The Demon King, reborn in Japan as a monk

Coincidentally, the Fangxian Dao on Jade Dragon Mountain outside Jade Capital City provides such services, so Hong Yi set his sights on that place, planning to settle down first before considering the housing issue and the servants arranged by Madam Zhao.

"Brother Hong, I think the servant you're with is acting strangely. Do you need me to deal with him?" At this moment, Ishihara Akira, who was chatting and strolling around with Hong Yi, suddenly transmitted his voice into Hong Yi's mind in another way.

Chapter 449 Taking Action

Hong Yi's expression changed involuntarily.

"Don't worry, I'm communicating with you using the power of my soul right now, so he can't hear me." Knowing what Hong Yi was worried about, Ishihara Akira calmly reassured him, "Of course, you don't need to speak when you want to, you can just think about it in your mind, and I'll know."

"Who exactly are you, and why are you helping me?" Hong Yi paused for a moment, pondering in his mind.

"Do you still remember the I Ching?" Ishihara Akira asked with a smile.

"The Book of Changes, Shi Yi, you are Shi Yi, the author of the Book of Changes!?" Hong Yi was stunned at first, then suddenly remembered the name of the author of the Book of Changes and exclaimed in realization.

“That’s right, it’s me. Now you understand why I helped you.” Ishihara Akira laughed.

"It was just a small favor! Besides, Brother Shi's work really deserves my help in promoting it. Otherwise, even if Miss Su Mu had personally asked me, I wouldn't have broken my own principles to endorse a work that isn't worth reading by others," Hong Yi replied.

"That's a small favor for you, but it's a great help to me." Ishihara Akira shook his head slightly and said, "Brother Hong, have you ever heard of the term 'luck'?"

“I remember it’s from the ‘Dream Pool Essays’ section on “Images and Numbers”—it says: “Even the minor illnesses of people are influenced by the rise and fall of their fortunes.” Hong Yi thought for a moment and replied.

“Yes. Even whether a person gets sick, or the severity of their illness, is affected by the changes in their Qi (vital energy). How much more so other things? And coincidentally, literary fortune is also a kind of Qi, mostly circulating in classic works, rising and falling with influence, dissemination, and the quality of the work itself. So, Brother Hong, your support is not only helping me open up avenues for selling the I Ching, but also strengthening my Qi. This is extremely important for people like you and me who have cultivation. Because Qi can affect not only a person's birth, aging, sickness, and death, but also the upper limit of a person's cultivation. So, now you understand why I'm so enthusiastic,” Shi Yuanzhang explained.

"Luck can actually affect a cultivator's potential?" Hong Yi exclaimed in surprise.

“Of course. After all, cultivation itself is a struggle, a reversal of the natural order of birth, aging, sickness and death. It is a struggle against the heavens and earth for your life. If your luck is not strong, you cannot gain the tolerance of the heavens and earth. Why should the heavens and earth turn a blind eye to you, open up restrictions, and allow you to cultivate to a high level and become a great thief?” Ishihara Akira asked rhetorically.

"So the essence of cultivation is resistance... I see, I'm easy to teach you." Hong Yi said politely.

"No need for that. Tell me, do you want me to take care of that guy behind you?" Ishihara Akira smiled and steered the conversation back to the main topic.

"Brother Shi, are you confident?" Hong Yi asked uncertainly.

After all, he was a newcomer to cultivation and couldn't discern Shi Yi's level or Zhao Han's level.

"Don't worry, he's just a martial artist who has only just entered the Innate Realm. I don't even consider him a threat," Ishihara Akira said with a confident smile.

“Then let’s wait a little longer, Brother Shi. We’ll find an excuse to make our move after we get to Fangxian Dao, so that this guy won’t turn around and cause trouble for you,” Hong Yi decided after thinking for a moment.

"I'll follow Brother Hong's arrangements."

The two then moved on from that topic and returned the conversation to cultivation.

For example, Hong Yi asked Ishihara Zhang on the way what level a Primordial Martial Master was, what their characteristics and features were, how the transmission of divine souls was achieved, and knowledge about the realm of divine soul and martial arts cultivation. Ishihara Zhang did not hide anything and generously told him what he knew and what he had realized.

