhang Chu a chance to rescue the children.

Zhang Chu lit the fires and slyly slipped away toward the place where the children were guarded, seizing an opportunity to save them.

From the west, Longevity Temple was soon ablaze, though the furious Shi Hou who had endured for so long wasn't here to play games.

In the Dream World, he had been tormented by Yang Jian to the point of questioning his monkey life, not because he was weak but because Yang Jian at that time was excessively formidable compared to him. Against these mortals with some Martial Arts skills, his large iron rod, when swinging, instantly left blood and flesh flying.

"All is lost, temple master, the Monkey Demon has returned for vengeance!"