Green leaves surged like a coiling flood dragon, sweeping back behind Yue Qingsu, baring fangs and claws as they locked onto Mu Jialing.
"Fózǐ of Guan Fan Temple, do you not care for the life of your young novice disciples?"
Yue Qingsu stood calmly atop the vast tide of green radiance, his gaze upon Mu Jialing filled only with mockery.
Mu Jialing raised one hand, golden light flowing, and pressed his palm together in a solemn gesture. "The junior brothers of Guan Fan Temple must be saved, just as all beings beneath Heaven must be saved."
"Then you should not block my way!"
Yue Qingsu's tone suddenly shifted, his voice harsh and sharp.
Mu Jialing showed a flicker of doubt. "Elder, what do you mean by this?"
Yue Qingsu clasped his hands behind his back, a smile of arrogance playing at his lips.
From within the crowd, a man from Qingshui County called out, "Fózǐ, do you not know? It was Elder Yue who brought Wuxiang Sect disciples to save us! Wuxiang Sect has already refined the antidote to dissolve the miasma!"
"You fart!" Xiao Rong suddenly burst out with a curse.
The entire scene fell into sudden silence, all eyes turning toward him. Meng Xiangxiang and the phoenix both stared at him, wide-eyed, as if asking when he had learned such a phrase.
It really was satisfying though!
Noticing their gazes, Xiao Rong grinned proudly. "I learned it from Xiao Jiang! Back then, he cursed those refugees just like this!"
Meng Xiangxiang gave him a thumbs-up. "Rong-yé, impressive!"
The phoenix bobbed its head in agreement, eyes filled with admiration.
Xiao Rong's face flushed red, but his smile nearly split to his ears.
"If you want, I can curse more… Elder of Wuxiang Sect, you're a brainless fool, a shameless old scoundrel, a filthy wretch!"
The crowd fell into collective silence.
Mu Jialing's brow furrowed faintly. Had he just saved a bad tree spirit?
Yue Qingsu's face turned cold. With a sudden clap of his palm, a massive wall of green light shot toward Xiao Rong.
Mu Jialing stepped forward, conjuring a golden shield that enveloped Xiao Rong and Meng Xiangxiang within.
The green wall dispersed to either side. The two inside stopped laughing.
"You dog-thief Elder of Wuxiang Sect, you are shameless!"
Xiao Rong stood akimbo, shouting loudly.
Mu Jialing's brow twitched. "Did this little tree even understand the meaning of those words?"
Meng Xiangxiang could only sigh inwardly. "Rong-yé truly had guts!"
Murderous intent rose in Yue Qingsu's eyes. Cold winds howled, and the temperature plummeted.
The chilling gusts made Mu Jialing's expression grow grave.
Xiao Rong shrank back. "Hey, little monk, are you really his match?"
Mu Jialing pressed his palms together, eyes lowered. "Amitabha. This poor monk will only know by trying."
Xiao Rong swallowed nervously. "Doesn't feel reassuring at all. If only Boss were here!"
"Cluck cluck cluck!" The phoenix cried in agreement.
Meng Xiangxiang cast a disappointed glance across the people of Qingshui County, gripping the porcelain bottle in his hand tightly.
Yue Qingsu narrowed his gaze on Mu Jialing. "A Nascent Soul cultivator? So it seems your days of punishment at Guan Fan Temple were not wasted on idleness."
Mu Jialing rolled a bead between his fingers, golden light flashing faintly in his eyes. "To accept punishment is itself cultivation. Today this poor monk wishes to experience the strength of Elder Yue of Wuxiang Sect."
Yue Qingsu's cold stare lingered on him. Then his eyes swept over the shrinking Xiao Rong and Meng Xiangxiang, before curving into a falsely gentle smile.
"Fózǐ, I know you are compassionate. But this tree spirit and ghost cultivator both slander me. If we fight and I win, then Guan Fan Temple must never again interfere in this matter!"
Xiao Rong's eyes widened.
Mu Jialing lowered his gaze silently. "Amitabha. As the Elder says."
"What? Xiao Meng, Da Huang, this monk can't be trusted! When is Boss coming?!" Xiao Rong panicked, turning back to Meng Xiangxiang and the phoenix.
"Cluck cluck cluck!" The phoenix glanced at Meng Xiangxiang, signaling toward the flying boat and the teleportation staff.
Meng Xiangxiang steadied his mind and quickly said, "I already slipped the teleportation staff back. Surely Fairy will soon receive word that we're surrounded!"
"Really? That's great, we can relax then!"
Xiao Rong let out a huge sigh of relief, grinning wide as though danger had passed.
The phoenix folded its wings and perched comfortably on Meng Xiangxiang's shoulder.
Mu Jialing paused for a beat.
Just how little trust did these two—and one bird—place in him?
"The Boss you speak of… who is he?"
He was truly curious about the one they trusted so absolutely.
Xiao Rong opened his mouth to answer, but Meng Xiangxiang tugged his sleeve and shook his head.
Mu Jialing noted their wariness with surprise.
Yue Qingsu sneered, "Fózǐ, you've saved wolves!"
"Where are the wolves? I don't see any!" Xiao Rong looked around in earnest.
Meng Xiangxiang tugged his clothes again. "Rong-yé, he means we're the wolves…"
Yue Qingsu gave him an amused glance.
Xiao Rong's eyes went wide. "You think calling us wolves will make Boss spare you? Don't dream! I will never forgive you!"
Yue Qingsu: "…" He should never have wasted words on a stupid tree!
Mu Jialing's golden eyes swept across them, pausing briefly on the phoenix before he retracted his gaze. "Elder Yue, this poor monk will do his utmost to protect them."
Yue Qingsu no longer bothered looking at Xiao Rong. Cold winds swirled, and countless leaves hardened into blades, their sharp points aimed directly at Mu Jialing.
"Calves may not fear tigers, Mu Jialing Fózǐ, but today I shall show you the true power of the tiger within the mountain!"
As he spoke, the gale shrieked and a massive green shield enclosed both himself and Mu Jialing like a sphere.
Xiao Rong clung to Meng Xiangxiang, pupils contracting."Xiao Meng, this Elder is seriously strong!"
"Yes. My mother once said Elder Yue's strength surpasses even the sect master of Wuxiang Sect."
Meng Xiangxiang was not surprised, but facing such a mighty scene still made his heart tremble.
"Can this little monk hold out until Boss arrives?" For the first time, Xiao Rong felt real fear.
"This monk looks way too tender!"
Meng Xiangxiang turned east, whispering, "It should be soon."
"Cluck cluck cluck!" The phoenix echoed their worry.
Suddenly, dazzling golden light exploded from within the green shield, so bright everyone had to shut their eyes.
"What's going on? Did the little monk kill Elder Yue of Wuxiang Sect?"
Xiao Rong's heart leapt with hope, eyes still squeezed shut, waiting to hear the answer.
No one responded.
Only when the blinding gold faded did voices stir.
"Look, the Fózǐ of Guan Fan Temple seems to have fought Elder Yue to a draw!"
Hearing this, Xiao Rong and the others quickly raised their heads to the sky.
Shrouded in bluish smoke, Yue Qingsu sneered. "A draw? Fózǐ, are you truly prepared?"
Cold sweat gleamed on Mu Jialing's brow. Outwardly calm as he rolled the prayer beads against the flood of green light, in truth his legs were stiff, sliding backward against his will.
Catching sight of the two below and the phoenix looking up with wide eyes, Mu Jialing quietly funneled a trace of Buddha force into a soundless transmission.
"Run quickly… this poor monk is not his match!"