Master of Strange Dao

Big Ghost witnessed it with his own eyes, hearing Yu Ziqing mention the matter again.

And sensing the power of the nearby Ten Thousand Soul Banner, he couldn't help but be moved.

"Are you really willing to give up this Magical Treasure? Willing to give up a Ninth Tier Main Soul?"

Yu Ziqing smiled softly, looking at the hungry ghosts, and said lightly,

"I don't want to lose myself, nor do I want to give up my self for power.

If I were willing to give up these things for power, the power of the Tenth Tier would be within easy reach for me.

I simply don't covet it, If I want it, I will open my eyes wide, struggle, and strive for it.

You underestimate me too much, compared to a Forbidden Artifact, I'd rather you all transform, at least that would be a release.

I said I've starved to death before, so I can empathize, I'm not just coaxing you."

Big Ghost fell silent.

He had followed Yu Ziqing, almost fighting through the Dingmao Era, and had also taken his revenge.

Most of it was him leading the Ten Thousand Ghosts to act.

Their resentment should have dissipated long ago, but the experiences of the past made it difficult to trust others.

Especially someone wielding the Dadui official seal.

This gap also gradually melted away in the process of fighting through the Dingmao Era.

He saw clearly, when killing those corrupt officials who hid with the Sealing, Yu Ziqing seemed even more relieved than they were.

Facing some treasures hidden inside the seals, Yu Ziqing was sometimes greedy, wishing he could scoop them all into his pocket.

Sometimes, Yu Ziqing wouldn't even glance at those things, casually letting them be distributed.

That was different from anyone else from Dadui he had ever seen.

In an era inherently corrupt, he saw many things that were common for him, yet Yu Ziqing would sometimes inexplicably fly into a rage.

Then, he would realize afterward, and it was actually not right.

At that moment, he would break out in a cold sweat, realizing that he seemed to have been engulfed by that era, a part of that corrupt era, and he had never truly awakened.

At most, in that era, he occasionally spoke some true words in his sleep talk, taking a sleepwalk.

Big Ghost stood there, lost in thought, as he saw a daring Little Hungry Ghost emerge from the locust tree, daring to ask Yu Ziqing for some food.

Yu Ziqing held the skinny Little Hungry Ghost, fed him some food, scolded the greedy little spirit, then stuffed some more food into its hands and sent it away quickly.

He also saw that the other hungry ghosts in the locust tree respected but were not afraid of him.

This kind of scene was unimaginable during his era.

Some hungry ghosts came asking if there was no work available lately, looking for something to do.

Others asked if there were still beef jerky being made.

The atmosphere was very good, so good that he felt a bit envious.

After a long while, once the hungry ghosts had left, each returning to their locust trees, Yu Ziqing looked towards Big Ghost, who had been standing there lost in thought.

"What are your thoughts?"

Recalling himself, Big Ghost asked,

"Sir, do you want Dadui to return?"

"No, letting Dadui return is just a means, resolving the Sealing is also just a means, neither are my goals.

Even to achieve my goals later on, not letting Dadui return again is also possible."

Big Ghost asked with a serious expression,

"Then Sir, may I know what your goal is?"

"You might think too highly of me, I'll tell you the truth, I am not someone utterly selfless and saintly.

All that I do, in the end, is out of self-interest.

Because someone targeted my family, I need to dig them out and kill them.

I'd prefer you lose power and hope for your transformation, but there is no selfishness in that matter, though I also won't force it, it's all up to you."

Big Ghost was somewhat stunned but then smiled warmly, took a step back, and kneeled on one knee, his tone extraordinarily resolute,

"Sir, my fellows and I are willing to work as hard as dogs and horses for you, and are also willing to transform.

But not now, right now, I feel that you might need our strength.

When you have completed what you need to do, and no longer need our strength, then we will transform."

"Why bother? I don't need dogs or horses."

"Please permit it, Sir."

"Alright, whenever you choose, I have enough space here, even a million hungry ghosts would fit."

"This subordinate, Cheng Shujiang, greets you, Sir." Big Ghost formally saluted for the first time.

Yu Ziqing returned the salute, and Big Ghost took his place as a guard at the side.

Yu Ziqing didn't understand the change in Cheng Shujiang's heart, but it didn't matter anymore.

Indeed, from the beginning, he had never intended to use their power, from the first meeting, Yu Ziqing had given them a choice, it was just that they were unwilling.

Cheng Shujiang stood there, a heart that had always been in suspense finally settled back down.

Initially, he indeed didn't trust Yu Ziqing much.

But it changed over time, and with Yu Ziqing's recent words, he finally put his mind at ease completely.

What he feared more was that Yu Ziqing was truly like the blindly loyal people of Dadui, focused single-mindedly on Dadui, just for its return.

He feared even more that Yu Ziqing truly was a selfless Saint.

On the contrary, knowing that Yu Ziqing was acting out of self-interest, for his family, for himself, he felt it was more genuine.

Even if it was for self-interest, after following through so many Sealing, his eyes weren't blind, he could see what kind of person Yu Ziqing was.

Not a good person, nor a bad person, a mixture of good and bad, just right.