No one spoke, and the scene fell into an awkward silence.
Wan Yanxue's delicate willow brows furrowed slightly, and she suddenly fixed her gaze on Xiong Zhuangzhuang.
"You are a disciple of the Imperial Beast Sect."
"...Yes."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang pondered for a moment before answering in a deep voice.
"You'd best advise your companions not to go where they shouldn't," Wan Yanxue's expression suddenly became solemn. "You might die."
"Wan Yanxue, let's go. Don't waste words with them. If they die, it will only be their own fate."
Shangguan Yuquan took a few steps and, finding Wan Yanxue not following, impatiently urged her loudly.
Wan Yanxue cast another deep look at Xiong Zhuangzhuang, a strange power flashing in her eyes, before flicking her sleeves and leaving.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang remained frozen in place, his pupils constricting, a cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
Seeing Xiong Zhuangzhuang's strange demeanor, Xu Yi whispered in his ear, "Xiong Zhuangzhuang, Xiong Zhuangzhuang!"
"Ah!"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang snapped back to attention, rubbing himself with his large hand. "So bizarre, I felt my consciousness being dragged into a sea of corpses and blood just now. It was terrifying."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's lips trembled slightly, his face pale, clearly not having fully recovered from the scene.
"Xiong Zhuangzhuang, I never knew you were so timid," Feng Qingyang slapped Xiong Zhuangzhuang on the back. "Relax, that was just an illusion."
"Mm."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang responded distractedly, a lingering fear hidden deep within his eyes.
He had lied just now.
What he saw was not a sea of corpses and blood.
But...
His body shivered violently again, his expression growing more listless.
Xu Yi found Xiong Zhuangzhuang's expression peculiar and was about to ask for details, but Bai Shan had already called everyone to enter the restaurant, so she lost the opportunity to speak.
However, during the meal, she deliberately chose a seat opposite Xiong Zhuangzhuang, paying attention to his expression from time to time, and gradually forming a thought.
"Everyone, what do you think about what Wan Yanxue just said?"
As the meal neared its end, Xu Yi casually brought up Wan Yanxue, but her eyes were fixed on Xiong Zhuangzhuang.
Indeed, when she finished speaking, Xiong Zhuangzhuang's expression turned panicked, and he fumbled and knocked over his wine cup.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang quickly righted the cup, attempting to explain nervously, but when he looked up, he met Xu Yi's deep gaze. The words of explanation died on his lips.
"Xiong Zhuangzhuang, what's wrong with you? Why are you so afraid of that Wan Yanxue?"
Feng Qingyang shouted discontentedly, then offered his opinion.
"I think she's likely trying to scare us. The secret realm of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect has always been managed by them. If there were really any dangers, why would the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect invite us? Am I right, Monk Hongjing?"
Hongjing also showed a look of doubt. "This humble monk has indeed not heard of any anomalies in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect's secret realm, nor has the sect received any such news."
"See, see? I think we should ignore them and proceed as planned."
"No!" Xiong Zhuangzhuang suddenly stood up, leaning his hands on the table and shouting, "I think we should listen to them, postpone this trip to the secret realm, or even cancel it altogether!"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's voice was already very deep, and his extreme agitation made it uncomfortably close to tearing eardrums.
Even the waiter from the restaurant came to inquire about the disturbance, but was sent away with a few words.
"Xiong Zhuangzhuang! Wan Yanxue only said a few words and you're spooked. How can you be so cowardly!"
Feng Qingyang was startled and spoke rather impolitely.
Bai Shan seconded, "I agree with Senior Brother Feng!"
After speaking, he looked eagerly at Xu Yi. "Sister Xu, what do you think?"
"I'd like to hear others' opinions first," Xu Yi leaned back lazily. "Bei Xinghan, what's your opinion?"
Startled at being named, Bei Xinghan said, "The Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect's secret realm is greatly beneficial for cultivation."
Therefore, he was unwilling to miss it.
Feng Qingyang smiled triumphantly, knowing that Senior Brother Bei would side with him.
"Xiao Yu."
"Ah, I, I..." Yu Xiaoyu stammered for a moment, then cautiously said, "I agree with Fellow Daoist Xiong. I also don't think Wan Yanxue would make up lies to scare us for no reason."
Yu Xiaoyu was perceptive and unwilling to take risks.
"Mm," Xu Yi nodded lightly. "Xiao Qi?"
"I'll listen to the Monk," Xiao Qi answered without hesitation.
Hongjing, before Xu Yi could ask, took the initiative to say, "If the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect's secret realm has indeed undergone changes, it is this humble monk's duty to investigate."
His words indicated that he also leaned towards going to the secret realm.
"Wu Gewei."
The taciturn Wu Gewei looked up and scanned everyone. "I naturally listen to Senior Brother Xiong."
After saying this, he closed his eyes again, appearing to be drowsy.
He had been sleeping almost constantly on this journey.
"Five to three, Xiong Zhuangzhuang, you've lost!"
Feng Qingyang shouted joyfully.
"Wait, Lu Zaiye and I haven't stated our positions yet." Xu Yi said with a half-smile.
Feng Qingyang scoffed dismissively. "You'll definitely agree, obviously."
Xu Yi was a troublemaker and wouldn't miss such an opportunity, and Lu Zaiye was from the same sect. They would surely agree, Feng Qingyang thought with certainty.
"Xiong Zhuangzhuang, if you can't give another reason, then we'll prepare to head to the secret realm tomorrow." Xu Yi said seriously.
"We can't go!"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang roared again, his nostrils flaring rapidly, veins bulging on his face.
"Xiong Zhuangzhuang, what is going on with you? Are you hiding something from us?"
Now even Feng Qingyang, who had been arguing with Xiong Zhuangzhuang, noticed something was amiss.
Suddenly, all suspicious gazes fell on Xiong Zhuangzhuang.
"Xiong Zhuangzhuang, only by answering truthfully can we make an accurate judgment." Xu Yi spoke slowly, word by word.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang took a deep breath and, with some difficulty, raised his head.
Everyone then noticed that Xiong Zhuangzhuang's eyes were bloodshot, which made their hearts skip a beat, and an ominous premonition quickly flashed through their minds.
"I saw in her eyes... I saw..."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang choked twice.
"What did you see?" Xu Yi pressed immediately.
She understood that this was likely the reason for Xiong Zhuangzhuang's abnormality.
"I saw all of us dead, and dying in extremely gruesome ways."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang took another deep breath and said it painfully, then immediately closed his eyes as if not wanting to recall the scene he had witnessed.
Everyone was stunned.
They had not expected to hear such an answer.
Feng Qingyang gave a dry laugh. "Haha, didn't I just say it? That was just an illusion, don't take it too seriously."
"It's not an illusion!"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils blood-red.
"Wan Yanxue's spirit beast is a Reincarnation Rat, she can foresee the future!"