A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1361 - 918: The Three Monsters of Black Bear Cave Suffer Together, Duanmu Huai Blasts Five Fingers Mountain Apart

Chapter 1361: Chapter 918: The Three Monsters of Black Bear Cave Suffer Together, Duanmu Huai Blasts Five Fingers Mountain Apart

For Duanmu Huai, going to the Western Paradise to retrieve scriptures was no easy feat.

After all, Monk Tang could ride a horse, but with Duanmu Huai’s size, if not walking, he could only ride an elephant. Thus, at present, Duanmu Huai could only rely on the Number 11 bus to move forward. That day, as he reached the mountain boundary, he saw an inn ahead and swaggered in.

The inn was empty and deserted with barely anyone around, unlike Monk Tang, and Duanmu Huai was not dressed in a kasaya or carrying a monk’s hat, appearing just like a regular errand boy. As soon as Duanmu Huai entered the inn, he shouted loudly.

"Xiao Er, bring three pounds of beef and a pot of wine."

"Okay, dear guest, please wait!"

Soon after Duanmu Huai called out, Xiao Er quickly came over, served the sliced beef and wine, then Duanmu Huai started to eat and drink heartily.

Hmm... Although the taste was average, beef, after all, even just roasted, is quite flavorful without any seasoning and can be very satisfying to eat.

No wonder in martial heroes novels, the heroes are always depicted enjoying their meat and wine hugely – it truly is satisfying.

After three rounds of drinks, Duanmu Huai ordered a few more pounds of beef. Seizing the moment Xiao Er approached, he curiously asked.

"Innkeeper, why is there no one here? Is this perchance a shady inn?"

"Ah, you don’t know, dear guest."

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s question, Xiao Er also started complaining with a long face.

"To be honest, a Black Bear Spirit, a Tiger Spirit, and a Water Buffalo Spirit have appeared in the nearby mountains. They have claimed the mountains as their own, capturing and eating people. Recently, almost none of the hunters who went into the mountains have returned. As time went on, people dared not come here anymore, and I’m thinking of closing up shop too."

"Oh... I see."

With that realization, Duanmu Huai slapped his forehead and finally remembered he was in the demon-infested world of Westward Journey. Indeed, he hadn’t encountered anything strange on the way recently, which made him forget the demons here could actually eat people — Hmm, isn’t this perfect?

In the past, Wu Song became famous for fighting a tiger after drinking, and now here’s me, Duanmu Huai, about to fight a Tiger Spirit after drinking.

This is even more impressive than fighting a regular tiger!

With that thought, Duanmu Huai slapped the table once more.

"Xiao Er, bring me more wine! Today, I shall drink to my heart’s content and then go up the mountain to slay that Tiger Spirit and skin it!"

Unfortunately, this inn did not serve the heavy-duty liquor that one needs to be wary of after three bowls; in fact, strictly speaking, the alcohol content of ancient wines wasn’t very high, at least those thin-like-fruit-wine ones served here in the inn. But it makes sense, if high-proof liquor like Er Guotou was served in inns, which Jianghu hero would dare to chug bowl after bowl?

That would be seeking death by alcohol poisoning.

As for monks not being allowed to drink alcohol or eat meat - what’s that got to do with me? If Buddha frowns upon eating meat or drinking, then he simply isn’t a joyful person! When I eventually make it to Spirit Mountain, I’ll give that baldy a good thumping and see if he still dares to be smug then!

After eating his fill and washing it down with drink, Duanmu Huai tossed some silver coins casually, picked up his Tin Rod, and headed up the mountain.

In the deep forest where no sunlight could penetrate, it wasn’t long before dusk approached, and the forest became pitch dark. However, as Duanmu Huai was following the mountain path, he suddenly saw several dark figures leap out. Looking closely, these fellows were the monsters from the wild mountains who had only partially transformed into human shapes, similar to those seen on the Journey to the West TV series, with furry beast bodies and beast heads.

Hmm... Like those joyously controlled by Furries, perhaps?

"Hey, brothers, we caught a big one!"

These monsters, armed with knives, forks, and clubs, were thrilled to see Duanmu Huai and quickly surrounded him.

"Tie him up and take him to the king!"

"Bold creatures!"

Seeing these fairies so brazen, Duanmu Huai’s eyes were wide with rage, his anger reaching the heavens as he glared fiercely at the demons and roared.

"Scum looking for death!"

In the midst of speaking, Duanmu Huai swung his Tin Rod forward and, with a fierce lash, sent those demons flying, exploding into mincemeat. Then Duanmu Huai stepped forward with large strides, reached out, grabbed one of the demons lying on the ground, and glared at it viciously.

"Where is your king? Take me to him!"

Under Duanmu Huai’s ferocious threat, the demon dared not say more, quivering with fear, nodded, and then led Duanmu Huai to a cave entrance halfway up the mountain ridge.

There was even a name above the cave entrance.

Pansy Cave... no, Water Curtain Cave... no, this was Black Wind Cave.

All right then.

"Call out your king!"

Duanmu Huai kicked the unlucky demon into the cave, and in not too long, three burly demon figures emerged. The one in the middle was covered in black fur, reminiscent of a blind bear. On either side was the Tiger Spirit and the Water Buffalo Spirit... Wait a minute, how did you two carnivores end up teaming with this herbivore? Shouldn’t you have eaten him first?

As Duanmu Huai curiously sized up the three demons, they also caught sight of him, pausing in surprise.

