71. Sending Benefits to the Family

At this very moment.

Goldhorn and Silverhorn were trembling with fear. The two peculiar creatures clung to each other, shivering as they gazed at the green mist outside the Scripture Pavilion.

Earlier in the day, a sudden upheaval had struck the old temple. Three colossal, multicolored suns vied for dominance in the sky above. These were the manifestations of the wills of three great beings. The entire temple had become an extraordinary battlefield. The heavens and earth were turned upside down, everything lifted aloft by countless plumes of emerald smoke rising from the ground.

Goldhorn and Silverhorn wanted to escape. But chains forged from the bronze of Shou Mountain bound their single horns, leaving them no chance to flee.

“Big brother, I’m so scared! I wish I could go back to the Underworld—this mortal world is too terrifying.”

“And you have the nerve to say you want to go back?”

Goldhorn opened all eight of his eyes and glared at Silverhorn. “Back then, it was you who got tired of the Underworld and pestered those Taoists, begging to visit the human world. They wanted nothing to do with you, told you the only job was guarding the gate, but you heard it as a great mission!”

Silverhorn protested, “Isn’t guarding the Scripture Pavilion a great mission?”

“That’s nonsense!” Goldhorn yanked at the chain with all his might, biting at it, ramming it with his horn, then turning again to glare at Silverhorn. “It’s all your fault. If not for you, I’d still be enjoying myself in the Underworld, drinking from the Yellow Springs, feasting on souls, frolicking after a good meal, and peeing wherever I pleased after a few drinks.”

“Ahhh!”

“I can’t even remember how many years it’s been since I last relieved myself.”

“It’s all your fault! I’m furious!”

Goldhorn’s words made Silverhorn angry too.

“You, Goldhorn—are you saying it’s all my fault?” Silverhorn bared his teeth, voice fierce. “All I did was mention visiting the human world, and you packed up everything at once. Clearly, you wanted to go all along—you were just waiting for me to bring it up!”

Goldhorn retorted, “You, Silverhorn, I call that careful planning—acting only when ready. Tell me, who deserves the most credit for us coming to the human world?”

As he spoke, Goldhorn sneered. “They stole the soil of the Yellow Springs—a grave crime in the Underworld. Who told them where to steal it with least risk?”

Silverhorn lowered his head. “You did.”

“And when we left, who showed them the shortcut out?”

“You, again.”

“You only gave the idea. I was the one who did all the work.” Goldhorn said proudly, “Without my effort, you’d have spent at least half a month less guarding the gate!”

At this, Silverhorn was instantly ashamed and hurried to apologize. “I’m sorry, big brother, I was wrong. So, big brother, do we still have a chance to return to the Underworld?”

Better left unsaid. The question only made Goldhorn even angrier. But before he could scold his younger brother, a voice suddenly rang out from the green mist.

“Yes, of course you do!”

Chen Huangpi stepped out from the mist, stopping at the Pavilion’s entrance. His eyes shone as he stared intently at Goldhorn and Silverhorn.

He had actually arrived a while ago, but on hearing the two bickering, found it so amusing that he held back from revealing himself. Now, the brothers were desperate to return to the Yellow Springs—just as he wished.

“Th—”

Silverhorn was about to blurt out “Threetall.”

Goldhorn hurriedly clamped his mouth shut and quickly said, “Father Huangpi, what wind has blown you here?”

“Father Huangpi?” Chen Huangpi blinked in surprise. “Are you talking to me?”

Silverhorn replied, “Who else? Should we call you Thre—”

“Enough from you!” Goldhorn pressed Silverhorn down hard, grinning obsequiously. “You’re the beloved disciple of our Master. The Master granted us new life—we ought to call you Father Huangpi.”

At these words, the brass oil lamp snorted. “It’s only because the Master stood up for you last time and put Goldhorn and Silverhorn in their place, otherwise you wouldn’t be so polite now.”

“How dare you! Are you even worthy to speak our names?” Goldhorn snapped.

“That’s right! Take a good look at yourself—bah! Big brother, why does it look so familiar?”

Goldhorn widened all eight eyes, scrutinizing the brass oil lamp from head to toe.

The brass lamp sneered ceaselessly. Last time, disguised as a stray dog, it had been cursed by Goldhorn and Silverhorn as a mongrel. Now, revealing its true form, it was sure they’d be terrified.

Yet Goldhorn sneered in contempt, “Where did this broken lamp come from, daring to mimic the exact appearance of the Golden Dome Heavenly Lamp? It’s pathetic—an imitator through and through, laughable!”

Silverhorn added viciously, “What class are you, to dare resemble the Golden Dome Heavenly Lamp?”

“Chen Huangpi, I can’t stand this insult!”

“No need to take it to heart,” Chen Huangpi said, hugging the brass oil lamp tightly. He could feel just how furious the lamp was at that moment.

Each of the brothers’ barbs had struck the lamp’s sorest spot. If it were him, even he would want to slaughter Goldhorn and Silverhorn.

“Chen Huangpi! Don’t hold me back!” The brass oil lamp’s eyes blazed. “You two stupid mutts, how dare you say I look like Huang Yi? I am the Nine Underworld Divine Lamp! He is the Golden Dome Heavenly Lamp! We’re not even the same color—how could we be alike?”

“What class am I, you ask? I am the Nine Underworld Divine Lamp!”

“Nine Underworld Divine Lamp?” Goldhorn and Silverhorn exchanged glances with their sixteen eyes, then shook their heads in unison.

“Big brother, have you heard of it?”

“Nope.”

“What?” The brass lamp was beside itself. “You’ve been guarding this gate for years—haven’t any of the Taoists ever mentioned me?”

