The Demon's Menu-Chapter 975: Once upon a time there was a mountain... (2)

He only remembered because he thought the fake monk’s story was interesting.

It has been another month since the fake monk left.

He filled a cardboard at ’home’ with the numeral "1."

He counted carefully.

There were exactly 80.

"So many years already?"

He looked at these numerals in shock.

Without realizing it, he had known the fake monk for almost ten years.

"It’s also luck."

He thought to himself.

In these ten years, every time the fake monk returned, he was covered in injuries, yet he never died. What was that if not luck?

But good luck always runs out.

This time was it.

The fake monk returned.

There was a huge hole in his chest, and his face was torn.

If not for familiarity, he could not have recognized him.

"What happened?"

He wanted to carry the fake monk back to ’home’ like before, but the fake monk stopped him.

"From cause to cessation, it happens in an instant."

"You always say you don’t have a name."

"I’ll give you my name."

The fake monk ignored his pleas and continued on his own.

Since he moved to this new ’home,’ he had been nameless.

Most of the people around him were the same.

Everyone was known by a code.

Or simply, a "hey."

"From now on, you’re ’Tongshou Temple.’"

"It’s entrusted to you as well."

"As for more?"

"I can’t teach you anymore, you need to gradually discover it."

After saying this, the fake monk handed him a cloth bag, then raised his hand.

His once proud neat hair, not a bit bald, was gone.

He was left with a bald head.

Before he could protest, the fake monk’s bloodied face seemed to smile, then, his head tilted, and he died.

Just when he thought the fake monk was undying, the fake monk died.

Moreover, after the fake monk died, his body rapidly decayed.

In a breath’s time, it turned to ashes.

Only the cloth bag remained.

Inside the bag was a key and a real estate deed.

Tongshou Temple!

The fake monk left him a temple in the streets of Tongshou Town.

It was small, but it was impressive.

Why did the fake monk deceive?

With such a temple, a little management could make a fortune.

Soon, he found out.

The stories the fake monk had told him were true!

Those stories!

Those demons and monsters!

The so-called Visualization Method, Breathing Method, Technique Method were all real!

Indeed, people sought him out for exorcisms.

Had the client’s expression not been so grave, he would have almost laughed.

And he very much wanted to laugh at that time.

Because, if he had laughed then,

He wouldn’t be in such dangerous situations now, bearing the name ’Tongshou Temple.’

Even though he took risks cautiously, he still couldn’t escape.

This time, he was doomed!

Because, that was—

Tsuchimikado!

Thinking of this family, the old monk of Tongshou Temple’s scalp tingled.

Even a branch family was the same.

They were not something he could resist.

Using ’Double’ to deceive the other party was already his limit.

Then, using ’Boat Traversal Technique’ to sneak in here to rescue someone, was only because he feared he wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep, feeling uneasy.

But once discovered,

The old monk of Tongshou Temple still wanted to cry.

Thirty years away from a hundred.

Indeed, am I going to die prematurely?

It’s truly heartbreaking.

Thinking thus, the old monk of Tongshou Temple straightened his robe.

Then, with a serious face, he brought his hands together.

Some habits, imprinted within the bones over time, do not change.

Even when facing life and death.

As the old monk of Tongshou Temple completed all this, Hui Lijing and Ryosuke were surprised to discover that the old monk before them suddenly seemed different.

Where it was different, they couldn’t tell.

But there was always a feeling of facing a high monk.

That serious look always reminded them of the statues in the temple, and those calm eyes seemed as if they were seeing a bodhisattva, while the long breaths brought a sense of peace.

What?

Hui Lijing and Ryosuke looked at each other, puzzled.

They didn’t know what had happened.

Just as Hui Lijing was about to ask, an abrupt change occurred.

The already tumultuous river suddenly surged with huge waves.

A sound like thunder echoed across the sky—

"Tongshou Temple!"

The voice was loud and filled with obvious anger.

"You dare to deceive me with a ’substitution technique’?"

"Are you mocking me?"

The questioning, under the anger, became exceptionally sharp.

The old Monk of Tongshou Temple looked up at the dim sky, his hands joined together in prayer, merely bowed slightly.

It seemed like an apology.

Or perhaps a habit.

"Good! Very good!"

"Since you want to save someone!"

"Then I will let you save to your heart’s content!"

The voice roared.

The turbulent waters suddenly calmed.

But at the moment the river calmed, Hui Lijing and Ryosuke’s faces changed drastically.

They felt as if they were being targeted by some ferocious beast.

Without hesitation, the two drew their guns.

The next moment—

Splash!

Accompanied by a splash, a thin figure leaped onto the boat.

The figure was all in dark green, with a fierce face, fanged mouth, and limbs like a toad, immediately lunging at Hui Lijing.

Bang!

Hui Lijing raised her hand and fired.

The monster fell with the shot, plunging into the river.

But Hui Lijing had no time to be pleased.

More monsters sprung out from the river.

Splash! Splash! Splash!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sounds of emerging from the water and gunshots were continuous.

The voice in the sky was disdainful.

"Tongshou Temple, aren’t you going to save someone?"

"Why aren’t you taking action?"

"You don’t think mere bullets are going to scare off my ’water ghosts,’ do you?"

"Or are you conducting some kind of test?"

With that, the voice scoffed disdainfully.

"Human hearts can’t withstand tests!"

"You already failed once decades ago!"

"Now?"

"You’re just repeating the same mistakes!"

"Whether it’s the two on your boat or the one on the shore, none can withstand the test—especially that guy on the shore named Jason, who is but a stray dog who has journeyed from afar, living in perpetual unease, his heart full of obsessions. If not for him, how could I possibly have found out about this? You might have already successfully rescued people."

"Do you think he, such a person, could pass your so-called test and inherit Tongshou Temple?"

The voice asked.

"Why not?"

The old Monk of Tongshou Temple answered.

Unlike the angry, sharp voice,

The Monk’s words were calm and indifferent.

But this tone further irritated the other party.

"Just him?"

"He wants to pass those narrow tests of yours?"

"Unless..."

"He drinks dry this ’River of Ghosts’!"

The voice said ferociously.

However, at the end, it let out a light laugh.

Although his ’River of Ghosts’ was just a projection of a tributary.

Even as a projection, it originates from the ’River of Ghosts.’

Ordinary people falling in are dissolved to skeletons in a breath, their essence feeding the water ghosts.

As for the skeletons?

He would modify them slightly to become new skeleton samurais.

Or simply immerse them in this ’River of Ghosts’ to become new ’water ghosts.’

Jason to drink his ’River of Ghosts’ dry?

How could that be possible?

Thinking this, the mysterious figure felt even more like laughing.

"If Jason really drinks dry the ’River of Ghosts,’ not only will I concede defeat, but I will also join your camp, help you guard the ’Xin’ flag, and become a member under your ’Xin’ flag."

The figure said directly.

Very straightforward, without any hesitation.

Because, he thought it was impossible.

The old Monk of Tongshou Temple did not respond.

He also thought it was impossible.

But at this moment, Jason, who had eaten a ’roasted ghost,’ stood up, shouldered his bag, and just like that, walked towards the ’River of Ghosts.’

The ’roasted ghost’ was a bit salty, he felt... thirsty.