Chapter 766: Inner Struggle

At this moment, the True Demon couldn't help but think of the Immortal Binding Rope and Ji Yuan. Even if it wasn't Ji Yuan or the rope, it was at least a formidable opponent wielding a powerful treasure capable of forcefully binding him.

As the True Demon retreated into the depths of Monk Moyun's mind, Ji Yuan and Xiezhi remained composed, strolling as if at leisure even within Monk Moyun's mental landscape.

"Ji Yuan, are you truly not concerned that the True Demon might fight to the death and kill Monk Moyun?"

"How could the True Demon be so foolish? Besides, the Immortal Binding Rope has now restrained Monk Moyun's mind, making it difficult for the demon to act forcefully, let alone casually crush him."

The environment Ji Yuan now walked through was utterly dark; only his own form was distinctly visible, with nothing else discernible, as if it were a complete void.

This did not imply that Monk Moyun's mind was empty; rather, this was the realm of the heart. Although Ji Yuan appeared to move only a few steps, he had in fact traversed a vast distance, his gaze fixed on a tiny point of light far away.

Ahead lay the deepest recesses of Monk Moyun's mind. As Ji Yuan approached the speck of light and stepped through it, it was as if he had passed through a doorway, and the world shifted from darkness to vibrant daylight, manifesting myriad things.

Ji Yuan found himself on a broad street, surrounded by a clamor of voices. Stalls, travelers, peddlers, young ladies, gentlemen, and scholars filled the area, creating a bustling and prosperous scene.

"Where are we? Did the True Demon create this?"

Though Xiezhi was skilled at discerning right from wrong, it had no experience with the intricacies of the human mind. Seeing its surroundings, it assumed this was a manifestation of the True Demon's power.

Ji Yuan, however, knew better and shook his head.

"No, since this place exists within Master Moyun's mind, all of this naturally stems from his inner world. Perhaps it's a projection of his thoughts, or perhaps a past memory. Master Moyun himself must also have an avatar present here."

"And the True Demon? I expected a direct confrontation, a fight to the death!"

"Of course there will be a fight. But he's currently evading me, having fled into the deepest parts of Master Moyun's mind. He likely intends to exploit Master Moyun to extricate himself from his current predicament."

The vaster Master Moyun's inner world, the smaller the True Demon seemed within it. While this allowed him to hide, he certainly wouldn't passively await his fate.

Ji Yuan would not underestimate his opponent, especially a shape-shifting True Demon. Although he couldn't locate him at the moment, one thing was clear: he needed to find Monk Moyun here first, specifically Monk Moyun's self-manifestation within his own mind.

"Crisp pears! Get your crisp pears here! Sir, how about some crisp pears? Just five copper coins a pound, and they're wonderfully sweet!"

A hawker's cry interrupted Ji Yuan's thoughts, causing him to look with a hint of surprise at the farmer who had approached him, carrying baskets on a pole.

"Are you speaking to me?"

The pear seller set down his baskets, wiped his face with a cloth draped around his neck, and smiled at Ji Yuan.

"Of course I'm speaking to you, sir! These pears of mine come from my own fruit trees. While they may not look the best, their flavor is truly excellent!"

Deep within Monk Moyun's mind, Ji Yuan's ability to conceal himself seemed largely ineffective. The people around him could see him, though they had no idea how he appeared, naturally assuming he had been there all along.

Ji Yuan regained his composure in an instant, nodded with a smile to the farmer, then reached into his sleeve, and his smile briefly stiffened.

His spiritual exploration naturally left him without physical money. While he could produce mystic currency, it clearly wouldn't be used for buying pears. So, Ji Yuan simply shook his head and cupped his hands to the pear seller.

"My apologies, I left home today without money, so I can't purchase any."

The pear seller was slightly disappointed. He had assumed this sale was certain, only to find the esteemed gentleman had no money.

"Oh, it's quite alright, no trouble at all."

The farmer, having taken a brief rest, hoisted his carrying pole once more. With a slight, characteristic sway, he continued down the street, still calling out his wares.

This was merely a microcosm of the street, yet an incredibly authentic one.

"If that's the case, then the True Demon shouldn't be able to wield too much magic in this world either."

As Ji Yuan murmured this to himself, Xiezhi's voice spoke up again.

"Couldn't you just conjure a few copper coins to buy some pears? That much spiritual energy wouldn't be excessive, would it?"

"There are things to do, and things not to do."

With that remark, Ji Yuan walked with light steps along the street, heading towards the densest crowds. Since they were in Monk Moyun's mind, they naturally needed to go where the emotional fluctuations were most intense.

"Oh, but these people aren't real. What harm would conjuring a few coins do?"

"Then the pears here aren't real either, so why do you still care?"

A divine beast like Xiezhi was no match for Ji Yuan in a battle of wits. Two quick retorts silenced it, and it remained quiet within his sleeve.

Many people around Ji Yuan were moving along the same path, and the sounds ahead grew even more fervent. Without consulting anyone, Ji Yuan simply followed the flow of people, observing as the path ahead opened into a large square, with the densest crowds gathered at its front.

Upon nearing, Ji Yuan discerned the situation: it was the grand opening day of a new temple. This temple was quite substantial and magnificent, attracting scholars, literati, and even high-ranking officials who came to pay their respects and, in a way, compete for the symbolic "first incense."

The temple entrance was currently a crush of people, making Ji Yuan wonder if a stampede might occur. He also mused whether the clay figures within the temple would truly bless these fervent devotees.

"Let's go directly into the temple to find the monk; the True Demon must be nearby."

Ji Yuan moved forward with the crowd, muttering softly.

