Da Xing the Mad Monk's reasoning and emotional appeal caused the beautiful nun to fall into contemplation, her demeanor no longer as aggressive as before.
Seizing the opportunity, Da Xing the Mad Monk continued, "Junior Sister Shuiyue, I don't expect you to believe me. After all, all the evidence currently points to me being the traitor who betrayed our masters and ancestors in the Chan Sect. If I were in your shoes, I'd suspect myself too. I only ask that you give me a chance, a chance to prove my innocence."
Opposite him.
Shuiyue Nun stared at Da Xing the Mad Monk, her gaze extremely complex.
To be honest.
Having been fellow disciples with Da Xing the Mad Monk, based on her understanding of him, Shuiyue Nun did not believe he would frame Senior Brother White-Browed, nor did she believe he was capable of betraying their masters and ancestors.
However, just as Da Xing the Mad Monk had said, all current signs indicated that the traitor in the Chan Sect was indeed Da Xing the Mad Monk. Even though Shuiyue Nun's heart refused to believe it, she dared not trust him lightly either. At the very least, before things were clarified, she could not place her trust in Da Xing the Mad Monk.
After pondering for a moment, Shuiyue Nun asked, "When will your two friends arrive?"
"That...
I'm not too sure."
Da Xing the Mad Monk shook his head with a sigh. "To be honest, whether my two friends can even come is still unknown. As for when they might arrive, I have even less certainty."
"Why did you call your friends here?"
"Our Chan Sect has never had many disciples to begin with. Over the years, some have died, others have been crippled. Even Senior Brother White-Browed is now missing, his fate unknown. Only a few of us remain."
At this point, Da Xing the Mad Monk looked deeply troubled, his words filled with worry. "If there really is a traitor among our few fellow disciples, things could become extremely dire. Once the ruins of our Chan Sect manifest, with our current strength, not only would we be unable to protect the sect's supreme treasure, but whether we could even survive would be a serious question."
He paused, sighing again. "As the saying goes, those involved are blinded, while onlookers see clearly. We Chan Sect disciples know each other too well; we're fully aware of each other's weaknesses. If the traitor has been plotting this for a long time, we'd be utterly helpless. So, as a precaution, I called two friends for help. And that's in a relatively optimistic scenario. If the traitor has colluded with the Western Pure Land Sect, then this time our Chan Sect is truly in grave danger. You should understand better than anyone that the eight Buddhist sects of the Western Heaven have always wanted to eliminate our Chan Sect."
"I can trust you... for now."
Finally.
Shuiyue Nun relaxed her guard. "You can also continue staying here. But as for your two friends... forget about them."
"Junior Sister, didn't you understand what I just said? If the traitor has colluded with the eight Buddhist sects of the Western Heaven, our few alone simply cannot contend with them!"
"I know. But I have my own methods."
"What methods?" Da Xing the Mad Monk asked, puzzled. "Have you also sought help? From whom?"
"Who I've sought help from, you don't need to know for now. I trust them, but I don't trust your two friends."
"Junior Sister, I can assure you, my two friends are absolutely trustworthy. One of them is Mo Wentian. You're not unfamiliar with him, right?"
"Mo Wentian?" Shuiyue Nun asked. "The Free Emperor Mo Wentian?"
"That's right! It's him."
The name Free Emperor Mo Wentian was not unfamiliar to Shuiyue Nun. In fact, she was quite familiar with it.
In her impression, Mo Wentian was a wandering Great Emperor—neither immortal nor Buddha, neither demon nor monster, belonging neither to the Nine Heavens nor the Nine Nether, roaming the Great Desolate freely and unrestrained. He was bold, passionate, and righteous, with many friends across the Myriad Realms of the Heavens. He had friends among the Nine Heavens Immortals, the Nine Nether Demons, the Western Heaven Buddhas, and the Fengdu Ghosts, from great Dao Patriarchs down to junior sect disciples. One could say his friends were numerous, spread across the Myriad Realms, encompassing all walks of life.
Including Shuiyue Nun herself, who was also a friend of Mo Wentian's.
Mo Wentian was both a wandering knight and a heroic figure.
He would go through fire and water for a friend, and would also champion the cause of strangers. Having roamed the Great Desolate for many years, his reputation was excellent, commanding a ready response. Even the Thirty-Six Cave Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands across the Myriad Realms would give him some face.
Shuiyue Nun had dealt with Mo Wentian before and trusted his character.
"Junior Sister, as for Mo Wentian's character, I don't need to say much. I believe you know it well. I figured calling him over, even if the traitor in our Chan Sect has secretly colluded with the Western Pure Land Sect and covets our sect's supreme treasure, they'd have to think twice. Most importantly, that kid is strong, has extensive connections, many friends, and great influence. Both the righteous and unorthodox paths give him face. If, by chance, other powers also covet our Chan Sect's treasure, Mo Wentian could still have a say, couldn't he?"
Shuiyue Nun nodded. She knew Da Xing the Mad Monk spoke the truth. Given the current situation, having Free Emperor Mo Wentian come would indeed be of great help to the Chan Sect.
After thinking for a moment, Shuiyue Nun asked again, "I trust Mo Wentian. You said two friends would come. One is Mo Wentian. Who is the other?"
"This..." Da Xing the Mad Monk seemed somewhat hesitant, rubbing his hands, unsure whether to speak.
"What?" Shuiyue Nun asked. "Why don't you dare say?"
"It's not that I don't dare say, it's just...
how should I put it."
Da Xing the Mad Monk scratched his head, then gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and steeled his heart. "Forget it, I'll tell you. The guy I called... I don't know if you know him, but even if you don't, you've definitely heard his name."
"Who is it?"
"It's...
It's Gu Tianlang!"
"What! Gu Tianlang?"
Upon hearing this, Shuiyue Nun was greatly shocked, exclaiming in alarm, "The Nine Nether Emperor Gu Tianlang?"
"That's right, that guy." Da Xing the Mad Monk asked cautiously, "Junior Sister, you don't know Gu Tianlang, do you?"
"I don't know him!"
Hearing that Shuiyue Nun did not know Gu Tianlang, the stone hanging in Da Xing the Mad Monk's heart finally dropped. He had truly been afraid that Shuiyue Nun knew Gu Tianlang, because in his impression, among the women who knew Gu Tianlang, eight or nine out of ten had been charmed by that kid.
"Although I don't know him, his name thunders in my ears."
Da Xing the Mad Monk nodded, sighing with emotion. "In this modern era, whether it's the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, the Nine Nether or Nine Heavens, the forbidden lands or holy grounds, the Gui Xu or desolate ruins, or even among the Three Thousand Great Daos, across the heavens and the earth, there's probably no one who hasn't heard of that kid's name."
"I've heard many, many stories about his deeds. His existence is also very...
special. Why did you call him here?"