This great man in front of them resembled a burly black bear, with glaring eyes and a ferocious face, a Tin Rod in hand, dressed in a long robe, his murderous aura was chilling. Even the Demon Kings were apprehensive facing this giant.

"Who are you? Why have you come to create trouble in my Black Wind Cave?"

Seeing he was taller than himself, the leading bear demon immediately turned timid, but with his brothers by his side and underlings behind, it had to maintain a tough facade, puffing up and growling fiercely at Duanmu Huai.

"Are you the man-eating demon?"

In fact, there was no need for a reply, when these three monsters appeared, Duanmu Huai instantly felt the strong stench of a corpse emanating from them, a distinct smell belonging solely to man-eating beings. Since this was the case, he had no reason to play nice!

"Die, Alien Hybrid!"

Startled by Duanmu Huai’s furious roar, the opponents were taken aback, not expecting him to be so straightforward—no greetings, just straight into action. Before they could react, Duanmu Huai was already smashing down with the Tin Rod directly onto the head of the Black Bear Spirit. With a thunderous strike, the entire Black Bear Spirit exploded, together with its minions and the cave, even causing the mountain range to quake. Rocks and debris fell, instantly burying Black Wind Cave entirely.

"Hmph, that was nothing."

Duanmu Huai withdrew the Tin Rod, glancing at the completely collapsed Black Wind Cave and curled his lip. But he also knew, these rural demons hardly made the cut, and even if Sun Wukong were here, they’d just be one strike’s business. However, the demons that would come later wouldn’t be so easily dealt with.

Well, actually, Duanmu Huai had always wanted to have a go against those Demon King-level demons, like the Bull Demon King, and the White Bone Spirit —— what a pity Journey to the West doesn’t have fox spirits, otherwise he’d find a Daji to see, wouldn’t that be interesting?

Forget it, let’s leave it at that.

After making sure that the demons were dead beyond any doubt, Duanmu Huai slung the Tin Rod over his shoulder, humming a tune, and continued on.

According to the directions of Xiao Er, just over this mountain is Five Fingers Mountain. Although Duanmu Huai didn’t have a map and didn’t know which nearby mountain was Five Fingers Mountain, it didn’t matter, he still had voice navigation.

"Master——! Master——! Master——!"

Tsk, tsk, such vigor after being suppressed for five hundred years.

Hearing the shouts echoing through the mountains and forests, scaring the birds into fleeing, Duanmu Huai cleaned out his ears and walked towards the source of the noise.

Then, he saw the monkey trapped under Five Fingers Mountain, with only its head sticking out.

"Hahahaha, hahahaha...."

As Duanmu Huai approached closer, perhaps hearing the footsteps, the monkey became increasingly excited.

"Master, quickly free me, and I promise to protect you on your journey to the Western Paradise..."

However, before it could finish speaking, Duanmu Huai appeared in front of the monkey. Upon clearly seeing Duanmu Huai, the monkey was at a loss for words.

".........."

".........."

For a moment, both sides locked eyes in silence, and after a short while, the monkey looked at Duanmu Huai with confusion.

"You... could it be that you’re a monk? Are you the monk who is going to the Western Paradise for scriptures?"

"What? Don’t I look like one?"

"No, where’s there a monk that looks like you?"

"That’s exactly why I’m the one to go to the Western Paradise for scriptures."

Duanmu Huai clapped his hands and gazed at the monkey in front of him.

"What’s that to you?"

"Master, you may not know this, but I am the Heavenly Great Sage who caused havoc in the Celestial Palace five hundred years ago. Because I defied Heaven, I was suppressed here by Tathagata Buddha..."

"Oh, so you want me to help you out of your predicament, then you can go seek revenge against Tathagata?"

".......... Is that what a monk should say?"

Faced with Duanmu Huai’s words, the monkey was left speechless.

"Anyway, it was Guanyin Bodhisattva who told me to take you as my master, so please, master, quickly free me, and we can go to the Western Paradise together to retrieve the scriptures."

"Hmm, alright."

Duanmu Huai didn’t seem to mind and nodded his head.

"Okay then, master. You go up the mountain, on the mountain peak there’s a golden talisman from Tathagata, just peel it off, and I’ll be out."

"No need to bother with all that fuss."

However, faced with the monkey’s words, Duanmu Huai just waved his hand, then squinted his eyes, sizing up the Five Fingers Mountain in front of him.

If this mountain was created with the Divine Power of Tathagata... then... let’s see whose strength is greater, mine or Tathagata’s!

"I’ll just blast this mountain apart for you!"

"Ah? Master? What are you talking about? Master? Wait, what are you trying to do?!"

But at this moment, Duanmu Huai completely ignored the monkey’s shouts. He took a few steps back, fixed his gaze on the mighty mountain, then raised his right hand, aimed it at the mountain, and clenched it tightly!

"Break for me————!"

Following Duanmu Huai’s thunderous roar, the Five Fingers Mountain instantly shattered, exploding violently, with thunder rolling and the earth shaking all around. The towering peaks were blasted into pieces, countless rocks flying like cannonballs in all directions. In a mere moment, amidst a rising cloud of dust, the Five Fingers Mountain was nowhere to be seen.

"Good."

Watching the scene, Duanmu Huai nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, the mountain was blessed with Tathagata’s Divine Power, but it seems it was still no match for him!

Now he was even more confident about storming Upper Spirit Mountain!

Alright, next up... let’s see how that monkey is doing.