Give Me Time to Find an Excuse

Eastern Victory Continent.

Fine rain fell; the sky was dark and gloomy.

Xie Lingyu sat quietly by the railing of the courtyard, her gaze calm as she looked toward the direction of the Western Cattle Continent.

This courtyard stood atop the mountain peak in the Eastern Victory Continent that was closest to the Western Cattle Continent. When a cultivator looked out from here, they could catch a glimpse of the vague conditions bordering the Western Cattle Continent.

Amidst the swirling clouds and mist lay a heart full of worry.

It was still too far; she could not see clearly.

"Martial Aunt, it is useless to keep watching like this."

Cui Hao stood a short distance away. Although he spoke these words, his gaze followed Xie Lingyu's direction, staring straight at the Western Cattle Continent.

Hearing this, Xie Lingyu withdrew her gaze. Her hand gently caressed a token that was transparent yet infused with streaks of flowing golden light.

Although she knew she had to wait for the token to react, her eyes would unconsciously drift toward the Western Cattle Continent.

The Buddhist Sect's tribulation was a massive event. If something truly unexpected happened, and she saw it from here, she would not need to wait for the token's message.

Chu Xingchen had entrusted the most critical task of reception and support to her hands.

All Xie Lingyu could do was not let down the trust Chu Xingchen had placed in her. For this reason, naturally, if she could do a little more, she would do a little more.

Giving has always been a matter of sentiment and the person involved, not a calculation of amount or gains and losses.

The same is true for whom one holds dear.

Cui Hao looked at Xie Lingyu's tense expression and smiled, speaking up:

"Since ancient times, waiting has always been the most grinding on one's state of mind. Martial Aunt, you have been sitting here for several days. You should relax a little. Once the message comes, that is when the real work begins. Your energy should not be spent on waiting."

Xie Lingyu nodded slightly. Looking into the distance again, she indeed could not see the situation clearly, and what Cui Hao said made sense.

"Alright, I understand."

As Xie Lingyu spoke, she stood up, preparing to head down the mountain to see if any additional intelligence had just arrived.

However, after taking two steps, she realized Cui Hao was still standing in his original spot, his gaze gazing out toward the Western Cattle Continent.

"Are you not leaving?" Xie Lingyu asked in confusion.

"My cultivation is low, and my responsibilities are not as heavy as yours, Martial Aunt," Cui Hao smiled, looking back at her. "It does not matter if I am mentally exhausted. I will keep watch on behalf of Martial Aunt."

Hearing this, Xie Lingyu did not know whether she should laugh, looking at Cui Hao's earnest face.

It was no wonder others said Cui Hao resembled Chu Xingchen the most.

In terms of certain shameless answers, they indeed shared much in common!

Xie Lingyu thought for a moment, then smiled and replied in a manner resembling Chu Xingchen:

"Then I leave this major event to you. No slacking off."

Cui Hao looked surprised for a moment, then smiled and promised:

"I guarantee I will complete the glorious mission Martial Aunt has assigned to me!"

Xie Lingyu smiled and nodded. Just as she was about to turn and leave, the token at her waist suddenly burst with spiritual light, transforming into a stream of gold that surged into her hand.

Her expression changed instantly, and her figure turned into a rainbow of light, shooting straight down the mountain.

Cui Hao also immediately abandoned the major task he had just accepted and quickly followed Xie Lingyu's figure downwards.

However, the gap between Cui Hao's cultivation and Xie Lingyu's was too great.

By the time he rushed to the foot of the mountain, he saw numerous Tianyan Sect cultivators already moving toward the Western Cattle Continent under Xie Lingyu's command.

For a reception mission of this magnitude, plans had been made well before the action began. Everyone knew what they had to do; they were merely waiting for a command.

If they waited until the moment of reception to assign tasks one by one... let alone providing support, it was doubtful they would even see anyone in time.

Cui Hao looked up at the dozens of rainbow lights soaring into the sky. He hurriedly walked to Xie Lingyu's side and asked:

"Are we not going with them?"

"The tribulation-transcending cultivator sent by the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect as reinforcement has not arrived yet. He does not know the plan, so we must receive him first," Xie Lingyu answered quickly.

Cui Hao nodded. Just as he was about to follow up, a powerful divine consciousness swept over them.

"No need. I have arrived."

