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Chapter 185 Princess Iron Fan
Inside the dilapidated temple, the campfire crackled, illuminating the complex expression on the Yellow Wind Monster's face. He put down his wine bowl.

"Brother Chen, you're asking why I'm wasting my time here with that Red Boy..."

Huang Fengguai frowned deeply. "The root of this matter lies with the Mighty Bull Demon King, and also with the scheming of those bald monks in Buddhism."

He raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the roof of the dilapidated temple, looking towards the distant west.
"Back when I was still struggling to make a living at the foot of Mount Ling, I knew that those big shots in Buddhism were keeping a very close eye on the Tongtian River area, which was the territory covered by the Bull Demon King's power. The Bull Demon King was very famous in this area, and his methods were also very formidable. Unfortunately, the Tongtian River area was also the throat of the way to Xiniu Hezhou. The eight-hundred-mile Flaming Mountain was simply unavoidable. Many people who wanted to go to Mount Ling had to be mindful of the Bull Demon King's feelings."

"Back then, that bald monk Lingji had a Wind-Fixing Pill on his person and a Flying Dragon Staff in his hand. I'm sure I'm right."

Yellow Wind Monster sneered, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

"But do you think he's only guarding against that? He probably put most of his effort into using that Wind-Fixing Pill to guard against Princess Iron Fan's fan, in case the old ox and his wife get really angry and turn this Flaming Mountain into a dead end, then ordinary people really won't be able to get through."

Chen Guangrui's gaze sharpened slightly, and he nodded thoughtfully. The Buddhist sect's fear of the Bull Demon King's power was indeed understandable.

"But the strange thing is that it's only been in the last few years!" Huang Feng's tone suddenly changed, filled with doubt and wariness.
"I've been wandering around, getting into trouble with all sorts of scoundrels and bald monks, and somehow I've gotten a bit more information. I've noticed that the Buddhist sect isn't keeping such a close eye on the Flaming Mountain area as they used to! And they don't seem to be as wary of the Bull Demon King and his wife anymore. The Wind-Fixing Pill and the Flying Dragon Staff are both in my hands. Since they can't find me, they're trying to drive me east, as if they don't want me to mess with the Bull Demon King's family."

He slapped his thigh hard, sending sparks flying from the campfire.

“Those bald monks in Buddhism are very cunning. The reason they can do this is either because they have a way to deal with the Bull Demon King, or because they have some secret dealings with him.”

Yellow Wind Monster's eyes sharpened like an eagle's. "Although I, Yellow Wind Monster, am not very capable, I can't stand these conspiracies and tricks. The more the Buddhist sect tries to do this quietly, the more I want to ruin it."

He pointed towards the direction of Haoshan outside the temple.
"That's why I found this Mountain Fire Cloud Cave and confronted that brat Red Boy. Ostensibly, it was to put him in a stalemate, but actually, it was to force Princess Iron Fan and the Bull Demon King behind him to show themselves and see what kind of person this Bull Demon King really is."

He sighed heavily, picked up the wine jar and poured himself another bowl, but had no appetite for it; he just held it there.

"What a pity! After a stalemate of more than half a year, Princess Iron Fan did come a few times, fiercely protecting her cubs, and she even crossed paths with me. But that Bull Demon King... heh!"

A look of disdain and confusion appeared on Huang Fengguai's face.

"That old ox didn't even show his face. I know he's been having a passionate affair with the Jade-Faced Fox from Moyun Cave on Mount Jilei all these years, but... no matter what, Iron Fan is his lawfully wedded wife, and Red Boy is his own son. His wife and son are practically fighting with someone, while he's still enjoying himself in his harem. What kind of Great Sage Equaling Heaven is that?"

At this point, Huang Fengguai's eyes clearly showed disdain.

Chen Guangrui astutely grasped the key point in Huang Feng's strange words, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently at Huang Feng.
"Brother Huang Feng, you just said that the Buddhist sect's fear of the Bull Demon King has clearly decreased in recent years?"

“Yes!” Huang Fengguai nodded with great certainty. “Before, they were on high alert, but now… humph, they seem to have relaxed. At least on the surface, they’ve become much more lax. Hmm, I have a feeling something’s definitely going on here.”

Chen Guangrui felt that both directions the Yellow Wind Monster had guessed were possible.
He looked at the Yellow Wind Monster, his eyes sharpening.

“Since Brother Huang Feng finds this matter strange, then it’s easy to handle. Let’s just try it out and we’ll find out what’s going on inside.”

