Two days later, Weishan Prefecture.
Yun Ze had originally intended to take his time on the road, to retrace this path at a normal person's pace.
However, as soon as the two arrived at the mountain temple where they had met the elder of the Xiao family, they heard a piece of news from people resting in the same temple!
An immortal had graced Weishan Prefecture!
It seemed to be precisely to celebrate the death of He Laichao!
This was outrageous!
Yun Ze instinctively thought it was the same immortal he had encountered last time, so he hurried his steps, wishing he could sprout wings and fly directly to the outskirts of Weishan Prefecture!
Bubu had cautioned him at the time that with his current cultivation, he was no match for that immortal, even if the immortal had not yet reached the Foundation Establishment realm!
Yun Ze himself knew this, of course.
However...
He still had to go!
At the very least, to see if there was a chance to seize that demonic artifact, or to wait for an opportune moment?
If he did nothing, then there would truly be no chance at all!
By the evening of the next day, Yun Ze stepped through the city gates just as they were closing, and re-entered Weishan Prefecture.
To avoid attracting the immortal's attention, he did not stay at Li Xiaoer's shop. Instead, he found a random inn and lodged there.
From the snippets of conversation among the diners, Yun Ze also learned that Li Xiaoer's shop was now doing incredibly well!
Ever since he had followed that young immortal and personally participated in the killing of He Laichao, all the citizens of the city wanted to see him, to ask how that beast He Laichao had died!
Li Xiaoer, being a shrewd businessman, had taken on the role of a storyteller. Every mealtime, he would bang his gavel and recount the events of that night, which had led to his business booming!
Yun Ze could only offer a wry smile upon hearing this.
It seemed he shouldn't call him Shopkeeper Li, but rather Storyteller Li.
As for the matter of the immortal, Yun Ze had also overheard quite a bit.
It was said that he had arrived at the He family's mansion yesterday. He had not entered, but had simply placed a placard at the entrance, bearing the ten characters: 'Whoever killed He Laichao, come out and chat.'
Afterward... he had fallen asleep right at the entrance of the He family's mansion!
It was heard that He Zhixuan, upon returning from out of town yesterday, had seen such a person at the entrance of his mansion. He had initially intended to have his servants clear him away.
But as soon as the servants took out their brooms to sweep, that person had directly floated into the air!
He was asleep, yet he floated!
He Zhixuan, being an old fox, understood the situation upon seeing this. He immediately ordered his household staff to provide food and drink, hoping to invite him inside.
However, the immortal paid them no mind, continuing to sleep at the entrance as if nothing had happened.
Many people had already come to pay their respects, offering incense and prayers.
It was rumored that tomorrow they would erect a temporary altar to allow the common people to behold the immortal's visage and offer prayers.
As for the immortal's attitude...
Even when the servants had moved their brooms, there was no reaction. Offering incense and prayers should therefore be acceptable.
Yun Ze was stunned upon hearing this.
What kind of immortal was this?
It didn't seem like the demeanor of the person he had met on the pleasure boat that day!
Could it be another immortal?
How many immortals was He Laichao connected to?
Yun Ze frowned, but still decided to go and see for himself!
He took advantage of the night and, with Bubu, arrived outside the He family's mansion.
However, the two could not move forward even after reaching a hundred feet from the mansion.
People!
Looking out, they saw a dense mass of people everywhere!
Countless heads bobbed together, and under the lamplight, countless wisps of white smoke could be seen rising.
Those were the incense sticks held by the common folk!
At this moment, Yun Ze finally understood what was meant by 'revered by all people.'
The crowd before him was even larger than when he had killed He Laichao!
Fortunately, there were people organizing the order.
After one person offered incense and prayed, they would take a different path to leave, and the crowd continued to move forward in an orderly fashion.
After about three hours, as dawn began to break, Yun Ze finally caught sight of the so-called immortal from afar.
It wasn't him.
This was definitely not the immortal he had seen on the pleasure boat!
His delicate features were untainted by the dust of the world. His eyelids were slightly closed, his hands tucked behind his head, and he lay flat in mid-air. His chest rose and fell gently, completely ignoring the people praying and offering incense before him.
But just as Yun Ze looked at him, the other person suddenly opened his eyes!
An incredibly terrifying pressure descended instantly!
Yun Ze's heart trembled, as if he had returned to the scene when the elder of the Xiao family had interrogated him!
Helplessness, humility, and the fear of death all weighed down on his heart!
When he came to his senses, the other person's eyelids had already opened, and he was staring directly at him!
"The immortal has manifested! The immortal has manifested!"
"Quick! Quick, pray!"
Continuous cheers erupted around him, but a drop of sweat trickled down Yun Ze's temple.
Could it be that he had seen that he was the one who killed He Laichao?
No!
He couldn't defeat him!
The best course of action was to flee!
It wasn't far to Wanqing Lake. He would flee there first, and deal with the rest later!
Just as Yun Ze was about to take Bubu and escape, the other person suddenly closed his eyes again and lay back down.
It was as if... nothing had happened.
Yun Ze tilted his head, a look of confusion on his face.
What was going on?
He had indeed been looking at him just now.
But why did he look at him, then lie back down and sleep? Was he looking down on him? Or was he trying not to alert him, planning to attack when he got closer?
No matter! Since he wasn't the immortal who had created the demonic artifact, it was best to flee!
Yun Ze's brow furrowed, and he turned to pull Bubu through the crowd, intending to escape this troublesome place.
The common folk who had been kneeling stood up again as the immortal closed his eyes. Filled with joy, they intended to continue queuing.
But at that moment, the immortal's voice suddenly rang out.
"You may all return now."
As soon as the words were spoken, the joyous sounds around them instantly fell silent!
Everyone stopped, and in unison, they turned around and walked in the opposite direction.
Yun Ze stood amidst the crowd!
He personally witnessed people, their faces shifting from joy to a dead, calm expression, and then begin to walk in the opposite direction!
Not only him, but all the common folk around him were the same!
Even the rhythm of their departure was identical!
Lift leg, lower, lift leg, lower...
Only he and Bubu were unaffected!
He still intended to make a move!
But someone who could use such means was definitely not someone he could contend with. It was best to slip away!
However, in the next instant, the other person spoke again.
"Fellow Daoist, please stay."
Yun Ze's movement to leave was instantly halted!
He could only stand in place, like a block of wood, staring ahead. The other person... he was still lying in mid-air, without lifting his eyelids in the slightest.
Yun Ze took a deep breath, calming his mind, and then asked forward, "What do you want?"