Round True Buddha looked at Huang Miao's smiling face with shock, and also at the equally bewildered Wukong.
Face?
The Buddhist Son actually knew someone from Xuanqing Heavenly Sect? Who could possibly make this ferocious god give face? Round True Buddha's stunned expression quickly turned calm.
It seemed... he still knew very little, and hadn't even been able to give a warning.
Wukong hadn't expected this answer, nor that he could cross the river thanks to someone's face. This wasn't about whether Chu Xichen was moral or not, as it was technically a convenience. But crossing like this was like being hung up for everyone to see, suggesting some connection with Xuanqing Heavenly Sect.
But he was the Buddhist Son...
Wukong bowed again. Things had come this far; crossing alone might lead to real trouble. He quickly spoke, "I have several dozen fellow disciples with me.
I wonder if senior could be accommodating." Huang Miao's face showed a teasing smile.
"As long as it's people you want to bring, they can all cross.
His face carries weight." Wukong was stunned again upon hearing this. Huang Miao looked at Wukong's expression, a somewhat wicked smile appearing on his face.
"What, you want to ask the Buddha if you can bring them?
I can answer that too."
"Thank you, senior, no need to inform me of that," Wukong said, feeling a chill down his back.
This ferocious god was ruthless not just with his hands, but his heart as well.
"Could you inform Nunan Zun Buddha about this matter..."
"Look at you being scared," Huang Miao said, his expression turning serious as he withdrew his smile.
"Bring the people you need to cross the river."
Wukong thanked him again and turned back, sending a mental message to the Buddhist cultivators who had followed him.
He had decided that unless something unexpected happened, he would stick to them like glue...
Huang Miao didn't watch Wukong and his group crossing Pudu River, instead provocatively staring at Round True Buddha on the opposite shore, his mocking smile undisguised. One man, one river. Ten thousand men, no fear.
Pudu River does not ferry Buddhists.
————————
Jinshan Ping. Cui Hao smiled as he casually handed out preserved fruits to the surrounding children. After distributing all his limited supply, he raised his hands and shooed the children away.
Although there were many children creating chaos, Cui Hao was now a Golden Core cultivator. Returning to the Southern Continent made him a great power in his own right, so he could naturally remember who received which preserved fruit. No one took extra, and none went without.
Though the children were greedy, they didn't pester the empty-handed Cui Hao too much. After all, this very approachable storyteller was a legendary immortal. The children's parents had given repeated instructions.
A group of children waved goodbye to this extremely amiable Immortal Cui after receiving their treats. The difference between immortals and mortals, perhaps in these children's eyes, was simply that immortals had endless preserved fruits to share. Cui Hao also waved goodbye to the children with a smile, then adjusted his slightly crooked clothing.
His gaze lightly turned back to look at the thin, dark-skinned little boy hiding behind a withered tree. The boy peeked out, but quickly ducked back when he saw Cui Hao's gaze. The withered tree wasn't large, but it perfectly concealed the boy's small frame.
Cui Hao suppressed his aura and silently approached the tree. He looked at the boy hiding behind it, his eyes tightly shut.
"How old are you?" Cui Hao asked with a smile.
The boy jumped in fright, trembling several times without answering, then tried to flee. Cui Hao reached for the boy's tattered, dirty clothes. Rip—
Cui Hao looked slightly awkward at the extremely poor quality fabric in his hand, then turned to look at the boy who looked all skin and bones.
"I'll compensate you for this clothes," Cui Hao said first, then extended his hand.
"I've seen you several times.
If you want preserved fruits, why not just come ask me for them?" The boy didn't take Cui Hao's hand but stood up shakily on his own. His voice was weak and timid, barely audible.
"I'm...
I'm sorry.
Could you please... please give me back my clothes. "
Cui Hao promptly handed back the garment that could barely be called a rag. The boy bowed his head, took back the clothes, and apologized in a humble voice before stumbling away. Cui Hao didn't follow, watching his departing figure with a calm expression, finally letting out a soft sigh.
"The usually talkative Fifth Disciple seems speechless today."
Cui Hao shuddered and turned around to see Lin Luoyu standing silently nearby, also watching the boy leave.
"Fourth Senior Sister, how do you walk without making a sound?" Cui Hao's expression changed, his tone complaining.
Lin Luoyu withdrew her gaze, ignoring Cui Hao's complaint and getting straight to the point.
"Master has sent word, he's on his way.
First Senior Sister thinks you're too slow and sent me to check on things and urge you along." Cui Hao returned to his usual carefree tone.
"The work is technically done, just needs finishing up.
We can head back soon, though First Senior Sister will probably say I'm holding everyone back again."
"Remember to compensate the boy for his clothes before we leave," Lin Luoyu reminded.
Cui Hao smiled and agreed: "You can trust me with these matters." Lin Luoyu nodded slightly but stood there for a moment, her gaze unconsciously following the boy's direction. Cui Hao looked at Lin Luoyu's expression, his tone suddenly serious.
"Sometimes it's like that—you want to do something, but don't know what you can do."
Lin Luoyu didn't want to admit this, but knew it was true. She suddenly thought of Junzi. Was this how Junzi had felt back then?
But she had been fortunate to meet Junzi, who was willing to stay and let go. Lin Luoyu thought for a moment, took out a book from her spatial ring. It was a literacy text she had copied during her calligraphy training, containing her aura as a Confucian cultivator.
She handed it to Cui Hao: "That boy has no spiritual root. Since we've met him, I'll give him a gift." Cui Hao took it and smiled:
"Fourth Senior Sister really knows how to handle things."
Lin Luoyu said nothing, just lightly pursed her lips.
——————
Xiniu Hezhou, Zhaomang Ridge. Although the three great sects had entered Xiniu Hezhou with great momentum and advanced quickly, many areas were still ravaged by demonic beasts. Xiniu Hezhou had an open and forthright character, and its sects were more restrictive, so there were quite a few scattered cultivators.
Facing this beast tide, many scattered cultivator teams had formed to resist. Many such small teams had ventured deep into the heart of the devastation and lost contact with the outside world. The team led by Yunchuan was like this.
He was a Golden Core cultivator, though only at the initial stage, which made him a great power even in Xiniu Hezhou. The team wasn't large—only seven people including him as the nominal leader. The reason he was only nominal was because someone else had completely earned everyone's respect.
And she wasn't even a cultivator. Under the night sky. Unable to light a campfire, everyone turned their gaze to a woman with white hair and deep wrinkles on her face.
Not being a cultivator, time had inevitably taken its toll. Yunchuan looked at the team member who looked oldest but was actually youngest, asking:
"Junzi, what should we do next?"
Junzi's voice was calm, as if it could soothe the heart:
"The civilians here should have evacuated according to plan.
Going further in, regardless of whether anyone might still be alive, it would be irresponsible to you all."
"Are you planning to go alone?" Yunchuan stood up.
"You're not from Xiniu Hezhou.
You've come across continents to save so many people here. This wasn't your responsibility. Xiniu Hezhou people don't forget kindness, and we have to be responsible to you."
"If we leave, we leave together.
If we go in, we go in together." Junzi slightly raised her hand, gesturing for Yunchuan to sit down. This Golden Core cultivator obediently sat down.
After all, this Junzi had completely conquered the entire team with her personal charisma.
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