The disaster of the world begins with Dongfang Bubai

Chapter 169: What a strong man, tough on the lips but tougher on the bones

Outside Nantianmen.

Xi Mingzhang stood quietly there, surrounded by heavenly soldiers and generals guarding him.

Not long after, in addition to Han Zhongli and He Xiangu, an old man and a young man walked out of the South Heaven Gate together. They were Zhang Guolao and Lan Caihe.

"Fei Changfang, you have violated the Heavenly Law, but you remain indifferent. Are you still refusing to repent?" Han Zhongli came to Xi Mingzhang with anger.

"Boring, it seems that not only the three-eyed monster is blind, but all the so-called immortals in the sky are blind as well." Xi Mingzhang curled his lips.

"You still refuse to admit your mistake even when you are about to die. It's a pity that your master just pleaded for you in front of the Jade Emperor and volunteered to break his leg to atone for his sins." Zhang Guolao said indignantly.

Seeing Xi Mingzhang remained silent, Lan Caihe also spoke:

"Your master originally only had one good leg left, and now he has another broken. You don't even need to call him Iron-Crutch Li, you can just call him Double-Crutch Li. How can you bear this?"

"Why are you saying all this? Do you want me to see the true face of heaven more clearly? Or is it because I am stubborn and unwilling to change that not only have my relatives suffered disasters, but I have also brought disaster to Li Tieguai?" Xi Mingzhang's expression was calm.

When they saw that he did not show the scene they had imagined, a trace of anxiety appeared in their eyes.

Zhang Guolao took the lead and said:

"Most of the immortals in the Lingxiao Palace said that your master did not discipline you strictly enough, so after he voluntarily broke his leg to plead for you, he was thrown into the Heavenly Prison and is awaiting punishment."

He Xiangu frowned and then spoke:
"Fei Changfang, do you know that Lu Dongbin has been kowtowing for you in the temple on earth? He said that he firmly believes that there is love in the world and that the heaven has eyes. As long as you don't come back, he will not get up from his kowtow until you are free from disasters and difficulties."

Xi Mingzhang smiled inexplicably and said:
"In the eyes of the Heavenly Court, I am one of the Eight Immortals destined to become an immortal. Even if I have not yet become an immortal, I should abide by the rules of heaven and be compassionate. Therefore, even if I have lost my mother, wife, and children, I should repay evil with kindness."

"They also think that I am not an ordinary mortal. Not only do I have immortal bones, but I am also the disciple of Li Tieguai. Once I practice, I will definitely be among the immortals. They also think that I am arrogant and stubborn. I have repeatedly insulted the Heavenly Court and my bad habits are hard to change."

"Since I am such an unteachable person, why not execute me and send my soul to the eighteen levels of hell, where I will never be able to be reborn."

After these words were spoken, the crowd fell silent. He Xiangu suddenly asked:

"Are you planning to use your own death to save Tieguai Li from punishment?"

Xi Mingzhang remained silent and said nothing.

"Fei Changfang, are you really willing to die and be thrown into the eighteen levels of hell, never to be reborn?" Erlang Shen walked out of the South Heaven Gate and spoke in a stern voice.

"It would be best if I were thrown into the eighteen levels of hell and suffered endlessly." Xi Mingzhang smiled and said:
"If not, how can a rebellious and violent mortal like me receive the punishment I deserve?"

"Okay, I will satisfy you." Erlang Shen ordered:
"Take him to the beheading platform, behead him and let him be shown to the public, and his soul will be banished to the eighteen levels of hell."

"Yes."

The two heavenly generals escorted Xi Mingzhang to a cold and solemn high platform and put his head under the knife.

At this moment, immortals such as Erlang Shen and Han Zhongli were standing in the audience.

"Fei Changfang, at the end, do you have anything else to say?" Erlang Shen asked solemnly.

"Stop talking nonsense and let's do it."

"What a mortal with a strong character. He is tough on the outside but tougher on the inside." Erlang Shen shouted:
"Execution!"

There was a sound of chains sliding, and the huge axe hanging high up fell down, with the axe blade pointing directly at the back of Xi Mingzhang's neck.

Immediately, there was no bloody scene with heads falling or blood splattering.

The axe blade stopped abruptly half an inch away from the back of Xi Mingzhang's neck, and then slowly rose back to its original position. He Xiangu and Lan Caihe walked up to the demon-slaying platform with smiles on their faces and untied the ropes that bound Xi Mingzhang.

