The Red-Faced Ghost's forehead was shattered by the Monkey King, causing its instant death. Without its master to drive it, the red ghost banner immediately lost all its supernatural powers and drifted leisurely down from mid-air, where Liang Yan caught it. The black wooden stake became a lifeless object, the surrounding wall of black mist had long since dissipated, and the six small ghosts had simultaneously dissolved into mist and vanished.
*Whoosh!* With a sound of breaking air, Liang Yan arrived in front of Li Xiran. He saw that the blood at her waist had already stained half of her clothes red; she was spitting blood from her mouth, her face pale and haggard, struggling to climb up from the ground.
However, her injuries were simply too heavy; several times when she attempted to rise, she would collapse again, trembling.
Feeling a pang of pity, Liang Yan stepped forward quickly and helped her sit up.
"Why must you do this?" Liang Yan sighed.
"To eliminate demons and defend the Way is the inescapable responsibility of us cultivators," Li Xiran said, leaning against a massive rock, breathing slightly heavily.
"Have you ever thought that we cultivators only seek longevity and happiness? If you are this headstrong and take a single wrong step in the future, you will face death and the dissipation of your Dao, and the person known as Li Xiran will vanish from this world forever?" Liang Yan asked again.
Li Xiran closed her eyes and replied, "If the Dao heart is flawed and the heart holds regret, even if one attains longevity, there will be no happiness."
Liang Yan's heart stirred at her words, and he gave her a deep, lingering look.
This woman was already seventeen or eighteen years old, yet her pretty face was as innocent and cute as a young girl's. Yet, on this lovely face, one only ever saw expressions of seriousness and gravity, as if she would not rest until every demon in the world was slain.
*Should I say this woman's personality is too serious, almost to the point of being rigid?*
Liang Yan thought to himself, but on second thought, he felt he was in no position to judge her. He could only shake his head with a bitter smile and say, "Rest here for a while. I will go first to break the evil spells on those commoners."
Liang Yan employed great Buddhist supernatural powers to break the spells on the hundred-plus people, but the twenty or so who had been left in the cave earlier were beyond saving because they had been under the spell for too long.
Because there were so many people this time, it took Liang Yan a full hour to finish them all, even with his speed. These people woke up as if from a dream; after hearing Liang Yan's explanation, they assumed they had been drugged by bandits and were saved by him passing by, so they thanked him one after another and descended the mountain.
Only after the last group had left did Liang Yan turn to walk toward Li Xiran. However, looking from a distance, he saw a tall figure standing beside her—it was the Golden Monkey King, who had returned.
Liang Yan was secretly alarmed. He had been so fully immersed in the process of breaking the spells that he hadn't noticed the Golden Monkey King approaching. Although they had been on the same side just now, beastly hearts are unpredictable; there was no guarantee it didn't harbor ill intentions now.
He quickened his pace to reach Li Xiran's side and asked, "How are you? Are you alright?" While speaking, he cast intentional or unintentional glances toward the Monkey King.
Sensing his worry, Li Xiran simply smiled faintly and said, "You've come. The Monkey King says he wants to thank you."
"How do you know—" Before Liang Yan could finish, he saw the Monkey King indeed stand before him, thrusting the ebony staff into the ground. Clasping its hands together, it actually bowed to him, mimicking human etiquette.
Liang Yan was momentarily speechless; he didn't know whether to accept this salute or not.
If he accepted it, the fight against the Red-Faced Ghost had relied mainly on the Monkey King and Li Xiran, and he hadn't contributed much. Furthermore, before arriving, his mind had been entirely focused on how to fight these spirit monkeys to seize their Spirit Monkey Wine; he felt he was unworthy of such a gesture.
If he refused it, he wasn't sure of these creatures' habits, and it wouldn't be worth it if he accidentally provoked them.
Helpless, Liang Yan could only cup his hands and bow back to the Monkey King.
The man and the monkey stood facing each other; despite their sizes differing by more than twofold, they both bowed and lowered their heads, continuously exchanging salutes.
With a *pfft*, Li Xiran, watching from the side, actually burst into laughter. However, the laughter strained her internal organs, causing her to cough immediately and spit out several mouthfuls of blood.
