Two Tigers Clashing

Foreword:

The restless mind has just awakened, and a smile brings stillness to all six windows.

--Huang Tingjian

[Part 1: It's Going to Eat People!]

"Which one is Zhang Guiren?" Dan Chenzi asked.

Jiang Xueming immediately responded, "I am Zhang Congfeng."

The burly Tiger Demon was overjoyed upon hearing this, and immediately adopted a friendly demeanor, welcoming the doctor inside.

"Come! Come, come! Follow me! You must be tired from your journey. Stay at my Sifang Earth God Temple, and we'll head to Guanyin Cave tomorrow morning."

Jiang Xueming had no idea what Dan Chenzi was up to, so he quickly followed. As soon as he crossed the threshold— the Tiger Demon immediately blocked his way, preventing the Guling and Jingguai from entering, and gave the doctor a hard time.

"I can't go?" Wu Xiuwen asked with a surprised, dry laugh, "Huh, Senior Brother?"

Dan Chenzi harbored wicked thoughts. This Hundred-eyed Immortal Venerable had six prized disciples, namely the four demons of metal, wood, water, and fire, while Dan Chenzi and Yu Zhen were Yin Earth and Yang Earth respectively. The sect was riddled with factions. If this were placed in a modern workplace, not counting the Guling and Jingguai underlings, these six demons alone could generate thirty-six different permutations and combinations in a WeChat group.

"Sigh!" Black Tiger replied perfunctorily, "Junior Brother Jinxu, you have rendered meritorious service in escorting Zhang Guiren. Once I deliver the consort to the Hundred-eyed Immortal Venerable, I will surely put in a good word for you—when we worship the Earth God in Black Wind Town during the spring planting season next year, your offerings will definitely be the most numerous."

Who is Wu Xiuwen? He's a seasoned veteran, a veteran in the cutthroat world of Zhuzhou's officialdom. How could he not understand this sarcastic remark?

If you let him see things from the doctor's perspective, it's because this dishonest black tiger wants to steal the credit.

"I can't go? I can't enter this temple?"

Wu Xiuwen pressed on relentlessly, showing no mercy whatsoever.

"I cannot see Master with Zhang Guiren?"

This arrogant young man, after witnessing his master's miraculous abilities and hearing the admonition, "If you can be unafraid of demons, then demons should be unafraid of you," became increasingly bloated and excited.

Unfortunately, this is not the Nine Realms; this is the Great Xia.

They had just left Black Wind Town, a small town that clung to a facade and operated largely according to the rules of human society. They were about to enter a world of demons and monsters.

Wu Xiuwen hadn't reacted yet; he hadn't realized how close he was to death.

"What?" Dan Chenzi glared with his large, golden eyes, staring fiercely at his "junior brother," this "rat," and threatened sharply, "You're not convinced?"

The surging spiritual pressure tightly enveloped Wu Xiuwen, and a dozen or so vengeful spirits emerged from the body of the ferocious tiger. They swarmed forward, grabbed Wu Xiuwen's arms and legs, and pressed him firmly into the mud.

This is also Chang Ghost--

--A ghost that perished in the tiger's belly, becoming its accomplice.

The disciples under Hundred Eyes Great King all possess unique skills and innate supernatural abilities. Yuzhenzi has the power of the Six Swords Asura, and Daoist Jin Xu can dig tunnels and burrow through mountains to travel a hundred miles a day, climb cliffs and traverse dangerous places to search for spiritual herbs and stones.

When it comes to Dan Chenzi, it's simply a matter of "being able to eat." The flesh and blood of the creatures it devours become its aids. In plain terms, this demon has a strong digestive capacity and high energy utilization rate, making it a very promising prospect. With a little nurturing and feeding it some powerful martial arts protectors, it can have an army of Chang Ghost).

"I give up! I give up! I give up!" Wu Xiuwen shouted, feeling as if his human skin was about to tear apart, and he was being suffocated by these Chang Ghost.

"Hahahaha!" Dan Chenzi gloated, mimicking the demeanor of an immortal, he flicked his sleeves and stood up. With a flick of his thick arm, the dozen or so dark ghosts crawled back into his fur, turning into tiger stripes. "Junior brother! Laziness and shirking your duties are useless. You need to study hard and practice your skills properly! You only know how to talk big, but in the end, you're the one who will embarrass yourself!"

