The guests in the hall all looked at each other in confusion, their expressions lost.
The others in the room also looked puzzled.
Of course, my parents are more emotionally stable.
"Come with me," I said, taking Mochi's hand and walking out.
I don't know why they followed, but since people had come, it would only make things more troublesome if they disappeared.
Mo-Chi did not struggle. Old Gong jumped onto her shoulder at some point and whispered something.
The hand in my palm trembled slightly and clutched mine tightly...
Turning my head, I caught a glimpse of Mo-Chi. Her facial expression was filled with excitement, hard to believe.
My lips curled up slightly, a joyous feeling spontaneously surging up.
Strength, without a doubt, brings peace of mind.
Thinking like that, Mo-Chi agreed too.
In a blink, back to the gate of Mo-Chi's house.
Three cars had stopped, and the red-robed Taoists were still two, with eight green-robed Taoists standing behind them, a lower rank than the eight blue-robed ones, none of whom had followed.
The eyes of the two red-robed Taoists were filled with seriousness, and a faint sense of solemnity.
One walked forward, bowing and greeting.
"Disciple Zhang Si greets the Fourth Master of the Sìguī Mountain, Senior Master Luo Xian."
"Oh... fresh." Lao Gong shouted, pulling out his voice.
It's not surprising for Lao Gong to be astonished like this.
Actually, I feel a bit out of place too.
The maliciousness of the Taoist temples I have visited is too heavy.
"Early rumors said that Master Luo and the eccentric family of Tanxiang City have marital ties, but I always thought the rumors were unreliable. Today I saw them and realized that the rumors are not without foundation." Zhuang Si's seriousness on his face became a smile again.
"Uh... perhaps, could the honorable masters take a seat? This side has a side hall, which is relatively quiet." Tanxiang Village's eldest daughter, Tanxiang Village Lady, and her daughter, Tanxiang Village Princess, followed. Tanxiang Village Lady opened her mouth with a hint of doubt in her words.
My parents and other guests did not come out.
"Haha, it's late at night. Not to disturb the rest of the Mo family, I followed along just to say a few words. I would also like to invite Master Luo to my Zhong Huang Taoist Temple for a chat another day. The Ghost Pagoda of Daxiang has been very active recently. All the messages from various circles indicate that they have moved their headquarters to Daxiang. In fact, we all know where their location is, but due to the lack of an appropriate elder sent from Yunjin Mountain Temple, we have had to let them operate freely."
"Today, Master Luo caused a lightning strike on the mountain, and the damage to the Ghost Pagoda organization is still unclear. I want to ask Master Luo to lead the charge again and completely eliminate them. After all, if we don't cut off the roots, they will grow again with every spring breeze. Master Luo alone may not be sufficient, but with my Zhong Huang Taoist Temple and other temples in Daxiang, we should be able to handle it."
Zhuang Si said he wanted to have a chat with me, but in fact, he couldn't hold it in any longer and spelled out his intentions and ideas.
Suddenly, Mo-Chi squeezed my hand, but her expression didn't change much.
Lao Gong squinted his eyes, laughing with an eerie and cunning smile, staring directly at Zhuang Si.
I suddenly felt a bit off.
"Have you ever heard the saying 'Do not chase a defeated foe?'" I said without changing the color of my face, "I killed three leaders of the Ghost Pagoda, and I captured the souls of the rest. If they dare to commit evil, they will be ground to dust. There are too many people in the Ghost Pagoda. Without control, it's like when the Taoists from the Tian Shou Taoist Temple scattered; it exhausts everyone but doesn't solve the problem. So I temporarily ceded Xian Dong Mountain to let them return."
"If the Ghost Pagoda is completely dispersed, it would indeed become a chaotic mess, polluting many places."
I did indeed threaten the Ghost Pagoda when I said they could be easily eradicated.
That's true.
It's also true that chaotic sand is difficult to deal with, very troublesome.
"Hmm..."
Zhuang Si nodded thoughtfully, then said, "Still, I would like to invite Master Luo to the Zhong Huang Taoist Temple another day. The dark clouds over Daxiang have been dispersed by a great deal due to Master Luo's great contributions. The temple will prepare some modest gifts."
"Actually, I've heard of Master Luo's reputation before. Fourth Master of Sìguī Mountain alone, with a single sword, defeated the Ghost Pagoda organization in Guanyá City. The remaining people are very influential, showing that they have withdrawn from the Ghost Pagoda and even had their own ghosts banished to the City God Temple."
"On the day of the incident at Sìguī Mountain, Yunjin Mountain was actually present. Yunjin Mountain did not strike Master Luo from start to finish but instead believed that the matter could be resolved through peaceful consultation. The Zhong Huang Taoist Temple is under the command of Yunjin Mountain, so our intentions were naturally in line."
Zhuang Si's words became more sincere.
But for me, the uncertainty factor has increased somewhat.
Indeed, the Zhong Huang Taoist Temple had other intentions in mind!
Is it the people from Yunjin Mountain who want to meet me?
That's probably why Lao Gong is smiling evilly and Mo-Chi is reminding me.
"I'll come tomorrow." I replied.
Mo-Chi's hand suddenly tightened.
Lao Gong's smile also froze.
"Haha, that's great!" Zhuang Si said with a joyful expression.
After that, Zhuang Si called for the Taoists to get on the car, and the vehicles gradually disappeared from sight.
"Why go to Xuan Sheng?" Mo-Chi asked, looking particularly puzzled. "I've reminded you already."
"Grandpa, it's still possible. It's a banquet at the doorway," Lao Gong said seriously in a low voice, "Especially since he has already revealed that there is Yunjin Mountain..."
"Unless the true master of Yunjin Mountain is there, it won't be easy to keep me here," I replied. "After all, they have followed us. Can the Mo family move their residence again? The Ghost Pagoda operates in the shadows and it's not easy to keep an eye on them. But the Zhong Huang Taoist Temple can operate openly and may even be able to invite masters."
I explained in one sentence why I was going to accept the invitation.
"Hmm..." Lao Gong opened his mouth but didn't say anything.
Clearly, this time I thought one step ahead of him.
He is defensive, I feel, and that should be an advance in retreat.
"Life... cannot be defied..." Mo-Chi's hand tried to pull away from mine.
I held it tightly, giving her no chance to pull away.
Tanxiang Village's eldest daughter and her daughter exchanged glances, not understanding much and unable to fully comprehend.
"Everything depends on people." I looked deeply into Mo-Chi's eyes.
"I..." Mo-Chi's face was forced, staring at me, and I remained very firm.
Mo-Chi's eyes were slightly red, and tears had rolled down her cheeks. She didn't make any moves to withdraw her hand. She was very sad and still felt wronged.
When she cried like that, I was at a loss for what to do.
And so, my hand was released.
"Mo-Chi... what are you up to?" Mo-Qi's eyes were full of doubts, and she continued: "Ever since Xuan Sheng came back, you've been acting weird. When you talk about serious matters, why do you start crying again? Are you hiding something from Xuan Sheng or us?"
"Xuan Sheng, let Mo-Chi go and rest for a while. Don't pressure her too much." The voice of my mother came from inside the door, and I noticed that he and my father had been standing behind all this time.
Not only them, but also some guests.
The guests, however, paid little heed to the emotions between Mo-Chi and me. Their looks towards me were only filled with fervor and excitement.
"Let go first, you go with Grandpa Mo to arrange for the guests. Today's affair has disrupted the banquet." As she spoke, my mother approached me, taking one hand to pull Mo-Chi's hand away from mine and then leading her towards the courtyard.
