I did not run towards the denser part of the forest, but towards an open area.
I have already been followed, and if I enter the denser forest, it will be easier to be killed or caught.
The open area, in fact, is easier to act.
There are only one or two people coming, and it would be worth fighting them. But if there are more, I'm afraid it might cost me three years of life again!
This time coming to regulate the dojo, it's like losing the wife and gaining nothing in return...
The more open the surroundings, the less trees are around.
A white figure flashed by my side, suddenly landing about ten meters away from me, blocking my path in front.
I suddenly stop in my tracks, and my pupil contracts tightly.
The person who came, is actually that female Taoist.
The apprentice of Han Zizi, Si Yan!
She has long hair reaching her shoulders, without any makeup, but her appearance is stunning.
She held a whisk broom in one hand, casually resting on her elbow, while the other hand gripped a hairpin.
Her cool face showed a hint of complexity.
"Why do you run away?"
The voice was cold and empty, like a rare orchid in a valley, with a hint of blame.
Not running, waiting to be captured? Waiting to become a prisoner?
Of course, although I thought so, I didn't say it out loud. I just looked at the female Taoist coldly.
"Alright, Master Zhang Xu has a somewhat hard temper, but even if you are temporarily caught, Master Han will not let anything happen to you."
"Where is Han Qu? How is he now?"
The female Taoist said a few more words, and her demeanor slightly relaxed.
I only just managed to breathe a sigh of relief, and my back was actually drenched in cold sweat.
My intuition tells me that this female Taoist is very powerful.
Most likely, she is more powerful than Master Zhang Xu.
Fortunately…… Her purpose is straightforward, and I don't have to use the soul-shaking bell.
It can be said to be a turn of events, as I now have the possibility of seeing Han Zizi alone.
"Where is Han Qu? You should know. Why do you have to ask me again?"
"And as for how he is now."
I paused and said, "When I meet Elder Han, I will reveal everything."
The female Taoist became silent.
This silence lasted for about one to two minutes.
"Then, is he still alive?"
I didn't say anything anymore.
I began to feel that something was odd in this.
I had originally believed that the jade hairpin Han Qu was holding was from someone he loved.
Although the female Taoist cares about Han Qu, her words show that her concern is ordinary.
Her eyes show no hurry, no anxiety.
That complexity is just with a hint of regret.
It's like hearing that someone you know has died, a normal and reasonable complex regret.
"He's not well, and he has many things to say."
I answered the female Taoist in a different way.
"Mm."
The female Taoist nodded and said, "You follow me up the mountain. I will take you to meet Master Han."
With that, she turned and walked in another direction.
I followed her, and soon we were on a normal mountain path.
Before, I escaped at a decent pace, and this location is almost halfway up the mountain.
It took about ten minutes to ascend the mountain.
At the entrance of the dojo, the main door is fully open.
In the training field, the few green-robed Taoists from earlier stood still, and Zhu Xu had his back to them with his hands behind his back, looking extremely cold and fierce.
When he first saw the female Taoist, a hint of fear flashed in his eyes. Then, when he saw me, his face turned dark, and there was even a hint of fear.
I more or less understand the reason.
The soul-stilling bell can calm the soul for a quarter of an hour.
Zhu Xu is afraid that I will kill him.
The female Taoist walked ahead, and I followed suit, brushing past Zhu Xu.
Zhu Xu coldly snorted, expressing his dissatisfaction.
After passing through the huge copper tripod incense burner and the main hall, I entered the entrance of the side hall.
In front of me, there are pavilions, artificial mountains, streams, and the central rear hall.
It's late at night, and there's no one around the front of the rear hall.
The female Taoist brought me to the front of the hall and let me wait quietly before she went to inform Master Han.
I had no other opinions.
After waiting for more than ten minutes, two people walked from the right side of the rear hall.
It was the female Taoist and Han Qu!
Han Zizi, with white hair and youthful face, looked somewhat haggard.
Even someone with such a high status and position would have poor rest, too?
I quickly realized that it was likely the aftermath of capturing Wei Youming.
It's still the case of a prisoner in the Twenty-eight Heavens, even if it's Han Zizi who has to pay a price.
"Met Master Han," I bowed, my hands clasped together in a gesture of respect.
"A single soul-stilling bell, and a guard's three years of life. Zhu Xu, that's too much. I will punish him for you."
"Regardless of the past, Xiao Shou, our friend from the Jingong Monastery now, has shown divine power. He is our friend in supervising the martial arts field." Han Zizi's normally calm eyes showed a hint of displeasure, clearly not directed at me.
I felt a slight gathering of my thoughts. Han Zizi knew about these things?
"Si Yan, bring Zhu Xu over here please," Han Zizi said again.
The female Taoist didn't say much, turning to leave again.
I thought that Han Zizi might want to send the female Taoist away so I could speak.
I didn't expect him to keep quiet without asking a single question.
A few minutes later, the female Taoist returned, followed by Zhu Xu.
Zhu Xu first bowed to Han Zizi before casting a disdainful glance at me.
"You will go to the mountain behind us, meditate for seven days, and reflect on your wrongdoings as punishment," Han Zizi opened with a calm tone.
Zhu Xu's body stiffened slightly, and his face changed even more.
"Master Han…… I…" Zhu Xu was about to explain.
"Your punishment has three points."
"Firstly, since Luo Xian showed his divine power at the Supervision Monastery, there is a favor due. If it were not for this favor, no one could enter the mental health hospital in the Shuihua Area. The Supervision Monastery should treat those who have helped as friends, offering all possible assistance. It should not look down on their status or harbor resentment for past disputes."
"Secondly, you recognize Si Yan's things, yet you bully others with your power."
"Thirdly, this is my only son, and there is also only one disciple in my sect."
"I don't care whether you think Luo Xian is of low status, or whether you have formed a prejudice against him because of Sun Zhuo. You made a wrong decision about the life and death of Taoists within the sect."
"Your punishment of facing a wall and reflecting for seven days is already quite light."
"Don't let me impose heavy punishment on you." Han Zizi's tone was too calm, leaving no room for doubt.
Zhu Xu clenched his teeth tightly, staying silent.
After bowing respectfully, Zhu Xu turned around and walked straight towards a certain direction inside the rear hall.
All of a sudden, the outside of the rear hall became much quieter.
The female Taoist pushed open the hall door.
Han Zizi led the way inside, and I followed behind.
"Han Qu has died."
With one sentence, I had said the most severe outcome.
When I spoke the most severe outcome, Han Zizi's body shook slightly, and his waist curved slightly, making him look even more exhausted.
"Yes, it has been a few months. I have no longer harbored hopes, and if he is alive, he will never give you Si Yan's jade hairpin."
"You, are you here to deliver his last words, yes?"
"Last will and testament?" I shook my head.
"When a person dies and his thoughts persist, and those thoughts are not dispersed, the resentment remains for a long time. Han Qu carried a bit of resentment in his chest, which left him with the zombified essence."
"That might be considered a last will, in a way. He wanted me to tell you, Master Han, that he had found the thing, but he couldn't get his hands on it."
"His training was completed halfway, and if Master Han could go and get his hands on it, then his life wouldn't be wasted."
"And he had another regret."
After a pause, I said, "The jade hairpin, he asked me to give it to Master Han."
In my words, I looked at the female Taoist with a glance.
The jade hairpin is still held in her hand.
Her expression grew increasingly complex, and she let out a gentle sigh.
