"Li Sushang, what a pleasant young lady."
Tian Shi nodded to the girl with two ponytails who was bowing to him.
"Here, consider this a gift from your Grand Master."
Tian Shi handed a crystalline pink gemstone to Li Sushang.
This was obtained from the Sands Band.
"Wow!"
The shiny object immediately caught Li Sushang's attention, while Cheng Lingshuang continued to intimidate Qin Suyi on the other side.
"Lingshuang, you should tone it down a bit, your younger sister's breasts are not toys or balls."
"Oh…"
Cheng Lingshuang sheathed her sword without expression.
"My second older sister definitely has no less than I do."
Qin Suyi said with a look of grievance.
"It's just that Second Older Sister wears tight clothes!"
"Younger sister, what are you saying?"
Su Mei gave her younger sister an innocent smile.
Su Mei did not deny that she was actually about the same size as Qin Suyi, but she clearly pointed out the problem to Qin Suyi.
"I am six years older than both of you, the fifth only compares herself to me when she is free. Of course she compares herself to someone her own age!"
"Besides, when we went down the mountain, your second older sister was already growing, okay? When you two went down, both of you were flat-chested, but six years later, one has become a mountain while the other remains flat-chested. It would be strange if the Fifth Sister's resentment toward you didn't explode!"
This is what they call comparing prices...
"..."
Qin Suyi remained silent.
But then again, what does my development have to do with me?
"Cough... My older sister might be suffering from acclimatization problems after so many years, staying a while at Mount Taixu might help her recover."
Seeing that her plan to divert attention had failed, Qin Suyi came up with another excuse.
It must be said that this reason is quite convincing; at least Cheng Lingshuang has fallen into deep reflection.
"And Sushang, don't put the gemstones in your mouth!"
"Waaah..."
"This gemstone would be nice for making a necklace for Sushang later."
Su Mei chuckled.
"Hasn't Sushang thanked your Grand Master yet?"
"Thank you, Grand Master!"
Li Sushang held the gem and bowed again to Tian Shi with a clever gesture.
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore, Su Mei, where is your master?"
"Master..."
The smile on Su Mei's face, which was previously a giggle, slowly disappeared.
Qin Suyi and Cheng Lingshuang also lost their smiles, and Ma Feima turned away in silence.
"Grand master, are you looking for that big bad guy who lives in the side room?"
In her excitement, Li Sushang responded instinctively.
"Sushang..."
Qin Suyi subconsciously wanted to pull Li Sushang back, but Cheng Lingshuang stopped her.
"What does 'big bad guy' mean?"
Tian Shi perceived the change in atmosphere, but pretended not to notice anything and asked Li Sushang.
"Every time my auntie and my stepmother mention that big bad guy, they look worried and sad, so she really is a big bad guy!"
Li Sushang replied without hesitation.
"Grand master…"
Su Mei opened her mouth.
"Alright, alright, children say the strangest things... and I know it's a difficult situation for all of you," Tian Shi sighed.
For Su Mei and Qin Suyi, the issue was no longer about right or wrong.
The essence is: "My father figure killed my mother figure and my two older and younger sisters, and after killing them, she also developed a mental illness and needs others to take care of her."
This is something that would hurt anyone's soul if it happened to them.
If they don't take care of her, she is still their master after all, but if they do... it will remind people of the eldest sister and the third and fourth brother.
Although Su Mei is considered exceptionally intelligent, she can do nothing when it comes to family ethics issues that are often a matter of feelings.
That's why Su Mei was upset before, and after thinking about it for a long time, she decided to go down the mountain.
She really could no longer protect her master.
If her master hadn't lost her mind, Su Mei would have been able to forget it.
In the worst case, she could leave everything on the table and cut all ties with her from now on; out of sight, out of mind.
But Hua has lost her mind... Su Mei can only grit her teeth and take care of her.
Furthermore, this was not just Su Mei's idea.
Unlike Su Mei and Qin Suyi, Ma Feima went straight down the mountain.
If Tian Shi had not returned, Ma Feima might not have set foot in Fuyun Temple again.
"Thank you for your understanding, Grand Master."
Su Mei bowed; everyone was worried about this matter.
She was upset, and so was Qin Suyi.
Although she could support her older and younger sisters, Qin Suyi used to be the closest to her master, though she was also like family to everyone else.
After this incident, Qin Suyi was caught in the middle, unappreciated by either side.
