"Sister Qiaoqiao, Brother Qianming, wake up."
"It's all over. We can leave now."
A warm voice, filled with weariness, sounded in their ears.
Zhu Qiaoqiao and Wu Qianming struggled to wake up and saw a rather battered, handsome young man who was breathing heavily.
"Liuyun~"
Zhu Qiaoqiao's eyes reddened, and tears silently slipped down her cheeks.
"The Captain, the Captain and the others..."
Brainwashing was only the first step; the truly crucial part was the subsequent judgment.
After three rounds of brainwashing, Zhao Liuyun had already made the first judgment based on the autonomous development of the dream state.
Now, he didn't hesitate to use himself as bait to test whether the two harbored any abnormal thoughts or notions.
Fortunately, the result was reassuring.
They looked exhausted, their emotions were natural, and there was no trace of pretense—
This was the powerlessness that came after their brains repeatedly processed the dream, an expression that revealed their true inner state because they lacked the spare energy to conceal it. They simply didn't have the strength to fake it.
Otherwise, Zhao Liuyun would have had to let the two witness what it meant to say, "The me just now is not the me of now," and what a flexible moral bottom line looked like.
"Their perception was corrupted by the Phantasmal Heart-Devouring Demon. They saw us as mortal enemies. Although I defeated that Soul Beast, I couldn't save them," he said with deep sorrow and a mournful expression.
He had originally thought about using a precious medicinal herb like a thousand-year lingzhi as the pretext for the conflict.
However, after much deliberation, only a Soul Bone was enough to make people turn on each other.
And something like a Ten Thousand Year Ginseng King was too fake; it might be plausible in the Star Dou Great Forest, but in the Soul Hunting Forest...
It would still attract covetous eyes, making the Soul Bone story even more believable!
Zhao Liuyun simply let the Soul Beast take the role of the villain.
The Phantasmal Heart-Devouring Demon was a legendary evil Soul Beast formed by pure malevolence, which he fabricated as a scapegoat.
Now that there was no way to verify the truth, and Zhao Liuyun had planted psychological suggestions in the two using [Hypnosis], they would bury this deeply in their hearts.
"It's not your fault, Liuyun, you don't need to blame yourself." Wu Qianming sighed heavily and struggled to prop himself up.
Since their brains were slow to function, Zhao Liuyun attributed it to his mental confrontation with the Phantasmal Heart-Devouring Demon.
It was a plausible explanation.
Zhu Qiaoqiao choked out:
"If the Captain and Ah Rui have spirits in heaven, they would absolutely not want their minds to be controlled by an evil demon... This is not your fault, Liuyun; it is the cunning of the Soul Beast."
"Your action to end their lives was, in fact, helping them find release."
Looking at the beheaded corpses, Zhao Liuyun's eyes were calm, and there was no ripple in his heart.
Betrayal was not worth remembering, nor regretting.
He would only use this to keep himself alert and remind himself never to trust people easily!
"Let's bury them," Wu Qianming suddenly spoke, his voice low and hoarse.
Zhao Liuyun and Zhu Qiaoqiao turned to look at him.
Wu Qianming had already collected the characteristic items that identified the others.
"To sleep forever in the Soul Beast Forest is the destiny of a Soul Hunting mercenary."
"None of them had many relatives or friends. Mercenaries live for the moment and don't have many possessions to inherit. We'll erect an empty grave back home, and that will be closure."
Seeing that the two were stumbling, their faces exhausted, Zhao Liuyun proactively said, "Shouldn't you rest first? I can do it."
Having just absorbed a Soul Ring, he had plenty of energy.
The two were swaying, their minds depleted, and their eyes looked dull, as if they could fall asleep at any moment. Naturally, they were in no state to dig graves and bury bodies.
Wu Qianming did not refuse. He merely closed his eyes and whispered, "Let's just hold on until we get out."
Using the terrain to his advantage, Zhao Liuyun quickly buried the five bodies, then escorted the two out of the Soul Hunting Forest.
He sent them back to their lodging, and just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard Wu Qianming call out behind him, "Liuyun... are you leaving?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow. Brother Qianming, how did you know?" Zhao Liuyun stopped, slightly surprised.
He hadn't told anyone about his plan to leave once he became a Great Soul Master.
Wu Qianming smiled, "You are a genius. This place is only a temporary stop for you. A small mercenary group can't keep you."