On the way to Fire Cloud Cave, Yellow Wind Monster overheard Chen Guangrui's plan and suddenly recalled a scene from several years ago at Yellow Wind Ridge. The more he thought about it, the more similar it seemed. No matter how he thought about it, he could have been tricked back then.
“Brother Chen, I suddenly remembered something. Back in Huangfeng Ridge, you came with that old Taoist Yuan, and you kept talking about the Patrol Division and the Heavenly Court’s decrees. Were you faking it, just like you are now?”

Chen Guangrui paused almost imperceptibly, but quickly retorted.

“Brother Huang Feng, what do you mean by this? How could I dare to deceive you? This time I descended to the mortal realm, I was personally appointed by the Heavenly Court as the deputy commander to suppress the demons causing chaos in the mortal realm. This is a real position, and it can be verified in the military register. If you don’t believe me, Brother Huang Feng, you can go to the South Heavenly Gate and ask me.”

He spoke frankly and openly, and every word he said was true, which also reflects the value of his hard work in leaving Li Jing's camp a few days ago.

Yellow Wind Monster stared intently at Chen Guangrui with his golden eyes, knowing that if Chen Guangrui dared to say that, he was most likely not lying.
"Okay, whatever you say goes."

But a seed of doubt remained in his heart: was Princess Iron Fan just like I was back then?
Chen Guangrui didn't dwell on the topic, and took Tang Sheng's hand, who was rubbing his eyes, and said, "Let's go and meet the mother and son from Huoyun Cave."

The name "Withered Pine Stream" on Mount Hao is truly fitting. A turbid stream rushes through the rocks, making a rapid, gurgling sound. The air is hot and dry, filled with the pungent smell of sulfur. On one side of the stream are withered cypress and pine trees, their branches gnarled and their leaves sparse and yellowed. On the other side are red maples and green bamboos, stubbornly showing a strange blend of verdant green and dark red amidst the sulfurous heat.

At the end of the stream, a huge, dark red stone wall suddenly rises. Below the stone wall, there is a heavy cave door cast from solid iron, with three powerful characters carved on the lintel: Fire Cloud Cave.

At this moment, the entrance to the Fire Cloud Cave was tightly closed, and some charred pebbles were scattered on the open ground in front of it. An invisible wave of heat and sulfurous smoke faintly seeped out from the cracks in the door, adding to the grim and oppressive atmosphere.

The Yellow Wind Monster clearly knew this place well. He stood at the cave entrance, his burly frame looming over it, and took a deep breath, the sound booming like muffled thunder.
"Red Boy, come out and speak! Your Grandpa Yellow Wind is here again, bringing distinguished guests with him!" The voice echoed through the mountain stream, causing rocks to fall from the cliff face.

The heavy stone door slowly opened with a teeth-grinding creak. A group of small demons with pointed snouts and monkey-like faces, wielding knives, spears, and clubs, surged out, lining up on both sides, baring their teeth and looking menacing.

Immediately afterward, a dazzling crimson flame burst forth, and from within it, a delicately carved, fair-skinned child landed steadily, his fiery wheels whistling through the rocks, sparks flying everywhere. He wore a golden ring around his neck, a bright red battle robe, and stood with his hands on his hips, his little face filled with impatience and annoyance—it was none other than the Holy Infant King, Red Boy.

"Yellow Wind Monster!" Red Boy's crisp voice was filled with anger.

"You old geezer, aren't you annoying? You won't even fight properly, just keep yelling at my cave entrance every day. What trick are you up to today? If you dare to utter another word, I'll burn you to death!"

Before he finished speaking, another woman gracefully walked out of the cave.

The moment she appeared, it seemed to instantly dispel the gloom of the place. Her hair was styled in a high bun, revealing a section of her fair and jade-like neck. Her eyebrows resembled distant mountains shrouded in mist, and her eyes were like autumn waters rippling across the surface. Every glance she gave exuded a captivating charm.

A simple, moon-white silk dress draped her voluptuous and slender figure, exuding a charm that surpassed even that of a young girl, while also revealing the mature allure unique to a married woman. It was none other than Princess Iron Fan, Rakshasa.

Chen Guangrui couldn't help but secretly praise him.
"What a stunning beauty! Even the Great Immortal Yalong must have looked like this in his youth." He was secretly marveling at how well the Bull Demon King was eating.

Tangsheng, standing beside her, stared wide-eyed, her little mouth slightly agape, and blurted out, "Mommy, I'm hungry..."

Chen Guangrui was startled by the address and quickly pulled him back, covering his mouth. Luckily, no one noticed. Tang Sheng, however, squirmed in his arms, her dark eyes still fixed on Princess Iron Fan. Where was she looking?
Chen Guangrui sighed, wondering if he had taught this young monk too much over the years. He wondered if Buddha or even the Buddhist community would kill him if they found out.

Red Boy pointed angrily at Yellow Wind Monster, "Mother! It's this old guy, blocking the door every day, he's so annoying! And today he brought in another helper!"

