Chapter 1150: I'll Kill His Whole Family, A Voice That Made Crooked-Mouth Old Man's Ears Prick Up (Young Miss Han)

Lu Ding bowed once more: "Ancestral Master is truly a peerless genius, creating your own methods and developing Lü Mountain to its current prosperity. Had conditions been even slightly better, your potential would have been limitless. You likely would have already reached the First Circle, becoming a saint and establishing your own lineage."

The Ancestral Master was very pleased.

"Your words carry a hint of flattery, but they're not without merit. If conditions had been better back then, Lü Mountain dominating a corner of the First Circle wouldn't have been impossible. What a pity. Thinking back to those days........."

Lu Ding: ..........

Deep breath.

"Ancestral Master, you shouldn't sell yourself short. Though Lu Ding doesn't know the finer details of Lü Mountain, hearing your words, your contribution to Lü Mountain is absolute. As the saying goes, human strength has its limits, but in my view, it's the environment that has limits. Your strength is boundless. It's only the environment that held you back."

"With your leadership, Lü Mountain is destined to reach new heights, with glory everlasting."

The Ancestral Master was so thoroughly buttered up he was absolutely overjoyed.

He laughed so hard the stars in the sky seemed to shatter and fall.

"Hahahaha..... You really understand me, Xiao Lu. You know, every time I talk about these things with my disciples, they just space out while listening. No interaction at all. I know they think I talk too much."

"But all I want is someone to chat and converse with me."

"Reminiscing about my glorious years, is that wrong? I made such great contributions. What's wrong with talking about it?"

"I can't go out. The moment I step outside, the entire Demon Continent would be destroyed. Back when I was still human, I wandered far and wide, taking in all the world's scenery. Do you know the Yao Kingdom? That was truly........."

Lu Ding gave up......

This Ancestral Master, no matter where you started, he could always steer the conversation to "Thinking back to those days........"

And he'd lived so long, with so many stories from those days. Forget three days and three nights, even eight or ten years wouldn't be enough to tell them all.

That wasn't even the worst part!!

The worst part was, he told the same stories over and over!!!!

Sometimes, he'd forget stories he'd just told, then retell them differently because he'd approach them from a new angle!!!!

Lu Ding was just, argh!!!!!!

He cupped his hands and bowed once more: "The Ancestral Master was truly dashing back then. Lu Ding admires it greatly. There's a saying in Great Han: what was never lost isn't worth missing. You originally had your own light, your own happiness, your own future, treading through flowers, drinking the wind, roaming mountains and rivers."

"But you chose to carry that burden forward. Lu Ding believes the entire Lü Mountain should always remember to be grateful for your sacrifice, and the entire Demon Continent should always remember to be grateful for your sacrifice."

Those words, at last, broke through the Ancestral Master's reminiscing!!

Instantly.

The Ancestral Master's emotions surged: "You're absolutely right!!!"

"The entire Demon Continent should thank me!!"

"If it weren't for me, the Demon Continent would have long become a dead land, long since conquered by monsters!!!"

"It was I who pioneered the methods for skillfully using monsters for cultivation. I paid so much to create those methods. It was my Lü Mountain disciples who bled and sweated to protect the Demon Continent. Yet these people of the Demon Continent, not only do they lack gratitude in their hearts, they even want to rebel against me!!!"

"They call Lü Mountain hegemonic!!!"

"Some have even colluded with monsters!!!"

"Don't they realize that without Lü Mountain, they wouldn't have today's peace and prosperity!?"

Lu Ding felt he'd found his opportunity and quickly chimed in, providing emotional validation: "Who!?"

"Who said that!!?"

"I'll smash their mouths!"

"I'll kill their whole families!!!"

"Ancestral Master, rest assured. Lu Ding is here. I'm here now. From today on, whoever dares say anything against Lü Mountain, I'll be irreconcilably opposed to them!?"

"Right now, right this moment, I'll go out. I want to see who dares to gossip about Lü Mountain. It's clearly you, clearly Lü Mountain carrying the burden forward, yet they still dare to discuss Lü Mountain, to discuss you. Utterly lawless! They've gotten too comfortable!"

The Ancestral Master was moved to tears: "Good child, good child. Only you understand me."

"Finally, someone understands me."

"I love your directness. I love your spirit."

