Chapter Seventy-One: Not the Least Bit Like a Pig

On Spirit Bird Peak, inside the Flowing Water Pavilion, two people, a bird, and a pig were enjoying tea together.

"Hey, Jiji Bo, tell me, is Brother Jiang's daughter... really of the dragon race?" the eagle asked, raising a claw to scratch his sharp chin.

"I don't think so," Jiji Bo replied, sipping his tea and turning to gaze outside the pavilion. Watching a few doves courting each other, Jiji Bo couldn't help but think of his own wife.

But... thinking of his wife only reminded him how she had gone off behind his back to climb a tree with that minotaur... His large ears drooped helplessly at the memory.

"I think, perhaps, little Nian Nian might be an ancient true dragon," Wu Ke said quietly, patting Jiji Bo, who was still sighing over his wife.

"Oh, Wu Ke, you sly fellow. You can even see through the seal on Nian Nian? I knew you weren't simple. How did you come to join the Sun and Moon Sect in the first place?" the eagle asked.

"Aren't you remarkable too, Big Eagle? Didn't you also say there's a seal on Nian Nian? That seal dates back to ancient times. Heh, I remember in primeval days, there was a giant eagle that could blot out the sky, battled the true dragons, and feasted on flood dragons. Big Eagle, you wouldn't happen to know him?"

"Fang Chaoqun, don't say such things! If Brother Jiang hears you, he'll pluck me bald!"

"Now that you mention it, I'm tempted to tell Brother Jiang myself."

"Oh, if you start talking nonsense, I have a story for you. It's said that three thousand years ago, in Ten Thousand Sword Province, there was a sword immortal, once in a millennium. At ten, he forged his life-bonded flying sword; at fifteen, he attained the Cave Abode realm; at the age of the hair-pin, he reached Dragon Gate; at the age of the capping ceremony, the Golden Core; by twenty, he was already at the third tier of Nascent Soul; and by thirty, half a step into Jade Purity. In the end, he was undone by love. For a woman, he broke his life-bonded sword and vanished from the world. I happen to have a portrait that looks quite a bit like you, Brother Fang... Shall I let Brother Jiang have a look?"

"Let me see it!"

"I want to see it too."

"Hurry up and show us so we can have a laugh."

"What's there to see? Wu Ke, don't think you're innocent. Back in Bodhi Province, it was rumored a Saint Buddha physique could achieve supreme enlightenment and was favored by the Buddha of Pure Land. When he reached Jade Purity, the Buddha himself would descend to accept him as a disciple. But that Saint Buddha physique gave up the path for a woman in a brothel and chose to become mortal. And you have the nerve to mock me?"

"Don't slander me!" Wu Ke rolled up his sleeves and stood up. "Brother Jiang said slander is grounds for a legal letter!"

"How did I slander you? Are you a lawyer? Don't mumble!" Fang Chaoqun stomped on his chair, their two big heads pressing together, one of them glowing like a lightbulb...

"Enough, enough, cut it out," Jiji Bo interrupted, slapping his hefty pig trotter on the table. "What's the point in arguing over old stories? If we're talking about embarrassing pasts, who could surpass me, Piggy Hero? Did I ever complain?"

"......"

The group settled down again, coughing awkwardly.

Beyond the nine continents of the world, there exists a realm ruled by demons (taken from "Sword Comes"). In the demon realm, strength is paramount, but bloodline is everything. Diligence matters, yes, but those born with the noble dragon or flood dragon bloodlines will always find the path easier than mere mountain flowers and grasses, with fewer limits imposed by the great Dao.

Such is the way of the cultivation world—there is no true equality. Thus, every demon lord throughout history has almost always been a flood dragon, a demon lion, a firebird (descendants of the undying phoenix), or other such mighty cultivators.

But a thousand years ago, a pig demon broke through!

With unparalleled talent and his nine-toothed rake, this pig demon battered his way to the throne and became demon king. Yet only a year into his reign, he vanished.

Some say he was betrayed and slain; others claim he died in seclusion. But in truth...

He left because his wife was about to give birth, so he hurried to the nine continents, the domain of human cultivators...

And now... it seems his wife may have cuckolded him...

"Damn it! I can't take it anymore! I'm going to fight that minotaur to the death!" Jiji Bo roared.

"Hold on, Jiji Bo!"

"Brother Pig, don’t do it!"

"Calm down!"

All three rushed to restrain Jiji Bo.

"Don't stop me! If Brother Jiang asks where I've gone, tell him this: In the end, I am still a man—a man without grass on his head!"

"Who cares about your head, anyway? That minotaur isn't just any old minotaur, but an ancient celestial ox—an old bull. If you two really fight, the uproar will bring trouble on us all."

"But... my wife..."

"Enough of that. If you really start a brawl, that little Chen Zhuang will pound you into pork jerky and beef strips!"

At the mention of Chen Zhuang, Jiji Bo's blazing fury was instantly extinguished, leaving him like a bodybuilder pig who had lost all hope.

"Alright, enough. Brother Jiang is full of wild ideas. Let's ask him when he gets back—maybe it's all a misunderstanding."

"Exactly, Jiji Bo. For example, do you think Miss Fang Ruo from our sect is pretty?"

"Hah!" Jiji Bo scoffed, turning his head. "Her ears are tiny, her nose is small, she's skinny—nothing like a pig at all. Nowhere as beautiful as my wife!"

"That's it, then. Who says a minotaur would fancy your wife? What's that phrase Brother Jiang likes to use?"

"I think it's... reproductive isolation..."

"Right, reproductive isolation. So don't jump to conclusions. Maybe this is all a misunderstanding. Let's wait for Brother Jiang to return."

"......"

Jiji Bo lowered his head. He felt like they were just trying to placate him, but somehow they weren't wrong...

For example, would he ever find a cow attractive? Impossible.

"But speaking of which, Brother Jiang has been at the Chen residence for so long. Do you think he's being forced into marriage?"

"Impossible. Last night, we helped Brother Jiang forge his clay avatar. We're not experts, but we did alright. All Chen Zhuang has to do is some final adjustments."

"So why is it taking so long?"

"Well..."

Just as the four were pondering, suddenly a massive pillar of light erupted from the Chen residence, shooting straight for the protective barrier above the Sun and Moon Sect...