Chapter 1560: Uninvited Guests

“Even so, your return is later than expected,” Lady Suyi remarked.

White Stone Gentleman hesitated for a moment before answering honestly, “I was plagued by a sense of restlessness while I was in Nanjiang. I felt like danger was approaching, but could not find anything unusual.”

“Therefore, I decided to take a more circuitous route, put on an act, and lay down some traps just in case.”

Lady Suyi asked, “So, did you find anything?”

The White Stone Gentleman shook his head regretfully, “I found nothing.”

“Allow me to check,” Lady Suyi said while tapping his forehead with the bronze hammer she was wielding.

Thang...

There was no sound outside his head, but inside? The White Stone Gentleman felt terrible whispers sweeping up like a tidal wave and brushing against every inch of his mind; every wisp of his consciousness. It revealed absolutely anything and everything about him and left him with nothing to hide.

White Stone Gentleman was terrified. He could feel his consciousness wobbling and blurring in the tide.

An indefinite amount of time later—it could be an instant, or it could be centuries—when the White Stone Gentleman felt like his consciousness was about to flicker out like a candle flame being assaulted by the wind, the terrifying whispers finally subsided into nothing. He regained consciousness once more.

“There is nothing on you. You’re probably just overthinking things.”

Lady Suyi withdrew her bronze hammer and said gently.

White Stone Gentleman hurriedly apologized, “This disciple troubled you for nothing. Please forgive my foolishness.”

“No, it’s good that you’re overthinking and paranoid.”

Lady Suyi’s voice was gentle and seemingly possessed the power to soothe any heart. “Our god will appear very soon. Nothing must go wrong.”

“Yes, this disciple understands.” White Stone Gentleman let out a sigh of relief. He looked like he wanted to say something.

Lady Suyi asked, “Is there something you would like to say?”

White Stone Gentleman hesitated, “In fact, there is something I would like to ask. Is that okay?”

Lady Suyi’s eyes remained closed, but she seemed to know what he was thinking anyway. “You want to ask why I’m staying here and helping these people, am I right?”

“You are wise, my lord.” White Stone Gentleman said, “These insects are as puny and worthless as duckweed in autumn. I just can’t imagine why you would put your esteemed self through such menial labor or bother with such trivial matters.”

Lady Suyi smiled. “You think that my labor is meaningless?”

“This disciple wouldn’t dare!” White Stone Gentleman hurriedly apologized.

“Our god is descending soon. Although we have a hundred thousand Nanjiang souls to offer, it is not enough to restore their strength. Naturally, I should prepare more offerings for them. I think the people of Jin Xiu fit wonderfully in that scheme.”

Lady Suyi said indifferently, “Therefore, they cannot die until our god has descended.”

“Also, Emperor Jing Run may have agreed to bestow Nanjiang to our god, but how can such a barbaric land compare to the fertile, prosperous land of Chu?”

“Emperor Jing Run wants to use our god, but our god is not someone a mere mortal can conspire against. He should pay for his disrespect and arrogance.”

White Stone Gentleman’s heart skipped a beat when he figured out Lady Suyi’s intentions. “You are bright and wise, my lord. This disciple offers you his respect.”

Lady Suyi replied calmly, “You may leave now.”

“This disciple shall take his leave.” White Stone Gentleman kowtowed once and rose to his feet. When he left the main hall, the profound yet soothing sound of chanting and chime ringing appeared once more.

White Stone Gentleman happened to see the people sweeping the courtyard, cutting the wood, lifting buckets and more while he was leaving the main hall. Pity and scorn surfaced in his azure blue eyes when he saw the happy, satisfied smiles on their faces.

They had no idea that they would soon become their god’s sacrifice. Would they still smile like this when death claimed them?

Still, they were just mortals and ants. It was their honor to be their god’s sacrifice.

That was what White Stone Gentleman did when he walked to the entrance of the monastery and lay down on the floor. He basked in the warm sunlight of the peaceful morning and enjoyed the ants’ final struggle.

It was interesting if nothing else.

It was at this moment a gust of wind blew, and clouds slowly floated in from the distance.

The clouds took all sorts of shapes and sizes above the monastery. It looked surprisingly colorful and dreamlike under the sunlight. It added some life and beauty to what was a monotonous morning.

White Stone Gentleman felt increasingly comfortable as he admired the colorful clouds.

However, a strange feeling slowly came over him as he watched the clouds.

It was because the clouds hadn’t disappeared together with the wind. It continued to linger above the monastery as if it was a permanent fixture. Not only that—it could just be his imagination, but—it felt like the clouds were coming closer and closer to him. It was almost like it was... descending.

A foreboding premonition suddenly appeared inside his heart, and White Stone Gentleman immediately jolted awake and rose to his feet.

It was then he realized that faint wisps of cloud had spread to every corner of the monastery.

The clouds were very faint, so faint that he could see the people coming and going. It honestly looked no different from ordinary mist.

And yet, White Stone Gentleman felt alarm bells ringing inside his head.

If before he was only feeling a sense of foreboding, now that sense had turned into reality, and the ill premonition had turned into true danger.

A life-or-death danger!

As if on cue, the sounds of chanting and chime ringing inside the main hall stopped. Then, Lady Suyi stepped out into the open. Clearly, she felt that something was unusual as well.

“Something’s not right, my lord!” White Stone Gentleman hurriedly walked up to her. “My senses are warning me of critical danger!”

Lady Suyi did not respond to him. Instead, she called out while wearing the same smile as before, “Who has arrived? Would you please show yourself, Dao Friend?”

“Well met, lady.”

As soon as she finished, a blurry silhouette stepped in through the entrance. It was indistinct at first like it was several kilometers away. However, it became clear as day the next second. It was a young man wearing a blue shirt.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“My apologies for showing up uninvited. I hope you can forgive me for this offense.”

The young man was wearing a refreshing smile on his face. It was an excellent first impression.

However, neither Lady Suyi nor White Stone Gentleman felt any good will toward him. Only nervousness and wariness.

“Suyi is most honored to receive you at her small monastery, Dao Friend.” Lady Suyi asked smilingly, “So, why have you paid us a visit?”

The young man smiled. “There are two things I need your help with. I hope you will spare no effort.”

Lady Suyi smiled back. “Please speak, Dao Friend. Suyi will give her all if it is within her capabilities to do so.”

“You are a benevolent woman. No wonder you are so well-respected.” The young man paid her a compliment, “First, my friend has gone missing. I need your help to find her. Second, someone is planning to massacre many, many lives. Again, I need your help to stop them.”

Lady Suyi asked, “Who is your friend? And who is planning to commit a massacre?”

The young man answered smilingly, “My friend is called Meng Feixue. She is the King of Nanjiang. As for the person planning to commit a massacre, her name is Lady Suyi.”

The young man was, of course, Ye Qing. he had followed White Stone Gentleman over.

Shock and fear erupted in White Stone Gentleman’s eyes when he heard this. It was quickly replaced by killing intent.