"If Feihua likes it, that's good. Why not take some with you when you leave? I don't have much here; I don't know how much manpower and resources those guys spent to get it. It's only a few taels," Yang Kaiwu said honestly.
"Grandpa Wu, you should keep this rare treat for yourself. I'm already honored to have a taste of it. How could I dare to take away Grandpa Wu's prized possession?" Fei Hua immediately shook her head and refused.
"Sigh. You've been through the Dragon Group and the National Security Bureau incident. Although you didn't join the Dragon Group back then, you joined the National Security Bureau instead. I heard it was for that bastard. If it weren't for that bastard, none of you would have gotten into trouble. Luckily, you guys were blessed with good fortune and survived. It's a pity about the others, they were all pillars of the nation~" Yang Kaiwu said with a somber expression and some pain.
Feihua nodded slightly, a sad expression on her face, and said, "Yes. I wish them a good life in their next life."
"So I must defeat that bastard at all costs. I must seek justice for them. We cannot let them shed blood for the country, nor can we let their families shed tears for the country!" Yang Kaiwu said painfully.
“Yes. They did die somewhat unjustly. Grandpa Wu did the right thing, and it is highly commendable. Unlike some people, who have no bottom line when it comes to profit,” Fei Hua nodded and said.
"Sigh. Yes, the country is not the same as it used to be. Although it is developing, many problems have arisen. Everything is no longer simple and passionate. They used to rely on the people to rise to power and proclaimed themselves public servants. Now? Sigh, I won't say anymore. I can only do my best to be true to myself and have a clear conscience," Yang Kaiwu said with a sigh.
"How many people can truly live with a clear conscience?" Fei Hua sighed.
"So I want Li Yang to pay the price for this. I won't touch his family; they did nothing wrong. But he himself will absolutely not escape the punishment of the law!" Yang Kaiwu said excitedly.
"Does Grandpa Wu know about what happened at Xishan?" Fei Hua frowned slightly and changed the subject.
"I know. Feihua came here this time because of the Xishan matter?" Yang Kaiwu's sharp mind grasped the key point of the topic.
“That’s right. I’m afraid even if you use all the high technology, you still won’t be able to detect or explain the strange phenomena in Xishan, right?” Feihua said.
"Yes. It's truly inexplicable. There are too many things on Earth that technology can't explain. Technology is something that has only emerged in the last few hundred years. Earth has existed for so many years, and traditional Chinese culture has developed for so many years. It can't be erased by a few words of pseudoscience or feudal dross. They have endured and become more fragrant with time. I firmly believe that traditional culture will eventually radiate new vitality and brilliance. If you cultivators could come out and demonstrate your divine power, I think those so-called atheists would immediately shut up!" Yang Kaiwu looked at Feihua expectantly.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa Wu. We cultivators have our own rules and taboos, so we can't just come out like this," Fei Hua said apologetically.
“Yes. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. We must follow the rules wherever we go. Let’s not talk about that anymore. Let’s continue with the matter of Xishan,” Yang Kaiwu said, waving his hand.
Chapter 973: Seeking Profit for the Common People
"There is indeed a thousand-year-old demon imprisoned beneath West Mountain. It was once sealed there by our ancestors using great magic. However, a thousand years have passed, the seal has gradually loosened, and the demon has undergone many mutations. Not only has it not been destroyed, but it has also had a fortuitous encounter, greatly increasing its strength. It is attacking the seal day by day, and it looks like it is about to break through the seal and wreak havoc on the world. Once it breaks through the seal, it will be an extraordinary catastrophe for humanity," Fei Hua said solemnly.
"You can't even withstand it?" Yang Kaiwu sensed something was wrong from Fei Hua's expression.
“That’s right. None of us ordinary cultivators are a match for it. Grandpa Wu from the former Demon Alliance should know about this, right?” Fei Hua asked.
"Of course I know about those demons," Yang Kaiwu scoffed. He clearly had a strong aversion to these creatures.
"The leader of that alliance was actually a fragment of the Blood Demon's primordial spirit that leaked out from a crack in the seal. Its true form was formed from millennia of tainted blood, which it sensed and became a demon. It excels at corrupting all things in the world, especially pure things like those from Taoism. It can also corrode and absorb these corrupted things, thereby increasing its own strength. Its strength grows extremely rapidly. It is a near-immortal being. Therefore, the ancestors could only seal it away. But now, the seal is about to break, and the current Earth is not suitable for cultivating immortality. We simply cannot reach the strength of the ancestors. We simply cannot face the Blood Demon, whose strength has greatly increased, again."
Feihua said sadly.
"What? There's actually such a thing?" Yang Kaiwu was taken aback, and the blue and white porcelain teacup he was holding fell to the ground with a clatter and shattered into pieces.
“That’s right. That’s the main reason I came to see Grandpa Wu this time,” Fei Hua nodded and said.
"How could this be? Is there really no way to fix this?" Yang Kaiwu asked Feihua expectantly.
"There are solutions, but they're all a bit difficult," Fei Hua said with a troubled expression.
