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Chapter 125 Who Else But Me Should Be the One to Obtain the Scriptures?

Inside the main hall of Huangfeng Cave, only the crackling of the campfire could be heard. Huangfeng Monster's face was as calm as a rock shattered by a heavy hammer, all color drained from his face. His chewing motion froze completely, and his pair of bright golden eyes were fixed on Chen Guangrui's face, as if trying to see through him inside and out.

Chen Guangrui's words about "waiting for the pilgrims" were like a stone thrown into a deep pool, stirring up a tidal wave in his heart.

Time seemed to have stood still for a long time.

Suddenly, the Yellow Wind Monster's burly body shuddered violently, and then he burst into an extremely loud laugh, which made the cave walls vibrate and even the flames of the fire flicker.

"Hahahaha!" He burst into laughter, his voice filled with a sense of relief and exhilaration at having his secret exposed, all his previous doubts and apprehension vanished.

He slapped his leg with a "smack," stood up abruptly, and his face was no longer filled with doubt, only with open and honest pride and admiration. "I didn't expect you to know even this. I admire you!"

He turned to the bewildered demons below and shouted in a booming voice, "What are you all standing there for? You're neglecting our honored guest! Hurry up and set things up!"

"Bring out all the best meat and wine from the cave storehouse, along with the golden platters and jade cups used to entertain distinguished guests, and those jars of Western Sea Jade I seized last year! Today, I'm going to have a good drink with these two celestial envoys from the patrol office!"

At his command, the entire Yellow Wind Cave came to life instantly.

The little demons were in a flurry of activity. Tables and chairs were moved aside to make room for the main seats, and brand-new golden plates and jade cups were carefully brought out, replacing the original dark and broken bowls.

The whole deer, roasted until crispy and juicy, along with a continuous stream of tempting mountain delicacies, were served. When the wine jars were opened, a unique aroma filled the air, completely eliminating any trace of the previous earthy or sour taste.

Seeing the lavish feast that appeared in the blink of an eye, as if by magic, Yuan Shoucheng, who had been trying his best to maintain the dignity of the Inspection Division, was completely dumbfounded.

His small eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape, and it took him a while to find his voice. Pointing at the crystal-clear wine cup and the table full of fragrant dishes, he clicked his tongue in amazement and envy.
"Oh my goodness! So you were just trying to fool us with that pig swill? I thought that was all the nouveau riche in Huangfengling. This is so dishonest!"

He grumbled, but his fingers unconsciously rubbed together, his eyes darting towards the treasures.

Upon hearing this, Huang Fengguai didn't blush at all. Instead, he burst into hearty laughter again, picked up the jade cup the size of a large bowl, tilted his head back, and gulped down a mouthful of wine. He then wiped his mouth.

"Haha! Old Immortal Yuan, what are you saying? We hadn't revealed our identities yet, had we? Before that, we were all strangers, so the hospitality... well, the gesture was enough. Now that we're acquainted, we should act like friends. I, Huang Feng, never shortchange my friends!"

He spoke with self-righteousness, as if the previous simplicity was the most natural thing in the world.

After several rounds of drinks, the banquet was in full swing. Huang Fengguai put down his wine cup, his rugged face flushed with alcohol, but his eyes were unusually bright and determined. He looked at Chen Guangrui, his tone filled with an indescribable pride and confidence.
"I like straightforward people. That's right, I, Huang Feng, have been waiting here in Huang Feng Ridge for the journey to the West! The Buddha put me here for this matter, the meaning is obvious."

He patted his muscular chest, making a loud thud, his pride seemingly about to burst through the cave ceiling.

"Immortal Envoy Chen, you tell me! Look at these fellow cultivators around here, which one can compare to me?"

He called out names one by one, his voice loud and full of disdain.
"That guy from Liusha River is vicious and tyrannical. He preys on passing merchants and travelers, and is haunted by vengeful spirits!"