"Sister Qiaoqiao and I also don't have the ability to sustain the mercenary group anymore..."
"Don't leave until the day after tomorrow. Come over tomorrow for one last gathering; consider it our farewell party for you."
"Alright." Zhao Liuyun nodded gently.
Wu Qianming's emotions were normal. His brain was still in a state of extreme exhaustion, and his spirit was depleted.
His words were still heartfelt and sincere, without any pretense.
"Get some good rest."
"You too."
When he returned to the pharmacy, Huang Xin was busy behind the counter as usual.
"Uncle-Master," Zhao Liuyun called out softly.
"You're back!" Huang Xin's face lit up with joy, "How did it go?"
"I succeeded. The Soul Ring is a perfect fit." Zhao Liuyun's eyes showed reluctance, "Unfortunately, only Brother Qianming, Sister Qiaoqiao, and I are left in the mercenary group."
"It exists in name only."
The fact that Tian Wenlong and Fang Rui betrayed them was not important; he would let it be buried in the dust of history.
"It's good that you are safe and sound." Huang Xin sighed for a moment, then cast it aside, "What are your plans next?"
"I plan to continue finding ways to improve my physical constitution."
Zhao Liuyun asked expectantly, "The Dragon Blood Tree medicinal bath is no longer effective. Uncle-Master, do you have any other medicinal bath formulas?"
Huang Xin said, "I have six more, but they all have side effects. You have exceptional talent, so you should be able to distinguish between benefits and drawbacks and won't do anything counterproductive."
The first half of the sentence brightened Zhao Liuyun's eyes.
But the second half was like a bucket of cold water, completely extinguishing the excitement he had just kindled.
Zhao Liuyun's expression turned serious, and he solemnly said, "Uncle-Master, Soul Hunting Town is a small place. I plan to leave."
"Where to?"
"Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Royal Academy. This is the academy directly affiliated with the Imperial Royal Family. It has the most resources and is the best choice."
Zhao Liuyun's eyes were full of anticipation, but he hesitated slightly:
"However, talent alone may not be enough to get in smoothly..."
"Didn't Grand-Shizu (Grand Martial Uncle) once study with the Ye family of the Nine-Hearted Begonia? Did he leave you any connections? Could you lend me a hand?"
Huang Xin said leisurely, "It was just for study. The Ye family welcomes scholars from all directions and refuses no one."
"But Father's talent was limited. He only reached the three-ring Soul Venerable stage throughout his life and was never officially accepted into the Ye family."
"..."
The air froze awkwardly.
"If there aren't any, then I'll just..." Zhao Liuyun was about to say that he would go ask the Ye family himself.
"However, I do have a connection." Huang Xin changed the subject and pulled out a written letter of recommendation.
"Take this. Go to the Star Dou Soul Hunting Town."
"Ye Wenxi, a distant relative of the Ye family and the direct disciple of the previous family head's master—now the current Ye family head's martial senior—is there. Father was acquainted with him."
As he spoke, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes.
"Support-type Soul Masters make many connections. Uncle Ye didn't think much of me, but your talent is outstanding. Given his past friendship with my father, he will definitely help you."
Uncle-Master, you are in your forties or fifties and are still calling him "Uncle." This Senior Ye must be well over seventy...
Having a general idea in his heart, Zhao Liuyun happily accepted the letter of recommendation, but suddenly realized something and asked:
"Star Dou Soul Hunting Town... which one?"
The Star Dou Great Forest is vast, and the Soul Hunting Towns surrounding it naturally exist on all sides.
"The one near the Barak Kingdom."
"Thank you, Uncle-Master."
"Why be so polite with your Uncle-Master?"
Huang Xin laughed heartily, stood up, and placed his broad hand on Zhao Liuyun's head, quickly ruffling his hair.
Zhao Liuyun had absorbed the Soul Ring of the Ghost-Eyed Demon Dragon Spider, and his height had increased to 1.5 meters.
But standing in front of his two-meter-tall Uncle-Master Huang Xin, he still looked like an immature Earth-Escaping Grandson.
"This is not being polite. You have helped me so much without expecting anything in return. I will remember this kindness," Zhao Liuyun shook his head, his expression sincere.
Huang Xin saw the calm in his eyes and the firmness in his tone, and a hint of understanding flashed across his eyes: "When are you planning to leave?"
"It should be the day after tomorrow... Tomorrow, I plan to have one last meal with my companions as a farewell."