After all, what’s failing a test?
Just wounded pride at most, but you can always bounce back.
But this kind of joke… how do you wash it away?
They looked toward the projection of Achilles and the others—though they were nearing Little Thunderclap Monastery, not a trace of joy could be seen.
Each wore a dark, frightening expression, an air of suffocating pressure all around them.
“I’ll tear her to pieces myself!” Achilles gritted his teeth.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got—he swore to take revenge at Little Thunderclap Monastery.
Saffiros’ face was like ice, he said, “Death is too easy.”
Such humiliation was unforgivable.
Achilles turned a grim gaze on the ever-silent Merlin and asked, “The Bull Demon King should be arriving, right?”
Merlin was the calmest of them all.
He lifted his chin, signaling the others to look at the holographic map.
Almost simultaneously, they saw the red dot representing Su Fu’s team suddenly come to a stop on the map.
“This is…?” Freya realized, “The Bull Demon King found her?”
Bodhi Yue analyzed, “Looks like it. Su Fu must have run into him and been stopped.”
Achilles’ taut expression finally relaxed a little.
“Good. I don’t believe she can beat an S-class anomaly. She can’t possibly escape—she’s doomed.”
“What a pity,” Saffiros sighed, “Hope the Bull Demon King spares her life. I want my revenge myself.”
Achilles showed a strange smile, speaking slowly, “What’s the rush? It’s just death in the exam.”
“There’s still life outside the exam, after all.”
He turned to Freya and asked, “Su Fu shouldn’t be able to resist your abilities, right?”
Freya arched an eyebrow, “Of course.”
She smiled and said, “I really look forward to meeting her. She ought to experience this taste for herself.”
At that moment, Shen Yan’s voice suddenly rang out:
[“Warning, S-class Anomaly “Bull Demon King” has entered the examination map.”]
[“All examinees remain on alert. The exit channel is now temporarily open. Please make a rational choice whether to continue the exam.”]
[“Repeating, S-class Anomaly “Bull Demon King” has entered the map…”]
Everyone exchanged glances—they’d guessed right.
No matter how many tricks Su Fu had, what did it matter?
This time, running into the Bull Demon King, she was bound to be eliminated.
Strength alone wasn’t enough—relying on brute force was just foolish.
***
Examiner Murray shot to his feet, face suddenly changed.
He too had received the warning—Bull Demon King had entered the freshmen joint exam map.
“This is really bad now…”
Murray looked grave.
With the Bull Demon King inside the map, the responsibility fell on him—but this was an S-class Anomaly!
How could he fight that?
‘If the Bull Demon King lost control and attacked, causing a mass casualty among students…’ Murray’s scalp tingled.
He needed backup—fast!
He immediately called out, “Activate the emergency plan now!”
“Are the Guardians of Souls here yet? Hurry up, push them!”
“Hold out for a bit? With what am I supposed to hold out?!”
“SUSU…”
“Dean, Vice Dean!”
“Dad!”
***
At that moment, above Flaming Mountain, a crimson light streaked through the sky.
The Bull Demon King had arrived.
He was massive, nearly ten meters tall, clad in a crimson robe that flapped in the wild wind.
His two black horns atop his head gleamed like a pair of sharp scimitars, and now, enraged, his eyes burned scarlet.
“We’re finished!” Kofman said nervously, “The Bull Demon King’s reached Flaming Mountain—Su Fu and the rest are doomed!”
Ji Yao sighed, “Originally, they could’ve flown out long ago, but had to stay to deal with that video and broadcast it…”
“This is an exam—revenge or not, shouldn’t you focus on what matters?”
“So reckless,” Lina shook her head, “They’re still young—always putting personal grudges above all else and forgetting the exam’s what’s important. Now look, they’ve run right into the Bull Demon King.”
Fox had already written Su Fu off.
“Even Achilles and the others would have to avoid the Bull Demon King. No matter how clever Su Fu is, this time she’s doomed.”
“She can’t possibly beat an S-class Anomaly.”
Just then, he frowned, “Wait, that’s odd—where are they?”
Why could he only see the Bull Demon King and not Su Fu’s group?
On screen, the Bull Demon King had already landed on Flaming Mountain, sending out a deep rumble.
