Journey to the West: Starting with becoming an apprentice of the Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Patriar

The carving was really not good; the tiger's face was crooked and uneven, and the nail plates had inconsistent cuts. It was obviously done by a craftsman from the foot of the mountain based on hearsay.

Yet, in this rough-hewn statue, the small incense burner at its feet was filled with incense and candles, with wisps of smoke rising, and several village women were leading children, kowtowing meticulously.

"May the Tiger God protect my husband and make him safe and sound while he's traveling as a merchant this year..."

Wisps of pale golden mist rose from the crooked-necked statue, passed through the hall, soared over a thousand feet into the sky, and seeped into his dantian.

Lu Shanjun stood on the sword and stared at it for a long time.

Suddenly, a knowing smile appeared on his face.

Huang San, oh Huang San.

No wonder a "Tiger God of Sacrifice" appeared out of nowhere on the panel.

So, that year, this weasel not only boasted about it at the dinner table, but even the temple stuffed an image of him into its hands, right under the nose of the patriarch.

"From sacrifice" refers to the act of following the sacrifice.

How could the old Taoist priest, who sits in the hall every day, not see this statue of unknown origin?

I saw it, but it wasn't smashed.

Not only were they not smashed, but the incense offerings were allowed to flourish day by day.

Lu Shanjun could figure out the meaning behind this.

That being has always had only one rule: killing is to eliminate demons, and redemption is to subdue demons.

If you receive offerings from people and protect their peace, then you are worthy of receiving those offerings.

What if one day I can no longer protect them?

The sword before the patriarch's throne doesn't care whether it's worshipped or not.

"He who receives offerings from others must do their bidding."

Lu Shanjun muttered a sentence on the sword.

This is the first ironclad rule of the divine way, and also the fairest account in the world.

If mortals offer you their most sincere devotion, you must risk your life to protect their peace. Debts incurred are heavier than karmic burdens.

After reading it, he slowly raised his head and looked towards the western entrance of the trade route.

The sky is a thousand feet high, and the view is unobstructed.

A hundred miles away, at the end of the trade route, amidst the mountains, a dark gray aura rose into the sky, churning and rolling like an indelible stain against the bright blue sky.

A fierce cry could be heard hidden within the demonic aura; the gaze of an eagle and the look of a wolf were truly rampant.

What a magnificent flock of iron-winged vultures!

They occupied other people's trade routes, robbed other people's pilgrims, and ruined other people's reputations.

Now, they're still calling out in someone else's sky.

In Lu Shanjun's eyes, the last trace of a smile slowly faded, settling into a chilling killing intent.

As if sensing something, the stone sword in his hand hummed from deep within its spine, and a wisp of bluish-white flame crawled out from the blade.

The old man inside the sword, whose bloodlust had been simmering for two hundred years, was also awakened by this demonic aura.

"Lord Meng".

Lu Shanjun lightly traced the rough blade with his finger, a smile playing on his lips.

"The first business deal of the new year."

"I've mastered the Azure Cloud Sword Technique, but I've never tasted meat. Perfect, I'll use this litter of hairy beasts to test the edge of my sword."

A flash of sword light, and it flew through the air.

A single golden ray of light shone over a thousand meters high in the sky, while the long, clear sound of swords echoed along the hundred-mile-long trade route.

……

At the western entrance of the trade route, about a hundred miles away, there is a rocky cliff that seems to have been carved by a sharp blade or cleaved by a giant axe, piercing straight into the sky. People call it Moyun Cliff.

There was a sheltered spot on the mountain where three large birds sat side by side.

Its iron-gray feathers were as stiff as quenched arrowheads, and even with its wings folded, it was still over ten feet tall.

Three pairs of golden eyes, half-open and half-closed, exuded a certain air of superiority.

The "harvest" of more than a month was piled up at the foot of the cliff.

Silk, salt, and tea bricks were scattered all over the ground in torn boxes, and several caravan flags were stuck in the cracks of the rocks, looking like war trophies.

The largest one in the middle made a "gurgling" sound in its throat, the first to speak.

"Second brother, third brother, this business won't last long."

"What my elder brother says is true."

The one on the left chimed in, "We've caught almost all the fat sheep on this road. Not a single caravan has been seen in the last two weeks."

"It's not that it's nowhere to be seen."

The one on the right scoffed, "It was protected by that 'Tiger God' that caused it to change course. Tiger God... Heh, a sick cat scavenging for food in the mountains, dares to call itself a god?"