In terms of factions, Su Mei, Ma Feima, and even the newly returned Cheng Lingshuang tend to prefer ignoring the situation, while Qin Suyi is a firm supporter and also bears the greatest psychological pressure.
"Actually, in that sense, Grand Master, you really should go see the Master... who knows, maybe you can cure the Master."
Su Mei laughed softly.
Hearing this, Ma Feima turned around and left.
"The younger brother just remembered that some friends from the martial arts world invited me for a drink in a few days. Forgive me for not being able to stay long!"
"The older brother seems quite carefree."
Qin Suyi also felt somewhat annoyed by Su Mei's words, and then commented sarcastically upon hearing Ma Feima's words.
"Although some things can be said if the Master returns to normal, doesn't that force us to take sides?"
Although their master had lost her reason, the disciples, though resentful, gathered to care for her.
After all, she was their master, and they could not ignore her in her condition.
Besides, her situation was already quite pitiful, or worse, it was a retribution.
Thinking about it this way makes everyone feel a bit better and able to move forward.
However, once their master recovers, they will inevitably have to talk about their eldest sister and the third and fourth sisters.
Of course, this is not entirely bad.
If the father figure sincerely admits her mistake, everyone can call it a day, even if a thorn remains.
After all, although the matter is complicated, Hua at least understands the truth, and the fact that the fourth brother became a demon is undeniable.
Among the Seven Swords, several parents died after falling into demonic possession, so they naturally knew the dangers.
Although everyone believed that with the fourth brother's strength and the third's help, he definitely wouldn't fall completely..., this assumption is, in reality, unreasonable.
So, as long as the father figure is willing to admit her recklessness, that she is also responsible for not handling things well, that she regrets and feels sorry for accidentally killing Lin Zhaoyu and the third sister, etc., even if she only says she has only 1% responsibility, what can her disciples say?
If their master gives them face, can they really not cover it up?
Even with Hua's personality, if she were willing to shed a tear, the others could pretend this never happened; after all, their master would have shed tears for the first time!
What more could one ask for?
As long as we build a grave for the eldest sister and the third and fourth sisters on the mountain, everyone can let this matter go!
However, the problem is that everyone knows what kind of personality their master has.
"Those who fall into demonic possession shall be killed without mercy!"
If this is the attitude, then we'll end up finishing the game together and will have to part ways.
If a real decision is made, even Qin Suyi, who is the closest to Hua, might not be able to support Hua.
Needless to say, the other three (Su Mei, Cheng Lingshuang, and Ma Feima) are willing to break all ties and end things amicably.
"Let the little horse go if he wants, he is no longer the little one who followed us."
Su Mei sighed.
Once Ma Feima leaves this gate today, he will have no further connection with the Taixu Sword Sect for the rest of his life.
Of course, the Taixu Sword Sect is the Taixu Sword Sect now, and they are themselves; there is no need to cut all ties.
Even if things get out of hand today, we will still be like brothers and sisters once we go down the mountain.
"In that case, I will go first... Does sister Otto feel better?" Qin Suyi asked, turning to one side.
"It's fine, it's fine."
Although she still feels nauseous from time to time, Otto can now stand up and has even thrown her dirty coat aside.
After all, if she doesn't go, Tian Shi won't be able to go either.
With the thought that she could not stop God, Otto persevered.
Afterward, the group walked through the Fuyun Temple and reached the door of the side room.
"Grand Master, please go in alone, it is not appropriate for the rest of us to enter."
Su Mei and the others stopped outside.
"Grand Master, this matter is a mess, we disciples are incompetent and depend entirely on our grand master."
"And if I don't succeed?" Tian Shi asked, as if telling a bad joke, before entering the room.
Su Mei traced a silent and bitter smile.
Then, Tian Shi left his Soul Steel body and entered like a ghost; after all, Hua, with her Feng Huang Down, could passively observe Tian Shi.
Tian Shi entered the room and went straight toward Hua, who was lying on her back on the bed.
Her clothes were as elegant and ethereal as back then, but her eyes were empty, staring fixedly at the ceiling.
She had no wounds, except for a symbolic cloth wrapped around her head.
"Hua?"
"Master Tian, you are here again... Do you also think Hua did something wrong?"
Hearing Tian Shi's voice, Hua murmured subconsciously, but her face remained expressionless, as if this had been repeated a thousand times before.
(Master! I can't let you kill Wanru like this! Wanru can still be saved!)
The scenes of that year kept repeating in Hua's mind, and she was already tired of them.
