"Are the people from the Black Witch Sect going to kill us?"
"What's happening, is it an earthquake?"
The faces of those inside the cave suddenly changed with fear, but after waiting a moment, the stone gate crumbled into rubble and a beam of sunlight shone into the cave, illuminating the dusty scene inside.
A group of people from the White Witch Clan were imprisoned there; the space inside wasn't very large and emitted a foul stench.
Upon seeing the stone gate open, a group of about forty to fifty people ran out. The White Witch Clan was originally sparsely populated, and this was just a branch of them; plus, some who resisted might have already been killed by the people from the Black Witch Sect.
"Grandfather."
Liao Wen saw an elder clad in a white robe slowly walk out and joyfully ran toward him, hugging him tightly.
Tears shimmered in Liao Wen's eyes as she sniffled, "Grandpa, I thought I would never see you again."
"Silly girl, don't cry, aren't you seeing Grandpa now?" Elder Liao said with a smile.
At that moment, everyone noticed the young man standing at the entrance of the cave, and Elder Liao also saw him. "Mr. Lin, thank you for saving us."
"It was Lin Mo, wasn't it? If it weren't for him, why would the people from the Black Witch Sect come looking for us?" A young member of the White Witch Clan said through gritted teeth.
Hearing this, others also stared at Lin Mo with a hint of resentment.
Elder Liao stepped forward and said, "Listen to me, everyone. Our White Witch Clan and the Black Witch Sect have been enemies from the outset; even if it weren't for him, the Black Witch Sect people would have come for us sooner or later. This incident was just a catalyst."
Clearly, Elder Liao held a significant position within the White Witch Clan. Hearing his words, everyone else fell silent.
"Mr. Lin saved the lives of our White Witch Clan members, and on behalf of the White Witch Clan, I thank you," Elder Liao said, then frowned and continued, "However, if the Old Witch Master of the Black Witch Sect knows you're back, he will definitely come looking for you. It's best that you leave here soon."
"Grandpa, the Old Witch Master of the Black Witch Sect has already been killed by him," Liao Wen said, blinking her eyes.
At this revelation, Elder Liao and the members of the White Witch Clan all showed surprise.
"The Old Witch Master, was he really killed by you?" Elder Liao couldn't believe it and asked Lin Mo.
Lin Mo nodded indifferently.
Joy spread across the faces of Elder Liao and the White Witch Clan members. The Black Witch Sect had always been the archenemy of the White Witch Clan. If the High Hierarch of the Black Witch Sect was dead, it was a significant cause for celebration for them.
"We truly owe you our thanks, Mr. Lin," Elder Liao said reflectively. "Why don't you stay for dinner tonight as a way to express our gratitude?"
Having just returned from Han Country, Lin Mo had not yet sought out Meng Die, nor had he returned home to see his mother. He was about to decline the dinner invitation when his expression subtly changed and he furrowed his brow, "Alright then."
The members of the White Witch Clan cleaned up the corpses of the Black Witch Sect disciples. The people of the White Witch Sect knew some magic techniques and directly burned the corpses of the Black Witch Sect disciples to ashes before returning home to tidy up their belongings.
However, this attack by the Black Witch Sect had brought great calamity to the White Witch Clan. Not only had many people died, but their buildings had been damaged and would take a long time to restore.
Alone, Lin Mo sat cross-legged in the middle of a clearing halfway up the mountain and said indifferently, "If you dare deceive me, aren't you afraid I will utterly annihilate your soul and condemn you to eternal unrest?"
At that moment, the soul of the Old Witch Master floated in front of Lin Mo.
"Lord Lin Tanyu, my physical body has already been shattered by you, and even my soul is in your hands. How would I dare to deceive you?"
"Even if you wouldn't dare deceive me, why would you tell me this secret after I shattered your physical body? Don't you hate me?" Lin Mo looked at her with a smile that was not quite a smile.
A sinister glint flickered in the depths of the Old Witch Master's eyes as she cursed under her breath.
"If Lord Lin Tanyu gets this secret, and ensures that I haven't deceived you, I only ask that Lord Lin Tanyu can spare me," the Old Witch Master said, bowing her head.
"If what you say is true, sparing your life wouldn't be a problem."
As Lin Mo spoke, he waved his hand, collecting the soul of the Old Witch Master, then promptly headed toward the village at the foot of the mountain.
"Mr. Lin, my grandfather has asked me to call you for dinner." Just reaching the foot of the mountain, he saw Liao Wen, who had changed back into the traditional attire of the Witch Clan, adding an air of ethereal natural beauty that blended with the green mountains and waters.
"Hmm."
Lin Mo followed Liao Wen to Elder Liao's home, and after dinner, he did not leave.
"Mr. Lin, is there something you would like to ask me?" Elder Liao dismissed Liao Wen and the others, leaving only Lin Mo and himself in the house.
Lin Mo began, "Elder Liao, I'll get straight to the point. I heard that the White Witch Clan has been guarding something for generations."
Upon hearing Lin Mo's words, Elder Liao's face slightly changed, his expression turning more grave.
"Hehe, the Old Witch Master must have told Mr. Lin, right?" Elder Liao shook his head, as if he had seen through everything.
Not avoiding the subject, Lin Mo replied, "Indeed, the Old Witch Master told me. I'll also tell you the truth—I want that item."
"Mr. Lin, you don't know, although our White Witch Clan has lived here since our ancestors, and I have always guarded that item, it's not a treasure but rather a malevolent item," Elder Liao said gravely.
It turned out that the White Witch Clan had moved here 500 years ago and since then had inherited an item which the people of the White Witch Clan were sworn to protect generation after generation, forbidden to let it see the light of day. Once, during the Qing dynasty, a famous general had learned of this and attacked the White Witch Clan with soldiers, demanding they surrender the treasure.
"At last, we weren't able to hand over the item, but from then on it started to claim hundreds of lives until finally our White Witch King himself went out with the elders to capture the item and bring it back. So, it's not a treasure but something harmful to people," Elder Liao concluded, letting out a deep sigh.
Lin Mo looked at him, frowning slightly; he knew naturally that Elder Liao was not lying to him.
"To tell you the truth, the item is called 'Death Spirit Gu,' a highly malevolent insect poison. Our White Witch Clan is proficient in medical skills and some forms of magic, and we also specialize in Gu Cultivation Technique, but that insect poison is extremely evil and not something ordinary people can control."
"For years, the Black Witch Sect has been attempting to attack our White Witch Clan because they want the 'Death Spirit Gu.'"
Lin Mo picked up his tea, took a sip, and smilingly said:
"So, if I can take care of that insect poison, your White Witch Clan wouldn't need to stay here generation after generation, right?"
"This…" Elder Liao hadn't expected the conversation to reach this point, and Lin Mo still wasn't giving up.
However, their White Witch Clan had been stationed here generation after generation precisely to suppress the 'Death Spirit Gu.' If the danger of the Death Spirit Gu was removed, then their White Witch Clan would also be free.
"If the Death Spirit Gu is useful to me, I will take it away. Elder Liao, you wouldn't object, right?" Lin Mo said calmly.
A bitter smile appeared on Elder Liao's face; he knew with Lin Mo's strength, capable of slaying even the Old Witch Master, they were not a match for him, and besides, this was not a bad thing. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded, "Okay then, tomorrow I will take Mr. Lin to see that Evil Gu!"