"Are you certain it's a monk?"

Xiezhi asked, puzzled.

"Isn't young Monk Moyun a monk?"

Ji Yuan smiled, chuckling softly once more.

"Monks are ordinary people who choose to leave home. While Master Moyun is a Buddhist cultivator in the outside world, that may not be the case here. He might not have even become a monk yet; he could be a child, a youth, or even an elder. All are possibilities."

Xiezhi remained silent for a moment before speaking again.

"There's no spiritual aura to track here. With so many people, how do we find him?"

"We'll find him by feeling. My luck has always been good, certainly better than the True Demon's. I'm not in a hurry."

Ji Yuan appeared relaxed but was inwardly alert, his tone slightly casual. The sensation of his spiritual energy was far more indistinct here than outside, giving him a comparative experience of what it felt like before, as if he had once again become an ordinary person without cultivation.

After a brief time here, Ji Yuan gradually understood that the True Demon was likely in a similar predicament, and the nature of their magical confrontation within this realm would be different.

Simply put, unless they brutally tore this world apart, their usable magical energy was severely limited. Ji Yuan would need to make this world repel the True Demon to either slay or capture him; otherwise, he might accidentally destroy Moyun's mind in the process. The True Demon, on the other hand, had a different objective: his key was to find every possible way to manipulate Monk Moyun.

With his mind keenly attuned, Ji Yuan easily grasped this realization and felt no fear. His confidence was the culmination of long-term experience.

Even "normalized," Ji Yuan still navigated the crowds with ease. While others struggled to push their way into the temple, he moved effortlessly, always finding relatively open spaces. The spacious courtyards within the temple also helped disperse the flow of people, gradually creating more ample room between pedestrians.

"Hey, you! Yes, you! Stop! How could you be so careless? You just stepped on my shoe!"

"Oh? My apologies, my sincerest apologies!"

In a nearby corner, a woman caught up to a scholar, glaring angrily at him. One of her feet was bare, save for a cloth sock.

The scholar did not deny it; he had clearly felt stepping on someone and now appeared somewhat flustered.

"What good are apologies? With so many people around, my shoe could have been kicked anywhere!"

"Well... young lady, how about I compensate you with a new pair?"

The scholar was handsome, but he seemed to lack experience in one-on-one conversations with women. This particular woman had a strikingly curvaceous figure and a captivatingly soft voice. Although she made no overtly seductive gestures, she still caused the scholar's face to flush slightly.

"Alright, you promised. You must buy me new ones!"

The woman stood with her chest puffed out and hands on her hips, a posture that left the scholar even more flustered.

A short distance away, Ji Yuan had just reached the entrance of a courtyard when his gaze was instinctively drawn to the scene. Xiezhi, who had grown quite talkative after becoming familiar with Ji Yuan, spoke up again at this moment.

"Is this scholar Monk Moyun? He's quite handsome, I didn't realize, and engaging in romance right here in the temple."

Ji Yuan's gaze lingered on the scholar for a moment, then quickly shifted to the woman, and he frowned slightly. Though her behavior appeared normal, her fair skin, alluring figure, and form-fitting, almost tight clothing, combined with one bare, smooth foot missing a shoe, seemed designed to tempt the scholar in every conceivable way.

"The scholar might not be Moyun, but there's something far more peculiar about this woman."

As he spoke, Ji Yuan took a few steps closer to the woman and the scholar. The woman, mid-conversation, suddenly sensed something in her peripheral vision. She turned, saw Ji Yuan, and her pupils immediately contracted.

The woman, however, feigned a casual turn of her head before looking back, then pointed at the scholar and said,

"You can't go back on your word!"

As she spoke, she attempted to take another step closer, but a small, sharp stone on the ground seemed to catch her foot.

"Ouch!"

The woman shrieked, lost her balance, and tumbled into the scholar's arms, pulling him down with her. She ended up straddling him, and the soft touch of her body, combined with their eyes meeting, left the scholar both startled and pleasantly surprised.

"Ji Yuan, act quickly! If Moyun's mind becomes clouded by lust, he won't be able to cultivate Buddhist thoughts. Without Buddha in his heart, he can't practice Buddhism, which means..."

"This scholar is indeed unusual, but he is not Moyun."

Ji Yuan took a few steps and reached the two on the ground, observing the woman still smiling and pressing against the scholar. She had entered this mindscape a moment before Ji Yuan, but that slight time difference had been amplified into half a month within this mental realm, allowing her to fully assess the situation.

Although Ji Yuan was formidable, the True Demon wasn't worried that he would immediately strike with his sword. There was no immediate threat. In the True Demon's estimation, Ji Yuan would likely compete with him to find Moyun, their objectives being diametrically opposed. This was the simplest, most direct, and effective approach. At this moment, the True Demon felt he held the advantage; even if this scholar wasn't Moyun, what could Ji Yuan possibly do to this "frail woman" in plain sight?

However, Ji Yuan's expression was grim. He quickly strode over to the man and woman on the ground, grabbed the woman, and before she could utter a word, slapped her hard across the face.

SMACK!

The slap echoed loudly; even nearby onlookers heard it, not to mention those who were already watching the scene unfold.

The slap made the woman's head spin and left her momentarily stunned. Was Ji Yuan really planning to engage her in such a manner?

The next moment, a furious roar erupted from Ji Yuan's mouth.

"You hussy! Your husband toils to support your family, yet you repeatedly sneak off with other men, and now you're at it again!"

Ji Yuan's voice was clear, resonant, and deafening. As the woman covered one side of her face, another fierce slap landed on the other.

SMACK!

"Utterly shameless!"