Chapter 202

After resting for most of the day, the extremely weak Red Essence Daoist finally regained his mobility.

He and Tang Luo went to a spot a little farther from the hut and found a small boat.

It was barely enough for one person to cross the sea, full of the marks of time, making one really doubt whether this thing could still move.

Red Essence Daoist smiled at Tang Luo and said: "I came by boat back then, now let's take a boat back."

"I thought the way back would be more high-end, like a teleportation array or something," Tang Luo said.

"Haha," Red Essence Daoist said, "with sufficient materials in the mission world, I can actually set up one or two."

The implication being, it just can't be done in the real world.

"Oh no, it feels like it can't be started," Tang Luo said.

"Don't worry, I'll fix it," Red Essence Daoist said, rolling up his somewhat wide Daoist robe, then pulling out a toolbox and began tinkering away with clanks and clunks.

While repairing, he also said: "I used to work as a mechanic for a while, discovered I had a talent for it, which is also quite interesting; if I hadn't become a god-demon wanderer, I'd probably be maintaining aircraft carriers or something now." Very confident.

This remark caused a tiny spark between Tang Luo's fingers to flash and vanish, as he asked the essential question: "No problem if it's fixed, but is there fuel?"

Red Essence Daoist stopped moving, stiffened, looked at Tang Luo, then suddenly laughed: "Ah ha, you monk wouldn't think I didn't consider this point, would you?"

Saying that, he ran to the other side, pushed aside a hidden object, and revealed several sealed barrels of oil.

"Daoist is well-prepared," Tang Luo said, giving a thumbs-up in praise.

"Of course," Red Essence Daoist said, quite pleased with himself.

The image of a high person doesn't exist.

That's for outsiders, to maintain an aura of superiority over those weaker than oneself; among peers of the same level, speech and action can be—frank.

Red Essence Daoist has no special hobbies, just tinkering and fiddling with these things.

Can't let people, in regard to your hobbies, still put on an X-indifferent face and say blandly: "Interesting," can we?

Living like that would be too boring.

Of course, it cannot be denied that for some people, forever maintaining the aura of a high person is just their nature or pleasure.

After spending most of the day, as night fell, Tang Luo lifted the small boat with one hand and brought it to the island's shore, then lightly tossed it onto the sea.

Why wasn't Red Essence Daoist the one to personally do it?

Because he had been continuously weakened for ten years, and is still in a relatively weak state; repairing doesn't matter much.

But lifting the boat? That's still quite lacking, so Tang Luo took on the task.

"Monk, you threw it too far," Red Essence Daoist said; normally, even crossing a river on a single reed or soaring through the void, he could manage.

Still, that's the saying: weak, Red Essence Daoist needs to be weak for a while longer.

Fortunately, this weakness is not like Tang Luo's serious injury.

Whether in the real world or the mission world, it can recover, without needing any miraculous elixirs, and time isn't long.

With an extra half a year, short as one or two months, it can return to normal.

"It's fine," Tang Luo said with a slight smile, grabbing Red Essence Daoist and in one leap landed on the boat.

"Then let this poor Daoist steer the boat; by the way, Monk, do you understand boating? Interested?" Red Essence Daoist said.

Tang Luo said: "Not much interest, just let the Daoist handle it." His previous mount was truly fully automatic.

To Tang Luo, any vehicle requiring him to personally exert effort to control is junk.

How to put it? Riding in a car is fine; when needed, Tang Luo can also drive, but usually, it's just superfluous.

This is also why Tang Luo has never bought a car so far, not because he's poor.

"Good," Red Essence Daoist said, quite skilled in maneuvering, as the boat slowly left the small island and sailed toward a bright future.

————

"Old Kong, something big has happened!"

Tang Luo's voice came through the earpiece.

Kong Ming's body trembled, nearly knocking over the water cup beside him; he instinctively took down his phone to check the caller's name—Xuanzang, correct.

No problem, it's indeed him, meaning again something needs his headache.

He let out a long breath: "What happened?" Need to stay calm, voice needs to be steady.

"Hehe," another voice sounded on the other end, weathered and stable, one hearing it would easily think of the voice of the Divine Sea Needle, the Nation's Pillar, "Little Ming, do you still remember Old Man?"

"..."

Kong Ming has an excellent memory, his thought process is also very fast; even after enduring a long period of brainstorming, his mind remains unmuddled: "Is... it you? Senior, are you you?"

"Exactly, it's me, Old Man; come out and meet me," Red Essence Daoist said, full of an elder's care for the younger generation.

"Good," Kong Ming said, his voice carrying a hint of joy.

They agreed on time and place, ended the call.

Kong Ming's face again became solemn; he began again, thinking of many things.

First, Tang Xuanzang, he opened his mouth with "something big has happened."

The so-called big event, is it referring to that senior's return? Definitely not, at least not only this.

Recalling his meeting with Tang Xuanzang, each time something odd happened.

The first time was him meddling with the Stone Cliff's fate fragments; back then Kong Ming still remembered "this child is indeed a malleable talent," he felt pity for talent, and invited him to join.

Just like how he was once invited by Red Essence Daoist to join the Martial Arts Myth.

