"Seems like your second senior brother is quite impressive."
Ye Ziying casually commented, seemingly making small talk, but in reality, she was probing for more information about Changsheng Temple's background.
"Second senior brother?" The young girl, Yun Qianchu, replied innocently, with no ill intentions.
"Second senior brother's strength isn't that great. He only has a fifth-grade cultivation. If it weren't for Master crafting a spiritual treasure for him and giving him a talisman, he wouldn't have gone to participate in the competition," Yun Qianchu pouted and added, "In the end, he just brought back a broken axe."
Ye Ziying's heart sank upon hearing this.
Fifth-grade cultivation?
A fifth-grade cultivator managed to win the assessment at Taixuan Sacred Land?
Wait.
"You said your Master crafted a spiritual treasure for your second senior brother?" Ye Ziying was in disbelief, wondering if she had misheard.
"Yes," Yun Qianchu blinked, not understanding why Ye Ziying was so shocked.
Ye Ziying could tell that Yun Qianchu wasn't lying. At this moment, Ye Ziying's eyes narrowed. It turned out they had all underestimated Mike.
Not only was he incredibly powerful, but he was also a master at crafting spiritual treasures?
And his abilities as a spiritual treasure craftsman were no joke either. A disciple with only fifth-grade cultivation used Mike's spiritual treasures to overwhelm the competition, even suppressing the likes of Lu Tianxing, a prominent young genius. This said it all!
Who exactly was Mike?
He had been hiding in plain sight all these years, and yet no one had ever heard of him in Dongyan Province. He had been playing the fool all along, pretending to be weak.
What was his true goal?
Why had he suddenly acted this time, and why did he set his sights on Taixuan Sacred Land first?
Regardless, once she returned to Shangqing Sect, she would have to report this to the sect immediately.
At this thought, Ye Ziying dismounted. In front of such a powerful figure, riding a horse felt disrespectful.
"Miss, we're here," Yun Qianchu said as they arrived at the small courtyard.
She called out, "Master, we have a guest."
Ye Ziying stood at the entrance and looked inside, surprised to see that Mike's living conditions were so modest.
Such a powerful figure, capable of crafting spiritual treasures, was living in such a humble abode? Was this what they meant by "returning to simplicity"?
"Looking for me?"
"Who's there?"
Mike walked out of the house and saw Ye Ziying standing at the door.
"Miss Ye," Mike greeted her with a smile and quickly motioned for her to come inside.
"Apologies for disturbing you, senior," Ye Ziying said respectfully, bowing before entering.
"Qianchu, go make some tea," Mike instructed.
"Yes, Master," Yun Qianchu replied before running off.
"Senior, you promised the City Lord that you'd send someone out of the city today. Do you still remember?" Ye Ziying asked.
"Of course, I remember," Mike said with a smile. "Since we're leaving at night, I haven't rushed. I was going to wait until after dinner before heading to Baiyun City, but it looks like you've arrived early."
"Senior, please don't misunderstand. I'm not here to rush you," Ye Ziying quickly clarified. "It's just that my father has always respected you. He said this would be a great learning opportunity, and he wanted me to follow you and learn. I hope you don't mind."
"Are you sure you want to follow me?" Mike's expression turned strange.
"If you mind, senior, I won't bother you," Ye Ziying quickly rose from her seat.
"I don't mind," Mike replied with a smile. "It's just that my methods can be... a bit frightening. I'm worried I might scare you."
"Senior, don't worry," Ye Ziying said with a smile. As a disciple of Shangqing Sect, she had seen many things and had even encountered Sword Immortals. What could possibly frighten her?
"Well then, after dinner, we'll get ready," Mike said.
"Yes."
"If there's anything I can help with, just let me know," Ye Ziying said politely.
"Can you help me pick some vegetables?" Mike asked casually.
"Pick vegetables?" Ye Ziying was taken aback.
"Yes, it's time for dinner, and Stone Ming has gone to chop firewood. I'll have to cook, so you can help wash and pick the vegetables. I'll make something delicious for you to try," Mike said with a smile.
"Uh, alright," Ye Ziying responded awkwardly. As the young lady of Baiyun City and a disciple of Shangqing Sect, she had never done something like this before.
After picking two basins of vegetables, Ye Ziying felt more exhausted than after fighting several people.
Mike, however, was incredibly skilled. He chopped meat, stir-fried vegetables, and moved with such efficiency, it was almost like watching a professional chef.
Ye Ziying couldn't help but be amazed. A high-level cultivator like Mike could cook so well? It was impressive, and his cooking was not only skillful but also incredibly delicious.
Although Ye Ziying hadn't planned on eating, she couldn't resist. The food Mike made was so enticing that she ended up eating two bowls.
Afterward, Ye Ziying even wondered if Mike had ever worked in a tavern before.
What a mysterious man.
As the night deepened, Mike went into the house to prepare something. Ye Ziying waited outside.
Eventually, around midnight, she couldn't wait any longer. "Senior, it's getting late. Shouldn't we leave now?"
"Just a moment," came Mike's voice from inside.
Ye Ziying had no choice but to wait.
After nearly an hour, Mike finally opened the door.
"Senior, let's head to Baiyun City," Ye Ziying said.
"No, we'll go somewhere else first, then head to Baiyun City," Mike replied. He was carrying a cloth bag, the contents unknown.
"Where are we going?" Ye Ziying asked, puzzled.
"Just follow me," Mike instructed, telling Stone Ming and the others to stay at the temple and keep themselves occupied while he went out for some business.
The two of them set off, heading west.
The night was silent and eerie. There was not a soul in sight on the road, and for some reason, Ye Ziying felt a strange chill in the air. Mike remained silent, his presence adding to the discomfort.
"Senior, where are we going?" Ye Ziying couldn't hold back any longer and asked.
"We're almost there," Mike said, pointing ahead.
Ye Ziying looked and saw a dense forest ahead. The trees were barren, with only the ghostly silhouettes of willows. The whole forest was eerily silent, making the atmosphere feel somewhat unsettling.
"Senior, what are we doing here?" Ye Ziying asked, though she hadn't seen anything unusual yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
"We're here to borrow something," Mike said, leading her into the forest.
As they walked down a wide path, Mike paused, took out some willow leaves from his cloth bag, and began to trace symbols with his fingers. The moonlight above had been obscured.
The surroundings were completely dark, and the silence was overwhelming.
"It's time," Mike said.
Suddenly, Mike rubbed the willow leaves on his eyelids and then placed another set of leaves on Ye Ziying's eyes. He then made a hand gesture and shouted, "Open!"
At that moment, Ye Ziying felt a jolt run through her body, and a chilling, mournful sound of a suona echoed in her ears.
The sound was so sorrowful it sent chills down her spine. In a mere instant, her skin broke out in goosebumps.
What was that sound?
Before she could react, the scene before her eyes shifted, and a procession appeared in the formerly empty forest.
At the front, a figure was playing a suona, surrounded by ghostly figures dressed in colorful clothes. Their faces were pale, and they had red blushes painted on their cheeks, their eyes vacant and soulless.
Behind them were others in wedding attire, walking like zombies while playing strange instruments, filling the air with that haunting suona sound.
Even more terrifying was the red bridal sedan at the rear, adorned with wedding symbols. It looked as though someone was getting married in the dead of night.
But who would hold a wedding procession at this time, playing such eerie music in the middle of the night?
Was this... a ghostly encounter?