By Day, a Monk; By Night, Back to Secular Life

Chapter 132: By Day, a Monk; By Night, Back to Secular Life

Immortal Spirit Island had a mountain protection formation. Though it could not compare to Shu Mountain Sect’s, it was not something ordinary people could break into.

No amount of calculation could have predicted that a fool smashing around with a hammer would break it. All one could say was that everything had long been destined by fate.

Li Xiaoyao himself had never expected that peeping on someone bathing by the pool would somehow land him a beautiful wife for free.

If this happened nowadays, what he did would earn him at least three years in prison.

In a daze, he got married and gained a wife. Li Xiaoyao felt that he had matured a little, casually making vows of eternal love without considering whether he could actually keep them.

Zhao Ling’er had believed his nonsense too.

The young girl was still an innocent simpleton. All she wanted was for Xiaoyao Gege to hurry up and take the medicine to save his aunt, then return so the young couple could live a good life together.

The two walked slowly toward the shore, wrapped up in each other.

Just as they were about to bid their final farewell, a group of black-clad people in strange attire suddenly appeared.

Without a word, they began a massacre, injuring many of the maids responsible for guarding the island.

Fortunately, Ling’er’s Grandma arrived in time and barely managed to hold off the Moon Worship Cultists.

But the situation remained dire.

Li Xiaoyao recognized those black-clad people. They were the ones who had tricked him into coming to Immortal Spirit Island and breaking the island’s formation, giving them the chance to come up here and slaughter people.

For a moment, Li Xiaoyao was consumed with guilt.

Yet Zhao Ling’er did not blame him. Instead, she kept urging him to leave first. "Xiaoyao Gege, go now! Hurry and take the medicine to save Auntie Li!"

She was seriously beyond saving as a love brain.

Seeing that Immortal Spirit Island could no longer withstand the Moon Worship Cultists’ assault, Zhao Ling’er cast a spell and pushed Li Xiaoyao onto the boat, preparing to send him away.

Just then.

A streak of sword light descended from the sky.

The incomparably sharp sword force split the earth, blasting the Moon Worship Cultists away.

"Who dares interfere with the Moon Worship Sect’s business?"

The leading Moon Worship Cultist shouted toward the heavens, his expression arrogant and wild.

"Shu Mountain Sect, Xu Changqing!"

Xu Changqing, dressed in white as pure as snow, slowly descended on his flying sword. With sword-like brows, starry eyes, and a bearing as graceful as jade, he looked like an immortal.

Holding his sword before him, he glared fiercely. "You Demon People dare enter the Central Plains and slaughter innocents?! How audacious! Today, this poor Daoist will eliminate demons and defend the righteous path!"

With that, Xu Changqing charged forward with sword in hand, his blade aimed directly at several Moon Worship Cultists as he faced the many alone.

Everyone on Immortal Spirit Island was stunned!

Zhao Ling’er had only completed half her spell, while Li Xiaoyao was still standing foolishly on the boat.

Where had such a mighty Daoist come from?

Little hearts had already appeared in the eyes of several maids.

"Stop swooning and move aside. This young lady is bleeding herself to death. Can’t you see that?"

Chu Yang wordlessly pushed through the crowd, walked over to a severely wounded maid, helped her up, and fed her a Blood Bodhi.

While in the Soul Palace earlier, he had casually taken some with him, thinking it was better to be prepared. He had not expected them to come in handy so soon.

Blood Bodhi was a Sacred Medicine for healing. It could pull someone back even from the brink of death, so treating severe injuries was nothing difficult.

After just one pill, the young lady’s breathing stabilized.

The other maids no longer had the mood to watch Xu Changqing. They clung to their injured sisters and burst into tears.

Grandma said gratefully, "Thank you, young heroes, for coming to our aid and saving Immortal Spirit Island. May I ask your honored names?"

