Chapter 28: The Sound of Reading

Mr. Yin turned around and smiled warmly: "My friend, we meet again. You really didn't disappoint us. You came to the capital. I think you will be successful soon."

"Mr. Yin, you are too kind." Qi Xuansu said with shame.

By now, Qi Xuansu had roughly guessed the thoughts of the three Yin objects. They did not want to leave the Taoist sect, nor did they have the idea of ​​establishing themselves as kings. It was just for the long-term plan that they needed to have "their own people" in the high-level of the Taoist sect. They could be allies or backers. To put it more vulgarly, they wanted to be a dragon.

Obviously, the status of the three Yin objects is very high now, but there are many restrictions. Basically, there will be no more changes. They are not as good as many young Taoists. They are not of high rank now, but they have the hope of becoming a high-level Taoist in the future.

It's just that the special identities of the three Yin objects make it difficult for them to find suitable candidates. For example, Zhang Yuelu, Yao Pei, Li Changge and the like have a promising future, but they may not have too many eyes on them. The three Yin objects can only give limited things, and they may even attract the fear of the families behind these young talents.

The most critical point is that these three people basically have nothing to lack. Even if they really need something, the three Yin objects can't give it to them. It is easy to add icing on the cake, but it is difficult to send charcoal in the snow, and the rewards are incomparable.

So the three Yin objects can only settle for the second best and choose Qi Xuansu.

The most direct reason is the "Xuanyu of Death". Qi Xuansu didn't understand it at the time, but later he figured it out after learning the truth from Cihang Zhenren.

The three Yin objects have existed for hundreds of years, and their knowledge is far better than that of ordinary people. They naturally know many inside stories of the creation project. They seem to care about the "Xuanyu of Death", but in fact they care about the "Embedded Heart of the Longevity Stone". Anyone can get the "Xuanyu", but not everyone can fuse the "Xuanyu". Qi Xuansu can actually fuse the "Xuanyu", and its specialness is immediately highlighted. This is the fundamental reason why the three Yin objects chose Qi Xuansu.

They pin their hopes on the future and help Qi Xuansu now. This is an exchange and an investment.

What Qi Xuansu has now has been secretly marked with a price, which is also a loan.

Sometimes, Qi Xuansu couldn't help but think that Qi Niang was a successful businessman, and an important businessman, so what price did she secretly mark for all the things she gave him?

How much profit can you get from farming? Ten times. How much profit can you get from jewelry? A hundred times. How much profit can you get from being the leader of a country? Countless.

But now is not the time to talk about these things. Qi Xuansu couldn't help asking, "Mr. Yin, are these people dead?"

"No." Mr. Yin said, "As the saying goes, 'When a person dies, it's like a lamp goes out'. Whether it's the Taoist sect or the imperial court, there is a thing called 'life lamp'. The principle is very simple. Take some blood and sweat as lamp oil, take a trace of soul as lamp wick, and form an oil lamp. It is closely related to one's life. When a person is alive, the lamp is on, and when a person dies, the lamp goes out. If I kill them, their life lamps will go out, and you may have some trouble, so I decided not to kill them for the time being. If you think they must die, it's not difficult for me to kill them."

Qi Xuansu hurriedly said, "Mr. Yin is thoughtful. It's better not to kill them."

Mr. Yin nodded, "I will invite them to the cave as guests."

Qi Xuansu heard this and was curious again, "Guests?"

"You will know at a glance." Mr. Yin pointed to the portal leading to the ghost country cave.

Qi Xuansu was not the first time to go to the Ghost Kingdom Cave Heaven. After a slight hesitation, he followed Mr. Yin into the portal.

Speaking of which, Qi Xuansu had been to Master Wan's residence, where he used a palace as a stool, as big as a mountain. He had also been to Madam Bai's residence, the Blood Lake Emperor Willow. The only thing he had not been to was Mr. Yin's residence. He seemed to live in the "Ghost Pass" most of the time, rarely returned to the Ghost Kingdom Cave Heaven, and the three Yin objects rarely gathered together.

This was also reasonable. After two hundred years of acquaintance, I'm afraid they had long been tired of seeing each other. It would be best if they could not meet. What's the point of getting together? It's better to separate and do their own things, and get together to discuss when there is something important.

However, Mr. Yin must have a residence in the Ghost Kingdom Cave Heaven. After all, Master Wan and Madam Bai had suffered heavy losses. He was the strongest of the three Yin objects and the leader of the three Yin objects.

After passing through this portal, Qi Xuansu found that he was not in the palace of the Ghost Kingdom Cave Heaven, but in the noisy market outside the palace, which was where he got the "Ghost Sword".

However, the whole market was very large. At that time, Qi Xuansu was chased and had no choice but to go around, so he was in a relatively unfamiliar place at this time. He was sure that he had never been here before.

Qi Xuansu looked around and saw no trace of Mr. Yin or the four celestial beings. There was only a small courtyard not far away, just like a private school in the county town, which was both the home of the private school teacher and the elementary school classroom.

Qi Xuansu had a hunch that this was probably Mr. Yin's home, so he stepped in.

