Chapter 138: Traces of the Heretical Buddha Sect's Disciples

Gui Yi wondered if he had misheard. Did the Master just tell him to start by learning how to do housework?

The problem was, could doing chores even be considered a task? Wasn't that something that could be completed with the utmost ease?

Fang Mu gave Gui Yi’s shoulder a confident pat and said, "You didn't hear wrong. Everything starts with housework. If you don't understand anything, you can ask Ah Bai for guidance."

Gui Yi’s face was a map of question marks, still unable to snap out of his bewilderment.

At this moment, Ah Bai raised its front paw, patted the table, and pointed at itself, wearing an expression that declared nobody understood housework better than it did.

When it came to doing chores, Ah Bai considered itself an absolute expert.

Gui Yi fell into deep thought. After a moment, he slapped his thigh and exclaimed loudly, "This subordinate understands!"

Fang Mu was taken aback. For the man to suddenly announce he understood—what exactly did he think he understood?

Could it be that he finally realized he had been assigned to do odd jobs?

Still, it didn't matter. The master-servant relationship was established, and chores were chores, regardless of the worker.

Gui Yi lowered his hands and said solemnly, "The Master means that we must begin with minor tasks. Only by handling small matters well can we undertake great responsibilities in the future. I wonder if this subordinate guessed correctly."

Ah Bai, sitting on the table, was utterly shocked. It hadn't expected this newcomer to grasp the master's intent so quickly.

In that instant, Ah Bai was gripped by a sense of crisis, its mind racing to calculate: "No, I absolutely cannot surrender all my housekeeping secrets."

Fang Mu looked at the intensely convinced supernatural entity with a very complex internal state, though he kept his expression completely serious. "That's right. It is best that you understand. From now on, work under Ah Bai."

What else could he say? Gui Yi’s imagination had run completely wild.

Gui Yi turned to look at Ah Bai and said with utmost gravity, "Please give me your guidance in the future."

Ah Bai gave its head a shake to signal its acceptance.

Fang Mu said, "Alright, rest up. Tomorrow we return to Jinglong County."

Since this matter had reached a temporary conclusion, Fang Mu was eager to head back to Jinglong County.

Gui Yi respectfully acknowledged the order: "Master, would you like some late-night snacks? I can go make them now; there should be ingredients around here."

"No need." Fang Mu grinned. Gui Yi was getting into character remarkably fast, having successfully immersed himself in the role in just this short amount of time.

Hearing this, Gui Yi cupped his hands and stood quietly to one side.

The atmosphere grew slightly silent. Having suddenly acquired a servant, Fang Mu wasn't quite used to it yet.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Right at that moment, a round of knocking suddenly echoed from outside the door.

Fang Mu’s brows furrowed slightly as he glanced toward the entrance.

It was already the dead of night; who could possibly be visiting at this hour?

Gui Yi bowed and asked, "Master, shall this subordinate open the door?"

Fang Mu nodded.

The knocking had sounded only once before stopping, but faint rustling noises outside proved that whoever it was had not left.

Gui Yi walked over to the door. After pulling it open, he frowned and asked, "What is your business with the Master?"

Gui Yi recognized the person standing outside—it was none other than Yu Ling, the masked woman.

Among the four who had survived, Yu Ling was one of them.

"Master?"

Wearing her mask, Yu Ling’s facial expressions were hidden, but her voice betrayed profound astonishment.

Fang Mu also spotted Yu Ling and frowned, saying, "Let her in."

Yu Ling was an operative whose mission was to infiltrate the heretical Buddha's organization. For her to show up and seek him out so abruptly meant there must be something important going on, Fang Mu reasoned.

Gui Yi nodded and stepped aside.

Yu Ling walked in, only then realizing who the "Master" Gui Yi had referred to actually was.

What piqued her curiosity, however, was that in this brief span of time, Fang Mu had already taken on a subordinate.

Yu Ling cast a quick glance over him. Gui Yi possessed a remarkably steady aura, carrying an inherent scholarly elegance that exuded extraordinariness from head to toe.

For someone like that to pledge allegiance to another made her deeply curious about Fang Mu.

Naturally, she had no idea of Gui Yi's true identity, because back then, Gui Yi had been nothing more than a blurred shadowy apparition, whereas now he stood before her as a genuine Xuanist.

Gui Yi stood close to Fang Mu, a writing brush materializing in his right hand.

As a subordinate, he had to safeguard the Master's safety at all times.

This masked woman's background was unknown, and the moment she made any suspicious move, Gui Yi would strike without hesitation.

Fang Mu tapped the table. "Yu Ling?"

Yu Ling nodded and casually pulled up a chair to sit opposite him.

The room was dim, with the oil lamp flickering softly.

Fang Mu smiled and asked, "What brings you to see me at this hour?"

"That's right," Yu Ling nodded. "Beware of the heretical Buddha's followers. I just tracked down their traces, but unfortunately lost them. They seem to have arrived nearby, though their exact location is currently unknown."

Fang Mu rubbed his chin in silence without replying.

He still carried the lingering aura of the heretical Buddha's follower on him. Now that Yu Ling had picked up their trail, could they be coming after him?

If that were truly the case, it would be wonderful indeed.

Seeing that Fang Mu remained silent, Yu Ling continued, "The heretical Buddha's disciples have always skulked in the shadows. I originally thought the Xuan-Gui Ruins would draw them out, but they didn't show up. Now that they've suddenly appeared again, there must be something fishy going on."

Fang Mu chuckled. "Even if there's something fishy, there's nothing to be done since you can't pinpoint their location."

He understood Yu Ling's implication: the heretical Buddha's followers must have some ulterior motive, and since he possessed the aura they left behind, there was a good chance they might drop by to deal with him.

However, none of that posed a problem.

Yu Ling stood up. "I've said all I came to say. I should be leaving now. Take care of yourself."

She had come merely to give Fang Mu a warning. Now that her objective was achieved, it was time for her to depart.

Fang Mu shook his head. "Wait a moment."

Gui Yi’s figure flashed, and he stood nearby gripping his writing brush.

Yu Ling instantly put on a guarded look.

It was true she belonged to the Sky Supervision Bureau, but she was dealing with Fang Mu.

Ever since the incident at the Xuan-Gui Ruins, Yu Ling had mentally tagged Fang Mu as unpredictable; she felt his temperament shifted far too quickly—he might be smiling and chatting amicably one second, only to slash out with a blade the next.

Furthermore, Fang Mu did not care for conventional rules and boundaries. She certainly wasn't going to rely on her status as a Sky Supervision Bureau agent, knowing she might well be killed and buried by Fang Mu the very next moment.

Gui Yi remained completely composed. At a single word from Fang Mu, he would subdue Yu Ling.

The atmosphere grew tense, both Yu Ling and Gui Yi radiating sharp hostility.

Fang Mu waved a hand. "There's no need to be so tense. I just have a small matter I'd like you to agree to."

Gui Yi withdrew his hand and resumed his respectful posture at the side.

Yu Ling turned back, her voice stiff. "What is it?"

Gui Yi's overwhelming presence a moment ago had left her completely uncertain of her chances.

Fang Mu stood up, paced slowly around Yu Ling in a circle, and gestured inquiringly. "Are those corpses of yours supernatural entities?"

Yu Ling froze, then instinctively nodded. "To be precise, I belong to the spirit-driving class of Xuanists. Um... those corpses are indeed supernatural entities."

Fang Mu's eyes lit up with excitement. "Would you mind releasing those corpses of yours for me to take a look at?"