"If...if I really don't like this marriage, what should I do, Brother Chu?" Mu Nianci finally murmured, her voice barely audible.
"Who you love is your choice. No one else can decide that for you," Chu Yang replied before pausing slightly. "But if you ask me, I think Guo Jing is a better match than Yang Kang. Even if you don't like Guo Jing, it's best not to choose Yang Kang."
Mu Nianci was utterly confused. What did this have to do with Yang Kang?
A cough came from inside the carriage, interrupting their conversation.
Mu Nianci quickly straightened up, her cheeks flushed. A pang of guilt struck her heart as she glanced at Huang Rong, feeling she had wronged her. She dared not speak further for the rest of the journey.
With magical enhancements, the carriage traversed the grasslands effortlessly. In just one day and night, they arrived near Tiemuzhen's royal tent.
Stepping out of the carriage, the trio discovered a banquet in progress, seemingly to welcome important guests.
"Xiao Chu, they're dancing! I want to join them!"
"Forget it. They might mistake you for a spy."
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just a girl. How could I be a spy?"
"Enough joking. Let's find where Guo Jing's mother is staying."
As they bantered, they led Mu Nianci through the singing and dancing crowd to locate Li Ping's tent. Most of the Mongolians were already drunk.
Chu Yang used illusions on several intoxicated Mongolians, coaxing them into revealing Li Ping's location.
However, just as they were about to head there, Chu Yang overheard a discussion about Vajrayana Buddhism. Using his Observation Haki, he realized the banquet's guest of honor was from Vajrayana.
"How fortuitous. I thought it would take much longer to find them…"
Delighted, Chu Yang turned to Huang Rong. "You take Miss Mu to find her. I'll catch up later."
With that, he disappeared before their eyes.
Huang Rong and Mu Nianci exchanged glances, still unaccustomed to Chu Yang's "immortal-like" techniques.
Meanwhile, Chu Yang strolled towards the center of the royal court, his Observation Haki pinpointing Tiemuzhen's tent, where he overheard a conversation with a Vajrayana monk.
Soldiers standing guard fell into a trance under his illusions, standing motionless like puppets.
Lifting the tent flap, Chu Yang saw Tiemuzhen seated in the center, flanked by monks in crimson robes.
Tiemuzhen noticed Chu Yang's Chinese attire and shouted, "Who are you?"
Ignoring him, Chu Yang snapped his fingers, causing Tiemuzhen and the monks to fall into a daze.
Walking up to the Vajrayana monk, Chu Yang began questioning him about the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.
At the same time, outside Li Ping's tent, Mu Nianci hesitated, biting her lip.
Seeing this, Huang Rong's mischievous grin vanished, replaced by a cold expression.
"Be honest, Sister Mu. Do you like Xiao Chu?"
Flustered, Mu Nianci's heart raced. Caught off guard, she instinctively shouted, "I don't!"
"You're so nervous—it's obvious you like him! Stop pretending!" Huang Rong snapped.
"No, I don't! Huang Rong, stop spouting nonsense!" Mu Nianci stammered, her face burning.
Just then, a voice came from inside the tent.
"Who's out there?"
Hearing her mother tongue, Li Ping's voice quivered with emotion.
Mu Nianci's face turned pale. Was she really about to meet her future mother-in-law?
"If you don't admit it, I'll drag you inside to meet her!" Huang Rong threatened.
"I'm sorry! I admit it! I do like Brother Chu!" Mu Nianci whimpered, tears brimming in her eyes.
At that moment, Li Ping stepped out, stunned to see two stunning young women at her door. "Who are you?"
With a radiant smile, Huang Rong said, "Aunt Li, your daughter has come to see you!"
Inside the royal tent, Chu Yang's interrogation was abruptly interrupted by a strange force dispelling his illusions.
Among the monks, the youngest suddenly opened his eyes and, in flawless Chinese, said, "Your techniques are extraordinary but rather dishonorable."
Intrigued, Chu Yang asked, "How did you break my spell?"
"Such a trivial illusion—how could a follower of Buddha not see through it?" the monk replied with a serene smile. He began chanting a Buddhist mantra, unleashing a mighty, righteous power that surged through the tent.
Chu Yang's eyes lit up. "I thought this was just a martial world. Seems like it's veering into the supernatural. I wonder how strong this monk really is."
Forming a seal with one hand, the monk summoned a glowing golden swastika that expanded as it advanced.
Chu Yang countered with several Diamond Palm strikes, but the immense force obliterated his attacks instantly.
"Worldly martial arts are no match for the true teachings of Vajrayana!"
"Repent, sinner, and embrace salvation!" the monk declared, exuding an aura of divine authority.
As the swastika neared Chu Yang, a brilliant burst of lightning shattered it, revealing a terrifying transformation.
Golden robes adorned Chu Yang, lightning coiled around him, and his spinning Sharingan radiated an otherworldly power.
The monk was stunned, realizing Chu Yang was no ordinary mortal.
"Demon!" he gasped.
The young monk exclaimed in shock.