Chu Yang smiled faintly. "My name is Chu Yang. That is my senior brother, Xu Changqing, the chief disciple of Shu Mountain Sect."

The maids looked toward Chu Yang.

Hmm?

This Daoist seemed even more handsome.

Grandma had heard Xu Changqing announce his name earlier, but she had not been certain. Now, hearing Chu Yang mention Shu Mountain Sect again, she asked with a complicated expression, "May I ask whether you two young heroes are disciples of the Sword Sect or the Qi Sect?"

Chu Yang was somewhat surprised. This old woman actually knew the difference between Shu Mountain Sect’s Sword Sect and Qi Sect?

Then his expression turned strange.

He answered, "Madam, we are disciples of the Qi Sect."

Grandma’s expression immediately brightened. Smiling, she said, "So you truly are Qi Sect disciples. No wonder you are so righteous and benevolent. Who in this world does not know that Shu Mountain’s Qi Sect regards saving the world as its duty? Unlike certain people…"

Though she did not say it outright, her contempt for the Sword Sect was obvious. Chu Yang felt that this Resentful Energy was probably directed at Dugu Sword Saint, the Sect Leader of Shu Mountain’s Sword Sect.

The only reason was likely the ill-fated relationship between Witch Queen Qing’er and the Sword Saint.

This mishmash xianxia world was truly hard to put into words!

Chu Yang found the situation incredibly melodramatic and prayed that Xu Changqing had no connection with Zhao Ling’er.

According to the family tree, he was Zhao Ling’er’s grandfather and Qing’er’s biological father, though that was several generations ago.

A short while later, Xu Changqing returned victorious.

"Hero Xu, thank you for your help!"

"Miss Ling’er, you are too polite. Slaying demons and defending the righteous path is the duty of every Shu Mountain disciple!"

"Are all Shu Mountain Sect disciples as formidable as Hero Xu?"

"Changqing’s Daoist arts are nothing remarkable in Shu Mountain. My junior brothers are all stronger than me. For example, Junior Brother A Yang’s swordsmanship is far superior to mine."

"Hero Chu’s healing skills are impressive too. He healed all the sisters on Immortal Spirit Island by himself. Even Grandma praised him."

The way the two of them chatted made Chu Yang shudder.

After tending to the island’s maids, Grandma came over and asked, "How did you two know that Immortal Spirit Island was in danger?"

Xu Changqing replied, "My junior brother and I were ordered to descend the mountain and cultivate ourselves in the mortal world. We happened to arrive in Yu Hang Town, where we discovered that the shopkeeper at an inn had been afflicted by Gu poison…"

"Was it an inn called Cloud Inn?" Li Xiaoyao said excitedly. "That’s my aunt! So she was poisoned by Gu! Those people tricked me, saying that my aunt had fallen gravely ill and telling me to come to the island to seek medicine."

Grandma suddenly understood and said angrily, "It must have been those Moon Worship Cultists who poisoned her! This was their scheme!"

Li Xiaoyao suddenly dropped to his knees before Xu Changqing and Chu Yang, grabbing their clothes. "How is my aunt now, you two heroes?"

"Little brother, please rise. Auntie Li’s Gu poison has already been cured by Junior Brother A Yang, and she is now out of danger. We came to the island at someone’s request to tell you about this."

Xu Changqing hurriedly pulled Li Xiaoyao to his feet. But when Li Xiaoyao heard that Chu Yang had cured Auntie Li, he wanted to kowtow to Chu Yang again.

"Hey! Don’t! You can kowtow to Senior Brother Changqing, but not to me. We have no relationship!"

Chu Yang sidestepped, looking as though he could not bear it.

Xu Changqing’s face darkened as he shot him a glare!

What did he mean, he could kowtow to me?

Do I have some kind of relationship with him?

Li Xiaoyao chuckled and hurriedly stood up. There was gold beneath a man’s knees—if he did not have to kowtow, then he would not.

