For a moment, the air fell into silence.
"Hahaha," Mao You San tilted his head, as if sighing, yet also seemed to be laughing heartily.
This made the gentlemen behind Wu Jinluan even more uncomfortable.
"The journey has tired you out. I sent someone to pick you up from Juqu Mountain, where I sensed a turmoil and calculated that you would be attacked from behind, and even that your life would be in danger. Therefore, I have arranged for someone to come and fetch you," Mao San stopped laughing. His demeanor became deep and contemplative as he continued, "So please have your people rest inside the temple. You stay here and have tea with me; how does that sound?"
"After all, you owe me a debt."
Mao San You San's last words had a significant meaning.
It's very simple.
It's because Sun Zhuo did not fall into his hands.
Mao San You San invested a lot of effort in me, but in the end, he did not receive the expected return. Furthermore, Wu Bing even turned against him.
Even though Wu Bing had gone to kneel and express his heartfelt intentions, could Mao San You San dare to accept such a disciple?
It's no less than putting a snake on one's pillow.
It's not that I am belittling Wu Bing. If he truly wants to continue showing loyalty to Mao San You San, he should bring Sun Zhuo's corpse, rather than allowing the Four Regulations to handle it publicly while secretly threatening Lao Jian's life!
Thoughts in mind, I spoke, "Wu Jinluan, you lead everyone to rest. I will rest here for a while."
The gentlemen looked slightly uneasy, and Wu Jinluan hesitated for a moment before leading the people inside.
He knew very little, just the relationship between Wu Bing and Mao San You San.
Everything else, he was completely unaware of.
"Sit," Mao San You San gestured with an inviting hand.
"Before sitting down, there is one thing I need to confirm. Have you retrieved those three souls from Xu's family?" I asked again.
Mao San You San smiled and then said, "You already knew the truth and made your judgment. Yet, you are still not certain. If I were you, there would be no way for you to still be alive at this moment. Wu Bing would have been running around with his head down long ago, unable to stand against you."
With a confirming reply, I finally breathed a great sigh of relief.
"It appears that you have been closely monitoring Wu Bing's every move. I don't see it as suppressing him; he always manages to escape critical situations, inspiring fear, but there's no way to counteract it."
"And he is very dangerous," I said in a grave tone. "How much do you actually know about him?"
"You have many questions, but as a debtor, constantly asking your lender like this is not good," Mao San You San said as usual, revealing his familiar smile. He picked up the teapot and poured a full bowl of tea in front of me. The scalding water dispersed the tea leaves, releasing heat.
"Sun Zhuo, I will bring you back when I return to the Four Regulations Mountain," I exhaled deeply and replied.
"He is no longer useful. That's like saying you have to hand in substandard products when you finish your work," Mao San You San shook his head.
For a moment, the air fell into an eerie silence.
I had plenty of questions to ask, but Mao San You San's attitude made it impossible for me to ask. It seemed that he might not even answer my questions?
The morning sun climbed higher and higher, the light growing brighter. The mist of dawn was dispersed completely, and the top of the mountain began to be filled with a sweet fragrance of grass.
"Your usefulness has also decreased. I've warned you to preserve your chastity, but look at you now. You are patchwork, with no more chastity, and your vital energy has been drained, and your lifespan has been consumed greatly. You really don't value your life; you are accelerating your aging," Mao San You San said with a serious tone.
"The price will also be heavily discounted," Mao San You San sighed.
"I won't sell," I replied calmly after taking a sip of the hot tea.
"The family of Huo Jia seems good on the surface, but in terms of fate, you cannot compete with it. Since the beginning of the Yin-Yang world, one's destiny is predetermined. If a person opposes destiny, they will be punished by heaven. Everything will not go well."
Mao San You San's eyes became deeper and more solemn.
"You seem to be doing well, but when you think about it, someone with your strength should have long since settled down in the mountain gate? Under the true immortal, you are the first among equals."
