At the bottom of Wanqing Lake.
Yun Ze had been cultivating with his eyes closed, inhaling and exhaling the profound energy of heaven and earth. At some point, a familiar voice suddenly reached his ears.
"It's time."
"Hmm?"
Yun Ze was taken aback. He slowly opened his eyes and found that Bu Bu had already floated before him.
Although he had released some of his control over the lake water, the surrounding waters were still within his grasp.
This was to prevent some fish in a frenzied state from colliding with him, but... he hadn't noticed at all when Bu Bu had arrived!
"I said, it's time."
Bu Bu repeated, "Three days have passed. You can go back now. Just don't forget what I told you."
"So soon?"
Yun Ze was dazed. He thought only an hour had passed, but it turned out to be three days.
Perhaps it was because he didn't feel hungry and was immersed in absorbing the profound energy, but time seemed to fly by too quickly.
"There are no days or months in the mountains; cultivation is like this."
Bu Bu explained casually, "Three days is just the blink of an eye. True cultivators can spend decades or even centuries in cultivation, with some even in seclusion for a thousand years."
"Decades!?"
"Alright, stop talking. Let's go back first, or that person will be waiting impatiently."
As Bu Bu spoke, she swam towards the surface of the lake, and Yun Ze hurriedly followed.
For some reason, Yun Ze felt that Bu Bu had become somewhat different after these three days.
The Bu Bu of the past was cold, taciturn, and mysterious, but not as unfathomable as she was now.
As a little girl who had never left Hanshan Village.
How did she know about cultivators going into seclusion for decades or even centuries?
Yun Ze couldn't figure it out. If he asked the old gentleman about these things, it would seem inappropriate.
He could even guess how the old gentleman would answer him... I don't know, I'm not clear, don't ask me.
Never mind, he would ask Bu Bu himself after he got his revenge.
Now that the profound energy within him was nearing saturation, perhaps he could learn more about immortals from the old gentleman.
To be honest, Yun Ze was quite looking forward to it.
Soon, he followed Bu Bu to the surface, and what met his eyes were lotus-shaped candle lamps.
It was already night. Lanterns were lit along the lake, and flower boats drifted on the water.
The myriad lights echoed the crescent moon in the sky. Pedestrians carrying lanterns walked and stopped along the lakeside.
Those lotus-shaped candle lamps were placed into the lake by the pedestrians.
Although he didn't know the meaning of them placing lotus candle lamps, judging from this scene alone, the prefectural office must have lifted its supervision of Wanqing Lake.
This made things much more convenient.
Whether he left the lake or came back to cultivate, it would be easier, as long as he avoided those black-skinned dogs.
Yun Ze swam with Bu Bu to the edge of the bushes where they had entered the lake.
As soon as they stood up, they saw a person in a black robe standing by the lake, holding a lantern that illuminated the water!
"Who!"
Yun Ze instinctively asked, already controlling a stream of water. If he sensed anything wrong, he would envelop the person and pull them into the water!
"Guest!"
The black-robed person quickly called out, holding the lantern closer to his face to illuminate his features, "It's me, Xiao Si'er!"
"Han Si?"
Yun Ze was surprised. He hadn't expected Han Si to be waiting for him here.
Since it was Han Si, there shouldn't be any problem.
However... if he was waiting for him here, it meant he knew that he and Bu Bu had been living underwater for three days, and perhaps had already guessed something.
He and Bu Bu first emerged from under the water, used the immortal jade to dry the moisture from their clothes, and then looked at Han Si and asked, "Why are you here?"
Han Si's eyes showed surprise, which he then concealed. "I saw that you were not coming out of the lake, and I was a little worried.
Also, regarding He Laichao..."
"What about He Laichao?"
"He hasn't left the He Mansion for these past few days, nor has he continued to look for people. It's very strange."
Han Si said, clenching his fists and frowning deeply, "So I went to inquire a bit. I heard some rumors these past few days that the Weishan Prefectural Office has brought many children from other mountain villages and sent them all to the He Mansion.
But strangely, no one has ever seen those children come out. They must be..."
Yun Ze frowned, "What?"
"Dead."
Hearing the three words Han Si uttered, Yun Ze's brows immediately furrowed, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Dead?
Why?
No matter how inhuman or brutal He Laichao was, he wouldn't slaughter children for amusement, would he?
Even back then, he had ordered the massacre of the village because he hadn't obtained the immortal jade.
Everything he did must have had another purpose.
"Okay, I understand," Yun Ze could only utter these five words.
He didn't have the confidence to take revenge yet, so he could only make a mental note.
"You understand? Just... understand?"
Han Si looked up at Yun Ze, gritted his teeth, and questioned, "Guest, forgive my impertinence, but are you... an immortal?"
"No..."
"Don't say you're not!"
As soon as Yun Ze spoke, Han Si interrupted him, threw the package in his hand to the ground, "I know! I know you are the Immortal of the Lake!
The night the Immortal of the Lake appeared, you went to Wanqing Lake, and you returned afterward! You stayed at the bottom of this lake for so long. If you weren't an immortal, how could you have done it!
And that technique just now, if you weren't an immortal, how could you have dried your wet clothes so quickly!
You just don't want to save people! You don't want to..."
"Shut up!"
Han Si's voice grew louder and more agitated. If he continued, he might attract the attention of the yamen runners or other people.
Only then would Yun Ze truly be in a difficult position, so he had to stop him with a shout.
"Why should I shut up!"
Han Si roared, pointing at Yun Ze's nose, and cursed, "It's because of you immortals that we common folk live in dire straits!
We, like them, all believe in you!
They are wealthy and offer you worship with the cheapest gold and silver. We can barely feed ourselves, yet we place our most precious wine and meat on the altar!
But you still choose gold and silver! Protect them! And never care about us wretched souls!
Why should I listen to you? Just because you are an immortal?"
"Heh, immortal my ass!"
Yun Ze remained silent.
He wasn't an immortal, and from a human perspective, he even agreed with what Han Si was saying.
"You want me to shut up?"
Seeing Yun Ze's silence, Han Si continued, "But I won't shut up! I will speak out loud! Expose the true faces of you immortals and gods!"
"Since you are unwilling to intervene, I will intervene!"
"Since you are unwilling to kill them, I will kill them!"
"If you immortals and gods wish to remain aloof, then do so! We mortals no longer need you!"
"At least... I no longer need you!"
"Han Si, calm down first, listen to me..."
"I don't need to listen anymore!"
Han Si had fallen into a frenzy. He stepped forward, his eyes slightly reddened, staring at Yun Ze, "I'll ask you just one question!"
"Do you... kill him or not!"