Mr. Ling looked disdainfully at the trapped You Su, walking over slowly and deliberately.
He looked into the rebellious eyes of the young man and extended his foot, cruelly stepping on You Su's face, as if stamping out an insect.
Mr. Ling leaned down, whispered into You Su's ear:
"You'd better stay here, wait for me to bring your junior sister and master back to keep you company."
Upon hearing this, You Su clenched his fists, thin streams of blood seeping from his palms. He struggled desperately, but to no avail, forced to watch Mr. Ling walk away.
You Su was a cautious person. He noticed something was amiss the first time Mr. Ling appeared, as Mr. Ling's timing was too coincidental.
Someone who raises malevolent beings, someone who treats others' lives like a game, how could he possibly be there to save his junior sister and master?
And who could save them? Could it be that foolish junior sister? Or that master with no cultivation, who couldn't even handle an evil spirit and whom I had to protect? Or would they risk seeking help, knowing everyone would think they've been possessed?
They have only me to rely on!
You Su felt a surge of blood in his chest as if it were boiling. An intense vibration coursed through his body, faster than breathing, surpassing the rhythm of his pulse.
His vision started to blacken, becoming clearer—a starlit night, rather than the familiar chaos.
You Su greedily inhaled the dawn air, his wounds visibly healing at an incredible rate, while the muscles under his tattered robes twitched, restoring his severed right arm.
You Su recognized it, all thanks to the power of that rotten flesh!
The crimson liquid binding him began vaporizing, turning into a thick bloody mist, as You Su slowly rose within it like a demon emerging from hell.
Mr. Ling had already sensed something was off, his once-calm demeanor gone. He had seen many creatures, yet none felt as oppressive as You Su at this moment.
"What the hell are you?" he muttered, eyes narrowed to slits, for the first time thinking of retreat.
You Su's gaze locked onto the trembling Mr. Ling. Experiencing restored vision for the first time, he realized how precious it was—how regrettable it would be not to witness Mr. Ling's terrified expression as he died.
"Don't come any closer!" Mr. Ling commanded, backing away unconsciously as You Su approached menacingly.
Suddenly, Mr. Ling initiated a spell, launching a sneak attack, "You're courting death!"
A massive fire charm shot towards You Su with tremendous force. Yet, You Su stood unmoved, having perceived the flow of Profound Qi within the fire charm, identifying its weak point at a glance.
With a mere casual swing, the fire charm dissipated into nothingness.
Mr. Ling stared in shock, then continued casting spells at a rapid pace:
"Clouds Transforming, Rain Summoning!"
"Wind and Fire Fusion!"
"Bone Coil and Bind!"
"Freeze it all!"
But none of these could hinder You Su in the slightest; each was dispelled before taking effect.
Seeing a demon, Mr. Ling shivered, retreated continuously, accidentally tripping over a stone and sitting helpless on the ground, shaking his head.
He deeply regretted the superior effectiveness of his Sound Insulation Array. While he used to torture others here at will, now the tables had turned, and he faced a silent, unperceivable death.
A real demon was here! Where were those damned Exorcism Bureau people? Would someone please save me? It's all a hoax!
Don't panic. I can escape! I have the Ruyi Wind Manipulation Skill! My cultivation is higher, surely I can flee!
As he tried to channel Profound Qi to his feet, a flash of sword light appeared, carving a massive gash on his scrawny ankle, dark red blood flowing out.
The flow of Profound Qi in Mr. Ling's body, like white veins, was seen clearly by You Su.
Enduring the sharp pain, Mr. Ling crawled desperately, consumed by the emotion named despair—he had to escape, he had to survive!
He wasn't a gifted individual; the Condensed Water Realm was his limit. Yet he was lucky; only he and his master survived the Divine Mountain battle that cleansed wicked spirits.
He waited for his master for fifty years—not out of loyalty, but because his master was his only chance for redemption! A despised aberration since childhood, reviled by righteous paths—only with his master could he trample them all!
He was on the brink of following his master to rule the Five Continents. How could he die here!
A sword impaled Mr. Ling's withered hand, pinning him to the ground and shattering his reverie.
With a scream, Mr. Ling tried to cover his bleeding wound but was intimidated by the sharp sword beams.
"Tell me, why did you target us?" You Su asked the question he most wanted answered.
Mr. Ling opened and closed his mouth, but his words were inaudible. You Su had to lean closer to listen clearly.
Unafraid of Mr. Ling's treachery, he was prepared to respond to any changes in Mr. Ling's Profound Qi.
Suddenly, the despair in Mr. Ling's eyes vanished, replaced by a fierce gleam. He mouthed an obscure spell, pulling out a rusty bell from his pocket, ringing it with a victor's smile.
But to his shock, You Su didn't react as expected. Not understanding, You Su quickly grabbed Mr. Ling's throat to prevent further chanting.
Mr. Ling's expression shifted as he alternated between shock and terror, then broke into mad laughter, coughing violently.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Damn, your sect is full of good people, haha!" Mr. Ling laughed maniacally, "I thought you were all righteous, planned to use malevolent beings to control and destroy you, but I got it all wrong!"
"Did you lay the curse on my junior sister and master?" You Su raged, nearly popping Mr. Ling's eyes from his sockets.
"Cough... I didn't touch them... I only targeted you... Dream Centipede would penetrate the target's neck, inducing extremely vivid dreams. Initially, I intended to drive you insane, making you kill your entire sect with arrays. Now I realize I was terribly mistaken..."
You Su faintly grasped the situation, furrowing his brows, "Explain it clearly!"
"Don't you understand yet?" Mr. Ling's tone was sympathetic, spurting murky blood, "I tried controlling you with the Dream Centipede but got no response, realizing the Dream Centipede within you had already been removed."
"You never saw the dreams woven by Dream Centipede, yet you can see the Lantern Ghost, which indicates one thing."
"Your junior sister and master were already possessed, more venomously than the fiends I raised! The demonic apparitions you saw weren't false dreams I concocted—they were real, damn it! And you, naively trying to save them, what a joke, ha, now look at you, possessed by them too! But alas, it's too late for regrets..."
Mr. Ling let You Su strangle him, his gaze venomous. He feared death, but he feared more that his enemy could live well. Discovering the truth, he felt immense satisfaction.
Contrary to his expectations, You Su's ghostly visage showed no trace of confusion, instead harboring suppressed amusement.
Feeling somewhat frustrated, Mr. Ling spat angrily, "Are you mad? Your entire sect is possessed!"
You Su released his grip, beaming brightly.
"You know, I once told my junior sister a story. A man named Xu Xian married a snake demon. An immortal informed him of the truth, yet he loved his wife deeply. They faced countless trials, but their love remained steadfast."
"So, does it matter if one is human or possessed? I know only that they've been good to me, never harmed anyone, making them my most important people. Even if they're possessed now, I won't abandon them; I'll search the world to save them."
"Now that I've become possessed too, I'm neither angry nor sad. On the contrary, I'm glad to more profoundly experience their pain. I'm fortunate that I and my dearest ones have always been one and the same!"