Headless Immortal

Chapter 63 The Painted Wall
"I…"

Lu Xun wanted to speak, but whenever he tried to utter a long sentence, it seemed to get stuck in his throat, and his face turned red, making it even less smooth than before.

Mr. White Deer explained, “You are still learning to speak, so keep it short and avoid long sentences.”

The maids and servants were finally relieved of their trembling.

It's not that there are no monsters in the academy, it's just that Wutong Lu Xun's appearance is too terrifying.

With a robust physique of over seven feet, Wutong Mountain Lord would be about 2.3 meters tall according to the measurement system. He also has a red face, green teeth, and a fierce and evil appearance. Let alone a monster, even the appearance of such a person would stop children from crying.

Lu Xun bowed to Mr. White Deer; it was quite an ability to make a demon speak.

He wasn't considered a monster in the academy, so Master Bailu had no reason to enlighten him. He then looked at the purple-bearded old man and said, "I'm not going to the southeast."

Zhu Xianzhen looked at Wutong Mountain Lord in surprise.

"Academy, further studies, good."

"I won't disturb you, as you say."

Lu Xun spoke in syllables, but his meaning was clear: he hoped they would not disturb Cheng Yan's studies and martial arts practice.

"If he won't go, will you?"

After listening to Lu Xun's hesitant words and figuring them out, Zhu Xianzhen asked directly.

To be honest, a child who has just come of age, without magical power or having cultivated true qi, even if he studies martial arts diligently for ten years, can at most become a squad leader or platoon leader, or at worst, a centurion if he achieves military merit. Even if he does cultivate true qi and magical power, it is still impossible for him to make any significant changes to the situation in the southeast.

A great demon who has mastered the Monkey Fist is different.

If used well, it can be a game-changing tactic.

They weren't after Cheng Yan in the first place, which is why they asked the question indirectly.

Lu Xun immediately realized that they were after him.

"Don't go!"

Definitely.

Zhu Xianzheng stood up angrily, threw down the black chess piece in his hand, and stormed off.

"Lord Du." The three of them gave chase.

Sun Shen was caught between a rock and a hard place, and sighed, "This is all my fault."

"Old Zhu, why are you getting angry with the kid?"

Don't forget what happened tonight!

Mr. Bailu smiled helplessly and pointed to the distance, indicating to Sun Shen: "Go ahead and guard your hall. You're so old, yet you haven't changed your temper at all. Getting angry is bad for your health."

Sun Shen cupped his hands in greeting and strode away.

Lu Xun was left completely bewildered.

“He invited me, but I didn’t go; he invited you, but you didn’t go either. Now he’s angry. Don’t take it to heart.”

Mr. Bailu looked at Lu Xun.

“No, it involves Cheng Yan.” Lu Xun shook his head.

Using Cheng Yan as a pretext is something Lu Xun cannot accept.

He himself didn't care and had long since stopped being swayed by other people's words and promises, but Cheng Yan was still young and easily swayed by the favor and promises of important people.

"This matter is my fault, and I apologize to you." Mr. White Deer bowed deeply.

Lu Xun quickly dodged away. He hadn't expected that Mr. White Deer would bow to a little monster like him and admit his mistake.

"It's good that we talked it out."

Lu Xun did not hold a grudge and insist on getting an explanation, as this would be detrimental to those who were still studying at the academy.

He bowed with his hands clasped and took his leave.

Go out.

Sun Shen was waiting, and when he saw Lu Xun, he approached and said in a somewhat heavy tone, "This matter..."

Lu Xun nodded without saying much. It was Sun Shen's duty to inform Zhu Dutang who he was in contact with.

Zhu Xianzhen came to recruit talent and wanted the headmaster of the academy to come out of seclusion. It's understandable that he felt bad after being turned away. It would be good if the misunderstanding could be cleared up.

In short, what Lu Xun did was aboveboard.

"Are you really not going to the Southeast?" Sun Shen asked, still with a glimmer of hope.

He hoped that Lu Xun could travel to the southeast.

Wu Tonglu shook his head and remained silent.

He has his own things to do.

"it is good."

Sun Shen didn't ask any further questions. Since they were friends, he should stop there and instead asked, "Are you still practicing martial arts?"

