" That said, he bore Chenghuai away, drifting off, his feet never touching the dust. Shen Mu jumped down from the platform and watched the white-browed monk and his disciple depart. Seeing Huo Ye's grave face—plainly worried over the white-browed monk's words—he said hurriedly, "Grandpa Huo, Granny, if he had the chance, would he kill us?

" Granny Zhu sneered, "Subduing demons and slaying monsters is the old bald thief's very trade.

If he had the chance, our end would be no better than Sang E's!

As for Huo Ye. . .

" She shook her head. Huo Ye had taught the Great Tingming Temple's arts to outsiders—that alone violated the temple's greatest taboo! Shen Mu said, puzzled, "Then why do we not simply kill him and cut off future trouble, instead of waiting for him to come looking for a fight? " Granny Zhu's eyes lit up, and she praised him: "Shen'er grows more and more like an Overlord Body! Elixir Master, Silent Craftsman, Blind Elder—shall we simply do away with the old bald thief and the little bald thief?

" Though the white-browed monk had already gone far, hearing this he could not help quickening his steps; with a whoosh he leaped into the air and bore Chenghuai away, and the thought of settling near Hidden Remnant Village was gone from his heart forever. Granny Zhu and the others did not chase after him either, but went on busying themselves with their work.

The Deaf Elder suddenly sighed with feeling, "The Wasteland Ruins grow more useless by the day; every sort of demon and monster dares to enter and make trouble. " The Blind Elder nodded, deeply in sympathy: "We honest folk can get no peace.

Old Master Huo, hiding like this is no way to go on.

The day you say you will go to the Great Tingming Temple, we old bones can go with you.

" Huo Ye was moved at heart, but did not show it; instead he lifted the monk's staff and said, "In those years I fought my way out of the Great Tingming Temple, so naturally I can fight my way back in. I have no need of your help.

Shen'er, this is what you won; it belongs to you. " Shen Mu took the staff, but it was not as weighty as he had imagined.

This staff had pressed the table leg down into the ground, yet in his hand it was very light. Doubtfully he said, "Is this staff very precious?

Why did Grandpa Huo gamble it on his head? " "Precious?

It is not exactly precious. " Granny Zhu looked the staff over and said with a smiling face, "You know Crimson Dragon City, of course? At most, this staff could buy a Crimson Dragon City—and nothing more.

"