The voice had barely faded when Huang Miao descended with his sword. After his gaze swept over Cui Hao, it naturally fell upon Xie Lingyu:

"Xie Lingyu? Bai Xuanling's disciple?"

Xie Lingyu bowed and said, "It is this junior. The message has arrived; Senior is needed to rush to the Western Cattle Continent immediately. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery already has people ready to receive you. Please go straight there, Senior!"

Huang Miao did not speak, nor did his figure move.

Seeing the indifferent Huang Miao, Xie Lingyu immediately pressed him with an anxious tone:

"What is Senior Huang waiting for?"

Huang Miao's gaze was calm, but he took out a communication token in his hand.

But before Huang Miao could speak, Cui Hao took a step forward, standing in front of Xie Lingyu, and cupped his hands:

"I am Chu Xingchen's fifth personal disciple, Cui Hao. You must be Senior Huang, correct?"

Huang Miao's expression relaxed slightly:

"In the haste, I only received a message telling me to come quickly. I do not trust Bai Xuanling's disciple. You, tell me what the situation is."

Cui Hao did not answer this question. Instead, he stepped aside slightly, allowing Huang Miao's gaze to fall upon Xie Lingyu again.

"This person is my Master's wife," Cui Hao said, his tone extremely firm.

Hearing this, Huang Miao's gaze swept over Xie Lingyu once more. Then, without saying a single word, he put away the communication jade token, transformed his body into a rainbow of light, and rushed straight toward the Western Cattle Continent.

Seeing this, Xie Lingyu breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to look in the direction of the Western Cattle Continent.

Cui Hao spoke up quickly from her side:

"Mistress, are you alright?"

Xie Lingyu shook her head:

"I am fine. Thank you."

Cui Hao’s expression turned serious:

"Mistress, saying thank you to me is far too formal. Master taught us that as family, we should only enjoy the best of things. Suffering losses—that is something we leave for outsiders."

"However, you need not take this matter to heart, Mistress. I suspect this Tribulation Transcender merely has a grudge against Senior Bai; they were not targeting you specifically."

"Naturally, I will still snitch to Master about this later."

Xie Lingyu nodded gently:

"I haven't taken it to heart, and there is no need to snitch. Let us depart for the Western Cow Continent immediately."

"Yes Mistress, no problem Mistress," Cui Hao responded instantly.

Xie Lingyu glanced at Cui Hao, who had suddenly become incredibly smooth with his addressing of her as 'Mistress.'

She largely understood why Chu Xingchen had asked her to bring Cui Hao along.

In terms of quick-wittedness and reading the room, she was indeed far inferior to Cui Hao.

Western Cow Continent, Zhengyin Dharma Temple.

Since the battle in the Southern Zhan Continent, when all the Tribulation Transcenders of the Western Cow Continent went to provide aid and the Buddhas of the Buddhist Sect crossed the Pudu River...

This important temple, originally within the jurisdiction of Daoist Yuyang, was reclaimed early on by the Buddhist Sect due to its proximity to the Pudu River.

The temple had been rebuilt by the Buddhist Sect; after all, it remained the evidence and legal principle of the Buddhist Sect's presence in the Western Cow Continent.

Runan sat quietly in the Great Hall of the temple, with Arhats and Bodhisattvas standing on either side.

At this moment, besides the Buddha Runan, there was another Buddha standing aside with an ingratiating smile. This Buddha was the abbot of Zhengyin Dharma Temple—Ruzhong.

In the past, the Buddhist Sect had sent Ruzhong to guard Zhengyin Dharma Temple and the Bright Buddha beneath it.

Now, it was quite obvious that Ruzhong, this Karma Buddha, had botched both tasks.

Moreover, his attitude suggested he had botched them intentionally.

At crucial moments, this Karma Buddha always managed to drop the ball in the most critical way.

"Senior Brother Ruzhong, do you know why I have only come to see you today?"

Runan's voice was calm, his gaze fixed on Ruzhong with a hint of expectation.

Ruzhong thought seriously for a moment before speaking:

"Because you had to kill Mahayana Buddhism first. That matter is more important than anything else."

Runan's expression changed: "Senior Brother, do you truly believe that?"

"If that's not it..." Ruzhong laughed, "Then it must be that you were giving me time to come up with an excuse."

As his voice fell.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became extremely solemn.