Great Demon Sun Wukong

This woman appeared to be about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, garbed in white clothes, extremely beautiful in appearance. Although she looked very young, and Sun Wukong could not discern any particular emotion in her eyes, her gaze was very clear. It had been a very long time since Sun Wukong had seen such clarity. In fact, few people could possess such a clear gaze, because as long as one is human, they would have all kinds of desires: for money, power, strength, beauty, or something else. With desires, one's gaze could not be absolutely clear. Yet, this woman was an exception.

Observing the puzzled look from Sun Wukong, Rogue Heart Sword Hero explained in a low voice, "This is the Netherworld Guardian, Star Sinker. Her cultivation is stronger than mine." Sun Wukong suddenly understood. No wonder she could follow behind Yue Huangquan, and even someone like Rogue Heart Sword Hero had to respectfully address her as Lord. It turned out she had such an identity, a guardian of a nation, which was almost on an equal footing with a Domain Lord. Although Sun Wukong was not from the Netherworld World, since he considered Rogue Heart Sword Hero a brother, he naturally could not skimp on courtesy. He bowed and said, "Sun Wukong pays his respects to Lord Star Sinker!"

In reality, Sun Wukong had no need for such formality; even when he met Yue Huangquan before, he had not behaved as such. Now, Sun Wukong felt more of a sense of guilt. Previously, his relationship with Yue Huangquan could be described as a mutually beneficial deal, with Yue Huangquan recognizing Sun Wukong's potential and entrusting him with an important mission. In return, after receiving the benefits he needed, Sun Wukong indeed brought considerable advantages to Yue Huangquan. Because their relationship was transactional, there was no question of one being above the other. However, Sun Wukong was meeting this guardian for the first time; since there was no prior interaction between them, he felt obliged to show full courtesy for the sake of Rogue Heart Sword Hero.

Of course, the most important reason was that Sun Wukong had lost the hard-won World Suppressing Stele and had also caused the loss of her Vice Domain Lord; under such circumstances, Sun Wukong could not be assertive. Star Sinker, with a gentle smile, said, "No need for formalities. Actually, we have met before, only I did not show myself then. Besides, we are about the same age; it's better to treat each other as equals!" Sun Wukong nodded and thought to himself, "This Lord Guardian is as down-to-earth as Yue Huangquan, and they seem to be easy to get along with."

After a series of polite exchanges, they got down to business. Rogue Heart Sword Hero detailed their encounters in that desert world to Yue Huangquan, which caused Yue Huangquan to frown deeply, making Sun Wukong's sense of guilt intensify. Once Rogue Heart Sword Hero finished recounting, Yue Huangquan did not speak immediately but turned her gaze to Star Sinker. Although Star Sinker was not frowning, her expression was somewhat unusual. After a pause, Star Sinker addressed Sun Wukong, "What intrigues me is the Soul Devouring Insect that the Great Saint mentioned, and I'm certain this matter is not isolated; it must involve a more intricate web of relationships!"

Sun Wukong inwardly shuddered. Previously, he had only mentioned to Rogue Heart Sword Hero that he had found a type of insect called the Soul Devouring Insect in a place called Buddha's Pure Land Realm, an intermediate world. Sun Wukong intended to pass through Hei Kui's Blood Prison, which was the Life and Death Blood Realm, to enter the Fallen Tomb and look for the Illusionary Bug Domain to find a way to eradicate this species of insects. Although Sun Wukong had not deceived Rogue Heart Sword Hero, he had also not been entirely truthful. Rogue Heart Sword Hero merely repeated what Sun Wukong had told him. Yet, this guardian, Star Sinker, still heard many underlying issues.

"I will explain about the Soul Devouring Insect in detail later," Sun Wukong was forced to add immediately; he knew this matter could not be settled so easily. At that moment, Rogue Heart Sword Hero said, "I think, we must rescue the Flame God regardless. Whether it's the World Suppressing Stele or the Flame God himself or his status as a Vice Domain Lord, that makes it clear to us that we must act!" Sword Hero spoke with unwavering firmness, a tone that left no room for it to be a suggestion or negotiation. Ever since Sword Hero had comprehended his own Sword Dao, his entire temperament had started to change.

Moreover, knowing Rogue Heart Sword Hero as Sun Wukong did, even if Yue Huangquan disagreed, Sword Hero would definitely act on his own. Thus, the current debate was not so much whether to save the Flame God but how to save him! Sure enough, after Rogue Heart Sword Hero finished speaking, Yue Huangquan nodded, "The attack by Myriad Demons Country and the abduction of the Vice Domain Lord of our Netherworld World is a provocation. Therefore, we must certainly rescue the Vice Domain Lord. However, Myriad Demons Country has already concealed itself, and finding Myriad Demons Country to break in and rescue the Vice Domain Lord is not an easy task. Myriad Demons Country is not what it once was; Ling Weiyang has definitely become the new Domain Lord, and the internal unity of Myriad Demons Country must be very solid. Our goal is to rescue, not to send people to their deaths!"

Yue Huangquan's point was clear: rescuing is acceptable, and as Flame God has been personally appointed as Vice Domain Lord by me, it's my duty to save him, both publicly and privately, out of both emotion and reason. But how to rescue him requires a feasible plan. Although Flame God is important, more lives will not be sacrificed just to save him. As a lord of a world, Yue Huangquan's approach was very appropriate and wise. A ruler should exhibit impartiality, where no subordinate's life is more valuable than another's in their view. However, Sun Wukong did not particularly appreciate this approach. In his own way of thinking, if someone had kidnapped one of his Monkey Kin, he would undoubtedly lead the entire Demon Clan to retrieve them, even at the cost of many lives, which he deemed worthy. This was a clash between two completely different ideologies with Yue Huangquan; which was right or wrong was not easily determined.