"While you are so itinerant, facing death threats even now, some people who are weaker than you have already lived a life of ease for their entire lives."
Mao San You San's advice was delivered with sincere concern.
I locked eyes with him, our gazes equally profound.
"You are observing me, yet so meticulously and avoidantly. What is your ultimate purpose?"
"And just waiting for the day when I need you, and then sell myself to you?"
"Old Mao, that's not possible."
I spoke with conviction.
"There's nothing in the world that's impossible," Mao San You San said with a smile again, as if he had everything under control.
I don't know how to describe the feeling now.
Manipulation?
It's not that, but it seems to be that way.
Mao San You San seemed to be sculpting something intangibly, trying to guide me by the nose?
Thoughts were whirling in my mind, but suddenly, a flash of insight struck.
Guiding!
Yes, it's guiding!
It's like... the guidance of Ji Kui!
Mao San You San has always been doing this thing, making me feel that I am not enough, always short of something, and need his help.
Even now, it's the same!
But is that really the case?
He has been hiding for so long, and I have been unable to find him. I have been walking on this path for who knows how far with my own methods.
Even if Mao San You San doesn't appear, I still have ways to complete the things I want to achieve!
Why does he appear?
Two possibilities suddenly emerged in my mind.
The first is that Mao San You San feels that the situation is out of control. He has been secretly observing me, and the changes happening to me are about to exceed his control over the situation. He needs to intervene and take control of the variables!
The second is that Mao San You San needs me. Something has changed in him that he cannot handle on his own, and he requires my assistance!
"Old Gong has become a real-grade Yin god," I spoke again.
"Oh? That's a joyous occasion indeed. However, Wu Zhongkuan was already a great master in life. Although it's not certain exactly how high his level was, he should be on par with some ordinary immortals. But after death, becoming a ghost, his ghostly body had a turbulent destiny. The transformation from green to purple was his fate, and that poor ghost took advantage of his good fortune," Mao San You San stroked his chin.
"Really? How can you be so sure?" I asked Mao San You San again.
"It's not a certainty, but it's predestined. Wu Zhongkuan has already walked that path once. Even if it changes form, it can be walked again. That poor ghost truly has an opportunity and destiny." Mao San You San replied.
"No, when Old Gong transformed from green to purple, Wu Zhongkuan was stripped away from him. All things were stripped away. He himself became a true immortal ghost, and then I restored Wu Zhongkuan to him. It is he who is the Yang god ghost, Old Mao. You've made a mistake in your calculations," I said firmly.
Mao San You San's hand holding the teacup suddenly froze.
"I know why you are looking for me. Let's be straightforward; otherwise, I will leave the mountain."
"You can help, but not everything is indispensable to you."
"If you want to continue watching me, you may need to be careful not to break your calculator. If you need my help, you can say so openly. That's equivalent to me using other things to pay off the debt I owe you for Sun Zhuo."
"You don't have as much significant help as you might have imagined, aside from your knowledge of Wu Bing."
I pointed out Mao San You San's error in calculating Old Gong and Wu Zhongkuan to remind him that everything about me is not as he thinks it is. I also told him that mutual openness can lead to mutual benefits; otherwise, we are just strangers.
At this moment, the sound of a voice echoed again in front of the old temple.
"Daolong Lao has one more thing to say. If you scheme against him, even if he doesn't show his anger, he will flip the table for the Ladder of Ascension. I have recently established the Ladder of Ascension, which is supported by the Lei Ping Dao Guan and close friends of Xie Xie's, all of whom are distinguished masters from various regions. Daolong Lao has meritorious contributions in curing plagues and eliminating life expectancy. If he is plotted against and becomes enraged, it won't just be Four Regulations Mountain that turns hostile but also us."
"Mao San You Qian, are you choosing to be an enemy or a friend?"
"In other words, if you dare to hunt Lao Daozhang to the ends of the earth and the depths of hell, we will never rest until we die."
Wu Jinluan walked out of the temple. His tone was respectful, but the content of his words carried a strong threat!
