Chapter 163: The Chicken-Controlling Master

Lu Bai said, "Brother He, you were passed out just now. What could you have heard?"

"I had woken up by then, but I was in a state much like sleep paralysis. I could intermittently hear some of the sounds from outside."

He Liangzhi said, "I heard you two calling each other ’husband’ and ’wife,’ and you even carried her the whole way."

Lu Bai quickly explained, "I thought I was carrying you at the time. How could I have known it was her? Besides, that ’husband’ and ’wife’ business was just a matter of survival. You can’t take it seriously."

"That’s not right. I definitely heard..."

As he spoke, He Liangzhi seemed to think of something, abruptly stopping. He shook his head and said, "Never mind."

Lu Bai: "..."

’What’s that supposed to mean? You’re leaving your sentence half-finished, making it sound like something really happened between me and that Ghost Bride. My direct superior is listening right here. Who knows what he’ll think of me after this.’

Lu Bai said, "Brother He, just say whatever you heard. I am innocent and have nothing to hide."

"Is it appropriate to talk about this?"

He Liangzhi hesitated for a moment.

"What’s so inappropriate about it?"

Lu Bai was baffled. He urged, "Hurry up and say it! Your hesitation is making me look guiltier."

Seeing Lu Bai’s insistence, He Liangzhi finally said, "Brother Lu, you two already consummated the marriage, didn’t you?"

"Nonsense!"

Lu Bai almost jumped to his feet in protest.

He Liangzhi said, "But I distinctly heard that Ghost Bride say something like, ’Husband, it hurts,’ and then you said, ’Then I’ll go slower...’"

Lu Bai’s face darkened. For a moment, he felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.

Noticing Lu Bai’s grim expression, He Liangzhi asked tentatively, "I... didn’t mishear that, did I?"

"You didn’t mishear, but you should have listened to the whole conversation!"

Feeling Mo Tang’s strange gaze, Lu Bai said through gritted teeth, "It’s not what you think! I was drawing my sword!"

"Alright, alright."

Mo Tang cut in, "In that situation, even if consummating the marriage was just an expedient measure—just playing along with the Ghost Bride—you’re not to blame for it."

Lu Bai: "???"

’What’s *that* supposed to mean? What do you mean, "even if consummating the marriage was just an expedient measure"? I didn’t do it at all! How has this become so impossible to explain?’

It wasn’t surprising that Mo Tang and He Liangzhi had misunderstood.

After all, they had both just seen the way Bai Chuchu looked at Lu Bai. The loving, affectionate gaze of a young woman in love was something that couldn’t be faked.

They looked just like a pair of newlyweds, unable to get enough of each other.

"Right, right, right."

He Liangzhi kindly tried to cover for Lu Bai. "Brother Lu was definitely just playing along, just going through the motions. I heard Brother Lu say, ’Then I’ll go slower,’ and only two or three breaths later, he said, ’Alright, I’m done.’"

Lu Bai: "..."

Mo Tang shot Lu Bai a peculiar look.

’It’s not unusual for a young, inexperienced man to be a bit quick the first time. But two or three breaths... that’s just too fast. Still, given how tense the situation was, it’s understandable.’

Lu Bai’s face was grim. He remained silent, seething with frustration.

He Liangzhi whispered, "I may be known as the ’Fast-handed Young Master’—for my fast hands, my fast sword, and my fast Body Technique—but there’s one thing a man can’t be fast at.

Brother Lu, don’t worry too much about it. It was your first time, after all..."

Grinding his teeth, Lu Bai said slowly, "Say one more word, and I’m throwing you off."

He Liangzhi jumped in fright. Gazing at the dizzying drop below, he quickly clamped his mouth shut, thinking to himself, ’Brother Lu sure is sensitive. He got all worked up over a little teasing.’

---

Outside Jingzhou City, the night was as black as ink.

In a forest not far from the main road, a bonfire blazed in a clearing, crackling and popping.

