I understand what Chiyoko meant.
I understand it even more now. She only said this, without saying anything else, because Xu Jin is here.
"A heart can be cruel but it is intelligent, indeed," Maosan's face showed a twinge of smile, though his gaunt and worn-out appearance still filled me with worry.
Moreover, with Maosan, Chiyoko couldn't get past her attempt on him.
Chiyoko forced a smile.
I hesitated for a moment, but didn't say anything else.
Suddenly, Chiyoko looked at Xu Jin and said, "To the Yuan Gate."
Xu Jin said nothing, and the car headed towards the Yuan Gate.
By the time we arrived at the high-rise residential area outside the Yuan Gate, it was already light.
A few people got off the car, but Xu Jin didn't make any move to drive away. He seemed to be waiting for us.
"Go back and report. I'm safe now," I said to Xu Jin.
Clearly, Chiyoko didn't have Xu Jin drive directly to Peace Street, where my villa was, to avoid exposing our location.
With Xu Jin present, I dared not say much.
Later, Xu Jin nodded with a smile before driving away.
Chiyoko led us to the underground parking lot on the first floor.
Actually, I was still somewhat cautious, after all, this was the Yuan Gate, and… the leader had died.
The incident by the river has caused quite a stir; surely everyone here knows about it.
Soon, Chiyoko led us into her car.
After leaving the underground parking lot, she finally sighed lightly and said, "The leader's attempt on you means he wouldn't tell many people. My guess is that grandma is the limit; he wouldn't dare let Yang to know about it. Right now, the Yuan Gate would be leaderless at most, and no one would pay much attention to you. Last night, there were quite a few people around, but you're not the most valuable asset. The most valuable one is the leader. The leader's death might lead many people to believe that the plague ghost's target was him. In recent times, the cooperation between three forces to find the plague ghost has also caused quite a stir."
Chiyoko's explanation made me instantly recall that I had indeed made the City God Temple, Supervision Daoist Monastery, and Yuan Gate spin around.
By some twist of fate, have I ended up being cleared of suspicion instead?
"Not quite clean... That Yin-Yang Master is here, and he witnessed everything..."
I shivered, turned to look at Maosan, and nervously said, "Wei Youming seems to have been absorbed and taken away by the plague ghost."
"Taking away the Twenty-Eight Hell Prisoners is a good thing. That Yin-Yang Master schemed for years, only to end up in vain," Maosan replied.
He pondered for a moment and then said, "What can you do about it even if you see? The plague ghost is no longer on you. Even if he says something, would the others believe him? However, we should still be cautious about him coming to settle accounts with us; he might also have some designs on you."
"As long as they say it, they will still believe it. As long as some people believe it, trouble will always arise," Chiyoko opened her mouth, her worry still evident.
"Believe? I don't think so." Maosan pointed to my chest.
I didn't immediately understand.
The next second, he said, "Luo Xian Shen is not an ordinary person. If he were from the lowest ranks, it would be easy for him to be criticized. But what if he's not? What if he's a fallen disciple of the Fourth Rule School from a generation ago, who received personal instruction from the previous Fourth Rule Master and has the Four Rule Mirror as his credential?"
"Who would believe that the Plague Ghost left his body?"
"Who would risk angering the Supervision Daoist Monastery in Jing Yang and the Mirror Master in the Fourth Rule Mountain to bother him?"
Chiyoko's expression changed, filled with shock.
My face also changed color, because Maosan's words were completely baseless, yet I had a strange feeling that Maosan was going to turn these words into reality.
Our conflict with Mirror Master only extends to the Spiritual Health Center in Xu Hua District.
At that time, many people died. The people from the Fourth Rule Mountain who came, all followed the Mirror Master and left, while those from the Supervision Daoist Monastery followed Han Xi Zi and did not witness it. This also means that no one can uncover the truth.
Even if someone suspects it, can they confront the Fourth Rule Mountain?
As long as this matter doesn't reach the Fourth Rule Mountain, there won't be a problem.
The Supervision Daoist Monastery may have some trouble, but it's not necessarily unresolveable.
After all, Han Xi Zi has been sold to Maosan.
"Are you going to teach Luo Xian Shen Daoist techniques?" Chiyoko asked cautiously.
"Are you going to teach Daoist magic to Xian Shen?" Chiyoko asked carefully.
"I'm a Yin-Yang Master, so I can't teach these, but I do think that if one has enough talent and there is a legacy passed down, it can be understood."
"With a teacher, what you learn is just that. Only what you learn on your own can truly be your own ability," Maosan rubbed his chin.
My heart was pounding, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say.
Maosan didn't say anything either.
The sky was still early, and there were few vehicles on the road. When we arrived at Peace Street, the sun was just beginning to rise slightly.
After getting out of the car, I carried Yuxiu into the villa's hall.
However, Yuxiu was still unconscious, which once again caused me some concern.
"Old Mao, what's wrong with Xiu Xiu?" I called out to Maosan.
Maosan glanced over, saying, "Eight Defeated Widow, I didn't notice the details before, but now I understand. The soul scattered into pieces leaves a part in the body itself, and the vitality of the body is constantly decreasing. By using the talisman to lock vitality inside and absorbing dispersed vitality to nourish the body, it does not show signs of death and achieves the goal of walking during the day."
"However, the talisman used to preserve and absorb vitality has been used up, so pasting it back won't have any effect. My talisman can only barely suppress her," Maosan added.
"The piece of soul within her body will gradually dissipate. Because it's incomplete, she can't even become a ghost, let alone a whole ghost spirit. In a matter of days, she will be eaten by other ghosts to satisfy their hunger."
My heart instantly sank again.
"How can we save her? Old Qin's talisman, you should know how to draw it as well, right?" I said quickly.
Maosan applied the talisman to Yuxiu's chest, and the one I had re-applied on her forehead was still there.
"Don't you think that all Yin-Yang Masters know the same things? Just giving people fortunes and investigating geomancy?" Maosan gave me a glance, then suddenly began to rub his face.
The old and tired appearance of Maosan suddenly disappeared.
In its place, it was still as full of vitality as before.
I was momentarily stunned, and his words left me unsure of how to respond.
Maosan finally said, "The Great Dao has three thousand paths, all leading to the same destination, but no two leaves are alike, nor are any two flowers identical. I am not of Qin Wei Zi's lineage of Yin-Yang arts; it seems he has a methodical approach to ghosts and corpses."
"If you could bring me his legacy, perhaps I could save this Eight Defeated Widow in a way similar to his."
"But since you don't have his legacy, and I'm not inclined to pursue it either."
"The Eight Defeated Widow is a very unpredictable and dangerous ghost. She has been guarding you like this solely because of Qin Wei Zi's calculations and arrangements. If she remembers something related to herself or absorbs the soul of the other parts, that part of the soul, with its subjective consciousness, could be trouble for you."
"My suggestion is that those who have to die should just die and leave her be. It will bring everyone happiness."
"After all, Qin Wei Zi's calculations were to let her rest in peace and die. Her value has gone away."
