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Chapter 124 The Troubles of the Kingdom of Shalli
Huang Fengguai, with his imposing, mountain-like figure, stood tall in front of the cave. Facing Chen Guangrui's series of probing questions, he showed no fear. Instead, a profound and imposing aura emanated from him, as unshakeable as a rock.

His hand gripped the three-pronged steel fork firmly and powerfully, his golden eyes gleaming with even greater intensity as they opened and closed, his voice booming like thunder, yet without the slightest hint of panic.
"I, Huang Feng, walk upright and stand straight!"

His voice reverberated through the valley, silencing the clamor of the demon soldiers. "I am innocent, I am guilty. I admit to what I have done, but for what I haven't done, even if you are a heavenly soldier sent by the Jade Emperor, don't even think about throwing mud at me!"

He stepped forward, slamming his steel fork into the ground. His sharp gaze swept across the throng of demons in front of the cave, especially landing on a group of timid, slightly hunched rat-headed demons. His words were heavy with sorrow yet resolute.

"Shari Kingdom, humph, you high and mighty officials, I don't know what you've heard, but you say that I used magic to turn an entire city's inhabitants into mountain rats, and you accuse me of using sorcery to harm people and imprisoning and driving them. But how many of you know that I helped Shari Kingdom quell the demonic scourge and protect the peace of the region, and was personally appointed as the King's advisor by the King himself?"

His chest heaved, his voice booming like a great bell, each word clear and distinct, carrying a sense of sorrow and resolve:

"Later, for reasons unknown, a plague descended from the sky, and the people gradually contracted a strange disease, their bodies becoming more and more like rats than humans. The emperor sealed off the city and abandoned the people, and the women and children of the city wailed and waited to die. I could not bear to see the women and children of the city waiting to die, so I moved them into this underground palace of Huangfeng Cave. We, the people of Huangfeng Cave, have nourished them with our blood and sweat, giving them food to keep them alive and warm nests to keep them warm, so that they could escape the deadly plague."

The steel fork suddenly pointed at the group of rat demons, its gaze as open and honest as the blazing sun melting ice.

“One thousand three hundred and eighty-seven people, they are right here, they can jump and breathe now. Ask them, ask these survivors, did I, the Yellow Wind Monster, kill them or give them a way to live? Did they have deep-seated hatred and want to curse me, or were they grateful to me for saving their lives?”

A deathly silence fell over the cave entrance. The rat-headed, human-bodied demons, though still fearful of their surroundings, did not harbor overwhelming resentment in their eyes. Instead, they displayed a complex emotion of relief, a timid yet indescribable dependence.

Seeing their leader so imposing, the surrounding demons roared and danced wildly, and all the demons and monsters in Huangfeng Ridge were extremely excited.

Yuan Shoucheng watched from the sidelines, his scalp tingling with dread, his heart filled with endless regret.

It's an ominous sign, absolutely an ominous sign!

They were filled with regret. This demon king wasn't afraid of their disguised patrol officers at all. How were they going to handle this? They couldn't even run away.

After listening to Huang Fengguai's resounding confession, Chen Guangrui's face remained expressionless, as if he had merely heard someone else's story. He nodded slightly, his voice calm and even.
"Oh? You do have some sense of responsibility. However,"

His tone suddenly turned cold: "You say there's no injustice, so there's no injustice; you say you're saving a life, so you're saving a life? Whether there's guilt or not, how can we only listen to your side of the story? We, the patrol department, will investigate the truth and the falsehood, right and wrong."

The word "ascertained" was like ice thrown into boiling oil. Huang Fengguai's golden eyes were fixed on Chen Guangrui, his rugged face unwavering, only showing deep scrutiny.

Chen Guangrui remained unfazed. He met Huang Fengguai's gaze, his meaning clear: I'm going to investigate you, let's see if you can stop me.
Yellow Wind Monster was silent for a moment, then suddenly waved his large hand, his voice deep but undeniable.
"Hmph, since you're from the Inspection Bureau, then let's go into the cave and talk things over. I want to see what kind of clear-cut truth you two Buddhist and Taoist inspectors can uncover!"

