After the dinner party, Shi Bolong and Zhao Ya didn’t return to the Black Ship but stayed on the pier.
Once the servants and maids who had come to serve them were all dismissed, Shi Bolong, who seemed drunk just moments ago, suddenly sobered up, and his eyes became exceedingly clear.
"There’s a problem, definitely a problem!"
Then Shi Bolong lay back on the Arhat Bed, a cold smile appearing on his face.
"Does this Zhou Zheng really think he can deceive a descendant of the Wuyou Longevity Palace with just a few words, like I’m made out of mud!"
He then looked at Zhao Ya, who was sitting by the table, pouring himself a drink, "Sir, what do you think?"
Zhao Ya didn’t respond because he was busy savoring the wine.
It must be said that the brewing technique of the Lower Mountain Fierce Tiger Realm is quite good. Take the pot of wine before him, for example; it entered smoothly, and after swallowing, it brought a delightful warmth to his belly.
Even Zhao Ya, who possessed the gift of being Immune to Hundred Poisons, felt a hint of drunkenness at this moment.
After letting out a long breath, Zhao Ya finally put down the cup and looked back at Shi Bolong.
"So, what do you think is wrong with this Zhou Zheng?"
"Sir, can’t you tell? It’s obvious Zhou Zheng wasn’t telling the truth. Those martial artists weren’t captured by him. Although he tries hard to conceal it, two of them emit auras that martial artists from small places can’t possibly have," Shi Bolong said.
Zhao Ya raised an eyebrow slightly, "Oh? Are you saying some of these martial artists came from the outside world?"
"That’s right," Shi Bolong replied decisively.
Actually, Zhao Ya also sensed something was off, but he hadn’t looked as closely as Shi Bolong.
"If there were merely a few martial artists from the outside world, that wouldn’t be so strange, since this realm isn’t as closed off as the one you come from. The key issue is that the identity of these two martial artists is very suspect," Shi Bolong said gravely.
"Although these two martial artists have had their powers sealed, there were still subtle signs that showed something was unusual."
"What signs?" Zhao Ya listened intently.
When it comes to knowledge, Shi Bolong certainly lives up to his status as a Direct Disciple of a Great World Strong Sect, knowing many Secret Sects inside and out.
And each time Zhao Ya listens to Shi Bolong speak of these matters, he listens attentively and remembers them well.
Because a strong person not only needs to have great power but also needs a clear understanding of the current situation.
This is precisely what Zhao Ya lacks the most at this moment.
"First, it’s their eyes, which show no fear of death but rather a calm acceptance. That’s the strangest part."
"Secondly, their skin is remarkably fair."
"Why is that strange?" Zhao Ya asked sincerely, as it’s important to ask when you don’t understand.
"Of the two martial artists, one’s a woman and let’s set her aside; the man is tall with rough features. Such a person couldn’t possibly have skin that’s so delicate and fair."
"So it’s obvious they’ve been cleansed with a Secret Technique or an Elixir to erase certain marks on their bodies."
"You mean... tattoos?" Zhao Ya said.
"More or less, it’s something like that. And when you combine that with their fearlessness and even slight anticipation of death, I can’t help but think of some ominous existence..."
By the end, Shi Bolong’s expression had turned very grim.
Zhao Ya grew even more curious.
What kind of existence could trouble a Direct Disciple from a Great World Strong Sect like Shi Bolong?
"Sir, do you find it a bit unbelievable? Not knowing what could make even me so apprehensive?" Shi Bolong said with a bitter smile.
"Yes!" Zhao Ya replied very honestly.
"Sigh!" Shi Bolong sighed, "It’s not just me. In the Ten Thousand Realms, no matter who encounters this group, they almost invariably find them a headache."
"Otherwise, Zhou Zheng wouldn’t have kept these two alive and instead handed them over to me."
"In short, they’re a bunch of lunatics, complete and utter lunatics!"
Seeing Shi Bolong, with his slender limbs and frog-like belly, lying on the bed and gnashing his teeth while calling others lunatics, Zhao Ya couldn’t help but feel a surreal sense of witnessing a magical scene.
"Who are they?" Zhao Ya asked.
"They don’t have a specific name, or perhaps they have too many names, so people don’t really know what to call them. In some worlds, they’re known as the White Lotus Sect."
Zhao Ya was taken aback, thinking he had misheard.
"White Lotus Sect?"
"Yes, also known as the Maitreya Sect. These people are fanatically convinced that the so-called Celestial Lord, namely Maitreya, will descend into the world, thus restarting the world, and only they will attain eternal life."
Zhao Ya felt a bit dazed.
Because both their beliefs and their name were no different from the notorious cult he’d read about in history books in his past life.
How could they also exist in this world?
Just as Zhao Ya was wondering, Shi Bolong continued to explain, "Actually, if it were just this, it wouldn’t be a big deal. After all, sects and forces in the Ten Thousand Realms are as numerous as cattle, so it’s not strange to have an odd sect or two."
"The issue is that the White Lotus Sect is like a sticky plaster—once it sticks, it’s disgusting and hard to rid yourself of."
"The specific structure of this sect is very mysterious, and the strength of its members varies widely. But regardless of their strength, each member has a unique ability: they mark the person who kills them."
"This mark is extraordinarily bizarre, only recognizable by their sect members, with others having no way of knowing, let alone removing it."
"And once marked, it means you become a target for the sect’s pursuit, and you can forget about living a peaceful life from then on."
"Because of their doctrine, the sect members are unafraid of death and even eager to die in battle. So once you’re marked, they will go to any lengths to hunt you down. Although most sect members are individually not very strong, their sheer numbers can overwhelm even elephants."
"There have been cases where many famous masters and even sect forces have been wiped out by them, thus making the White Lotus Sect infamous. So unless absolutely necessary, nobody wants to provoke these maniacs."
"So if my guess is correct, those two martial artists should be members of the White Lotus Sect who had some kind of conflict with Zhou Zheng and were caught by him."
"But Zhou Zheng clearly doesn’t dare to kill them, for fear of provoking these lunatics. Yet he can’t just let them go either, so he kept them detained."
"Now, upon meeting us, Zhou Zheng clearly had an ulterior motive. He wanted to pass this hot potato onto us, shedding his burden and potentially gaining some benefits in the process—a classic two birds with one stone strategy!"
By the end, Shi Bolong’s face was full of a cold smile.
"But he didn’t consider that I, Shi Bolong, a member of the Wuyou Longevity Palace, would be so easily fooled?"