"What? What?
You're joking?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk was practically fuming with rage. He grabbed Gu Qingfeng by the collar, his face flushed red as he shouted sternly, "Kid Gu, do you have any idea that some jokes can be made carelessly, while others absolutely cannot? Otherwise, you'll cause major trouble!"
"Is it really that exaggerated?
It's just the two of us here. What major trouble could there be?"
"Don't you know that countless beings in the heavens and the earth have been secretly watching you all this time?
You might be able to sense some of them, but there are others you can't sense. Just because you can't sense them doesn't mean they don't exist, understand?"
"No, I don't understand!" Gu Qingfeng shook his head. "So what if they hear? What then?
Are you afraid they'll mistake you for a member of the Ancient Clan?"
"Of course!
If they really mistake This Old Monk for a member of the Ancient Clan, that would be a huge mess."
"I still don't get it. How is that a huge mess?
What kind of trouble would it be?"
"What kind of trouble?
If they really mistake This Old Monk for a member of the Ancient Clan, the first one to die would be you, believe it or not?"
"I say, Da Xing, I haven't seen much of the world, so don't try to fool me. What does it have to do with me if you, damn it, are a member of the Ancient Clan?"
"Are you really that stupid, or are you just pretending with This Old Monk? I just told you, many terrifying beings have been watching you all along. While they hope you'll ascend to become the True Lord of Original Sin and eradicate Fate, they're also wary of you because you're an anomaly. What they fear most is you turning your coat and siding with Fate. If they mistakenly believe This Old Monk is from the Ancient Clan, they'll definitely suspect that you've already defected to Fate."
"So it seems...
the ones behind Fate really are the Ancient Clan."
"This Old Monk, I..." Hearing Gu Qingfeng's words, Da Xing the Mad Monk realized he'd been tricked. He'd fallen into Gu Qingfeng's trap and been coaxed into revealing information.
However, he didn't explain anything, merely warning himself to be careful with his words.
Da Xing the Mad Monk was no fool. He naturally understood that Gu Qingfeng had been trying to coax information out of him all along, both overtly and covertly. Moreover, Gu Qingfeng's words were a mix of truth and falsehood, real and fake, and very tricky. It left Da Xing in a bind—not answering wasn't right, answering wasn't right either. Answering meant falling into a trap, not answering also meant falling into a trap. It was a real headache.
Indeed.
Gu Qingfeng was indeed trying to coax information out of Da Xing the Mad Monk.
His questions were a mix of truth and falsehood, real and fake, giving Da Xing a headache. And Da Xing's reactions were similarly a mix of truth and falsehood, real and fake, which also gave Gu Qingfeng a headache.
Gu Qingfeng knew that Da Xing the Mad Monk must be privy to many secrets. Unfortunately, this old bald donkey kept hiding, covering up, playing dumb, and refusing to speak. Even when he did speak, his words were vague and ambiguous, a mix of truth and falsehood, real and fake, making it impossible for Gu Qingfeng to discern the truth.
"Kid Gu."
Da Xing the Mad Monk sighed wearily, looking utterly exhausted as if mentally drained. "This Old Monk is tired. I don't want to play this game of mutual guessing with you anymore. Don't waste your energy trying to coax information out of This Old Monk either. To be honest with you, This Old Monk does know many things. Some matters, This Old Monk has told you almost everything I can. Even the things I couldn't say outright, I've hinted at half-truths. The remaining matters, This Old Monk really cannot say."
Gu Qingfeng was somewhat taken aback that Da Xing the Mad Monk would suddenly say this. It was somewhat beyond his expectations. He asked, "Why can't you say?"
"This Old Monk just made it very clear. Once some words are spoken, they'll cause major trouble. It's no exaggeration to say that if This Old Monk really told you everything, today, the two of us would either die or be skinned alive, and chaos would erupt in the Primordial Black Hole."
Da Xing the Mad Monk took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "That's just secondary. The most important thing is that your existence is too important and too special. Your every move, even a single thought, could influence the shifts in the situation. This Old Monk has been following you with my heart in my throat all along."
"Moreover, This Old Monk luring you into the Primordial Black Hole was already an irreparable mistake. If This Old Monk tells you too much and it affects your decisions, the consequences are something This Old Monk truly cannot bear. Truly!"
"Just take pity on This Old Monk, kid. Don't play these mind games with This Old Monk anymore. This Old Monk can't afford to play!"
When Da Xing the Mad Monk said these words, his expression was very earnest, his demeanor extremely serious, and even his eyes held a kind of sincerity.
However, Gu Qingfeng didn't believe him.
At the very least, he wouldn't believe him completely.
This old bald donkey Da Xing the Mad Monk played his games too deeply. Gu Qingfeng figured that if he believed Da Xing's words, he might not even know how he died when the time came.
Of course.
He didn't show it. Instead, he played along with Da Xing the Mad Monk, patting his shoulder to indicate he understood. Then, he added, "Fine, I won't ask about other things. However...
there's one point I don't understand. Since you're afraid of this and that, why do you keep following me?"
"This Old Monk said, luring you into the Primordial Black Hole was already an irreparable mistake, one that angers both heaven and man, provoking public outrage."
"You mean, following me is to make up for your mistake?"
"Make up for it, my ass! If it could be made up for, would it still be called an irreparable mistake?"
"If that's the case, then why the hell are you following me!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk shook his head vehemently. "To tell you the truth, This Old Monk doesn't know why I'm following you either, really!
This Old Monk truly doesn't know. It's absolutely not that I don't want to say, nor dare not say, but that I really don't know. Right now, aside from following you, kid, This Old Monk has nowhere else to go and no idea what to do."
"Then damn it, it's not right for you to keep following me forever either."
"Kid Gu, saying that shows you have no conscience. This Old Monk following you hasn't hindered you in any way."
"You haven't hindered me, but I find you unpleasant to look at. Seeing you annoys me, especially that damn way you, old bald donkey, keep hiding and covering things up. I really feel like slapping you across the face."
"This Old Monk has no choice either. Some things really can't be told to you. Speaking them would immediately cause a huge mess."
Changing the subject, Da Xing the Mad Monk leaned in closer and chuckled. "Of course, while some things can't be said, some things can still be hinted at a little."
"Like what?"
"Like what the Ancient Bone Demon said to you earlier."
"What about what the Ancient Bone Demon said?"
"What do you mean, 'what about it'?
Don't tell me you naively think the Blood River Ancestor sent the Ancient Bone Demon out just to eliminate the Three-Eyed Demon Lord and reclaim the Nine Netherworld Banner?
The Ancient Bone Demon was so polite to you, bowing and paying respects. Do you really think he was doing it because of your former reputation as the Nine Nethers Emperor?"
"If not, then what?"
"Let me tell you, kid. On the surface, the Ancient Bone Demon was paying respects to you. In reality, he was putting on a show for those beings secretly watching you."