A master of comedy!

“Benefactor, this old monk will escort you here. In a few days, you will be ready to listen attentively to the Zhou family's slewd performance.”

On the mountain path, the abbot escorted Zhou Sheng and his two companions a long way, but the other monks did not follow.

Only then did Zhou Sheng retrieve the Buddha head from the immortal stone and tell the abbot about the White Snake Village.

I didn't say anything earlier because I was worried that it would further intensify the monks' resentment and hasten their descent into demonic possession.

In his view, among the monks, only the abbot and the old monk who had only been dead for three years had the least demonic energy and were the most rational.

Sure enough, when the abbot heard that Jingxuan had ruthlessly killed Uncle Liu and his wife, and even tried to poison the entire village, falling into demonic possession, he felt immense sorrow.

"One thought can make you a Buddha, one thought can make you a demon."

"Jingxuan was a public-spirited and righteous man in his lifetime. Although he was a bit hot-tempered, he hated evil as if it were his enemy and revered Buddhism the most. It's pitiful and lamentable..."

He paused, then clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to Zhou Sheng.

"Thank you, benefactor, for helping my disciple from Yaofo Temple find peace."

Zhou Sheng was initially worried about being blamed, but he was now moved by the abbot's magnanimity and thought to himself that the abbot was indeed a highly accomplished monk who had led the entire temple in a bloody battle against a dragon.

"There is another matter. I wonder if Master Cizhou also came from Yaofo Temple?"

Upon hearing the name Cizhou, the abbot was startled, his eyes shimmering with emotion, and his voice even revealed a rare hint of excitement.

"Have you met my junior brother, benefactor?"

Zhou Sheng nodded.

The abbot's long, white eyebrows trembled slightly, and a hint of nostalgia appeared in his eyes, as if he had returned to that pure and beautiful time.

“Among all my fellow disciples, Cizhou and I were the closest. Back then, we ate and lived together, studied Buddhism together, and even suffered punishment together in the monastic community. Our master always joked that we were like brothers.”

“Ci Zhou has extremely high aptitude and is regarded by his master as the successor of Yaofo Temple. He claims that he is going down the mountain to break through his cultivation level, but in reality, he wants to hand over the position of abbot to me…”

The abbot sighed, "It's been decades since we parted, and he hasn't come back to see me even once. I suppose he must have some resentment in his heart."

Zhou Sheng did not reply, but instead reached out and took out the crystal-clear relic that shimmered with a faint Buddhist light.

In an instant, the abbot seemed struck by lightning; his long eyebrows trembled violently, and his clasped hands also shook.

“Master Cizhou was harmed by a demon while trying to save people. Later, I killed the demon and, entrusted by his spirit, traveled thousands of miles to send the relics back to their hometown.”

“Master Cizhou did not not want to return, but he was always concerned about Yaofo Temple. Returning to his homeland was his last wish.”

As the abbot received the relic, he seemed to recall the moments he had spent with his junior brother, and his eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

"With this relic here, I believe it will help you overcome the demonic energy. Within three days, our Zhou Family Troupe will definitely come here to sing 'Medicine Buddha'."

After saying this, Zhou Sheng turned to leave, showing no lingering attachment to the priceless relic.

If you are entrusted with a task, you should be loyal to it.

Master Cizhou died saving people; such a virtuous monk deserves our respect.

The reason we didn't bring it out earlier was simply to see if Yaofo Temple was still worthy of our trust.

"Wait a minute!"

The abbot seemed to have thought of something and suddenly called out to him, as if he had made some kind of decision, his gaze calm and firm.

"Such a precious treasure, yet you generously gifted it, demonstrating a virtuous heart that I deeply admire. In that case, I should not conceal that matter, otherwise, even if I reach the Western Paradise, how could I face the Buddha?"

Zhou Sheng raised his eyebrows slightly, never expecting that giving away the relic would bring hidden benefits.

"Abbot, please speak."

The abbot looked around to make sure no one was there before activating his magic power and transmitting his voice into a secret space.

