Chapter 544: Fate, Indeed (33 Today 1w)

"Come to think of it, those two fellows in the Xian Fa Lin earlier felt a bit strange."

While pursuing the lingering aura left by Zhang Mang, Ren Yidao suddenly recalled the standoff outside the Xian Fa Lin.

Aside from the derelict Senior Uncle Chu Hairen and the two withered elders who had already become headless knights, there were two others present... savages.

Ren Yidao had been busy interrogating Chu Hairen at the time, but he had not neglected to observe Mangu and the savage priest.

That giant of a man had a formidable physical body, visually at least at the late stage of Formless, while the other old man was even more mysterious; his strength could not be discerned, but his perception was quite astonishing.

Honestly, he felt this pair was somewhat strange.

The giant in animal skins and the old priest in animal skins on his shoulder—were they from some primitive tribe?

Moreover, what made Ren Yidao frown the most was that the look in the old man's eyes when he looked at him was not quite right.

No, it was very not right.

Curiosity, confusion, hesitation, and... burning heat!

It was as if he were looking at a rare, precious treasure.

Damn it, some old thing is lusting after my body!

"Have I met them before?"

And beyond that, what confused Ren Yidao even more was why he felt some kind of special connection with them.

An inexplicable connection, so faint that it would be impossible to sense if one were not close by.

Faint, but it truly existed, and it was somewhat similar to Faith Power.

"That attire, are they natives of the Eastern Wasteland? I didn't go around socializing with people when I was in the Eastern Wasteland! How could I have absolutely no impression of them..."

Where exactly did he become connected to them?

Ren Yidao fell into confusion, as well as deep self-reflection regarding his habit of sowing faith everywhere.

How could he be so irresponsible and spread it around everywhere!

It was truly too immoral.

However, Ren Yidao's self-reproach did not last long; as the tracking continued, Ren Yidao's expression grew increasingly solemn.

"This path leads toward the Dragon Transformation Pool. How did they manage to penetrate this deep?"

Even with the guidance of Zhang Mang's special vision, their journey along this path would not be easy.

At this moment, in Ren Yidao's eyes, the danger level of the road ahead had increased significantly, at least several times that of the Xian Fa Lin.

Almost every step was filled with a Killing Array; even Ren Yidao could no longer continue to travel using the Baihu Daoshen and had to be careful.

It was just... if he were alone, it would be fine, but there were two tag-alongs behind him, which made him hesitate, unsure of what to do.

Should he show his cards and drop them off?

Or should he just keep taking them forward into the danger?

Just as Ren Yidao was pondering, Dong Rong took the initiative to speak: "Daoist, could you drop the two of us off somewhere around here?"

"The Daoist's disciple was likely taken to the Dragon Transformation Pool by that thief. That place is too dangerous for the two of us. If we force ourselves to follow, not only will we drag the Daoist down, but if we are not careful, we fear we will end up dead and our Dao dissipated."

Qiu Yuyao also chimed in, saying: "Furthermore, according to the map, there is a small Bing Ge nearby. If we could enter it, it would likely be more helpful to us."

They were not greedy and understood exactly what they were worth.

Although following Ren Yidao might yield more, the danger was also greater, and it was easier for everything to end up as nothing.

Being able to penetrate this deep following Ren Yidao was already a huge advantage; to be any greedier would likely carry great risk.

"..." Ren Yidao narrowed his eyes, still slightly hesitant in his heart about whether to expose one of his secrets to them.

But Dong Rong and his wife did not mention going with him at all, only saying that there was something here more important to the two of them, hoping Ren Yidao would grant their wish.

This was naturally an excuse, a hope that Ren Yidao would have less of a burden.

Regarding this, Ren Yidao decided to accept the favor; he was not a pedantic person, so he stopped stalling and said directly: "Alright, then I will send you in, and you can seek your opportunities inside."

Since he had made up his mind, Ren Yidao turned directly, quickly found the mark on the map, and led them straight into that Bing Ge.

The Bing Ge was dilapidated; it was unknown what had happened back then, but the divine weapons inside had already shattered, leaving only some broken blades and remnants still emitting a faint aura.

"If everything goes smoothly for me later, I will come back to look for you. If I have not returned, you should just return along the original path yourselves."

Dong Rong and his wife nodded; both were cultivators above the Spirit Transformation realm, so they could remember this much of the path.

"Many thanks to the Daoist for the help along the way; the two of us are extremely grateful."

Ren Yidao shook his head, not minding it, and nodded: "I wish you both success and that you may successfully break through."

"We also wish the Daoist and your disciple a successful reunion, that everything goes well, and may we have the fate to meet again another day."

After the three bid farewell, Ren Yidao turned and left without hesitation, continuing to rush toward the Dragon Transformation Pool following the map's guidance.

The Baihu Daoshen was not suitable for the path ahead due to its large size; although he could control its size, Cang Lan had beaten him to it.

After the two outsiders left, Cang Lan finally appeared; she took the initiative to transform into her true form, shrinking to a suitable size, and let Ren Yidao mount her back.

"Master."

"Hmm?"

"Are you still hesitating about whether to bring them along?"

"Hmm, a little, I suppose."

To his loyal dog lady, Ren Yidao did not hide anything and said frankly: "It's not that there isn't a way to bring them along, but there's no need."

"We just happened to be on the same path for a while, each taking what we needed. There is no need to be responsible for their lives or deaths. I even helped Dong Rong get rid of his enemy; it is they who should be thanking me."

Cang Lan listened to Ren Yidao's explanation for a while, then suddenly chuckled softly and said slowly: "Master, you are truly gentle."

"Hmm? How so?"

Why are you suddenly calling me 'gentle'?

"Because if you really thought exactly as you just said, you wouldn't have hesitated at all."

