She put down the two children, and Le Bao and Si Jun immediately became flustered. Just as Li Sheng had whispered, these two little rascals were heartless, completely forgetting about their father watching them from the other side.
They stood on either side, looking up at Yu Zhi's pitiful little face, and affectionately reached out to hold Gu Junshi's hand.
These two little ones had developed a little habit that no one knew about: they liked to gently shake the hand they held, as if shyly acting cute.
Unlike their father's long, strong, and clearly defined hands, her hands were delicate and slender, yet plump and fair. Compared to their small palms, they were neither too wide nor too thin. When their four fingers were held side by side, there was a sense of security and warmth that could be felt by holding them tightly.
Gu Junshi knew that Si Jun had always been clingy to her, but why was this child like this too?
Their father was not far away, yet he showed no intention of going to him. Strangely, Liu Jiangfusheng stood still at the moment, showing no intention of snatching the children.
Lu Ziyin and the others had wanted to approach and talk to him. They were surprised to see Liu Jiangfusheng, and naturally, they had a lot of questions. However, at this moment, it seemed inappropriate to recognize him, ask about his past, and inquire about everything that had happened after his disappearance, especially with so many people around.
He and the two people behind him formed their own world, like people leaning against a railing on a country road. Although they ignored everything around them, they were still being observed and speculated about by many people in private with strange glances.
Gu Junshi's thoughts wandered for a moment but quickly returned to the present matter. She let the two children hold her hands and said, "Master, there is indeed something that requires your help. Compassion City is caught in someone's scheme. This space is within the magical artifact of the Ghost King of Shuofang City. If we wish to leave, we will need to use Compassion City's Demon-Breaking Arrows to shatter this confinement."
"Demon-Breaking Arrows?" Master Jingxu's eyes widened instantly.
"That's right, Demon-Breaking Arrows. May I borrow your city's Demon-Breaking Arrows?" she asked politely, feeling the other party's gaze suddenly sharpen.
Master Huiming stared at her with deep eyes, and the other masters also seemed to have their deeply hidden secrets exposed. Their expressions became serious, and a strict barrier was erected around them.
"How did you know about the existence of Demon-Breaking Arrows in Compassion City?"
Besides the abbots of Guanghui Zen Temple, Jizhao Gusi Temple, and Jingxu Niumia Temple, even the chief monks and supervisors below them did not know about this matter.
Now that an outsider had revealed it in one sentence, it undoubtedly caused a huge stir in the hearts of Master Huiming and the others.
While they were talking, Cheng Hong, Yan Tianjiao, Lu Ziyin, and Fu Wanyan waited patiently on the side, listening to the reasons. Compared to their mission to handle "blood slaves," escaping this alternate space was clearly more important.
The novice and old nuns cultivating in the city were gathered in several groups, with each temple forming a group. At this moment, they were all eager to escape the predicament, but their cultivation was either low and unremarkable, or they were helpless in this situation and did not understand why they had fallen to this point. They could only rely on the three female abbesses to preside over the situation.
Gu Junshi's actions at the beginning had indeed been criticized and blamed by them, but in retrospect, the shock at the time had turned into another kind of proof.
She was very strong, capable of breaking through the barrier jointly maintained by the several abbesses with a single blow.
Humans have an innate instinct to admire strength, especially when facing difficulties. They will unconsciously want to rely on those who can do what others cannot.
Gu Junshi's current appearance was not that of a mature and profound type that immediately commanded respect. She was sweet and beautiful, with a slightly round face and a smiling mouth. However, the more someone looked unlike their capabilities, the more they seemed to be truly unassuming.
She leaned gracefully, her waist-length dark hair tied up. She was soft yet composed, saying, "I am the eldest disciple of Daoist Yu Jin of Mount Changliu, Hua Mi of Huacheng. Regarding the matter of the Demon-Breaking Arrows, I once heard my master mention it."
After she generously revealed her identity, Master Huiming, Master Jingxu, and the others were stunned and looked at her in surprise.
Daoist Yu Jin?
A powerful figure who had been spreading the path of nature among Buddhist and Taoist cultivators for a long time. However, due to his reclusiveness and departure, he wandered through various continents and realms, and many people only knew his name but not his person.
Hua Mi, the City Lord of Huacheng, Hua Linjie... that hermaphrodite's younger sister?
Master Jingxu squinted her eyes. After carefully observing her again, she recalled that she had met Hua Mi years ago, but at that time, she was going to see Hua Linjie. She had only caught a brief glimpse of her younger sister's existence and had not paid much attention to it. However, she had seen her.