"That guy from Eagle's Sorrow Stream is just a good-for-nothing who's stuck at the bottom of the river, living a muddled and aimless life!" "That Pigsy from Gao Village is gluttonous and lustful, living a life of pleasure in the mortal world, forgetting all about home, and has completely disgraced the Heavenly Marshal!"

"And then there's the black bear spirit of Black Wind Mountain," Yellow Wind Monster said, a clear hint of disdain on his face.

"Bah, the worst kind of scoundrel! On the surface, he pretends to be more compassionate than the Bodhisattvas in the temple, reciting scriptures more diligently than anyone else, but behind the scenes, he's always up to no good, bribing mountain gods and local deities with gold and silver, and trying to win people over everywhere. What a hypocrite! Utterly deceitful!"

"As for the one pressed under the Five Elements Mountain..." Huang Fengguai paused, seemingly with a hint of complexity, "I've never dealt with him, so I can't go into details, but I've heard he was quite a troublemaker back then. I haven't met him, so I can't make a comparison."

Finally, he slammed his hand heavily on the stone table, his voice resolute and filled with unwavering confidence.
"In this 800-mile stretch of Yellow Wind Ridge, I have acted uprightly and honestly, swept away evil spirits, disciplined my people, and ensured that no innocent people were harmed. I even strictly ordered the newly arrived Tang soldiers at the foot of the mountain not to harass them, not to mention saving the entire city of Sihali! I have no regrets about this achievement and this benevolent heart!"

He glanced around at the little demons in the cave who were eagerly watching him, then looked at Chen Guangrui, his eyes gleaming with intense anticipation.
"If I, the Great Sage Yellow Wind, don't become the disciple of the pilgrim, who else is qualified? Buddha will surely favor me! This is what we call the right time, the right place, and the right people!"

His voice was booming and full of confidence. The little demons in the cave were infected by his heroic spirit and cheered in unison. For a moment, the demons were in an uproar, as if the position of "pilgrim monk" was already in the Yellow Wind Monster's pocket.

However, faced with Huang Fengguai's overflowing confidence and boastful words, a cold smile gradually appeared on Chen Guangrui's face. That smile contained no agreement whatsoever; instead, it was full of undisguised mockery and sharpness.

He gently put down the jade cup he was playing with, looked into the hopeful and determined eyes of the Yellow Wind Monster, slowly shook his head, and coldly uttered a few words: "I'm afraid... that's not necessarily true."

Huang Fengguai's gaze sharpened. "Not necessarily? How so? I don't believe any of these people can do better than me."

He picked up his wine bowl and looked down at the demons below. Although they were all ferocious, they had never made a mistake in Huangfeng Ridge over the years. Thinking of this, a sense of pride welled up within him, and he exuded an air of self-assurance.

Chen Guangrui didn't listen to what he was saying at all. Before Huang Fengguai finished speaking, he flipped his wrist and produced an inconspicuous letter from nowhere. With a slight twitch of his fingers, the letter, carrying a chilling aura, was slammed onto the stone table in front of Huang Fengguai with a "thud".

"Look at this."

Huang Fengguai's gaze fell on the letter. He didn't know what it was, but he still reached out to take it without thinking.

Yuan Shoucheng's expression changed as he stood to the side. The other person was just getting into the conversation, and you poured cold water on their enthusiasm. Wasn't that going a bit too far?

The noisy cave hall fell silent once more. All the little demons held their breath.

The confident smile on Huang Fengguai's face froze abruptly. His gaze snapped to the thin sheet of paper, his pupils contracted, and an ominous premonition instantly enveloped him. He instinctively reached out and grabbed the letter.

The envelope was icy cold to the touch. When he saw the handwriting and contents on the envelope, his massive, mountain-like body involuntarily trembled slightly, and the light in his eyes suddenly became sharp as a knife. He abruptly looked up and stared intently at Chen Guangrui.

"Who gave this to you?"

(End of this chapter)