Journey to the West Creation Technique

Chapter 70 Respect for Heroes

Dinner is ready...

Zhou He and Meng Yuan sat down dejectedly.

Suddenly realizing that the two had taken up the seats of honor, Zhao Xiong and Lu Chengjun voluntarily gave up their seats, flanking the two of them from the left and right.

Zhou He: "..."

Meng Yuan: "..."

The thought of risking my life made me wonder why I couldn't sit in the seat of honor.

Oh shit!

My brother took a seat.

"Braised crocodile chunks!" Li Ang brought over a large dish.

This is made with crocodile meat and cooked quite exquisitely.

The crocodile meat was obtained by Lu Chengjun from hunting in the wilderness yesterday. After being left out for a day, its demonic energy was almost completely dissipated, making it perfect for cooking.

This was just right for Zhou He and the others, but for Lu Chengjun, it meant a loss of spiritual energy, barely enough to fill his stomach.

Looking at the glistening, richly flavored braised crocodile meat covered in sauce, Zhou He and Meng Yuan both burst into laughter.

People often feel like laughing when they're speechless.

"Crocodile meat soup!" Qian Jin brought a bowl of rich and fragrant meat soup to the table.

Li Ang brought over the third dish without stopping: "Stir-fried crocodile meat".

"Don't just sit there, pick up your chopsticks and eat!" Zhao Xiong urged from the side.

Clearly, neither of them touched their chopsticks, and neither did the others.

That's respect!

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, Fellow Daoist Meng, you are heroes. I toast to the heroes!" Zhao Xiong took the lead, picked up his rough earthenware wine bowl, and raised his cup.

The others also stood up.

"Brother Zhou, Brother Meng, thank you both for stepping forward! I'd like to offer you both a toast to express my respect!" Lu Chengjun also raised his glass, his face full of respect.

Lin Che, Su Wan, and the others also filled their glasses and raised them in a toast.

Zhou He watched as a Foundation Establishment cultivator led the way, and a group of Qi Refining cultivators in the mid-to-late stages toasted him.

He twitched the corners of his mouth, his eyes filled with a bitter smile.

He raised his hand and clinked the bowls with Meng Yuan's: "Senior Zhao, you're too kind. Captain Lu, you're too kind."

"sit down."

"Sit down, everyone..."

"I'll drink this cup to the brim!"

Gudong Gudong Gudong...

The two tilted their heads back, the strong liquor going down their throats, spicy and refreshing.

"You two are exceptionally courageous. I, Lin Che, admire your willingness to risk your lives for this cause. I offer you this cup of wine as a toast to these two brave warriors."

Meng Yuan drank it down in a low voice: "I dare not accept such praise, it's just my duty."

"At least the two of us good-for-nothings have finally found a use for ourselves." Zhou He then drank his wine.

"I wish you both a safe journey and a safe return as you embark on this mission to test the White Snake Demon King. I salute you both."

"Thank you, Senior Sister Su!"

"I'll drink it!"

"My turn! My turn!" Li Ang poured himself a full bowl of wine. "You two brothers are truly loyal! Taking on such a tough task, I, Li Ang, have nothing to say but that's all in the wine. Cheers!"

"You two have shouldered this heavy responsibility of life and death; I, Qian Jin, respectfully bow to you both."

After several rounds of drinks, the strong liquor washed over my chest again and again, and the fear and dejection that had been weighing on my heart were gradually dispelled by the strong liquor and respect.

At first, the two of them regarded this banquet as their last meal before their execution.

But now, as he drinks, all he hears are heartfelt praises from everyone.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator bowed and offered a toast, calling him a hero!

The top cultivators raised their cups in unison, showing no disdain or contempt, but only respect!

As they sipped their drinks, Zhou He's tense shoulders gradually relaxed, and the bitter smile on his face faded, replaced by a touch of carefree nonchalance.

The gloom in Meng Yuan's eyes vanished, and his hand holding the wine bowl became even more steady.

It turns out that being hailed as a hero is such a delightful experience.

It's just death, isn't it?!

Since ancient times, no one has ever escaped death!

Back in the outpost, the two were mediocre in talent and had the lowest cultivation level. They were always marginalized. Although others didn't say it, they all knew they were good for nothing.