Wu Xiuwen slowly got up and replied in a gloomy voice, "Senior brother is right, he is right, what he said makes sense."

Dan Chenzi stepped onto a stone pier next to the temple gate.

"Since you're in the right, you lick my shoes clean! Remember this lesson!"

Upon hearing this, the two brothers, Jianxiong and Jianying, turned pale.

These two savages had never suffered such humiliation even in Zhao Family Village. They couldn't imagine that if Wu Xiuwen really went to lick the Tiger Demon's shoes, he would lose all his dignity as a man.

In Chabang, losing a man's dignity is essentially losing everything. Dignity was more important to the two brothers than life itself; they wouldn't have donned the skin of a beautiful woman if it weren't for repaying a debt of gratitude.

Zhao Jianxiong didn't even want to kneel before the County Magistrate because Wu Cheng Zhang was a eunuch, and eunuchs weren't considered men and had no dignity.

Sweat beaded on Wu Xiuwen's forehead; his heart was undergoing a test.

--Then I caught a glimpse of the Tiger Demon, its sleeves billowing in the wind, preparing to release its Chang Ghost again to continue its evil deeds and harm people.

If I don't listen to this beast, and he keeps pushing and beating me by evil spirits and vengeful ghosts, my human skin will probably tear on the spot!

Xiuwen couldn't worry about anything else now!

"I'll lick it! Senior brother! Well said! That's a good lesson! You're absolutely right! I'll lick it!"

He crawled up to Dan Chenzi, looked up at her, and his eyes blazed with fury.

Upon seeing this look, Dan Chenzi began to feel irritated and restless, thinking to herself—

--Junior Brother Jin Xu, where did you get the nerve to look at me like that?!

The Tiger Demon roared, "Wait!"

The Guling and Jingguai breathed a sigh of relief. Although they had a grudge against Wu Xiuwen, they couldn't bear to see a true man suffer such humiliation. They all thought to themselves, "Death is nothing more than a small scar. If one suffers such a great disgrace, one's spirit dies. What's the point of living then?"

However, things didn't go as the two brothers had hoped, nor was it a mere joke played by Tiger Senior Brother and Rat Junior Brother.

The Tiger Demon exhaled a foul stench, and a ghost darted out and flew back, carrying centipedes, earthworms, geckos, and worms. It then smeared a handful of sticky, smelly grass and excrement—which seemed to be the runny droppings of a mountain beast—on Dan Chenzi's shoes.

Dan Chenzi laughed and said, "Now it's all good! Lick it clean!"

Wu Xiuwen looked down and saw a dung beetle emerge from the filth. The stench rushed into his nose, causing his stomach to churn and his blood to rush to his head, almost making him vomit on the spot.

"If you don't lick it clean, you're breaking your promise! You lied to your senior brother today, you'll lie to your master tomorrow!" Dan Chenzi smirked. "I'm cleaning up the mess on behalf of my master! It's just the way of heaven, justice prevails! What? You're not going to lick it clean anymore?"

After hesitating for a long time, Wu Xiuwen thought about how the Golden Dog Rat Monster did indeed like to eat "wild delicacies" and had such a dangerous "brotherly" relationship with Dan Chenzi. If he hesitated any longer, he would lose his human skin.

He hardened his heart, lowered his head—

"--Beast!" Upon seeing Zhang Congfeng kick up his leg, he shouted and strode towards him.

Wu Xiuwen was kicked so hard that he saw stars and almost tumbled down the stone steps of the mountain gate into the stream.

The Tiger Demon frowned and glared angrily, then looked suspiciously at Zhang Guiren beside him.

Why did this noble person harm my junior brother?

After Jianying and Jianxiong helped Wu Xiuwen back, Jiang Xueming replied with a cold glare.

"Just now, in my haste, I overheard Tiger Vanguard saying that we should drive this rat demon away."

Dan Chenzi: "I chased it away, what right does this noble person have to interfere?"

