Chapter 0: 76. Understanding
“The three of them are currently inside this spatial artifact of mine,” Qin Gou said, holding the Tunhai Shell and shaking his head, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
“Why is that?” Ren Ci asked, bewildered. “What exactly do Fellow Daoist Qin’s three disciples want to do right now?”
“It was just a coincidence.”
“What?”
“One was hiding from another, which attracted the curiosity of the Debt Girl, and then they all went in,” Qin Gou said with a wry smile, looking at the Tunhai Shell in his hand. “I don’t know what kind of chaos is happening inside. The Tunhai Shell already showed very intense reactions just now.”
“Then, how about I help Fellow Daoist Qin go in and take a look?” Ren Ci suggested.
As Qin Gou was contemplating this, the Tunhai Shell suddenly flashed with spiritual light, and Zhao Xinting, a tall figure in a purple robe, appeared from within.
“Xinting, you…”
“Master, wait a moment.”
Zhao Xinting gently tapped her brow with a finger, as if communicating with someone via sound transmission. Then, she immediately looked at Ren Ci and said, “Fellow Daoist Ren, Kong Ling has encountered an Abyssal Demon Lord named ‘Death’s Halt’.”
“I understand,” Ren Ci nodded slightly. “I can personally go and make him leave, but what about Fellow Daoist Qin…”
Zhao Xinting said with a faint smile, “Fellow Daoist Ren, with several of Master’s direct disciples here, you can rest assured!”
“Oh, oh, that’s true! It’s also fortunate that Cult Master Zhao and the others are here. If it were anyone else, I would indeed have to be vigilant, as I’m stretched thin right now.” Ren Ci had a very high opinion of Little Zhao and the others, naturally because Old Qin himself always mentioned them, constantly praising his disciples.
“Fellow Daoist Qin, I’ll be going then.”
With that, Ren Ci cupped his fists and turned to leave, leaving only Qin Gou and Xinting in the room.
Qin Gou, completely bewildered, looked at the Tunhai Shell again. “Xinting, where are Qian Yue and Qishuang? Why aren’t they out yet?”
Zhao Xinting said with a helpless smile, “Master, Xiao Shuang’er and I were supposed to come out of that Little World long ago. But then Qian Yue suddenly appeared, nearly causing us to bump into each other at the entrance. As for now, let me send a sound transmission.”
Qin Gou’s expression was surprised. “You mean, the violent tremors in my Tunhai Shell just now were only because you and Qishuang intended to come out?”
“Master, Qishuang and I are both Realm Lords now. It seems that when only Qishuang was inside, it was fine. After Xinting also entered, that Little World became somewhat unstable. And with Senior Sister Qiu arriving, it’s only made things worse… Speaking of you, why aren’t you coming out quickly?”
After Xinting finished speaking, the Debt Girl also immediately emerged from the Tunhai Shell, appearing before them.
“Master, I’m suffering!”
The Debt Girl’s face was filled with grievance, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “If I had known Eldest Senior Brother was in this Tunhai Shell, why would I have foolishly run inside? Master, please explain on my behalf. The Wench isn’t here to cause trouble or slack off, right!”
“Xinting, the Debt Girl is right,” Qin Gou said, pointing to a scripture placed aside. “The Debt Girl came to bring this Buddhist power scripture to help me with my promotion.”
Zhao Xinting immediately nodded, as if suddenly realizing. “Is that so? So I misunderstood. I actually wronged Qian Yue?”
The Debt Girl breathed a sigh of relief, then couldn’t help but feel a bit depressed. “Senior Brother, why is it that when I say the exact same thing, you never believe me, but if I were to say it, you would?”
“Nonsense.”
Little Zhao, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, said, “Don’t you realize how many times you’ve deceived your own brother? Alright, I apologize to you now. Fourth Junior Sister, hurry back to your post.”
“Okay… I guess so.” The Debt Girl scratched her head guiltily and quickly cupped her fists. “Then Master, Qian Yue will be going now.”
After watching Qiu Qianyue leave the cave, Zhao Xinting let out a chuckle and then spoke to the Tunhai Shell again. “Alright, Qishuang, now that the Debt Girl has left, you should come out and talk to Master properly, shouldn’t you?”
As soon as she finished speaking.
Xiao Shuang’er, who was originally the first to enter the Tunhai Shell, finally appeared.
The moment Qin Gou saw her, his expression was startled.
At this moment, the Ye Yatou’s eyes were red, and she was tearfully lowering her head timidly. Clearly, she had already cried quite a bit and was still sobbing uncontrollably, unable to calm her emotions.
Zhao Xinting sighed. “Please, Master, calm your anger. Xinting has already spoken with this Wench, she…”
However, before Little Zhao could finish, Qin Gou immediately walked to Ye Yatou’s side, his brow furrowed. “Calm my anger? Xinting, when was I even a little bit angry? I was worried about this situation happening, which is why I told you to enter the Rouge Space, not the Tunhai Shell! Unfortunately, the Debt Girl entered too quickly, and you were too hasty, so we didn’t have time to hear me out clearly.”
“What?” Zhao Xinting looked confused.
“What is going on?”
Qin Gou looked at Ye Yatou’s pitiful, tear-streaked face with great concern. “It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve seen Qishuang so sad and upset! And Xinting, as one of Qishuang’s closest people, didn’t you also realize that this Wench could never possibly want to harm Master!”
“Her intentions must have been good, and that is indeed the case! Qishuang merely wanted to lend a helping hand to Master in promoting to Realm Lord, and she had already clearly reported this matter to Master. Where is the fault in her good intentions?” As he spoke, Qin Gou placed his hand on Ye Qishuang’s shoulder and patted her soothingly. He knew that Little Zhao’s scolding of Qishuang this time was indeed out of concern for him, but she had been a bit too impulsive.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Zhao Xinting and Xiao Shuang’er exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with joy. “So Master, you understand? Then Xinting can finally rest assured!”
“What are you talking about?” Qin Gou suddenly turned around.
“Originally, Xinting thought you must have misunderstood Qishuang’s intentions, which is why I kept making excuses, thinking I had to help Qishuang speak to you about it! I never expected that you already understood everything!” Zhao Xinting said with a knowing smile. “In fact, you’ve already said everything I was going to say to persuade you.”
“What do you mean?” Qin Gou’s eyes were filled with bewilderment. “Don’t tell me, Xinting, you were actually on Qishuang’s side from the beginning?”
“Precisely!” Little Zhao replied without hesitation.
“Nonsense!”
Qin Gou immediately pointed at Ye Qishuang. “If not for you scolding her, or for Xinting beating her, why would Qishuang suddenly be so sad?”
“But she wasn’t sad! Xinting just said that we had a good chat inside the Tunhai Shell. During this time, Xiao Shuang’er told me everything honestly, and after learning the attitude of this Eldest Senior Brother, who is like a brother and a mother to her…”
Little Zhao spread her hands with an innocent look. “She was just too moved! Cough, well… Master, the understanding and empathy you just showed to Xiao Shuang’er should still count, right?”