"It’s good that your mother-in-law is fine. Xiaoyao, you should hurry back so she will not worry. You should also tell her that you and Ling’er have gotten married," Grandma said thoughtfully.

Li Xiaoyao nodded gratefully. "Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll be back soon."

But Grandma shook her head, her gaze resolute. "No. You must take Ling’er with you. Do not return to Immortal Spirit Island!"

Not only was Li Xiaoyao stunned by this, but Zhao Ling’er visibly panicked as well.

She had never left Immortal Spirit Island since childhood. Now that Grandma was telling her never to return, how could she not be frightened?

"Grandma, don’t be angry. Did Ling’er do something wrong?"

Tears filled Zhao Ling’er’s eyes as she cried pitifully.

Grandma tenderly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and sighed. "The Mountain Protection Formation has been broken. The Moon Worship Cultists can attack the island at any time. This place is in constant danger. How could I bear to leave you here?"

When Zhao Ling’er heard that Immortal Spirit Island was in danger, she became even more unwilling to leave, crying until she could barely catch her breath.

Li Xiaoyao’s heart ached at the sight. Turning to look at Xu Changqing and Chu Yang, he suddenly had an idea. He ran before them and bowed repeatedly. "Since you two heroes have already saved Immortal Spirit Island once, why not save it a second time?"

"As the saying goes, send Buddha all the way to the west; saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda…"

Li Xiaoyao scraped together every last bit of learning in his stomach, failing to notice that Xu Changqing’s expression was growing worse and worse.

"What’s wrong, Hero Xu?"

Li Xiaoyao rambled on until he could no longer think of any flattering words. When he looked up, he saw Xu Changqing’s face had turned livid.

Chu Yang gave a light cough and reminded him, "What you just said was Buddhist. We cultivate Daoism…"

Li Xiaoyao was horrified!

Even Grandma beside him could not help but twitch at the corner of her eye.

Good heavens.

He had burned incense for so long, only to worship the wrong Buddha…

He was screwed!

Li Xiaoyao felt that if he were Xu Changqing, he would be cursing by now. So he obediently closed his eyes and waited to be scolded.

The atmosphere became awkward for a moment.

"Little brother, my junior brother and I descended the mountain this time to cultivate in the mortal world. Even if you had not asked, we would have helped. But before that, could you tell me what exactly this Moon Worship Sect is about?"

Xu Changqing took several deep breaths, calmed himself, and forced a smile.

"Well…" Li Xiaoyao was equally confused, so he could only look toward Grandma.

After learning that Shu Mountain’s Qi Sect was willing to help, Grandma revealed Zhao Ling’er’s background in full, as well as Moon Worship Sect Leader Shi Jieren’s conspiracy and the current state of the Nanzhao Kingdom.

It was also Zhao Ling’er’s first time hearing of her own origins. She was no less shocked than the others, so shocked that even her crying stopped.

"Ling’er is… the princess of the Nanzhao Kingdom?" Li Xiaoyao’s expression dimmed. He suddenly felt that a poor boy like him was not worthy of Zhao Ling’er.

"I see… If that is truly the case, then this becomes difficult." Xu Changqing looked troubled and slowly shook his head.

"Hero, didn’t you say you would help Ling’er and the others?" Li Xiaoyao panicked and rushed before Xu Changqing.

"Little brother, this is not simply a matter of right and wrong. It concerns the affairs of the Nanzhao Kingdom, and Shu Mountain has rules: no Shu Mountain disciple may involve themselves in disputes between dynasties."

"Whether it is Jianghu affairs or worldly affairs, so long as the human realm is in trouble, Shu Mountain Sect will never shirk its duty. But we cannot become entangled with dynasties."

Xu Changqing cupped his fists and bowed, his words filled with apology.

Still unwilling to give up, Li Xiaoyao craned his neck and said, "It isn’t even a Han dynasty. Why are you being so strict about the rules for a country in Miao Territory?"

