Chapter Forty-Five: Huang Mei Admits Winning Three Times, First Challenged in Front of the Demon Cave Door

    To slay Wolf Wuji, thorough preparation was essential—one couldn't simply charge forth armed with nothing but a sword.

    Jiang Liuer purchased iron ingots from the eastern market, long bamboo poles from the west, and stockpiled days' worth of rations.

    Using his Heaven-Suppressing Sea Sword, he carved the ingots into spearheads and affixed them to the bamboo poles. Initially, he'd sought a blacksmith's help, but the craftsman adamantly refused, muttering, "Don't drag me into rebellion!"

    The blacksmith had clearly misunderstood. This was the Great Tang of Jiang Liuer's future sworn brother—why would he rebel against his own kin?

    Left with no choice, Jiang Liuer forged the weapons himself.

    "Metal's gotten so expensive!" he grumbled after crafting twenty iron spears and a hundred bamboo ones. His Summit Ring now held not a single copper coin—in fact, he owed Shou Qing two strings of cash.

    Not only was he penniless again, but indebted too!

    Yet he remained certain: killing Wolf Wuji would solve everything. The wolf demon had occupied Wolf Torrent Cave for centuries, undoubtedly amassing vast wealth—how else could he host such extravagant wedding feasts?

    "Forward! To slay Wolf Wuji!"

    Storing the spears and provisions in his Summit Ring, Jiang Liuer summoned Hu Yuyu and Shou Qing for the hunt.

    Hu Yuyu gnashed her pointed teeth at the wolf's mention, claws flexing eagerly. Shou Qing hesitated: "Friend, as a mountain overlord, wouldn't he command many minions?"

    "We'll slaughter them all," Jiang Liuer replied.

    Shou Qing blinked.

    Hu Yuyu added, "Did you think our earlier loss of a hundred-odd coins was accidental?"

    As Shou Qing gaped, Jiang Liuer sought counsel in the Celestial Pilgrims' group:

    [River Child]: "Elders, having reached Refined Qi/Desire Realm's Fourth Stage, what are my odds against a three-century-old wolf demon?"

    [Pure Altar Envoy]: "Such swift progress! Did Master feed you immortal elixirs?"

    [Yellow-Browed Patriarch]: "The wolf matches your strength... yet methods exist to surpass him. Coincidentally, I possess a gourd of Karmic Sin Pills—"

    Jiang Liuer wavered at the tempting offer until [Muscular Tang Sanzang] interjected: "With your Vajra Wrath Body Tempering nearing mastery, you need no pills."

    [Yellow-Browed Patriarch]: "You dare call my pills worthless, Golden Cicada?"

    [Muscular Tang Sanzang]: "Your merit halos are glued-on trinkets. Disgraceful, for a supposed senior."

    As the deities bickered, the trio reached Wolf Torrent Cave at noon.

    "He's truly isolated now," Hu Yuyu observed venomously. "Retribution comes, beast!"

    Jiang Liuer declared, "Wait here. I'll issue challenge."

    Hu Yuyu blinked. "No ambush this time?"

    "Open combat." Jiang Liuer recalled Tang Sanzang's preference for direct clashes.

    Shou Qing fretted: "What if he's too powerful?"

    "I'll prevail. If not, drag me away."

    Clutching his Heaven-Suppressing Sea Sword, Jiang Liuer marched openly to the cave mouth—a far cry from his previous snake-disguised infiltration.

    "Wolf Wuji! Having slain your hundred minions and four captains, I'll reunite you in hell's depths!"

    Within the cave, Wolf Wuji paused mid-pill-giving. The aging abbot barely registered the shouts before the wolf demon erupted:

    "Jiang Liuer! YOU DARE?!"

    Seizing his spiked club, Wolf Wuji stormed outward on howling winds, leaving the trembling monk behind.