"On the day the dragon emerged from the water, I led all the monks of the temple in a desperate battle. When our life essence was exhausted, I vaguely felt a vast Buddhist power, yet it also exuded an indescribable evil."

"And the White Snake General also seemed to be in a bad state. His eyes were blood red, and he was greedy and tyrannical, almost like a different person from before. At first, I thought it was the effect of the dragon moving the water, but over the years, I have often thought about it and I feel more and more that something is wrong."

He paused, his voice serious, speaking each word clearly.

“Perhaps General White Snake’s sudden transformation into a dragon was not the result of years of planning, but rather… being manipulated by someone!” Zhou Sheng’s gaze sharpened instantly, sensing a hint of conspiracy in the other person’s words.

If the abbot wasn't lying, then there must be another hidden story behind the incident of the dragon running through the water back then.

At the same time, he understood why the abbot had been unwilling to reveal this matter before. He was mainly afraid that if he knew, he would become wary and thus unwilling to help.

Although the sorcerer has already signed and sealed the performance contract, whether or not they put their heart into the performance and how well they perform are still within their control.

Especially since Zhou Sheng's cultivation level is so high, he is not afraid of their retaliation at all.

“You are a chivalrous and upright person, how could I possibly deceive you? If you do not wish to sing anymore, I can destroy the invitation right now.”

Zhou Sheng's actions impressed the abbot, so even though this charade was very important to them, they resolved not to deceive the gentleman any longer.

"This is my first shady play since I graduated. Since I've already promised, I won't break my promise."

Zhou Sheng smiled nonchalantly and waved his hand.

"As I said before, within three days, the 'Medicine Buddha' sang."

"gone."

……

Upon returning to White Snake Village, Zhou Sheng went to Guo Yang's house again, requesting to stay for a few days and offering to pay for his stay.

The other party readily agreed.

However, at this time, his grandfather began to lose his mind again, and actually mistook Zhou Sheng and Jinse for his son and daughter-in-law, and Hongxian for his grandson.

"Whose child are you? It's getting dark, hurry back to your own home!"

The old man was hurrying Guo Yang along.

In the end, it was Hongxian who stepped in, using her charm and cuteness to coax the old man into laughing heartily, which finally made him agree to let Guo Yang stay at his home.

With a long face, Xiao Guoyang went to the kitchen to prepare food.

Children from poor families learn to be independent early, and he learned to cook at a young age. However, the rice in the family was almost gone, and there wasn't much food available, which was not enough to feed so many people.

In response, Zhou Sheng took out a magic stone and summoned the golden boy and jade maiden to leave the mansion, carrying all sorts of rare and exotic fruits and delicacies, which filled the entire table.

Guo Yang was dumbfounded, utterly astonished.

"Are you really not a deity?"

Zhou Sheng laughed heartily but did not respond.

After eating and drinking his fill, the old man was beaming and insisted on making the bed for his son and daughter-in-law himself.

"Ahem, men and women shouldn't be too close, let's sleep separately..."

The old man immediately glared at him and said angrily, "What kind of young man sleeps separately from his wife?"

"If word gets out, people will think that the Guo family's offspring are inferior!"

"You'll all sleep in the same bed tonight, and you're not allowed to go anywhere!"

Finally, he secretly called Zhou Sheng out, rummaged through drawers and cabinets, found a bottle of pills, and mysteriously handed it to Zhou Sheng.

"This is a rejuvenation pill that Liu Si's father prescribed. Donkeys that eat it will mate vigorously and won't stop all night, producing a litter of foals!"

Zhou Sheng took the bottle of pills and went back into the house. He and Jinse exchanged a glance.

"Ahem, the old man mistook us for his son and daughter-in-law, so he said some nonsense. Please don't be angry..."

The ethereal, fairy-like woman in white was wiping the zither with her delicate hands. Even in the humble room, she was so elegant, making the bare farmhouse bright and cheerful.

She smiled and casually plucked a few notes from the strings.

"I'm not angry myself, but I'm afraid Xiao Feng will be upset if she finds out..." (End of Chapter)