Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Lady Di Yong of the Bottomless Cave in Xiankong Mountain [Seeking Votes] _1
It turned out to be a gold-nosed, white-furred Rat Demon.
Sha Chen did not plan to pay any attention, but the demon kept mentioning the Seven Immortal Maidens of The Cave of the Silken Web.
This made Sha Chen somewhat worried. If she is a friend of the spider demons and is now being pursued, what about the spider demons? What if they died along the way? Then what would become of the resources they had collected?
As for the demon on the shore, no matter how she called out, she received no response from Sha Chen. Because he had not yet figured out this demon’s identity and background. Moreover, since this demon could be the one being pursued, how could he possibly invite trouble upon himself?
The woman on the shore called out a few more times, but still received no response, and by now she was extremely scared. Glancing back frequently, she gritted her teeth, stomped her foot, and plunged into the water, diving into the depths of the Flowing Sand River.
The moment she entered the water, she regretted it.
"The water is so deep, and I can’t swim! General for Folding the Curtain, save me, save me! I really am a friend of the seven sisters. I encountered them overseas, and they sent me to find you."
The woman fell into the water and began to sink continuously, struggling desperately.
Sha Chen watched with an indifferent gaze, and at the same time, he looked towards the far distance. He noticed that, sure enough, someone was tracking the woman. The pursuers radiated divine light; they were most likely deities.
He was even less inclined to save her and thought it would be better to let her drown.
The woman truly couldn’t swim. Despite having some mana, she lacked the divine power to repel water, and she appeared to be on the verge of drowning.
Struggling, she cried out, "Save me, save me! The Seventh Mother has doomed me. Have pity on me—for enduring the whole journey without consuming those elixirs or immortal herbs, all now to no avail."
Sha Chen was stunned for a moment when he heard this.
The woman sank further, and though close to death, her desire to live was strong, as she called for help weakly.
"Save me, I really, truly am not a bad person. I was referred here by the Seven Maidens, save me..."
Inside the formation, Sha Chen witnessed the woman sinking to the bottom of the river.
"Detection of a Lucky Person, Lady Di Yong, the gold-nosed white-furred Rat Demon, calling for help. The host has the following choices."
"Choice one: Ignore her and let her meet her fate. Reward: [Twin-Blade Sword]. Twin-Blade Sword: A magical tool that Lady Di Yong, the gold-nosed white-furred Rat Demon, stole from Lingjiu Mountain, capable of cutting through iron as if it were mud."
"Choice two: Save Lady Di Yong and receive a table of [Buddha Offerings]. Buddha Offerings: Offerings manifested from the faith of the world’s people to Buddhism, containing the power of wishes that can alter innate potential."
Sha Chen hesitated for a moment, his expression turning odd.
It turns out to be Lady Di Yong from the Bottomless Cave of Xiankong Mountain, a Rat Demon who ended up here due to a twist of fate.
He had originally thought to let the Rat Demon fend for herself, but then he remembered his own plans. Considering the generous reward of the Buddha Offerings, he cast a water-repelling circle and encapsulated Lady Di Yong within it.
Within the circle, Lady Di Yong took deep breaths. Having escaped death, her clothes were soaking wet and clung tightly to her body. Having narrowly survived, Lady Di Yong didn’t have time to tidy her dress and hurried to express her gratitude, "Many thanks to the General for saving my life. I am indebted to you and have nothing with which to repay you. Please, take me in. I will serve you day and night, at your beck and call."
She did not know where Sha Chen was situated, but she could sense the location of the formation and bowed in that direction with clasped fists.
Sha Chen was on alert. Serve me closely? Wishful thinking.
Her coiled hair bun, dark as piled crows, was styled high; she was dressed in a green velvet floral bijia. A pair of golden lotuses, delicately small, her ten fingers like new spring bamboo shoots. Her round, powdered face, like a silver basin; her vermillion lips, smooth as cherries. An exquisitely beautiful posture, such that even Chang E in the moon would look upon her with delight.
Indeed, she is beautiful.
