Ma San's gaze fell back on my face, the small eyes on the donkey face smiling shut.
"You reminded me of a few things, and I didn't cause too much trouble. I also managed to complete a big deal. So, a little reward is in order."
"Take this bell, don't die so easily; I still want to do business with you."
"Also, I don't like people calling me Mr. Ma. You can call me Lao Ma."
Ma San's words seemed close but left me feeling uneasy.
Simply put, the more I relied on Ma San, the greater the chance he would get me.
Han Zizi may not have dealings with Ma San on a regular basis, but in his hour of dire need, he chose to cling to Ma San...
Ma San is the ultimate choice in certain unavoidable moments...
"If you don't want to see me on a regular basis, yet you came here today on your own accord. What is it that you want to say? Just go ahead and tell me." Ma San added.
I coughed up a mouthful of phlegm before explaining my purpose, which was to obtain the entrée permit to enter the Underworld.
Ma San nodded, entering a room next to the one we were in. Upon emerging, he held in his hand a piece of dark jade.
Without asking me, he simply handed it to Fei Qi.
Fei Qi took it, carefully uttering a "thank you."
The result was that Ma San's gaze was still on Fei Qi, his eyes staring at her as if they were looking at something worth putting in his possession.
Upon entering, at this very moment.
Ma San was about to speak again.
I slightly shifted my body to block Fei Qi, then said solemnly, "Mr. Mao..."
Ma San furrowed his brow.
"Lao... Ma..." My voice was slightly hoarse, and there was an indescribable discomfort in it.
After all, not only is there a significant age difference between me and Ma San, but also a great disparity in strength, status, and identity. Calling him this way does seem to lack proper decorum.
To my surprise, the smile on Ma San's face actually grew.
"You're so lucky, Xian Shen." He patted my shoulder.
I: "..."
Fei Qi's face turned even paler...
Ma San continued to smile, as if he saw nothing at all.
However, I felt increasingly uncomfortable. It's not that I can see anything wrong, but the problem seems to be even greater...
"It seems you have something else to say?" Ma San suddenly said again.
The topic was brought up, and Ma San gestured for us to sit on the sofa.
I did not sit down immediately.
What's making me hesitant is still Sun Zhuo's matter.
Nowadays, Han Zizi has already figured out the details of Sun Zhuo, not just the things Han Qi mentioned, but also what he himself would think about. He would ponder over the recent issues regarding the regulation of training venues and whether they should be addressed or not.
Sun Zhuo comes from Four Regulations Mountain, and his master is Daoist Ming Jing.
Han Zizi would have to report to Four Regulations Mountain, and it's even possible that Master Ming Jing might send people down.
Implicitly, Han Zizi has reminded me that the rules of Four Regulations Mountain are strict and demanding, and it's not easy to deal with them.
At that time, if I were to confront Sun Zhuo directly, and he ended up being defeated, how much rage would Four Regulations Mountain unleash?
The most critical point is that the additional evidence I added involves Huayin...
Even if I were to rescue Fei Ying first, she would not object to me, and I could also persuade Huayin to serve as a premise, there are still many risks involved...
For example, Han Zizi has said that Daoists question souls...
Is this similar to the old witch's soul extraction technique? Will it make a person have no secrets, revealing everything completely?
If Huayin mentions the word "earth spirit," I would be left with no way out.
Therefore, although this matter appears to be progressing favorably, whether it is actually beneficial to me is truly questionable.
More importantly, after Sun Zhuo is taken away, can I still recover my Yang Sheng Life again?
Will Four Regulations Mountain return my life back to me?
This matter is too unpredictable...
Ma San's gaze grew even deeper, and he did not urge me.
"It's still Sun Zhuo." I closed my eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"He's exposed. I've sold him to you, and now you can buy him." As I spoke, I opened my eyes, my gaze sharp and intense.
Fei Qi looked bewildered, clearly not understanding.
Ma San's eyes flashed with a sharp light!
He nodded, then shook his head.
"He has been exposed, but not fully. Han Zizi has also said some things," Ma San said.
I shivered slightly in my heart.
Han Zizi actually even said this?
No, that's not right...
I overlooked one point, that is, why did Han Zizi want to sell herself to Ma San?
If it's because of Han Qi, in fact, Han Qi has already died, and the outcome can only be rebirth.
Excluding this point, Han Zizi has reasons to not die.
Then... could it be because of Sun Zhuo?
After all, Han Zizi is a Daoist.
The safety of Sun Zhuo, in other words, is closely related to the Changfeng Daoist Temple.
Even so, Sun Zhuo is a candidate for the regulation of the Changfeng Daoist Temple...
If Han Zizi were to die, and Sun Zhuo's identity couldn't be exposed, then the Changfeng Daoist Temple...
As I thought about this, I felt a peculiar feeling in my heart.
If this is indeed the case, Han Zizi has sacrificed everything of herself, even selling her body, in order to protect the Changfeng Daoist Temple...
To some extent, this is rather tragic.
Ma San's hunting of the Dao... It's like a strike right at the softest part of a person's spine...
How many people can withstand it?
Thoughts like this made me look at Ma San with a subtle unease that I couldn't put into words.
The more I understand, the more I fear...
Because I fear that one day, I myself might not be able to resist that "temptation."
Being hunted by Ma San...
"You're thinking again, Xian Shen little friend. You've become much more astute than when I first knew you," Ma San interrupted my thoughts again.
However, from his eyes, I seem to see that he guesses my inner thoughts just like that...
No, it's not just guessing!
It's not guessing; it's perceiving and understanding!
Looking closely into Ma San's eyes, they seemed to possess an insight that could see through everything, a wise intelligence!
Closing and reopening my eyes again, I felt a slight fatigue.
Because, I can't resist Ma San.
His perception and understanding seem to be everywhere.
"Panic," I replied.
"Hehe." Ma San smiled, then patted his belly and said, "Why are you afraid? Am I treating you poorly?"
"Probably some things you can't figure out or understand, but today you don't understand, one day you will surely understand. Just like those Daoists, they see me as wild beasts, but when they really need me, they wish they could call me Dad."
"Young man, having more friends means more paths."
"Moreover, you have more than one path to choose from."
"For example, your ghostly and sinister master who seems to be immortal."
"Like, the Sun Zhuo you mentioned just now."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Not because Ma San mentioned Sun Zhuo.
But because he said a sneaky master!
Old Qin, where's the sneakiness?
And, can't be killed?
What does that mean!?
I've seen Old Qin's coffin!
"What do you mean!?" My voice grew heavy, and my breathing became much more rapid!
"Huh? What kind of meaning is that?" Ma San rubbed his chin and smiled, saying, "Isn't it just that you can sell two people?"
"A person's life has only a handful of difficulties and challenges," he said. "There are probably no more than five in total."
"Your master is worth four things, and Sun Zhuo is worth one thing," he said.
"Not that I'm haggling, but Sun Zhuo does have some trouble, as he hasn't been expelled from the regulation queue yet. I only just found out who his master is," Ma San explained seriously.
I couldn't help but twitch and spasm my facial muscles, my breath became ragged, and sweat beads appeared on my forehead.
