"Before that," Yu Sheng raised his feather duster and pointed at the deep pit in front of him, "there's no need to rush into cultivating feelings for the teleportation array. First, take responsibility for your actions and help fill in the pit."
Zhan Xiaotian: ...
Who wants to cultivate feelings with them!
Yin Wangzhi: ...?
In a hurry to make a teleportation array??
Yu Sheng was oblivious, pulling one of each to stand in front of the deep pit where they could play cuju. "I’m pleased to see that you both have a strong impression of the teachings from back then. Since that’s the case, I must remind you of something I've emphasized to all three of you: no matter how powerful a person is, they must take responsibility for their actions."
With a smile, he waved his hand. "Of course, since you brothers have caused this conflict, I share some responsibility as your master. So, let’s fill this plot of land together, and then we can get back to business."
Then he jumped in first—only to miss the jump entirely.
Yu Sheng felt himself getting lighter as he was yanked back to the ground by Yin Wangzhi, who had grabbed him by the collar, steadying him.
He turned to look at Yin Wangzhi, his round apricot eyes still innocent and wide.
Yin Wangzhi sighed, feeling helpless in front of his master. "There’s no need to trouble Master; we’ll do it ourselves."
He then kicked Zhan Xiaotian beside him and went down to fill the pit.
Wen Jiu watched from the side, feeling as if he were in a dream. The Ghost King and the Alliance Leader, who had never exchanged a kind word, were actually helping him fill in the pit right before his eyes.
They were personally filling it in.
It was truly surprising.
It wasn’t just the favor from his senior brothers; it was from his master. Wen Jiu felt deeply moved and couldn’t help but softly call out, "Master."
His voice softened, and he almost wanted to rush over for a hug. Of course, the shadow behind him was also moved and immediately acted, the two shadows being affectionate with each other in a lovey-dovey manner.
Yu Sheng raised his hand, palm facing Wen Jiu, to stop him from getting closer.
In the distance, Wen Jiu caught a glimpse of his master’s shadow, which still looked small, moving in perfect sync to push away his affectionate shadow.
Wen Jiu: “...Cough, Master?”
Yu Sheng: “Trap.”
Wen Jiu: …
Yu Sheng: “Poison.”
Wen Jiu: …………
Yu Sheng: “Where are they?”
Wen Jiu: “Nowhere…”
Yu Sheng smiled slightly.
Wen Jiu: “Um… they’re everywhere, placed in several spots where they usually appear. Master, be careful not to touch them.”
Yu Sheng patted his shoulder. “I’ll go take care of it—”
Wen Jiu: “Wait! Master… I’ll clean it up; we won’t need those things anymore.”
Yu Sheng: “I’m very pleased.”
Alright, now all three main characters had tasks to do; they were busy.
Yu Sheng sighed in relief, found a spot to sit cross-legged, and casually took out a bag of spiced melon seeds to snack on.
Beside him sat the quiet, obedient, and helpless stowaways, all kneeling on the ground, too afraid to make a sound.
After a while, Yu Sheng divided some melon seeds and handed them over. “Do you want some?”
The group exchanged glances, hesitating, confused, and anxious.
Yu Sheng said calmly, “They’re not poisonous.”
The nearest person, who showed no visible major injuries, took a couple of seeds, tentatively holding them in his palm. “Thank you, senior.”
Before this bystander could dare to crack the seeds, Zhan Xiaotian rushed over like the wind, glaring at the few people before turning to Yu Sheng, staring at him longingly.
Yu Sheng was taken aback. “Ah, tired? Do you want to take a break?”
Zhan Xiaotian nodded, sitting down without hesitation while continuing to stare at him.
Yu Sheng opened his hand, revealing a small handful of seeds, just about to give them away when he pulled back. “No, your hands are too dirty; you can’t eat.”
Then he drew a small formation on Zhan Xiaotian's palm, using a bit of magic to clean his hands. Only when they were clean did he distribute the seeds. “If you keep staring at me like that, they won’t dare to eat the seeds.”
“Them?” Zhan Xiaotian turned to look at the others, pointing at one. “Didn’t you lose a front tooth?”
The person he was staring at froze for a moment, then broke into a cold sweat, nodding repeatedly. “Ah, yes! I forgot. I can’t eat melon seeds, Alliance Leader; please keep them for yourself.”
Zhan Xiaotian then looked at another person. “Aren’t you the one with a hole in your stomach? You can’t eat anything.”
That person also broke out in a cold sweat, awkwardly handing over the only melon seed he had in his palm to the Alliance Leader.
Yu Sheng curiously leaned over. “Oh? How did you know he had a hole in his stomach—”
The person quickly answered, “Alliance Leader Zhan is kind-hearted and cares deeply for the captives and the common people! We all received special attention from him before he came; we admire Alliance Leader the most!”
Yu Sheng withdrew his gaze, slightly sighing. “I see…” Is this a break in character or not?
After finishing the handful of seeds, he nudged Zhan Xiaotian to continue filling the pit since it was their joint responsibility for the explosion.
Zhan Xiaotian had just gone back to fill the pit when Yin Wangzhi approached again.
“Master.”
Yu Sheng almost choked on the seeds, coughing twice as his throat felt tight, his face turning red. Yin Wangzhi squatted beside him, gently patting his back.
“Master, you seem nervous.”
“I’m not…”
Yin Wangzhi smiled.
He wouldn’t smile if it weren’t necessary. At most, he would be cold and indifferent. But suddenly smiling like this, in the eyes of the surrounding "captives," he was instantly filtered through the lens of 'capricious and bloodthirsty Ghost King Yin,' causing them all to hold their breath in fear.
If it weren't for the Ghost King's notorious reputation, they wouldn't have abandoned the more secure Ghost Realm and gone to such lengths to come to this Spirit Realm.
Yu Sheng noticed their reactions, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch slightly. “I’m really not nervous; it’s just that I’ve eaten too much lately and my mind is wandering.”
Yes, if he had those inappropriate thoughts about his two disciples, it must all be misunderstandings—just like mistaking that spirit pet for Wen Jiu, it was all a misunderstanding. If he didn’t overthink it, it would naturally go away.
In any case, Yin Wangzhi had drunk with him before, and it was pink bunny... cough, drunk time; those unusual behaviors were all due to the intoxication, and he shouldn’t think too much about it.
Yet, Yin Wangzhi leaned closer, resting one hand beside him and whispering in a voice only they could hear, “What thoughts? If Master doesn’t speak them, how can you assert they are just ‘wandering thoughts’ and not... ‘perceptive insights’?”
Yu Sheng’s hand shook, sending melon seed shells scattering all over the ground.
Yin Wangzhi didn’t let up, letting out a light laugh, like a general pursuing victory, unwilling to give up, continuing, “If Master truly believed everything was just wandering thoughts, why go to the trouble of changing back to this appearance...?”
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