Not only Fox and the others, but even the Bull Demon King saw no sign of Su Fu.
He scanned the surroundings, his voice thunderous, roaring, “Where’s the monkey?!”
“That monkey Sun Wukong—where’s he gone?!”
Moreover, he realized the entire Flaming Mountain fire had been completely extinguished.
“Damn!” He swung his iron staff at the ground, causing the mountain to crack and dust to fly. “That monkey actually put out the Flaming Mountain’s fire and ran off!”
The Bull Demon King howled up at the sky, “Heaven and earth, I won’t let you get away!”
He was about to search the area when, suddenly, a golden light flashed in the sky.
Soon, the golden glow drew near, gradually revealing a figure in flowing white robes.
A golden radiance shone from behind her, her face kind, dressed in a white robe, a lotus crown on her head, a pure vase in her hand.
“Avalokitesvara?” The Bull Demon King’s blood-red eyes cleared somewhat, even seeming a bit excited.
Seeing Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva meant there might be news of Red Boy.
Ever since that commotion, his son had been taken by Avalokitesvara as a good-fortune boy, and he hadn’t seen him for years.
Thinking of this, a rare look of excitement and anticipation appeared on the Bull Demon King’s fierce face.
He quickly suppressed his anger and bowed respectfully, “The Bull Demon King greets Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva!”
“Amitabha.” A compassionate voice sounded from the golden light.
The Bull Demon King couldn’t restrain his excitement and asked anxiously, “May I ask, Bodhisattva, how is my child faring lately?”
Avalokitesvara’s voice remained gentle and calm and she said. “Red Boy is studying diligently at Ling Mountain, progressing in his cultivation, and has gained some understanding of the Dharma.”
“His fiery temper…”
“It has mellowed considerably; he’s learned patience and compassion, becoming increasingly mature and steady.”
The Bull Demon King listened, but his heart grew ever more bitter.
His son, once so lively and mischievous, was now forced to restrain himself, doing everything by the book as a good-fortune boy.
“In the end, it’s all that monkey’s fault!” Rage flared up inside the Bull Demon King—who knew where that monkey had run off to!
Wait…
He suddenly looked at Avalokitesvara, suspicion flashing in his eyes, ‘The monkey had vanished, and now, by coincidence, the Bodhisattva appeared?’
Just then, the compassionate voice sighed, “Bull Demon King, you harbor too much resentment. You must rein it in.”
Before the words had faded, Avalokitesvara tilted her vase, pouring sweet dew over the Bull Demon King.
A coolness instantly washed over him, quenching the flames in his heart, his anger dissipating, and his mind clearing.
“I saw the fire of anger in you and the resentment in your body. I feared you would cause great harm, so I revealed myself to help.”
The Bull Demon King immediately sobered, a wave of fear passing through him.
This truly was Avalokitesvara, not the monkey in disguise.
He had nearly made a huge mistake.
The Bull Demon King lowered his head, not daring to look directly at the Bodhisattva, and explained softly, “To tell the truth, Bodhisattva, I came sensing the… that monkey’s aura—”
Avalokitesvara sighed, “Endless revenge—when will it cease? Letting go is the right path.”
“Heavenly Law is cyclical, cause and effect revolves. The enmity between you and the monkey is but a misunderstanding.”
“If you keep stirring up trouble, you’ll only bring shame upon yourself. The Buddha is merciful, granting everyone countless chances to repent—you too should let go of obsession to see your true self.”
“There’s nothing between you that can’t be resolved. You once helped him, and later he spared your life. Why not let the past go?”
“As the saying goes, ‘Bodhi has no tree, the bright mirror is not a stand’…”
The Bull Demon King, though impatient, could only force himself to listen to Avalokitesvara’s teachings.
‘No wonder Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is always so compassionate,’ he thought to himself.
“But I’m just an ordinary person, how could I have such a Buddha’s heart?”
When the voice finally fell silent, he quickly squeezed out a respectful smile and said, “Bodhisattva, your words are like a clear spring to my mind. I see the light now.”
He put his hands together in repentance and asked, “May I ask if the Bodhisattva could grant me a meeting with that monkey? I wish to resolve this grievance face to face.”
