Chapter 88: The Name of the Taotie, Long Aotian?

The Taotie is a Fierce Beast.

If one were to subdue a Taotie, one would inevitably have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of watching over and disciplining it.

If one watches over it well, one naturally gains Merit; if one fails to discipline it, then naturally, Heavenly Punishment will manifest.

Moreover, the Taotie has a vicious nature and is extremely difficult to discipline; the slightest impropriety will invite disaster upon oneself.

Ordinary people cannot easily touch a contract with a Fierce Beast.

What's more...

Contracts with such unique Fierce Beasts of heaven and earth are mostly deep soul contracts, which even transfer along with the soul through life and death.

One can never escape it for all eternity.

Lu Ren did not agree immediately, but instead asked Ying Shiwu: "I observe that there is no contractual relationship between you and this Taotie."

"Why have you not contracted him?"

Ying Shiwu was silent for a moment.

But in the end, he shook his head.

"Right from the very beginning, I actually wanted to contract Little Monster."

"It is a pity that I was plotted against; if Little Monster were to contract with me, that curse would be transferred along with it."

"Little Monster was hatched from an egg by me; even though he is a Fierce Beast, he is absolutely not as the outside world rumors him to be."

Ying Shiwu looked at the little monk with extremely affectionate eyes.

It was as if they were a grandfather and grandson.

He said gently: "I hope Little Monster can have a master who can accompany him to the end of the path of immortality, and that person is not me; my aptitude is too poor, and if we were to contract, I would drag Little Monster down."

Such a fine Taotie.

Yet he was given the name Obedient.

But this little Taotie did not seem to have any sense of resentment, merely frowning impatiently.

He had indeed been raised quite well.

This was not the first time Lu Ren had realized this.

"I can take him in."

After careful and repeated deliberation, Lu Ren agreed.

If it were anyone else, they would say that keeping a Taotie does more harm than good.

But he had only ever contracted Fierce Beasts anyway.

As of now, he still had several vacancies in his contract quota.

He was fully capable of contracting another Taotie.

As for the Taotie not being able to get enough to eat, it was of no concern to him.

As the Family Head of a vast cultivation family, he could surely at least manage to temporarily fill a Taotie's stomach.

Ying Shiwu could not help but beam with joy.

"Many thanks, Lu Family Head!"

"Do not be in such a hurry to thank me," Lu Ren said indifferently, "I can take him in, but I have conditions."

"What are they?"

Ying Shiwu was quite calm.

He had long since anticipated that this trip would not be too easy, and he had long since prepared a way to respond.

At this point, he laid out his entire net worth.

Ying Shiwu said sincerely: "I know that raising a Gluttonous Beast is indeed difficult; I am willing to give you all the wealth I have accumulated in this lifetime."

"No."

Lu Ren looked at him deeply.

"The Lu Family would not stoop to coveting even this."

"I want you."

Huh? Ying Shiwu widened his eyes in shock.

For a moment, he doubted his own ears—had he misheard? Then he began to wonder: could it be that his old self actually had such great charm? That even the famous Lu Family Head was infatuated with him? No, that wasn't right.

This was a bit too absurd...

Ying Shiwu did not think his own backside had such great attraction.

He coughed twice in embarrassment, terrified that Lu Ren might see what he was thinking.

"What are you thinking about?"

Lu Ren keenly sensed that Ying Shiwu's thoughts seemed unfavorable to him and narrowed his eyes, but upon seeing the embarrassed expression on Ying Shiwu's face, he paused slightly and withdrew his gaze.

Finally, he gave his condition.

"My only condition is that you join my Lu Family."

Huh? This condition was even more surprising to Ying Shiwu than the one he had just imagined.

He could not help but open his mouth wide.

He looked as if his jaw had been dislocated.

"Th-th-this..."

Ying Shiwu could not help but blink blankly.

He cautiously reminded: "But... I am dying." And it was an irreversible death.

"I know."

Lu Ren was extremely calm.

"What I want is for you to be reincarnated into my Lu Family after you die."

"This, I cannot do..." Ying Shiwu said helplessly, "Even if I am truly able to be reincarnated after I die, this is not something I can control, and I also cannot carry my memories into reincarnation."

Lu Ren said casually: "You don't need to worry about that."

"I have my own ways."

"As long as you are willing."

Ying Shiwu breathed a sigh of relief.

It was good that he didn't have to handle it himself.

As for whether he was willing to be reincarnated into the Lu Family?

"Of course I am willing!"

Ying Shiwu was even a bit impatient.

The Lu Family.

What a massive family.

And it was a cultivation family at that.

If he were to enter the Lu Family, he surely wouldn't die so sloppily.

Without leaving a single spark in the cultivation world.

His own cultivation path could also go further.

Although he would no longer possess any memories, like a blank sheet of paper, as long as there was a chance to reunite with Obedient, everything would be for the best! "Many thanks for your magnanimity, Lu Family Head! If I can be reincarnated into the Lu Family, then I am naturally extremely willing!"

Ying Shiwu couldn't help but look at the little monk beside him with excitement and agitation.

His eyes curved as he smiled.

"Obedient, are you happy?"

"We still have a chance to meet again!"

The little Taotie's brows were tightly furrowed.

He said unhappily: "So what?"

"Even if you are reincarnated, that won't be you anymore!"

"Ben Aotian doesn't want to talk to you!"

Hearing this, Lu Ren couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "Aotian?"

"Aren't you called Obedient?"

The little Taotie pursed his lips.

"Who wants to be called Obedient?"

"Listen well, this Taotie's name is Long Aotian!"

"The Long of Long Aotian, the Ao of Long Aotian, the Tian of Long Aotian."

"You can call Ben Aotian, Lord Aotian!"

This little Taotie...

Ying Shiwu hurriedly covered the little monk's mouth, pulled him behind himself, and looked embarrassed.

He hurriedly said: "What Proud Heaven or not Proud Heaven, Lu Family Head, just call him Obedient."

To claim to be Aotian in front of such a killing star.

He was truly tired of living.

He was worried that Lu Ren would be angry and refuse to take in Obedient.

But he didn't expect that Lu Ren only glanced at the little Taotie with a strange expression, and then the corners of his lips curled into a smile.

"Quite good."

"I think the name Aotian is indeed a perfect match for him."

Now he was actually looking forward to it.

Looking forward to what kind of expression Long Tian'ao would have if he knew there was a Taotie named Long Aotian? The little Taotie's eyes lit up instantly.

At this moment, his gaze toward Lu Ren became much closer, and he gave Lu Ren a look that said, "You're sensible."

"Hmph hmph!"

He glared at Ying Shiwu and huffed, "I, Proud Heaven, said it long ago, the name Dragon Proud Heaven suits me best!"

Under Ying Shiwu's witness, although the little Gluttonous Beast was still a bit reluctant, he pouted and reached out his hand to conclude a Soul Contract with Lu Ren.

Fierce light flickered in his eyes.

"You are not allowed to abandon Ben Aotian!"

"Ben Aotian absolutely does not allow anyone to abandon me again!"

Behind that little face flickering with fierce light was stubbornness and grievance.

Ying Shiwu had indeed taught him well.

Ying Shiwu watched this scene with love, and in the end, he sighed softly.

(End of chapter)