Daoist Master Qu Yi saw everything clearly, but he couldn't admit it out loud. He said sternly, "Nonsense! How could a vicious ghost have the aura of Buddha and divine spirits?"
Master Tingyi still had his hands clasped together. He looked up and said calmly, "The reason he has a Buddha's aura is because I ordered the monks in my temple to work together to create a statue for him."
Jing Tinghua was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, his emotions complex.
Well well...
No matter how many years passed, or whether he was human or ghost, Jing Jiujiu always had a magical ability to make people willingly do his bidding.
This truly was his good son...
Jing Tinghua felt extremely sarcastic in his heart.
Daoist Master Qu Yi was also shocked for a moment, then his voice became even colder as he scolded, "Has Master Tingyi gone senile? You actually made a statue for a ghost?"
Everyone else was also horrified. Looking more closely now, they realized that when Daoist Master Qu Yi had attacked earlier, Master Tingyi's hands had formed a Buddhist mudra.
This... was Master Tingyi actually raising ghosts?!
Master Tingyi didn't respond to his words, but continued, "As for the divine aura, it's probably because his statue has been completed, and someone has already made offerings to him."
In fact, even Master Tingyi found it surprising.
Jing Jiujiu had received offerings so quickly.
After hearing this, Daoist Master Qu Yi cursed angrily, "Have you gone mad? How can a ghost be worthy of worship?"
The others paused, and a flurry of discussions broke out.
"Indeed, how can we allow a ghost to be worshipped?"
"Is he really a ghost? He doesn't look like one to me."
"Master, are you raising ghosts? Don't you know this is strictly forbidden in our circles?"
"Daoist Master Qu Yi keeps saying he's a vicious ghost, but why doesn't he show any traces of being vicious... Though his yin energy is indeed strong, suggesting he must be powerful..."
Daoist Master Qu Yi saw that none of them were helping him attack, and instead were just talking uselessly.
But by himself, he didn't have full confidence in taking down Tingyi directly. That old fellow Tingyi had spent no less time in seclusion than him, and who knew what level of cultivation he had reached now.
And then there was that man beside him... the famous actor, right? He was also strange, sitting there without any fear, and even breaking his whisk... He must also be someone from their circle, but why had he never heard of him before?
"Daoist Master?" someone called from behind, interrupting Qu Yi's uncertain thoughts.
Daoist Master Qu Yi suddenly came back to his senses.
What were they discussing just now?
Saying why Jing Jiujiu didn't seem like a vicious ghost?
Daoist Master Qu Yi gritted his teeth. What could he say? Tell them it was because they had drawn talismans on the doors of the ancient castle?
Daoist Master Qu Yi snorted coldly, "A ghost's appearance can be deceiving. Don't let his looks fool you! The problem now is that Master Tingyi dares to raise a vicious ghost, disrupting the balance of yin and yang in this world! Can you allow such a thing to happen before your eyes?"
As soon as he finished speaking, before anyone else could respond, a cold, serious voice tinged with childishness came from behind: "What are you all talking about? Why aren't you coming in?"
Everyone was stunned.
Damn!
They had almost forgotten about this kid!
Even Daoist Master Qu Yi paused for a moment.
That's right! The Cloud Return Sect people were here!
Daoist Master Qu Yi couldn't help but shout, "The Cloud Return Sect is here! Tingyi, do you admit your wrongdoing?"
The young boy struggled to squeeze through the crowd, standing there with a wooden expression.
Tingyi: "I've done nothing wrong."
Daoist Master Qu Yi: "..."
He turned his head to look at the young boy, and after some thought, he also felt that this kid lacked imposing presence. If it had been the leader of the Cloud Return Sect who came, would Tingyi still dare to speak like this?
The young boy frowned at this moment and moved his lips: "The influence of the Cloud Return Sect is not for you to borrow at will."
Daoist Master Qu Yi: "..."
This kid had quite a temper!
Isn't it a good thing to show such respect for your Cloud Return Sect?
The young boy bowed forward and said, "Great-grandmaster."
The private room suddenly fell silent again.
Daoist Master Qu Yi's face changed dramatically, along with the other metaphysical experts behind him. In fact, even Master Tingyi was slightly surprised, and then turned his head to look at Bai Yuhuai.
Jing Jiujiu withdrew his hand that was pressing on the statue's head and repeated, "Great-grandmaster?"
Who was he referring to?
Master Zhou was undoubtedly a fraud.