In his heart, the Bull Demon King was thinking: See him, kill him, then it’s all settled.
Avalokitesvara gazed at him for a while, then sighed softly, “Auspicious, auspicious.”
At last, Avalokitesvara seemed to relent.
“He’s headed west toward Little Thunderclap Monastery, facing his tribulation.”
The Bull Demon King’s expression instantly brightened—he hadn’t expected Avalokitesvara to actually believe him.
He gratefully said, “Many thanks, Bodhisattva! I’ll go resolve my enmity with him now!”
“Then I won’t trouble you further, Bodhisattva.” The Bull Demon King bowed and sped away, only to hear behind him: “Understand cause and effect, create no more…”
Once he’d flown a good distance and Avalokitesvara was completely out of sight, his face twisted into a fierce scowl, his eyes blood-red, “You may be merciful and all-embracing, Avalokitesvara, regarding all beings as equals…”
He gritted his teeth, “But I, the Bull Demon King, believe in only one thing—revenge for grievances, retribution for enmity!”
“Just you wait, monkey!”
With that, he turned into a streak of crimson light, racing straight toward Little Thunderclap Monastery.
***
Once the Bull Demon King had left for good, the flashing red warning on the Shen Yan panel finally vanished.
Su Fu finally breathed a sigh of relief and landed, “Heavens above, that was close.”
Of course, this Avalokitesvara was an impersonation of her.
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect.
Though this husband and wife were both sharp as could be, luckily she’d gained experience from the Iron Fan Princess and learned what the Bull Demon King cared most about.
Plus, she knew Avalokitesvara well enough to guide him away.
She smiled and said, “Fortunately, everything went well.”
Now, both major threats—Yellow Browed Monster and the Bull Demon King—were all gathered at Little Thunderclap Monastery.
She sincerely wished, “Hope Achilles and the rest can really hold out!”
Su Fu’s heart was at ease now, ‘Let them fight—fight like mad!’
It’d be best if Yellow Browed Monster, Achilles, Bull Demon King, all clashed and battered each other’s brains out!
After all, they were the ones who’d provoked the Bull Demon King, so of course, they should solve it themselves.
Su Fu let out a long sigh of relief; the tension in her body finally eased.
Just then, her teammates hurried over from afar.
“Boss, we really did it!” George looked terrified.
“I really thought we were dead for sure this time! That S-class Anomaly’s aura is off the charts!”
Yi Congling gave a big thumbs-up, full of admiration and said, “Didn’t expect Boss to fool even an S-class Anomaly—amazing!”
“If nothing else, your nerves are steel—an earthquake in front of you and you wouldn’t flinch. I’d have died of fright.”
Theresa was completely convinced now—she finally understood how Su Fu had managed the Iron Fan Princess last time.
That aura, that tone—even she felt like this really was the legendary Avalokitesvara.
Not to mention all those Buddhist sayings, “Endless revenge—when will it cease,” and so on—it actually sounded convincing.
“So, what do we do now…?”
Su Fu smiled and turned to their vehicle and said, “Since everyone’s gone to Little Thunderclap Monastery, doesn’t that mean the rest of the maps are all ours?”
“So—let’s sweep the map!”
Yi Congling’s eyes lit up, suddenly realizing, “Right! So now we’ve got a treasure mountain with no one to claim it!”
That was exactly what Su Fu had in mind.
Besides the Subhuti River, the Women’s Kingdom still had Luotai Spring.
India’s Jade Rabbit Spirit’s map must be full of herbs—don’t forget, she used to grind medicines in the Moon Palace.
Pansi Cave was even more promising—the spider silk there was top-notch material.
And the other maps, too—any place with a famous demon or monster must have loads of resources inside.
The other examinees might not know, but she certainly did.
Not gathering them would be such a waste.
As for Little Thunderclap Monastery?
That was never the real destination for the pilgrimage, just a scam set up by Yellow Browed Monster.
Let them tear each other to pieces first, then… sweep in!
***
At the Canyon Mountains, everyone stared at each other in disbelief.
“Wait a second…”
“The Bull Demon King just asked Avalokitesvara about Red Boy? And even said… ‘my son’?!”
“…”
“So the Bull Demon King and Iron Fan Princess are the real couple!”