Unsheathed

When Chen Ping'an finished traveling around the Plum Glaze Nation and was just about to return to Bamboo Scroll Lake again, he relied on his outstanding eyesight to detect something atop a tall mountain peak located in the depths of a desolate mountain range. He surprisingly saw an old ape in tattered clothes hanging upside down with iron chains wrapped around its body. The old ape bared its teeth and hissed with a twisted expression when it noticed Chen Ping'an's gaze, and even though it didn't roar, its cruel and violent aura was enough to frighten people to the core.

There was a man made stone cave near the hanging ape, and when Chen Ping'an looked over, a young and haggard monk stood up and locked gazes with him. The young monk put his palms together and silently bowed in greeting.

Chen Ping'an emulated the young monk, also putting his palms together and bowing his head slightly in greeting.

"What's going on?" Ma Duyi asked in curiosity.

Chen Ping'an shook his head and didn't say anything.

Only when they left the mountain range did Chen Ping'an finally say, "An eminent monk is displaying huge willpower to subdue an unrestrained ape that's the manifestation of his internal demons."

Ma Duyi clicked her tongue in wonder and remarked, "He was actually able to manifest his internal demons? Was that monk an earth immortal?"

Chen Ping'an nodded and replied, "He's a mighty figure living in seclusion."

Over at the stone cave, the young monk sat back down on his straw mat, yet he quickly stood up again and exited his stone cave in a single stride, walking on the wind and hovering in the sky. He locked gazes with the old ape that had suddenly calmed down, and he could see the complicated mix of emotions in the latter's eyes. There was fury, resentment, pleading, pity, and ridicule.

The monk looked over, appearing slightly puzzled at the situation.

Why was his internal demon behaving so strangely today?