The silver wolf chuckled, with a hint of teasing and mockery.

Next, she felt the feet of the person on her back hook inward, lightly tapping a spot on her soft abdomen, "... You're the one who talks too much."

"Hehe, ah! Ugh!" Cang Lan let out a whimper as if electrocuted, nearly going soft at the knees and diving headfirst into the Killing Array with Ren Yidao.

Ren Yidao would never admit that he had left a sliver of his soul on those two, just in case he needed to save them once should they encounter mortal danger.

Meeting is fate; I was merely leaving behind a bit of good karma.

I will not admit it!

Huhu here is not "yasashii" at all!

"Especially when facing enemies, I am not gentle in the slightest."

Ren Yidao thought of Hu Yiyi, whom he was about to encounter at the Dragon Transformation Pool, and his brows twitched slightly.

"Come to think of it, my fate with this guy is quite deep." He stroked his chin and muttered to himself: "How is it that what I have with Dong Rong and the others counts as good karma, while with Hu Yiyi it counts as Evil?"

Ren Yidao pondered for a moment and found that his relationship with Hu Yiyi and the Hu Family was truly quite interesting.

Hu Wanwan plotted to harm him, he fought back, and Hu Wanwan died miserably.

The fake name he used in the Overseas Divine Continent was Hu Wanwan, and he nominally killed the son of Ao Zhun, which led to Ao Zhun descending upon the East Sea to demand Hu Wanwan from the Eastern Wasteland; this indirectly caused the Hu Family to become a target for plunder by various kings, becoming the fuse for the Hu Family's decline.

Furthermore, while in Demon Emperor City, he continued to use the fake name Hu Wanwan, even becoming the Demon Race Crown Prince that countless of the Demon Race looked forward to, and when fighting He Shou, he had even used the name "Hu Yiyi" to deceive him.

"Thinking about it this way, why do I feel like I'm a great villain who has done every evil thing?"

Wow.

From the perspective of the Hu Family, isn't this just a pure, unadulterated villain?

Not a single thing done that is remotely human.

Recalling it like this, even the fact that Hu Yiyi has now taken his disciple hostage, why does it feel like I'm just getting what I deserve...

"This isn't right, Ren is someone who cultivates Merit! It was clearly him who harmed me!"

Cang Lan, beneath Ren Yidao, curled her lip and said to herself: "Yes, yes, yes, you're the only good person! Everyone else is a bad person!"

But this time, having already suffered, Cang Lan only dared to complain in her heart and did not dare to say another word.

A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit!

A fall...

"Ugh!? What are you doing!?"

Ren Yidao withdrew his mischievous foot and said eerily: "I feel your heart is not calm; I'm helping you cool down."

Little sister, the two of us are pressed so close, we're practically at negative distance, so keep the thoughts in your head in check.

"That you and I can meet here is fate."

The Red Dragon monk crouched beside Ao Zhun, patted his shoulder, and said gently: "Now, is your head a bit clearer?"

Ao Zhun: "..."

The battered and bruised East Sea Dragon King rolled his eyes and ignored this outrageous fake monk.

Damn it.

A dog monk full of mercy, but his hands are not merciful at all.

When those sandbag-sized fists were knocking against his skull one by one, this dog thing was still laughing wildly.

Talking about salvation, helping me clear my head—you just wanted to beat me up, right!?

Also, you don't want to think about how many days you've been beating me!

Huh!?

"Hehe, this poor monk's hands were a bit heavy just now; I haven't moved them in a long time, so I'm a bit rusty and didn't know my own strength." The Chijiao monk smiled, rubbed his bald head, stood up, and pulled the monk's staff out of the ground.

The monk's face returned to its previous look of mercy, and he bowed to the Dragon King in the deep pit.

"Benefactor, this poor monk can only help you this much; as for what happens later, you must pray for your own good fortune."

"..."

"Regardless of why you came or what the facts are, you have your own judgment in your heart."

"..."

No matter what the Red Dragon monk said, Ao Zhun remained silent, lying at the bottom of the pit like a dead fish.

Not until the monk left did Ao Zhun crawl up from the bottom of the pit.

"..."

His heart was not as calm as it appeared on the surface.

The fake monk's fists hurt when they hit him, but they were indeed effective; Ao Zhun was now clearer than ever before.

He had not been this rational for a long time.

Under those terrifying fists, even the matter of impending death became less important.

Ao Zhun narrowed his eyes and whispered in his heart:

"This is a conspiracy."

Hu Yiyi frowned as he looked at the youth riding a wolf leisurely approaching from afar, and said coldly:

"Stop! This Cave Abode has already been occupied by me; go find another Cave Abode!"

"If you come any closer, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Although the other party's strength did not look strong, being able to walk here so leisurely meant their strength certainly could not be underestimated.

If he could force them back like this, it would save quite a bit of trouble.

"Cave Abode?"

The youth was stunned for a moment, raised his eyes to look at the palace behind Hu Yiyi, and then waved his hands with a smile: "No, no, no, I am not here to fight you for the Cave Abode."

"Hmph, that's good then." Hu Yiyi breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, though on the surface he maintained that same tough, arrogant posture.

"As for me, I am here to find you."

"What did you say? Find me? I don't know you." Hu Yiyi instinctively sensed something was wrong and let out a cold snort: "Don't go looking for trouble, leave here quickly!"

"It doesn't matter if you don't know me now, you will know me later."

Ren Yidao did not mind his hostile attitude and said gently: "Hu Yiyi, where is my disciple? Can you return my disciple to me?"

The youth chuckled as he gestured to indicate the height of a child, and said leisurely: "He is still so small, you mustn't bully him."

"Otherwise..."

"I will have no choice but to bully you."