Chapter 770
Guanyin Bodhisattva's face turned red, and the little white dragon stripped her und
However, just as he was about to speak, a single sentence from the White Dragon made Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression instantly tense.
"The God of Hell sleeps on this mountain. When he opens his eyes, he sees Eagle's Sorrow Gorge; when he closes his eyes, he sees Mount Luojia," the White Dragon's voice carried an air of absolute certainty. "Do you think your little tricks can fool anyone?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva's breathing quickened noticeably. She stared sharply at Lin Zhu, her gaze as sharp as a knife, trying to discern something from his eyes.
She needed to see through this person's true thoughts, to determine how much he actually knew, whether he truly possessed evidence, or whether Little White Dragon was bluffing.
But what she saw was a pair of calm and indifferent eyes.
Those eyes were like a bottomless ancient well, the surface of which was completely still, so calm it was unsettling. She tried to look deeper, but it was as if she had stumbled into a vast, boundless, and unfathomable ocean of stars.
Looking closer, it resembles a deep mountain valley, shrouded in mist, obscuring everything. All genuine emotions and calculations are hidden behind the clouds, leaving no trace.
What alarmed her even more was that Lin Zhu's eyes actually revealed a hint of confusion at just the right moment.
That bewilderment wasn't feigned; it was a very natural and genuine confusion, like the bewilderment of someone completely unaware of their current situation. But it was precisely because this expression was so natural that it made Guanyin Bodhisattva's heart skip a beat.
on purpose.
He must have done it on purpose.
If Lin Zhu really didn't know anything, he would probably show an angry or impatient expression, question the little white dragon about what it was talking about, and show his annoyance at being caught up in trouble.
But he didn't. He just stood there calmly, with a perfectly measured look of bewilderment, saying and doing nothing.
This is a master.
True masters never reveal their trump cards. Instead, they use this seemingly harmless deception to lull their opponents into a false sense of security, causing them to lose their composure and reveal their weaknesses.
Guanyin Bodhisattva cursed inwardly. He must have seen through it, otherwise he wouldn't have chosen Mount Luojia so precisely.
With so many mountains in the world, why didn't he choose another place? Why did he choose Mount Luojia? Why did he choose it next to Eagle's Sorrow Gorge? Why did he choose this most sensitive location? This simply cannot be a coincidence.
The White Dragon took in the changes in Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression, a victorious smile playing on his lips. He turned to Lin Zhu and said, "Hey, Prison God, look at her, she's panicked. You guessed right."
Lin Zhu felt even more panicked.
He had no idea what the White Dragon was talking about, nor what Guanyin Bodhisattva was worried about, nor what he had guessed correctly.
The only information he can confirm right now is that the mountain is called Mount Luojia, and it is the sacred site of Guanyin Bodhisattva. That's all the information he has. He doesn't know anything else.
This broken mountain is near Eagle's Sorrow Gorge.
He was too lazy to go far, so he slept here.
That's the reason.
That's all.
What else could it be?
Lin Zhu felt things couldn't continue like this; if Little White Dragon kept causing trouble, who knew what bigger misunderstandings it might create. He cleared his throat, trying to make his tone calm and natural, and said, "Little White Dragon, why don't you go back? Twenty thousand it is—"
"Boss Prison God!"
The little white dragon interrupted him, a "I completely understand" smile on his face, and nodded vigorously, "I understand everything."
Looking at his smile, Lin Zhu felt that he seemed to be imagining something extraordinary again, but he couldn't care less about that now. He breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the little white dragon had finally understood and could finally go back.
However, before he could even catch his breath, the White Dragon suddenly turned around and roared angrily at Guanyin Bodhisattva. His voice was as loud as a bell, causing the leaves around him to fall in a rustling sound: "You beast! Don't wait until the God of Hell exposes your plans, then you won't even have time to embarrass yourself!"
Lin Zhu's heart jumped.
He subconsciously wanted to reach out and cover the little white dragon's mouth, but halfway up his hand, he felt that the action was not in line with the image of the God of Hell, so he had to stop abruptly.
He turned to look at Guanyin Bodhisattva, his heart pounding with anxiety. He was afraid that Guanyin Bodhisattva might have been tricked into revealing some incredible secret by the White Dragon, and then he would be in deep trouble no matter what.
But Guanyin Bodhisattva's reaction was beyond his expectations.
