Xie Lingyun was stunned by the scene before her and quickly turned her head towards Zhang Chen, only to see him innocently continuing to wipe the sculpture, blinking his clear, large eyes as if he didn’t know what had happened at all.
The hall was silent, and all of this occurred in a Mysterious World unseen by the naked eye. Apart from Zhang Chen and the woman in red, no one knew what had happened.
Xie Lingyun turned her head, her eyes locked onto Zhang Chen, scrutinizing him from head to toe, disbelief flashing in her eyes.
Where is the Celestial Demon?
The once arrogant and domineering Celestial Demon now fled back into its own body like a defeated dog?
"What happened?"
Xie Lingyun was somewhat bewildered, pondering the previous moment, her eyes growing brighter as if she came to her senses, thinking to herself:
"I never expected the Mysterious Power I’m searching for is actually within him. I’ve contacted him multiple times and investigated, yet I failed to see it."
"There’s a force on him that can restrain my Celestial Demon! Regardless if this Huangli Temple houses the Yellow Heaven God or not, I’m on the right path."
But Xie Lingyun looked at Zhang Chen’s vacant gaze, as if he had no idea what had happened, and couldn’t help but feel puzzled: "How strange! Did he not see the scene that just unfolded? Or does he not possess that Mysterious Power? Otherwise, why the bewildered expression?"
At this moment, there was doubt in Xie Lingyun’s eyes. As for Zhang Chen being unaware of the Golden Light matter, she found it unsurprising, for mystery is inherently unknown and inexplicable. Perhaps the mystery merely attaches itself to Zhang Chen in some unknown manner, and Zhang Chen, the original owner, has no awareness, which isn’t hard to understand.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen caught sight of the noble woman staring intently at him, and he furrowed his brows, contemplating how to face this noble person.
Pretend ignorance?
Or directly clarify?
He was rather conflicted!
"If I can lend Xie Lingyun a hand, there would certainly be benefits. But if I bluff through, Xie Lingyun previously gave me Calming Incense, doing me a favor!" Zhang Chen muttered to himself, caught in a dilemma.
"My Light of the True God remains strong, astonishingly restraining even the unpredictable Celestial Demon!" Zhang Chen’s mind was racing with countless thoughts.
Yet at this moment, Xie Lingyun’s excited expression suddenly froze. Although she found the source of mystery, a way to restrain the strange phenomenon overwhelming her, she was... she was about to die! She was about to starve to death!
After all the turmoil, Xie Lingyun was long exhausted and devoid of strength, collapsing onto the ground, eyes filled with unwillingness. She found a way to subdue the Celestial Demon, yet to be starved to death like this was highly humiliating.
As the Celestial Demon suffered heavy blows and returned to Xie Lingyun’s body, the Illusion Realm in the hall shattered. The elders swiftly approached, offering honey water, rice soup, and other sustenance to Xie Lingyun.
No matter the circumstances, Xie Lingyun must not die within the Daoist Temple.
As the rice soup entered her stomach, Xie Lingyun’s vitality stabilized, gradually regaining consciousness, allowing the elders to relax, as they now noticed outside the sky was peculiar. The journey began in the morning, yet, remarkably, it now was evening?
However, considering the Manifestation of Divinity by the Yellow Heaven God, the crowd attributed the reason to the Yellow Heaven God.
With rice soup and honey water ingested, Xie Lingyun gradually gained alertness, her eyes sweeping over the elders: "Thank you sincerely for your care."
She truly appreciated these people for pulling her from the brink of a dishonorable death.
For her, the most disgraceful death would be finding a way through her ordeals, only to die quietly of hunger.
"I dare not accept the noble lady’s gratitude, it is but our duty." The Law Enforcement Elder humbly replied.
Xie Lingyun said nothing in response, "I arrived at the Daoist Temple somewhat in haste, bringing only some simple folks who are inconvenient to use. It is necessary to select two clever young Daoists for my service." Xie Lingyun shifted her words, revealing her true intent.
"That is simple, I will soon assign six young Daoists for your service." Elder Chuan Wu eagerly offered.
"No need to wait, these two seem quite agreeable to me, let it be them." Xie Lingyun glanced at Zhang Chen and Chengyu.
As a noble, Xie Lingyun possessed excellent cunning and skills. Her eyes swept over Zhang Chen and Chengyu, noting Zhang Chen’s bewildered demeanor. Regardless of whether Zhang Chen knew about his own mystery, getting him by her side was the first step.
Elder Chuan Wu’s gaze fell upon Zhang Chen and Chengyu, then he glanced at Xiaodouding, furrowing his brows. This young lady was an exceptionally significant figure; if Xiaodouding were to serve her and somehow catch her eye, wouldn’t it create further lawlessness? Also, his opportunity for revenge would vanish?
He held a grudge for Xiaodouding breaking Wei Yingwu’s leg.
"Miss, this girl is but five years old, still a child needing care, how can she attend to you? Moreover, the girl is quite unruly, she might disrespect the noble, let me select others for you?" Elder Chuan Wu spoke hurriedly.
"No need! Those two will do." Xie Lingyun declared decisively.
Upon hearing this, the crowd exchanged glances, who dared to disobey this noble lady?
"Noble one, you best go and rest, leave the arrangement for serving to us. We will brief the two and then send them to assist you." The Law Enforcement Elder advised.
Xie Lingyun nodded in agreement and slowly rose, allowing the elders to assist her out of the hall.
The group came swiftly and left swiftly as well, soon the main hall returned to calm, leaving Zhang Chen and Xiaodouding to exchange bewildered glances, Xiaodouding’s eyes full of confusion.
"Zhang Chen." Xiaodouding called out, her eyes filled with shock.
"What’s wrong?" Zhang Chen watched Xiaodouding’s shock-stricken face, his mind puzzled, could she possibly have seen the Celestial Demon? Witnessed the scene in the hall?
Given Xiaodouding’s ability to see the evil nature of Fox Fairy Nannan, seeing the Celestial Demon didn’t seem unusual.
"This is it, I’m going mad! When we arrived it was morning, then suddenly nighttime? Have I gone mad too?" Xiaodouding’s voice was tinged with a whimper.
Zhang Chen heard Xiaodouding’s words, feeling amused yet helpless, and his gaze filled with resignation. He assumed she saw the prior scene, but unexpectedly she suspected herself of insanity?
Why has Xiaodouding been preoccupied with insanity lately?
"Don’t overthink, how could you be insane? It was nighttime when we came, not morning. Couldn’t you have mistaken the sunset for sunrise?" Zhang Chen tried to ease Xiaodouding.
Yet, upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Chengyu grew more anxious: "I’m done for! I’m done for! Could it be I’m the one who’s insane, not you? How could I, a living person, mistake sunrise for sunset? Unless I’m insane!"
Xiaodouding’s voice carried through with a sob: "Zhang Chen, if one day I go insane, you wouldn’t shun me, right?"
Her voice was filled with terror, even sobbing.
All her efforts resulted in her being insane; she’s afraid she might cry herself to death.
How could it be that insanity falls upon me alone, who understands that mindset? It might just lead to a full breakdown! Forget a child, even an adult could hardly accept it.