He ignored Chen Guangrui and the other man, brandished his steel fork, and ordered the little demon beside him, "Take this idiot away!"

They were referring to Tiger Vanguard, who was still bound like a rice dumpling with the golden rope and writhing on the ground.

Tiger Vanguard, seeing that he had finally returned to his own territory, but the king didn't immediately rescue him, his face scrunched up in a pitiful plea.
"Your Majesty, I was wrong, I'll never do it again! Please save me, this rope is hurting my whole body..."

He never expected that even after returning to Huangfeng Cave, he would still be tied up with this rope.
Seeing this, Yuan Shoucheng's previous fear was temporarily suppressed, and his mischievous side resurfaced. He leaned over, patted Tiger Vanguard's furry rear end, and chuckled.
"Hey, Tiger Vanguard? Where did all that tiger-like might go outside? How come you're acting like a neutered cat as soon as you get home? Still meowing? I think you're a complete scoundrel!"

Tiger Vanguard was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged, but he didn't dare to retaliate. He could only bare his teeth and grunt at him.

Seeing that his vanguard was still bound, Huang Fengguai lost his tough stance and began whispering to Chen Guangrui.

“Immortal Envoy, this Tiger Vanguard is the patrol vanguard of my Yellow Wind Ridge. If he has offended me before, I apologize on his behalf and will definitely discipline him strictly in the future.”

When Chen Guangrui saw that Huang Fengguai had spoken, he waved to Hu Xianfeng on the ground and silently recited an incantation.

The golden rope flashed and quickly retracted into his sleeve. Tiger Vanguard, now free, scrambled to hide behind Yellow Wind Monster, rubbing his arms and legs, his eyes filled with fear as he looked at Chen Guangrui.

Yellow Wind Monster's sharp gaze swept over the golden rope as well. His originally calm and composed expression shifted slightly, clearly recognizing it as a Taoist treasure, the Golden Rope.

When he looked at Chen Guangrui again, his eyes held a deeper seriousness and a subtle wariness.

He didn't say much, only gave a few instructions to his attendants, then turned around and strode back into the dark cave.

The interior of Huangfeng Cave was much deeper and more expansive than what was visible at the entrance. Strange rocks emitting a ghostly green phosphorescence were embedded in the stone walls on both sides of the passage, casting a ghastly green hue over the corridor. The air was thick and murky, filled with the heavy smell of earth and wild animals. After walking for a while, the space suddenly opened up, revealing a huge cavern.

A campfire burned in the center of the cave, with an iron pot on top, bubbling away as if something was cooking. Several large, smooth stone slabs were scattered around, serving as tables and chairs. In the corners lay piles of animal hides, bones, and rudimentary weapons, creating a crude scene reminiscent of a monster's lair.

After the group sat down, several little demons quickly served the food for the guests: several plates of dark, charred meat that were unrecognizable, and several jars of murky, yellowish, and sour wine.

Huang Fengguai sat upright on the large stone chair in the center, gesturing for Chen Guangrui and Yuan Shoucheng to sit on the opposite rock. He seemed to have completely forgotten the fierce battle outside the cave, and his expression returned to composure.

He leaned back on the stone chair with an air of nonchalance, picking up a piece of charred meat with his fork and chewing it, but his gaze was fixed on Chen Guangrui's face. He then launched into a loud, rapid-fire monologue.

"Come on, don't just stand there, try some of our mountain flavors."

He greeted them casually, then naturally changed the subject, as if they were having a casual chat.

"Speaking of Buddhism and Taoism... I did hear the Buddha preach the true scriptures properly back in the Great Thunderclap Temple on Mount Ling! The grandeur of that hall, wow, the floor paved with gold, the tiles made of glazed tiles! The Buddha's voice was like a morning bell, but after a while it got tiring! Sometimes I would hide on the beam and doze off..."