Recalling the source of the Tailed Beast Cloak's power, Chu Yang thought the monk's words weren't entirely wrong. He grinned and said, "Then, Master, please subdue this demon!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Yang's figure flickered and appeared in front of the young monk, placing a hand on his head, which was surrounded by the light of Buddha.
"How impudent!"
The young monk pressed his palms together, and behind him appeared a towering Buddha emitting a golden light, mirroring his posture.
The small yurt couldn't withstand such a large-scale battle and was instantly obliterated by the sweep of the Buddha's hands, reduced to ash.
Tiemuzhen and a few lamas remained unharmed, shielded by the golden light emanating from the young monk, which carried them to a safe distance.
Chu Yang was caught between the giant palms, as if he were a feeble fly.
"Your body is filled with murderous intent. Today, I must enlighten you!"
The golden light around the young monk grew brighter.
Yet, Chu Yang's face showed no sign of panic. Behind him, an equally imposing figure emerged, slowly enveloping him.
The Buddha's palms were forced open by an overwhelming power. The young monk focused his gaze and found the figure of Chu Yang had disappeared, replaced by a gigantic, three-headed, six-armed monster.
Susano'o drew its bow and released an energy arrow, which pierced straight through the Buddha's head.
The vast golden light dimmed in an instant.
Pfft!
The young monk coughed up blood, feeling as if his internal organs had taken a severe blow. The pain nearly caused him to lose consciousness.
Susano'o approached him. When it dissipated, Chu Yang's original form was revealed. He still reached out and placed a hand on the monk's head.
"Monk, do you still want to save me?"
"Amitabha. My meager skills failed to vanquish the demon. What a pity."
"Are you not afraid I'll kill you for saying such things?"
"Monks have long since transcended life and death."
"Your insight is impressive."
Chu Yang patted the monk's head. Just moments ago, he had extracted the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill and, during the battle, had also acquired an unknown esoteric Buddhist technique.
Since he had gained something, there was no need to kill unnecessarily. After all, the monk bore him no grudge, and he was the one at fault.
This encounter also taught Chu Yang that illusions were only effective against those of lower cultivation. Against a determined practitioner like the young monk, they were almost useless.
The young monk waited for a long time but did not find himself sent to the Pure Land to meet the Great Sun Tathagata. Opening his eyes, he realized Chu Yang had vanished.
"Could it be he's not truly a demon?"
The monk murmured in confusion and chanted "Amitabha" softly. "To think there exists such a remarkable person in the world."
The intense battle earlier had woken many drunken people. Seeing the Buddha defeated by a monstrous arrow, they fell to their knees in fear, praying fervently that the demon god would spare them.
As Chu Yang walked away, no one dared to raise their heads. It was as if some instinct warned them that the scholar emerging from the royal court was the three-headed, six-armed demon god himself.
Even though no one looked up, they knelt and prostrated in the direction of his footsteps with utmost devotion.
Two young girls, trembling after witnessing the battle between the demon god and the Buddha, cautiously left Li Ping's yurt. They stumbled upon the sight of countless herders and soldiers bowing before Chu Yang.
"Little Chu, did you just kill the Buddha?" Huang Rong's face was pale.
"Not the Buddha—just a monk's manifestation," Chu Yang replied with a smile and a shake of his head.
"Are you okay?" Huang Rong anxiously began inspecting him, touching here and there, worried he might have been hurt.
"If you keep touching me like that, I might accuse you of harassment!"
Chu Yang impatiently slapped away Huang Rong's hand. He was already irritable, and who knew what trouble could arise if she continued?
"Miss Mu, are you really planning to travel the martial world alone?"
"Yes, Brother Chu. Thank you for taking care of me during this time."
"You're welcome. Take care of yourself."
"Brother Chu... I've already explained the engagement to Madam Li. When I return, I'll discuss canceling it with my father."
"Ah, as long as you've made up your mind, there's no need to explain it to me."
"Brother Chu, do you think we'll meet again?"
"If you're ever bored, you can always visit the private school to find Huang Rong. She'll definitely be happy to see you."
Standing by the carriage, Mu Nianci suddenly fell silent, lowering her head to look at her toes. An ant crawled up from the ground onto her shoe.
The moon hung high in the sparse night sky.
Chu Yang, unsure of how to bid farewell, turned to look at Huang Rong.
"Chu, you're so stingy. At a time like this, you can't even offer a parting gift?"
Huang Rong rolled her eyes and pulled a cloth doll from her pocket. The doll was dressed to resemble Mu Nianci.
"Miss Mu, this is for you!"
Huang Rong handed the doll to Mu Nianci, who accepted it with a smile as she examined it closely.
Chu Yang scratched his head. He had never thought about giving Mu Nianci a gift.
Mu Nianci, holding the doll, looked expectantly at Chu Yang.
"I'll give you a hairpin."
A branch twirled in Chu Yang's palm, emitting a faint green glow that was enchanting under the night sky, like countless fireflies dancing around.
A jade-green wooden hairpin materialized in Chu Yang's hand, which he handed to Mu Nianci.
Mu Nianci gently stroked the hairpin, her gaze softening.
"Alright, Miss Mu, this is goodbye!"