"You have a kind heart and are willing to fall into an abyss of despair. You also want to take responsibility for your own actions and not drag others down. It is worth it that Han Zhongli, Tieguai Li and others have pleaded for you." After Erlang Shen finished speaking, Lan Caihe said:

"Fortunately, you lived up to everyone's expectations, otherwise you would really be doomed this time." "So, everything that just happened was just a test of yours?" Xi Mingzhang stood up straight and asked calmly.

Han Zhongli said with a smile:

"Yes, I just want to see if you are really a person who is hard to change and has no good heart."

He Xiangu noticed that Xi Mingzhang looked a little strange, and immediately said:

"It was mainly because Lü Dongbin prayed for you, which moved Guanyin Bodhisattva to intercede for you, so the Jade Emperor gave you a chance to avoid death."

Erlang Shen took two steps forward and said:
"I am not a heartless and unreasonable person. I will follow the Jade Emperor's order and test you. It depends on whether you can accept their painstaking efforts. If you are a stubborn person, it is only natural that you will be punished by heaven and die."

"Erlang Shen, what you said seems a bit redundant. Just now he was willing to endure eternal damnation for his master. Doesn't this prove that he is still a sentimental person? You are a teachable boy." Zhang Guolao said with a smile on his face.

"Yes, people with affection must have a kind heart. If you hand him over to us, we will surely be able to transform him into an immortal one day." He Xiangu looked at Erlang Shen.

"Although Fei Changfang can be spared the death penalty, he is still guilty of living punishment. I will go back and report to the Jade Emperor on how to deal with him."

After Erlang Shen finished speaking, he walked away.

After a while, Xi Mingzhang came back to the outside of Nantianmen with an expressionless face. He looked at the plaque deeply.

He Xiangu consoled him gently:

"Zhang Fang, the Jade Emperor is still considering how to deal with you. In the future, you will surely be able to attain enlightenment and ascend to heaven as an immortal and enter the South Heaven Gate."

Xi Mingzhang did not comment, but bowed and said:
"Please take me to the lower world to meet Brother Dongbin first."

"You and I are immortal friends, why bother saying anything?" He Xiangu smiled and said to Han Zhongli and others:
"I will take the eldest son to the lower world first."

"Okay, we will wait for the Jade Emperor's order in heaven." Han Zhongli replied.

starry night.

In a temple, Xi Mingzhang walked into the main hall and saw Lu Dongbin kneeling under the clay statue of Guanyin and kowtowing repeatedly.

As soon as he heard the obvious footsteps, he turned around suddenly and saw Xi Mingzhang's figure.

"Changfang, are you okay?" Lu Dongbin hurriedly stood up and asked.

"Our friendship started when Li Tieguai was unable to help me become an immortal, so you advised me on his behalf, but you still failed to persuade me." Xi Mingzhang looked at the dark blue on Lu Dongbin's forehead, shook his head and said:
"Logically speaking, our friendship isn't that deep, so why would you do this for me?"

"Hahaha, not to mention that we are destined to be the Eight Immortals, our relationship should be stronger than gold. At the beginning, I talked about the wonders of becoming an immortal, and you talked about the goodness of being a mortal. We were deadlocked. Later, I saw that you and Zhenniang had a tacit understanding, and you and her were filial to your mother at home. I understand why you don't want to become an immortal."

"And I, Lü Dongbin, admire people with the utmost affection and true nature, so, whether in public or private, I cannot bear to see you die."

When Lü Dongbin said this, he turned around, knelt down on the cushion, and said:

"Thank you, Guanyin Bodhisattva, for appearing."

"Didn't you say that there is love in the world and God has eyes? I think it was probably you, Lu Dongbin, who moved God with your true feelings and saved me from the disaster." Xi Mingzhang raised his eyes and looked at the clay statue of Guanyin and said:

"Today, I owe you my life. If I have the chance, I will definitely repay you."

After saying that, he turned and left.

After a while, He Xiangu walked into the hall, looked at Lü Dongbin who had stood up from the cushion, and said doubtfully:

"Dongbin, do you think the Changfang has changed a lot from before?"

Lu Dongbin sighed softly:
"After suffering misfortunes one after another in such a short period of time, how could his temperament not change?"

(End of this chapter)