Consider it compensation for him ruining Hong Yi's opportunities and fortune.

After much trouble, the three of them finally arrived at Fangxiandao on Jade Dragon Mountain outside Jade Capital City.

Then Hong Yi found the Taoist priest in Fangxian Sect who specialized in handling such matters, explained his intention to stay in Fangxian Sect for a period of time, and obtained a room from the priest and moved in...

Of course, I paid them.

Fangxiandao isn't a sucker; they provide free accommodation to anyone who comes.

Unless you are a familiar pilgrim who knows you will make up for it in other ways, they will not generously provide free accommodation and vegetarian meals.

In nature, it is not much different from the temples that became commercialized in later generations.

……

"Zhao Han, go and get five hundred taels of silver for Brother Shi." After returning to the room, Hong Yi and Shi Yuanzhang exchanged glances, then Hong Yi instructed Zhao Han, who was almost inseparable from him and whose surveillance was practically blatant.

“Young Master Yi, this money is the capital that Master and Madam gave you to settle down and make a living. We haven’t even settled on a place to live yet. We can’t just casually take out half of the money to help strangers. What if we get cheated?” Zhao Han scoffed at this, and instead of doing anything, he lectured Hong Yi in the tone of an elder.

Unexpectedly, Hong Yi, who should have swallowed his anger as expected, slammed his fist on the table in front of him and roared, "How dare you!"

Although Zhao Han was startled, he didn't think that Hong Yi, who had just started cultivating, or Ishihara Sho, who had no blood and qi reaction, could threaten him. He sneered and looked at Hong Yi, who in his eyes was just impotently furious, with even more disdain.

But the next moment, his expression turned terrified...

Then, Zhao Han began to circulate his qi and blood, but he still could not escape the suppression of his soul. He was frozen in place like a statue, unable to move anywhere except his eyes.

"Alright, Brother Hong, do whatever you want. I've already controlled this guy with my soul." Ishihara Akira smiled at Hong Yi, who was standing to the side.

"Thank you, Brother Shi." Hong Yi was taken aback. Seeing that Zhao Han's eyes were indeed full of fear, he stood up and bowed to Shi Yuanzhang to express his gratitude.

"It was nothing," Ishihara Akira said modestly.

"I would appreciate it if Brother Shi could loosen his restraints a little so that he can speak and answer my questions," Hong Yi pleaded.

“Alright,” Ishihara Akira nodded.

"You little bastard, hello, you're quite something. I never expected you to be able to make the acquaintance of a Ghost Immortal-level cultivator. Madam really underestimated you. No wonder you're that bitch Meng Bingyun's offspring. I suppose this Shi Yi is sent by the Supreme Dao to help you." Zhao Han, as if he understood everything, provoked Hong Yi with a sarcastic expression.

"Meng Bingyun? You're saying my mother is Meng Bingyun?" Hong Yi asked in astonishment.

"Hahaha, Meng Bingyun, a disciple of the Supreme Dao, doesn't even dare to tell her own name to her son. What a coward!" Zhao Han laughed loudly as if he had heard a funny joke.

"So Brother Hong is actually the daughter of Meng Bingyun, the Holy Maiden of the previous Supreme Dao. My apologies for my overconfidence," Shi Yuanzhang said, feigning surprise.

"Brother Shi, do you know about my mother?" Hong Yi pressed.

Chapter 450 Rule the Slaves

“These things aren’t urgent. We can discuss them in detail after we’ve dealt with this unruly servant,” Ishihara Akira said, pointing to Zhao Han beside him with a smile.

"Brother Shi is right," Hong Yi said calmly.

"Hmph, what could an outsider possibly know? Even if he really is a member of the Taishangdao, so what? Since Meng Bingyun has married into the Marquis's mansion, she is one of our people. Even if he is a member of the Taishangdao, he has no right to interfere with her life in the Marquis's mansion. If you don't believe me, you can ask him if he knows how Meng Bingyun died." Zhao Han sneered and provoked Hong Yi again.

Hong Yi's brows twitched, and he turned to look at Ishihara Akira again.

"Well, I really don't know," Ishihara Akira said, shaking his head helplessly.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain how an outsider like him knew about Meng Bingyun's life.

