Xu Taiping was so certain because the lotus on the young monk's cuff differed from an ordinary lotus design: its petals were falling.
The reason he had not recognized the young monk at first was that, in the scene he had witnessed through the Left Eye, he had not seen the man's face, only the hand that pulled him up and his sleeve.
After that, he had lost consciousness on the man's back.
"Dharma Master, Southern Chu's Imperial Capital is only sixty li away. Why must you go somewhere as perilous as Blood Rain Forest?"
Xu Taiping withdrew his gaze from the young monk's cuff.
"As far as I know, apart from Martial Monks, members of the Chan School don't need to travel to train and cultivate, do they? And you don't look like a Martial Monk, Dharma Master."
He then looked the young monk up and down.
"Your eyes are as keen as a torch, benefactor. This humble monk is indeed no Martial Monk. That was precisely why Benefactor Shi refused to travel with me just now."
The young monk smiled a little sheepishly.
"To be frank with you, benefactor, my destination is not Blood Rain Forest, but a small village called Apricot Blossom Village within the borders of the Western Liang Kingdom, beyond Blood Rain Forest."
He continued with a serious expression.
"That's even more dangerous than going into Blood Rain Forest to train."
Xu Taiping questioned him with a frown.
He had already asked Chongde to obtain a map of Blood Rain Forest. To reach the Western Liang Kingdom, one had to skirt Blood Rain Forest, passing through at least several demonic creatures' territories along the way. One of them was even very close to the Golden Toad Poison Mother's territory.
"I know, but I have a