"Go. Go find your Ancestral Master's Wife. I'll tell her. You cultivate well and wash away Lü Mountain's bad reputation. Lü Mountain is not hegemonic, and neither am I. I am not the Demon Ancestor. I am the Punishing Demon Lord. My Lü Mountain is carrying the burden forward. Yes, carrying the burden forward. That phrase is truly well said."

Lu Ding quickly bowed: "Rest assured, Ancestral Master. I will do everything in my power."

Then he strode out.

Without looking back.

Watching Lu Ding's retreating figure, the Ancestral Master coiled amidst the starry sky, still muttering: "Good child, a good child who understands my heart. Carrying the burden forward. That phrase is truly well said. It struck right to my heart."

"Xiao Lu, come visit often in the future. If there's anything you don't understand, just come ask me. Make sure you come ask me, okay?"

Little did he know.

Lu Ding's arrival would only smear the word "hegemony" even darker.

And this wasn't Great Han.

Who could possibly control him!!!

To quote a certain game character: "I'M FREE!!!!"

Walking out of the small Taoist temple.

Wang Qingge, who had already changed her clothes, approached with a concerned expression, raising a wooden sign to ask:

[Are you alright? Why did it take you so long to come out?]

Lu Ding looked at her: "Has it been that long?"

Wang Qingge nodded and raised her sign.

[Mm-hm, three days.]

Lu Ding: ........

He glanced back at the small temple. The Ancestral Master really could talk. Though it made sense, being cooped up here for so long.

Sigh.......

When he had free time in the future, he should come visit the old man more often.

The Ancestral Master's Wife walked over from outside: "Your Ancestral Master is just like that. He's old, his memory isn't what it used to be, and he talks a lot. He didn't cause you any trouble, did he?"

"No, Ancestral Master's Wife. The Ancestral Master is a good man."

She nodded: "That's good. Come on then, he told me to take you to see our treasury and the Medicinal Garden. I'll move some secret methods and Divine Abilities for you, and pull a few baskets of rare natural treasures. Start with eating and learning, and ask me if you don't understand anything."

A few baskets.......

Is that really the right unit of measurement?

You'd think they were pulling up big radishes or something.

Lu Ding was genuinely stunned by Lü Mountain's extravagance.

But he spoke up: "No rush, Ancestral Master's Wife. I want to go see my Old Man first. If he finds out I came and didn't visit him, he'll definitely throw a tantrum."

She slowly nodded upon hearing this.

Not everyone was like Lu Ding, facing the temptation of Lü Mountain's secret methods, Divine Abilities, and rare natural treasures, yet remaining unmoved and choosing to visit his elder first.

A filial good child.

She loved filial good children like this.

Though everyone up and down Lü Mountain had basically grown up under her watch, and many times she was the one passing on their Ancestral Master's teachings on his behalf.

But every single one of them was a little demon, utterly disobedient!!!

Few of them were well-behaved.

Though they all had filial piety, compared to Lu Ding, their priorities were different.

It was like everyone else was a rustic, hearty stew in a big pot, while Lu Ding was the only exquisitely plated, beautifully balanced dish among all those stews.

Rarity breeds value. The Ancestral Master's Wife looked at Lu Ding with more and more satisfaction.

She nodded continuously: "Alright, I'll take you there."

She led the two of them, heading all the way to the secluded cultivation place of the Crooked-Mouth Old Man.

On the surface it was also a Taoist temple. Pushing open the door, the scenery shifted, resembling the hell realms.

The Crooked-Mouth Old Man sat in the center with his eyes closed. On his left and right were monsters attending to him with trays, feeding him from time to time.

Lu Ding walked over without a sound and took the tray.

Every time the Old Man opened his mouth, he'd stuff a rare natural treasure in. Open mouth, stuff. Open mouth, stuff. Eventually even when the Old Man didn't open his mouth, he'd stuff it anyway. The Old Man frowned with his eyes closed.

Chewing while muttering profanities: "Alright alright, dammit. This Taoist Master hasn't even finished eating, and you're already stuffing more in. Believe me, this Taoist Master will teach you a lesson."

Lu Ding suppressed his laughter: "I believe you."

The moment that single word left his mouth.

The Crooked-Mouth Old Man's ears visibly perked up.

That voice... it was familiar!!!

"Huh?"

"Huh!?"

"Huh!!!"

"You... say that again, let me hear it."

....

A bonus chapter for the Gift King sent earlier by Young Miss Han of Gao Island. Thank you to the big shot, and thank you to everyone who clicked to urge more updates and sent gifts. Love you all. Thank you.