Chapter 429: If You Help Me

Wife!

Kui Mu Lang, seething with anger, returned to the Wave‑Moon Cave of Bowls Mountain; the moment he stepped into the cave, he saw his beloved "Princess of Hundred Flowers" sitting by a stone bed, pounding his chest and stamping his feet, crying with tears like rain on pear blossoms, his face full of grievance and anxiety.

Seeing his beloved wife in such a state, Kui Mu Lang's thoughts were replaced by concern, and his intelligence plummeted.

He lunged forward in a single stride, extending his furry arm to hug the "princess" in comfort.

"Wife! My heart! What's wrong with you? Why are you so troubled? What fright have you suffered? Quickly tell your husband!"

Sun Wukong, caught in his embrace, forced himself not to swing a staff at him, his eyes rolled, and his sobbing became even more heartrending:

"You heartless one! Don't you know?! My two poor children… were taken away!"

"Wuwu… my wretched children! In life I do not know where you are, in death I do not know where your bones lie; how can a mother not weep, how can she not feel pain?!"

When Kui Mu Lang heard "children were taken", he was first stunned, then the earlier scene of Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng carrying two little demons to the Royal Palace flashed in his mind, and he erupted in fury:

"What?! That pig‑headed one who was carrying them before… were they really my children?! How dare they!"

"It was that scoundrel called Zhu Bajie who stole them! I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Damn! Damn it!"

Kui Mu Lang's eyes widened to the brink of bursting, his demonic aura boiling: "I will go kill that Tang dynasty monk now, to avenge my children!" Having said so, he turned to rush out of the cave.

But he saw his "wife" still whimpering, looking utterly heartbroken and with chest pain; his concern surged again, and his steps halted.

After a moment of hesitation, as if making a decision, he opened his mouth, a flash of light from his throat, and spat out a pearl the size of an egg, perfectly round and translucent, radiating warm, gentle light and pure vital energy!

"Wife, don't cry. Does your chest hurt? Feel this; this is the 'relic exquisite inner core' that I, for my life, have cultivated together, best for calming the mind, soothing the spirit, and nourishing vital energy."

"Give it a try, and I guarantee the pain will cease!" Kui Mu Lang, as if presenting a treasure, handed the inner core to the "Princess of Hundred Flowers", his face full of concern.

Sun Wukong's eyes flashed with a sharp light, his sobbing stopped, and he pretended curiosity and anticipation, asking: "Really? Does it truly have such miraculous effect?"

"Of course it's true! When have I ever deceived you?"

"Then… let me see!"

Sun Wukong said, extending his delicate jade hand, but instead of touching, with a speed faster than the eye, he snatched the exquisite inner core in one swift grab!

Kui Mu Lang was stunned: "Wife, what are you…?"

"What are you looking at! Who is your wife!" Sun Wukong let out a strange laugh, his body swayed, the disguise on his face washed away like a tide, revealing a hairy monkey face with a thunder‑god mouth, full of lewd smirk:

"Glaring with your dog eyes, Grandpa Sun, see who I am!"

Kui Mu Lang was stunned by this sudden turn, staring as his once enchanting beloved wife instantly turned into a scratching, ear‑grabbing ape.

His mind momentarily crashed, and he instinctively stepped back two paces, pointing at Sun Wukong, stammering:

"Wife, my wife? You, you… how did you become such an ugly face to frighten your husband?"

Sun Wukong: "………………"

"Demon! Take a stick from old Sun!"

Bang—!!!

A earth‑shaking roar rang out, the entire Wave‑Moon Cave quivered violently, and rocks from the ceiling fell like rain!

Outside the cave, the lurking Bai Lang felt the ground beneath his feet suddenly quake, and then heard the deafening roar echoing from deep within Bowls Mountain.

He hurriedly looked up and saw the towering main peak of Bowls Mountain, near the Wave‑Moon Cave, with half of the mountain body collapsing as if smashed by a giant's fist, crashing down!

Smoke and dust surged skyward, and shattered rocks rolled down like a waterfall!

Bai Lang's eyes widened; although he had received Yu Lin's pill of transformation, greatly increasing his strength, even now he was still terrified at a glance.

In the past, not even speaking of joining a battle of this level, even being hit by its aftershocks would likely shatter bones and break tendons.

Immediately after, two streams of light shot out from the collapsed mountain, one after the other, soaring straight into the heavens!

Above the sky, the radiance spread, revealing a figure.

On one side manifested Sun Wukong, with three heads and six arms, wielding three Golden Cudgels, his body ablaze with Golden Light, his battle spirit raging.

On the other side emerged Kui Mu Lang in part of his true form, short horns sprouting from his head, a fierce visage, holding a gleaming cold‑light treasure sword, his demonic aura soaring.

"You demon! Give your life!" Sun Wukong's six arms swung together, the three Golden Cudgels turning into a sky‑filled barrage of rod shadows, like a sudden storm or a celestial net, descending onto Kui Mu Lang.

