In Hai'an City, next to a corridor engraved with murals, a fat monk with a broad body and a sweet smile stood there. He was wearing a tattered monk's robe full of patches of various colors, holding a pen and ink, and was filling in the incomplete murals.
Next to him stood a handsome young man in a black robe.
The young man looked young, but he had a big voice. When the fat monk was painting, he stood beside him with his hands folded across his chest, pointing at the mural that was gradually being completed.
This was the scene that Chen Xuanzang saw when he came here happily.
He was stunned for a moment, then put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist name.
"Amitabha."
"Master, I'm back."
The fat monk kept his hands moving, and only after he finished the last stroke did he turn around with a smile.
"Well done, Xuanzang. I already know about the fish demon. This is your first official exorcism. Have you felt the power of the three hundred nursery rhymes?"
Looking at the smile on the fat monk's face, Chen Xuanzang nodded hesitantly.
After a moment's silence, he smiled bitterly and said, "Master, the three hundred nursery rhymes can indeed awaken the truth, goodness and beauty in the demons' hearts, but... I always feel that there is still something missing..."
"oh?"
The fat monk asked with great interest: "So what do you think is missing?"
Chen Xuanzang shook his head: "I don't know, but... Master, I found that I just want to be like other exorcists and use the simplest method to get rid of demons..."
The fat monk sighed and said, "Killing with one sword is not the true meaning of exorcism. The reason why a demon becomes a demon is because his heart has been occupied by the devil. What we need to do is to cut off the devil in his heart and leave the good nature. This is the real exorcism!"
"Xuanzang, you don't doubt our philosophy, do you?"
Chen Xuanzang shook his head decisively: "Of course not."
The fat monk smiled and said, "Then there is no need to say anything more. You have done a good job."
Chen Xuanzang's mouth drooped, and he asked a little aggrievedly, "Really?"
The fat monk said gently: "Of course, haven't you saved all the people in the village?"
Chen Xuanzang shook his head and said, "That was not done by me, it was done by Du..."
"Ah~" The fat monk shook his head and said seriously, "You invited him, and Miss Duan came because of you two. The current result is all thanks to your hard work back then."
"Isn't this still your contribution?"
Chen Xuanzang's eyes were slightly red: "But Master..."
The fat monk put down the brush and ink in his hand, walked forward, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Believe me, Master, you have done a good job, but there is still a little bit left."
Chen Xuanzang asked with red eyes: "What do you mean a little bit?"
The fat monk gestured with his fingers and said with a smile: "Just a little bit... When you really achieve success, you will find the infinite power contained in the three hundred nursery rhymes!"
Chen Xuanzang's eyes were sparkling, but he couldn't help feeling a little confused.
Could it be that the 300 nursery rhymes really have some power that he has not yet discovered?
"Let's not talk about this."
The fat monk patted Chen Xuanzang on the shoulder and said, "Come, let me tell you about the origin of the pig demon."
"This pig demon's real name is Zhu Ganglie. He is as ugly as a pig, but he is a romantic. He is infatuated with his wife, but his wife despises his ugliness and commits adultery with a handsome man."
"The two conspired together and beat him to death with a nine-toothed rake."
"He turned his love into hatred, and his resentment into a demon. He vowed to kill all the women in the world who admired handsome men..."
Hearing the fat monk's words, Chen Xuanzang said in amazement: "It turns out that he is just like that fish monster, both are pitiful people!"
The fat monk nodded and said in a serious tone: "But you have to be careful, this pig demon is extremely powerful, and is considered a top figure among all the demons in the world."
Chen Xuanzang's expression became serious, and then he asked in confusion: "Since he is so strong, why don't you do it yourself?"
“I want to, too!”
The fat monk sighed, then turned sideways, revealing the black-robed young man behind him, and said helplessly: "But you also saw that an old friend came to visit, and as the host, I have to entertain him, right?"
"Host...Host?"
Chen Xuanzang silently looked at the open-air corridors around him and whispered, "Master, aren't we wandering?"
The fat monk coughed and said seriously, "That's not important. What's important is that with your current understanding of the 300 nursery rhymes, plus the magical powers possessed by that donor Du, as long as you are careful, it shouldn't be a problem to subdue the pig demon!"
Listening to the fat monk's words, the black-robed young man who had remained silent suddenly laughed.
The master and the disciple turned to look at the young man in black robe.
The young man in black robe coughed and asked with a smile: "Are you Chen Xuanzang?"
Chen Xuanzang clasped his hands together and said, "Yes, benefactor."
The black-robed young man smiled and replied, "My last name is Lin."
Chen Xuanzang was slightly startled, and then politely said, "Donor Lin."
The young man in black robe smiled and said, "Your friend named Du is an old acquaintance of mine. If you plan to meet up with him later, please help me bring this item to him."
As he spoke, the young man in black robe took out a piece of black jade with a strange shape and threw it to Chen Xuanzang.
Chen Xuanzang took the black jade, put it in his arms without even looking at it, then put his hands together and bowed to the young man in black robe.
The fat monk looked at the black jade thoughtfully, then smiled and said, "Go!"
Chen Xuanzang bowed solemnly to the two of them, then turned and left.