So it must be Bai Yuhuai?
Jing Jiujiu tilted his head.
The young boy looked at Jing Jiujiu curiously for a moment, then lowered his gaze and said, "Great-grandmaster, your phone is unreachable."
Phone unreachable?
Jing Jiujiu paused, feeling a bit guilty. Was it because he had smashed it?
For a moment, he even forgot to ask Bai Yuhuai about the young boy's situation.
At this point, Daoist Master Qu Yi had finally painfully digested this fact. The "great-grandmaster" in the child's mouth was the young man who had been sitting steadily next to Jing Jiujiu all along.
He was from the Cloud Return Sect!
And his seniority was so high!
How could such a person be by Jing Jiujiu's side?
Cold sweat slowly seeped out of Daoist Master Qu Yi's back, but soon, more shame and ambition welled up in his heart.
He raised his head and stared coldly at Bai Yuhuai: "So you're from the Cloud Return Sect. I've heard that the Cloud Return Sect hates to see ghosts and monsters running rampant... Aren't you afraid that we'll send a letter to the Cloud Return Sect? Asking them to punish you?"
The young boy's features scrunched up when he heard this.
Bai Yuhuai remained silent, only coldly staring at Daoist Master Qu Yi.
He was the one whose identity had been exposed!
Daoist Master Qu Yi gritted his teeth secretly.
But why was he still looking down on me so loftily?
Daoist Master Qu Yi sneered, "Could it be that the Cloud Return Sect... has some secret agenda? Raising ghosts behind our backs, engaging in shady activities, disrupting the order of heaven and earth?"
Upon hearing this, most of the metaphysical experts' faces turned grim.
This accusation was too severe... If the Cloud Return Sect really wanted to do such things, they couldn't stop them even if they tried.
Daoist Master Qu Yi turned around and said, "What are you all waiting for? Let's capture that vicious ghost first and question him. Then we'll know whether he bewitched someone from the Cloud Return Sect, or if the Cloud Return Sect has other plans!"
Everyone was in a dilemma.
They thought, if we're going to confront the Cloud Return Sect, at least give us some time to mentally prepare.
Master Tingyi was about to speak with a displeased expression.
But Bai Yuhuai spoke first, calmly saying, "I raised him."
Daoist Master Qu Yi was so angry he almost bit his teeth to pieces.
He just admitted it like that?
Fine! This is what you chose! Don't blame me for dragging your Cloud Return Sect down with you!
"I'm sitting right here. You're welcome to try and see if you can take him away from my side," Bai Yuhuai said unhurriedly.
Daoist Master Qu Yi couldn't gauge his depth, and the people behind him had all become neutral just because he was from the Cloud Return Sect...
But Qu Yi couldn't bring himself to back down just like that.
Daoist Master Qu Yi took out an object from his bosom. The object was golden all over, resembling a... bell?
"The Eastern Emperor's Bell is an ancient artifact. Where did you get it?" someone asked from behind.
Bai Yuhuai didn't even blink: "It's a replica."
Daoist Master Qu Yi's face almost turned red from embarrassment.
He hadn't expected this young man's eyes to be so sharp, recognizing it at a glance.
He said in a deep voice, "Correct, it's just a replica. But it's enough. I didn't want to use such a method..." As he spoke, he suddenly looked at Jing Jiujiu: "I'll only ring it once, and you'll be in excruciating pain all over. Two rings, and your yin energy will dissipate. Three rings, and your soul will be annihilated..."
Jing Jiujiu: "Oh."
Daoist Master Qu Yi: "..."
Oh? Just 'oh'? Was this little ghost so inexperienced?
Jing Tinghua tightly pressed his lips: "Daoist Master Qu Yi."
Daoist Master Qu Yi quickly turned his head: "You don't need to interfere!"
At this moment, Master Tingyi frowned and spoke up: "I know you. Your name is Jing Tinghua, isn't it?"
Jing Tinghua didn't respond.
But Master Tingyi was already looking suspiciously between him and Jing Jiujiu, and said coldly, "He's your son."
Everyone was stunned again after hearing this.
Damn.
What kind of shocking ethical drama with big plot twists was unfolding today?
Daoist Master Qu Yi sneered, "Yes, to have a father come to capture his own son who has turned into a vicious ghost, what a heartbreaking thing..."
Tingyi felt that these words were incorrect, but when he wanted to argue, he didn't know where to start.
Jing Jiujiu lowered his eyes and said softly, "Do you know why Jing Tinghua isn't speaking?"