Surely it couldn't be someone who admires Meng Bingyun and is secretly spying on her, right?

It's easy to say, but it doesn't sound good.

"Then tell me, how exactly did my mother die!" Upon seeing this, Hong Yi immediately glared at Zhao Han again and questioned him in a cold voice.

"You want to know? Heh heh, go back and ask Hong Xuanji! Trying to get anything out of me? Dream on, you little bastard!" Zhao sneered. He paused, then continued to provoke, "But if you're willing to kneel down and beg me, I'll tell you. Actually, your mother didn't die of anger. She was secretly given 'Tendon-Burning Powder' by Madam Zhao, and died in excruciating pain. Heh heh, do you know what 'Tendon-Burning Powder' is? That kind of drug, once ingested, causes excruciating pain for dozens of days, a pain like your entire body's tendons, bones, and internal organs are being torn apart, until finally your blood and qi are completely depleted. You watched your mother die, didn't you? Haha, I wonder if you enjoyed watching her suffer? Heh heh, you little bastard, Madam Zhao was too lenient with you back then! Otherwise, you wouldn't be so arrogant now!"

"What!?" Hong Yi stood up in shock, his eyes turning bloodshot with excitement.

"The hatred for the murder of my mother is irreconcilable! If I don't avenge this, I will not be worthy of being a son!" Hong Yi roared coldly, his voice filled with barely suppressed and hidden rage.

"Calm down!" Ishihara Shō shouted, using a Taoist calming mantra to bring Hong Yi back to his senses.

"Be careful of his provocations."

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Shi. I understand now." Hong Yi took a deep breath, and after truly calming down, clasped his hands in a fist salute. Then, he looked at Zhao Han, who was being suppressed by Shi Yuanzhang, with a cold gaze and said in a cold voice, "You don't need to provoke me into drawing my sword and going to the Marquis's mansion to find out the truth! You said that woman, Madam Zhao, harmed my mother. My father, with his keen insight, how could he not know about the poisoning? Furthermore, since my mother was a disciple of the Taishang Dao, her martial arts skills must have been profound. Why was she murdered? And even if she was murdered, why didn't the people of the Taishang Dao come to the Marquis's mansion to seek revenge?"

"Hehe, the Supreme Dao emphasizes playing with human emotions and transcending worldly desires. Meng Bingyun fell in love, so she brought it upon herself. It's already strange that the Supreme Dao hasn't cleaned up their own ranks, let alone cared about her life or death. Hehe, Hong Xuanji naturally knows how Meng Bingyun died, but do you want to know what happened back then? Go back and ask your father. Hurry up and go back, your father will explain it to you clearly, hehe, hehe..." At the end, Zhao Han smiled sinisterly again, looking completely confident that Hong Yi couldn't do anything to him, which made Hong Yi frown.

Then Hong Yi suddenly walked around the table to Zhao Han, grabbed his chin, and forcibly opened his mouth—

Although Zhao Han was a Xiantian martial artist who had already entered the Refining Internal Organs realm, he was ultimately unable to resist because Shi Yuanzhang had suppressed his ability to fight back. Therefore, even though Hong Yi was only a martial arts novice at the Martial Student realm, he was enough to hone Zhao Han's skills.

"What are you trying to do?!" Zhao Han's expression changed slightly upon seeing this, and he asked in a muffled voice.

“As a servant, you robbed your master of his money, insulted his late mother, and even attempted to assault him. Your crimes are unforgivable. I won't kill you today, but I'll administer family punishment. Later, I'll have the Yujing Prefecture yamen deal with you. I know all 3,896 articles of the Great Qian Law by heart. Do you think that with Madam Zhao behind you, I can't deal with you?” After Hong Yi finished speaking, he suddenly drew his Shark-Slaying Sword and shoved it into Zhao Han's mouth. With a twist, a bloody, mangled tongue was pulled out of Zhao Han's mouth.

Then Hong Yi felt that this was not safe enough, so he turned to Shi Yuanzhang beside him and asked, "Brother Shi, please help me break all his bones and muscles and cripple his martial arts."