He spoke with great enthusiasm, describing his "insights" at Lingshan back then, his tone bold and frank, as if discussing ordinary past events, carrying a carefree spirit that didn't care much about Buddhist rules. He only mentioned Buddhism, hoping that Chen Guangrui would chime in.

Yuan Shoucheng reluctantly took a sip of the inferior wine; its sourness made him grimace, and he quickly put it down. He quietly approached Chen Guangrui, covering his mouth with half of his sleeve, his voice extremely low, tinged with shrewd wariness.
“Scholar Chen, something’s not right. He’s avoiding the crucial issues of the Kingdom of Sihali and Tiger Vanguard, and instead bringing up old stories about the Buddhist sect of Lingshan. Is he testing our background and our capabilities? He’s probably suspicious of our identity as the Inspectorate.”

Chen Guangrui didn't even glance at the "wild game" on the table. Hearing Yuan Shoucheng's reminder, he laughed heartily, "What's there to be suspicious about? Look at this Yellow Wind King, he's upright and honest, he would never do such petty things. I've also heard that this Yellow Wind King was caught stealing the Buddha's lamp oil on Mount Ling back then. He definitely didn't do that, don't you think I'm right?"

He looked at Huang Fengguai with a smile on his face, but his words were like knives piercing Huang Fengguai's heart.

You're talking about Lingshan, right? Then let me tell you about stealing the Buddha's lamp oil, and help you recall it.

Yellow Wind Monster's expression was uncertain, because not many people knew about this matter. Those who did know about it were basically people with deep ties to Buddhism.

However, bringing this up in this setting is somewhat like stirring up trouble.

Yuan Shoucheng, standing to the side, had an even more interesting expression. He knew the information from before, which was all mentioned in the letters he received at Guanyin Temple. But where did this story about stealing lamp oil come from?

Looking at Huang Fengguai's expression, he knew that what Chen Guangrui said was most likely true.

Good lad, there's something else you haven't told me.

At this moment, Chen Guangrui paused slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on Huang Fengguai's composed face, before uttering an even more forceful sentence:
"You've established yourself as a mountain king in these eight hundred miles of Yellow Wind Ridge. Rather than seeking refuge, you're probably waiting for that pilgrim from the West to come and obtain the scriptures. You hope that one day you can join him to meet the Buddha and achieve enlightenment?"

Upon hearing this, the once bustling hall, filled with the sounds of wine being poured and meat served, suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

Chen Guangrui nonchalantly picked up the meat in front of him, smelled it, then shook his head and muttered, "In such a big place as Huangfengling, is there no one who knows how to cook anything?"

At this moment, Huang Fengguai did not hear what Chen Guangrui said next. His arm holding the wine bowl suddenly froze in mid-air, and the color drained from his rugged and steady face. His piercing golden eyes were fixed on Chen Guangrui's face.

The piece of meat he was chewing froze on his cheek.

The campfire crackled and flickered, its eerie green light distorting and swaying on the frozen face of the Yellow Wind Monster, reflecting an unprecedented state of disarray and bewilderment.

The only sounds in the entire Huangfeng Cave were the crackling of the burning fire and the muffled bubbling of the soup in the pot, which were particularly jarring in the deathly silence.

Driven to desperation by the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal's command, the Silver Furnace Boy, clutching his beloved jade bottle, rode a cloud of smoke and, with all his might, sped toward the Southern Heavenly Gate in the sky.

He was focused on finding help as quickly as possible, his mind filled only with his godmother's urging and his brother's safety, and he rushed forward with great haste.

The clouds shimmered with light, auspicious clouds paved the way. Just as he approached the majestic archway of the Southern Heavenly Gate, a familiar figure was patrolling the cloud path ahead, accompanied by several star officials. The man wore silver-scaled armor, had a square face, and sharp eyes; he was none other than Kui Mulang, one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions.

