Volume Four: Buddha Saves None, Only I, the Devil, Shall Save Them - A Gathering of Heroes (Part Two)

After collecting the Vengeful Souls from the Netherworld, Luo Qian skipped Master Xuqing and went straight to Master Xusheng. He handed over the souls, then noticed that the beads on Xusheng's wrist seemed longer, and several Jin threads had been embroidered into his robes. Luo Qian smiled. "Have you been promoted, Master?" "Oh, hardly. This old monk merely has the honor of serving as one of the Eight Great Dharma-Protecting Buddhas before the Buddha Ancestor." Master Xusheng sounded modest, but he could not help bobbing his head, looking decidedly pleased with himself.

"Oh, then congratulations are certainly in order." Luo Qian had no intention of producing a congratulatory gift. Master Xusheng hurried to say, "It is all thanks to you, benefactor. If you had not kept supplying me with Vengeful Souls, how could my Merit Points have risen so quickly? Also, I owe you an apology. The interest from last time was actually offered to the Buddha Ancestor. I hope you will not mind."

Why would Luo Qian mind? Xusheng was free to give it to anyone he liked, so long as he paid a decent price. Luo Qian was merely surprised to learn that bribery was popular in the Buddha Realm too. Even the Buddha Ancestor took the lead in accepting it.

Luo Qian returned roughly a tenth of this payment to Master Xusheng. "Master, I need your help. Consider this your fee." Master Xusheng promptly handed the treasures back. "Your affairs are this old monk's affairs. Whatever you need, just ask. Please, do not stand on ceremony."

Luo Qian told him he wanted to capture a Transforming Eagle alive. Transforming Eagles were not particularly high-ranking Buddhist Beasts, and Master Xusheng readily agreed. "Wait here. Watch this old monk catch that feathered brute for you." He sat cross-legged and