Several years had passed, and if she recalled carefully, she would not forget the person.
She said to the others, "She is indeed Hua Mi."
However, Master Huiming still looked at her with inscrutable eyes. People like them, who cultivated Buddhism by understanding their nature and seeing their hearts, were always accurate in their judgment of people. This woman's appearance did not match her nature and aspirations. She possessed a mysterious and eerie power, as unfathomable as a deep abyss, as calm as a still pond without ripples. She was neither righteous nor evil, which was strange, eerie, and unusual.
She was ultimately untrusting of the words of someone with such a deep and calculating mind.
"Since you know about the Demon-Breaking Arrows, you must know what they represent to Compassion City, right?"
Gu Junshi calmly met her probing gaze with a smile. "It doesn't matter if you don't believe me, Master. You don't have to take them out either. Whether this situation is broken or not depends on what is more important in your heart: the belief that Compassion City upholds, or the lives of the ordinary disciples trapped here."
Master Huiming remained silent. Instead, Master Xianzhi, who was beside her, flicked her whisk and said coldly, "As soon as you spoke, you specifically asked for the Demon-Breaking Arrows, which naturally makes people suspicious of your intentions. Although you are a prominent disciple of Daoist Yu Jin, you are not Daoist Yu Jin. How can we take out the Demon-Breaking Arrows just because you ask?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Sijun couldn't help himself. He stared with his grape-colored, watery eyes and said in a clear child's voice, "What intentions can my mother have? My mother said she just wants to borrow the Demon-Breaking Arrows. What are they for? Aren't they to save you all? If you lend them, you lend them; if you don't, then don't. My mother hasn't done anything wrong, so why should she be criticized by your words?"
Le Bao had also wanted to speak, but he was a step slower than Gu Sijun. After listening to him, he also chimed in, adding, "Sister... my mother just proposed a solution. She's being kind. If you don't accept it, then that's fine. If you have a solution, solve it yourselves."
He heard Gu Sijun call her "Mother" repeatedly. If he called her "Sister," he felt like he was losing out. For some unknown reason and on impulse, he also changed his address.
Gu Sijun heard Le Bao also call her "Mother." He didn't know if he recognized her or not. He gnashed his pearly white teeth and was secretly annoyed—this sickly child snatched his father away, and now he was snatching his mother. This time, he definitely wouldn't let him have her.
Father could be given to the sickly child, but Mother must belong to him!
Seeing the two children rushing to protect her, Gu Junshi lowered her eyes and looked at them. Her expression, which was usually unreadable as if wearing a mask, revealed a hint of genuine, heartfelt smile at some point.
Li Sheng and Liu Jiangfusheng saw this and immediately became jealous, their eyes instantly deepening and suppressed.
At that moment, what they felt in sync was... jealousy so twisted it was distorted.
Laugh, laugh, laugh, why are you smiling so beautifully?
Does it mean that children are treasures, and the father who gave birth to children is like grass, not worthy of even a glance of favor from her?
"..."
The two masters who were rebutted by the children were momentarily speechless.
It wasn't because they were angry or embarrassed, but rather they were momentarily at a loss for words.
Arguing with children was not something that people of their age and status would do. Moreover, these two children were not being unreasonable but were arguing their case logically.
Speaking of solutions... they had no idea how they had fallen into this strange realm or what they were facing. It was only when "Hua Mi" informed them that the perpetrator was the Ghost King of Shuofang City and that this surrounding area of red swamp was his magical artifact space.
How to escape was not something that could be figured out in a short while.
Therefore, for a moment, there was only silence besides silence.
Gu Junshi couldn't let down the intentions of the two children who stood in front of her. So, she blinked her eyelashes slightly and said faintly, "Since the masters think Hua Mi is meddling, then Hua Mi will quietly listen to the masters' thoughts. However, there is one thing Hua Mi must remind you of, and that is..." She looked up at the red vortex above. "They are approaching."
What?!
Everyone looked up and saw that the red vortex that had only shrouded Compassion City had somehow grown larger. No, perhaps it wasn't that it had grown larger, but rather that it had slowly opened its "mouth" and was swallowing the people in the city.
Realizing what situation they were about to face, their expressions froze, and they were as tense as a string pulled taut on a bow.
At this moment, Lu Ziyin couldn't help but ask, "Masters, do you have any way to leave here?"
Masters: "..."
Yan Tianjiao crossed his arms, glanced at Gu Junshi, and focused on her eyes for a moment before saying sharply and mockingly, "No way? Seeing your imposing manner and aggressive tone just now, it's really as if you have everything under control."