Sure enough, as soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw a black horse strolling in the courtyard - its name was "Bu Yue", Qi Xuansu's mount, and it was fostered in the Ghost Kingdom Cave Heaven. Qi Xuansu almost forgot about it. In the past, this guy was old and thin, like a low-class horse, but now he is sleek and shiny, with a black fur color that is a bit creepy, and even a layer of light mist is shrouded around him.

However, Bu Yue still recognized Qi Xuansu. When he saw the old master coming, he was stunned at first, and then he rubbed Qi Xuansu with his head in a flattering manner.

Qi Xuansu was not a black-clothed man, and he did not have much special feelings for horses, so he just touched it casually, as a perfunctory move, and continued to walk in.

Pushing open the door, it was the classroom where the children were studying. It was unexpectedly spacious, and even if there were forty or fifty people sitting there, it would not be crowded. The tables and chairs were neatly arranged, and the teacher's seat was empty at this time.

This was not a big deal, but the strange thing was that this classroom was actually full of people, and there were no children, but adults.

Qi Xuansu counted them with his eyes, there were about twenty people, including the four celestial beings including Du Yuyan.

It turned out that they were sent here after being taken away by Mr. Yin.

They still looked dull at this time, like clay puppets, sitting behind the desks. It was chilling.

Looking at the others, they all looked dull, as if their souls had been taken away, leaving only a body, sitting behind the desks.

Some of these people were wearing Taoist crane cloaks, some were dressed as Confucian scholars, some had bald heads, and there were even Golden Tent people, Westerners, and Westerners. Black-haired, yellow-haired, white-haired, different looks, different clothes, but the expressions were the same, as if they had lost their souls.

Qi Xuansu suddenly remembered something and used the "Yin Yang Eyes".

In an instant, he could clearly see in his sight that there was a black line as thin as a hair on the top of these people's heads, extending upwards, passing through the roof, and leading to nowhere.

Marionettes.

It was as if there was a big hand hanging high in the sky, controlling these bodies through these thin lines, just like a shadow play.

But this big hand obviously had no interest in playing shadow plays now, so these people were sitting quietly, motionless.

Qi Xuansu also understood that Mr. Yin did not freeze people with his eyes, but when he looked at that person, there would be a black line that was invisible to the naked eye connected to that person's body, and that person would be controlled by Mr. Yin, as if he had taken away his soul and became a puppet.

Thinking of this, Qi Xuansu couldn't help but feel a chill on his back.

If he and Mr. Yin were not allies, he would suddenly encounter such a "old ghost" with great Taoism, or accidentally enter this place, and such a strange method would probably be dangerous.

At this moment, the door behind Qi Xuansu opened.

Qi Xuansu was almost startled and turned around suddenly. It turned out to be Mr. Yin's granddaughter, the little girl Yin.

"You are so old, but you are still so timid. Aren't you ashamed?" The little girl tapped her cheek with her index finger.

Qi Xuansu smiled awkwardly: "Where is Mr. Yin?"

"Grandpa is behind." Little girl Yin said as she climbed to the position that belonged to Mr. Yin and sat down. She was not even as high as the chair, and her feet did not touch the ground. Then she picked up the ruler on the table and slapped the table.

The classroom, which was originally dead silent, immediately became lively.

Those people with dull expressions began to recite books with their heads shaking, and it was really noisy. Some recited "The Tao that can be told is not the Tao, the name that can be named is not the name", some recited "The nature of man is good at the beginning", some recited "The universe is vast and boundless", and some recited "God said, let there be light, and there was light".

The little girl had a taste of being a teacher and clapped her hands for joy.

Qi Xuansu breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Mr. Yin did not have such a strange hobby. The reason why these people sat neatly in the classroom was mostly the little girl's intention.

Qi Xuansu walked to the back and met Mr. Yin in the real study.

Mr. Yin sat behind the desk, with his hands crossed and placed on his lower abdomen, surrounded by various books. On the desk, on the bookshelf, in the bookcase.

But these books, like the environment here, exude a sense of dusk, gloom, death, and decay. It was like a burial object in a mausoleum, with countless dust accumulated.

"My friend, what do you think after reading it?" Mr. Yin asked.

Qi Xuansu said: "To be honest, it's a bit scary. But when I think of the real bodies of Madam Bai and Master Wan, I think it should be so."

Mr. Yin smiled and said warmly: "In that case, it's better for my friend not to see my real body. Among the three of us, Madam Bai is the most beautiful, at least her side face is okay, and Master Wan and I are 'each has its own merits'."

Although it is a yin object, over time, it has become accustomed to calling itself a human.

Qi Xuansu smiled in agreement and asked again: "Have their souls been taken away?"

Mr. Yin shook his head and said: "That was done by the ancient immortals, and the Taoist sect does not allow it. Don't forget that I am also a member of the Taoist sect, so I just let them sleep in the delusion. If nothing unexpected happens, they will sleep until they die of old age and the end of time."

Qi Xuansu didn't know what to say.

This is also considered death in a sense.

Mr. Yin said: "Okay, let me take you back."

Qi Xuansu nodded.

Mr. Yin did not open any door, but just waved his sleeves.

Qi Xuansu's eyes went dark, as if he was in a dream. When his eyes became clear again, he was already in the ground sacrificial hall of an emperor's mausoleum.