"Stop going over there." It was Tang Wu calling out to me, and he seemed particularly solemn.
Not only him, all the real elders on the field, including all the disciples, had fine sweat beads forming on their foreheads, showing an extra level of caution towards the grass.
I didn't see the evil corpse of Dai Hong.
It can't be that Mao You San did something; if he had taken Dai Hong or Wei Youming, there would at least be a body left here.
The body was gone, which meant that when Wei Youming sent Dai Hong back to the killing chamber at dawn, he would still be hidden.
"A good mood because you picked the fruit, and the fisherman benefits, right, Old Mao." My tone was relatively gentle, as if I were reminiscing with an old friend.
And in itself, Mao You San is an old friend.
Mao You San admitted boldly, replying: "Haha, this is also correct. I am still somewhat afraid of the two of them. The reason why I said this just now was that Guo Sanhe wanted me to work for free for a lifetime. I accepted him, is that reciprocal courtesy?"
Are you telling me there's an essential difference between you and Guo Sanhe? He relies on consuming people to refine his soul, and on breaking apart cadavers to strengthen his body, but you merely refine others' corpses and souls?" I asked again.
"The dead ones, before a person becomes a corpse, I have paid enough price, obtained their full consent. Of course, even if it wasn't people who worked for me and died in my hands, I still paid a price. For example, the battle array on Juqu Mountain, I didn't spend too much effort on it. To manifest my abilities, you and the master of this heaven-ascending site are most clear about it. After all, you saw me do it."
Mao You San took another sip of tea, exclaiming loudly.
The atmosphere in the field suddenly shifted.
Mao Sheng, whose eyes were already reddened, suddenly had his eyeballs expanded to the extreme.
He was taken aback, first looking at me, and then staring fiercely at Mao You San.
Those disciples from Juqu Mountain who were behind him first glared at Mao You San with anger that couldn't be contained, then looked at me and Wu Jinluan with extreme unease, before their gaze returned to Mao You San, with an even stronger desire to devour people.
"Hogwash, rambling!" Mao Sheng scolded.
"Hmm?" Mao You San smiled and said, "It seems that Xian Shen didn't tell you about some things. In that case, you can consider me as just talking nonsense, haha."
"Xian Shen, I just wanted to talk to you and chat, my mood is good, and I wouldn't randomly kill someone." Mao You San lightly put down his teacup and gently tapped the table with his fingers.
Mao You San alone couldn't kill anyone in this place.
Regardless of how strong he is, once his yin spirit leaves his body, with the power of a true elder, he can be beaten into a pulp.
But precisely, Mao You San is not alone.
The eight corpses of true elders beside him each had their souls correspondingly become out-of-body spirits. Compared to Guo Sanhe, their cadavers are not as good as the ones he pieces together, but their souls are the same.
Including Mao You San himself, it's equivalent to nine out-of-body spirits.
Such a quantity, exceeds people's cognitive understanding, too terrifying.
"Old Tang, Elder Liu Da, Elder Liu San, Elder Mao Sheng, Sister Si Yan, and all of your disciples, step back into this grand mansion, to the location of the hot spring cave and wait for me." I spoke in a low voice.
Everyone in the field looked at each other, then began to slowly retreat.
After a few minutes, only I and Mao You San were left in the field.
I walked over to Mao You San's table, where there was still a chair.
"Bringing these things around is quite troublesome, isn't it? It's not like a Taoist sword can be attached to the waist, tied on the body." I asked.
"Haha, it's not a bother. After all, I like them, and they can easily carry them." Mao You San glanced casually at the six true elder corpses beside him, explaining: "Besides the two from Bailang Cave, the other six corpses come from Juqu Mountain, but their souls are not all from Juqu Mountain. These years, I've also had some Taoists in particular."
I remained silent. Indeed, I had noticed that these true elder corpses were carrying some packages on their backs.
"Out-of-body spirits can act in broad daylight, dominate the body, and are not limited by darkness. Xian Shen, you command those countless evil ghosts. Although there are some things, it's not many. Like when the sun is high in the sky, he can only hide and has no other option."
Mao You San glanced at the sky.
"I know, but I haven't controlled Master Wei. He's just following us, doing what he wants to do. For example, killing Wu Ling. Wu Ling ate Sun Zhuo and then so many others," I replied.
"Not exactly controlling, but it's like controlling. People do things willingly for you, to some extent, you are more skilled than me," Mao You San praised.
I frowned slightly.
It might have been hard to tell before.
But now I can understand. Mao You San is trying to influence me subtly.
During the time I spent with him, such influence was omnipresent.
"Mr. Wu said, 'strategizing in the midst of affairs, deciding the outcome from a distance,' I have to say, it's you, Old Mao," I said, placing one hand on the table and picking up a teacup, "Last time you gave me tea. This time, won't you give it to me?"
Only then did Mao You San lift the teapot and pour hot tea into the teacup. The delicate aroma of the tea spread everywhere.
"Is it just about talking, and you have no other business?" I got straight to the point.
Mao You San didn't speak for a moment. He merely half-closed his eyes and continued to watch me.
Later, he nodded slightly.
"You are really good."
"You deserve to be the person I have the highest expectations for. It's just a pity that you're not willing to be under me. Otherwise, I could make you even better," Mao You San finally spoke.
"Since you have the most optimistic expectations for me, it's only reasonable that I possess some skills. If I can only sell myself, how can you appreciate me?" I answered without being humble or arrogant.
To communicate with Mao You San, one needs a certain "skill in speech".
In our interactions, he always subtly aims to achieve his goals, and I subtly keep these things out of reach.
In this way, Mao You San will finally reveal his true purpose.
He is a businessman. A businessman would not wake up early unless there is profit to be made. Even if he is happy, he does not have the need to share with me in this way.
"Ha ha ha!" A hearty laugh echoed from Mao You San's mouth.
"Xian Shen, oh Xian Shen, I can't even imagine. If you really become a yin-yang master, will you truly have the ability to control the plague ghosts and then use this to control all of the ghosts in the world? By then, as an out-of-body spirit, who on earth could harm you? If you were like Guo Sanhe again, even if it were a Yang spirit that emerged from your body, it wouldn't be able to do anything to you."
"Unfortunately, there is no 'what if.' If that day ever comes, wouldn't you become my rival?" I shook my head.
"Maybe." Mao You San finished the tea in one gulp and poured the second cup while reversing it. He said while pouring: "I like to watch changes. It's like being hidden among the people, watching the changes in the city, and then savoring the various flavors of life."
"Actually, before coming here, I visited another place."
"Where?" I asked.
As Mao You San said, there must be a reason. This matter definitely involves me.
"It's definitely Da Xiang City. I've calculated a divination, finding out that Xian Shen you have good fortune. However, this matter is also accompanied by some disaster. Therefore, I'm planning to go to the Yin family in order to help you solve this problem, as a form of help for you assisting me to achieve my goals."
My pupils narrowed slightly.
"What have you done?"
