There are bad people on Shu Mountain!

At this point, Lin Chan was taken aback, unsure how to handle the situation.

Strictly speaking, once they delivered the items and passed along the message, the matter should have been settled.

But not even seeing Si Mu Tiger Demon's face was clearly off.

Lin Chan couldn't decide on his own and exchanged a glance with Xu Chang.

Unfortunately, the situation was now quite complicated, and their rapport hadn't reached the point where a single look could convey all the nuanced meaning in each other's eyes.

"Old Cui, could you please step aside for a moment? I need to discuss something with my senior brother."

Lin Chan said with an apologetic tone.

"Old Cui will withdraw at once!"

Old Cui immediately backed off, and not only that, he raised an arm to shoo the other little monkeys out as well.

Once Xu Chang was sure Old Cui was gone, he quickly formed a hand seal to block sound from inside and out.

Then he spoke: "I've cast a soundproofing spell. We can talk now."

"Senior brother, what do you make of this situation?"

Lin Chan asked.

"Old Cui only knew about your connection with Si Mu Tiger Demon after reporting to him. That means the tiger demon wasn't in seclusion just now, and couldn't have entered it in such a short time. It only shows he doesn't want to see anyone right now—probably something's happened. Maybe he's injured and doesn't want to be seen."

Xu Chang quickly reached a judgment.

"I think so too. What do you suggest we do now?"

Lin Chan's guess was similar to Xu Chang's.

Si Mu likely wasn't unwilling to see them, but unable to—there was a good chance he was hurt.

If he truly didn't want to see them, he wouldn't have let Old Cui let them into the mountain and treat them so well.

Xu Chang pondered for a long while before saying: "Better to avoid trouble than to court it. We'll deliver the items, hand them to Old Cui, and leave. Once we're back at Shu Mountain, we'll report everything truthfully to our master."

What could be inferred now was that Si Mu was most likely injured.

Though the cause was unknown, the situation was bound to be bad.

A wounded beast least wants to show its wounds.

Some secrets aren't meant to be pried into.

If they insisted on meeting him, they might end up staying here.

After all, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse—even if they each had their trump cards, who knew if Si Mu Tiger Demon didn't have more life-or-death tricks up his sleeve?

So it was better to pretend they knew nothing and leave.

Even if this meant True Person Xuan Chen's instructions weren't fully carried out, their own safety was the priority.

"Then let's do as you say—leave the items and go."

Lin Chan nodded, saying no more.

Luckily, there were only two of them this time, so they could reach a consensus quickly.

With the plan decided, Xu Chang took out the items and handed them to Lin Chan to pass on to Old Cui.

"Old Cui!"

After Xu Chang lifted the soundproofing spell, Lin Chan walked outside.

"I'm here!"

Old Cui immediately came before Lin Chan.

"Since Great King Si Mu is currently in seclusion, we won't disturb him further. Here are letters from the true persons of Tianquan Peak and Kaiyang Peak of Shu Mountain, along with two Vermillion Fruits. Please hand them to Great King Si Mu. My senior brother and I have matters to attend to back at the sect, so we'll take our leave now."

Lin Chan handed the items to Old Cui.

Old Cui's eyes lit up at the sight of the Vermillion Fruits.

These fruits could slightly refine a demon beast's bloodline, quite beneficial for young demons just starting their cultivation. Si Mu Tiger Demon had no juniors here, so these two fruits would ultimately fall to Old Cui's monkey descendants.

"Once the Great King emerges from seclusion, I'll be sure to pass them on. But are you sure you won't stay for a bite?"

Old Cui accepted the items with a beaming smile.

"No need. You go back, Old Cui!"

Lin Chan waved his hand.

After bidding farewell to Old Cui, Xu Chang brought out the Floating Cloud Boat. Just as he was about to set off, a mass of dark clouds gathered in the sky, a flash of lightning streaked through them, followed by rolling thunder.

"Junior brother, the weather is terrible right now. Let's take shelter from the rain on Cuihou Peak first!"

