The Demon’s Menu
Chapter 1039: Acting Naturally (2)

Because he was not adept at combat, he even researched how to successfully avoid it without losing face for Tongshou Temple.

The current situation was just right!

[Doppelganger Release]!

At the very beginning, the old monk of Tongshou Temple had used a doppelganger to stand in front of He Tai.

Now, faced with He Tai’s thrown fireball, the old monk of Tongshou Temple had no intention of dodging.

He had even prepared for the flame to burn the [Doppelganger Release], and then to send out a second [Doppelganger Release] from the right wing room, using words to express his reluctance to fight back.

Next, it was likely that the doppelganger would be destroyed again.

Then, he would send out the [Doppelganger Release] from the left wing room.

Repeat the above actions.

And when all three doppelgangers had been used, all destroyed, it would be time for his real body to fight.

He hoped that by then Jason would have returned!

The old monk of Tongshou Temple stood silently in the Sutra Depository, controlling the doppelganger to stand upright, once again bringing his hands together in prayer.

But just at that moment—

Bang!

A gunshot sounded.

The bullet grazed the bowed head of the old monk’s doppelganger and embedded itself into the wall.

What?

The old monk was startled.

Was there an ambusher?

He Tai was also stunned.

He only had one partner and had hired the ’Wind Demon Brothers.’

Even with his shikigami included.

The Lantern Carrying Juvenile would not use firearms.

Moreover, for the safety of that lady, the Lantern Carrying Juvenile was arranged to be inside the ’Illusion Realm.’

Without a doubt, someone had intervened.

He Tai’s hand retracted.

Six fireballs returned to his side.

But the speed of the fireballs’ flight was simply no match for the speed of a bullet.

Bang!

During the return of the six fireballs, the gunfire sounded once again.

And this time, it was aimed at He Tai.

A piece of talisman paper appeared in He Tai’s hand.

Though fallen from grace, He Tai’s lineage meant he had a variety of techniques at his disposal.

An invisible force field appeared in front of the bullet.

The incoming bullet was stopped just like that.

Clang clang.

The yellow-orange bullet fell from midair.

But before He Tai could take a breath of relief, a figure soundlessly appeared behind him, and with a dagger in hand, stabbed towards the back of the wandering Onmyoji.

Whoosh!

The sound of piercing the air came.

Not good!

Can’t dodge in time!

He Tai’s face changed.

He tried his best to dodge to the side.

But such an evasion was utterly futile.

The attacker’s wrist trembled slightly, and once again aimed for his heart.

It’s over!

Perceiving the proficient technique of the attacker, a chill ran down He Tai’s spine.

Although he didn’t know the specific process, he knew he had been used.

His corpse would become an excellent tool.

To lead disaster to ’Tongshou Temple.’

Why would the plotter do this?

Naturally, it was because of the ’Fear’ banner.

Apart from the ’Fear’ banner, He Tai couldn’t think of anything else.

As for who the plotter was?

He Tai couldn’t think of it.

But...

Unwillingness! Humiliation!

These feelings overwhelmed his heart at this moment.

He was filled with anger.

Angry at his own helplessness.

Angry at his own recklessness and ignorance.

Carrying regret, He Tai prepared to welcome death.

But just at that moment, a force came from the side of his body, which he had no power to dodge.

It was...

The old monk of Tongshou Temple.

The old monk shoved the weak He Tai aside.

Then—

Thrust!

The dagger pierced the old monk’s chest.

Blood instantly flowed out, staining the old monk’s worn-out robes.

However, the old monk still wore a smile as he brought his hands together in prayer towards the person who had stabbed him.

This was instinct for the old monk of Tongshou Temple.

Just as he saw He Tai in danger and shoved him away to let He Tai escape danger.

Why help the person who attacked him?

Shouldn’t monks be compassionate at heart?

Although he was a fake monk who had entered monkhood halfway through his life.

But he had accepted the last request of the previous Master of Tongshou Temple to become a monk, and since he had accepted a friend’s trust, he naturally had to fulfill it.

Not only to fulfil it but to do it convincingly.

So, he did just that.

Once he started, it was for more than a decade or two.

Habit became instinct.

Faced with the sudden move by the old monk of Tongshou Temple to block the stab for He Tai, it was certainly beyond the assailant’s expectations, and without even pulling out the knife, the assailant turned and ran.

