Chapter 155 - 154: Prejudice in the Human Heart is a Great Mountain

"Their training will be finished after one last Body Refining session today, and I’ve already come up with a reason for them to leave."

"The official story is that we’re sending them out to spread the Body Technique and recruit talent for the tribe." Xiong Jiaojiao finished in a rush and stared at Chu Liangyu with wide eyes, asking the most critical question: "So, when should they set out?"

"They can go tomorrow."

Chu Liangyu thought for a moment and realized that her Beast Husbands were also leaving tomorrow. It seemed they would all be departing on the same day.

Fortunately, there weren’t too many of them. The tribe would be busy forming the Guard Team, so it was unlikely many people would notice.

"I understand, Sister Liangyu. I’ll let them know right away." Xiong Jiaojiao nodded in agreement and prepared to leave with the ten people behind her.

But Chu Liangyu stopped her. "Their first mission is to find out who created the Poison Vine that is useful to you members of the Wood Spirit Clan. But don’t be hasty. Settle in first, then investigate slowly."

Chu Liangyu had mentioned this to Xiong Jiaojiao during their previous discussions, but seeing how excited Jiaojiao seemed, she was worried she might forget. So, she reminded her one more time.

"I remember. I’ve already told them."

Chu Liangyu let out an "oh," a little surprised that Xiong Jiaojiao was even more reliable than she had expected.

"Alright. Go ahead and take them for their Body Refining session then."

After Xiong Jiaojiao left with her group, Chu Liangyu turned and headed back to her own courtyard, her mind on the soul-collecting she had to do that night.

’It was her first time doing something like this, after all. She was a little nervous.’

’Her soul had spent time in the modern world, where this kind of job was handled by underworld emissaries. So, she was getting to experience the life of a reaper here in the Beast World.’

The training sessions always ended around sunset. Though Chu Liangyu was anxious to get this over with, she had to wait patiently. After all, dark and stormy nights were best for shady business.

Chu Liangyu didn’t stay idle while she waited. In high spirits, she made herself a lovely dinner. After she finished eating, she even treated herself to some fruit for dessert.

The fruit was already sliced. As for a utensil, Chu Liangyu didn’t have one, so she just used her Soul Chasing Needle.

’The needle was brand new and hadn’t touched blood, so it would do in a pinch.’

She cultivated at a leisurely pace for a while longer. Seeing that it was dark enough outside, Chu Liangyu pushed open her door and stepped out.

Using her trident to turn invisible, Chu Liangyu sped toward the small courtyard where the two were being held under house arrest. Without alerting the guards outside, she silently located Hua Yao’s room.

Under the dim yellow lamplight, Hua Yao sat at a desk, brush in hand, writing or drawing something.

Worried about encountering the same kind of runes as last time, Chu Liangyu hadn’t used a clone and had come in her physical body instead.

To an outside observer, the door to Hua Yao’s room would have seemed to open on its own, without a breath of wind. In reality, the invisible Chu Liangyu had pushed it open.

The sound wasn’t loud, but in the dead of night, it was jarring.

The desk wasn’t far from the door, so Hua Yao noticed immediately. The moment he looked up, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He looked nothing like a weak, ailing High Priest.

’Chu Liangyu knew perfectly well that an Otherworld soul resided within him, so she wasn’t surprised in the least.’

"Who’s there, skulking in the shadows?"

Under normal circumstances, most people would have been frightened. But this "Hua Yao" remained completely composed. Aside from a trace of vigilance, he showed no other particular emotion.

’This proved he was used to such situations. Chu Liangyu had previously suspected he was from the Cultivation World, and now it seemed entirely possible.’

’She remembered Yu and Lai San, whom she had met in the Sumeru Realm. Of the two, Yu was a Guardian from the Cultivation World, while Lai San was the Guardian of the modern world. Despite Lai San’s appearance as a little brat, it was an undeniable fact.’

’Chu Liangyu suspected Yu had simply used some method to sever his connection to his original world, but she couldn’t be certain.’

’After all, the universe was vast. There wasn’t just one Cultivation World for Yu to guard. It was also possible this soul had been stolen from another world entirely.’

"You have quite the skill, to be able to conceal your form."

Hua Yao put down his brush and stood up from the desk. He walked to the doorway and stopped.

Though he clearly couldn’t see where Chu Liangyu was, he just so happened to stop right in front of her, face to face.

His light breaths washed over Chu Liangyu’s face. She frowned and instinctively took a step back.

She waved her hand in front of his face, and the flicker of suspicion she’d felt vanished at his reaction.

’This small test confirmed it for Chu Liangyu. Hua Yao truly couldn’t see her.’

’Although her ultimate goal was to collect his soul, she first needed to learn from him whether a talisman that could truly sever the connection between a clone and its main body existed.’

So, she didn’t play ghost for long. She simply revealed herself.

"It’s you."

Hua Yao’s expression was laced with confusion. ’The new leader, in my room in the middle of the night... What could she possibly want?’

’Remembering that this woman had twelve Beast Husbands, his mood soured.’

’A suspicion formed in his mind: could this woman be in heat, planning to force herself on him in the middle of the night?’

If Chu Liangyu knew what Hua Yao was thinking, she would have rolled her eyes so hard they’d see the heavens, and then given him a big slap across the face.

Did having twelve Beast Husbands automatically make her a lecher?

People should at least understand the real situation before passing judgment. It was so unfair to her.

Truly, the prejudice in people’s hearts is like a great mountain.

Fortunately, Chu Liangyu hadn’t unlocked Hu Qiumu’s Mind Reading Skill. Hmm... that was one way to stay in a good mood, I suppose.

"I heard from Hua Youyue that you received the Beast God’s guidance and can draw symbols with various functions."

"I happen to need a symbol that can sever the connection between a person’s clone and their main body. I was wondering if you could draw one for me?"

When Hua Yao heard her mention the Beast God’s guidance, he felt a slight twinge of guilt, but he still said, "I can."

Chu Liangyu’s eyes lit up. She urged him, "Then please draw one for me right now. No, wait—make it ten."

’That way, she could collect his soul quickly and move on to Zhao Zeming.’

Hua Yao had no idea that the talismans he was about to draw were, in fact, his own Soul Summoning Talismans. In accordance with the agreement he’d made before joining the tribe—that he, the High Priest, would obey Chu Liangyu’s arrangements—he didn’t refuse.

"I can, but..."

Chu Liangyu’s brows furrowed instantly. She pressed, "But what?"

"The kind of symbol you’re requesting is quite complex. It will take some time for me to draw ten of them."

"How long?"