Jiang Xueming: "My body is of lowly status, but to cure Goddess Zhuzhu's illness, I needed the Hundred Eyes Great King's precious sword, so I entrusted this rat spirit to carry the sword on our journey."

"Oh?" Dan Chenzi clearly didn't know about this, and her eyes lit up immediately.

Jiang Xueming: "Just now, this rat spirit lowered its head to lick Tiger Vanguard's shoes, but there was a lewd smile on its face—I thought it was trying to take this opportunity to cast a spell and slip away with the sword."

"Junior brother." Dan Chenzi turned around and looked at the Fake Doctor whose face was covered in dirt, "You have the Immortal Venerable's magic weapon on you?"

Wu Xiuwen dared not delay, took out the fake sword package, and presented it to the Tiger Demon with both hands.

Dan Chenzi's breathing became rapid--

--This is the lifeblood of the Immortal Venerable. In Dan Chenzi's view, whoever can wield this divine weapon will be the master of Black Wind Ridge.

"Such a precious treasure! You dare touch it?!"

Dan Chenzi was filled with rage and malice, and a monstrous desire arose in his heart, yet he could not express it.

It was originally a wild beast, but after being educated by the Buddha Sculptor, it insisted on following human etiquette and moral teachings, and on using the sword of morality to conduct its affairs and speak.

Yuzhenzi was the chief of the Hundred-eyed Immortal Venerable, and with Goddess Zhuzhu —whose rank was fourth, Dan Chenzi ended up with the position of gatekeeper and temple guard.

It cannot take what the Buddha Sculptor wouldn't give. Neither can the Hundred Eyes Great King, nor can the Pearl Fairy.

Now that the magic weapon was in its hands, how could it suppress the evil fire in its heart? It could only repeatedly scold its junior brother, seemingly scolding Jin Xu, but actually scolding itself, in order to release all the anger and resentment it felt.

"Such a wonderful treasure! Such a wonderful treasure! You dare touch it?! You dare!"

"I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy at all! Senior Brother!" Wu Xiuwen immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

[Part ②: Driving Away a Tiger to Devour a Wolf]

Jiang Xueming stood to the side, but he felt uneasy.

He thought that this Great Xia Divine Continent had billions of living beings, yet even a beast could not unleash its free nature and had to abide by moral norms and adhere to the immortals' "Daoist magic"—how much more so for humans living within these rules?

On this continent, birds and beasts, and all creatures of the highest order, live in fear, for shackles and ropes are everywhere.

Dan Chenzi hugged the sword, looking at it again and again with reluctance. Finally, she gritted her teeth, wrapped it in the cloth, and re-wrapped it. Like a cat kicking its leg, she shook off the filth from her shoes. The tiger spirit then began to talk to Zhang Guiren about fun and serious matters.

"My esteemed friend, my junior brother is good-for-nothing; he only likes gold and silver treasures. You noticed something amiss, but he dares not covet Master's treasures. Please don't blame him, and don't tell the Buddha Sculptor about this, lest you tarnish Master's reputation."

Zhang Congfeng: "Oh"

"Guling and Jingguai are still wearing human skin. If the nobleman likes them, he can take them to the temple to play." Tiger Vanguard was an honest man, saying whatever came to mind, "As for that Xiangxiang, how about I take her for a treat?"

At this point, Xiangxiang still didn't understand.

Zhang Congfeng: "This is a gift for Hundred Eyes Great King."

Dan Chenzi waved his hand, somewhat annoyed by the trouble. "Hey! It's just a piece of human flesh. My master loves me the most. He gives me all the good medicine and elixirs with tender flesh. A tiger that isn't well-fed can't guard the gate. If you send this woman to my master, you'll have to send her back. Isn't that redundant?"

The Tiger Demon still harbors inner demons. It cannot wield its master's sword, but does that mean it cannot even eat a bite of human flesh?

Jiang Xueming had an idea and immediately seized the opportunity to strike.

"If I were to offer this courtesan to Tiger Vanguard, would Tiger Vanguard be willing to do me a small favor?"

Xiangxiang finally understood--

--That'll be quick!

She gasped and fainted on the spot.

I'm almost there, finally getting a chance to use this old joke, before I've even finished typing it out.