"Go to hell!"

But before the assailant could leave the courtyard, He Tai’s roar resounded.

The six fireballs instantly devoured the assailant.

The person did not even shout before turning into ashes.

While He Tai quickly ran to Master Tongshou Temple.

"Ma, Master You?"

He Tai was somewhat at a loss.

He wanted to ask why save him.

After all, they could hardly be called friends, and could even be considered enemies.

Keep in mind that he was just about to try to seize the character flag.

Master Tongshou Temple, however, just started laughing.

Such things as what happened to He Tai, he had encountered too many times.

He certainly knew what He Tai wanted to ask.

It’s just a doppelganger.

Naturally, it would be alright.

But it was He Tai’s own breath that seemed unsteady.

So, the old monk naturally asked—

"Are you alright?"

The voice remained gentle, embodying concern that went without saying.

He Tai was completely stunned.

To revive his family, he roamed the Mystical Side, most of the time among a bunch of ambitious wolves, constantly on guard against these bastards spreading their malice to him.

Even if he met some decent people, that was all they were.

Most of the time, it was a relationship of interests.

He had never before met someone like the old monk.

Sincere, kind.

Even faced with someone like him, he was treated with tenderness.

Inexplicably, a touch of warmth rose within the emptiness of He Tai’s heart.

An unfamiliar warmth.

For the first time in his life.

Even his parents had never given him such a feeling.

Because, from his parents, what he received was only the conviction to ’revive the family.’

Cold, dogmatic.

With no turn.

It was like an iron shackle was on his body.

Cold and solid.

Pressing so hard that he could hardly breathe.

But just now, the words of the old monk had let him feel warmth.

The cold unconsciously dispersed.

His body also relaxed.

Unintentionally, He Tai straightened up.

"I’m alright."

He Tai said while supporting the old monk.

"That’s good, that’s good."

The old monk said, then staggered, and even with He Tai’s support, sat down on the ground.

Master’s doppelganger was indeed miraculous, but the created doppelganger was still of an ordinary person’s strength; having taken such a blow, it quickly entered a critical state.

Feeling the old monk’s increasingly weak breath.

He Tai anxiously sprinkled healing medicine on the old monk’s wound.

He didn’t dare to pull out the dagger.

Because that would only accelerate the old monk’s death.

But not pulling out the knife, and just using the healing medicine, was completely useless.

"Damn it!"

"Why didn’t I choose that healing Shikigami?"

He Tai cursed to himself, then prepared to carry the old monk to the hospital.

But just at that moment, numerous figures appeared at the entrance of the temple yard.

Indistinctly, in layers upon layers.

Over a dozen figures appeared there.

Their faces were ferocious, with undisguised malice in their eyes.

"Perfect!"

"We originally just wanted to use you, an Onmyoji, to create discord with Tongshou Temple."

"Who knew that this stupid monk from Tongshou Temple would actually take a knife for you."

"If we had known this, would we need to plot for so long?"

"By exploiting the stupid monk’s weakness, we would have killed him long ago and taken the character flag!"

The leader of them, dressed in modern clothing but with two long swords hanging at his waist, had neatly combed hair, but his eyes carried a frivolity that was uncomfortable to look at.

The people around him were the same.

"Step aside."

He Tai growled.

"Heh."

The cold laugh was the response.

He Tai took a deep breath, pulled out talisman paper, enveloped the old monk with a force field, and said softly, "Master, please wait."

After speaking, He Tai turned around, pulling out a stack of talisman paper.

"Last warning, step aside."

He Tai’s voice turned cold.

"Another fool!"

"Take him out!"

"Kill the old monk and seize the character flag!"

The leader waved his hand, and immediately, a group of people rushed into the temple.

"Get out!"

He Tai raised his talisman paper.

Fireballs blazed furiously.

The scorching high temperature distorted the air.

Yet, He Tai’s expression was more serious than ever.

An inexplicable strength was born from the bottom of his heart, and at this moment, he was stronger than ever.

That was conviction!

Different from the previous cold conviction.

Now the conviction was warm.

It was passionate.

It made He Tai feel... alive!

Whoosh!

The flames surged even higher.

He Tai roared.

"As long as I’m here, I’ll never allow you to set foot in Tongshou Temple."

"And that’s final!"