Barely counted as smooth and satisfactory—if we ignore the emotional state of Junior Sister Wind.

Later's casual chat, exchanging information set aside for now, the truly more formal second meeting actually took place on the Dragon King's boat.

That time, Tang Xuanzang leapt up, from a malleable talent becoming a master of professional consecration and healing, a great hand, a master, a holy monk, a divine monk.

The stepping stone Bian Que to now still hasn't recovered; heard his temper is even more violent than before, clientele keeps dwindling, facing closure crisis.

Then later, it was Tang Luo's "changing the era," which made him nearly unable to sleep during this period, dark circles appearing.

Now, what kind of nonsense is this person up to again!

Secondly, the reason why Kongming's face turned grim has nothing to do with Tang Luo, but is related to Chi Jing Dao Ren himself.

The Martial Arts Myth was re-established by Chi Jing Dao Ren and others.

They belong to the first generation, and after such a long time, the changes and transformations in the Martial Arts Myth are indeed significant.

As for Chi Jing Dao Ren's generation, the "founders," only two remain in the Martial Arts Myth, and they usually pay no attention to affairs.

As for Chi Jing Dao Ren, he has been missing for over ten years already.

Before his disappearance, he rarely intervened in the affairs of the Martial Arts Myth, and fewer than ten people in the Martial Arts Myth know his name.

So-called "with a new emperor, new ministers"—it's already like an old minister who has retired to his hometown suddenly reappearing.

What kind of changes will it bring about?

Kongming doesn't have time to think too much—it's not necessarily about fighting for power and profit, but Kongming has habitually started to simulate various scenarios again.

One day later, the meeting place is on the Dragon King's ship.

Chi Jing Dao Ren stands on the deck, his purple Daoist robe fluttering in the sea breeze, the wrinkles on his face have faded considerably, his spirit and energy have recovered somewhat, truly deserving of the four words "immortal bearing and Daoist bone."

Beside him stands Tang Luo in white robes, similarly dressed in flowing white attire, looking very carefree and elegant.

Behind them stands Kongming with a doubtful expression on his face.

"No, this isn't real." After a long while, Kongming raised his head and said.

"No, this is real. Old Kong, accept reality—equipment has pitfalls." Tang Luo turned his head and said.

Kongming seemed somewhat lost and disoriented.

He had clearly considered various scenarios, but never imagined it would be something like this.

Chi Jing Dao Ren obtained a piece of equipment, yet was trapped by that very equipment?

That equipment secretly, without Chi Jing Dao Ren's knowledge, quietly does some very bad things in the real world.

If it weren't for Tang Luo stumbling upon this by chance, who knows what worse developments might occur in the future!

What the hell are we playing at!

Equipment is clearly an important component of the strength of gods and demons walking the world, yet now we're suddenly told that equipment might have pitfalls?

What the hell are we playing at! Delete account, delete account!

Even the most black-hearted merchants at most add a setting that breaks during enhancement to defraud players of their money.

The black-hearted nature of the Gods and Demons game exceeds by tens of millions of times.

It's a pity that the Gods and Demons game has never actually been a game, even if it looks like one.

Won't some relevant department criticize behaviors like card drawing, which are nearly gambling, causing operators to go from loss to bankruptcy, or from loss to not even bankruptcy?

Let everyone save face a bit more.

The Gods and Demons game is right there—everyone completing tasks is already extremely difficult, and there has never been any savior.

"I'm so tired." Kongming said, raising his head to gaze at the sky.

Changing one's fate, equipment perhaps having pitfalls—this is truly a major event of "changing the era."

"We can be a bit more optimistic." The Dragon King grinned and said, "The Daoist's situation. Maybe it's an isolated case—think carefully, how many of these treasures have spirits, and how many are evil spirits? Yin-Yang Mirror—such a high-level treasure equipment, giving birth to spiritual awareness is not strange at all."

"Exactly!" A thousand considerations by the wise must have one mistake; a thousand considerations by the foolish must also have one gain.

Kongming suddenly lifted his head, looking at the Dragon King—old brother, you've finally become smart once.

The Dragon King smiled even more proudly.

"That's also a possibility." Chi Jing Dao Ren nodded and said, "You can think about it carefully—I'm actually just responsible for informing you of this matter."

An attitude of "I only notify, I take no responsibility."

This attitude let Kongming secretly breathe a sigh of relief—the Daoist is still the same Daoist as before, carefree and unworldly, a hands-off manager, basically not involved in affairs.

At least his reappearance won't cause unnecessary turmoil in the Martial Arts Myth.

On the contrary, it's still a good thing—a powerful elder has reappeared—too bad he brought such terrible news.

"Old friends from the past—how many are left?" Chi Jing Dao Ren looked at Kongming and asked.

"If it's people you knew from your senior generation, there are still some, but those who can truly be called senior old friends—probably only two." Kongming said.

"Alas, things change, people are gone." Chi Jing Dao Ren sighed, his eyes showing no sorrow whatsoever.

He has long passed the age of grieving over spring and autumn; life and death are seen lightly—if one disagrees, just act—that's the normal state.