The Yellow Wind Monster remained unperturbed by Red Boy's questioning, as if watching a temperamental junior, and said in a muffled voice...
“Little one, I’m not here to fight you today. I just couldn’t stand by and watch, so I’m here to guide the Heavenly Court’s deputy commander in charge of subduing demons.”

He stepped aside to let Chen Guangrui pass, "Here, this is Deputy Commander Chen Guangrui. He has received a decree from the Heavenly Court to investigate your evil deeds here!"

"The Heavenly Court? The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Demon-Slaying Army?"

Princess Iron Fan's bright, clear eyes instantly flashed with fire, and her stunningly beautiful face turned frosty. Her eyebrows furrowed, and though she remained silent, her beauty was captivating; once she opened her mouth, Chen Guangrui immediately understood why the Bull Demon King had refused to return home all these years.
"You beast! It's one thing to cause trouble every day, but to claim the Heavenly Court as your backer? Bah! What nonsense! My son is living a peaceful life in Fire Cloud Cave. What has he done to deserve this? It's you, old hag, who's been blocking my door for half a year, making my son's life miserable. Even the birds in the mountains are afraid to nest at the sight of you! And you still have the nerve to accuse us of wrongdoing? You're like a thief crying 'stop thief!' You shameless old man!"

Once she started talking, she went on a tirade for a full fifteen minutes, leaving no one able to get a word in edgewise.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned to Chen Guangrui, her gaze sharp as a knife tempered with poison.
"And you, what kind of damned Demon-Slaying Deputy Commander! You think you're so important wearing your Heavenly Court hat? Arresting us? Fine, then produce some real evidence. I'm asking you, which family's young boys and girls did we eat? Or which place's offerings did we steal? You dare to run wild on my Haoshan Mountain without any proof? Let me tell you, if we arrest the wrong person, you'll be in trouble with your official hat. So what if it's the Heavenly Court? The Heavenly Court has to be reasonable! If they're unreasonable, I'll go to the Lingxiao Palace and file a complaint against you."

How can someone so beautiful have such a mouth?
Chen Guangrui was somewhat disoriented, as if he had returned to the main gate of Wuzhuang Temple and was looking at the two adorable little boys.

However, he and Yellow Wind Monster wisely refrained from retaliating. Otherwise, no matter how much they cursed, it would seem like they were just being coquettish in front of Princess Iron Fan.

When it was almost time, Chen Guangrui stepped forward.
"Rakshasa woman, calm down. I, Chen Guangrui, am the deputy commander of the Heavenly Court, recommended by the Supreme Dao Ancestor of the Tushita Palace to subdue demons in the mortal realm. It is my duty. If you insist on doing this, then I will not be polite. I am not enough on my own; I have 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals behind me. No matter how powerful you, Princess Iron Fan, are, can you be stronger than all the gods and Buddhas in the sky?"

"Taishang Laojun?"

Princess Iron Fan's angry expression froze instantly, as if she had been doused with ice water. Her beautiful eyes narrowed sharply as she stared intently at Chen Guangrui, her slender white fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on the edge of her moon-white silk dress. The overwhelming momentum she had displayed just moments before deflated like a punctured balloon.

Red Boy didn't know why his mother reacted this way upon hearing Chen Guangrui's background, and for a moment he was no longer arrogant.

Huang Fengguai secretly gave Chen Guangrui a thumbs up.

This guy really knows how to put on an act; no wonder I fell for his tricks back then.

Seeing that Princess Iron Fan didn't speak, Chen Guangrui didn't give her time to react and spoke directly.
"As for your esteemed cave dwelling having a son named Red Boy, who is still very young, yet dares to presume to call himself the Holy Infant King. How can you presume to use the title of 'Holy'? That is the first point. Secondly, according to our investigation, all the mountain gods and local deities surrounding this mountain are imprisoned and driven by your cave dwelling, treated like slaves, serving your daily needs. Although the mountain gods and local deities are of low rank, they are still righteous gods appointed by the Heavenly Court. How can they be allowed to be imprisoned and humiliated by demons? Based on these two points alone, we have come here to inquire whether there is anything improper about them."

Every word he said was true and reasonable, and Huang Fengguai admired him from the side. He had been to Huoyun Cave so many times, but he had never learned so much about it. He hadn't expected Chen Guangrui to be so well-prepared. For a moment, he felt relieved, as if he had accomplished half of his mission.

Meanwhile, Princess Iron Fan remained silent, seemingly oblivious to Chen Guangrui's subsequent words. She merely twitched her fingers slightly at the hem of her robe before letting them fall naturally, her gaze fixed on Chen Guangrui.
"You... are you really... sent by Laozi?"

(End of this chapter)