Listening to Ma Xiu, Qin Wei's expression darkened several shades.
But he had no intention of blaming Ma Xiu. He merely waved a hand and frowned as he sank into thought.
This mission was far more troublesome than he had anticipated. He could not help regretting that he had not brought more scouting-type helpers.
Speaking of helpers, he suddenly seemed to remember something and raised his head to look around the group.
Very quickly, he spotted Ling Yun in a concealed corner.
Veins immediately bulged across his forehead as he said irritably.
"I say, brat, why are you hiding so far in the back?"
Seeing that his slacking-off had been exposed, Ling Yun did not blush or lose his breath. He stretched lazily and sauntered out of the corner.
Qin Wei's eyes widened. Just as he was about to say something, a knock suddenly sounded from outside the door.
"Honored guests, we have come to deliver your vegetarian meal."
Everyone in the room immediately fell silent. Then, at Qin Wei's signal, they opened the door.
As a gust of sinister wind blew in, two young novice monks staggered inside carrying two large buckets of food.
Under everyone's gaze, the two novice monks looked pale and extremely frightened.
After laboriously setting down the food, they hurriedly turned to leave.
However, a tall figure had long since blocked the doorway.
Under the moonlight, Ling Yun wore a "kind" smile as he looked at the two novice monks, who were on the verge of tears, and spoke gently.
"Don't be afraid, little masters. I merely want to ask you something."
"Some time ago, I heard villagers at the foot of the mountain mention that your temple was preparing to close the mountain and refuse visitors. Is that true?"
Seeing that Ling Yun did not seem to intend to kill them and toss them into the food, the two novice monks finally relaxed a little. After exchanging a glance, they pressed their palms together and replied.
"That is indeed the case, honored guest. A while ago, heat sickness suddenly broke out in the temple. To prevent it from affecting the pilgrims who came to offer alms, the abbot elders decided to temporarily close the mountain and turn away visitors."
"However, the heat sickness has mostly recovered recently. The mountain should reopen in a few days."
"Heat sickness?" Ling Yun neither confirmed nor denied it. So-called heat sickness was probably something like the common cold in this world.
"Then, little masters, have you heard any rumors of Evil Spirits appearing within the temple?"
The moment those words were spoken, the two novice monks' faces turned white, as though they had heard something terrifying.
They immediately pressed their palms together and recited several Buddhist invocations. Only after calming themselves slightly did they speak fearfully.
"Honored guest, please do not mention that word again. If the elders hear it, they will scold us again during tomorrow morning's lessons."
"Besides, the temple is blessed by the Buddha. No Evil Spirit would dare enter."
Watching their utterly certain expressions, Ling Yun remained unconvinced.
If the so-called Buddha was truly useful, the Demon Suppression Division would probably have nothing to do now.
Still, he did not shatter their faith. After casually asking a few more questions, he let them leave.
He then turned his gaze toward the food they had brought, only to find that it consisted of thin porridge, cabbage, and the like.
He scooped up a spoonful and inspected it carefully, but found nothing wrong with it.
As for tasting it himself, although he had great confidence in his physique, he would not actively court death.
"What is it? Did you find something?"
Just as he stared blankly at the food, a voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
Looking up, he saw Qin Wei's huge face—the sort that could make children cry.
Ling Yun rolled his eyes and shoved him aside irritably. Yet after a moment of silence, he still voiced one of his guesses.
"Old Qin, do you think the situation here could be an illusion?"
That was right. He had suddenly recalled what had happened at the Deng Family before.
Back then, he had also been trapped in an illusory world. Everything there had felt so real, and only after breaking the formation had he escaped.
Yet Qin Wei revealed a disappointed expression upon hearing this.
"Since you would say that, I assume you have encountered similar illusion techniques before."
"But illusion techniques are not actually as powerful as you imagine. There are only two prerequisites for making someone fall for them."
"Either the caster is vastly stronger than the victim, or the victim is completely unprepared."
At this point, Qin Wei pulled a talisman covered in strange patterns from his robes. Only after glancing at it did he explain.
"This is an Anti-Art Talisman. The Spirit Inscription engraved upon it can dispel most low-level illusions."
"Even if it cannot dispel them, it will give an appropriate warning."
"There's something this good?" After hearing the explanation, Ling Yun curiously took the so-called Anti-Art Talisman from Qin Wei's hand. After examining it twice, he tucked it into his clothes.
At the same time, he could not help feeling a little sentimental.
Although his strength had risen quickly, he had been in this world for too short a time. It was only normal that he did not know about all these strange and unusual things.
Qin Wei looked at his now-empty right hand, then at Ling Yun's perfectly natural expression, and his eyes widened.
This brat actually had the nerve to shake him down!
That Anti-Art Talisman was no cheap trinket. He had pulled countless strings before specially obtaining it from Chief Envoy Wang!
He had thought he was already shameless enough, but this brat was actually a notch worse than him!
Seeing his subordinates beside him wanting to laugh yet not daring to, Qin Wei's old face darkened.
But asking for it back in front of so many subordinates was a humiliation he simply could not bear.
He immediately shot Ling Yun, who wore an innocent expression, an irritated glare. Then he turned around and roared at the people behind him.
"You little bastards, get your asses over here! Do you really think you came here for a vacation?!"
He then looked at the crowd gathering around him and began calling them out one by one.
"Ma Xiu, you, Xiao Ba, and Xiao Jiu will follow that brat. As for the rest of you, stick to the previous groupings."
Very quickly, under his command, the entire team was divided into four groups.
Afterward, he began explaining the plan for this operation.
Four teams, four directions. If anyone found anything, they were to send a signal immediately. That was all.
The mission was simple and crude, but it suited this man's straightforward character.
Looking at the three extra followers who had inexplicably appeared beside him, Ling Yun's face darkened with black lines.
But before he could say anything, Qin Wei simply spread out his palm and glared at him.
The meaning was obvious: if he was dissatisfied, then return the item!
Ling Yun decisively ignored him. Once something entered his pocket, how could it possibly come back out?
Still, taking another's hand left one short. For now, he could only pinch his nose and accept it.
He then turned toward his old friend Ma Xiu and revealed a "friendly" smile.
At that moment, recalling what had happened before, Ma Xiu could not help groaning bitterly inside. Why had he run into this Baleful Intent again of all people?!
Yet beneath Ling Yun's gaze, he still managed to force out a trace of a smile.
"Zhang Mu... brother, it has been a long time."
Before you continue