"What’s going on with Qing Feng?"
Zhao Yi returned to the front hall and saw Huang Ying, who was studying a ring, and asked with a face full of confusion.
Just a moment ago, Zhao Yi had intended to visit Qing Feng to check on her injuries, but unexpectedly got a cold shoulder instead.
Qing Feng’s attitude was terrible; even through the door, Zhao Yi could feel the low pressure emanating from inside the room.
Huang Ying heard this, put down the ring in her hand, and said with a puzzled expression, "Master, do you really not know?"
"Know what?" Zhao Yi asked, confused.
Huang Ying carefully observed Zhao Yi’s expression and saw that he did not seem to be lying, so her eyes squinted slightly.
She glanced at Qing Feng’s room and lowered her voice, saying, "Qing Feng is jealous!"
Zhao Yi became even more bewildered: "Jealous of what?"
Huang Ying said, "Of course, it’s about you wanting Shopkeeper Yao as a furnace!"
Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow: "Are you saying that Qing Feng secretly loves this prince, and she’s jealous because she knows I want Yao Qing as a furnace?"
"That’s not it," Huang Ying directly shattered Zhao Yi’s illusion.
Huang Ying said, "Qing Feng likes men who stand tall and strong. Master, you’ve always been serving that Su guy, lacking a bit of manliness; she doesn’t like your type of man!"
Zhao Yi: "..."
Can that really be said directly?
Does he not care about his face?
Zhao Yi replied in a bad mood: "If Qing Feng doesn’t like me, then why is she jealous?"
"Because Qing Feng is your legitimate furnace!" Huang Ying stated righteously.
"Qing Feng was chosen back then to be your furnace!"
"Qing Feng cultivates the incredibly yang and firm Dragon Flood Technique. For a woman cultivating the Supreme Yang Technique, Pure Yin True Essence is extremely beneficial for a man!"
"Look at her name, Qing Feng! It’s meant for her to dedicate everything in one strike!"
"Qing Feng has prepared for you for many years. Finally, when the time comes for you to cultivate, you choose that inexplicable Shopkeeper Yao as the furnace."
"No wonder Qing Feng is angry!"
Zhao Yi: "..."
Zhao Yi was very confused.
Being someone’s furnace was not a good thing.
Didn’t he see Yao Qing’s face go completely dark when she heard Zhao Yi wanted her as a furnace?
Seeing Zhao Yi’s expression, Huang Ying said seriously: "Master, you don’t understand Qing Feng. She has a simple stubbornness; she was taught from childhood to sacrifice for you, it’s her mission. If you replace her with Yao Qing, she’ll break down!"
Zhao Yi was just about to speak when he suddenly caught sight of a skinny shadow outside the window from the corner of his eye.
His heart moved, and he nodded, saying: "Let’s stick with Qing Feng then!"
"That Yao Qing’s origins are unclear, and I don’t trust her; if she takes the opportunity to harm me, that would be disastrous!"
"By comparison, Qing Feng is the most trustworthy!"
"If there’s anyone in this world who won’t betray me, it’s definitely Qing Feng!"
After Zhao Yi finished speaking, he glanced again out the window and saw that the figure standing there had disappeared.
Huang Ying clicked her tongue twice: "Master truly spoils Qing Feng, even I can’t help but feel a bit jealous!"
Zhao Yi ignored her.
Retracting his gaze, Zhao Yi looked at the ring on the table and asked, "Did you discover anything unusual?"
Upon hearing something important, Huang Ying’s face immediately became serious.
She explained, "The Eldest Prince placed a restriction on the ring, which gradually weakens over time. I just checked, and the restriction is about to vanish, and what’s inside will soon be revealed."
Hearing this, Huang Ying curiously asked, "Master, do you know what’s inside the ring?"
Zhao Yi nodded: "I only know there’s a residual soul inside; I don’t know who it belonged to!"
Just as he finished speaking, he saw the ring on the table tremble, and then an old monk in an earth-yellow robe emerged from the ring.
The old monk’s body was almost transparent, and it looked like he had been severely injured by Zhao Mian previously; his soul body was nearly scattered.
Seeing Zhao Yi, the old monk was momentarily stunned, clasped his hands together, and uttered a Buddhist chant.
"Amitabha!"
It was the first time Huang Ying saw a residual soul stored in a ring, and she curiously scrutinized the old monk, her eyes full of inquisitiveness.
Afraid she might break the old monk, Zhao Yi quickly said, "I still have use for this old monk; you can’t play with him!"
Huang Ying gave an "oh" and was immediately very disappointed.
The old monk’s soul body trembled slightly, and he looked at Huang Ying with a complicated expression.
Why did this girl look so disappointed?
What did she want to do?
Already so unlucky, what more could she plan to do to the monk?
"Amitabha!"
The old monk chanted the Buddhist chant again.
He turned to Zhao Yi and asked calmly, "Benefactor, what of my unruly disciple?"
The old monk was indeed smart.
Upon seeing Zhao Yi, he immediately deduced the context of the situation.
"The Eldest Prince was sent by you, wasn’t he?"
The old monk previously thought Zhao Mian had come seeking revenge, but now it seemed there was more to it.
"I invited my eldest brother to go," Zhao Yi nodded, acknowledging.
He looked at the old monk, pondered for a moment, and then said gravely, "I could have lied to you and said he was dead, thus breaking your hope. But on second thought, I decided against it, because I also want you, master, to be honest with me."
With this, Zhao Yi spoke straightforwardly: "Master, shall we make a deal?"
"Amitabha!"
The old monk clasped his hands together again, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful.
"Please speak, benefactor."
Zhao Yi was very pleased with the old monk’s cooperation, solemnly stating, "If you tell me what the Dead Egg is used for, I’ll let you go find your disciple. What do you think, master?"
Amitabha!
The old monk clasped his hands again: "Benefactor, if this humble monk refuses, what will the outcome be?"
Zhao Yi responded with a question: "Master, if I’m not mistaken, your soul body is attached to the ring and can’t be separated, correct?"
"Amitabha." The old monk chanted the Buddhist chant once more.
Zhao Yi raised his hand, interrupting him: "Master, monks shouldn’t tell lies; are you planning to break the precept?"
The old monk paused.
After a long time, he said slowly, "As you suspect, benefactor, my soul body indeed cannot leave this ring!"
"Then that’s it," Zhao Yi nodded with a smile.
"If you refuse, I’ll just throw the ring into a dung pit."
"Though this action might mean I’ll never uncover the Dead Egg’s secret, it also ensures no one else gets it, which, to me, isn’t a loss."
"However, master, you might have to endure some hardships, spending future days amongst filth, accompanied by maggots."
After saying this, Zhao Yi looked at the almost translucent soul of the old monk and added:
"Master’s soul body appears weak and fragile, likely unable to last long before dissipating completely."
"That might be a good thing; at least you won’t have to endure centuries with maggots!"
"But there’s one thing; retaining a remnant soul after death suggests you were significant in life. To perish amidst filth doesn’t seem very dignified!"
"However, being an enlightened monk, you probably don’t mind these minor details. You might even transform those maggots with profound Buddhist Dharma!"
With this, Zhao Yi looked leisurely at the old monk: "Master, do you still wish to refuse?"
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