So, Master Fakong having suddenly mentioned Xu Xian reminded Ning Tao suddenly of another person—Fahai.

Then Ning Tao spat out his tea.

Master Fakong raised his hand gently. In that instant, it felt like there were a thousand hands holding onto the tea and saliva that Ning Tao had spat out, making them be suspended in midair. Right after, he waved his hand lightly then all the water droplets congregated into a big ball and flew into the rain outside the thatched pavilion.

Tang Zixian glared at Ning Tao, with annoyance in her eyes.

Ning Tao said with slight awkwardness, “Sorry about that, I drank too quickly and choked.”

Master Fakong smiled. “It's okay. Even if you had choked on tea and spat it in my face, that's okay too.”

As Ning Tao put down his teacup, his expression returned to calmness. “Master, what do you mean by telling me about Xu Xian?”

Master Fakong said coolly, “You know what I mean.”

Ning Tao said, “Whether it's Xu Xian or Bai Suzhen or that green snake, they're all characters of legend. Besides, Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen gave birth to Xu s.h.i.+lin, who was a reincarnation of the Wenqu Deity. Didn't Xu s.h.i.+lin release his mother after becoming the princ.i.p.al graduate in the imperial examinations, and the family lived happily ever after together?”

Master Fakong said, “That's a legend. Do you want to hear about the real story of Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian?”

Ning Tao wanted to leave, but he was curious about the aforementioned real story. He hesitated then said, “Then let me hear it out.”

Master Fakong looked right at Ning Tao. “There are no stories in this world that are created in a vacuum. All stories have a reference or an origin. Fahai was originally based on my master. I also entered monkhood at the Jinshan Temple.”

Images of Fahai and his demon-suppressing bowl from The New Legend of Madame White Snake, which Ning Tao had watched as a child, surfaced in Ning Tao's mind. What was the bowl called? He had forgotten.

Master Fakong continued, “That white snake's real name is Bai Qingyi. The Xiaoqing of the legend was actually just her clothes, and did not exist. Bai Qingyi realized that Xu Xian had the spiritual roots of nine reincarnations. She thus harbored evil intentions, lying to Xu Xian to betroth herself to him to repay her debt of grat.i.tude. Xu Xian did not know the truth, and thought it was heaven's blessing. He made merry every night, and within three months, he became emaciated and died.”

Ning Tao: “…”

“That Bai Qingyi had gotten Xu Xian's spiritual root of nine reincarnations. Her demonic powers grew stronger and she was also pregnant with the Ghost Spirit Fetus…”

Ning Tao could not help cutting into Master Fakong's words. “Master, what is the spiritual root of nine reincarnations?”

Master Fakong replied, “A virgin for nine lives, and having committed huge acts of merit for all nine lives. Their 10th life would be the spiritual root of nine reincarnations.”

Ning Tao suddenly realized what that spiritual root of nine reincarnations was. He felt a sense of inexplicability. “Then what is that Ghost Spirit Fetus?”

Master Fakong said, “A ghost fetus is the fetus created from the union of a human and a demon. Xu Xian was the spiritual root of nine reincarnations, so it was the Ghost Spirit Fetus. Whether it was the ghost fetus or Ghost Spirit Fetus, it would be a demonic ent.i.ty, which the ways of Heaven cannot tolerate having, and it would bring calamity to humanity. My master had observed astronomical phenomena and found out that a Ghost Spirit Fetus was being born. He tracked down Bai Qingyi and battled hard for three days and nights before suppressing the demon. My master was gravely injured from the battle, and his magic tool, Demon-slaying Bowl, had also been damaged.”

As he spoke, Master Fakong reached from behind him and took a bowl out, laying it on the tea table.

Ning Tao looked it over. The bowl was dull-looking, like a clay bowl of inferior quality. The bowl was full of particles resembling a lotus, and there were also cracks. He had activated his state of looking, and saw faint spiritual energy emanating from it, but it was clearly no longer usable.

This thing resembling an inferior clay bowl was the magic tool that had suppressed the white snake?

Ning Tao felt like he had just listened to a bizarre ghost story, or he was in a dream. He opened his eyes and there was nothing.

“This is the Demon-slaying Bowl, which had been unfortunately destroyed by that white snake.” Master Fakong sighed. “Benefactor Ning, do you think you'll have a good outcome being with those two snake demons? You should know that Xu Xian was an ent.i.ty of the spiritual root of nine reincarnations, while you're a person birthed by the heavens, you're even more precious than Xu Xian. Once you two are together, those two snake demons would carry the Ghost Spirit Fetus in secret, which is a huge affair going against the ways of Heaven. Even if I were not to do anything about it, there will be a pract.i.tioner who will slay the demons.”

Ning Tao fell into silence. He understood that since antiquity, humans and demons had never meant to coexist. Yet, when he thought of Qing Zhui, his heart hurt. How could he let down the feelings of that innocent snake demon who was willing to do anything for him—even die for him?

Master Fakong said, “I've asked Benefactor Ning here today to tell you the true story of Xu Xian and the white snake, then hear Benefactor Ning's thoughts on it.”

Ning Tao ended his silence. “What happened to Bai Qingyi after Master's Master had suppressed her?”

Master Fakong's gaze grew stern. “Her soul and spirit were completely annihilated.”

