Chapter 0: The House Eats People
Qin Gou pressed down on the Tunhai Shell in his embrace, falling into a deep silence.
Qishuang, this time it’s really not that Master didn’t help you cover up, it’s just that I’m powerless.
In fact, after Qin Gou keenly guessed Xinting’s intentions, the thought in his mind to temporarily seal the Tunhai Shell to prevent Xinting from entering it had already occurred to him, but it was useless to just have the idea. His divine sense and spiritual power couldn’t be exerted at all.
“Master!”
Qiu Qianyue, dressed in a snow-white sacred robe, appeared before Qin Gou with a familiar and beautiful smile.
“Qianyue, may I ask why you are here at this moment?” Qin Gou quickly adjusted his mood and smiled faintly.
“Earlier, when we were discussing a place for Master to advance and how to protect you, you mentioned that Master’s promotion this time actually requires the power of faith? So, you see.”
As she spoke, Qiu Qianyue took out a scripture radiating golden light from her Nas, a smile on her lips. She handed it to Qin Gou with both hands.
“This is the ‘Meritorious Sutra of Pagoda Construction’ that Qianyue personally transcribed with Buddhist power. The disciples from Fusheng Nunnery, who received my message earlier, finally managed to bring it to me in time. As long as you hold this, you can personally bless the power of faith when you break through the last barrier! Qianyue hopes to help Master with what little she can.”
“Wench.”
Qin Gou’s heart warmed, but he didn’t immediately reach out to take the scripture. His eyes were gentle as he said, “Your kind intentions have touched me greatly. However, this scripture was originally prepared by you for your future self, wasn’t it? I have some understanding of blessing with Buddhist power, and I know that for every character you transcribe with Buddhist power, it takes an astonishing amount of time and effort. Moreover, this item can only be used once, making it too precious.”
“I know!” The little wench blinked her bright eyes and scratched her head. “Master, are you teaching me, the Abbess of Fusheng Nunnery, about Buddhist knowledge now?”
“Cough, what Master meant was clearly…”
“But no matter what, no matter how rare this item is, I just want to offer it to Master!” The little wench smiled cheerfully. “In fact, to put it another way, I wouldn’t dare give Master anything that isn’t worthy! A gift presented so formally to an esteemed master should naturally be the best thing I possess.”
“You wench… Alright then.”
After all, Qianyue had said it this far. Her determined attitude filled Qin Gou’s heart with warmth. Even though Qin Gou still felt that this item would be best used by Qianyue for her own mortal transformation in the future, at this moment, he chose to accept her kind gesture.
Later, Qin Gou could use the pure source of faith provided by his old pal to successfully advance to Realm Lord, then find a time to return it to Qianyue, and casually mock himself, saying, ‘It was my own oversight that I didn’t use this item, but it’s an unexpected surprise that it has been preserved intact.’
Taking the scripture from Qianyue’s hand, Qin Gou smiled with relief. “Qianyue, you’ve really grown a lot. In the past, you were always so childish, and I often worried about your unruly and mischievous nature. But now you’re always thinking of me, which touches me deeply. You’ve truly changed.”
“Master, if you praise me any more, I’ll blush!”
Qiu Qianyue then shyly pursed her lips, a brilliant smile on her face. “Then I won’t delay Master’s important matters any longer. I… Oh, by the way, I almost forgot! This is also very important!”
“Master, could you lean closer?”
“What?”
Qin Gou’s face twitched violently. What had he just said? This girl really couldn’t be praised?
“Qianyue has a secret matter to report to Master!”
“I know!” Qin Gou said with a look of frustration.
This was too familiar. Qianyue had used this trick of ‘leaning closer’ so many times. The last time was just a few days ago, wasn’t it? She had actually turned A’Yuan’s letter into a free pass to act mischievously towards her own master.
“Master, it’s really not what you’re thinking! Qianyue is serious this time. You taught me the story of ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’ many times back then, so how could Qianyue do something so foolish again?” the little wench quickly explained, blinking her exceptionally sincere and pure eyes.
“Is that so?”
Qin Gou pondered for a moment. Actually, speaking of which, if Qianyue really wanted to do something, for him who had already entered the Mortal Transformation Stage, wouldn’t it be easier to just do it openly? Or, should he trust her one more time?
With this thought, Qin Gou approached Qianyue and slowly lowered his head.
Immediately, a scene akin to time reversal unfolded within the cave. Qianyue, with even greater skill, directly hugged Old Qin tightly. The only difference from a few days ago was that this time, Qianyue leaned to the other side and kissed Qin Gou’s left cheek.
At that moment, Qiu Qianyue’s eyes were moist, and with a faint smile, she whispered softly into Qin Gou’s ear, “The secret I wanted to tell you is… Actually, I just like you, Master, I took the initiative to come.”
“You, silly girl, don’t talk nonsense. I’m not so foolish as to fall for your trick again! I was planning to be close to you this time anyway,” Old Qin said earnestly and solemnly.
“Really? Wouldn’t that be even better?” The little wench smiled even more happily.
“Cough…”
“Alright, I really can’t disturb Master any longer. I told Eldest Senior Brother earlier that I was setting up a formation with Senior Sister Kong! I absolutely cannot let Eldest Senior Brother know that I ran to Master’s place again and kept you waiting for so long, or I’ll definitely get spanked! Huh… What is that?!”
As she spoke, Qiu Qianyue was about to turn away when her eyes were attracted by a ball of radiance suddenly blooming from Qin Gou’s chest.
Qin Gou reached into his embrace and found that it was the Tunhai Shell, where Zhao Xinting and Ye Qishuang were currently located. It was trembling non-stop, emitting bursts of spiritual light that passed through his robes.
“Tunhai Shell? Why? Oh, right, Master, you can’t use spiritual power now, so let Qianyue help you investigate!”
“Wait, don’t!”
Before she finished speaking, Qianyue, determined to help her Master, also entered the Tunhai Shell. Even several seconds after she entered, the dazzling spiritual light, which had inexplicably begun to shine, suddenly retracted.
Qin Gou couldn’t help but sigh, pressing his forehead with his hand, feeling both amused and exasperated. Just how chaotic had the Tunhai Shell become now?!
“Everyone!”
At this moment, the cave door opened again.
“Now is a crucial moment for Fellow Daoist Qin. The three of you should not be staying in Fellow Daoist Qin’s cave…”
The one who came was Ren Ci. However, as soon as she entered the cave, her previously concerned voice suddenly came to an abrupt halt. After looking around for a while, she stared blankly at Qin Gou, the only person in the cave.
“Fellow Daoist Qin, does this house eat people?!”
