Chapter 107: Encountering a Familiar Face on the Road

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“Xu Hua, you’ve saved me twice already. I don’t want to stoop to your level. If you release me now, I won’t hold it against you.” As they spoke, the two had already come to a halt. Zhou Yi stood motionless in place.

Xu Hua clasped his hands together, the other end of the chain tied around his wrists. “Amitabha. This matter has lingered for over a month now. It’s time to settle this karmic debt. Master Zhou, there’s no use in running; escape is futile.” Saying this, Xu Hua tugged hard on the chain and started moving forward.

“Bald donkey, must you force me to settle this once and for all with you?” Zhou Yi took two reluctant steps forward as Xu Hua pulled on the chain, then planted his feet firmly and stood still, practicing his stance, refusing to move no matter how much Xu Hua pulled.

“Come along. You can’t defeat me now. If I speak frankly, I owe you thanks. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have reached the second stage of Yin-Yang mastery so quickly.”

After days of chasing and fleeing, their relationship had transformed from bitter enemies ready to fight at first sight into a complex bond of mutual respect and reluctant friendship—profound and mysterious.

“I’ll go with you to Mount Wutai, but that old bald donkey there won’t be easy on me, will he? If I go, it’s as good as death. I’m not going. If you don’t release me, don’t expect me to be polite.” Zhou Yi pointed at Xu Hua’s nose and then sat cross-legged on the ground, throwing a tantrum.

“Do not insult my master.” Xu Hua’s face darkened with anger upon hearing Zhou Yi call Master Huiming the “old bald donkey.”

Zhou Yi shrugged nonchalantly. “Fine, I won’t insult your old bald donkey, but you, little bald donkey…”

His relentless “bald donkey” jabs wouldn’t be tolerated by anyone.

Before Zhou Yi could finish, Xu Hua yanked the chain sharply. Zhou Yi’s ankle throbbed in pain, and he sprang to his feet, involuntarily taking two steps forward.

“Getting angry? Already? That’s not good—anger clouds the mind.” Zhou Yi chuckled and teased Xu Hua.

Then he glanced and saw Xun Feng secretly watching them from the roadside grass. Relief washed over Zhou Yi; Xun Feng was not entirely bad—he still had this ally.

He signaled Xun Feng with a look. Xun Feng understood and prepared to circle behind Xu Hua.

“Scoundrel, come out. I found you long ago. If not for your loyalty in guarding him, I would have already delivered you to the afterlife.” Xu Hua said, looking back at Zhou Yi with a more forceful tug on the chain.

Zhou Yi felt a pang of disappointment; with Xun Feng discovered, his usefulness vanished. He stamped hard on the ground, digging his feet into the soil. Xu Hua pulled twice without budging and looked back at Zhou Yi.

“I am here under orders to bring you back to Mount Wutai. Your stubbornness makes my duty difficult. Don’t blame me if I get rough.”

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Xu Hua was truly annoyed now. He had thought capturing someone descending from the mountain would be easy. Who knew he’d encounter a rogue like Zhou Yi, who darted from north to south, evading capture multiple times. Now Zhou Yi was resorting to nonsense.

“What can you do if you’re rude? If you strike me, I won’t fight back. Kill me, and you break your precepts—no hope of becoming Buddha.”

Saying this, Zhou Yi seized the chain binding his ankle and yanked with all his might. The chain creaked and cracked loudly but did not break.

“Don’t waste your strength. This chain cannot be broken.” Xu Hua watched without intervening.

Hearing that, Zhou Yi searched for the chain’s junction, hoping to undo whatever binding method was used.

“Stop looking. I used celestial bindings. No ordinary person can undo them in a lifetime.”

Zhou Yi was at a loss. He couldn’t escape or win. His thoughts lingered on Baozi and Mu Chen; he couldn’t afford to dawdle with Xu Hua here.

“Master Xu Hua, please release me. I have urgent matters. Once they’re settled, I’ll return to Mount Wutai myself.” Zhou Yi finally pleaded.

Xu Hua pondered briefly before replying, “Do not deceive me. First, return to Mount Wutai and settle your karmic debts.”

“Ba… Master Xu Hua…” Zhou Yi was cut off.

“Do not try to sweet-talk me. If we move quickly, we can reach the capital by nightfall. You can rest there for a night.”

Seeing Xu Hua’s stubbornness, Zhou Yi muttered, “Damn it, this is the first time I’ve ever begged someone. That old bald donkey has no mercy.”

But despite his grumbling, he followed Xu Hua.

The two bickered all the way until dusk when they reached the capital. Just as they were about to find an inn, Zhou Yi spotted two familiar faces—Fugege and her maid Xiao Cui, who had been searching for him.

Since Zhou Yi left Maoshan, Fugege had been traveling nonstop northeastward, just arriving in the capital herself, planning to rest tonight and continue tomorrow.

Though Zhou Yi knew Fugege’s feelings toward him, he had no idea she had been trailing him from afar all this time.

Xiao Cui’s sharp eyes immediately spotted Zhou Yi and pointed, shouting, “Mistress! Mistress! It’s Young Master Zhou!”

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Fugege paused in surprise. Seeing it was indeed Zhou Yi, a faint blush appeared on her face. She pouted and said, “What are you shouting for? You’re making a scene.”

Then she quickly approached Zhou Yi. “What a coincidence to meet you here.”

Before Zhou Yi could reply, Fugege noticed Xu Hua beside him. “Master Xu Hua, why are you with Young Master Zhou?”

Xu Hua stood and pressed his palms together, chanting a Buddha’s name. “Amitabha. I greet Mistress Fugege.”

“Oh? Senior Brother Xu Hua, Master Zhou, why are you two together?”

Zhou Yi turned to look, thinking his savior had arrived—it was none other than Shaolin’s Master Jiechen. He hurried to greet Fugege and Jiechen.

“Master Jiechen, Mistress Fugege.” Zhou Yi stepped forward, the chains around his ankles clinking.

“Young Master Zhou, what’s going on here?” Fugege asked urgently upon noticing the chains. Jiechen was about to inquire but Fugege spoke first, so Jiechen waited for Zhou Yi’s explanation.

“You should ask your so-called Master Xu Hua. He holds the other end of the chain,” Zhou Yi said with a sneer.

“What does Senior Brother Xu Hua mean by this?” Jiechen asked.

Xu Hua replied calmly, “Master Zhou killed Zhang Zuozheng, a lay disciple of our master. I was sent by Master Huiming to bring Master Zhou back to Mount Wutai to settle his karmic debts.” Xu Hua clasped his hands again in respect to Master Huiming.

Xu Hua only mentioned that Zhang Zuozheng was Master Huiming’s disciple, not his own junior brother, indicating little affection for Zhang.

“Senior Brother Xu Hua says Zhang Zuozheng was your junior brother?” Jiechen frowned deeply upon hearing the name.

“That Zhang Zuozheng was only our master’s last disciple—a mere honorary junior brother,” Xu Hua answered with a smile.

Jiechen sneered coldly. “Mount Wutai produces nothing but scoundrels and thieves. I have long revered Master Huiming, but it seems he too is a foolish master, deceiving the world with his name…”