Chapter 291 : Alarm Bells Ringing
The merperson's words sounded extremely pleasant and pitiable, enough to soften the hearts of listeners by several degrees. Yet precisely because these words sounded too pleasant, they aroused a measure of doubt.
Especially for those like Zhu Baiyi and Qingyu, with their considerable experience and worldly understanding, they couldn't possibly trust his words at face value.
According to Zhu Baiyi's thinking, the merperson's account was probably seven or eight tenths reliable. As for the remaining two or three tenths... the ancient affairs from tens of thousands of years ago aside—since humans had genuinely benefited—when the seal later became damaged, it was unlikely anyone would be so selflessly noble as to sacrifice their entire race without contacting the outside world. Had the merperson race informed the outside world ten thousand years ago, things wouldn't have come to this point.
The merperson race's decline to their current state must involve deeper secrets!
As for exactly what those secrets might be, Zhu Baiyi neither knew nor needed to know; she only needed to focus on the present. So her gaze swept over the still-unconscious crowd below the altar, and she said: "So, we are the sacrifices you sought?"
Hearing this, the merperson's eyes shifted, secretly glancing at Zhu Baiyi, but saw her expression remained calm with no emotions revealed. Yet the more composed she appeared, the more uneasy the merperson felt. After all, he wasn't truly ignorant of human nature and hadn't expected that people randomly lured by the ghost ship would all possess the spirit of self-sacrifice to save the world. If he admitted to this, he likely wouldn't fare well.
But denial seemed too late now, so he could only close his eyes and play dead, which essentially amounted to tacit acknowledgment.
Jiang Mo believed the merperson's words even less than Zhu Baiyi did, for the simple reason that his behavior didn't reflect such selfless nobility. She could believe that the merperson race had ulterior motives for their sacrifices, but she couldn't believe they were purely saving the world.
Seeing the merperson play dead again, Jiang Mo showed no courtesy, walking forward and kicking him again: "You haven't finished talking. Why are you playing dead?"
Jiang Mo's kick wasn't heavy, but it wasn't light either. Clearly, she hadn't changed her attitude toward him despite his previous speech—the old one couldn't be fooled, nor could the young one. It seemed he hadn't deceived anyone.
The merperson's heart sank, but he had to open his eyes: "I've said everything there is to say. What more do you want?"
Jiang Mo looked him up and down, then asked: "Why are you still alive?"
The merperson was startled, not understanding: "What do you mean?"
Jiang Mo spoke frankly: "The entire merperson race has been sacrificed. Why are you the only one still alive?"
Hearing this, the merperson's face turned crimson, as if extremely angry. Finally, through gritted teeth, he said: "I must conduct the sacrificial ceremony. Without me, the sacrifices would have stopped a thousand years ago, and the seal would likely have failed long ago."
Jiang Mo made no judgment upon hearing this, nodding as if she believed him, yet her expression clearly indicated otherwise. Living in the deep sea, the merperson's only contact with humans was the island's natives, who showed him nothing but reverence, requiring no effort on his part to manipulate. Thus, when it came to reading human intentions, the merperson was naturally at a disadvantage and couldn't discern her true thoughts.
While the merperson's heart was still pounding with anxiety, Jiang Mo spoke again: "Well, we've discussed enough. Now it's time to address the real issue." As she spoke, she dragged the merperson up from the ground and pointed at the unconscious crowd: "Now you can release your control and let them wake up."
The merperson was shocked: "You still want them to wake up?"
Jiang Mo looked at him curiously: "Why not?"
The merperson wanted to say that sacrifice was imperative, and by rendering them unconscious, he could extract their souls with less suffering. But such "persuasion" would be like pouring oil on fire, especially since they were all humans... well, not exactly—the one before him was a White Tiger. Regardless, they all stood with the human race, not aligned with him, a lone fish.
After a moment's hesitation, the merperson decided to struggle one last time: "The altar has been activated, and the sacrifice cannot be delayed, or there will be backlash against the seal. If we wake these people now, how will we handle the aftermath?"
In her heart, Jiang Mo didn't approve of sacrifices at all. Moreover, even if sacrifices were necessary, they should be willing. Capturing people like this was simply murder. Her gaze suddenly turned cold, her black eyes abruptly changing to gold, with a sharp aura surging forth: "I'm not asking for your opinion; I'm giving you an order. You are now my prisoner."
As she spoke, Jiang Mo's foot was already on the merperson's chest. Having been trampled several times by the great tiger, the merperson was wary and decided to concede, closing his eyes and shouting: "Fine, fine! Do whatever you want."
Jiang Mo snorted lightly and removed her foot. The merperson no longer struggled, and with a wave of his hand, points of blue light began to emanate from everyone's bodies.
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Many people had been affected by the merperson blood, and even for the merperson himself, removing the control required considerable time. Especially since he was injured, or perhaps using his injuries as an excuse to delay, it would take quite a while to wake everyone up.
Jiang Mo didn't want to wait idly, and with Zhu Baiyi and Qingyu watching over things, she left a few instructions before flashing back into her innate space—she worried that her Senior Sister might be stubborn, unwilling to accept her kindness, and also feared that keeping her confined in the innate space might anger her. Not daring to stay away long, she wanted to check on the situation and, if her Senior Sister truly refused, she would have to let her out.
