Star Martial Soaring Cloud

"Brother Lu Yang! We've been waiting for you!"

Upon seeing Wang Xiao, Yuan Kong immediately jumped up, his monk's robes billowing in the wind. His face was beaming with a warm smile; his usually dignified features somehow managed to project the enthusiasm of a street vendor. He rushed over, clutching a rough earthenware bowl brimming with wine. "Long time no see! I've missed you terribly! Come, let's drink to this great reunion! Look at this roasted meat beside us, and the bonfire in front of us—doesn't it remind you of our first meeting?"

Wang Xiao didn't answer, she just stared at him: "How dare you mention our first meeting?"

He didn't want to bring this up, since he hadn't suffered any real loss in that matter, but the monk spoke of it without batting an eye.

"Amitabha, Brother Lu Yang, you are mistaken." Yuan Kong clasped his hands together, his face devout, adopting the demeanor of a high monk, and chanted, "As the saying goes, the past mind cannot be grasped, the present mind cannot be grasped, the future mind cannot be grasped. All past events are like reflections in a mirror or the moon in the water. Today's me is not yesterday's me, and today's brother is no longer the brother of yesterday. Why not let go of your attachments and forget all that has passed?"

Wang Xiao was stunned.

At first glance, this statement seems reasonable, but when you look at his greasy face and the grilled meat in his hand, it just sounds awkward.

"Besides," Yuan Kong changed the subject, grinning, "I'm doing this for your own good, brother! How can you see a rainbow without going through wind and rain? The sooner you make a name for yourself among the demons, the more respect you'll receive when you travel the Nine Provinces. With your skills, what's a mere demon general to you?"

Wang Xiao's lips twitched.

This monk's skin is probably even thicker than Xi Qu's.

Just as he was about to retort, his gaze suddenly fell on the wine glass that Yuan Kong handed him.

The wine glass contained a pale yellow liquid, exuding a rich aroma.

"Wait a minute," he said, pointing to the glass, "didn't you say you don't drink?"

He remembered clearly that back on the volcanic plain, the monk had solemnly declared that "drinking would affect one's career" and that he would not touch a drop of alcohol.

Yuan Kong blinked, looking completely innocent: "Did I say that?"

Wang Xiao: "..."

Yuan Kong's eyes darted around, and he scratched his bald head, looking completely at ease. "Oh, brother, look at my memory! Besides, didn't I just say that I'm not the same person I was yesterday? This glass of wine represents rebirth, growth, and the cultivation of breaking down and building up again! By the way, what did I say last time that I wouldn't drink?"

Wang Xiao rolled her eyes. Going from never drinking to drinking? What kind of growth is that? This is breaking your vows with a straight face!

"Didn't you say that drinking affects your career?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Yuan Kong nodded repeatedly, then said confidently, "But I'm on Demon Island now! No business, no place to slaughter pigs, how can I let go of such a great opportunity? I must indulge in wine and meat while keeping Buddha in my heart!"

He picked up his wine glass, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. He smacked his lips, a look of utter ecstasy on his face: "Without experiencing the myriad aspects of this world, without tasting the full spectrum of human life, how can one comprehend the supreme Dharma? How can one see through illusion and attain enlightenment? How can one understand the suffering of all beings? Wine is a deadly poison, yet also a remedy for the world! What I'm drinking isn't just wine, it's Zen, it's the Way, it's cultivation, it's..."

"Okay, okay! Stop it!" Wang Xiao quickly interrupted him. If he continued, the bright daylight would turn into night.

In his mind, he had already categorized Yuan Kong as "unscrupulous".

He had already considered the monk's limits to be quite low, but he never expected that this guy could go even further. If he were thrown on the ground, he would probably dig a hole in himself.

Wang Xiao took a sip of wine, then looked up at Yuan Kong and said, "Tell me, how did you know I was here? Don't tell me it was Buddha who guided you; I don't believe in that stuff."

Yuan Kong chuckled and poured himself another glass of wine: "What? Benefactor Yan can find you, but I, a monk, can't?"

Wang Xiao's expression changed instantly. He slammed the wine bowl down on the stone platform, not even caring about the spilled wine: "What? You're in cahoots with Yan Zixi? Didn't you already ally with Miss Su? You two-faced scoundrel!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Kong not only did not panic, but slowly put down his wine glass and put his hands together in prayer.

"Amitabha! Brother Lu Yang, you are mistaken."

He looked up, the playful expression on his face fading slightly, and his tone became surprisingly serious.

"I, or rather the Sumeru Sect, am allied with the Wind and Rain Pavilion, not with any individual within the Wind and Rain Pavilion."

Wang Xiao was taken aback.

Yuan Kong continued, "Benefactor Yan and Benefactor Su, who can truly represent Fengyuxuan? Who will take charge of Fengyuxuan in the future? Nobody knows. At this time, the best choice is not to gamble everything, but to either help both or not help at all. Choosing sides is a gamble, and in this mortal world, who can bet right every time?"

He paused, looked at Wang Xiao, and said sincerely, "I choose to help both monks."

Wang Xiao fell silent. He had to admit that Yuan Kong was right.

He never expected that such a precise and insightful statement about the essence of alliances and self-preservation would come from the mouth of this charlatan monk who spouts nothing but lies.

"Did Buddha teach you this too?"

Yuan Kong shook his head and grinned, "It was the abbot who taught me! Of course, Buddha also said that there are many expedient means, but only one path to the origin. But rest assured, the alliance is sincere. As long as we remain on this Demon Island, my Sumeru Sect will protect you two benefactors!"

Looking at him, Wang Xiao's impression of the monk became even more complicated.

"I've learned a lot." He cupped his hands in greeting and sat down on the rock. "But Master, you've been waiting for me here for so long, surely not just to buy me a drink?"

Yuan Kong's eyes lit up, and he leaned closer. His solemn expression instantly transformed into a sly smile as he lowered his voice: "I'm here to see Brother Lu Yang for two main reasons. The first is to find Miss Su through you."

Wang Xiao was completely stunned, raising an eyebrow at him: "Didn't you already get in touch with Miss Yan? With her around, why would you need to look for Miss Su?"

"Oh, brother, how can you talk about something like this so openly?" Yuan Kong waved his hand dismissively, as if to say, "You're so naive!" "It would damage my image as a highly virtuous monk!"

Wang Xiao instantly realized what he meant, pointing at him with a completely speechless expression: "So you did tell them you were only allied with her, right? You've lied to both of them!"

"And the second thing?" Wang Xiao asked listlessly.

Yuan Kong leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Want to help me with a robbery?"

Wang Xiao nearly choked on his drink, spitting it out. He even doubted if he had heard correctly: "Huh?"

"Robbery!" Yuan Kong declared righteously, "Robbing a heinous villain!"

Without even thinking, Wang Xiao waved his hand and refused: "I don't care if they're good or bad, don't even think about this kind of robbery!"

Yuan Kong remained calm, slowly leaning back against the rock, and casually uttered, "That villain has five fairy epiphyllum flowers on his body."

Where is that villain?

Wang Xiao sat up straight instantly, her eyes lighting up. Her previous righteousness vanished in an instant, and she immediately leaned forward, asking anxiously.