Admittedly, as the Nine Underworld Divine Lamp, it was of little status in the Pure Immortal Temple. But it was crafted by the Master’s own hand—surely it had some reputation!

Chen Huangpi hurried to smooth things over. “Huang Er, calm down. Don’t forget our purpose here.”

“Huang Er?” Goldhorn’s eyes lit up. “Oh, it’s you! I know who you are.”

Silverhorn asked, “Big brother, you know it?”

Goldhorn explained, “Yes, you came from the same furnace as the Golden Dome Heavenly Lamp, only made from leftover scraps. The Master named you Huang Er.”

“Oh, I remember now,” Silverhorn exclaimed, “The Golden Dome Heavenly Lamp took pity on you and adopted you as a younger brother.”

With that, the two brothers chimed in, “Hey, why didn’t you just say you were Huang Er? Who would’ve known you as the Nine Underworld Divine Lamp?”

The brass lamp was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a resigned laugh. As if deciding something, it turned to Chen Huangpi and said, “Chen Huangpi, I know you’re kind and can’t bear to see these brothers suffer. You came here to arrange some benefit for them. But these two are clearly ingrates. I say forget it.”

“What kind of benefit?” Goldhorn and Silverhorn’s eyes widened.

The brass lamp sneered, “What else? Naturally, to take you to the Underworld Yel—” It abruptly clapped a hand over its mouth.

But Goldhorn and Silverhorn nearly lost their souls. “The Underworld Yellow Springs! Is that what you meant?”

The brass lamp groaned, “Ah, this wretched mouth of mine. Why did I let that slip? No, Chen Huangpi, let’s go.”

A flicker of interest flashed in Chen Huangpi’s eyes, but he quickly put on a look of hesitation. “But Huang Er, they are part of the Pure Immortal Temple, just like you—they’re my family.”

“Family? Ridiculous!” the lamp retorted angrily. “You’ve known them for a day. Just because they let you into the Pavilion once, you’re so grateful? I’ve been by your side day and night—I am your family!”

“But—”

“No buts! We’re leaving.”

Chen Huangpi sighed, casting a look full of apology at Goldhorn and Silverhorn. That look alone all but melted the brothers’ hearts.

“Outrageous!” Goldhorn exclaimed, “Father Huangpi, Huang Er is too cruel! My brother and I have been guarding the Pavilion since before the world changed. So what if we’ve only known you for a day? Who says family must know each other longer?”

“My brother’s right!” Silverhorn proclaimed righteously. “The Pure Immortal Temple is a renowned sect, with a clear line of succession. Though we seem to guard the Pavilion for the Master, we’re actually guarding it for you, Father Huangpi!”

“Exactly!”

“Father Huangpi, we’re your family, too. Don’t listen to Huang Er.”

“You look out for your family’s welfare—we’ll remember your kindness below!”

“You—Huang Er, I…” Chen Huangpi sighed helplessly. “Huang Er, they’re right. I promised to arrange something for them. If I give up halfway, what will my disciples think when I inherit the Temple?”

“I must lead by example—that’s what succession is all about!”

Hearing this, the brass lamp was stunned, then shook its head with a complex expression. “Fine. If you insist, how can I not support you? But I think these two brothers are of such poor aptitude, they may not master your Heavenly Art…”

“Heavenly Art?” Goldhorn and Silverhorn’s sixteen eyes were filled with confusion.

The brass lamp snorted, “The old temple is strange; you can’t leave before dawn—probably never in this lifetime. Chen Huangpi, out of pity, begged the Master to teach you the Heavenly Art, so you could shed your old selves and escape. Otherwise, how could you ever leave?”

“The Master’s Heavenly Art?” Silverhorn looked up at the green mist above, as if he could see the three suns shining. Was there such a technique in the Pure Immortal Temple? He’d guarded the Pavilion for years yet never heard of it.

Goldhorn quickly pressed his brother’s head down, scolding, “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Don’t look up—keep your head low!”

“Wait.” Chen Huangpi suddenly frowned. “Is my Master up there?”

“We don’t know!” Goldhorn and Silverhorn shook their heads furiously.

“Father Huangpi, please don’t ask. We dare not say.”

“Fine, I won’t ask.”

Chen Huangpi nodded, now certain his Third Master was in the sky above. He looked up but saw only a dense, impenetrable green mist.

Earlier, the sound of the Jiuli Bell had echoed across heaven and earth, coming from above. Even his First Master’s violet fire had come from there. And perhaps even his Second Master, who had somehow produced the evil Buddha relic, was up there as well.

Chen Huangpi didn’t know why. He only knew that when the three Masters gathered, a fierce battle was inevitable.

The Ten-Thousand Peaks were shrouded in white and purple mist. Now, the old temple was filled with green mist—clearly representing the three Masters.

At present, the green mist in the old temple was thickest; his Third Master must have gained the upper hand.

Realizing this, Chen Huangpi grew anxious, wishing he could immediately take one of the brothers, descend to the Yellow Springs, enter the Underworld, and climb the Fallen Mountain.

“Father Huangpi, you seem very anxious,” Goldhorn tilted his head, inching close with suspicion. “I can smell it—you’re hiding many troubles in your heart.”

“I am, and all of them are urgent,” Chen Huangpi quickly replied with a smile. “But no matter how big the trouble, nothing is more important than family, and no amount of anxiety can outweigh my desire to do right by you.”

Silverhorn was moved. “Father Huangpi, actually, our aptitude isn’t that bad. It’s just after we became outsiders, our minds aren’t as sharp as before. Teach us the Heavenly Art—we’ll master it, we won’t let you down.”

Hearing this, Goldhorn immediately followed suit, afraid of being left behind. “Me too! I promise, I’m the same!”

(End of this chapter)