“Uh, well, if you have something to say, just say it...”
Chen Ning remained silent for a long while.
That line of poetry just now was simply something he had memorized too many times back in middle school, and it had slipped out of his mouth by accident.
He hadn't expected it to cause such a massive reaction.
However, while it seemed a bit exaggerated, Jingkong’s reaction was actually quite normal.
Although this world possessed the Four Books and Five Classics, it did not have the vast array of poetry from Earth.
In particular, the Confucian cultivation system of this world was deeply connected to self-cultivation and learning.
Therefore, in the understanding of most people, only a peerless Grand Confucian whose strength was enough to move mountains and seas and whose name shook the land could possibly compose such remarkable and eye-catching verses.
By comparison, even if he just casually plucked a few lines from his memory, they would likely be enough to become world-shaking masterpieces in this world.
Take, for example, the poem he had sent to Water Cloud Academy.
No news had arrived yet, likely because of the great distance; the letter probably hadn't been delivered yet.
Once that poem reached Water Cloud Academy, there was no telling what kind of sensation it would cause.
It took a good while for Jingkong to settle his emotions and finally calm down.
“My apologies, Brother Chen. I accidentally lost my composure just now.
Please follow me to Mingji Temple. I will handle the matter of the horse and the driver.”
Chen Ning nodded and brought Qing Yan to Mingji Temple.
After the previous crusade against the Yu Ding Sect, Chen Ning’s name was already known to everyone within Mingji Temple.
The temple was a hive of activity, and they quickly prepared the best Red Wind Horse in the entire temple. An old monk with forty years of driving experience also stepped forward to volunteer.
With the carriage and horse ready and the supplies nearly all purchased, all that remained was to choose an auspicious day to set out at any time.
As they parted, Jingkong seemed somewhat reluctant to say goodbye.
“I didn't expect we would be parting so soon. If not for Brother Chen’s intervention several times in a row, I’m afraid I would have long since become a lonely ghost.
Looking at it that way, meeting Brother Chen really was a stroke of great luck for me.”
Chen Ning smiled.
“The demons and monsters of this world are far stronger than they appear.
You should focus on your cultivation as much as possible before thinking about slaying demons and eliminating monsters.”
Jingkong scratched his head sheepishly and cupped his hands.
“I will follow your teachings, Brother Chen. For the coming period, I plan to enter Death Seclusion within the temple.
On the day I emerge, I intend to travel to the Imperial Capital alone as a form of training.
I hope I can arrive there alive and see you again, Brother Chen.”
“Until we meet again.”
...
Ning'an Village.
A black bull was slowly walking in from the village entrance.
The villagers went about their business, completely failing to notice this peculiar bull. However, almost every demon in the village felt a wave of terrifying pressure at the same time.
In the eyes of animals, the true form of this bull was actually a massive phantom over two zhang tall, clad in black-gold armor!
That phantom was as massive as a small mountain, and its entire body radiated a sky-toppling, pitch-black demonic energy.
Any animal with even a shred of intelligence felt incessant fear at this moment, fleeing into the distance one after another.
“Hmm? What happened?”
Seeing the livestock and poultry in the village, and even the rats in the fields, suddenly scurrying away in a chaotic mess, the villagers were utterly bewildered, having no idea what was going on.
“A lowly Painted Skin Ghost actually dares to appear near the Miss? Crawl out! I will cast you into the lowest depths of the Demon Realm and let your soul dissipate after you realize how foolish your actions were!”
The Black-Armored Phantom stood with its blade, its pressure instantly startling the birds and beasts in the forest for ten li around.
Even if the Painted Skin Ghost’s true body were here, it would likely be trembling in fear and prostrating itself on the ground.
However, a moment later, the Black-Armored Phantom frowned.
“Strange, the aura has completely vanished. What exactly is going on?”
Just then, Wang Cai leaped down from a roadside fence and walked straight up to the large black ox.