She didn't fly into a rage, nor did she retort. Instead, she swallowed hard, her eyes clearly showing panic. Her lips opened and closed slightly, like a fish thrown ashore, breathing in vain.
She noticed it too.
Lin Zhu must have known something.
This man never uttered a harsh word, revealed any incriminating evidence, or even made any threats. Yet, he skillfully used the White Dragon's words to peel away her defenses layer by layer, forcing her to obediently hand over the Merit Water. What would happen if she didn't? Would the White Dragon say something even more devastating? Did Lin Zhu truly possess evidence that could ruin her reputation?
Guanyin Bodhisattva bit her lip, her teeth leaving a faint white mark on her soft lips. She looked up at Lin Zhu again, trying to find even the slightest flaw in his face, any trace that could prove he was just bluffing.
She couldn't find it.
Lin Zhu's face remained calm, a calmness that sent chills down one's spine. His gaze remained indifferent, as if he were watching a cloud drift across the sky.
All of this man's emotions and scheming were locked in those unfathomable eyes. Outsiders could never guess what he was thinking, nor would they ever know what he would do next.
As Guanyin Bodhisattva looked around, she suddenly felt her cheeks getting hot.
She quickly averted her gaze, cleared her throat to cover her lapse, and inwardly cursed herself for having such thoughts at a time like this. She took a deep breath, regaining her dignified and authoritative demeanor, but her words carried a hint of compromise: "Prison God, 100,000 Merit Waters are indeed too much; I have—"
"No discussion!"
The little white dragon interrupted her abruptly, slamming its tail on the ground with a sharp crack. "One hundred thousand drops of the Divine Water of Merit, not a single drop can be missing, or you won't be taking me away today!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva's cheeks were still burning.
She had been staring at Lin Zhu for too long, and the more she looked, the more she felt that his face was ridiculously ugly. The cold indifference between his eyebrows and eyes, coupled with his nonchalant expression, made it seem as if nothing was worth his time.
This innate composure made her heart skip a beat, and she even forgot that she was kneeling on the ground hugging the other person's leg.
She snapped back to her senses and mentally slapped herself hard.
What kind of time is this to be thinking such nonsense?
She released her grip on Lin Zhu's leg, stood up, brushed the bits of grass and dirt off her skirt, and took a deep breath. The blush on her face hadn't completely faded, but she forced herself to calm down and regain her dignified and authoritative posture. However, she dared not look directly at Lin Zhu's face again, instead tilting her head slightly and focusing her gaze on the rocks beside her.
"Never mind."
The Bodhisattva Guanyin's voice carried a sense of resigned weariness. She sighed and softened her tone, "Since you've already seen through me, then come with me."
Lin Zhu blinked.
see through?
What can be discerned?
His mind raced, recalling everything he had done since flying up Eagle's Sorrow Gorge. He'd chosen a nearby hilltop to sleep, been woken by the White Dragon, told it not to disturb his rest, and then Guanyin Bodhisattva pounced on his leg. All he'd done from beginning to end was sleep and walk; he hadn't even said a few words. How could it have turned into "seeing through" him?
He felt he had to explain.
"Guanyin Bodhisattva, actually I—"
"But you have to agree to one condition."
Guanyin Bodhisattva interrupted him, her gaze finally returning to Lin Zhu, but she only glanced at him quickly before looking away. She dared not look at him for long; that face was too distracting. "Have the little white dragon wear that thing."
Lin Zhu opened her mouth, but the words stuck in her throat.
what?
He hadn't agreed to any of the conditions, so why was he bringing up "that thing" again? He glanced at the white dragon subconsciously. The white dragon was holding its head high, its whiskers sticking up, giving off an expression that said, "Boss, keep acting, I'll play along."
Lin Zhu shut her mouth.
He realized that nothing he said now would make a difference.
Guanyin Bodhisattva had taken Lin Zhu's silence as tacit agreement and turned to walk deeper into the mountains. Her back looked somewhat heavy, and her steps were not as light as before; each step exuded a sense of frustration, as if she had been defeated.
Lin Zhu stood there, looking at the back of Guanyin Bodhisattva, then at the little white dragon beside him that was excitedly wagging its tail, and had only one thought in his mind.
It’s over.
The misunderstanding is getting bigger and bigger.
Guanyin Bodhisattva walked ahead, her heart churning with turmoil. Mount Luojia was her sacred site, and the things she arranged there were top secrets, known even to very few people on Mount Ling.