The masters' faces immediately turned dark and embarrassed.
They could digest the words of the children, but these sharp-tongued adults were a bit unbearable.
"We did not intentionally target Master Hua, but the Demon-Breaking Arrows are too important to Compassion City..." At this point, Master Beiming felt that it was meaningless to argue further. Finally, she sighed and said, "Besides the Demon-Breaking Arrows, is there any other way?"
This master was quite insightful, but to everyone's surprise, Gu Junshi did not find it difficult at all. She said naturally, "Yes."
Master Jingxu's spirit was immediately lifted and she said, "What method?"
Everyone's gaze followed her steps like moths drawn to light.
"This magical artifact, the extremely evil and sinister Blood Gourd, has two methods against it: one is the bright and fierce power of the Demon-Breaking Arrows to extinguish darkness, and the other is to satisfy it."
"How to satisfy it?"
"Have you heard of blood slaves?"
As soon as they heard these two words, they couldn't help but frown, a bad premonition arising in their hearts.
She continued, "Sacrifice, with essence blood and soul. One is not enough, ten or a hundred will be enough to fill its unsatisfied appetite. When it is satisfied, it will stop compressing space and devouring. Then, I will find a weak point to tear open a gap and send the remaining people away."
This sentence was like the scent of blood flooding towards them. It was like using lives as "bridges" to ferry others "across the river." The question was... who would be the "bridge"?
And who would be willing to be the "bridge"?
Her words were even more sinister than before. Thinking deeply, it was clearly sowing discord and pushing the three masters to a cliff. They would have no choice.
At this moment, Li Sheng seemed to be startled by Gu Junshi's choice. His eyes were firm yet compassionate towards all living beings, and he pleaded, "Master Huiming, may I borrow the Demon-Breaking Arrows?"
Master Huiming looked at him with complex eyes. She saw that Li Sheng completely believed Gu Junshi's words. No, not just him; most people present also looked frightened, looking at them with urgency and expectation.
Human hearts are easily instigated and incited, especially in such critical moments. The majority, fearing being sacrificed, would naturally go along with it.
Li Sheng was Master Huiming's savior, and she had promised him something important.
Finally, Master Huiming put aside her reservations and vague unease, nodded to the other two, and said, "We cannot delay any longer. Taking out the Demon-Breaking Arrows is a last resort, but life transcends all things, whether they exist or not."
After thinking about it, they agreed with Master Huiming.
Master Huiming sighed softly and looked at Gu Junshi and Li Sheng, saying, "Master Hua and Young Hero Li, please follow us."
Gu Junshi's pupils, with their ink-like luster, seemed to flash with a deep smile for a moment, very faint, hidden and not obvious.
"Wait a moment."
Cheng Hong then stepped past the others, his wide sleeves fluttering, his eyebrows like ink. He walked over.
As he moved, a clear light seemed to envelop him. In the scarlet twilight, his plain white robes and gauze were like vibrant red bamboo standing tall in the clouds, as if from a painting.
This young monk was truly extraordinarily handsome.
Clear, holy, like ice and snow melted from the peak of Kunlun Mountain, as if a single glance could purify the filth in one's heart.
But when Gu Junshi saw Cheng Hong, the obscure and turbid currents at the bottom of her nine abysses did not recede at all. She merely wondered what his intention was in stepping forward conspicuously at this moment.
Sometimes, it is not that Buddhism is not trying hard enough, but that demonic heads are more skillful.
When they were called to stop and looked back, Cheng Hong approached, placed his hands together in prayer, and said, "Cheng Hong of Mahavihara Buddhist Monastery, greetings to Master Huiming, Master Xianzhi, and Master Jingxu."
Mahavihara Buddhist Monastery... "Buddha child?" The three of them suddenly realized.
He looked at them, his peripheral vision not falling on Gu Junshi at all, but his aura locked onto her. Only Gu Junshi could feel this point precisely.
"May I ask if we can accompany you to retrieve the Demon-Breaking Arrows?"
Hearing Cheng Hong's request to accompany them, Lu Ziyin was also interested. Yan Tianjiao did not react, but Fu Wanyan hesitated. She turned her head, glanced at Liu Jiangfusheng's position behind her, and subtly clenched her little finger beneath her sleeve.
When Master Huiming heard that it was the Buddha child from Mahavihara Buddhist Monastery who had personally arrived, her face immediately flushed. How could she refuse?
"With the Buddha child's company, it is our honor, poor nuns."