Jing Tinghua heard him call his name directly, his brow furrowed for a moment, then quickly smoothed out.
Daoist Master Qu Yi also frowned: "What?"
Could this fierce ghost possibly say a few words, deceive the crowd, and change the situation? That's impossible. As long as he's a ghost, even the Cloud Return Sect can't protect him.
Ghosts and Daoist masters are destined to be incompatible.
At this moment, everyone's gaze unconsciously fell upon this "fierce ghost."
Looking from all angles... he didn't look like a ghost at all.
His features were serene and beautiful, even causing people to feel a sense of peace at first glance.
The "fierce ghost" slowly opened his lips again and said, "Because he's a bit smarter than you. When he saw me sitting together with Bai... oh, that is, this person from the Cloud Return Sect beside me, and Master Tingyi next to me, he knew that your plan had failed today.
"You can accuse the Cloud Return Sect and Master Tingyi of harboring evil ghosts, and we can naturally accuse you of taking people's money, setting up a feng shui formation in the Sleeping Beauty Castle, trapping living people to death, and turning them into fierce ghosts..."
"What are you saying? I don't understand," Daoist Master Qu Yi interrupted.
"If you really don't understand, why are you in such a hurry to interrupt?" Bai Yuhuai clenched his fingers, his expression becoming even colder. His gaze at Daoist Master Qu Yi was already like looking at a dead man.
It was he who had let Jing Jiujiu die in the castle, and now he wanted to tear open the wound in front of everyone to see.
Daoist Master Qu Yi shuddered.
The people around frowned and chimed in, "What feng shui formation?" "What castle?" "Master, is what he's saying true? If it really was your doing, what's the meaning of bringing us here today to catch ghosts?"
Daoist Master Qu Yi pressed his lips together and questioned loudly again, "Then tell me, were those two people who made the news your victims?"
"Who?" Jing Jiujiu tilted his head, thought for a few seconds, "Oh, you mean that Gong fellow and his secretary?"
"That's right! Are you admitting it?"
"Why wouldn't I admit it?"
Daoist Master Qu Yi sneered, "Mr. Bai, do you have anything else to say? You're allowing the fierce ghost beside you to harm people..."
"Who said I was harming people? I was saving people." Jing Jiujiu was not flustered at all, "Two scoundrels who deceived people into marriage, and the Daoist Master sympathizes with them. Is it because the Daoist Master is also a scoundrel?"
"Deceiving people into marriage? What marriage did those two deceive?" The others started discussing again.
"Oh... it seems it was written in the news. Look, look." Someone immediately pulled out their phone.
"Wow, how shameless!"
"..." Daoist Master Qu Yi was speechless.
How was he supposed to know what kind of people they were!
"This young man's logic is clear, his words are orderly... he really doesn't seem like a ghost..." the thin man spoke up.
Jing Jiujiu nodded: "On this point, perhaps I should thank the Daoist Master? He carved symbols on both sides of my bedroom door. The left side drew away my yin energy, the right side scorched me, making me feel pain day and night, unable to dispel my grievances. That's why I didn't turn into a disfigured fierce ghost."
"..." The private room fell silent for a moment.
The bearded man frowned: "Master, is this true?"
Jing Jiujiu's words sounded like praise, but in front of these metaphysical experts, they couldn't be fooled. They immediately understood that this was a great formation constantly drawing yin energy.
This was an extremely vicious move!
Creating a fierce ghost to freely use its yin energy!
This was far more shameless than raising ghosts!
Of course, Daoist Master Qu Yi wouldn't admit it. He countered, "You believe the words of a ghost?"
Jing Jiujiu continued unhurriedly: "If I were you, wanting to pin the hat of raising little ghosts on others, dragging Master Tingyi and the Cloud Return Sect down with me, I should have acted in secret, not confronting me directly... Do you know what an information gap is? You should have used the fact that I, Bai Yuhuai, Master Tingyi, and the other seniors in the metaphysical circles didn't know you were meddling in between. That way, you could have steadily taken us down... Didn't that person you sent to Jing Tinghua last time play the role of middleman very well? You should have sent a subordinate out this time too... Why did you come out personally? Were you in a hurry?"
The youth's features were as exquisite as a fragile jewel.
His tone was also slow, almost leisurely.
But these words, bit by bit, stoked Daoist Master Qu Yi's anger, each word and phrase poking at him...
