Chapter 132: A Monk by Day, a Layman by Night
Immortal Spirit Island was protected by a mountain-guarding formation. Though not as formidable as Shu Mountain's, it wasn't something an ordinary person could easily break into.
Yet, no one had accounted for the possibility that a fool swinging a hammer wildly in all directions would just smash through it. One could only say that fate had already decided everything in advance.
Li Xiaoyao never expected that sneaking by the pool to peep at someone bathing would end up getting him a beautiful wife for free.
If this were modern times, his actions would have earned him at least three years behind bars.
Somehow, muddle-headed and half-conscious, he got married and found himself with a wife. Li Xiaoyao felt he had matured a bit—casually making grand vows without considering whether he could actually keep them.
And Zhao Ling'er? She actually believed him.
The girl was still a naive sweetheart, only thinking about how her Xiaoyao-gege should hurry to fetch the medicine for his aunt so they could live happily together afterward.
The two of them, lost in their affection, slowly walked to the shore.
Just as they were about to bid their final farewell, a group of black-clad figures in strange attire suddenly appeared.
Without a word, they began slaughtering people, injuring many of the maids tasked with guarding the island.
Fortunately, Ling'er's grandmother arrived in time, barely managing to hold off the Lunar Sect Cultists.
But the situation remained dire.
Li Xiaoyao recognized these black-clad figures immediately—they were the ones who had deceived him into coming to Immortal Spirit Island. By breaking the island's formation, he had given them the chance to invade and massacre.
Regret consumed him.
Yet Zhao Ling'er did not blame him at all. Instead, she kept urging him to leave.
"Xiaoyao-gege, go quickly! Take the medicine and save your aunt!"
She was hopeless—a complete love-struck fool.
Seeing that Immortal Spirit Island was struggling to withstand the Lunar Sect Cultists' assault, Zhao Ling'er cast a spell, pushing Li Xiaoyao onto a boat, intending to send him away.
At that moment—
A sword light descended from the sky!
A peerlessly sharp sword aura cleaved the earth, sending the Lunar Sect Cultists flying.
"Who dares to interfere with the Lunar Sect Cult's affairs?!"
The cultist leader shouted arrogantly, his expression rampant with confidence.
"Shu Mountain Sect, Xu Changqing!"
A figure dressed in snow-white robes descended slowly while riding his sword. His brows were sword-like, his eyes bright as stars, his entire demeanor as refined as jade—he looked like an immortal.
He leveled his sword before him and glared angrily.
"You vile cultists dare to slaughter innocents in the Central Plains?! Such audacity! Today, I shall rid the world of your evil!"
With that, Xu Changqing charged forward, his sword aimed at several Lunar Sect Cultists, taking on the group alone.
The people of Immortal Spirit Island were stunned.
Zhao Ling'er's spell remained half-cast. Li Xiaoyao stood dumbfounded on the boat.
Where did this formidable Daoist come from?
Some maids even had sparkling heart-shaped eyes.
"Stop swooning! Move aside! Can't you see this young lady is about to bleed to death?"
Chu Yang sighed helplessly, pushing through the crowd. He approached an injured maid, helped her up, and fed her a Blood Bodhi.
Back in the Soul Palace, he had taken a few just in case. He hadn't expected them to come in handy so soon.
Blood Bodhi was a miraculous healing elixir—it could bring someone back from the brink of death, let alone heal serious injuries.
Just one, and the maid's breathing stabilized.
The other maids abandoned their admiration for Xu Changqing and instead gathered around, weeping as they embraced their injured sister.
Ling'er's grandmother expressed her deep gratitude.
"Many thanks to both young heroes for saving Immortal Spirit Island. May I ask your names?"
Chu Yang smiled faintly.
"My name is Chu Yang, and this is my senior brother, Xu Changqing, the chief disciple of Shu Mountain."
The maids turned their gazes to Chu Yang.
Hmm?
This Daoist looks even more handsome.
Ling'er's grandmother had already heard Xu Changqing introduce himself earlier, but she hadn't been certain. Now, hearing Chu Yang mention Shu Mountain again, her expression grew complicated.
"Are you two disciples of the Sword Sect or the Qi Sect?"
Chu Yang was surprised.
This old woman even knew the distinction between the Shu Mountain Sword Sect and Qi Sect?
His expression became somewhat peculiar.
"We're disciples of the Qi Sect."
Hearing this, Ling'er's grandmother's face brightened, and she chuckled.
"I thought so! No wonder you're so compassionate. Everyone knows that Shu Mountain's Qi Sect dedicates itself to saving the world, unlike some people…"
Though she didn't explicitly say it, her disdain for the Sword Sect was evident. The grudge seemed directed at Shu Mountain's Sword Sect leader, Dugu Jian Sheng.
The only possible reason?