Chu Yang secretly shook his head as well. Xu Changqing was even more rigid than Shu Mountain Sect’s elderly elders.

As long as something even slightly violated Shu Mountain’s rules, he would absolutely refuse to do it. Not even nine oxen could pull him back.

Seeing how resolute he was, the hope Grandma had just found rapidly crumbled, and the light vanished from her eyes.

Zhao Ling’er began sobbing again.

Chu Yang’s head began to ache from listening. He let out a long sigh. "No, why are you always crying? Can your tears drown the enemy?"

Zhao Ling’er immediately stopped crying and switched to sniffling. Covering her mouth, she looked at Chu Yang with reddened eyes, like a startled little deer.

A sudden sense of guilt rose in Chu Yang’s heart.

He turned to Xu Changqing and said, "I don’t know whether it will interfere with state affairs, but I do know that people like the Moon Worship Sect Leader are a threat to all living beings for every extra day they remain alive."

"We are only responsible for slaying demons and eliminating evil. If destroying the Moon Worship Sect causes certain consequences, does that have anything to do with us?"

Xu Changqing hesitated. "Junior Brother, but the sect rules…"

Chu Yang curled his lips. "The sect rules tell us to save people. So tell me, are you saving them or not?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Changqing’s expression twisted with struggle. He looked like a robot receiving conflicting commands, his CPU overheating and overloading.

Chu Yang whispered into his ear, "Li Xiaoyao has decent innate talent and extremely high martial arts aptitude. If he joins our Qi Sect, he will definitely place among the top three in the Sword Qi Competition."

Xu Changqing looked astonished. "How could you tell that he…"

With an inscrutable expression, Chu Yang said, "A magic treasure the Sect Leader gave me."

Hmm?

Why was it another magic treasure given by the Sect Leader?

Why did I not have a single one?!

The Sect Leader was far too biased!

Xu Changqing was somewhat angry. With a stern face, he said, "But we are monks. Brother Li has just gotten married, so it would not be appropriate."

Chu Yang did not care in the slightest. "What’s wrong with becoming a monk temporarily? Young people should have more extraordinary experiences! That’s the only way they can grow!"

"Besides, he can return to secular life after the Sword Qi Competition ends! It won’t interfere with the two of them living together. Shu Mountain isn’t a bandit den—people are free to come and go."

"If that still won’t work, he can become a monk by day and return to secular life by night."

Chu Yang’s crooked logic was truly eye-opening for Xu Changqing. He stood there in a daze, his brain overloading again.

Are you fucking pig-brained?

Why do you overload so easily?

Chu Yang could not be bothered to argue with him. He directly chopped the back of Xu Changqing’s neck with a hand strike. Xu Changqing rolled his eyes back and immediately fainted.

"Junior Brother, you…"

Everyone else was stunned.

Grandma asked in a panic, "Why did you do that, young Daoist?"

Chu Yang said with heartfelt grief, "My senior brother’s mind isn’t quite right. He can’t think too deeply about things, or he’ll lose his mind. I was preventing an episode just now."

Grandma looked regretful. "Daoist Xu looks so outstanding. How could he…"

The light also vanished from the eyes of the young ladies who had admired Xu Changqing’s elegance.

Chu Yang gave a dry cough. "You all heard what my senior brother said just now. It truly isn’t easy for Shu Mountain Sect to interfere in this matter."

Grandma sighed.

Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Ling’er both looked disheartened.

"However…" Chu Yang suddenly changed the subject and smiled. "If Li Xiaoyao joins Shu Mountain Sect, then this matter changes from state affairs into family affairs."

Li Xiaoyao was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "This boy, Li Xiaoyao, is willing to join Shu Mountain Sect. Master above, please accept—"

As he spoke, he was about to kneel, but Chu Yang pulled him up with one hand. "I can’t be your master. You’ll still have to come with me to Shu Mountain first."