"Are you in a hurry to find this thing?" As Jing Jiujiu spoke, people only heard a light "thud."
An idol was placed on the round table.
Jing Jiujiu had already untied the red string earlier, separating the castle's evil god from the four-faced Buddha.
The castle's evil god had just caught its breath when it found itself surrounded.
Evil God: "..."
"This thing... is an evil god?" the bearded man exclaimed.
Daoist Master Qu Yi's heart skipped a beat: "How did it end up in your hands?"
Even Jing Tinghua's gaze sharpened. This thing had been with Jing Jiujiu all along?
Jing Jiujiu said lightly: "When the offering runs away, of course it has to chase."
"What do you mean?" The bearded man looked left and right, barely piecing together some logic, "You mean..."
Master Tingyi angrily said: "He means that Daoist Master Qu Yi was going to sacrifice him to the evil god!"
"Where do you get the nerve to question the Cloud Return Sect? To question this old monk?!" Master Tingyi glared angrily at Daoist Master Qu Yi.
Daoist Master Qu Yi furrowed his brow and fell silent.
How could he have imagined that Jing Jiujiu would have the protection of Master Tingyi and someone from the Cloud Return Sect, and even have the evil god idol in his possession!
In his imagination, Jing Jiujiu should have been panicked and miserable, an easy target!
"Master..."
"Please, Master, give us an explanation first."
"And what kind of cooperation did you reach with this Mr. Jing?"
The surrounding questioning voices came one after another, irritating Daoist Master Qu Yi.
At this moment, Jing Tinghua sighed lightly, glanced at Master Zhou, then looked at Bai Yuhuai: "Jiujiu."
"So, the person who brought you out of the castle was this Mr. Bai. Not Master Zhou. Master Zhou was just a decoy you used to fool me..."
He said: "Jiujiu has grown up. Even if your childhood playmate has forgotten you, it doesn't matter. Jiujiu has made more and more powerful friends. Even the famous Daoist master of the Cloud Return Sect is willing to be at Jiujiu's beck and call..."
Jing Jiujiu lowered his eyes, not responding.
Hearing this, Daoist Master Qu Yi couldn't help but get angry. Wasn't Jing Tinghua's speech just an admission that they had used Jing Jiujiu for something?
"That's why I always say, you are indeed my most outstanding child, and also my favorite child," Jing Tinghua continued.
Bai Yuhuai raised his eyes, about to interrupt Jing Tinghua.
Jing Tinghua went on: "But what can be done? The firstborn son of each generation of the Jing family must be offered to the deity worshipped by the family. Otherwise, the Jing family would be ruined. "
The bearded man listened angrily.
Looking at the appearance of that "fierce ghost," one could imagine how brilliant he must have been when alive.
"Who told you to worship an evil god? Isn't it just asking for your family to be ruined?"
Jing Tinghua's brow twitched, suppressing his anger, he continued: "I just didn't want to die, so I had to painfully give you up..."
"If there's anyone to blame, it can only be the Jing family ancestors, for bringing back such a thing from the war-torn times." Jing Tinghua sneered coldly, "As coincidence would have it, there was a Daoist priest at that time, repeatedly claiming he would help the Jing family ancestors worship the deity, and from then on change their fate and bring good fortune... This worship continued for years, and by the time it reached my generation, there was no turning back. We could only choose between life and death."
Jing Jiujiu still kept his eyes lowered, motionless, as if he had heard everything, yet also as if he had heard nothing.
"Enough!" Daoist Master Qu Yi spoke with a grim face.
Jing Tinghua stepped forward and said: "Today I've lost, I can't take you back to the castle, and this evil god is also..."
He saw much more clearly than Daoist Master Qu Yi.
The numerous experts Daoist Master Qu Yi had invited were knives to kill Jing Jiujiu, but also knives to kill them.
Jing Tinghua: "I killed you, now it's your turn to kill me."
Daoist Master Qu Yi could no longer contain himself and shouted: "Jing Tinghua! You're giving up before you've reached the end of the road? Are you abandoning your Jing family, your vast fortune?"
With these words, Daoist Master Qu Yi could no longer wash his hands of involvement.
Everyone's expressions turned cold, and they unconsciously touched their weapons.
Daoist Master Qu Yi took out a small hammer and struck the Eastern Emperor's Bell heavily. Bai Yuhuai suddenly stood up, opening an umbrella to shield Jing Jiujiu.
Everyone furrowed their brows uncomfortably, as if they had heard an evil sound.