Kui Mulang, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized the small figure rushing towards them as Yinlu from the Golden and Silver Boys of the Tushita Palace.

He stopped and gestured for the others to go first. "Hey, isn't this the Silver Furnace Immortal Boy? Didn't you go down to the mortal realm with the Golden Furnace to do the errand Laozi assigned you? Why are you back? And in such a hurry."

The Silver Furnace Boy, charging forward with all his might, nearly lost control and crashed into something, quickly regaining his footing on the cloud. His little face was flushed, half from anxiety and half from exhaustion, and he uttered a string of words trembling with tears.

"Oh dear, it's Kui Xingguan! Don't even mention it! My brother Jinlu, he's been captured by that damned Lingji Bodhisattva! My godmother, uh, that immortal from Yalong Mountain, is urging me to hurry up to heaven to find help to rescue him."

"Bodhisattva Lingji seized the Golden Furnace?" Kui Mulang's brows furrowed immediately; this was no small matter. His expression turned grave.

"Buddhist bodhisattvas have captured the attendant of the Tushita Palace? If this gets out... Hiss, celestial attendant, this is a serious matter. In my opinion, we should quickly report to your ancestor and let him make a decision. Once the decree is issued, I doubt Lingji will dare not refuse to release him."

"No, no, absolutely not!" Upon hearing that they were going to see Laozi, the Silver Furnace Boy shook his head vigorously, clutching the jade bottle tightly in his little hands, as if afraid someone would drag him to see Laozi.

"If the Ancestor finds out that we lost my brother while on a mission, even if we manage to rescue him, we'll both get a severe beating and never be allowed to step out of the Tushita Palace again. Kui Xing Guan, please have mercy on us and help us! Don't let the Ancestor know!"

Seeing how anxious he was, and remembering that the two attendants, Jinlu and Yinlu, were minor figures familiar to Laozi, Kui Mulang understood that Yinlu's concerns were not entirely unfounded.

He stroked his short beard, pondered for a moment, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes, as if he had thought of someone.

"Hmm... like this," Kui Mulang said cautiously.
"If we don't want to alarm the Tushita Palace, it's indeed inappropriate to put pressure on Lingji directly in the name of the Heavenly Court. It might just make things more complicated."

The Silver Furnace Boy anxiously pressed, "Then what should we do? We can't just stand by and watch, can we?"

Kui Mulang waved his hand, as if he had made up his mind.
“In that case, I do have a plan. I recently had some dealings with Maitreya, the Buddha of the East. Maitreya is the future Buddha, a highly respected figure, and is known for his tolerance and compassion. Moreover, his sacred site is not far from Mount Sumeru. If he were to intervene, investigate the whereabouts of the golden furnace, and ask for a favor, Lingji would surely give him some face. This would not be considered coercion from the Heavenly Court, would save face for the Tushita Palace, and would make things easier to accomplish. What do you think?”

Upon hearing that there was no need to go to Laozi and that there was still hope to save his senior brother, the Silver Furnace Boy's eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded rapidly.

"Very well! We will listen to the Star Lord! Maitreya Buddha is good, Maitreya Buddha is good! Thank you for your help, Star Lord Kui! Please ask the Star Lord to speak on our behalf. We will repay this kindness in the future."

As if afraid that Kui Mulang would change his mind, he leaned forward and stared expectantly at Kui Xingguan.

Seeing this, Kui Mulang said nothing more, and led Yinlu Tongzi on a cloud towards the direction of Maitreya Buddha's place deep in the sea of ​​clouds.

Silver Furnace Boy realized that his trip to heaven hadn't been in vain; he had unexpectedly encountered Kui Mulang, which made the matter seem much simpler.

He thought to himself that Maitreya Buddha held a high position in the West, and with him stepping forward to put pressure on Lingji Bodhisattva, they would surely succeed with half the effort.

(End of this chapter)