Fortunately, Yun Qingyue wasn't so rigid. Knowing the dire situation outside required combat power, after some internal struggle, she had finally accepted the Formation-Breaking Pearl. When Jiang Mo re-entered the space, Yun Qingyue was in the process of refining it.
Seeing this, Jiang Mo felt relieved and satisfied, quietly moving to sit beside her.
Much had happened recently, and while they weren't exactly running ragged, they had little time to relax. Now, with a rare moment of leisure, and only the two of them in this space, it was a precious opportunity to be alone together.
Yun Qingyue sat cross-legged on a cushion, and Jiang Mo took another to sit opposite her. At first, she sat properly and attentively, but as her posture relaxed, Jiang Mo rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the person before her, gradually becoming entranced—it had been a long time since she had looked so carefully at her Senior Sister. Separated for eighty years, all her longing buried in her heart, and even after reuniting, they hadn't officially recognized each other, preventing her from truly seeing her.
Thinking of this, Jiang Mo felt a twinge of regret, but for the sake of the future, she suppressed it. She stopped thinking about other matters, focusing only on the person before her, the affection in her eyes barely concealed.
What was there to hide? Her Senior Sister had her eyes closed and couldn't see.
Besides, she had grown into adulthood; even if seen, it wouldn't matter. It might even be good to let her Senior Sister understand her feelings...
Jiang Mo unconsciously thought of these things while her gaze lingered on Yun Qingyue's face—though her Senior Sister still wore a mask, one produced by the system that only its owner could remove. She didn't try to remove it, so her gaze could only linger on the parts not covered by the mask: her slightly closed eyes and the lower half of her face exposed beyond the mask.
Yun Qingyue was exceptionally beautiful. Cultivators lived long lives, and eighty years passed like the snap of a finger. Even though only half her face was visible, its exquisite features were enough to make one imagine the transcendent beauty beneath the mask, especially since Jiang Mo already knew her appearance.
Jiang Mo gazed at her steadily, just as she had years ago when she was still a tiger cub, sitting or lying while watching her Senior Sister cultivate.
No, it was different now. Jiang Mo's eyes held longing and affection. As her gaze fell on the lower half of Yun Qingyue's face exposed beyond the mask, it involuntarily lingered on her lips. Those rosy lips, lightly pressed together, perfectly adorned her delicate face. Even half a face was enough to make one's heart race, appearing all the more alluring...
As Jiang Mo continued to stare, she became lost in thought, her body unconsciously leaning forward.
Just as she was about to steal a kiss, alarm bells suddenly rang in her mind—literally alarm bells, as the system abruptly sounded an alert in her consciousness, startling her so much that she nearly jumped, thinking some danger was approaching.
But this was clearly impossible, as this was her innate space, where no danger could exist.
Coming to her senses, Jiang Mo was naturally angry and was about to question the system when she looked up to meet a pair of beautiful glassy eyes.
In that instant, Jiang Mo's heartbeat seemed to stop, and she finally understood why the system's alarm had sounded. Her Senior Sister had awakened, and if she had dared to lean in for a stolen kiss... well, that would indeed have been dangerous!
By the time Jiang Mo reacted, her expression had already frozen. She quickly forced a stiff smile: "Senior Sister, you're awake?"
Yun Qingyue raised her hand and placed it on Jiang Mo's shoulder, gently pushing her away—the two were extremely close at this moment, due to Jiang Mo's intent to steal a kiss, her entire body leaning forward with their faces less than a foot apart. Had Jiang Mo not been frozen in shock, she would have instinctively retreated to sit properly without waiting for Yun Qingyue to push her.
Now, after this push, Jiang Mo immediately reacted, springing back to her seat. She moved so quickly that Yun Qingyue couldn't keep up; her hand, which had been pushing, was left suspended in mid-air, appearing somewhat awkward.
Of course, awkwardness was a self-perceived feeling. If one didn't feel awkward themselves, no one could say they were.
Just like Yun Qingyue at this moment—her expression unchanged as she withdrew her hand, showing no trace of awkwardness. After withdrawing her hand, she calmly looked up at Jiang Mo: "What were you doing just now?"
She hadn't spoken harshly and might not have noticed Jiang Mo's intentions, but upon hearing the question, Jiang Mo nearly broke out in a cold sweat. Had she been in her original form, Yun Qingyue would likely have seen a tiger with bristling fur. Even maintaining her human form, hiding the bristling appearance, her nervousness and panic were obvious... Yun Qingyue noticed this too but didn't point it out.
Jiang Mo's mind raced. Although she had previously claimed not to mind if her feelings were discovered, this didn't mean she was comfortable with her intention to steal a kiss being exposed. If her Senior Sister knew, she might avoid her entirely.
She couldn't tell the truth!
In an instant, Jiang Mo made her decision and righteously declared: "Nothing. I just wanted to look at you properly. We haven't seen each other for eighty years; I've almost forgotten what you look like..."
It was a lie, but sincerely spoken with a hint of complaint, lamenting that she had left and never returned.
Yun Qingyue nodded slightly, her current thoughts indiscernible. Then she spoke: "Indeed, eighty years apart. So why, Fellow Daoist Jiang, did you conceal your identity upon seeing me?"