Li Xiaoyao was about to agree when Grandma suddenly asked, "Doesn’t joining Shu Mountain Sect mean becoming a monk? Xiaoyao has gotten married. Must he be separated from Ling’er?"

Chu Yang shook his head.

"Grandma, times have changed!"

To dispel Li Xiaoyao and the others’ doubts, Chu Yang hurriedly concocted a detailed lie. He said that Shu Mountain was currently struggling to recruit disciples and lacked new blood, so it had changed its sect rules and now encouraged childbirth.

From the hardships of sect development, to the next five-year plan, to family planning after the population increased later on.

Chu Yang went over every bit of knowledge he could recall, fooling a few ancient people who had never gone to school with ease.

The reason he cared so much about Li Xiaoyao was not entirely for the Sword Qi Competition or the common people of the world, but for the Five Spirit Orbs and all sorts of other treasures.

There was no need to say much about the Five Spirit Orbs. They were supreme treasures left behind by Nüwa, containing the divine power of the five true gods of wind, thunder, water, fire, and earth.

Among those treasures, both the Demon Devouring Gu and the Golden Silkworm Gu could greatly increase one’s cultivation. Their effects were even more miraculous than Blood Bodhi. Whether the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill could reach perfection would almost depend on them.

By following Li Xiaoyao, Chu Yang would have the chance to obtain some incredibly powerful treasures. If he searched for them himself, who knew how much time and effort it would take?

Most importantly, there was the matter of growth.

With someone as absurdly overpowered as Li Xiaoyao for comparison, Chu Yang’s "growth" would not seem so abrupt. Once he displayed his true strength, Xu Changqing, Qing Wei, and the others would find it easier to accept.

After all, Li Xiaoyao could accomplish a feat practically akin to slaughtering gods in just a few months.

With such a shock before them, no matter how heaven-defying Chu Yang’s talent appeared, no one would find it strange.

Otherwise, Chu Yang might truly be mistaken for an otherworldly devil who had taken over someone else’s body.

The process of "growth" was something Chu Yang had to go through. Otherwise, he would have to give up his identity as a Shu Mountain Sect disciple.

After much persuasion, everyone finally believed Chu Yang. Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Ling’er also planned to follow him to Shu Mountain.

As for Immortal Spirit Island, it would be closed off for the time being. Grandma would take the others elsewhere to lie low.

The Moon Worshipper wanted Zhao Ling’er, and the other forces of Nanzhao Kingdom wanted her as well. No one would care where Grandma went.

Chu Yang carried Xu Changqing onto the boat, with Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Ling’er close behind.

Zhao Ling’er began crying again, waving goodbye to Grandma.

Chu Yang closed his eyes and sat in meditation to regulate his breathing, determined to keep his eyes shut and his mind at peace.

He was truly annoyed by this sort of crying scene, even if it was adorable Ling’er.

Once Zhao Ling’er calmed down, she was not completely useless. At the very least, she knew how to cast a spell to speed up the boat and get them ashore sooner.

Upon returning to Yu Hang Town, Li Xiaoyao was surrounded by a crowd of townsfolk the moment he got off the boat. They asked whether he had seen the fairy of Immortal Spirit Island or some old witch.

Li Xiaoyao proudly introduced Zhao Ling’er. The instant everyone saw Zhao Ling’er, so delicate and ethereal that she seemed like a fairy herself, they were stunned speechless.

"You really brought home a fairy for a wife, you brat?!"

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone began teasing them, making Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Ling’er blush furiously.

Xu Changqing also slowly came to amid the commotion.

"Where am I? How did I faint for no reason?"

Xu Changqing looked at Chu Yang blankly. "Junior Brother, just now, I think someone…"

Chu Yang interrupted him with a solemn expression. "Senior Brother, why didn’t you tell me you were under so much pressure? Why keep it all bottled up inside?"

Xu Changqing: "???"

