Jiang Wang was no fool. He understood perfectly well that the “discussion on the Dao” with the mysterious expert from Equality Country, and the protective layer of Sanskrit chanting left by Grandmaster Guan Yan, must have cost the Grandmaster dearly. Otherwise, with Grandmaster Guan Yan’s gentle temperament, he would surely have stayed a little longer to offer guidance on his cultivation. The deliberate mentions of Su Qi Yun and Wu Qu Ji were likely intended to prevent him from overthinking and feeling guilty. Such was the heart of a Buddha.

As he was now, he could do nothing. Regarding Grandmaster Guan Yan, who resided far away in the Forest Sea Origin Realm, he truly had no means to repay him. The only way was to cultivate diligently, just as Grandmaster Guan Yan wished, to establish his Holy Tower early, or even become a God Arrive sooner. This would lessen the burden he placed on Grandmaster Guan Yan…

Jiang Wang silently reflected on his decision to come to Star Moon Plain this time. The entire decision-making process had seemed sound, the only issue being… perhaps he had underestimated the importance Equality Country placed on him. By common sense, to deal with an Inner Mansion Realm cultivator like Jiang Wang, one God Through Outer Tower was sufficient, and two would be practically certain of success. But considering the unimaginable events that had transpired, the person Equality Country had sent, how could they have been merely God Through Outer Tower? Not to mention there was another strong individual guarding the vicinity of Star Moon Plain as a “bridge”…

The Imperial City Patrol Inspection Office had mobilized two God Arrive Realm Blue Cards to secretly follow, a seemingly thorough preparation. Yet, when danger struck, they were completely unaware. However, on the other hand, with the profound methods of that mysterious expert from Equality Country, had he not been specifically on Star Moon Plain, under Grandmaster Guan Yan’s watchful eye, who knew when he might have fallen into a trap? From this perspective, it was a blessing in disguise.

He only wondered if the initial muffled hum belonged to the mysterious expert from Equality Country or the “bridge”… He had already committed that voice to memory. If it was the former, he might encounter them again in the future, and it would serve as a useful precaution. If it was the latter, Capture God Yue Leng and Capture Head Li were currently pursuing him, which might yield some clues.

Carefully reviewing the entire sequence of events, Jiang Wang realized something – the mysterious expert from Equality Country wasn’t simply trying to kill him here. They were trying to guide him, to make him embrace the ideals of Equality Country. It seemed that after Cui Zhu’s failure, they simply wanted to cultivate another “Cui Zhu” who could participate in the Yellow River Assembly. This was why a strong individual of that level had been deployed.

This realization filled Jiang Wang with disgust. Any lingering sympathy he had felt for the organization due to “Zhang Yong” had vanished without a trace. Cui Zhu’s fanatical devotion had indeed moved him somewhat. The questions “Zhang Yong” had posed before his death, the suffering, torment, and anger he had expressed that Jiang Wang could empathize with, had occupied his thoughts for a long time. However… now he couldn’t help but wonder.

Were the sacrifices of Cui Zhu and “Zhang Yong” truly voluntary? Were the beliefs and principles they upheld, the ideals they fought for, not hesitating to sacrifice everything, truly of their own free will? Could it be that the mysterious expert from Equality Country had once “guided” their ideals, just as he had attempted to do with him tonight? Jiang Wang didn’t know, but he couldn’t help but suspect.

“Indeed, they are an evil cult,” he thought.

Just as he was pondering, a loud shout suddenly reached his ears: “Little junior brother!” Jiang Wang almost drew his sword on the spot, but his strong willpower controlled the instinct. He turned around and saw a clean-shaven, bald monk stepping on air, his face beaming with joy as he looked at him.

“Little junior brother!” Monk Jing Li called out again, overflowing with happiness. “Have you come to find me?”

Jiang Wang felt a headache coming on. Could this be the legendary Buddha’s fate? However, with Star Moon Plain so close to Hanging Air Temple, Monk Jing Li’s appearance here wasn’t entirely without reason…

“This…” Jiang Wang found himself at a loss for a moment, unsure how to address him appropriately. He was a person who knew how to repay kindness. After all, Monk Bitter Awareness had saved his life, even if he had subsequently beaten him twice… sigh, but he was a true person of the contemporary era, so there was no need for revenge, just consider it a sparring match. Given the “affection” between him and Bitter Awareness, now to address Monk Jing Li with respect and distance, constantly calling him “this monk” and “that monk,” seemed a little awkward. But he couldn’t possibly call him “senior brother,” could he?

“Just call me senior brother!” Monk Jing Li said with a smile, his eyes narrowed in a cheerful reminder.

“Cough, cough,” Jiang Wang coughed twice, skipping the matter of address altogether. “That… I came to Star Moon Plain to cultivate, and I was just about to leave. And you are?”

Monk Jing Li was excitedly high. “I was just meditating over there and saw the starlight here shining brightly, it was wonderfully beautiful, so I came over to take a look. I didn’t expect to run into little junior brother! It seems Buddha Ancestor willed for us senior and junior brothers to meet… Come, junior brother, let’s pay our respects and thank Buddha’s grace together!” Saying this, he reached out to take Jiang Wang’s hand.

Jiang Wang had no choice but to quickly put his palms together in a perfunctory gesture, then said, “Thank you Buddha Ancestor, thank you for Buddha’s grace. Right, I still have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now. I’ll treat you to a meal when I have a chance!” He truly didn’t know how to get along with this enthusiastic monk who regarded him as his junior brother, so his only option was to leave as quickly as possible.

“Hey, little junior brother!” Monk Jing Li called out, stopping him. “Which day?”

Jiang Wang was taken aback for a moment. Monk Jing Li had already taken out a book from his chest and pulled out a pen from who knew where. He flipped to a page, assumed a neat posture, and smiled brilliantly at Jiang Wang, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth. “Junior brother, which day will you treat me to a meal? Your senior brother will record it so I don’t miss the appointment!”

It seemed he couldn’t use polite excuses with this monk in the future… Jiang Wang thought, and said, “I’ve been quite busy lately, mainly with the Yellow River Assembly. I can’t get away. How about in August, you come to Linzi, and I’ll treat you to a vegetarian feast?”

“Which day in August?” Monk Jing Li asked again.

He still had to settle on a specific date right now… Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said, “The ninth of August, how does that sound?”

“Excellent!” Monk Jing Li neatly made a note.

Certain year, certain month, certain day, little junior brother wants to treat me to a meal at a certain place. Jiang Wang glanced at it and found the monk’s handwriting to be quite neat, just like his person… how could he be the disciple of Grandmaster Bitter Awareness?

Monk Jing Li put away the book and scratched his head again, looking a little troubled. “We need to report first when going to Qi Country, especially a place like Linzi, it’s quite troublesome. I’m afraid it might cause delays…”

“No problem! I’ll inform the Imperial City Patrol Inspection Office.” As a fourth-rank Blue Card, Jiang Wang was confident he could resolve this issue. He immediately said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave now!”

Monk Jing Li turned his head and looked towards Hanging Air Temple below, wanting to persuade his junior brother to return and rest for a while, to enjoy some pure blessings, but he did indeed have matters to attend to himself. This made him quite troubled… Of course, after he turned his head back, he no longer needed to be troubled. Because Jiang Wang was no longer there. Seeing him look towards Hanging Air Temple with that posture, it seemed like that old yellow-faced monk could jump out at any moment… How could Jiang Wang not run? Monk Bitter Awareness was probably much more difficult to deal with than Monk Jing Li! At least Monk Jing Li didn’t make a move…