After his back disappeared from sight, the young man in black robe said leisurely: "If Zhu Ganglie is really subdued by them, how are you going to lure out that peerless demon king?"
The fat monk's face was all smiles at this time, with a hint of Buddha nature in his expression.
"Amitabha, when the time comes, the Emperor will naturally know..."
"Then I'll wait and see."
"hehe."
…
…
Among the continuous mountains, a narrow dirt road extends all the way along the valley.
Du Qian, Chen Xuanzang and the young man transformed from a fish demon were walking on this road.
As Chen Xuanzang walked, holding a scroll in his hand, he diligently recited the melody of the nursery rhyme, trying to tap into the true power contained in it.
The young man transformed from the fish demon had been given the name Wujing at Du Qian's suggestion. At this moment, he was carrying a crescent shovel and luggage, and wearing the soundproofing earmuffs that Du Qian had kindly given him. He followed the two of them with a calm expression.
As for Du Qian, he had not spoken since he received the oddly shaped black jade from Chen Xuanzang.
During the entire journey, he kept holding the black jade, staring at it without blinking, with a strange expression that contained seven parts of shock and three parts of devastation.
In short, it is very complicated.
Chen Xuanzang recited another nursery rhyme in a low voice, and seeing that Du Qian still maintained his previous expression, he finally couldn't help but speak.
"Master Du, what happened?"
"……nothing."
Du Qian finally came back to his senses, stuffed the black jade into his arms, and said with a complicated expression: "I just suddenly felt something, and felt that everything in front of me at this moment might just be a dream before I die."
Otherwise, how could such a thing appear in this magical oriental world?
Chen Xuanzang was slightly startled, and said thoughtfully: "Zhuang Zhou dreamed of a butterfly, or the butterfly dreamed of Zhuang Zhou?"
"That's about right!" Du Qian answered casually, then frowned and asked, "You said that this thing was given to me by an old friend of your master. Did he tell you his name?"
"No."
Chen Xuanzang shook his head and said honestly, "He only said his last name was Lin."
"The surname is Lin..."
Du Qian frowned tightly, and after a moment, he gave up thinking and decided that after this trip, he must go meet that person and ask him how he knew about this black jade.
At this moment, Chen Xuanzang, who was in the front, suddenly stopped and looked at the mountain road ahead with a serious expression.
Next to the mountain road, I saw a huge wooden door embedded in the mountain. At the door were two stone pillars covered with moss. Above it was a wide plaque at least three meters long with three big characters inscribed on it - Gaojiazhuang!
At this time, from the slightly open gap of the door, you can smell the tempting aroma of meat coming from inside.
If it were someone else, they might be attracted by the aroma and couldn't help but whet their appetite and want to go into the store to taste it.
But Chen Xuanzang and Du Qian are obviously not ordinary people.
The former is the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi. Even though he has not truly practiced cultivation, he possesses the gift of seeing through the truth because of his clear mind.
The latter is now a martial artist at the peak of his innate realm, and he still has the magic power intercepted from Duan Xiaoxiao in his body. Mere sorcery and sleight of hand have no effect on him at all.
"Such a strong demonic aura!"
Chen Xuanzang frowned slightly, looking solemn.
Du Qian looked at him in surprise and couldn't help but sighed, "Stop pretending. Wujing has been following you for so long, and you never told me that he has a lot of demonic energy. Now that we're here, you're pretending to be an exorcist?"
Chen Xuanzang's expression fell, and he said with a wry smile: "This is just to celebrate the occasion~"
Du Qian raised his hand and patted his shoulder, saying seriously: "Forget about it in front of me. You can pretend again when Miss Duan arrives."
After saying that, Du Qian took a step forward and walked towards the door without fear.
"Miss Duan?"
Chen Xuanzang was slightly startled: "Why is she here?"
"How do you know?"
"Hey, wait for me!"
Chen Xuanzang hurriedly caught up with Du Qian.
Wujing also hurriedly followed. He was still wearing earmuffs and had no idea what the two were talking about.
When he reached the door, Du Qian suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Wu Jing and said, "You stay here, don't let that pig demon run away!"
Wujing blinked and looked at Du Qian blankly.
Du Qian reacted, took off his earmuffs and repeated it.
Wujing finally understood and quickly nodded in agreement.
Du Qian turned around and pushed the wooden door open.
“Crack—”
The door slowly opened, and the rich aroma of barbecue filled the air.
The hall behind the door was filled with guests. Rows of stone tables and chairs were arranged in an orderly manner. Many passers-by were sitting on the stone chairs, enjoying the barbecue served by the waiters while clinking glasses, looking very happy.
At this time, seeing Du Qian and Chen Xuanzang coming to the door, a woman holding a round fan came up to them with a smile on her face.
"Welcome, welcome!"
"Welcome to our Gaojiazhuang!"
"My two guests, you have good taste. Our roasted pig is world-famous and the decoration is also unique. You will definitely not be disappointed!"
Du Qian and Chen Xuanzang walked down the stone steps, following the chattering woman, while using their magic power to break the illusion of laughter and joy, and saw dead bodies and pools of blood all over the hall.
“It’s truly unique!”
Du Qian nodded in agreement and suggested, "Have you ever considered switching to a horror house?"
"This atmosphere deserves at least four stars on Dianping.com!"