Sha Chen had saved her but realized he hadn’t received his reward yet, leaving him somewhat perplexed. Did the system withhold my reward?
It took a while for him to understand. Perhaps I need to save Lady Di Yong not just from drowning, but also from the deities’ pursuit. I was too hasty.
Sha Chen felt annoyed. If I had known, I would have just stood by and done nothing. But since she’s already rescued, it’s just a matter of lending another hand.
He materialized above the formation. Lady Di Yong immediately rushed over, kowtowing in respect. When she looked up again, she wore a pitiful, charming, and seductive expression.
Sha Chen stood as still as a mountain, but a shadow fell over his heart. She truly is one of the renowned great beauties from the Journey to the West. Lady Di Yong ranks high in beauty among all the demons in the Journey to the West.
Yet Sha Chen’s heart was as firm as a boulder. Female demons are but skeletons painted with rouge; I will not be moved.
He simply asked indifferently, "Why have you come here?"
Lady Di Yong answered, "General, it was your seven sisters who asked me to seek refuge with you."
Sha Chen nodded inwardly. Knowing my relationship with the spider demons proves that she isn’t deceiving me. However, I must remain very cautious because Lady Di Yong’s most outstanding trait among female demons is not her beauty, but her cunning.
She used schemes to have Monk Tang rescue her in Black Pine Forest, then devoured several passing monks, and even rendered Sun Wukong helpless. Escaping from Sun Wukong’s grasp twice, she even managed to capture Monk Tang.
Lady Di Yong’s cunning is not something ordinary demons can match; therefore, I need to be extremely cautious.
After repeated questioning, once he confirmed that Lady Di Yong indeed had a close relationship with the spider demons, Sha Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, I’m frustrated. Why did the spider demons send such trouble my way?
Lady Di Yong seemed to sense Sha Chen’s thoughts and quickly said, "General, please do not disdain me. I will not be a burden to you; in fact, I can take care of your daily needs, from your meals and living arrangements to changing your clothes and bedding."
Sha Chen said, "There’s no need. I will show you a way out. Flee for your life."
Despite repeated questioning, Sha Chen still didn’t want to let Lady Di Yong into his formation; her reputation in the Journey to the West was not good. Unbearably sly, she’s the last person I want to see. The honest and gullible Ao Lie, the naive and gullible spider demons, the straightforward and gullible Zhu Bajie, the shrewd yet still gullible Black Bear Demon, the upright and gullible Jade Rabbit—those are my preferred type of people. In the end, Lady Di Yong is not easy to deceive. I don’t want to deal with people who are not easy to deceive.
However, Lady Di Yong quickly began kowtowing in panic, "General, did I say something wrong? I beg for your great mercy, please don’t drive me away..."
Then she kept kowtowing and pleading, begging Sha Chen to save her.
No matter how much or how well Sha Chen speaks, she believes he’s lying to her, just to persuade her to leave and rid himself of this trouble, she thought.
Sha Chen felt a headache coming on. This woman is no good, he thought. That was why he disliked Lady Di Yong. Because she’s hard to deceive.
Just as he was thinking about how to persuade her to leave, the pursuers drew closer. If he didn’t let her in soon, they would be at his doorstep to capture her.
However, Sha Chen still didn’t plan to let her in easily.
He said, a headache throbbing, "I won’t easily let anyone enter my cave dwelling. The Seven Maidens should have told you, right?"
Lady Di Yong, also afraid of the pursuers, quickly answered, "Yes, they did. They said the General is a cautious man."
Sha Chen continued, "It’s because I don’t want others to know that I saved a gold-nosed, white-furred Rat Demon who stole Buddha Offering incense, oil, and candles."
Upon hearing this, Lady Di Yong’s face turned ashen.
It was one thing that Sha Chen had seen through her identity, but he also knew about her past. This was why Li Jing and his son had dispatched men to pursue her. She hadn’t expected Sha Chen to know everything.
The Seven Maidens indeed hadn’t lied to her; this ’elder brother’ is truly formidable, she thought.