Coming to his senses, Liang Yan said worriedly, "Your injuries are so severe that ordinary pills might not be enough to save you. Are your sect elders nearby? Should I take you to find them?"
Li Xiran coughed and said, "No need. My sect is too far from here, and my elders are not nearby. But you needn't worry; the Monkey King just said he has a way to help me heal."
"What?" Liang Yan didn't react immediately and was about to ask for details when he heard footsteps in the forest. A group of Golden Spirit Monkeys emerged, numbering over twenty, large and small; the smallest was a newborn infant lying in its mother's arms.
One young spirit monkey broke from the group and circled around Liang Yan's feet, running excitedly and gesturing wildly while making constant chirping sounds.
Though Liang Yan prided himself on not being dull, communicating with monkeys was something he absolutely could not do. Just as he was showing a look of embarrassment, he heard Li Xiran say
"It says you are a great hero, and that once it has achieved success in its cultivation, it wants to become a person like you!"
"What? Do you understand monkey language?" Liang Yan asked suspiciously.
Li Xiran smiled faintly. "All things possess spirit. If one perceives them with the heart, one can naturally grasp their essence."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Monkey King gestured commandingly toward the troop. Four spirit monkeys stepped out to receive orders and ran back into the forest.
"What is it saying now?" Liang Yan asked curiously.
Li Xiran pursed her lips and smiled. "You will know in a moment."
Liang Yan was puzzled but could only wait on the spot. Not long after, the four spirit monkeys returned, working together to carry a massive wine vat on their shoulders.
The four monkeys wobbled as they placed the vat in front of Liang Yan, then climbed up to open the seal. A rich aroma of wine instantly permeated the air. Even though Liang Yan never drank, he had no doubt that the scent was sweet and mellow—a true masterpiece of the mortal realm.
"Spirit Monkey Wine!" Liang Yan exclaimed.
Beside him, Li Xiran smiled. "The Red-Faced Ghost originally planned to steal their brains and exterminate their clan. The Monkey King is grateful to us for helping it destroy the enemy, and wishes to offer this 'Spirit Monkey Wine' as a token of gratitude."
"I see." Liang Yan was overjoyed and nodded. "Then I shall not be impolite."
He glanced at Li Xiran and added, "And what about you? Are you not coming down the mountain with me?"
Li Xiran shook her head. "My injuries are too heavy. The Monkey King just told me there is a medicinal spring in the back mountains that can aid a cultivator's healing. Usually, when they are seriously injured, they are permitted to use the spring. Its invitation to me is also a way of thanking me for my assistance."
As she spoke, she was helped up by several spirit monkeys. She glanced at Liang Yan and continued, "This matter was thanks to Brother Liang's help; otherwise, I alone could never have slain the Red-Faced Ghost. I apologize for my previous offenses; please do not take them to heart." As she spoke, she bowed slightly, making a strained effort to salute Liang Yan.
Liang Yan hurriedly waved his hands. "Fellow Daoist Li, Great Hero Li, please do not do that. We are already friends, and we have shared life and death. If you use such formal etiquette, are you looking down on me, Liang Yan?"
Hearing this, Li Xiran gave a bright laugh and said happily, "Very well! Brother Liang! Then we shall meet again!"
"Until we meet again!" Liang Yan also smiled.
The two bid each other farewell. The monkey troop supported Li Xiran, walking step by step, slowly into the jungle.
Liang Yan watched her retreating figure until she disappeared, thinking to himself, *This woman is quite an extraordinary person, but whenever I meet her, nothing good happens. It's either fighting for life against a demon or deciding a winner against some monster. Tsk tsk, it's better not to see her again!*
After a bout of internal grumbling, he turned back to see the large vat of Spirit Monkey Wine, feeling a sense of irony. He had originally planned to ambush the Golden Spirit Monkeys to seize their wine, but instead of fighting them, he ended up standing side-by-side with them to repel an enemy. Through this twist of fate, he had ultimately obtained this large vat of Spirit Monkey Wine.
Liang Yan felt immensely gratified. He raised his hand and stowed the wine vat into his storage bag, thinking, *Regardless, the first of the three items—the 'Spirit Monkey Wine'—is in my hands.*
(End of Chapter)