The dancing flames stretched the shadows of those gathered around, causing them to twist and writhe, long one moment and short the next.

Six Cultivators in green Daoist Robes sat around the fire, most with their eyes closed in meditation. A faint spiritual light flowed around their bodies, and their auras were deep and steady.

All six were Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators!

Among them was a petite girl of seventeen or eighteen with delicate features. She was only at the Third-Layer Qi Refining and was also diligently cultivating, absorbing and expelling Spiritual Qi.

However, the girl was simply too tired and kept nodding off.

"Yue’er, if you’re too tired, you should rest."

A middle-aged man with a long beard that fell in three strands sat a little farther from the fire. His eyes were calm and profound. He spoke slowly, "We’ve come all the way down from Danding Temple with almost no rest. You’re young and your Cultivation isn’t high enough, so it’s normal that you can’t handle it."

The young girl was indeed Li Yue’er, a Qi Refiner from Danding Temple.

She rubbed her eyes and forced herself to stay awake. "Observatory Master, I’m fine," she said.

True Master Dan Ding said, "You really didn’t need to come along this time."

"Observatory Master, I know my Cultivation is still far too low."

Li Yue’er said, "But if I go back to the city, I can ask my father to help. He can use his connections and manpower to search for Master’s whereabouts."

As she spoke, Li Yue’er’s eyes turned red, and tears fell silently.

’Senior Brother Yu is dead. Now, Master, who left the mountain half a year ago, suddenly lost contact a month ago. If something has happened to him too, I won’t have anyone left at Danding Temple that I’m close to.’

True Master Dan Ding let out a soft sigh. "Your master was the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator at our Danding Temple with the best chance of breaking through to the Golden Core Realm. He is a kind and chivalrous man. We don’t know where he is now, or whether he is alive or dead."

Li Yue’er said, "I heard Master say before that he was coming to Jingzhou City, but I’m not sure what for."

True Master Dan Ding asked, "Did your master ever tell you about his origins?"

"He mentioned it once."

Li Yue’er said, "Master said he was originally from Shi Country. However, the Monarch of Shi Country is cruel and tyrannical, the people live in misery, and the land is overrun with demonic forces. Many people chose to flee to other Vassal States.

Master was one of those refugees who came to Wu Country. He also said that when it comes to handling demonic forces, the Wu Dynasty does the best job out of all the Vassal States, and even among the Four Great Dominator Countries."

"Mm."

True Master Dan Ding said, "In fact, your master would descend the mountain every so often to aid refugees from Shi Country.

If he found anyone among them with a Spirit Root, he would bring them to Danding Temple. If they had no Spirit Root, he would still give them some money to ensure they could feed themselves in the Wu Dynasty."

Li Yue’er asked, "Is that what he was doing this time, too?"

"Most likely."

True Master Dan Ding nodded. "Once we arrive in Jingzhou City, we will start our investigation from there."

Just then, True Master Dan Ding’s expression flickered. He shot to his feet, gazed into the distance, and let out a soft gasp, his face filled with shock.

Sensing the disturbance, many of the Danding Temple disciples opened their eyes.

They saw a Demon Beast streaking through the distant sky, shimmering with brilliant light and resembling a great rooster.

Standing on the Demon Beast’s back was a tall figure!

The others couldn’t see clearly, but True Master Dan Ding could. This person had two people tucked under their arms, with a Black Dog standing behind them.

"That Demon Beast is so magnificent!"

"I wonder which True Master Golden Core that could be."

The disciples all turned to look at True Master Dan Ding.

True Master Dan Ding said thoughtfully, "Judging by the Demon Qi, that should be a Tier Three Demon Beast. For this expert to be able to command a Tier Three creature, they are very likely a Nascent Soul True Monarch!

In my life, I have only ever seen a True Monarch travel via Sword Control or by riding a crane. I never imagined there was an eccentric in this world who travels by riding a rooster. What an eye-opener."