Xu Chang said to Lin Chan.

In this situation, if the Floating Cloud Boat rose into the air, it would inevitably run into the thunderclouds.

Although he was at Foundation Establishment, he was far from being able to withstand lightning with his own body.

"The senior brother speaks truly."

Lin Chan nodded.

The weather had already been turning poor earlier, but he hadn't expected the rain to come so quickly.

The two had no choice but to turn back.

"Cultivators, why have you returned? Did you drop something?"

A clever green monkey looked at the two.

"A layer of thunderclouds has gathered above. The Floating Cloud Boat can't travel easily, so we've come here to take shelter from the rain."

Lin Chan explained.

"Oh! Then please follow me, both cultivators."

This green monkey led the two back to the large tree hollow from earlier.

Arriving beneath the tree hollow, the two sat cross-legged on stone chairs, meditating in silence without much talk.

Before long, a torrential downpour came crashing down, the sound of rain striking leaves filling every corner.

Suddenly, a massive figure appeared at the entrance of the tree hollow.

The two were already alert and immediately opened their eyes.

"Gentlemen, what an unfortunate turn—it's started to rain."

Old Cui walked into the tree hollow, not a single drop of water clinging to his monkey fur.

"Indeed."

Lin Chan nodded.

"Here are two gourds of Spiritual Fruit wine. Please have a taste, both of you."

Old Cui took out two intact gourds from his hands.

These were gourd Spiritual Fruit wines he had brewed using a secret method.

Lin Chan took them and placed them on the stone table.

"Gentleman, the Great King's secluded meditation was disturbed by the thunder's clamor. Knowing you had arrived, he specially asked me to invite you over. Please, follow me!"

Old Cui said to Lin Chan.

Hearing Old Cui's words, Lin Chan was somewhat surprised.

He hadn't come to see him before, but now he wanted to—what was this about?

"Junior brother, the rain outside is heavy. Don't let yourself get soaked."

Xu Chang spoke up.

Lin Chan roughly understood his senior brother's meaning—he was telling him to be careful.

"Gentleman, I can shield you from the rain."

Old Cui said.

Lin Chan assessed the situation. Si Mu had no reason to harm him, and it wasn't convenient for him to fall out with the demons of Cuihou Peak, so he said, "Since the Great King wants to see me, I'll go meet him."

Afterward, under Old Cui's escort, Lin Chan arrived beneath a waterfall.

The waterfall had grown even more turbulent due the heavy rain.

"The Great King is in the cave behind the water curtain. I'll send you in, gentleman."

With that, Old Cui wrapped an arm around Lin Chan and lifted him through the water curtain.

Inside the water curtain, there was indeed a cave.

A faint smell of blood lingered in the cave, the light dim and murky. A quick glance showed no sign of the Si Mu Tiger Demon.

Old Cui sent Lin Chan through the water curtain but did not enter himself, instead standing guard outside.

Lin Chan took a few steps deeper and saw a gaunt tiger, nothing but skin and bones, its body drenched in blood and covered in wounds.

Yet even this skeletal frame was enormous, as long as two grown men laid end to end.

"Gentleman!"

The gaunt tiger raised its head to look at Lin Chan. The eye-like markings above its own eyes let Lin Chan recognize it as Si Mu.

But the wounds on its body were shocking to behold.

"Tiger King, how did you get those injuries on your body?"

Lin Chan sat cross-legged not far from Si Mu and asked.

"In the past, I didn't know my own sins. I ate people without shame, thinking nothing of it. After hearing your words that day, I resolved to reform, but I often had the urge to eat people, hard to overcome. So I smashed my head against the ground and rolled among jagged rocks to suppress it. Now, it's been a year since I last ate a human. The vengeful spirits and lingering ghosts in my belly have all been dismissed."

Si Mu said, with no small amount of pride.

Lin Chan's heart stirred with turmoil, but his face betrayed nothing as he spoke:

"Blessings be."

