"Has Buddhism severed the six roots and lived in seclusion, forgetting how to speak? Must you lay out a large pile of nonsense before getting to the point of the matter?" Wei Li interjected, unable to bear it any longer.
Not only were Cheng Hong and Gu Junshi discussing matters he couldn't comprehend, but the atmosphere between them was also unusual, especially the phrase "first life," which sent shivers down his spine.
"More than that, this man of the cloth seems to need some retraining. His six senses are not pure, speaking ambiguous words to a married woman. Who knows what he means by that."
Suddenly, a sharp, sarcastic voice rang out. The Human Emperor tore through space, appearing beside them.
He was clad in elegant black, with a black dragon coiled around his pearl-adorned crown. His movements were ghostly and unfathomable, covering a thousand miles in an instant. With a wave of his sleeve, he split the territory, his aura opposing Gu Junshi's, occupying half the land.
Cheng Hong looked up, seeing the Human Emperor again. His emotions were naturally not as violently impacted as the first time.
Even after so many years, and even though the person before him was not the Human Emperor he knew, Cheng Hong still couldn't bring himself to feel any goodwill towards him.
Perhaps it was because he knew that even though time had passed, the Human Emperor still harbored resentment. It was because of the Human Emperor that their relationship with Gu Junshi had been estranged, using his death to drive a wedge between them.
Cheng Hong said calmly, "This humble monk does not speak falsehoods. All my words and actions are in accordance with my heart."
"Do you think you can hide your malicious intent by saying this? I heard back then that you always wanted to persuade Junshi to become a nun with you. It's fine if you become a Buddhist cultivator, but why must you drag her into the empty gate with you?" Wei Li quickly added, displeasured.
Although there was no exchange of glances, the two men, who were at odds, formed a tacit understanding at this moment: they would not allow Cheng Hong any opportunity for a deep conversation with Gu Junshi.
However, Gu Junshi did not want them to interfere in this matter this time.
How Cheng Hong had arrived in this life, and whether he had some ulterior motive, were these things relevant to her? At this point, she would not allow any variables to shake her arrangements, so she had to know.
"Do you want to have a good talk with me?" Gu Junshi asked him directly.
However, Cheng Hong told her, "Gu Junshi, you have changed in this life, and the direction of events may be completely altered. I will not interfere with your affairs, but the premise is that what you do will not bring great disaster to the beings of the Six Realms."
"And you? You've been reborn in this life, you can't possibly do nothing, right? How did you come here? Did you enter nirvana? Ascend? Or through some other means?"
"If you wish to know the truth of everything, then come to Maha Zen Temple to see me. I am here only for the malevolent thoughts on Dan Ya, the sect leader of Day Yan Sect. Demons are invading, and the cultivation world is filled with ghostly energy, with resentment that is difficult to dissipate. His malevolent thoughts will grow rapidly in this environment. I sensed the situation and rushed over."
Gu Junshi looked at Dan Ya, who was confined in the golden light shield by Cheng Hong. He was unconscious at the moment. She said, "Cheng Hong, then how do you plan to deal with him?"
"He strayed from the path, but fortunately, you have replenished his good soul for him. Now that his seven souls and six spirits are reunited, he only needs to be confined in Maha Zen Temple to clear his heart demon and dissipate all malevolent thoughts."
Speaking of this, Cheng Hong looked at Gu Junshi's current appearance: "On the contrary, you have defied the laws of heaven and earth, arbitrarily removed his malevolent thoughts and replenished his good soul, and are now suffering the consequences. This action will surely incur heavenly punishment."
"Heavenly punishment? No, soon the heavens will be grateful to me."
Gu Junshi smiled at him meaningfully.
Cheng Hong also knew that she never did anything that harmed herself for the benefit of others. Since she said so, she must be confident in resolving this matter.
He picked up Dan Ya and, casting a final glance at the Human Emperor without any emotion, said, "You and the Human Emperor..."
The Human Emperor landed beside Gu Junshi and reached out as if to put his arm around her shoulder, but he always had some reservations and dared not offend her easily. Thus, his hand curled into a fist and was placed behind his back.
He appeared calm and composed, "We are about to get married. If the Buddha's son has time, you might as well come to witness the ceremony."
Cheng Hong was stunned for a moment. He had actually heard this rumor.
To be precise, anyone in the cultivation world with any source of information knew that the new King of the Underworld from Fengdu Ghost City was about to marry a woman named Gu Junshi. He had widely invited distinguished figures from various immortal gatherings to come and offer their congratulations and witness the ceremony. This matter had caused a great stir and become a hot topic.
The Human Emperor secretly wished for this matter to be known to everyone, but Gu Junshi was completely unaware of his intentions.
After all, Cheng Hong had been close to Gu Junshi for nearly a hundred years. He could be said to be the one who understood her temperament best among everyone.
He felt it was necessary to see what kind of engagement this was.
"Then this humble monk will respectfully accept the invitation."
At this moment, Wei Li saw Cheng Hong about to leave with Dan Ya and stopped him, "Buddha's son, you can leave, but he must stay!"
Cheng Hong naturally knew what had happened at Day Yan Sect back then. He treated demons and humans equally; he wasn't harboring anyone, but simply addressing the issue on its merits. "He severed your two tails, thus owing karmic debt. After his malevolent thoughts dissipate, he will come to repay this debt. However, he is currently unconscious. I must take him to completely sever his malevolent thoughts."
"He severed my two tails, turning me from a celestial fox into a fox demon. He also took away the foundation I worked hard to establish, letting everyone know I am a demon. I hate him so much that I want to devour his flesh every moment. And you ask me to wait? I don't need to repay this debt later; I will settle it myself now."
Wei Li's eyelids tingled with surging demonic power, his pupils turning vertical, and his two sharp fox fangs bared.
Cheng Hong looked at him calmly. His brow was filled with authority. He was not just a Buddha's son now, but a enlightened true Buddha who later became the abbot of Maha Zen Temple.
"You can come to settle it."
Upon hearing this, Wei Li impulsively wanted to make a move, but Gu Junshi grabbed him. "I might not even be able to defeat him now. Are you sure you want to fight him?"
She asked him seriously, as if giving a kind reminder. If he truly made up his mind, she would no longer hinder him.
However, Wei Li froze upon hearing this.
"He's that powerful?"
He thought to himself.
Gu Junshi, however, saw through his thoughts: "Roughly estimated, his cultivation is enough to contend with a true demon."
"..."
Wei Li felt a bit awkward.
He was neither able to advance nor retreat.
He couldn't just give up this vengeance. If Cheng Hong really took him to Maha Zen Temple, he would be powerless on his own.
At this moment, Gu Junshi saw through him again and offered him a way out: "Wei Li, return to Qingqiu and cultivate properly. When Dan Ya comes out of Maha Zen Temple, you can find him and settle the old score with your own strength. Right now, he is unconscious. Even if you kill him, it would be an unfair victory, and you wouldn't be able to reclaim the dignity and blood feud that he took from you."