"What does incineration mean?" I frowned.
Another monk named Shenshao, more serious, said, "This person, Tian Shou, not only feeds on the flesh of others but also consumes their longevity. This forbidden art technique was discovered only after we dug to the bottom of the Tian Shou Temple. After bringing back Tian Shou's head, many longevity spirits had already inhabited his skull. We originally intended to destroy them using Buddhist methods, but we were constrained by our promise to Old Gong to deliver him to the Four Regulations Mountain."
"Upon arriving at the Four Regulations Mountain, we met a disciple who claimed to be your junior brother. We asked him to lead us up the mountain, but he said that the Four Regulations Temple had been sealed and was not allowing outsiders to enter. We explained the reason why: Tian Shou's death was under your control, this head is what you wanted, and it must be sent to the Four Regulations Mountain. We also pointed out that the head cannot be kept for long and needs a real person to burn it. He took Tian Shou's head and left."
The two brothers' words shocked the three disciples behind beyond belief.
Before the construction of the Leiping Temple, the twin monks and others had some actions of seeking fame and fortune. Now that the reconstruction is successful and they have solidified their position, they have become rather calm and at ease.
Laogong's eyes showed a fluctuating expression, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
My heart sank somewhat.
Tian Shou Dao Ren's head contains longevity spirits.
Wu Ling said to throw it away randomly.
Is it really thrown away randomly?
Even if I were to confront him now, Wu Ling would undoubtedly give the same reply as before, steadfastly refusing to admit any responsibility.
As my thoughts wandered, Jinlun and Shenshao asked again, "Have you properly disposed of Tian Shou's head?"
Although there is no soul in that head, and its soul is sealed in the body, which is confined to the Gao Tian Dao Guan, it cannot be underestimated its danger.
My heart sank even more, but I couldn't find a reason to blame the twin monks. Wu Ling is a very good liar, and coupled with the fact that the Four Regulations Mountain has been sealed, the twin monks certainly wouldn't be able to force their way up the mountain.
"There are some issues, but they are not big. The Four Regulations Mountain can handle them," I could only put off the issue for now.
Only then did the two of them feel much more at ease.
Later, I explained my purpose: I was looking for Tian Gongquan.
They nodded and said, "What will we do tomorrow? The few of you must be very tired after the long journey. Let's take a good rest tonight. I will dispatch my disciples to get the spring water tonight."
Several Taoists behind me looked more surprised.
After nodding my consent, Jinlun offered to send us to rest.
Laogong shouted, meaning that others should go first, and he and I wanted to stay in the main hall for a while.
Jinlun then saw the others off, leaving only me and Shenshao in the main hall.
Only after the others had walked far away did Laogong suddenly shout at Shenshao in a high-pitched voice, "Shenshao, you have committed a great sin!"
"??" Shenshao's eyes were confused.
"Think about it with your bald head, something so important, how could you hand it over to a stranger you don't even know? You believe him when he says he's my master's junior brother? What if he says my master's son? Would you believe that too?"
"Master, you are also very gentle. You don't get angry? Wu Ling that little guy, who knows what he will do with this head! The Four Regulations Mountain is still unclear, how could it be a small problem?"
Laogong was so angry that his teeth were itching. He obviously wasn't going to just let it go, and directly revealed the evasion I made.
I furrowed my brows.
Shenshao's confusion turned into a hint of alarm.
Laogong directly explained the words Wu Ling said at that time, and why he tricked away Tian Shou's head.
Shenshao's face turned extremely ugly.
"Foolish! Lies! Where is this boy? I, I, the old monk must definitely execute him with a stick!" Shenshao suddenly became furious, beads of sweat were constantly appearing on his bald head.
"Humph." Laogong snorted and said, "Execute him with a stick? The two elders of Lei Ping Dao Guan, to kill the bloodline of Bai from the Four Regulations Mountain. You don't want your newly constructed Dao Guan anymore?" That kid is very sly. He just said that he made a mistake, what can you do?
I thought Laogong was trying to incite the two to kill Wu Ling.
However, this statement of his later on was for the consideration of both the Four Regulations Mountain and Lei Ping Dao Guan, which left me in a state of confusion.
In the next moment, Laogong said, "Kill? It's definitely going to be killed, but it can't be done openly. Besides, I'm not afraid to tell you that Wu Ling is the outer evil of the Four Regulations Mountain, but the Four Regulations Mountain is unaware. You also shouldn't expose it."
"He even eats the dead, which is quite fitting with Tian Shou Dao Ren. One eats the longevity of the living, and one eats the bones of the dead. The outer evil from the Four Regulations Mountain was directly defeated by Wu Ling and took away a lifespan."
Laogong's words left Shenshao speechless, and the veins on his bald head were throbbing.
I finally understood Laogong's intention!
The one involved is confused. I hadn't considered this point at all before!
Was it just now that Laogong realized it? Or did he find out that there was something else on Tian Shou Dao Ren's head that Wu Ling could use?
"Where is Wu Ling?"
"There are still some warrior monks in the Gao Tian Temple. They really can't become Taoists or learn Taoist arts anymore. My original intention was to let them guard the Taoist images in the newly built exterior hall, so that they could also protect the Tian Gongquan for several decades. After their disciples have mastered their Taoist arts, they could replace them."
"Send out a third of the warrior monks to retrieve this boy's head."
Shenshao spoke again, closing his eyes slightly and a trace of compassion appeared on his face.
Laogong then jumped onto his shoulder and whispered a series of words into his ear.
Our conversation took some time, at this moment, Jinlun also returned.
After Laogong returned to my shoulder, Shenshao's expression became serious. After exchanging glances, he carefully repeated the conversation we had just had.
"Rehabilitate him. Perhaps that is the reason why the warrior monks in the temple cannot be transformed into Taoists. Monks rehabilitating people, what does that have to do with my Lei Ping Dao Guan?" Jinlun spoke in a low voice.
"Truly, truly great!" Laogong shouted.
After that, they two insisted on sending me to a room for rest, and I had nothing else to say but to go.
Staying in the room, Laogong seemed in a good mood, humming obscene tunes repeatedly.
"Why doesn't that little brat die? I really want to admire him. Ghost Chief is really going to do it, he said, this little brat has eaten more than one person."
"I had a divination for the Ghost Chief, and I always feel that he is too righteous now. He's not like the former person who was full of evil, good at killing people, evil becoming righteous, and prone to problems. In addition, the Yutai Daochang place here is harmful to ghosts. He might be at a disadvantage."
"With a few good monks, the Ghost Chief treats him, the monks perform a religious ceremony for him, both spiritual and physical treatments are applied to make him seem ethereal as if he were a god. Master, tell me, how many people in the world could have such treatment?"
Laogong kept constantly smiling in a sinister way, and his teeth were exposed.
However, my heart still feels uncomfortable, and I fear that something might go wrong if I can't witness it or participate in person.
"Old Laogong, have you ever thought of something that Mao You Three said? He mentioned that I should take the Four Regulations Mirror to a certain place in the Four Regulations Mountain, and someone would kill Sun Zhuo. I said in a hoarse voice: 'What kind of person could it be? Why would they, upon seeing the Four Regulations Mirror, kill the then rising star candidate heir of the Four Regulations Mountain without hesitation?'"