The Zhao Brothers wanted to help her up, but they thought the woman was up to her old tricks and trying to set a trap, so they didn't dare to help her up. They were also scared. Xiangxiang knew the true identities of the group. Along the way, the two brothers begged and pleaded with Grandfather they knew, guaranteeing that they would take the prostitute to Taiye safely and safely to her destination.

But Zhang Congfeng Barry those words, Xiangxiang fainted from fright.

"What can I do for you, sir?" Dan Chenzi hunched over and leaned close to the Imperial Physician to listen carefully.

Jiang Xueming: "I want you to kill Bai Mu."

Dan Chenzi's pupils contracted slightly, and suddenly the hair on his body stood on end. A current of electricity surged from the top of his head to his heels, and the lust that had just been extinguished reignited.

Jiang Xueming: "The Corpse Demon Soul Dissolving Sword is in our hands."

Dan Chenzi cursed, "You shameless, filthy, despicable madman! You want me to betray my master?!"

Jiang Xueming: "Jin Xu is listening too. No matter what, it will help you, otherwise it will harm you. It's no use saying anything to me. In the end, we'll all perish together."

Dan Chenzi turned to the Fake Doctor terror.

As the benefactor said, once these words are spoken, they cannot be taken back; no matter how one explains, there is no way to clear one's name.

Dan Chenzi angrily shouted, "This villain wants to harm Master! How dare you?"

Wu Xiuwen quickly replied, "I don't know anything! I don't know anything at all!"

Despite saying that, Dan Chenzi did not immediately attack and kill the rambling Imperial Physician. Instead, she was very curious and interested.

Jiang Xueming continued, "Yuzhenzi isn't in Black Wind Ridge; he's in Pearl Prefecture. With the help of this precious sword, who in Black Wind Ridge can subdue you?"

"This..." Dan Chenzi stammered, "This... this..."

Jiang Xueming's words were piercing to the heart.

"I spoke with the Buddha Sculptor to help Pearl Fairy with her pregnancy, explaining that all this karmic entanglement and suffering stemmed from the killings committed by Hundred Eyes Great King. That's why I obtained the Corpse Demon Soul Dissolving Sword."

"Given the important matter of Goddess Zhuzhu's safe delivery, whose advice do you think the Buddha Sculptor will listen to? Is the celestial fetus more important, or is Hundred Eyes more important?"

"My lord, why have you harmed my master?" Dan Chenzi had lost himself and was gradually being controlled by his inner demons.

"I'll trade my head for my freedom, and you'll trade your head for your future? Doesn't Hundred Eyes Great King deserve to die? He's not your master, he's the Five Elements Mountain weighing you down!" Jiang Xueming tilted his head, pointed at Dan Chenzi's forehead, and grinned, "I came up the mountain to cure Goddess Zhuzhu's illness, and all my good deeds have been accumulated. In Hundred Eyes Great King' eyes, I'm just an outsider doctor. But forming a good relationship with you, Tiger Vanguard —that's true merit and boundless blessings."

"If the Hundred Eyes Great King doesn't die, how can I escape? Am I destined to spend my whole life in this demonic lair?"

"If the Hundred Eyes Great King doesn't die, how will you achieve enlightenment? Do you intend to exhaust your true essence in the Four Directions Earth Temple?"

"If Hundred Eyes Great King doesn't die, none of us will escape a terrible fate! Helping you is helping me, and helping me is helping you!"

"When Goddess Zhuzhu gives birth smoothly, you will have occupied Guanyin Cave, seized Black Wind Village, and made it a fait accompli. Carrying your precious sword and the head of the Hundred-Eyed Man, and holding the immortal fetus, you will go to claim your reward—you will be the Black Tiger Immortal Venerable of Black Wind Ridge, and Pearl Fairy will be paired with you."

"Master's wife? With me?" Dan Chenzi's throat tightened, and his expression gradually relaxed, no longer as tense as before. "With me? To be a pair? Am I worthy? Am I not worthy? Am I not worthy? I..."

"Young friend Wu Xiuwen has already been eaten by demons, I don't want to die," Jiang Xueming said.

"--After this is done, I only ask one thing: help me find a way to survive. I need to escape; I need to go to the capital."