He didn't want these things to affect Lord Wutong Mountain. It wasn't easy to find a powerful demon with such a compatible temperament, especially one who was perfectly suited to the Monkey Fist style. It would be a shame not to practice it.

"practice!"

The voice was firm and resolute.

Sun Shen immediately smiled.

"Today's schedule is suspended."

"Tomorrow, it will be the same time as before."

……

There is a dilapidated Zen temple on the back mountain of the academy.

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when it was built.

The Buddha statue, half-buried in ruins, had its head partially obscured, while most of the Buddha statues lay piled up in the back hall, overgrown with weeds. The ruins were patched up and repaired, becoming a place for students to relax. Later, it was taken over by powerful figures in the academy, who built restaurants, taverns, inns, gambling dens, and brothels, giving it a completely new look.

The area on the mountain is still small, far less prosperous than even a tenth of the area at the foot of the mountain. However, being next to such a large academy, it can still make a fortune every day.

"Want to play a couple of rounds?"

Zhou Changcai hooked his arm around Cheng Yan's shoulder and pointed to the gatehouse in the distance, which was lit up.

"It's meaningless." Cheng Yan wasn't interested in these things.

"Brother, would you like to take a look around inside? I heard there's a lovely girl who just came up the mountain," Wu Agui asked with a smile.

Cheng Yan refused, saying, "I practice the 'Boyhood Skill'."

He was also afraid that he would be swept up in the atmosphere if he went in.

"That……"

"Have something to eat."

"Alright."

The group arrived at the restaurant, ordered four hot dishes and two cold dishes, and a pot of plum wine. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhou Changcai and Wu Agui were the first to leave the table, while Lü He remained seated.

Cheng Yan noticed the hesitation in his eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Lü, why aren't you going? Is it because you're worried about the money..."

"Human relationships".

Cheng Yan paused for a moment.

Lü He repeated once more, "You'll owe people favors."

Looking into the distance, with a mix of complex emotions and melancholy: "In my early years, my family was poor and we received help from others. I, Lao Chai'er, wanted to hunt well to repay them. Eventually, I had enough, but I was also injured and could no longer go up the mountain to be a hunter, so I switched to fishing."

He tucked his hands into his sleeves, pursed his lips, and finally showed envy in his eyes, saying, "I owe too much; I'm afraid I won't be able to pay it back."

Cheng Yan snapped out of his daze, the bitterness on his face and the thick layer of wood lacquer disappearing without a trace.

He chuckled and swayed as he stood up: "Brother Lü is right." He had indeed felt a surge of ambition to die for a friend who understood him; if he really went to the southeast, he might indeed have a hard time returning alive.

Now he suddenly understood the two words written by Uncle Cat's serious expression.

"Take a walk?"

"Walk."

The two got up and walked out of the restaurant toward the backyard of the Zen temple.

Grey Baby perched on Cheng Yan's shoulder, its small black eyes darting around as if it had discovered something. It stood up, sniffed around, and pointed in a direction.

Before long, the two people and the mouse crossed the courtyard and passed through the corridor, stopping at an empty house where no one came and went but there was not much dust.

The main gate and windows were long gone, and a few pillars supported the interior. In the distance, murals of flying apsaras were painted on the walls, and the brightly colored pavilions and towers resembled a brightly lit marketplace.

"Excellent calligraphy and painting!"

Lü He was amazed by the exquisite painting skills.

But then a woman surrounded by celestial wisps of mist floated closer, smiling like a flower as she extended her fair, jade-like arm.

Cheng Yan was shocked and grabbed the sword at his waist, ready to draw it. However, everything just now seemed like an illusion, and there was no young woman there. To avoid accidentally injuring Lü He, Cheng Yan did not draw his iron sword and warned in a deep voice, "Brother Lü, be careful. This place is unusual. There may be evil spirits causing trouble."

Lü He nodded and slowly backed away.

Before the two could leave the empty house, clouds suddenly billowed out from the mural.

When they came to their senses, the two had vanished without a trace.

Grey Baby fell on its bottom and started squeaking anxiously.

The little paw patted the mural depicting the marketplace. The mural was like a pool of water, and the paw stepped into it completely, almost sinking its whole body in.

Grey Baby hurriedly fled in panic.

He glanced back at the empty space behind him, then ran away without looking back.

(End of this chapter)