Only Bai Yuhuai showed no reaction. He stepped on a chair, leaped over the round table in a few strides, and flew directly towards Daoist Master Qu Yi.
Daoist Master Qu Yi's pupils contracted as he raised his hand, pulling out a talisman paper to stick onto Bai Yuhuai.
Bai Yuhuai let out a light cold snort: "...Nasty trick."
With that, he pinched the talisman between two fingers, tearing it to pieces just as he had done with the fly whisk earlier.
The others also sprang into action.
"Master Qu Yi broke the rules first! Don't blame us for being merciless!"
In an instant, the small private room was filled with flashing golden and white lights, the sound of Sanskrit chanting and bell ringing, and talismans flying everywhere.
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Daoist Master Qu Yi's mouth.
Enraged, he realized that his talismans were ineffective against the man before him. He put down the Eastern Emperor's Bell, held the mallet in his left hand, and took out another object from his pocket with his right.
"You're all so shocked just from seeing one evil god? That's nothing," he said, raising his hand. In his palm was another divine statue.
"You're the one who's truly gone mad!" the Bearded Man cursed angrily. "You're nurturing evil gods!"
Daoist Master Qu Yi laughed, "Yes, so what? When an evil god is angered, even you lot will have to pay the price, hahaha... uh."
Daoist Master Qu Yi's laughter came to an abrupt halt.
"You mentioned evil gods?" Jing Jiujiu rummaged in his bag and, with a thud, placed another statue next to the castle's evil god. "I have one too."
The object had four heads and looked incredibly sinister.
Daoist Master Qu Yi: "..."
The metaphysical experts: "..."
Holy crap.
"Come on, let's fight," Jing Jiujiu said nonchalantly.
Daoist Master Qu Yi's face twitched with anger. "...Do you know, do you know what kind of commotion it would cause if evil gods fought?"
To speak of fighting in such a casual tone?
Jing Jiujiu tilted his head, "Yes, I do. Oh, are you scared? You brought out the evil god just to intimidate us, not because you actually intended to invoke its divine power?"
Daoist Master Qu Yi gritted his teeth, glaring angrily at Jing Tinghua.
How had his son, who died at eighteen and seemed as fragile as a flower unable to withstand the slightest wind and rain, become so formidable now?
Daoist Master Qu Yi raised his hand, about to strike the bell again, determined to make Jing Jiujiu's soul scatter right there.
But before he could act, Bai Yuhuai tapped his forearm.
A numbness spread through it.
Bai Yuhuai kicked away the Eastern Emperor's Bell, then raised his leg and smashed the evil god statue to pieces.
Daoist Master Qu Yi's eyes widened, "...Are you insane? Aren't you afraid of the evil god's curse?"
Bai Yuhuai grabbed his collar, turned sideways, and slammed him hard onto the glass table in front. Blood immediately flowed from Daoist Master Qu Yi's nose and mouth, and a cracked dent appeared on the glass tabletop.
"Why... can you move without hesitation?" Daoist Master Qu Yi forced out the words from his throat.
Bai Yuhuai's gaze fell upon him.
For a moment, Daoist Master Qu Yi didn't dare to meet his eyes. The man before him seemed less like a member of the Cloud Return Sect and more like a demon straight from hell.
Daoist Master Qu Yi shouted hoarsely, "Do you really want to help him? This person is a monster in the Cloud Return Sect! He disregards rules, raises fierce ghosts, and nothing can harm him... Don't you find such a terrifying existence frightening?"
Daoist Master Qu Yi struggled to raise his hand, smearing his blood to draw patterns on the glass table.
Bai Yuhuai held down his hand firmly, flipped onto the table, crouched down, and stepped on Daoist Master Qu Yi's fingers: "...Hmm? Trying to draw a lightning-summoning talisman?"
The others, watching Bai Yuhuai's silhouette, couldn't help but shudder.
Jing Jiujiu, however, just frowned.
Bai Yuhuai was good.
He was incomparably better than Daoist Master Qu Yi and Jing Tinghua. How dare he call Bai Yuhuai a monster?
Since you say I raise ghosts...
Jing Jiujiu: "Bite him."
Before the others could understand what was happening, a string of small ghosts filed in through the window and bit Daoist Master Qu Yi's leg.
The big ghost is so powerful!
Standing against so many formidable people!
They couldn't lose either...
For a moment, everyone was dumbfounded.
Damn, it was the first time they had seen ghosts act so boldly in front of Taoist masters!