“No need to look. The Painted Skin Ghost has already been exterminated.”
“What? The Painted Skin Ghost is dead?”
The Black-Armored Phantom seemed quite surprised.
“Although the Painted Skin Ghost is just a paltry bug I could crush with one hand, can someone in such a remote village actually slay it?”
“Yes. It was that human by the Miss’s side.”
“A human? You mean the human the Miss intended to repay when she left two years ago?
I recall he was supposed to be just an ordinary mortal two years ago!”
The Black-Armored Phantom was greatly shocked.
Wang Cai nodded its head and actually spoke in human tongue:
“He seems to have recently become a Confucian Cultivator. In a few days, he will be heading to the Imperial Capital with the Miss for the Imperial Examination.”
“What audacity! He actually dares to make the Miss travel such a long distance to accompany him to such a dangerous place?!”
The Black-Armored Phantom stomped the ground in fury.
“A mere stripling... perhaps I should go and cut him down right now!”
“I’d advise you not to. If you really dared to do that, the Miss would kill you without hesitation,” Wang Cai said coldly.
“Why?!
The Miss’s time for repaying the debt has already exceeded two years. She should have left long ago!”
“That is the Miss’s own decision; we have no right to interfere.
And Heishan, have you been getting a bit ahead of yourself lately?
Don't forget, in the past, if anyone dared to interfere with the Miss’s affairs like this, they would have become a corpse long ago.”
Hearing these words, the image of what Qing Yan used to be like suddenly resurfaced in the Black-Armored Phantom’s mind.
He instantly felt a chill run through his entire body, and his previous thoughts vanished in an instant.
“Then let it be for now. But a mere human Confucian Cultivator has nothing to be arrogant about. Let’s see if he can even survive by the Miss’s side first.”
The black ox snorted coldly and turned to leave Ning'an Village.
It wasn't until he was far away that the intense pressure slowly dissipated.
Wang Cai couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
“Sigh, the Miss is also being muddled. Humans have short lifespans and are so weak. I really don't understand what’s so good about them.”
“Wang Cai, come eat!”
Just then, Auntie Wang from the village came walking from a distance, carrying a small iron basin.
The iron basin actually contained rice soaked in braised meat sauce, with a few bits of meat and two pieces of sweet potato inside.
“Woof woof!”
Seeing that there was actually meat, Wang Cai’s eyes suddenly lit up. Its tail wagged like an electric fan as it ran joyfully toward Auntie Wang.
“Woof woof woof!”
To be fair, human food really is delicious!
...
Driving the carriage, Chen Ning left Mingji Temple.
The Red Wind Horse was indeed as Jingkong had said; its stamina and speed were far beyond what any ordinary mortal horse could compare to.
Sitting atop the carriage felt like racing with the wind, not at all inferior to a motorcycle at full throttle.
The path was clear all the way, and the whistling wind constantly rushed past his ears, feeling incredibly exhilarating.
But just as Chen Ning intended to return by the same route, he discovered that a large patch of emerald-green vines had appeared on the road ahead.
With a cliff on the left and a towering mountain peak on the right, the only passage on this road was blocked by the vines.
“Strange, were these vines here when I came?”
When things are abnormal, there must be a demon. Chen Ning stopped the carriage and called out Xiao Jiu.
“Xiao Jiu, set fire and burn all these vines for me.”
Finally having a chance to show off its prowess, Xiao Jiu wagged its tail excitedly.
It swallowed so much fire every day; it finally had a chance to demonstrate its strength!
“Wait! I blocked the road with no ill intent. I hope you can show mercy, Great One!”
At that moment, the vines suddenly began to recede. A beautiful woman with emerald-green, slightly curly hair and a graceful, lithe figure emerged from within, explaining hurriedly:
“I only resorted to this tactic of blocking the mountain road to beg for your help. Please forgive my impetuousness and lend me a hand.”
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