Chu Yang said with grief and indignation, "You were under so much pressure that you fainted, and you still want to say you’re fine?"

"No! Junior Brother, I wasn’t…"

"You’re still saying you weren’t?! Ever since you learned you had to enter the world to cultivate, haven’t you been unable to sleep at night?"

"I really haven’t been sleeping, but shouldn’t everyone else be unable to sleep too?"

"I slept just fine! And my sleep quality was excellent! You still say it isn’t your problem?"

Hearing that, Xu Changqing fell into self-doubt.

Could I really be under that much pressure?

Chu Yang seized the chance to add fuel to the fire, saying gravely, "Senior Brother, I know that as Shu Mountain’s foremost young disciple, you have always been under immense pressure. You have never dared to relax your standards for yourself!"

"To set an example for the other disciples, to make the Sect Leader and elders happy, and because of how the outside world judges you, you have been forcing yourself all along. You’re too exhausted, Senior Brother!"

Xu Changqing’s whole body shook. For some reason, Chu Yang’s words resonated deeply with him.

I really do seem exhausted…

Chu Yang patted Xu Changqing on the shoulder. "Senior Brother, do you still not understand why the Sect Leader and Master wanted you to descend the mountain and enter the world with me?"

Xu Changqing scratched his head. "Master told me to look after you."

Chu Yang waved his hand. "Wrong! They are testing you, not me! The Sect Leader hopes you can grow until you can withstand the pressure that comes with being the chief disciple, or even becoming the Sect Leader."

"Master and the Sect Leader have placed great hopes in you! Don’t you understand yet, Senior Brother?"

Xu Changqing’s body shook again, his eyes brimming with tears. "Junior Brother, I think I understand now…"

Chu Yang nodded in satisfaction. "It’s good that you understand, Senior Brother. Don’t put yourself under so much pressure in the future."

Xu Changqing replied with a resolute expression, "Don’t worry, Junior Brother. I won’t let you, the Sect Leader, or Master down."

At the same time.

The Shu Mountain Sect’s main hall.

Curious about how far Chu Yang and Xu Changqing had traveled, Qing Wei used a secret technique to sense the magical artifact left on Xu Changqing and trace their location.

A mirror-like light circle appeared in the void, reflecting the two figures.

Qing Wei and Cang Gu happened to hear their conversation.

The two fell silent.

After a long while, Cang Gu said, "I never knew Sect Leader Senior Brother had such profound intentions. Changqing truly has caused you much concern."

Qing Wei forced out a smile. "It’s only what I should do."

Cang Gu continued with a sigh, "That child Chu Yang could guess Senior Brother’s deeper intentions, which shows his insight. What a pity that he wasted so many years in the Qi Sect."

Qing Wei could not even force out the last trace of a smile. Cang Gu was taking shots at him with every word.

"Junior Brother, it has been many years since we last sparred, hasn’t it?"

"Not since Senior Brother became Sect Leader…"

"Then why don’t we spar today? Your Senior Brother truly misses those days!"

Cang Gu: "…"

Yu Hang Town.

After great difficulty, the four of them squeezed free from the enthusiastic townsfolk and returned to the Cloud Come Cloud Go Inn. The moment they entered, they saw Auntie Li sitting behind the counter, looking utterly bored.

"Auntie!"

With tears in his eyes, Li Xiaoyao threw himself straight into Auntie Li’s arms.

"You little monkey, why are you acting spoiled today?"

Auntie Li was surprised at first, then her gaze softened.

She had already learned from the old physician that Li Xiaoyao had gone to Immortal Spirit Island to seek medicine for her. It would have been a lie to say she was not touched.

"What a good, filial child. All these years of depending on each other were not in vain."

Auntie Li burst into tears.

Seeing the two of them cry so sadly, Zhao Ling’er began shedding little pearls again and slowly shuffled over to them.

Chu Yang could not take it anymore and shouted.

"Hold it in, all of you!"