But today, just because he dared to take on a dangerous task with a nine-out-of-ten chance of death, he is held in the highest position by everyone and respected as a hero.

Why can't I be a hero for once?

It was nothing more than venturing into dangerous territory to test the White Snake Demon King. At worst, he would die, which was better than living a miserable life.

Zhou He suddenly raised his hand and filled the wine bowl to the brim: "Thank you all for thinking so highly of us. Since you all value us brothers, we will accept this risk without hesitation!"

"Well done! Brother Zhou, you have great courage!"

Meng Yuan followed suit, raising his glass with surging pride: "That's right! We're going to die anyway, so we might as well go all out! Even if we perish in the Demon Valley, it's better than living a mediocre life in a sentry post!"

"Well said! I, Li Ang, will toast you both again!"

The two no longer passively accepted the drinks, but instead took the initiative to return the toasts, their bowls and cups clinking loudly.

Being a hero for a day is better than being an ordinary person for a hundred years.

……

The next day.

Lu Chengjun left the Black Stone outpost alone with Zhou He and Meng Yuan.

At this moment, both of them were dejected, their faces gloomy, as if they had lost their parents.

Lu Chengjun frowned slightly: "You were so spirited and full of enthusiasm at the banquet yesterday, how come you've become so deflated overnight?"

Zhou He smacked her lips, looking dejected, unsure how to answer.

Meng Yuan said with a bitter face, "Captain Lu, this is a real brush with death. Isn't it only natural to feel heavy-hearted?"

"Everything in this world is a mix of crisis and opportunity; risk means opportunity." Lu Chengjun's gaze was deep and meaningful.

Zhou He and Meng Yuan exchanged a glance, feeling bewildered, and followed in each other's footsteps.

They ventured deeper into the wilderness.

After walking for a short while...

Before my eyes appeared a dazzling and eerie sea of morning glories.

Lu Chengjun stopped in his tracks, turned to look at the two people behind him, and said indifferently, "There is a life-or-death test here. Which of you will take it?"

Zhou He's heart tightened: "Weren't we supposed to be going to the spirit stone mine to test the White Serpent Demon King's strength?"

Lu Chengjun shook his head: "That's the follow-up. There's still another test here."

Zhou He: "..."

Meng Yuan cupped his hands and asked in a deep voice, "May I ask, Captain Lu, what kind of test is this?"

Lu Chengjun pointed to the vast field of morning glories beside him: "Beneath these flowers lurks countless venomous snakes. I want one of you to strip naked and enter, to feed the snakes with your own body."

Zhou He: "..."

Meng Yuan: "..."

The two were speechless for a moment.

"Who among you is willing to take the initiative to fight?" Lu Chengjun quietly observed the two of them.

Zhou He's lips twitched, and he said with a bitter smile, "I wanted to be a hero, but I never wanted to die such an absurd death."

Meng Yuan nodded in agreement, his face full of resistance.

"One of them must go." Lu Chengjun's eyes were icy cold, leaving no room for doubt.

Faced with such an overbearing demand, the two looked helpless and gave a wry smile.

"In that case, let Captain Lu make the designation," Zhou He said, resigning himself to his fate.

Lu Chengjun thought for a moment and said, "Then it's you."

Zhou He: "..."

Although filled with helplessness and resentment, Zhou He dared not disobey orders and could only take off his clothes and stand there naked.

Lu Chengjun solemnly instructed, "Remember this! The morning glory fruit is the antidote for snake venom. If you are bitten by a snake, you must swallow the fruit to save your life."

There was an antidote...

Why didn't you say so sooner?!

Zhou He glanced at Lu Chengjun with a hint of reproach, then calmed down a bit. He gritted his teeth, walked barefoot and naked into the sea of morning glories.

Indeed, each morning glory plant was laden with many bright red fruits.

Must you eat it at the same time as being bitten by a snake?

Can't we eat first?

Zhou He's mind was filled with random thoughts...

Suddenly, he turned pale and stopped in his tracks with a look of horror on his face.

snake!

So many snakes!

Only upon closer inspection can one see that the vines, intertwined and densely packed with venomous snakes.

An overwhelming fear gripped my heart, making it impossible for me to take another step forward.

He chickened out.

My legs are weak...

Just as he hesitated and retreated, Lu Chengjun kicked him.