"Sir, now that you've entered Shu Mountain, congratulations on achieving your wish."

The Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger offered its congratulations.

It had seen Lin Chan heading toward Shu Mountain that day and guessed his intent.

"This matter is thanks to you, Tiger King, for truly reforming, allowing me to gain great Merit."

Lin Chan said calmly, though inwardly he found it ironic.

A man-eating tiger, having devoured thousands, turned over a new leaf, and everyone reaped benefits.

Only the thousands of souls were pitiable—at least half of them wronged.

Though the Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger now suffered the consequences of its own evil, what was that compared to the grievances of those spirits?

Yet Lin Chan had received many favors from the Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger and could not judge it.

The tiger, though foolish and harmful, had never harmed him; he had no reason to kill it.

Moreover, with his meager strength, he could do nothing.

If that day he had been a Nascent Soul great sword immortal and ended this evil tiger with one strike, he wouldn't be so tormented now.

"This is what you deserve, sir."

The Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger said.

Lin Chan fell silent, saying no more.

"Sir, do you truly believe I can reform?"

The Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger asked, somewhat dejected.

"Even a sinner of ten lifetimes has a chance to atone. If the Tiger King sincerely reforms, why not?"

Lin Chan continued speaking words against his conscience.

Just like that day in the Broken Temple.

"Sir, you need not console me. In your heart, you wish me dead, don't you?"

Suddenly, the Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger shifted its tone, stood up, and approached Lin Chan with a fierce glare.

The Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger had grown so thin it was unrecognizable, each step slow but pressing down on Lin Chan's heart like a weight, suffocating him.

Lin Chan opened his mouth to speak, but his throat wouldn't move. He could only listen as the tiger spoke with each step.

"I know my past ignorance led to great mistakes."

"But since then, I've sent out my enslaved spirits and accumulated good deeds everywhere."

"Yet you people of Shu Mountain stir up my evil desires, making me suffer unbearably."

"I sincerely reformed—why can't you accept me!"

"Since that's the case, I'll be evil to the end!"

The Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger stood before Lin Chan, opening its massive jaws to swallow him whole.

But Lin Chan remained composed, even beginning to circulate his cultivation technique and practice on the spot.

Suddenly, a hoary old voice rang in its ears.

The Lin Chan before it transformed into a golden phantom of an Old Monk.

"Since I have little time left to live, what harm is there in letting my death complete your life?"

"Stop eating people!"

"I eat people, just as people eat birds, beasts, fish, and fowl—it's only natural. What's wrong with that?"

"Then... then you might as well eat more evil men, at least ridding the world of them."

"Old bald head, you sure know your food. Evil men do taste better."

"..."

"Old bald head, why is your spirit body fading?"

"From your anger. That child last time—you shouldn't have eaten him."

"The child of an evil man will grow into an evil man himself. Rather than let him harm others later, it's better for me to liberate him early. Besides, this way, mother and son can reunite in my belly—I've done a great good."

"Man is born good by nature. How do you know what he'll become?"

"This is my divine power—I can see it. Your cultivation is lacking, so naturally you can't see through it."

"Why aren't you talking to me?"

"Old bald head?"

"Great Dharma Master?"

"Sage Monk?"

"Alright, next time I'll listen to you—if you say don't eat, I won't eat."

"Amitabha."

"That day, I thought I could be like the Buddha, feeding myself to a tiger to save a life before dying. Instead, I unleashed a demon."

"Old bald one, I only ate the wicked, just as you said. You should call me the Evil-Crossing Divine Tiger."

"I too am wicked."

"Old Monk, how can you be wicked? You saved me and urged me toward good. I was just starving out of my mind back then. I'm grateful to you. You're a good man, truly."

"I'm leaving. I hope you'll sincerely turn to good in the future!"

"How am I not sincere?"

"Old Monk, come out!"

"Don't play hide-and-seek with me!"

"This isn't fun!"