It had to be the entangled past between the Witch Queen Qing'er and Dugu Jian Sheng.
This mishmash of xianxia storylines was truly a mess!
Chu Yang felt the situation was getting absurd and silently prayed that Xu Changqing wouldn't have any connection to Zhao Ling'er.
After all, according to the lineage chart, he was technically her grandfather—the biological father of Qing'er, though several generations removed.
Moments later, Xu Changqing returned victorious.
"Master Xu, thank you for your assistance!"
"No need for thanks, Miss Ling'er. Eliminating demons and defending justice is the duty of Shu Mountain disciples!"
"Are all Shu Mountain disciples as powerful as Master Xu?"
"Among my fellow disciples, I am nothing special. Many are stronger than me. For example, my junior brother Ayang—his swordsmanship far surpasses mine."
"The healing skills of Master Chu are also remarkable. He single-handedly treated all the injured sisters on the island, and even Grandma praised him."
The polite conversation sent a shiver down Chu Yang's spine.
After treating the maids, Ling'er's grandmother approached them.
"How did you two know Immortal Spirit Island was in danger?"
Xu Changqing answered, "Our sect sent us down the mountain for worldly training. When we arrived at Yuhang Town, we discovered that an innkeeper had been poisoned with Gu…"
"Was it an inn called 'Yunlai Inn'?"
Li Xiaoyao exclaimed excitedly.
"That's my aunt! So she was poisoned with Gu?! Those people tricked me, saying she had a serious illness and that I needed to come to the island to get medicine."
Ling'er's grandmother was furious.
"It must be the work of the Lunar Sect Cult! This was their scheme all along!"
Li Xiaoyao suddenly dropped to his knees before Xu Changqing and Chu Yang, clutching their robes.
"Great heroes, how is my aunt now?"
Xu Changqing quickly helped him up.
"Brother Li, your aunt's Gu poison has been cured by my junior brother Ayang. She is in no danger now. We came to this island specifically to inform you."
Li Xiaoyao was overjoyed and immediately wanted to kowtow to Chu Yang.
"Ah, no, no, no! If you want to kowtow, do it to Changqing! Not to me—we have no relation!"
Chu Yang sidestepped, looking as if he couldn't bear it.
Xu Changqing's expression darkened, glaring at him.
What do you mean, 'do it to me'?!
Li Xiaoyao chuckled awkwardly, quickly standing up.
Ling'er's grandmother then spoke gently.
"Xiaoyao, you should return soon. Your aunt will be worried. You should also inform her of your marriage to Ling'er."
Li Xiaoyao nodded, moved.
However, Ling'er's grandmother shook her head.
"No, you must take Ling'er with you. Do not return to Immortal Spirit Island!"
Li Xiaoyao was stunned.
Zhao Ling'er visibly panicked.
She had never left the island before. Now, being told she couldn't return? How could she not be afraid?
"Grandmother, please don't be angry. Did I do something wrong?"
Zhao Ling'er's eyes filled with tears as she wept like a delicate pear blossom in the rain.
The grandmother wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, sighing, "The Mountain Protection Formation has been breached. The followers of the Lunar Sect Cult can attack the island at any time. This place is no longer safe. How could I bear to leave you here?"
Upon hearing that Immortal Spirit Island was in danger, Zhao Ling'er became even more determined not to leave, sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath.
Li Xiaoyao felt a deep ache in his heart as he watched. Looking around, his gaze fell on Xu Changqing and Chu Yang, and he suddenly had an idea. He quickly ran up to them, nodding and bowing. "Since you two heroes have already saved Immortal Spirit Island once, why not save it a second time?"
"As the saying goes, 'Delivering a Buddha should be done all the way to the West.' Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered pagoda..."
Li Xiaoyao racked his brain for whatever scholarly phrases he could recall, but he failed to notice Xu Changqing's expression growing increasingly strange.
"Xu Daxia, what's wrong?"
Just as Li Xiaoyao was finishing his flurry of flattery, he looked up and saw Xu Changqing's face dark with fury.
Chu Yang coughed lightly, reminding him, "What you just said is Buddhist doctrine. We follow Daoism..."
Li Xiaoyao's face turned pale with horror!
Even the grandmother at the side couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her eye.
Good heavens.
After burning incense for so long, it turned out he had been worshiping the wrong deity...
He was doomed!
If he were in Xu Changqing's shoes, he'd probably be cursing by now. So, he wisely shut his eyes and braced himself for a scolding.
For a moment, the atmosphere became awkward.
"Young man, my junior brother and I came down the mountain for worldly training. Even if you hadn't asked, we would still have intervened. But before that, can you tell me exactly what this Lunar Sect Cult is about?"
Xu Changqing took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, and squeezed out a smile.
"Well..." Li Xiaoyao was equally clueless, so he looked toward the grandmother for help.
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