A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1385 - 936: Old Green Bull Bows to Iron Fist, Women’s Kingdom Arrives to a Startling Change

Chapter 1385: Chapter 936: Old Green Bull Bows to Iron Fist, Women’s Kingdom Arrives to a Startling Change

Following Sun Wukong, Duanmu Huai was also wondering all the way how to enjoy the beef. As everyone knows, beef is the pinnacle of all delicious meats, and this Old Green Bull, having attained immortality with Laozi, was surely even more exquisite in taste. The beef neck could be used to make meatballs, the shoulder for stewing, the brisket for boiling soup, the rib eye for grilling steaks, the rump for curry, and the tendon could be braised...

"Master? Master?"

"Hmm?"

While Duanmu Huai was fantasizing about his divine days with liquor in one hand and braised meat in the other, Sun Wukong’s voice rang in his ear, bringing him back to reality as he turned to look at his disciple.

"We’ve arrived."

"Oh, then let’s get to it, you go challenge the Demon, and let’s deal with it after it shows up."

"Roger that!"

Hearing Duanmu Huai speak, Sun Wukong promptly responded and leaped to the entrance of the cave, yelling loudly.

"Rude Monster, come out and meet your grandpa Sun right here and now, my Master has come too, ready to get some practice in on you!"

The Demon inside the cave heard Sun Wukong’s cursing and was taken aback, then broke into a chuckle.

"I thought that monkey had gone to find someone remarkable, but he just brought back a mere mortal monk, what a joke. Even Pagoda Heavenly King and Prince Nezha couldn’t defeat me, how could a mortal monk be any threat to me? Just perfect, I’ve heard that eating Monk Tang’s flesh could prolong life, rejuvenate, and turn white hair black. Once I catch this monk, I’ll clean him up and have a feast!"

With that said, the Demon resolved and again took up his spear with his minions and walked out of the cave.

"You insolent monkey, thinking that bringing a mortal monk will subdue me, do you take me for some run-of-the-mill wild mountain spirit... Eh?"

As he was speaking, the Demon saw Duanmu Huai and was immediately startled. Had this been a more current setting, a curse would have leaped from his mouth.

This is a monk? A mortal one at that? Are you kidding me?

Who is this Demon? The killing intent is so strong that even I can’t contain it!

"Is it you who took my disciple’s staff?"

Duanmu Huai raised an eyebrow and looked at the Demon before him. Feeling the murderous gaze from Duanmu Huai, the Demon shivered, feeling as if not a person but a ferocious beast stood before him, ready to open its massive jaws and devour him whole!

At that moment, the Demon hastily took out a ring, and instinctively threw it at Duanmu Huai. The original name of the ring was Diamond Carving, also known as Diamond Cover, forged from thorough rasped steel, and turned divine by Laozi’s elixir touch, thus cultivating its own aura, capable of changing forms, impervious to water and fire, and able to entrap anything. Originally, Laozi relied on this treasure to vanish. Now, in a moment of life-threatening panic, the Demon resorted to using his treasured object.

"Capture!"

However, just as the Demon threw the ring, Duanmu Huai gathered his energy in his dantian, clenched his right fist, stepped forward, and threw a punch at the airborne ring!

"Break!"

With a roar from Duanmu Huai, the Demon’s treasured steel ring instantly shattered, exploding on the spot. The Demon was stunned, never expecting his treasured artifact to be crushed by a single punch from a mortal monk!

"Haha, now that you’ve lost that ring, let’s see what skills you have left!"

At this point, Sun Wukong, who was watching the battle, laughed heartily, while the Demon knew things were taking a bad turn and immediately knelt down.

"Holy Monk, spare my life, I am actually..."

However, before the Demon could finish his words, he heard the intense sound of fist wind. As he lifted his head, he saw a fist as big as a cooking pot smashing down directly onto his face, driving the Demon’s head deep into the ground and creating a large crater. The Demon’s body twitched a few times, then went silent, falling to the ground in the form of a large Blue Bull.

"Hmph, nothing more than that."

Duanmu Huai stood up. He of course recognized the identity of this Blue Bull, but what of it? Duanmu Huai had already asked Sun Wukong, knowing that this Devil had transformed this place into a den, luring travelers and consuming them. That is a transgression of the killing precepts, so it doesn’t matter if you are Laozi’s Blue Bull or the Jade Emperor’s Blue Bull; if you dare to eat people, you only have one path left—death!

"Master’s great power truly is extraordinary!"

At this time, Sun Wukong hurriedly came over to express his gratitude, while Duanmu Huai simply waved his hand.

"Alright, go do what you have to do."

"Yes, Master."

Now Sun Wukong was no longer playing the fool, and went into the cave to wreak havoc, smashing all the lesser Demons clean and finding the weapons and divine tools that were taken from himself and the Celestial Gods. He then split into dozens of clones and brought those treasures out.

Seeing their treasures recovered, the watchful Immortals also came down, each taking back their belongings. Duanmu Huai also took the chance to observe these Immortals, and had to admit, compared to the two-faced ones at Spirit Mountain, the gods of Celestial Palace were indeed more relatable. No matter the fame, they were all surrounding Duanmu Huai and bowing their thanks one by one.

"It’s incredible, to think that the Devil had such a powerful treasure and even more astounding is that you could shatter it with your bare hands, Master. Even though the monkey had told us, seeing is believing, and I had no idea you were that remarkable."

"It was nothing."

While receiving the flattery, Duanmu Huai naturally wouldn’t ignore them.

