Demon Emperor Blood River's stern face remained expressionless from beginning to end, whether facing Warrior Emperor Wuzang or the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor, or whether it was Miao Rulai or Da Xing the Mad Monk.
His expression was like this, and his words were the same, giving off an especially indifferent feeling, as if no matter how strong a person was, he didn't put them in his eyes; no matter how big the matter, he didn't take it to heart.
This wasn't arrogance, nor was it insolence.
It was a kind of solitary pride.
And it was that kind of innate solitary pride.
This solitary pride was a pride in the bones, a pride from the soul.
He looked at Da Xing the Mad Monk and asked, "For what purpose have you come this time?"
Demon Emperor Blood River's question truly stumped Da Xing the Mad Monk, who said in confusion, "Ah! What matter did this old monk come for?"
He seemed to be asking Demon Emperor Blood River in return, but even more like he was talking to himself.
Suddenly.
Da Xing the Mad Monk slapped his head and said, "Damn it! This old monk was so angered by your wife that I nearly forgot the proper business."
"What matter?"
"This..." Da Xing the Mad Monk rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat embarrassed, hesitating to speak, then grinned and looked towards the two wisps of consciousness belonging to Warrior Emperor Wuzang and the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor not far away.
Perhaps sensing what was on Da Xing the Mad Monk's mind, Demon Emperor Blood River asked, "You came for them?"
"How to put it."
Da Xing the Mad Monk took off the tattered gray monk's cap he was wearing, reached up to rub his bald head, and said, "It's partly for the two of them, but not entirely for them."
Demon Emperor Blood River did not respond, as if waiting for Da Xing the Mad Monk to continue.
"Xuehe, you know this old monk. You should know this old monk has never been one to meddle in others' affairs, especially matters related to you. Believe me, if at all possible, this old monk wouldn't interfere in your business."
To say Da Xing the Mad Monk didn't like meddling in others' affairs—forget about others not believing it, even Da Xing the Mad Monk himself probably wouldn't believe it.
Almost everyone familiar with Da Xing the Mad Monk knew that this old bald donkey both enjoyed watching excitement and loved meddling in others' business. Whether it had anything to do with him or not, he'd jump out to stick his nose in. He was someone who loved watching excitement and didn't mind making things bigger. If there was no excitement, he'd stir some up; if it was a small commotion, he'd turn it into a big one; if it was already a big commotion, he could make it even bigger.
Although Da Xing the Mad Monk shamelessly claimed he didn't like meddling, the latter part of what he said was true.
Some people's excitement he liked to join in on, but for some people's excitement, he only wanted to watch, not join, and certainly not stick his nose in.
For example, he didn't want to get involved in Gu Qingfeng's excitement. To be precise, it wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he didn't dare.
Because he knew Gu Qingfeng's existence was too mysterious, too bizarre, and too special. And he understood Gu Qingfeng, clearly knowing that when Gu Qingfeng wasn't stirring things up, he wasn't stirring things up. But if Gu Qingfeng decided to stir things up, it would definitely be earth-shattering excitement.
For example, back when he proclaimed himself the Nine Nethers Emperor, Gu Qingfeng single-handedly turned the Nine Nethers upside down, stirring it up so much that the ancestors of those demons and monsters still carry a huge shadow from that event to this day.
Or like when the Nine Nethers Fire burned the Nine Heavens, that was him defying the Great Dao's judgment and slaughtering immortals across the sky.
Like in the Great Desolation, in front of the Immortal Dao, beheading Immortal Kings and killing Immortal Lords; in front of the Heavenly Dao, crushing the Heart of Heavenly Mandate.
Like when, to save Little Jin'er, Gu Qingfeng single-handedly challenged masters from all three thousand Great Daos.
These many deeds were enough to prove that when Gu Qingfeng stirred things up, he was mad, demonic, and reckless with his life, never stopping until heaven and earth were overturned.
Therefore, any excitement stirred up by Gu Qingfeng, Da Xing the Mad Monk simply didn't dare to meddle in. He couldn't afford to.
Not only that, if possible, Da Xing the Mad Monk didn't even want to watch excitement involving Gu Qingfeng, preferring to stay as far away as possible.
He understood better than anyone how special Gu Qingfeng's existence was—so special that countless experts across heaven and earth were secretly keeping an eye on this fellow.
Forget about meddling in Gu Qingfeng's excitement; even getting involved with Gu Qingfeng might land one in big trouble.
Regarding this.
Da Xing the Mad Monk had deep personal experience. It was precisely because he lured Gu Qingfeng into the Primordial Black Hole that he got himself into big trouble. Once Gu Qingfeng ascends to become the True Lord of Original Sin in the future, the black cauldron for the Slaughter of the Three Thousand Great Paths would fall on him to carry.
Besides Gu Qingfeng's excitement, which Da Xing the Mad Monk didn't want to, didn't dare to, and couldn't afford to meddle in.
He also didn't want to meddle in Demon Emperor Blood River's excitement.
Demon Emperor Blood River's existence might not be as special as Gu Qingfeng's.
But in Da Xing the Mad Monk's view, Demon Emperor Blood River and Gu Qingfeng shared a common trait.
That was: when they weren't stirring things up, they weren't stirring things up. But once they started, they were also mad, demonic, and wouldn't stop until death.
He couldn't afford to meddle in Gu Qingfeng's excitement, and he similarly couldn't afford to meddle in Demon Emperor Blood River's excitement.
Alas.
In life, eight or nine out of ten things don't go as one wishes.
In this Great Dao's jianghu, one is also often helpless.
Some things he didn't want to do, but had to do; some excitement he didn't want to join, but had to join; some idle business he didn't want to meddle in, but had to meddle in.
"Xuehe, today, this old monk came out because I had no choice, helpless, and could only brace myself and risk this old face to beg you. This old monk truly has no other way."
Demon Emperor Blood River said, "You want me to let them go?"
"This..." Da Xing the Mad Monk glanced at the two wisps of Divine Sense belonging to Warrior Emperor Wuzang and the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor being burned by the strange fire, and said sheepishly, "If... this old monk says if, if it's possible, it'd be best to let them off."
As soon as he finished speaking, perhaps worried about being refused by Demon Emperor Blood River, Da Xing the Mad Monk hurriedly continued, "Of course, if you insist on refining their two wisps of Divine Sense, this old monk has nothing more to say. If you feel unsatisfied, you can even refine their Divine Sense into puppets."
"What this old monk begs of you is, can we let this matter end here? Let's not stir things up at this critical juncture. Stirring things back and forth isn't good for anyone, alright?"
Demon Emperor Blood River asked, "Did they ask you to step in?"
"You could say that."
Da Xing the Mad Monk nodded and said, "This old monk owes them a favor, and a big one at that—so big that as long as they ask, this old monk cannot refuse. Otherwise, this old monk wouldn't have risked this old face to beg you today."
"If you give this old monk this bit of face, let this matter end here. If you insist on making a big scene, this old monk has nothing more to say and won't force you. I'll just turn around and leave."
Demon Emperor Blood River remained silent, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Da Xing the Mad Monk glanced at the two wisps of Divine Sense belonging to Warrior Emperor Wuzang and the Heavenly Dragon True Emperor being burned and refined by the strange fire, and added, "It must be said, you've really got the Mysterious Profound Grotto Heaven by the throat this time. They're running around in circles, almost regretting it to death."