A flicker of alarm crossed those startled, ash-gray eyes, along with a tangled hint of killing intent.
But that killing intent dissolved completely beneath Mo Hua's cold, commanding gaze.
"Tie Shugu" slowly straightened. Some of his wooden stiffness had fallen away, replaced by the weariness of long years, but his manner remained as respectful as ever.
He bowed to Mo Hua, seated high above him. "Dao..."
"Tie Shugu" tried again. "No... I should address you as... Divine Shaman Lord..."
Mo Hua neither confirmed nor denied it. He looked down at "Tie Shugu."
"When did you notice, Divine Shaman Lord?" "Tie Shugu" asked.
Mo Hua said evenly, "Nothing true or false, real or illusory, escapes the God Lord's eyes."
A guilty look crossed "Tie Shugu's" face.
Mo Hua asked him, "Why have you been following me?"
"Tie Shugu" bowed. "I dare not hide it from you, Divine Shaman Lord. This old man was trapped in the White Bone Land, knowing neither how many years had passed aboveground nor what had become of the Wilderness. So I borrowed this body to come up and have a look..."
Mo Hua said, "Why have you been following me?"
The question was the same as before, but "Tie Shugu" knew Mo Hua was asking something different.
"When we met in the White Bone Mausoleum that day, it was an opportunity granted by the Heavenly Dao. I saw that your divine might was extraordinary, Divine Shaman Lord, and that you would surely rise to supreme heights and accomplish a great undertaking. My Shugu Tribe might be reborn through it as well. So I deliberately split off a wisp of my remnant soul and secretly followed Tie Shugu to 'assist' you at your side..."
"Tie Shugu" sounded sincere, his words full of praise.
Mo Hua's expression remained