Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Zhu Wuyao and Ruan Ayao concealed their presence and arrived at the place mentioned in Ge Mingsheng's letter. They moved slowly, considering whether to observe the situation first.

Due to the recent turmoil, Ge Mingsheng and his two companions have moved to a new residence.

They are currently in a drafty wooden house on a barren mountain.

Although it was said to be a barren mountain, Zhu Wuyao scanned it with his divine sense and found that Tongzhou truly lived up to its name.

Not to mention the little demons with divine consciousness who live in seclusion here, there are even bandits who temporarily rest here, sharpening their knives and discussing where to go to rob and plunder.

Another rogue cultivator, who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, was hiding in the treetops, watching the bandits who were sharpening their knives.

Things are about to get lively on the other side of the mountain.

On this side of the mountain, there were also two dogs, Zhu Wuyao and his companion, sneaking around and climbing on the roof tiles.

"There's a demonic aura!"

Zhu Wuyao transmitted his voice into Ruan Ayao's ear.

Inside the room, the little demon who didn't need to sleep was having a late-night talk with Ge Mingsheng by candlelight, and Ge Mingsheng would nod from time to time, pretending to be very serious.

It looked like they were extremely sleepy.

Zhu Wuyao transmitted his voice to Ge Mingsheng and said:

"This is a transmission of sound into the ear. Don't miss any flaws. Coax it to talk more about the past so that we can guess its background."

This little demon isn't difficult to deal with.

However, Tongzhou is also known as the Demon Prefecture. If she kills a small one, she might provoke a bigger one. If that happens, both humans and demons will hunt her down together, and this far southern land will truly be difficult to establish itself in.

Ge Mingsheng paused slightly in his nodding motion, then responded:

"Daoist Master, where did you obtain your immortal destiny?"

"Hey! You little girl, I've only explained it once, and you're not listening attentively. I have to explain it again!"

"Original way"?

What a ridiculous and nonsensical self-designation.

It's unclear whether this is how the human and the demon usually get along, or if Ge Mingsheng knew someone was behind him and was therefore fearless. Seeing the imposter Taoist priest's displeasure, he immediately said:

"Master, if you don't tell me, I'm going to sleep."

"Listen carefully!"

The sorcerer lifted his leg and stepped onto the long bench, beginning to boast wildly, but the logic behind it couldn't withstand scrutiny:

That autumn, the weather was crisp and cold, and it was about to snow heavily.

"My friend and I traveled thousands of miles, hoping to subdue the mountain monster and seek some good fortune."

"I am skilled in palm strikes and rapid attacks. Together with my friends, we fought through water and fire in a chaotic battle. Finally, the clouds parted and the dawn broke. We captured countless rare treasures, including a magical herb."

The sorcerer sighed deeply, seemingly filled with regret, and continued:

"We fought side by side, traversing thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, but in the end, we couldn't resist the lure of self-interest, and we turned against each other."

"I just made the mistake that every Taoist priest makes."

"It was the magic herb that tempted me. I was young and impetuous at the time, and I couldn't resist such a trick."

"I only ate a magical herb, and she actually tried to kill me with a sword!"

At this point, seemingly overcome with grief, the demonic Taoist revealed a hint of genuine emotion and continued:

"I know I was wrong, but even if we take a step back, wasn't she right too?"

"She knew I was not steadfast, yet she still placed the magic herb in front of me. Naturally, I assumed it was a gift for me."

"The sword aura was as cold as the coldest days of winter, but my heart was even colder..."

Zhu Wuyao, who was on the roof, was initially taken aback.

But the more I listened, the more something seemed off—

Why does it feel so strangely familiar?

Even though he hadn't developed Sun Wukong's fiery eyes and couldn't see through the little demon's true form at a glance, Zhu Wuyao still managed to distinguish the truth from the falsehood and glimpse the real story as the demon made up his tale!

radish!

Her missing mule!

Listening to the wicked Taoist priest sitting arrogantly in the drafty, dilapidated house, chatting idly by lamplight, and making veiled accusations against her, Zhu Wuyao slowly tightened her grip on the sword in her hand.

Seeing this, Ruan Ayao, who was standing nearby, silently concluded in her heart that this person was impetuous and did not know how to plan before acting.

No wonder he was able to single-handedly take on the territory guarded by the Juque Sect.

Ruan Ayao gently reached out and grasped her arm, which was covered in bulging veins, and shook her head.

He gestured for Zhu Wuyao to listen again.

Zhu Wuyao: Let's hear how it portrays me again.

The sorcerer inside the house was making a racket, his emotions were running high.

He immediately stood up, slammed his hand on the table, and continued to yell:

"What a greedy and unfriendly person! I was struck by a sword and could only turn and run away!"

Zhu Wuyao silently retorted in his heart: That was clearly me who was so angry that I remembered to aim slightly higher when I drew my sword.

If it weren't for that moment of kindness back then, you wouldn't be here today, twisting right and wrong!

The sorcerer continues to distort the truth:

"After I finished digesting that spiritual herb, I wanted to give her another chance to reconcile. Do you know that I took the initiative to go back to find her?"

"But she actually abandoned me and left alone!"

"I have always valued loyalty and righteousness. Even though I was abandoned, I remained devoted and returned to my lodgings alone, hoping to reunite with her."

"But she wouldn't even wait for me; she just left on her own!"

No, no.

Zhu Wuyao quickly denied it in his heart.

The scene at that time clearly showed that I was trying to find you, but after searching around, I only found your hoofprints in all directions.

Later, when I returned to the city management office, I heard that you had come and gone again.

I was even locked out by Sect Leader Fang because of you!

You say the sword is cold and the heart is chilling, but how can you know how desolate and lonely it is to have a door slammed in your face?

The narration of the demonic path continues.

"After being abandoned by my friend, I felt that the world was so vast, yet I had nowhere to go. I could only wander aimlessly forward, unable to discern the direction, and I didn't know how long I had been walking."

"I guess it's just my fate."

"I unexpectedly found another immortal herb in the mountains and forests. I immediately swallowed it. This was quite something. My cultivation level increased so much that I was unable to move and could only collapse by the roadside, on the verge of death."

"Fortunately, a kind man who made a living washing clothes rescued me."

It started talking about this point when Zhu Wuyao first arrived, and this is where the story continues.

"Back then, due to my sudden surge in cultivation, I was unable to speak. I only heard my savior mention something about the 'Three Lives Umbrella.' After my mind cleared, the past events became clear, and I remembered them all, including this Three Lives Umbrella..."

At this point, Radish paused, then quickly moved on without going into details, and continued:

"In short, I was rescued, my cultivation level increased greatly, and I arrived in Tongzhou inexplicably with the Three Lives Umbrella."

"You know the infamous sorcerer of Tongzhou, right? That's my master!"

"Back then, it was because of this book, 'The Three-Life Umbrella,' that I was taken in as a disciple, and that led to the incident of the demonic cultivator guarding the city and erecting a monument!"

"It's a pity that I don't know where my master went. He said he found the place where the demon race returned, but he didn't take me with him..."

I've finished listening to "The Adventures of Radish".

On the rooftop, Zhu Wuyao's face was a kaleidoscope of emotions, reflecting the ebb and flow of his inner feelings like a running lantern.

The sounds from inside the room were utterly desolate, yet they continued:

"My life has been full of ups and downs, and I have lived alone. It was all because I made a mistake when I was young, which led to a lifelong regret and ultimately caused me to part ways with my friends."

"That woman, she has no heart."

"Whenever I think of the past, I feel utterly disheartened and chilled to the bone. Yes, just as cold as I am now..."