"You reckless monkey! Return my inner core!"

Kui Mu Lang, shocked, angry, and pained, having lost his inner core, his magical power greatly diminished, but his ferocity was fully unleashed; the treasure sword in his hand whirled like a wheel, its blade gleaming coldly, emitting a space‑rending shriek, boldly meeting the attack!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! …

The clashing of sword and rod sounded densely like frying beans, also like a series of thunderclap explosions!

Each collision burst forth dazzling sparks and visible shockwaves!

A Frenzy of airflow, centered on the two, raged outward in all directions!

All the clouds within sight, whether pure white cumulus or wispy cirrus, before this terrifying energy storm,

were easily torn apart and blown away like cotton, vanishing in an instant, revealing a deep blue sky, as if washed clean of lurking murderous intent!

Bai Lang, hidden below, watched with his heart racing and spirit shaken, yet secretly rejoiced that his cultivation had advanced greatly, allowing him to safely observe the battle under such might.

He steadied his mind, staring intently at the battlefield, especially Kui Mu Lang's condition, waiting for the sole opportunity the young master mentioned.

High above, Sun Wukong grew more excited with each strike; though Kui Mu Lang had lost his inner core and his strength was reduced, his sword technique was refined, his demonic body robust, still able to spar with him, providing a good chance to stretch his limbs.

However, having had enough fun, it was time to get down to business!

His thoughts flashed like lightning; he feigned a flaw, deliberately exposing an empty opening before Kui Mu Lang's sword.

Kui Mu Lang, unable to finish the prolonged fight, grew restless; seeing an opportunity, without suspicion, he roared, thrusting his treasure sword with full force at Sun Wukong's seemingly unguarded ribs!

However, the instant the blade was about to strike, Sun Wukong's body twisted oddly, slipping away like a loach.

Simultaneously, his Golden Cudgel in hand moved at an even faster speed and a more cunning angle, striking first, delivering a heavy blow to Kui Mu Lang's forehead!

Bang!

A muffled thud sounded, like a heavy hammer striking an iron anvil! Kui Mu Lang felt his vision go black, golden stars flashing, and his forehead visibly caving in! The excruciating pain came with dizziness.

"Ah!" Kui Mu Lang cried out miserably, realizing that today victory was impossible, and continuing would likely cost his life.

At that moment he could no longer worry about the inner elixir or revenge; using the force of this strike, he vanished without a trace!

"Don't run! Ah!"

Sun Wukong slapped his thigh, irritated, and said: "You brat! You run fast! I really can't bring myself to strike! Forget it, this monster's origin is odd, its ability is passable, it likely has some background."

"Let old Sun go to the Heavenly Court, have a look, ask where the oversight is that let such a cursed beast harm the Human World!"

Having said that, he stopped the chase, turned his cloud, performed a somersault, Golden Light flickered, and flew straight toward the Southern Heavenly Gate.

Thousands of li away, above a desolate mountain ridge.

A dim yellow light staggered down, revealing Kui Mu Lang's disheveled figure.

He clutched his throbbing, sunken forehead, feeling his primordial spirit trembling, his magical power sluggish, his heart filled with both hatred and fear, and he snarled angrily toward the direction Sun Wukong had fled:

"Damn monkey! You actually have some skill! If you hadn't swindled my exquisite inner elixir, causing my magical power to plummet and my mind to be unsettled, we still wouldn't know who will win today!"

"Hmph, enjoy your brief arrogance; once I find a chance and heal my wounds, I will retrieve my inner elixir and settle the score with you!"

He kept cursing while cautiously scanning his surroundings, preparing to find a hidden spot to treat his injuries.

However, the instant his mind relaxed, a white figure appeared before him without warning, blocking the way.

It was a youth dressed in a white robe, with a stern face, gazing at him with eyes that emitted a faint Golden Light.

Kui Mu Lang was startled at first; upon seeing that the other carried no strong immortal aura or Buddha light, but rather a faint demonic scent, he immediately relaxed and even felt a surge of offended anger.

He clutched his forehead and let out a snarling laugh:

"Where does this short‑sighted little demon come from? Dare you block Grandpa Kui Mu Lang's path?"

"Fine, you seem to have robust qi and blood, perfect for me to use to replenish my body and restore my vitality!"

Having said that, without further words he extended his other uninjured hand, fingers forming claws, bearing lingering demonic wind, and lunged straight at Bai Lang's crown, intending to directly siphon its essence and vital energy.

Facing this sudden, fierce and swift claw, Bai Lang neither flashed nor evaded, and even a faint, scheming smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Just as Kui Mu Lang's sharp claw was about to reach Bai Lang's Heavenly Spirit Cover, Bai Lang suddenly opened his mouth and uttered:

"How about… you help me ascend to the Star Lord position, what do you think?"

"What?!"