"You can control things on Earth, but you can't control things in the sky."

The eldest brother, leisurely preening a single iron feather on his wing, said, "No matter how sharp your claws are, they're only good for digging in the ground. When has it ever been the turn of four legs to interfere in matters of the heavens?"

"What does the eldest brother suggest?"

"Let's scrape for another month," it said. "Once we've scraped enough to cover our costs, the three of us brothers will head west."

"West side?"

"The Buddha's realm."

The eldest brother's golden eyes gleamed. "There are dozens of large temples on the other side of the mountain, their incense offerings nourishing the people. Tell me, who do you think is the most promising member of our Feather Clan today?"

It raised its neck, lowered its voice, and looked extremely smug:

"The Golden-Winged Ancestor who sits atop Mount Ling is so powerful that even the Buddha would give him a wide berth. If we go to him, establish a connection, and obtain the title of 'Dharma Protector,' we can enjoy offerings from all directions and receive incense from the mortal world."

"By then, even if heavenly soldiers come, we won't be afraid. If they trace it back to us, a simple 'protector of Buddhism' will be enough to deter anyone from harming a hair on our heads."

The second and third brothers were very eager to hear this, and they made gurgling sounds.

"Big brother is truly insightful. No matter how powerful a demon becomes, it's still a charlatan. It needs a temple, it needs a proper title."

"So, "

The leader folded his wings and said sarcastically, "That tiger from Huangfeng Ridge, guarding a small hill and collecting a few coins for peace, thinks he's a god. He's like a frog at the bottom of a well, never seen the sky."

Before it could finish speaking, its neck suddenly turned.

A thousand feet below, the trade route appears as a thin gray line.

There are many small black dots moving above the gray line.

The wheels rolled over the remaining snow, and the sounds of people shouting and horses neighing drifted over on the wind.

It turned out to be a merchant caravan that didn't believe in superstitions, and they wanted to be the first to cross the West Pass during the Lunar New Year.

"It's been delivered right to our door."

The eldest brother let out a long cry, spread his iron wings, and the snow on the cliff top crashed down.

"Crow soldiers, heed my command..."

……

On the trade route, the caravan also spotted the dark clouds in the sky.

It's not a cloud.

More than a hundred crows swooped down like eagles, their wings bringing a foul stench that reached people's faces half a mile away.

"Lord Vulture is here... Lie down, all of you lie down!"

The old head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who led the group shouted so loudly that his voice cracked.

But what's the use of lying down?

In the twelfth lunar month, which of those seven caravans wasn't lying in wait to be captured and sent to heaven?

Some people lay paralyzed in the snowdrifts, clutching the amulets they had begged for, unable to even cry out, only able to kowtow.

"Grandpa Tiger God...Grandpa Tiger God, save me..."

……

High in the sky, the wind is as sharp as a knife.

A sliver of golden light hung beside the sun, and it had been there for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

Lu Shanjun stood on the cliff top, stepping on his sword, and listened to everything the three hairy beasts said.

After the Golden Elixir is used, the soul will gather together, and the light will no longer leak out.

He stood right above the heads of the three great eagles, and they didn't even notice a gust of wind passing by.

He originally intended to try diplomacy first, then resort to force.

Let's exorcise the demon, but we also need to inquire about its origins, examine its karma, and decide whether to kill or expel it, acting in accordance with the law.

Hearing this saved him a lot of trouble.

Under the pure Yang divine eye, demonic energy and karmic force were revealed in every detail.

The three giant eagles were covered in blood and karmic energy, resembling three tangled hemp balls that could not be washed clean.

In the twelfth lunar month, more than thirty lives were lost, one by one, all covered under the feathers, impossible to wash away.

There were about a hundred crows and hawks that were relatively clean. Their stench contained only the filth of petty thieves and did not contain any trace of human sin.

The ringleader is the ringleader, and the accomplice is the accomplice.

Under a clear blue sky, the distinction between right and wrong is immediately apparent.

As for the relatives of Mount Ling, or the ancestors of the Golden-Winged Demon...

Lu Shanjun sneered inwardly.

He was more particular than anyone else about the four words "having a legitimate reason for attacking an army".

But they haven't yet pledged allegiance to the sect, nor have they paid homage to the mountain peak. To kill them now would be to kill three wild demons who have committed blood feuds but whose names are not recorded in the annals.

Once it actually gets married and puts on that coat, it becomes harder to move around.

Therefore, this sword strike cannot wait even a moment longer.