“Okay.” Ishihara Akira nodded, stood up and went to Zhao Han’s side. Then, with a swift movement, he punched Zhao Han, and Zhao Han’s bones shattered with a series of cracking sounds…

Moreover, it was a comminuted fracture; let alone martial arts skills, without special elixirs, Zhao Han's injury might not even be healed...

In other words, he is now not far from death.

"I'll have to trouble Brother Shi to keep an eye on this guy for me. I need to go out and arrange the follow-up matters before I can completely resolve this problem," Hong Yi said again upon seeing this.

Since I've already asked once, what's one more time? I can just keep the favor in my heart and find a chance to repay it later.

"No problem."

Hong Yi then drew his sword and quickly left Fangxian Path, riding his horse back towards Yujing City.

Soon after, she returned with a woman dressed as a man, who looked like a handsome young gentleman. Presumably, this must be Princess Luo Yun of Zhennan, who helped Hong Yi solve his troubles in the original story...

Without lingering, he ordered his guards to escort, or rather, carry, the already limp Zhao Han away from Fangxian Dao with Hong Yi. It wasn't until nightfall that Hong Yi, covered in dust, returned to his residence under the Fangxian Dao Ancestor.

"I'm sorry to have kept Brother Shi waiting," Hong Yi apologized to Shi Yuanzhang.

"Is the problem solved?" Ishihara Akira asked with a smile.

“Exiled three thousand miles away, to be a slave to the serfs.” Hong Yi replied with a smile. Then his expression turned serious, and he said cautiously, “However, Zhao Han is just a minor character pushed out by Madam Zhao. Although he was dealt with this time thanks to Brother Shi and the princess, as long as Madam Zhao is still alive, I will never have peace. However… I do not currently have the strength or influence to deal with him, so I can only deal with him as he comes.”

"Indeed, entering the gates of a noble family is like entering a deep sea. I never imagined that Brother Hong's life would be so difficult. I truly admire you," Shi Yuanzhang said with emotion.

"By the way, Brother Shi once said that he knew my mother, Meng Bingyun, quite well..." Hong Yi smiled and changed the subject.

Of course, this is also what he most wants to know right now.

"Speaking of your mother, we must start with the Supreme Dao. Brother Hong, are you aware of the legends of the six great holy lands in the world?" Ishihara Akira smiled slightly and asked a question that seemed unrelated to the topic.

Chapter 451 Narration and Implementation

"The six holy lands of the world are the Supreme Dao, which spreads its teachings in the Central Plains; the Great Zen Temple, which has been destroyed by the Great Qian Dynasty; the Xuantian Pavilion of the Yunmeng Empire; the Jingyuan Temple, which is worshipped by the Western Regions and located in the Huoluo Holy Land; the Zhengang Gate of the Yuantu Empire; and the Taoshen Dao of the Shenfeng Kingdom. Your mother, Meng Bingyun, is the previous Holy Maiden of the Supreme Dao and also the current Dao Master, the younger sister of Meng Shenji, who is known as the number one expert in the world," Shi Yuanzhang introduced to Hong Yi.

"Since my mother is the saintess of the Supreme Dao, why would Madam Zhao say that my mother is a prostitute?" Hong Yi asked, puzzled.

"Because when your mother was born twenty years ago, the place she stayed was the Sanhua Pavilion you visited before! And I think you know what kind of place the Sanhua Pavilion is, so even if your mother followed the same path as the contemporary saintess Su Mu, spreading her fame as a talented woman and selling her art but not her body, to some people, she was no different from a courtesan," Shi Yuanzhang explained.

"As expected, Miss Su Mu is also a very shrewd person." Hong Yi suddenly realized his guess.

"And Brother Shi, are you also a member of the Supreme Dao?" Hong Yi pressed.

“Although I know Su Mu and we are very good friends, unfortunately, I am not a disciple of the Supreme Dao, nor am I qualified to join its ranks, so I have no other connection with the Supreme Dao,” Shi Yuanzhang said, shaking his head in denial.

“Since Su Mu and my mother are both saintesses of the Supreme Dao, their status in the Supreme Dao should be very important. Why do they have to show their faces in public, especially in such a way that damages their reputation?” Hong Yi nodded and asked the question that had been bothering him.