Chapter 75: The Woman in the Black Robe and the Mysterious Organization

"That's right, Tuka Cha, you didn't lie. You really do know the infamous Evil Daoist, and you even managed to invite him here."

The woman's voice beneath the hood was enchanting and melodious, laced with a hint of sultriness that could ignite desire in any man.

Unfortunately, Liu Mengshu, having lived nearly a century, had long since lost all interest in matters of love or lust...

His sole remaining human attachment was the desire to reunite his brother's body and soul as one!

After his initial shock, Liu Mengshu quickly regained his composure and sneered coldly.

"Leader? Tuka Cha, is this your organization's boss? I thought you were a Southeast Asian sorcerer—turns out, the higher-ups in your group are Chinese..."

Tuka Cha opened his mouth to respond, but the black-robed woman raised a hand, signaling him to remain silent. Then she took a seat directly across from Liu Mengshu.

"Evil Daoist, you needn't concern yourself with the details of our organization, nor worry about any conflict of interest in Jiangcheng. In fact, I've come today to propose a collaboration."

In the presence of this black-robed woman, a long-forgotten sense of danger and unease welled up within Liu Mengshu, startling him deeply.

As a renowned member of the Maoshan Sect, nearly a hundred years old and thrice initiated, there were few who could inspire such feelings in him...

This woman was formidable!

Liu Mengshu stifled his contempt and straightened his posture.

"Let's hear it. What kind of collaboration are you proposing?"

"I've heard that your own brother died during the Republic era, and became a rare entity: both his body and soul transformed into a powerful ghost. His spirit ascended to the rank of Ghost Lord. If his body could be strengthened to the same level and fused, he would become a Corpse Soul Demon—invincible, impervious to blades, fire, or water, able to soar or burrow, truly undying. Am I correct?"

This was a closely guarded secret, but if they dared approach him, they must have already investigated thoroughly.

"That's right, but… you'd best not set your sights on my brother! Or I'll end all of you!"

He gritted his teeth, and a cloud of black thunder manifested above his head, crackling towards the woman in black.

To his surprise, she simply extended a delicate hand, catching the thunder as if it were a toy, idly playing with it. "A simplified self-created Maoshan Yin Thunder Spell? Evil Daoist, you are indeed impressive. But rest assured, to us, the Corpse Soul Demon, though powerful, is of little value. It is you, Evil Daoist, who needs our help."

"Then I’m willing to listen."

"Your brother’s corpse was enshrined beneath the lake in the Jiangcheng University forest, before the White Bone Temple’s Black-Eyed Buddha, wasn’t it? By drawing on the power of the Thousand-Eyed Black Buddha, his body rose from mere incorruptible zombie to Ghost Lord. Normally, gathering seven Yin Maidens’ souls would suffice for the Corpse Soul Demon transformation. But some interfering youngsters disrupted your plans. Now, you’ll likely have to wait another year or two."

This time, Liu Mengshu was utterly shocked. He had never imagined they’d know even this!

Had they been observing him for over a decade?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Unless she was at the Heavenly Master level, even a Seven-Initiated Master couldn't have monitored him so closely without his notice.

He forced the words out through clenched teeth, "How do you know so much?"

The black-robed woman remained silent. Tuka Cha, the sorcerer beside her, cackled hoarsely, pride evident in his voice. "Evil Daoist, you've used the Blissful True Buddha Temple for so long, yet you never realized that the pitch-black, thousand-eyed Buddha statue is the symbol of our leader's family?"

What!!!

This time, Liu Mengshu was truly stunned.

He gasped, unable to fathom such a turn of events.

"So the Jiangcheng University forest... was your family's design? Such grand schemes!"

"Not exactly. To be precise, it was my grandfather’s. Of course, back then, you were just a young master in Ronghua Village, oblivious to such secrets. Due to complicated reasons, the plan was abandoned. Now, I’ve come to reclaim what belonged to my grandfather. I never expected to find that you, Evil Daoist, had already occupied the nest, claimed our possession as your own, and even tore out the relevant records from the city archives to scrutinize at your leisure..."

So that’s how it is... so that’s how it is! Liu Mengshu burst out laughing.

"What an ingenious scheme! I suppose your grandfather tricked the Nationalist government, making them believe a reclusive master exorcised the vengeful spirits from mass graves, when in fact it was a scheming heretic setting an even greater trap."

The black-robed woman giggled.

"My grandfather practiced both Buddhism and Daoism—you might as well call him a demon monk. In short: help us for now, and I’ll continue using my family’s secret arts to nourish your brother’s broken body. At most, half a year, and you’ll have another chance to gather the seven Yin Maidens and complete the Corpse Soul Demon ritual!"

"And why should I trust you? Why should I work for you?"

Suddenly, the woman’s figure vanished from before Liu Mengshu’s eyes!

A moment later, she reappeared as a silhouette of black mist, whirling around his neck. Below his chin, all was darkness, only her face close to his ear, whispering softly.

"Because… right now, with a Ghost Lord sealed inside you, you can barely muster the strength of a Two-Initiated Master. I could destroy you with one hand! Unless you release your brother’s raging Ghost Lord from within—but then all your work would be for nothing. You dare not! Hahaha."

The woman turned into a wisp of black smoke and passed through the wall, vanishing.

Her voice echoed in the luxurious, spacious suite.

"Tuka Cha, tonight you and Evil Daoist will go to the Jiangcheng Botanical Garden to retrieve the heartwood of the Calamity Corpse Demon Tree. Obey his instructions. We’ll take two-thirds; the rest is his welcome gift."

"As you command, Leader..." Tuka Cha replied respectfully.

When the room returned to silence, Liu Mengshu glanced contemptuously at the sorcerer and snorted, "Tuka Cha, twenty years ago you were a proud sorcerer. Now you’re nothing but a dog!"

Evil Daoist had his own pride, but now, forced to work for some mysterious organization, he was naturally resentful.

Tuka Cha merely shook his head and, uncharacteristically, sighed.

"Evil Daoist, once you truly witness our organization’s power, you’ll understand..."

Six o’clock in the evening.

Fu Yang and Ah Huang were having hotpot, locked in a life-or-death battle for a slice of meat. Their chopsticks were nearly swords, and their mouths were full of crude insults, ruthlessly attacking each other's most sensitive points.

Just then, a phone rang on the table.

Fu Yang glanced at it—it was Qin Mei. He had no choice but to answer.

Seizing the opportunity, Ah Huang knocked the chopsticks from his hand and snatched the final piece of meat from the pot.

"Haha! I'm the winner after all—this last piece is mine!"

"Idiot..."

Fu Yang shot a disdainful look at the triumphant Ah Huang before answering the call, instantly switching to a different tone.