On this official road, Shen Bai did not want to stir up trouble. He only wanted to reach the giant Sophora Tree smoothly, then find some baleful aura in case of unforeseen need.
But judging by the current situation, the White-robed Monk seemed to be heading toward him.
With that thought, Shen Bai placed his hand at his waist, gripping the longsword there as his gaze gradually sharpened.
By then, the White-robed Monk had already reached Shen Bai. He pressed his palms together and gave Shen Bai a slight Buddhist salute.
"This humble monk is Wuhua. Greetings, benefactor."
Shen Bai raised an eyebrow, but his hand did not loosen from the sword hilt. "Master, we have never met before. Why have you suddenly come to speak with me?"
Though this official road was remote, even if an ordinary person had suddenly come up to strike a conversation, one would still be highly wary.
Wuhua revealed a gentle smile, still holding his palms together. "Blood aura coils around you, Benefactor, and your vitality is abundant. You must be one of our kind. This humble monk wishes to ask: which way leads to Liuyun Lake?"
Shen Bai's expression remained unchanged. "What business does Master have at Liuyun Lake?"
He understood why this White-robed Monk had come looking for him.
Because he cultivated the divine art Blood Sword Dance, his vitality had become extraordinarily vigorous through constant depletion and replenishment. It could be said that it far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators.
When a person's vitality was strong, there would be great differences in both appearance and bearing.
It was normal for the White-robed Monk to see through it.
Wuhua slowly said, "Those who have left the worldly life do not lie. Liuyun Lake is involved in a bizarre incident. This humble monk has been ordered to go there and resolve it."
"Oh?"
Shen Bai was instantly interested. "May I ask which sect Master Wuhua comes from? Could it be that this bizarre entity is connected to your sect?"
Out of nowhere, a monk had come to deal with a bizarre entity, and from the look of things, he had known about it beforehand. Shen Bai guessed that the giant Sophora Tree was connected to Wuhua.
Wuhua nodded. "This humble monk comes from Xuanxin Temple in Maple Forest Province and is a disciple of Xuanxin Temple. To be frank, there is a giant Sophora Tree by Liuyun Lake in Ascending Cloud County. That Sophora Tree is connected to Xuanxin Temple."
Shen Bai did not speak, merely listening patiently.
He knew Wuhua had not finished. There was more to come.
Sure enough, after finishing that sentence, Wuhua paused only briefly before continuing his explanation.
"In an age unknown, one of Xuanxin Temple's abbots planted a Sophora Tree within the temple. As the days accumulated into years, the tree grew taller and taller."
"Influenced by the temple's Buddhist teachings, the entire Sophora Tree turned from yin to yang and became one of the temple's sights."
"But not long ago, villains from the Upper Evil Gate polluted the tree and dug it up."
"According to Xuanxin Temple's secret reports, the Sophora Tree fell into Liuyun Lake, where it took root and sprouted, becoming a bizarre entity."
After hearing the whole account, Shen Bai rubbed his chin.
He did not ask how exactly Xuanxin Temple had obtained this information.
In truth, for a force based in a provincial city, having its own intelligence network was perfectly normal.
Though it was a temple, it was one filled entirely with cultivators.
In times like these, who did not place intelligence above all else?
Yet what puzzled Shen Bai was another matter.
"Xuanxin Temple is a force in Maple Forest Province, so why did it send only Master Wuhua?" Shen Bai asked.
According to Wuhua, the Sophora Tree had originally belonged to Xuanxin Temple. It had merely been taken away by people from the Upper Evil Gate and transformed into a bizarre entity.
Shen Bai knew of the Upper Evil Gate. After all, he had dealt with enemies connected to it not long ago.
For that faction to survive in the cracks of Maple Forest Province, it could not possibly be weak.
Xuanxin Temple had sent only Wuhua. Shen Bai felt that was somewhat inappropriate.
Wuhua nodded. "What Benefactor says is true, but Xuanxin Temple has its own difficulties. This humble monk cannot say much."
Shen Bai gave a grunt. "If you wish to go to Liuyun Lake, Master, you have gone the wrong way. Follow this official road straight ahead, then leave it at the eighth intersection. Continue straight from there."
Having sorted out the cause and effect of the matter, Shen Bai did not intend to say more.
After all, the two had only met by chance. Saying too much would instead be a bad thing.
Of course, Shen Bai felt that his trip to Liuyun Lake seemed to have gained some complications.
After all, Liuyun Lake was also his destination.
"In that case, this humble monk shall take his leave."
Wuhua gave another Buddhist salute, turned, and prepared to leave.
Shen Bai watched Wuhua's departing back and fell into thought.
A moment later, before Wuhua had gone completely far away, Shen Bai spoke.
"Master Wuhua, please wait."
Wuhua stopped and turned around, giving Shen Bai a strange look. Confusion showed in his eyes.
"I am also heading to Liuyun Lake on this journey. How about I travel with Master Wuhua?" Shen Bai said.
The confusion in Wuhua's eyes deepened.
But a moment later, that confusion gradually faded.
"Could it be that Benefactor is also going for that giant Sophora Tree?"
Shen Bai nodded. "That is right. I am also going for the Sophora Tree Bizarre Entity. Recently, this trouble has found its way to me as well."
Just now, Shen Bai had made this decision.
As the saying went, the enemy of one's enemy was one's friend.
Though he and Wuhua were strangers, since they shared the same goal, it would be more convenient to travel together.
This journey was dangerous, especially where the giant Sophora Tree was concerned. Without knowing the enemy's situation, Shen Bai did not want to risk it alone.
That was the difference between imagination and reality.
If this were written in some storybook, the protagonist would probably go alone and slaughter his way through everything.
But reality would always be reality. Shen Bai only sought certainty.
Excitement gleamed in Wuhua's eyes. "If Benefactor accompanies me, that would naturally be an excellent thing. This journey will surely be foolproof."
Though those words came from Wuhua's mouth, they contained not the slightest exaggeration.
When he had first met Shen Bai, Wuhua had felt that Shen Bai's vitality was as flourishing as the sun, making even him feel the urge to retreat three paces.
He was definitely an expert hidden within Ascending Cloud County.
Now, with Shen Bai's help, this journey would surely become even more secure.
Shen Bai nodded. "Since that is the case, let us set out."
He had never been one to dawdle. Once he made his decision, he walked side by side with Wuhua toward Liuyun Lake.
The sky gradually darkened, and the two figures slowly vanished along the official road.
Huaixi Village was a small village beside Liuyun Lake.
Most of the villagers made their living by gathering fish and other catches.
At this moment, two strangers had arrived outside the village.
Shen Bai and Wuhua stood outside the village, surveying the deathly still settlement. Both frowned.
Night had completely fallen, leaving only the lingering glow of the setting sun in the west.
Shen Bai turned his head and said, "At an hour like this, cooking smoke should be rising. Yet the village is deathly still. There must be a problem."
Wuhua nodded. "Benefactor Shen, let us go inside and take a look."
Shen Bai gripped the longsword at his waist and entered the village together with Wuhua.
The moment he entered the village, Shen Bai saw one corner of it and frowned.
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