Chapter 318: The Evil Object

Zhang Cheng gave no response.

Seeing this, the youth let out a helpless sigh, squatted down, placed both hands on the small boy's slender shoulders, and gently urged, "Zhang Cheng, stop clinging to the past. Let's look forward, okay?"

Zhang Cheng still gave no reaction.

The youth asked in puzzlement, "Zhang Cheng, why do you stand here day after day? Is it because your father often brought you here to play?"

Since the Water Mirror Immortal Academy Extermination Case, Zhang Cheng has kept coming to this spot, stubbornly refusing to move even an inch.

And he stays for a whole day, sometimes a day and a night.

Zhang Cheng occasionally leaves the Water Mirror Immortal Academy with him, only when Zhang Cheng is starving.

Zhang Cheng ignored him.

These days, the youth has stayed by Zhang Cheng's side, his mood shifting from initial compassion to growing impatience.

Because Zhang Cheng is overly obstinate.

The youth let out a deep sigh, and suddenly felt the hands on Zhang Cheng's shoulder were a bit cold, showing slight puzzlement.

How does he sense that the spot where Zhang Cheng stands is filled with swirling cold wind?

Just as he was about to investigate seriously, a heavy "Bang—" sounded from not far away.

The youth instantly looked up, followed the sound, and saw a young man sprawled upright on the ground.

The young man winced in pain, gritting his teeth as he crawled up, muttering, "This is really a nightmare."

He rose, as if sensing the youth and Zhang Cheng, and stepped toward where they stood.

The young man's gaze fell on Zhang Cheng, seeing him still clutching that puppet, and he sneered, "What value does that puppet have? Is it worth your constant stare? You might as well kneel at your father's grave for days and nights."

The youth suddenly rose, defending Zhang Cheng, "Hold your tongue! How can you speak like that? He's just a child; having endured such tragedy and still being this strong is already rare!"

The young man sneered, "I'm only speaking the truth! I suspect this kid is terrified, clutching a broken puppet, ignoring everyone, silent like a fool! Have you ever taken him to see a doctor?"

The youth was choked by the rebuke, "You…"

"What do you mean, you?!" the young man shouted arrogantly.

The argument quickly attracted the attention of those nearby, who gathered around.

"What happened?" someone asked, puzzled.

The youth pointed at the young man, "He just hurled insults at a child!"

The young man snorted lightly, "What insults? I'm merely speaking about the matter!"

Immediately, the young man shouted, "Everyone, I know you all want the truth. The two survivors of the Water Mirror Immortal Academy Extermination Case are here! We cannot constantly accommodate them just because they are an elder and a child!"

With those words, the crowd's expressions varied.

Some silently agreed.

Others spoke righteously, "Putting aside whether Wang San is good or bad, this child is clearly an innocent victim. Not only do you lack compassion, you also seek profit, blinding yourself, urging others to become your accomplices to oppress a child! You are a disgrace to us cultivators!"

"Exactly, you're too cold‑blooded!" many echoed.

The young man sneered, "Now Wang San has gone mad, this kid is foolish, the clues are cut off, how will you investigate?"

Someone retorted, "The clues aren't broken; this matter could be linked to the Three Great Immortal Academies!"

While the crowd kept arguing, Xiao Lingwei, Xue Jin, and Ying Wuji arrived with Wang San.

Wang San exuded a faint odor, his face covered in wrinkles, eyes hollow, muttering continuously.

"It's them!" the crowd exclaimed as they saw Xiao Lingwei and the others, their expressions shifting.

"What are you arguing about here?"

Xiao Lingwei lifted her eyebrows and asked.

Everyone immediately chattered, making Xiao Lingwei and the others instantly grasp the whole story.

Xiao Lingwei was about to speak when Wang San suddenly lunged toward Zhang Cheng at astonishing speed.

"What are you doing?!" Xiao Lingwei's face changed slightly.

Wang San pounced on Zhang Cheng, forcibly lifting him.

At the moment Zhang Cheng was lifted, his expression shifted from daze to shock, with a hint of angry astonishment.

Zhang Cheng immediately struggled fiercely, repeatedly slapping and kicking Wang San's body.

"Let go of me!"

The youth beside them was startled as well; he instantly tried to free Zhang Cheng from Wang San's grasp, but unexpectedly Wang San, still holding Zhang Cheng, began to run, mumbling, "We should all die… should die…"

The scene left everyone staring dumbfounded.

"Stop him quickly!" Xiao Lingwei seemed to regain her senses.

The crowd immediately gave chase toward Wang San.

Xiao Lingwei and Xue Jin also pursued.

Ying Wuji, lagging behind the others, took out an object and placed it on the spot where Zhang Cheng had been standing these days.

On the other side, Wang San, cradling Zhang Cheng, weaved left and right, deftly evading the crowd's blockade.

Zhang Cheng kept struggling, opening his mouth as if to bite Wang San's neck.

Just as Zhang Cheng was about to speak, he seemed to sense something, his face turning extremely grim as his whole body trembled violently.

He suddenly clutched the puppet tightly.

And invisibly, Wang San's limbs seemed bound by something, twisting and forcing him to release Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng fell to the ground, then quickly returned toward his original direction.

His pale little face was filled with anger, as if someone had struck his vulnerable spot.

But midway through his return, Xue Jin reached out and stopped him.

Zhang Cheng tried to push Xue Jin away, but was firmly blocked.

"Get away! Get away!"

The little boy let out a hysterical howl.

Xue Jin's expression showed no sign of moving, and Xue Jin still held him tightly.

The little boy began to punch and kick at Xue Jin, his eyes gradually turning blood‑red from sheer anger.

Everyone present who saw the scene was shocked.

They had been here for so many days and had never seen Zhang Cheng display such intense emotion.

Xue Jin did not retaliate.

Until—

Zhang Cheng tried to smash Xue Jin's head with the puppet in his hand.

Xue Jin reversed his grip and forcibly took the puppet from Zhang Cheng's hand.

"Give it back! Give it back!" Zhang Cheng shouted furiously, reaching out with both hands to seize the puppet from Xue Jin.

But Xue Jin raised his own hand high, out of reach.

"Give it back to him quickly!" the Earth Spirit Immortal Academy youth cried, unable to watch any longer.

Xue Jin slowly lifted his eyes and said, "This is an Evil Object; it can confuse a person's mind. Such a vile thing should be destroyed outright!"

The crowd was startled.

How could this puppet be an evil thing?!