"I know." I closed my eyes.
Laogan hummed for a while, and his voice finally faded away.
The next day, as the first ray of sunlight entered the room, I opened my eyes.
When I left the house, no one was awake yet. On my way to the main hall of Pure Yang Daoist Temple, I met many Daoists who were already moving around. Some halls had the sound of recitation, as they were conducting the morning rituals.
The main hall was also quiet, but it didn't take long before Liu Zhenqi arrived.
"Hahaha, Master Lu is full of vitality and energy, getting up early." Liu Zhenqi smiled broadly, without any airs of a senior elder, as if he were an affable old man.
I went ahead and offered a respectful greeting before sharing all the findings from the previous evening with Liu Zhenqi in detail.
His expression stiffened, and his smile disappeared instantly.
I stood motionless on the side and didn't say anything.
After a while, Liu Zhenqi let out a puff of stale air before saying, "After all the trouble, we didn't expect that the problem would be in Pure Yang Daoist Temple. Well, it makes sense. Years ago, that traitor ultimately failed to change Gong City. The main reason was still in Pure Yang Daoist Temple. To the outside world, it was a sword; internally, it was a foundation stone."
"Master Luo, I understand now. You need not worry about this matter any further; let me handle it."
As I had expected, Liu Zhenqi didn't need Wei Youming and Lao Gong to get involved.
"Can the result be obtained in a short period of time?" I asked while also mentioning the current situation of Mao Sheng, requiring us to make use of the Fengshui of Xuanming Mountain.
For a moment, Liu Zhenqi didn't answer me.
"Fear not, this cannot be rushed." Another voice entered my ear, and it was the third elder Liu Taiyin entering the main hall.
I didn't know when he arrived, but his words represented the content of my conversation with Liu Zhenqi, which he had listened to in full.
My heart sank slightly, and I wanted to speak but stopped.
"Little friend, do you believe that even if the grand master and I agree to let that vile demon investigate my Pure Yang Daoist Temple from head to toe, it will not find any valid reason? On the contrary, you are hated by Master Qiang's lineage and ridiculed by all the Daoists in our Pure Yang Daoist Temple?" Liu Taiyin spoke again.
"This person has had close contact with you. Besides Ji Kui's own abilities, it is inevitable that he received assistance from him. By eliminating Ji Kui, you nearly destroyed him, making it difficult for him not to understand you. Since he knows your abilities now, he is unlikely not to be on his guard."
My initial impression of Pure Yang Daoist Temple is that all the Daoists there are straightforward. However, the third elder Liu Taiyin is quite different.
His thoughts are much deeper, and his judgment is more unique.
He does not investigate based on details or clues, but instead directly analyzes me as an opponent, considering what the other party should and should not do.
"Third Elder, do you have a good strategy?" Liu Zhenqi asked.
Liu Taiyin shook his head and spoke in a deep voice again: "Let's observe the situation and wait a few days. First, we'll observe the rituals. What do you think?"
Liu Zhenqi looked at me.
My eagerness is indeed true, but being hasty won't allow you to eat hot tofu - this is also true.
Especially since I am aware that Liu Taiyin's judgment is correct. If I act in haste, it could lead me into another trap and have me following others' leads.
Even if we take it a step further, Lao Gong being the Yang Shen Ghost is not false, and Wei Youming being the Demon of All Evils is also not false.
Who is the other party?
It was Master Qiang who, years ago, was on equal terms with the grand master. At the top of that deep pond grave, we saw a purple skull, which signifies that he is no weaker than Lao Gong.
He has been around much longer than Lao Gong, and he was more powerful in his lifetime, even to the point of creating a new method of celestial navigation. It's normal for Lao Gong not to be able to outsmart him if they were not careful.
"Disciple bids farewell." I clasped my fist and left the main hall.
Liu Zhenqi and Liu Taiyin watched as I walked away, and they still stood in the main hall with their backs to each other.
I did not return to my residence but instead went to where Mao Sheng was.
The door of the room was closed, and three Daoists were sitting cross-legged outside. They were the remaining three who had followed us from Jiuqu Mountain.
Even though there were unexpected encounters along the way, many Daoist temples appeared lively and full of vitality.
However, the three of them seemed particularly desolate and melancholic.
When they saw me, their faces still looked a bit pale and woeful.
"Shao Guan..." someone began first.
The other person quickly gave the first speaker a nudge, and then he corrected himself, saying, "Master Luo..."
The other two also stood up and greeted me.
"I'm sure Daoist Mao Sheng is fine." I spoke in a deep voice.
The three of them did not respond, and their faces were universally bitter.
The person who called me looked even more distressed, and said, "The invitation to the city of Gongqiang was brought by us from Jiuqu Mountain. Daoist Taiyin knows it was on behalf of Daoist Luo. This is an opportunity. He is currently the strongest elder of Jiuqu Mountain. We are all disciples who are said to be among the most talented ones, but unfortunately, we lost four disciples and now only three remain."
"Jiuqu Mountain was once one of the four major Daoist schools, but it has been humbled and weakened again and again. We may not be capable of taking on the main responsibility, which is a shame to the Three Peaks Daoist True Sovereigns and the ancestors."
It was clear that they were quite pessimistic about Mao Sheng's situation.
Indeed, another person said, "Even if the old master wakes up, he will be a disabled person, only with half a body, and it may be difficult for him to even use a wheelchair. He will need lifelong care."
His words were quite similar to Lao Gong's.
"He should have passed the test and become a true immortal after he recovers," I said.
This sentence caused them to fall silent abruptly, and they all stared at me with wide eyes, their faces flushed.
"I cannot be your junior manager of the Shao Guan sect, nor can I leave the Si Guoshan. However, I can promise to be the outer sect elder of Jiuqu Mountain. If Jiuqu Mountain is in trouble, I will not ignore it."
"This is the promise of Luo Xianshen."
In just two sentences, my voice wasn't loud, but the words were clear.
The three of them were already shocked, and before they could even feel happy, their faces turned from red to a liver-like purple color, almost overflowing with blood.
"Met the elder!" One of the disciples heavily knelt down, and the other two also knelt and bowed deeply.
"Three, you don't need to kneel." I gestured with my hand, trying to help them up.
The three of them did as I said and quickly stood up.
A creaking sound, as the door opened, and Liu Yujie stood at the doorway.
He carried his hands behind his back and said, "I've never heard of someone from another temple being chosen as the future successor of a particular Daoist sect. The disciples of Jiuqu Mountain are indeed thin, and they truly need someone to support them."
"Little friend, you are truly magnanimous. Daoist Mao Sheng was in trouble in our city of Gongqiang, and we cannot ignore it. Before you leave, please take three arrows from our city of Gongqiang as a token of goodwill. If you need help at any time, one arrow can summon the assistance of Liu family members."
"Thank you, Second Elder Liu." I bowed and offered my respects.
The others also quickly bowed.
Liu Yujie smiled but shook her head slightly, "These are the least I can do. Little friend Luo Xianshen, please take these three with you soon. There are less than two days until the observatory ceremony. They also need to cultivate their spirit and might in preparation, hoping to achieve enlightenment or fortune at that time. I will also attend the ceremony, and at that time, we will bring Daoist Mao Sheng along."
"I see that he is just unconscious, but his Qi and blood are incredibly abundant, even stronger than mine."
