"Sasuke's injured. I'll take him back so he can recover."
Hao Shuai had no idea Jiraiya had so much on his mind. Seeing that there was nothing left to watch, he said goodbye to Jiraiya, then picked Sasuke up and carried him away.
When they got home, Hao Shuai left Sasuke in the servants' care and went to soak in the hot spring. As he did, he pondered the Tsukuyomi space Itachi Uchiha had trapped him in.
His experience in Itachi's Tsukuyomi space had given Hao Shuai an idea.
Could he, like Tsukuyomi, pull an enemy's consciousness into his own mindscape?
It wasn't just wishful thinking on Hao Shuai's part.
With his Mental Power and the cultivation of his soul, it was entirely possible.
All he lacked was the technique.
Unfortunately, the Maoshan arts and the cultivation methods of the Zhu Xian World offered very little in the way of attacks on the mind—or the soul.
It seemed he would have to collect some scrolls about genjutsu and use them as reference.
Some time passed before a servant came in to report that Sasuke had woken up.
Hao Shuai couldn't be bothered to keep soaking in the hot spring. He got up and went straight to the bedroom where Sasuke was resting.
As soon as he entered, Hao Shuai saw Sasuke staring blankly at the ceiling, eyes wide. He looked thoroughly wrecked.
"What's the matter? Couldn't beat Itachi Uchiha, and now you're discouraged?" Hao Shuai asked.
"I always knew I couldn't beat him, but I thought the gap between us wouldn't be that big. I never imagined it would take only one move... Heh... One move! He beat me in one move!" After a long silence, Sasuke's voice rang out, full of bitterness.
Hao Shuai gave Sasuke a speechless look.