When Liu Buli heard Lu Wuming's confident words, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness.
In other matters, Lu Wuming had never disappointed him. However, when it came to aesthetics, Lu Wuming was truly not very adept. When he said not to worry and that he wouldn't disappoint, Liu Buli could only fear that it would be a shock without any pleasant surprise in the end.
To prevent any embarrassing situations from occurring, Liu Buli hesitated for a moment before confirming, "Wuming, do you want to tell your master in advance what your cultivation technique is like now? You've been avoiding me when practicing lately. I'm quite curious to see what you've achieved?"
"You'll see soon enough. If I tell you now, it won't be a surprise," Lu Wuming refused with utmost decisiveness. "In any case, I've remembered everything you told me. A cultivation technique must create something that everyone finds beautiful. This time, I guarantee it will be something everyone finds beautiful. It's different from anything before. Don't you trust me yet?"
He spoke with great sincerity.
Liu Buli wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt as though he detected a hint of pride in Lu Wuming's tone.
What was he so proud of?
Was he that confident in his own aesthetic sense?
Liu Buli didn't know how to react for a moment. All he knew was that seeing Lu Wuming like this, his worries only deepened.
However, this time, it wasn't something he could stop even if he wanted to. Lu Wuming seemed eager to showcase his cultivation technique, even quickening his pace back.
Just as he had guessed, most people remained near the main hall. Even though Shen Muzhi's karmic fire had ignited the sky, the ghost clan members continued to surge forward, showing no signs of stopping.
Amidst the flames, Shen Muzhi saw Liu Buli and the others approaching and breathed a slight sigh of relief. He nudged You Siqi beside him, who immediately waved at Liu Buli, signaling him to come over.
Liu Buli also practiced fire-attribute techniques, so Shen Muzhi's crimson lotus posed no threat to him. Giving Lu Wuming a nod, Liu Buli plunged into the fray and reached Shen Muzhi and the others.
There were no particularly formidable figures among the nearby ghost clan members, so Lu Wuming didn't try to stop Liu Buli. He stood on the periphery, attacking the monsters, creating a pincer movement that made dealing with them much more convenient.
Seeing Liu Buli approach, Shen Muzhi quickly nudged You Siqi. He said, "Daoist Liu, you're finally back. Please take care of Siqi for me. It's difficult for me to manage both protecting him and fighting these ghosts. You don't need to overexert yourself. Just taking good care of him is enough; you don't need to worry about anything else."
As Shen Muzhi spoke, he was indeed struggling to keep up. His injuries had increased, and his neatly arranged hair and wedding attire were somewhat disheveled, stained with blood, making him look rather disheveled.
Although there were many other cultivators around, Shen Muzhi couldn't completely put his mind at ease about them. The only person he truly trusted from the bottom of his heart was Liu Buli. Therefore, seeing Liu Buli return now, he truly felt relieved.
However, what he never expected was that after hearing his request, Liu Buli would simply fall silent for a moment before decisively shaking his head and rejecting Shen Muzhi's proposal.
Shen Muzhi looked utterly bewildered.
Liu Buli then chuckled, meeting Shen Muzhi's confused gaze, and said, "I know you are currently the Valley Master of Medicine Master Valley, and with the ghost clan invading, you indeed need to stand at the forefront. But in my opinion, besides being the Valley Master, you are also the husband who just had a wedding ceremony with You Siqi. Since your joyous occasion hasn't passed, don't push your own spouse into someone else's arms. Protect him well yourself. As for this group of blind fools around, do you think I can't handle them?"
As Liu Buli spoke, he decisively pushed You Siqi, sending him back into Shen Muzhi's embrace.
With his beloved in his arms, Shen Muzhi was taken aback.
He then smiled helplessly and said, "Daoist Liu, I understand your good intentions, but..."
"If you understand, then treat You Siqi well. You don't need to worry about anything else. I am, after all, part of his family. His wedding was ruined like this, and you expect me to let these troublemakers go?"
Liu Buli interrupted Shen Muzhi and then turned his gaze back to the surrounding ghost clan.
When Lu Wuming was dealing with that ghost clan member earlier, Liu Buli hadn't had the chance to intervene. Now that it was his turn to act, he no longer held back. He unleashed his spiritual power entirely, clearly intending to fight the ghost clan to the death.
With his intentions so clearly displayed, Shen Muzhi could no longer say anything. His heart filled with even more gratitude. He quietly thanked Liu Buli and then, holding You Siqi, retreated to the side.
In the end, no matter who he entrusted the person in his arms to, he would still feel somewhat uneasy.
His own people needed to be kept close, watched over carefully. Now that Liu Buli had stepped in to fill the role he, as the Valley Master of Medicine Master Valley, should have, he didn't feel irresponsible as he might have before. Instead, he felt a sense of relief.
He was indeed completely different from before.
Thinking this, Shen Muzhi tightened his grip on You Siqi. He curved his lips and said softly, "Befriending Liu Buli and the others is truly one of the few correct things I've done in my life."
"You've done many correct things; never doubt yourself!" You Siqi shook his head and said, "How many times have I told you? In my eyes, you are the sole protagonist in this world. Protagonists never doubt themselves. Whatever you decide is right! You need to have this realization, do you understand?"
Shen Muzhi smiled faintly, remaining silent.
You Siqi frowned.
Just as he was about to add a few more words, he noticed a sudden, intense commotion among the cultivators nearby.
This clearly indicated something significant had happened.
However, by now, all the powerful members of the ghost clan had already appeared. There shouldn't be anything else that could shock everyone so profoundly!
Shen Muzhi and You Siqi forgot their conversation and simultaneously looked in the direction of the disturbance.
And then, through the misty haze, they clearly saw a giant, three to four stories tall, condensed from water vapor...
A statue of Liu Buli.
—
(Chapter 300! Congratulations to myself, please reward me!)