“Nothing in this world is easy. But we’ve accomplished earth-shattering things, so how much more so such a major event concerning the lives and deaths of countless people and the well-being of all? Just tell me, as long as it’s something that needs my help, I, Yang Kaiwu, won’t hesitate to ask for it!” Yang Kaiwu said excitedly.
"Initially, we wanted to find Senior Hua Mandie. She was a renowned Earth Immortal for a thousand years, powerful enough to contend with the Blood Demon. However, in order to improve her own cultivation, she entered the Xuan Yin Cave, a rift between the mortal and demon realms, seeking a breakthrough. She never returned. Another place is the Yaochi Immortal Palace. The Yaochi Immortal Palace has always upheld its duty to protect the mortal world, but their existence is too mysterious. For thousands of years, no one has known their whereabouts, and their disciples are all single-line disciples. The entire Yaochi Immortal Palace has at most a few people. The Palace Master is also an Earth Immortal, with unparalleled strength, enough to contend with the Blood Demon. But even she is impossible to find." Fei Hua listed a whole series of impossible options, laying the groundwork for bringing up Li Yang's matter later. That way, even if Yang Kaiwu was unwilling, he would know that there was no other way and agree to her method.
"Is there really no way at all? This is something you cultivators are good at. I, an old man from the mortal realm, really don't know what to do. You've come to me, do you think I can help?" Yang Kaiwu, as expected of an old and shrewd man, quickly sensed the problem.
Fei Hua felt the time was right and could speak, so she nodded slightly and said, "That's right. General, you can help." Fei Hu once again solemnly addressed her as General.
Yang Kaiwu knew the matter was of great importance, and his initial ease and comfort were gone. He frowned and said, "Immortal, please give your orders. I will do my best to fulfill them."
“Alright, since Grandpa Wu has said so, then I’ll be frank. Besides the two Earth Immortals I just mentioned, a third Earth Immortal has appeared in the mortal realm. Perhaps this person will be the final savior of this calamity,” Fei Hua said, making a startling statement.
"Really? Another one? This is truly a miracle! No wonder they say evil can never prevail over good, and the cycle of karma has its own logic. Since demons are rampant, the righteous path must naturally cultivate the seeds of resistance." Yang Kaiwu was so excited upon hearing this that he almost danced around like a child.
"Does Grandpa Wu want to know who this person is?" Fei Hua asked with a strange expression.
"Who is it?" Yang Kaiwu's face was flushed with excitement, as if he were drunk.
"Li Yang," Fei Hua said lightly. But to Yang Kaiwu, it was like a bolt from the blue, making his whole body goosebumps and his head buzz, almost rendering him unable to think.
"You, you're not joking?" Yang Kaiwu said blankly.
"I'm not joking. I'm not allowed to joke about something like this," Fei Hua said seriously.
"How could this be? Is the cycle of Heaven really so ruthless and unpredictable?" Yang Kaiwu said with great sorrow.
"I don't know either. The will of Heaven is unpredictable," Fei Hua said softly.
"Hahaha..." Yang Kaiwu suddenly laughed three times, but after the laughter stopped, he seemed to have aged more than ten years in an instant, and was on the verge of death, having lost all vitality and spirit.
"Grandpa Wu, please don't be like this. I know you're in pain and helpless. But the Dragon Group and the National Security Bureau's affairs have nothing to do with you, it's not your fault, you don't need to take these things on yourself. I really can't bear it!" Fei Hua rushed over, heartbroken, and supported the swaying Yang Kaiwu.
"No. Don't be sad for me. I've lived a long time, and I've had enough. While I still have breath in my body, I want to do my part for the people. I'll die without regrets then," Yang Kaiwu said with a bitter smile.
"Grandpa Wu, please accept my bow!" Fei Hua's eyes were filled with tears as she knelt down with a thud and kowtowed loudly.
"No, no, no!" Yang Kaiwu hurriedly stepped forward, pulling up the flying flower, his eyes filled with tears, and said, "To benefit all the people of the world is my lifelong wish!"
"Yes. I will definitely fight the Blood Demon to the end." Fei Hua grasped Yang Kaiwu's hands and said solemnly.
"Feihua, tell me. What do you need me to do?" Yang Kaiwu asked.
“Let’s drop the pursuit of what Li Yang did, and deal with all those who made things difficult for him. Those close to Li Yang should return to Jiangdong City. Let Li Yang see our sincerity. After that, I’ll go find him and negotiate to get his help in dealing with the Blood Demon,” Fei Hua said.
"Will he agree? He's so ruthless!" Yang Kaiwu said worriedly.
"He should agree; I'm fairly confident. Judging from his rise to power, although he's arrogant, he hasn't done anything truly heinous or bullied the weak. I don't think he's inherently a bad person, even if he sometimes goes too far and extreme. The reason he killed me and the Dragon Group National Security Bureau members that time was because we discovered he was practicing a strange cultivation technique. He initially intervened to save us, but the enemy was too powerful, forcing him to reveal his innate technique to defeat them. This also exposed the true identity of his innate technique—something our righteous path fears. He killed us to silence us in order to protect himself," Fei Hua explained with a distant gaze.