Ning Tao's heart sank. He could feel a sense of deterrence in Fakong's eyes. It made him uncomfortable, even disgusted. This Master Fakong had asked him here not to discuss how to get rid of that tyrant Bai Sheng, but rather, was asking him to cut his ties with Qing Zhui and Bai Jing. Perhaps it could be easier for Bai Jing, but as for Qing Zhui, she had gone through life-and-death with him. She had even gone against the ways of Heaven and acc.u.mulated a large number of sins to help him earn treatment fees. How could he simply cut ties with her?

Master Fakong spoke slowly. “Benefactor Ning, I know that it's hard for you to make a decision now. How about this, once you and Zixian have taken care of that demon Bai Sheng, then give me your answer, all right?”

Ning Tao grimaced. “Why should I give you an answer?”

Master Fakong was stunned for a moment. He clearly did not expect Ning Tao's response, and even in such a manner.

Ning Tao continued speaking, “Apart from this being my personal affair, we've only just met, why should I give you an answer?”

Once fury was sparked, Ning Tao could no longer bother to be respectful.

Tang Zixian was furious. “Ning Tao, mind your manners!”

Ning Tao huffed, “Respect is mutual. Bai Sheng is a tyrant and has committed all sorts of evil. This master here did not try to eradicate him, yet had rather come nosing in my affairs, don't you think it's funny? The two snake demons are the founders of the Shenzhou Charity Company, dedicated to doing good. What's it got to do with this master here? What is the logic behind not taking care of the bad demons, and targeting the good demons instead?”

Tang Zixian was silenced.

Yet Master Fakong's expression remained peaceful and calm. He listened to Ning Tao with a smile on his face.

Ning Tao stood up. “There's no point in us talking anymore. I'll make my move.”

Master Fakong said, “Benefactor Ning, don't panic. Calm down and listen to the rest of what I have to say.”

Ning Tao stared at the white-bearded, white-browed Master Fakong, and found an increasing resemblance between him and Fahai from The New Legend of Madame White Snake. The disciple resembling the master indeed!

Master Fakong stood up and spoke sonorously. “Heaven has its way of working, which cannot be gone against. How could you go against it then?”

Ning Tao was irritated. “What is this era? Don't talk to me about the rules of the olden days. I believe that heaven has its own way, but the cosmos is constantly changing, and living creatures are constantly evolving to adapt to the changes of the cosmos. Survival of the fittest. Our cultivation circle can no longer create any new magic tools. Yet, look at the Western world. They're coming for us with their magic tools combined with technology. That Bai Sheng had even introduced the cultivation ideology of the way of money. But you're still here telling me humans and demons cannot be in love with each other? You may have that idea, but I don't have the time. Farewell.”

With that, Ning Tao walked outward.

Master Fakong suddenly chanted a sutra: “Pa Mi Ya Duo La Hong Me…”

With this string of Sanskrit, Ning Tao's head was suddenly in pain. The feeling resembled that of a swarm of bugs burrowing into his head and biting his brain.

Tang Zixian suddenly spoke. “This is the master's demon-slaying sutra. You should listen to it and remove some of that demon aura from you.”

Ning Tao recited internally, “I rest within the womb, listening to the sound of the Way.”

“Dong!”

The holy bell rang. His headache was gone in an instant. Ning Tao's heart was entirely at peace.

Master Fakong focused his mind, and chanted even louder.

There was actually nothing special about the sutra. If one understood Sanskrit, anybody could chant it. However, it was a different thing when it was chanted with spiritual power, with control of the changes in syllables.

Yet, the person Master Fakong was facing was Ning Tao, the go-between of good and evil. Once the holy bell was rung, Master Fakong's demon-slaying sutra was cracked, and it had no effect on him.

When Master Fakong chanted even more quickly and loudly, Ning Tao turned back to say, “Okay, okay, don't chant anymore. It's annoying.”

Master Fakong froze in place, and no more sutra came out of his slightly agape mouth.

Ning Tao walked out of the thatched pavilion toward the hall.

Tang Zixian said, “Master, what should we do?”

Master Fakong was silent before saying, “Let him be. Perhaps it was a trial destined for him. There is also some reason in his words, so let's just see how things go.”

Tang Zixian watched Ning Tao's back disappear through the hall's back entrance, and she suddenly thought of something. “Master, he said that he could repair magic tools but would need some spiritual materials as payment. I'm wondering if you have any, then he might be able to repair the Demon-slaying Bowl.”

Master Fakong suddenly grabbed the Demon-slaying Bowl on the tea table and charged out of the thatched pavilion. Forgetting even to put on his shoes, he ran as he shouted, “Benefactor Ning, hold up!”

Inside the hall, Ning Tao saw the barefooted Master Fakong, who had caught up with him, and said with a tone of frustration, “What else do you want?”

Master Fakong said, “I heard from Zixian that you can repair magic tools. I'm wondering if you could help repair the Demon-slaying Bowl left by my teacher. I'll give you the spiritual materials.”

Ning Tao contemplated. “Sure, that would depend on how many spiritual materials you have.”

An hour later, the boat was traveling upstream carrying two large chests of spiritual materials, the G.o.d's Will electric motorbike, and Ning Tao back in the direction that they came from.

“I didn't expect you to be such a person!” Tang Zixian's face was full of disdain.

Ning Tao smiled. “What kind of person?”

“You actually extorted a monk!”

“I didn't even beg him to repair it, he was the one who wanted to. How about you make him take the magic tool back along with the spiritual materials? I'm not repairing anymore,” Ning Tao said.

“You've taken so many spiritual materials, you have to repair my umbrella too!”

“How many spiritual materials do you have?”

“You…” Tang Zixian was silenced from anger.