Eternal Saber

Chapter 600 - 21: How Much Is a Human Life Worth?

"Thud, thud, thud..."

A sound resembling knocking came from not too far away, carrying a hint of eeriness amid the dullness.

Chen Tang turned to look.

At the foot of the Mahayana Buddha Palace, several Esoteric Monks had set up magic altars. Someone was seated atop one of them, holding a ’wooden fish’ in their hands, gripping a ’wooden hammer’ and striking it with a special rhythm.

Chen Tang’s eyes slightly narrowed.

The ’wooden fish’ and ’wooden hammer’ in that Esoteric Monk’s hands were bone-white in color and had a peculiar shape, evidently not wooden, but more like...

"Junior Brother, that’s what I meant by the Human Bone Dharma Artifact."

Yin Demon followed Chen Tang’s gaze and explained, "The wooden fish and wooden hammer in that monk’s hands are made from polished human skull and leg bones."

Chen Tang said nothing.

Around the altar, many followers, both men and women, were sitting in circles.

"Every baby girl who comes into this world does so tainted with sin, covered in filth."

The Esoteric Monk slowly said, "That’s why, when a girl reaches puberty, the appearance of the menstrual cycle is considered the utmost yin and vile substance in the world. After this, if a girl isn’t sent to the Mahayana Buddha Palace for the anointing and blessing, she can easily be invaded by demons and bedeviled by illnesses."

Chen Tang squinted his eyes.

Coming from a previous life, he naturally scoffed at such claims.

But the believers sitting around the altar all showed a devout expression, deeply convinced.

Yin Demon chuckled, "These monks sure know how to play. They call it an anointing and blessing, but it’s just finding a legitimate excuse to dual-cultivate with these girls and still have these believers be grateful."

Just then, among the crowd of followers, a woman in her thirties kept glancing over here.

Upon seeing Chen Tang and his entourage, she suddenly stood up and rushed towards them.

"Who are you?"

"Stop her!"

Before she got close, numerous attendants from the Yumi Country stepped forward to block the woman.

"I am Jiang Clan, wronged. I seek an audience with the King, please have His Majesty stand up for me!"

The woman shouted loudly.

The King of Yumi furrowed his brow and scolded, "Quickly, take her down, don’t disturb the guests!"

The attendants obeyed, dragging the woman away.

"Wait."

Chen Tang suddenly spoke, "Bring her over, let’s hear what’s going on."

The King of Yumi hesitated but dared not refuse, ordering the attendants to bring the woman before them.

The King of Yumi glared, admonishing, "There are Demon Sect Lords present, if you dare to speak recklessly, I’ll surely not let you off lightly!"

Jiang Clan took a deep breath, her expression resolute, and she knelt before everyone, loudly saying, "Three days ago, I went out for work and upon returning, my little girl was missing. Someone saw her being taken into the Mahayana Buddha Palace."

"It’s been three days, and my girl is nowhere to be seen. I lost my husband early, and my little girl is my only companion. I beg the King to deliver justice and have the Mahayana Buddha Palace return my daughter."

The King of Yumi snorted, "Someone saw her, who? Why is it only your daughter that’s missing and not anyone else’s? I think you are talking nonsense and deliberately stirring trouble!"

Chen Tang raised an eyebrow.

"Amitabha."

Just then, the monk from the altar approached, followed by the believers.

The Esoteric Monk solemnly said, "Madam, your daughter had already lost her true nature due to demonic possession. Luckily, our sect’s Vajra Guardian found her in time to transcend and cremate her, or else your entire family would have faced misfortune!"

"Your husband’s early death was a sign."

Transcend and cremate!

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Clan trembled, her face drained of color, disbelief and redness in her eyes, she exclaimed, "You, you’re lying, my girl was so sweet, how could she be possessed, you, you..."

Chen Tang remained silent.

Since learning about the human skin murals, perhaps the truth was even more brutal than what the Esoteric Monk claimed.

The King of Yumi waved his hand, "Enough, since the Esoteric Master has spoken, take her away."

"King, I don’t believe it, my girl was fine, King..."

Seeing the guards coming to drag her away, Jiang Clan struggled wildly, crying out.

"Still spewing madness and even doubting the Esoteric Master? I think you’re possessed too! Take her away, lock her up!"

The King of Yumi shouted.

Chen Tang turned and fixed his gaze on the King of Yumi, calmly saying, "King Yumi, have mercy, give her a chance."

The gaze Chen Tang gave made the King of Yumi a bit uneasy.

That look was like a ferocious tiger hungry to descend the mountain to feast!

The King of Yumi’s heart trembled, forced a laugh, "You’re right, let, let her go."

Chen Tang came in front of Jiang Clan, gently comforting, "Go home and wait, I’m about to head up to take a look, maybe I can find out that your girl isn’t dead."

"Really?"

Jiang Clan’s eyes brightened, her agitated mood gradually calming.

"Yes."

Chen Tang nodded, "I guarantee it as the Demon Monarch."

This trip up the mountain would surely lead to combat; the Mahayana Buddha Palace was set to be thrown into chaos.

Jiang Clan was just an ordinary woman unversed in martial arts; Chen Tang could not tend to her.

Chen Tang continued up the mountain.

No matter whether Jiang Clan appeared or not, he had to make a move on the Mahayana Buddha Palace!

"The Esoteric Master helped you by dispelling your family’s demonic threat, yet you are unappreciative and even doubt him, truly ungrateful."

"Indeed, if your daughter is gone, just find a man, remarry, then have another one."

"Though you’re a bit older, you’ve kept well; if no one wants you, you can be a concubine at my place, haha!"

"In my opinion, she was just acting crazy."

"Isn’t it for making a bigger fuss to get more money."

"Actually, she’s not wrong. Husband dead, child gone, can’t survive alone, it’s normal to try and get more money."

"We are waiting for the master’s teachings; hurry and leave, stop mourning here, affecting our future ascension to the Western Paradise."

Chen Tang hadn’t gone far when he heard the conversations behind, causing him to pause.

He closed his eyes, murderous intent seething within, nearly uncontrollable!

The Demon Venerable’s words echoed in his mind yet again.

"Humans may come to hate and kill each other for countless reasons stemming from jealousy, greed, and desire."

Chen Tang didn’t understand why these people treated Jiang Clan with such malice.

Among them, there was no enmity, they might even be strangers.

Yet the words spoken hurt like knives!

Is human nature truly so vile?

"Your Highness, no need to worry about such small matters."

The King of Yumi saw Chen Tang stop and smiled obsequiously, "Later, give her some money."

"How much is a life worth?"

Chen Tang still closed his eyes, asked slowly.

"Typically, ten taels of silver is enough."

The King of Yumi chuckled, "Since you’ve intervened, make it a hundred taels."

Bang!

At this moment, a muffled sound came from behind.

Following that, there were shouts of alarm from the crowd!