A cat that lingers beside a saint

It's absolutely impossible for Yu Qiushui to get the bell.

Let alone him wanting it, even if Su Bai wanted it, the old Taoist priest never said he would give it away.

However, Su Bai naturally wouldn't reveal the truth about this matter.

Neither Su Bai nor Wan Ling were very familiar with the situation down the mountain.

However, Yu Qiushui was clearly more knowledgeable than them, and without him, the journey would likely be quite difficult.

However, encountering this situation as soon as she stepped out made Yu Qiushui consider giving up.

In his view, the bell was nice, but life was obviously more important.

Moreover, the three hundred magical treasures in his storage bag would be fine for dealing with small fry, but if used to deal with an old man like the one he just encountered, they probably wouldn't cause any damage at all.

The other party appeared and disappeared without a trace, and even when they were standing right in front of him, Yu Qiushui did not notice anything amiss. If the other party had come with malicious intent, his life would have been in danger before he could even make a move.

Yu Qiushui glanced at Wan Ling and Su Bai, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.

He wanted to tell the person and the cat that he didn't want the bell anymore.

But as a cultivator, especially one from a celestial sect, he had been instilled with the idea that his duty was to slay demons and protect all living beings ever since he began his cultivation.

If he were to retreat now, it would be tantamount to betraying the principles of the Immortal Sect.

If he decides to leave this place today, it is very likely that his cultivation will stagnate.

Yu Qiushui lowered his head slightly. As a human being, it was normal for him to be afraid, but as a cultivator, if he were to be afraid, it would be a disgrace to his status as a cultivator.

From the moment he stepped out of the Immortal Sect, his identity outside represented the Immortal Sect. This was a sentence that his fellow disciples kept reminding him of when he left.

At this moment, however, he felt extremely troubled.

Wanling noticed the change in Yu Qiushui's expression, but she didn't say anything.

Although this place is a void, and the people here also belong to the void, their existence in this world is real.

Every action and thought of every person is real.

It's perfectly normal to feel scared.

Wanling carried Su Bai as they continued walking forward.

The road she took was the same one the master had pointed out.

Now that Wanling knew the other party's identity, she absolutely refused to believe that the Master would use such a clumsy scheme to harm them.

After all, what kind of status does the Master have? Even when Yu Qiushui and Su Bai were teasing him here, the Master never got angry, so why would he think of killing them?

At this moment, the positions occupied by the two people and the cat have been reversed.

Su Bai and Wan Ling walked ahead.

Yu Qiushui followed silently behind.

He had already decided that if things went wrong, he would leave immediately.

As for the little girl and the cat...

If he doesn't encounter any danger, he can continue to ask the old Taoist for the bell; if he does encounter danger, he can simply pretend he didn't see it.

Su Bai and Wan Ling were naturally unaware of Yu Qiushui's thoughts.

But judging from his expression, Wan Ling probably already guessed something.

Throughout the journey, Yu Qiushui and the other two did not exchange any unnecessary words.

Su Bai and Wan Ling, on the other hand, continued to laugh and joke along the way.

……

"According to you, the old man we encountered actually intentionally wanted to meet us?"

Wan Ling smiled and nodded, saying, "Senior Brother, haven't you felt any progress in your cultivation or realm?"

Su Bai nodded.

That night, as he was breathing in the sun and moon, he first saw the imposing aura of the blue ox that seemed to swallow mountains and rivers.

Immediately afterwards, someone spoke in my ear.

Although he doesn't remember some of it clearly now, it was like a revelation to him back then.

Now that Su Bai has heard Wan Ling say this, he feels that what she said makes some sense.

This made Su Bai a little curious about the old man's identity.

When he was first taken in by the old Taoist priest, the priest told him some mythological stories.

Now, coupled with some fragments of memories from his past life, Su Bai has a vague suspicion about the old man's identity.

However, Su Bai's expression also grew increasingly grim, and he didn't even dare to think any further.

If everything was as he guessed, then he and Yu Qiushui were just chatting and laughing while arguing...

The thought sent chills down Su Bai's spine.

At this moment, she snuggled even closer into Wanling's arms.

"He won't strike me with lightning, will he...?" Su Bai looked up at the sky and then asked in a low voice.

Wanling smiled but did not answer.

The master is kind and generous. If he really had a problem with Su Bai, he wouldn't have waited for Su Bai to appear at the foot of the mountain to give him pointers.

However, Wanling found it strange. Didn't Su Bai know the Third Master's identity?

……

High in the mountains, within a Taoist temple.

An uninvited guest has arrived today.

The old Taoist priest lay on his rocking chair, glancing at the green ox and the old man standing outside the door.

The old man stood there for a long time, then shook his head helplessly and said, "You've come all this way, aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?"

"The door's right there. Do you think I can stop you from coming in?"

The old man sighed helplessly. If he wanted to go in, it wouldn't be impossible.

The key point is that there is a formation here. Although it is a broken formation, if one forces his way in without the old Taoist's invitation, he might completely destroy the formation.

This formation is a remnant from the last battle of that year.

Even now, when the old man recalls this formation, he can't help but marvel at its power.

Unfortunately, the will of Heaven cannot be reversed by human power, and this great formation has ultimately become as broken and dilapidated as it is today.

The old man knew that this was the old Taoist's only remaining thought.

After that year, everything vanished like a dream.

The people and things that were originally there have all changed.

It seems that only this grand formation preserved by the old Taoist priest silently tells the story of what happened back then.

However, the old man could see that this great formation wouldn't last much longer.

Without the replenishment of spiritual energy and without human maintenance and upkeep, this dilapidated formation will eventually become nourishment for this world and eventually dissipate into nothingness.

"Junior brother, it's been so many years, it's time for you to move on."

The old Taoist priest turned over, his back to the old man, and said calmly, "How do you know I didn't come out?"

"You underestimate me."

The old man chuckled softly and said no more.

They knew each other too well. If the old Taoist had truly come out, why would he have remained like a dead ashes?

Why bother explaining the difference between the two types of people in front of that kitten?

Clearly, the old Taoist priest still harbored resentment.

Despite the resentment, at least my temper is much better now. I'm no longer like before, where I'd immediately stab someone when we met.