Minglan's gentle, tranquil voice rang out at this deadly moment. In the void, Tu Du's intangible clawed hand froze, then dissolved into wisps of smoke.
"Master Ming knew it was a joke too? Mm, that little monk Zhengyan surely knew as well. Only these trash from the Wanling Sect failed to understand... Dealing with dead things all year long, perhaps their brains have been wrapped in corpse poison too!"
With that, he threw back his head and laughed. Only now did the others around them finally make out his appearance clearly.
The old monster Tu, whose name had shaken Juebi City for over a century, did not disappoint them. The one "standing" before them was a gaunt old man past fifty, with scarcely a few ounces of flesh on his entire body. Yet no one dared look down on him, for beneath the sunlight, his body was actually translucent. The Black Robe draped over him resembled an equally dark layer of smoke, endlessly curling around him, eerie and bizarre.
Those without experience would cry out, "A ghost in broad daylight!" Those who understood would call it "a yin spirit traveling by day," and would be even more horrified than the ignorant.
Minglan was calmer than anyone. Her eyes rested on the yin spirit, which stood somewhere between the tangible and intangible. She remained smiling, the faint laugh lines at her brow and eyes making her appear all the more kind and amiable.
"Many years have passed since we last met. Elder Tu's vigor remains as it was. That is truly gratifying."
Yet before Tu Du could respond, Monk Zhengyan beside her snatched the words away. "How could it be 'as it was'? Elder Tu is in excellent health now. What a cause for celebration!"
Tu Du narrowed his aged eyes.