Chapter 124: Selfless, Fuel for the Fire

"Spineless cowards!"
"I've chosen my friends poorly!"

Deep within Fire Ruin Cave, Old Monkey paced back and forth holding a platter of peaches. He had spent three or four days lobbying his peers, yet not a single one was willing to join him in subduing the demons. The fresh peaches were on the verge of rotting.

What was most dire was that the matter had reached the Master’s ears. The Master had already instructed Su-Su to take the magical treasure, the Soiled Gold Vase, and accompany him to Liuxiang Peak to subdue the Dharma-thought.

Along the way, Old Monkey muttered incessantly. This ordeal had been a heavy blow. Having spent over a hundred years in the cave, he had considered himself a man of wide connections and great influence. He had always imagined that if he ever faced trouble, he could—like the Master—summon friends from the mountains and rivers to easily settle matters and capture his foes.

Because he was well-versed in the ways of social cultivation, he knew that favors were not easily accumulated, so he rarely courted trouble and, in his daily life, never encountered anything he could not handle. He had not expected that when a real crisis arose, those who owed him favors would simply refuse to repay them.

The Dharma-thought of the ancient hermit was a grave matter, a deep and treacherous pool. He could understand those who recoiled out of fear, but he could not fathom why some would turn to vitriol and perform such a drastic change in attitude.

"Are the favors of a spirit-creature not favors at all?!"

As a monkey-spirit, Old Monkey was not oblivious to what those people were thinking. It was merely that his role as the Cave Guardian had blinded him, leaving him deceived by superficial platitudes.

"We have arrived." Su-Su spotted the cavern, supporting the golden vase in her palm as she descended from the cloud-silk.

"I will lure it out; please, act according to the situation."

"Rest assured." Su-Su, cradling the gold vase, gave Old Monkey a reassuring look. "The Soiled Gold Vase is best at capturing evil spirits and wicked thoughts. Go."

Old Monkey unsheathed his Yellow Peak Sword, stepped forward, and instantly appeared below the cavern entrance.

The first thing to meet his eyes inside was the carcass of a rat. The body was massive, as large as an octagonal pavilion, but its vital essence had drained away and its spiritual energy had dissipated entirely. The corpse was already withered and hollowed out.

Inside the pavilion, the Wolf Lieutenant and the Red-Snake Matron he had slain, along with the severely wounded Liuxiang Crane, were nowhere to be found.

Returning to the cave entrance, Old Monkey said to Su-Su, "Too much time has passed. I fear the old hermit’s Dharma-thought has hidden its trail and vanished."

"No matter." Su-Su remained as calm as ever, showing not a shred of the zeal one might expect from a demon-slayer. She merely said, "When we return to the cave, we shall summon the underworld officials from beneath the mountain to check the death registries and see if any lone souls survived."

"That will have to do, that will have to do." Even though Old Monkey was unreconciled, he had no other options. He had stirred up trouble and lost face, even though his original intention had been to resolve a grudge. He wondered if Golden Boy would appreciate this gesture, or if he would even consider this a favor at all.

Upon returning to the front of the cave, they saw two figures entering together.

"Ling-Gu."

Hearing the voice, Ling-Gu froze like a caught thief. She glanced at the figure beside her, hesitating for a moment before responding.

"And this is?"

Su-Su and Old Monkey approached Ling-Gu and her companion, curiously examining the other figure, especially the spirit-fire dancing atop its head.

Ji Ming remained composed. He bowed to Su-Su and Old Monkey, speaking as if they were meeting for the first time. "This humble Taoist is Fire Crane. I am an old acquaintance of Zhang Bao, and I have come today to repay a debt of gratitude."

Su-Su observed the crane-demon draped in red brocade. Though his demonic nature was evident, he possessed no savage or predatory air; he truly seemed like one who had attained the Way, and she could not help but feel a sense of favor toward him.

Old Monkey, on the other hand, found this crane strangely familiar. He instinctively thought of the two cranes—one large, one small—from Liuxiang Peak, but immediately dismissed the thought. No matter how the large or small crane changed, they could not become this. Especially the large one, who was coarse and truly foolish; how could it be so refined?

