An Uninvited Guest

Xie Ling crouches down and scoops up a handful of earth. With a swift motion, he pulls out a Gu and gently instructs it into hibernation, before encasing it in the dirt. A small smile tugs at the corners of his lips as he contemplates the differences between his two worlds: that of a hunter, cold and collected, and that of a scientist, enjoying the process of experimentation. Normally, these two domains exist in separate spheres, with little overlap. However, lately, that's not been the case.

As he rises to his feet, Xie Ling lifts his gaze toward the mouth of a nearby cave.

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Deep in the heart of a vast mountain range, a group of cultivators had gathered for an important meeting. Among them were three rank-3s and a formidable rank-4, led by none other than Mo Ling, a skilled soul path and emotion path gu master. As they settled into their seats, Mo Ling wasted no time in getting straight to the point.

"Who is the new arrival?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of suspicion.

Chi Ji, a hulking figure with bulging muscles that spoke of his strength path cultivation, offered a shrug. "I'm as clueless as you are," he replied.

Hai Yi, who specialized in information path, offered a possible explanation. "From what I've heard, he's a secret member of the Tie clan, sent here as a test to capture some of our members," she stated, her tone cautious yet confident.

Hao Ren, a skilled cultivator with a mastery of water path techniques, couldn't help but retort to Hai Yi's suggestion with a smirk. "Speak for yourself, Hai Yi," his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Hai Yi, her tone now dripping with venom, shot back, "Do you think you're safe from him just because you're a lone cultivator?"

Hao Ren's smirk grew wider. "At least I'm in better shape than you," he quipped, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Hai Yi abruptly rose from her seat, about to attack Hao Ren. However, she just as quickly paused as she sensed the heavy presence emanating from one of Mo Ling's Gu.

"Enough," Mo Ling's voice boomed, his eyes twitching with annoyance.

"Our purpose here is to discuss our next move, not to engage in petty feuds. Besides, Hai Yi speaks the truth - whether one is a lone cultivator or a demonic cultivator, the Tie clan sees anyone who resides in this mountain as an enemy, regardless of their history."

Silence began to pervade the room when suddenly it was broken by a loud whistling sound, followed by a light presence that immediately brought a sense of calm to the group. "I don't recall ever being a member of the auspicious Tie clan, but hey, at least you're not wrong about me being here for you," the newcomer declared, his voice measured and steady.

Mo Ling raised an eyebrow, his expression one of suspicion. "So, you come here claiming to be after us, but you're not from the Tie clan," he mused aloud. "That can only mean you're here on business, correct?"

Xie Ling, the newcomer, introduced himself with a friendly bow, "I'm but a humble traveler, who has come from far and wide to do business."

Hai Yi rose her hand, gesturing for Xie Ling to stop as he approached. "That's close enough," she warned, her tone guarded. "What business do you have with us?"

Xie Ling closed his eyes, his smile growing wider. "I have recently acquired some Gu and would like to do some trading," he replied smoothly.

Mo Ling was about to decline on the grounds that now was not a good time, but was taken aback as he watched the other three cultivators rise from their seats in unison, almost as if they were possessed. To make matters worse, they all chimed in with the same response, "We would be delighted to do business with you."

Mo Ling's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene, his mind working overtime. Something was not right, "What the hell are you all doing?" he demanded, his voice laced with unease.

Hao Ren, Chi Ji, and Hai Yi all turned to face him, their expressions blank and unresponsive. It was as if they were in a trance.

"We are just conducting business," Chi Ji replied with a forced smile, his eyes void of emotion.

Hao Ren nodded in agreement. "Yes, just business," he echoed.

Hai Yi's lips twisted into a smirk. "Don't be so paranoid, Mo Ling. Can't we make a deal without you getting all worked up?"

Despite Hai Yi's attempt to downplay the situation, Mo Ling's apprehension intensified, his senses screamed at him that danger was looming. He tried to keep his cool, but the situation was growing increasingly unsettling. He knew that he needed to take action quickly, but his training in the emotion path had taught him that acting rashly would lead to failure.

Mo Ling took a deep breath and focused his mind. He began to activate his killer move, "Clear Mind," designed to help him and anyone he chooses to maintain a clear and focused mind in the face of overwhelming emotions or external influences.

However, just as Mo Ling was about to complete the technique, a sharp whistling sound shattered the stillness, disrupting his concentration and throwing his mind into chaos. He fought to regain his focus, struggling to activate "Clear Mind" despite the setback.

In spite of the immense struggle, Mo Ling persevered and finally managed to activate the technique, regaining his composure. The others snapped out of their trance, all immediately requesting an explanation to what just happened.

As Mo Ling was about to explain the situation, he was interrupted by Xie Ling. "Fascinating! How did you do that?", Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming dense and suffocating. The three cultivators were pulled back into their trance, and Mo Ling felt his throat dry up as his body began to shake uncontrollably. He felt as if his entire body was dying.

Xie Ling continued, "Well, once I have you under control, extracting the information I want will be 'child's play'."