Looking back, the Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger seemed to see the shadow of the Old Monk in the young Lin Chan. Its soul was violently shaken, and it immediately recoiled in fear, snapping its jaws shut and stepping back.

Lin Chan opened his eyes and stared coldly at the Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger.

Now, his body had regained its mobility. He reached into his chest and pulled out a small Jade Slip.

The tiny characters on it had vanished, leaving it blank.

The Seventh Grade Merit for reforming the evil tiger was gone.

Lin Chan didn't know if the merit had shielded him, or if the tiger's relapse into violence had naturally dissolved the achievement of reformation.

"Master!"

The Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger regained clarity and quickly knelt before Lin Chan again.

It was kneeling to Lin Chan, and also to the Old Monk.

"Why call me master? I'm nothing now but a dead soul in your belly, an Evil-Aiding Ghost helping you commit atrocities."

Lin Chan said coldly.

"Master, I haven't bitten down yet."

"Sooner or later. I have no way to escape now. It's just a matter of when the Tiger King decides to eat me."

"Master, don't be angry! None of this was my intention. I never wanted to do this. I truly reformed, but the world... the world wouldn't accept me. Heaven wouldn't accept me either."

The Four-Eyed one quickly explained.

"Then eat me! Why waste another word?"

Lin Chan tucked the Lesser Merit Record away again.

"Master, do you know why I fled from Rong Country to here?"

The Four-Eyed one asked.

"The world is vast. You know how small and weak you are. You know the Dao Alliance has true cultivators who could take you at any moment."

Lin Chan had just walked through death's door. He considered himself already dead, so he spoke without restraint, saying whatever came to mind.

"Master speaks truly, but that's not the main reason. It's because someone from your Shu Mountain stirred up my evil urges, tormenting me every day in agony."

"Who in this world doesn't live in agony? If I could cut you down with one sword, I wouldn't be wasting words with you."

"Then what do you say I should do? I want to reform, but your Shu Mountain won't let me go."

The Four-Eyed one glared at Lin Chan.

"What should I do? You keep asking me—do I have to answer everything? There's only one thing now: either eat me, or let me go. No more talk."

Lin Chan said with a rogue's tone.

When the Four-Eyed one didn't respond, he turned and jumped out of the water curtain without looking back at the tiger.

The Four-Eyed one had regained its senses. It knew that eating Lin Chan would doom it to eternal ruin.

Not only would the Heart Demon lurking inside it devour it, but Shu Mountain would likely send even more people to eliminate it.

Besides, Lin Chan was no longer the mortal boy he once was. He had come this time as an envoy.

Shu Mountain had no reason to strike down a reformed demon. But if the Four-Eyed one bared its fangs, Shu Mountain's Flying Swords were still sharp.

By logic and by sentiment, it had no excuse to eat Lin Chan.

Moreover, it truly had reformed. It hadn't committed violence in a year. This time, it had only been provoked by a letter from Shu Mountain—the writer's lingering thoughts matched the one who had stirred its evil urges before. In a flash of rage, it had taken it out on Lin Chan, who had joined Shu Mountain.

The Four-Eyed one could only watch helplessly as Lin Chan dusted himself off and walked away, not daring to say a word.

Lin Chan followed the waterfall down into the pool.

Sinking in the deep water, he thought a lot.

The merit was gone—so be it. It was just free merit anyway. He hadn't truly reformed the evil tiger, so the merit was never his to claim. The evil tiger was still the same evil tiger, unchanged by his few words. With the Merit Record in hand and his Karma Eye to identify the wicked, he didn't have to struggle like other Shu Mountain disciples to find them. This bit of merit would be earned back soon enough.

Besides, his grudge with the Four-Eyed Fierce Tiger was settled. If they met again, one sword strike would end it. He had nothing to be ashamed of.

From then on, his Dao heart was clear and bright.

What Four Eyes said, however—that someone on Shu Mountain had stirred its evil desires—

that was the real point.

On Shu Mountain, there were bad people!

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