"In fact, I neither pursue Immortal cultivation nor Buddhism. This journey to the Western Paradise is simply by the decree of the Jade Emperor, to discern the truth of the Western Paradise and see if it really is as the Bodhisattva claimed. Yet, upon arriving in the West Cowherd State, I find Devils rampant and the people suffering, which is truly beyond imagination."

"Hehe..."

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s response, the Pagoda Heavenly King simply laughed without daring to reply. Meanwhile, another god carefully examined the Green Bull and suddenly looked surprised.

"Father, this seems to be Taishang Laojun’s bull."

"Ah?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was startled and hurriedly gathered around.

"It does look like...,"

"Indeed, if it’s Taishang Laojun’s bull... then it makes sense that we can’t trace it...,"

"But this bull is already dead, its soul dissipated, what are we to do now?"

At this moment, the immortals were also worried and helpless, looking at Duanmu Huai, who only shrugged his shoulders.

"What’s there to do? I plan to slaughter this cow later for a meal, marinate some beef to take with me, drinking and eating meat along the way, isn’t that joyous?"

"This......"

Upon hearing what Duanmu Huai said, the colors of the gods’ faces slightly changed, not caring whether monks ate meat or not, but this Green Bull was from Heavenly Court, and now someone planned to slaughter it for food......

"Gentlemen."

However, before they could say anything more, Duanmu Huai gave the gods a fist and palm salute.

"Not having cultivated the Way, nor having pursued Buddhism, yet still, carrying the burden of the common folk, I will slay without hesitation any demon or devil that dares to harm the mortals! No matter its origin or status, it shall be so! If the Heaven Son violates the law, he is punished as the commoners are. Even if it’s a celestial demon, it cannot escape death. If Taishang Laojun wishes to seek me for trouble, I shall bear it alone, without a second word. Since this Green Bull devours humans, it has only one path, and that’s death; there is no turning back, please be informed, everyone..."

"........."

Facing Duanmu Huai’s speech, the immortals were at a loss for words. If it were a mortal audacious enough to speak to them in this manner, they’d be sprayed to death long ago. However, just now in front of them, Duanmu Huai had demonstrated a fierce fight determined by a single punch, and even more terrifying was the fact that he shattered the Green Bull Monster’s treasure!

You’ve got to be kidding, he could break the Green Bull Monster’s treasure, so wouldn’t their treasures be easily crushed as well?

Moreover, with Duanmu Huai’s killing aura sky-high, from the gods’ perspective, the bright red killing aura was continuously erupting from his body, virtually enveloping the entire sky—this demon of a character, it’s best not to provoke if unnecessary.

"If not, why don’t you all stay and have a taste of this Green Bull?"

"Oh, no, it’s getting late."

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s invitation, the Pagoda Heavenly King trembled, hastily giving Sun Wukong a salute.

"Great Saint, the demon has been dealt with, and our treasures have been recovered, it’s time to return to the Celestial Palace to report back to the Jade Emperor, thus this deity takes his leave now."

Having said that, the Pagoda Heavenly King did not linger and led the gods in swift departure. As Duanmu Huai said, if Taishang Laojun wanted to find trouble with him, that was Taishang Laojun’s own business; they, well... it’s better not to wade into this muddy water.

"Truly missing out on delicacies."

Watching the gods fleeing hastily, Duanmu Huai shrugged his shoulders and looked towards Sun Wukong.

"What are you looking at, get on with the procedures."

"Oh, all right, Master."

Thus, in the following days, the two of them stayed in the Green Bull Monster’s cave, gathering gold and silver treasures while also enjoying a grand feast. You really can’t say, the taste of the bull demon meat was truly different, succulent and extremely delicious, the richness of the flavor so significant. Preparing braised beef shanks and beef hooves, planning to eat and drink their way leisurely.

As for Taishang Laojun, there was still no news; who knows if he conceded or what, but Duanmu Huai was not afraid. If Taishang Laojun dared to come looking for him, he’s more than welcome to try and see just how hard his fists are.

So Duanmu Huai rode on the Pegasus, left hand holding spicy beef jerky, right hand with chilled fruit wine, eating and drinking, leisurely continuing his journey towards the Western Paradise.

One day though, they were about to enter the Women’s Kingdom. Duanmu Huai was rather annoyed and let Sun Wukong scout ahead first. A few moments later, Wukong returned with a strange expression.

"What’s the matter? Monkey? What happened?"

"Master, there’s something odd about the Xi’Liang Woman Country."

"Oh?"

"I followed your orders to scout ahead, but upon arriving in Xi’Liang Woman Country, at first glance, every person in the city lay on the ground. At first, I thought they were all dead, but upon closer inspection, I found that these women were all in deep sleep, including the queen of Xi’Liang Woman Country. No matter how I blew or shouted, none of them would awake, quite amusing."

"Oh? There’s such a matter?"

Must say, hearing this Duanmu Huai was somewhat taken aback.

"We’ll take a look and see."

Under the guidance of Sun Wukong, Duanmu Huai rode into Xi’Liang Woman Country, and sure enough, all the women in the streets and in shops and taverns slept—on tables or on the ground, huffing in deep slumber, none waking.

Hmm... this actually reminded Duanmu Huai of a game; where all women were asleep and the protagonist ventured into that country and then... heh heh heh, everyone knows.

It’s just that, in the end, it seems it was also the Demon King’s scheme. Placed in Journey to the West, could it be the work of a fairy?

Duanmu Huai knew that Scorpion Essence was quite formidable, able to give Wukong a headache, but there was no mention of her having such an ability? Plus, what’s the point of putting an entire city to sleep?

"Anyway, let’s head to the Royal Palace first."