Chapter 249: Eight Lifetime’s Worth of Bad Luck
Old Taoist wasn’t a petty person. Having traveled across lands and experienced countless adventures, he had become a carefree and relaxed person. Even if he ended up receiving no advantage in the end, it was still fate that let him meet this white ape.
Since this was destiny, what was wrong with giving the other some benefits?
Old Taoist took out an edict amulet. This amulet was very old and fragile. He had to be extra careful when taking it out or the amulet might tear.
There was another reason Old Taoist was willing to offer the amulet. This item couldn’t be kept for too long. Prior to this, several amulets had gone to waste due to loss of effectiveness or the amulets being damaged.
The remaining two were also giving out soon so why not use it when an opportunity arose? It was definitely better than throwing them out.
At this, Old Taoist invoked a spell and said to White Ape, “Dear White Ape, you’re lucky to have met me today. Let me give you a life-changing present.”
Before White Ape could understand what was going on, Old Taoist chanted, “O heaven and earth, sun and moon, may the constellations gather where yin and yang converge, where life and death exists. On the path of transformation, Tao is one and everything. May the three doors open where immortals heed my edict, now!”
The edict amulet in his hand burned and an invisible force shot into the white ape’s body.
Shocked, the latter immediately leaped away, looking apprehensive.
But soon, White Ape was stunned when he let out an abrupt cough followed by a ‘huh?’.
Knowing what Old Taoist just did, the monkey demon was jumping up and down in joy.
“Brother Ape, you’re in luck. Master actually used his edict amulet on you. This stuff is priceless,” the monkey demon ran over to tell him. White Ape was gaping, clearly surprised. Then, he coughed several more times.
“I… I…”
White Ape could now hear his own voice. Stunned, he began to speak slowly, “I… I can talk?”
Although his tone was a little off and sounded weird, White Ape had undoubtedly gained the ability of speech.
He tried getting used to it and soon became more proficient. The excitement on his face became increasingly intense.
“I can talk! Hahahaha, this is great, so great! When we get back, I can talk to Shang’er, Little Five, and everyone else. Right, if Master Lin finds out, he’d definitely be happy too.”
White Ape’s voice was very rough but one could now tell what he was saying.
At this, Old Taoist learned that this ‘Master Lin’ White Ape had mentioned must be the primate’s mentor.
White Ape clearly knew he had gained something. According to Master Lin, it would have taken at least another one or two months to master Hyoid Bone Refinement like Shang’er and Little Five had.
‘Master Lin says we should be grateful after receiving someone’s favor and thank them,’ White Ape mused. And so, he stepped forward and bowed at Old Taoist.
This was a very proper bow but since it was White Ape doing it, it looked rather amusing.
But White Ape felt otherwise. He said, “Th-thank you, Taoist Master for your guidance. I am grateful!”
Old Taoist chuckled. “That’s alright. It’s nothing. It’s fate that you and I met and our Cloud Sect never discriminates against monster cultivation. Our sect master has even received grace from monsters before too.”
The monkey demon came over as well and White Ape thanked him graciously.
Compared to the monkey demon’s jumpy personality, White Ape was much more level-headed. Of course, this was only limited to the comparison between these two.
Old Taoist finally asked the question he had been wanting to ask.
“White Ape, I noticed how solid your cultivation foundation is. May I ask, where is your master?”
After a thought, White Ape answered, “My master’s surname is ‘Lin’, his given name ‘Jin’. I gained my apprenticeship in Mount Zoroku.”
At this, Old Taoist paraphrased, “Ah, so he’s Lin Jin from Mount Zoroku.”
In his mind, he wondered what kind of sect this Mount Zoroku was and what kind of teachings did they pass down.
However, a sudden wolf’s howl could be heard nearby.
It wasn’t too loud but it sounded anxious.
White Ape’s ear twitched. “Oh no, the fire wolf!”
Before he could say anything else, White Ape immediately jumped over the wall and hurried to the yard where Xiao Huo had been.
At that moment, inside said yard, Xiao Huo was covered in flames while a dragon beast as thick as a human thigh constricted him. This dragon was emerald in color and seemed to be covered completely in ice crystals. Its chilling temperature subdued Xiao Huo’s flamed and the strength of its bind was too strong that Xiao Huo couldn’t escape.
At this, White Ape’s eyes immediately turned crimson and he dashed forward to attack.
Yet, that jade dragon suddenly opened its mouth and shot out an icy breath. Though the intensity of this ice blast paled in comparison to the old dragon’s, it was still unusually cold. White Ape was hit squarely where half of his body immediately frosted over. At the same time, a piebald python that was thick as a barrel and at least a hundred feet long came slithering over from another direction, immediately binding White Ape.
On a nearby rooftop was a bald and bearded muscular man playing the flute. The tune was soft but able to control the piebald python, instructing it to tighten its hold, rendering White Ape immobile.
Everything happened too quickly.
Standing beside this bald man was an enchanting woman. There was a crimson bat perched behind her. This blood bat was half as tall as a human and was probably ten feet long if it opened its wings.
“Hehehe, it literally pays to solve another’s problem. Not only do we get money, but we also get to kill. This job is the best. And it’s even better that I get to collaborate with you Blood Bat, a beauty so famous in our villainous community,” the bald man commented, looking expectant.
The woman cast him a glance. “You can stop your daydreaming, Python Monk. If you were twenty years younger, maybe I’d consider. But with the likes of you now, you better not even dream of something you’re unworthy of.”
The bald man laughed. “Hahaha, Blood Bat, I wouldn’t do it even if you let me. Who doesn’t know that you’re a poisonous beauty? There should be at least a hundred men you’ve sucked dry in bed by now. I’d like to live longer than that.”
The woman chuckled coquettishly. “Enough talking. Let’s finish up, take the money, and go. Our client this time is too scary. I don’t have a good feeling about him…”
At this, the woman suddenly sensed something and pointed in a certain direction. Her blood bat immediately took flight, heading for Old Taoist and the monkey demon who were watching from the corner of a wall nearby.
“I don’t think this Taoist is the person our client asked to kill!” the bald man urged out of goodwill. The woman scoffed. “That’s alright. Buy one free one. More importantly, my blood bat’s thirsty!”
On the other hand, when Old Taoist saw the blood bat flying over, his entire body was shivering.
“Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t! This is eight lifetime’s worth of bad luck!”
He came over out of curiosity only to see the fire wolf and white ape getting caught. Being an experienced and knowledgeable man, Old Taoist knew that the white ape’s team must have provoked some incredible enemies so he never thought of helping out at all.
Though, it wasn’t because he was a coward. Instead, Old Taoist wasn’t that skilled. Other than possessing some inherited knowledge from Cloud Sect and living off his past gains, he didn’t even have a pet beast.
The monkey demon was only Rank 2. Besides being a talkative brat, he couldn’t be counted on for combat.
Sure enough, when Old Taoist turned, the monkey demon had already scrambled away.
“Traitor!”
Old Taoist stomped his feet in anger. However, a disaster was about to befall. He now had no choice but to give his all, or else he would die.
He took out an amulet and chanted, “Wind of Kyushu, bless thine throat, now!”
Having said that, he opened his mouth and swallowed the amulet before blowing a breath at the blood bat.