"Repay a debt?" Su-Su looked to Ling-Gu, as if seeking an explanation from her.

"Yes, to repay a debt." Ling-Gu replied steadily. "My brother said that when he was traveling, he once saved a spirit-crane in the Lanyin Square. This is that very one."

Ji Ming stood still, quietly waiting for Su-Su to continue. She looked at the Six-Ding Fire atop his head and said, "Since you come as a beneficiary of Golden Boy, I should not ask too much. However, an incident just occurred, and I must consult my Master before I can decide whether to let you enter to repay your debt."

"Please!" Ji Ming raised his long neck and smiled. "My time is short; my life is nearing its end. I have traveled here with this broken body only to repay an old kindness. I hope you will open the gate of convenience soon."

Su-Su listened, feeling a sense of solemnity. She had heard that there were many righteous beings among the spirit-creatures, but she had not expected to witness one today.

The commotion drew the attention of many. Someone leaning against the balcony praised, "The mountain roots are towering and the road is long; the spirit-crane hastens to repay his debt."

Another asked, "Good crane, good crane, has the Golden Boy promised you a future?"

"Haha!" Ji Ming laughed aloud, building his own momentum. "The Golden Boy’s natural talent is immense. I intend for this broken body of mine to serve as firewood, adding new strength to his path. Since I have made this resolve, what need have I for a future?"

The man was struck dumb, deeply moved. Such devotion was something one only heard of in the lives of heaven-born immortals or reincarnated masters.

Inside the building and the cave, people continued to approach Ji Ming, some offering praise, some expressing doubt, others merely joining the spectacle, and some speculating that he hailed from the Luoxi Small Blessed Land. It seemed the Golden Boy’s background had been thoroughly investigated by many.

Regardless of their attitudes, after this affair, the legend of the Golden Boy would surely reach new heights.

Before long, Su-Su returned from the Master’s side. "The Master summons you to be questioned."

"Master!" The flame on Ji Ming's head flickered, betraying his inner agitation.

"Very well. Having come here, how could I not meet the host?"

As he spoke, he arrived beneath the old plum tree. The Master sat there, staring at a dharma sword hanging from the branches—the very sword refined by Golden Boy.

Ji Ming walked with his head bowed. Some say that no matter how a person changes, their eyes cannot lie. Ji Ming was confident that his "Reincarnation Dream" could not be seen through by anyone, but he did not wish to be arrogant, so out of caution, he dared not reveal his gaze.

"The Golden Boy did you a kindness?"

"Yes." Ji Ming answered, noting the sword the Master was watching. He added, "The Golden Boy once spoke to me of the Master."

"Oh?"

This truly piqued the Master’s interest, yet she had unwittingly allowed him to seize the initiative in the conversation.

"And how did that child speak of me?"

"He said the Master is a renowned teacher and a master of masters, teaching with measure and leading by example. You are not swayed by personal sentiment, nor blinded by private desire—you are, in fact, the most selfish of all."

Su-Su’s expression shifted, and Old Monkey was startled. Both stared at this babbling spirit-creature.

The Master fell silent. Even Old Monkey, who had served her for so long and considered himself a worm in her gut, could not fathom the Master’s current emotions or thoughts.

"Master, shall I expel this crane-demon?" Su-Su asked.

"Why expel him? He has little lifespan left." The Master looked again at the bowing crane. "Why am I the most selfish?"

Ji Ming pretended to be an outsider, shaking his head. "I do not understand the logic, I only heard Zhang Bao say this: 'Because she is selfless, she is able to achieve her own self-interest.'"

Su-Su frowned, and Old Monkey scratched his head. This sentence could be interpreted in many ways, but from any angle, it aligned with the Master’s way of conducting herself in the world.

The Master sat in meditation, repeating the words to herself, pondering their essence.

After a long time, she reached up and took the dharma sword from the tree. She gently stroked the blade she had refined for Golden Boy and said, "Only now do I realize that Golden Boy understands me best."