Her most trusted disciple stabbed her, and she repeatedly experienced the backstab and the helpless pleading in her hallucinations.
If nothing unexpected happens, Master Tian will appear by her side, expressionless, and ask, "Do you regret it?"
Hua did not know how to answer that question.
If she answers that she regrets it, then the figure of Tian Shi will ask, "They kept begging you, why didn't you hesitate at all, and now you regret it?"
If she answers that she doesn't regret it, the scene where she seriously injured her two disciples and then was ambushed by Lin Zhaoyu will reappear.
"Yes, you are wrong," Tian Shi said softly.
"I don't remember teaching you to be a brute who only knows how to fight."
"...!"
Hua turned her head in surprise.
"Master Tian...?"
"If you're not truly stupid, sit up and talk."
Tian Shi sat down next to Hua.
That's right, Hua has no mental impairment, or rather, she has no mental impairment in the conventional sense.
Dementia?
In the original world, Ma Feima's sword split Hua's skull, but it didn't make her completely lose her mind.
Now that she has fallen into the East Sea Abyss, at most she has hit her head a few times and swallowed some water.
Her head is still intact, so how could she lose her mind?
You're kidding me!
It's less about dementia and more about psychological trauma.
On his way here, Qin Suyi told him that as long as the food arrived at the house, Hua would finish eating it calmly, just as she did back then.
So, to be honest, Ma Feima's description of "confusing people with the eldest sister and chanting the grand master's name" is correct, but they completely underestimated Hua's spirit.
If Hua hadn't suffered emotional trauma, she could have easily ignored these symptoms.
Whether walking, sitting, lying down, or even hitting someone, Hua has no problem.
"Master Tian, what brings you here?"
"It happened by chance, incredibly by chance."
Tian Shi sat on the edge of the bed and helped Hua sit up.
"You heard Qin Suyi and the others talking about Lin Zhaoyu and Wanru, right?"
Hua lowered her head, wanting to lean on Tian Shi's shoulder, but found nothing.
She feels better now.
For a while, after coming out of the sea, everyone looked like Lin Zhaoyu.
"Do you regret it? Perhaps there is regret, but a firm voice tells you that you did the right thing."
"Those who fall into demonic possession shall be killed without mercy!"
"Your disciple has failed your expectations."
"Instead of saying 'you have disappointed me,' you should reflect on your own mistakes."
The influence of the divine voice over Hua is weakening.
"Do you know where you went wrong?"
Hua remained silent.
To be honest, she feels she has lost herself over the years.
Kill demons, exorcise evil spirits, kill demons, exorcise evil spirits...
Although she had many conversations with her disciples on Mount Taixu, none of them, except Lin Zhaoyu, left a deep impression on her.
"Your mistake was punishing them without teaching them well," Tian Shi sighed, looking at the silent Hua.
"You haven't educated your disciples enough... Is that how I taught you back then?"
How does Hua train her disciples?
Adopt them and then hand them over to Lin Zhaoyu.
Apart from Lin Zhaoyu, the only one who received personal guidance from Hua was probably the second daughter, Su Mei.
When Su Mei grew up, Lin Zhaoyu took over her daily life, while Su Mei was responsible for teaching her martial arts.
What about Hua?
She kills demons and eliminates evil spirits, and then occasionally brings a child to Mount Taixu.
While she wasn't completely indifferent, compared to Lin Zhaoyu and Su Mei, Hua had almost no casual conversations with her disciples.
"You only know how to tell them that those who fall into demonic possession must be killed without mercy, but you don't tell them why they must be killed without mercy."
Hua's lips moved slightly.
She felt it wasn't necessary to tell those things.
Wasn't it common sense?
"Although some of these principles are just empty words, it's better to say them than not to say them... Besides, Hua, you are too cruel, life is full of love and affection."
Tian Shi couldn't help but sigh while looking at Hua's still bewildered expression.
"Let me ask you a question, if I were a Herrscher, in front of you, and Mobius wanted to kill me to maintain world peace, would you stop her?"
"I think it is more likely that Dr. Mobius would join you to destroy the world."
Hua murmured softly.
Although Mobius has the great ambition of making humanity evolve, let's not forget that Tian Shi is her only family!
In terms of kinship, he is even closer than her own self!
If this hypothetical scenario actually happened, Hua genuinely believes there is a higher chance that Mobius would join Tian Shi to create a new human race.
However, after hearing this, Hua's face showed a look of understanding.
"However... I will stop her, not because I am foolish, but because you are my only master..."
...
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