She originally thought the arrangement was flawless, well-hidden, and well-secret, so that even if the Heavenly Court sent people to investigate, they wouldn't find anything wrong.
But Lin Zhu arrived.
Not only did he sleep on Mount Luojia, but he also meticulously used the White Dragon's words to peel back her secrets layer by layer. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. It was impossible for anyone to have leaked this information unless there was a spy among her.
She turned around and glanced at Lin Zhu, who was following behind her.
Lin Zhu was walking with his head down, his expression obscured by the shadows of the trees in the mountains. But it was precisely this indistinctness that made Guanyin Bodhisattva even more uneasy.
This person's thoughts are hidden too deeply, so deep that no one can guess how much he knows or what he is thinking.
She withdrew her gaze, her mind racing to identify who among those around her might have leaked the information. Huian Xingzhe? Impossible, he'd been with her for so many years, utterly loyal. Shancai Longnu? Also impossible, that girl was very tight-lipped.
The mountain god of Mount Luojia? That's even more impossible; she still holds the mountain god's secrets in her hands.
So who exactly is it?
Or is it that Lin Zhu doesn't need to leak secrets through others, and that he has some kind of means that she doesn't know about that allows him to see through everything?
Thinking of this, Guanyin Bodhisattva felt another chill run down her spine.
If it really is the latter, then Lin Zhu's strength is probably even more terrifying than she had imagined. Omniscient and omnipotent—these four words are enough to instill fear in anyone, let alone someone who controls the enforcement of the laws of the three realms.
The little white dragon paid no heed to Guanyin Bodhisattva's thoughts. Excitedly, he moved closer to Lin Zhu, his tail slapping loudly, his claws making a crisp clattering sound as he stepped on the rocks. He tilted his head to look at Lin Zhu, his eyes filled with admiration, and whispered, "Great God of Hell, you're amazing! You even guessed that! How did you figure it out? Did you secretly use some supernatural power while you were sleeping?"
Lin Zhu's lips twitched.
How did he guess it?
He didn't guess anything.
"Well..."
Lin Zhu chuckled, glancing at the treetops beside him, feigning an air of profound mystery, "It depends on talent, it depends on talent."
"Based on talent?"
The little white dragon paused for a moment, then suddenly realized and nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, this level of insight is indeed a talent, it can't be learned! You're too modest, boss!"
Lin Zhu felt even more embarrassed.
When he said "it depends on talent," he meant that he himself didn't have any talent; it was just a lucky guess. But Xiao Bailong clearly interpreted this as, "I have talent, so I can see it; you don't have talent, so you can't see it."
This misunderstanding made him feel a little embarrassed, but he didn't know how to correct it.
Forget it, I won't correct it.
Anyway, no one would believe it even if it was corrected.
The three walked along the mountain path for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, then turned past a dense bamboo forest, and suddenly the view opened up before them.
A manor house appeared by the roadside, with blue bricks and gray tiles, low walls, and a plaque above the gate with three characters written on it—Li She Ci (里社祠).
Several old pine trees were planted around the manor, their canopies providing ample shade. In the courtyard, one could vaguely see an old plum tree, its branches gnarled and twisted; although it wasn't in bloom, the very shape of its branches resembled a traditional Chinese ink painting.
The courtyard gate was tightly closed, and the red paint on the gate panel was already somewhat faded, revealing the natural color of the wood underneath.
The little white dragon stopped, his gaze falling on the plaque above the ancestral hall, his dragon eyes narrowing slightly. After a moment, he suddenly sneered and turned to Lin Zhu, saying, "Look, boss, this isn't a courtyard for mortals."
Lin Zhu followed the little white dragon's gaze and looked around the manor.
To be honest, in his eyes it was just an ordinary courtyard, no different from the rural households in the mountains. If there was anything special about it, it was probably that the courtyard wall was more tidy and the words on the gate plaque were written more neatly.
But since the White Dragon said it wasn't a dwelling place for mortals, then it definitely wasn't.
After all, the White Dragon was a dragon, and dragons are far more sensitive to the atmosphere of these immortal courtyards than mortals. It was normal for him to be able to see things that the White Dragon couldn't. Lin Zhu, as a "Prison God," felt that although he couldn't see it, he couldn't show it, so he nodded cooperatively and asked, following the White Dragon's words, "Then what place is this?" (End of Chapter)