CHAPTER 580: CHAPTER 351: THE PROPHET’S MYSTERY, THE TALKING KONG YOULING (DOUBLE-LENGTH CHAPTER)

To be honest, after finding out that the Puppet Master’s appearance was identical to the Mentor’s, Ji Minghuan held onto a sliver of hope for quite some time, praying in his heart that while avenging his father and brother, he could conveniently kill the Mentor too, achieving two birds with one stone.

But since this man appeared in front of him once again, it confirmed that the intelligence provided by Urushibara Ryuri was correct—that the Puppet Master was merely a clone of the Mentor, and this reclusive bandaged trench coat guy was not the Mentor himself in disguise.

"Ji Minghuan." The Mentor placed a thermos cup on the table and said, "I’m sorry, I’ve been busy with my own things lately and haven’t had time to come back and be with you. Are you bored?"

"No way? Could it be like Koajenna said, you treat me as your little confidant?" Ji Minghuan sneered, "Or do you think there’s a chance this dark elementary school student might develop ’Stockholm syndrome’?"

The Mentor remained silent.

It was the first time Ji Minghuan saw him so silent, but he knew in his heart that the other was just putting on an act.

Two whole days had passed since the ordeal on the deserted island. If the Mentor had any emotions, he would’ve digested them by now.

"Kong Youling, she can really speak now?" He propped his chin and diverted his gaze, asking casually.

"Yes."

"Wow, I should thank you then," Ji Minghuan said softly, "Do it for the matter, not the person. She’s my only family, and you really restored her hearing and speaking ability... Thank you."

"You don’t need to be polite; this is within my responsibilities," the Mentor shook his head, "I was supposed to support you and help you grow physically and mentally."

"Uh... Are you referring to initially electrocuting me to death? And finding someone to play good cop, bad cop right in front of me?"

"Perhaps the pressure was too much at first, causing me to behave inappropriately towards you, leaving a bad impression. But I’ve been trying to mend my ways."

"Mend your ways where? Isn’t it more like you found out that method doesn’t work on me, so you stopped using it?"

The Mentor was silent for a moment, then softly said, "I am human too, just an ordinary person. Under immense pressure, anyone can make wrong judgments. After all, I’m in charge of a child who could destroy the world..."

Ji Minghuan interrupted him, "Cut the crap. I’m more curious, during this period, you haven’t made Kong Youling do anything bad, have you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like last time, making several subjects commit suicide," Ji Minghuan said calmly, "I think that incident was just to test my attitude. You definitely have some ulterior motive, don’t you?"

"How could I possibly think so far, let alone exploit the power of an innocent girl?" the Mentor sighed, shaking his head, "Ji Minghuan, you still think too badly of me as always."

"Alright, alright, it’s best if you don’t let me find out," Ji Minghuan said, "I don’t think she’ll hide these past few days from me. Once I meet her, I’ll know exactly what you did."

He paused: "Or are you guilty, afraid to let us meet?"

Actually, Ji Minghuan was also curious about what the Mentor did during those days he disappeared.

Allegedly helping Kong Youling regain her ability to speak, but he couldn’t believe the Mentor would engage in such trivial matters, akin to sightseeing vacations, at a critical moment like the Rainbow Wings’ offensive against the Light-Eating Bee.

"Could it be Lake Hunting?" At this thought, Ji Minghuan suddenly froze.

He remembered the Mentor had once said he wanted to use Kong Youling’s power to plant a spiritual imprint in the minds of the four from Lake Hunting to conveniently control the balance of power among the Exorcists.

And the Mentor disappeared for several days, still with Kong Youling, very likely to carry out this idea he had mentioned a few days ago.

Following this line of thought, if the people of Lake Hunting were indeed compromised, it would be terrifying.

One must know that the family of No. 1 and No. 3 are all operating around the Lake Hunting territory, and Lake Hunting is about to go to war with the Year Beast Monarch. By then, the White Crow Travel Brigade will come all the way from Japan to get involved, meaning the three entities he controls will all be entangled with Lake Hunting.

If, at this critical juncture, the Salvation Society interferes with the four of Lake Hunting, the impact would be devastating—not only would the Demon Monarch and the White Crow Travel Brigade be affected, but the family of No. 1 would also be in great danger.

And after the battle on the deserted island, the Mentor surely knew about the connections between Blue Arc, Ghost Bell, and Black Cocoon.

If the Mentor knew that the murderers of Urushibara Ryuri, Oda Ehgo, Father of Puppets, and others were all currently in the Lake Hunting territory, being protected by Lake Hunting’s power, the safety of No. 1’s family would plummet dramatically.

"Damn, have the people from Lake Hunting really been compromised?" Ji Minghuan thought to himself, "What should I do, as long as there’s this possibility, I must verify it, but the No. 1 entity doesn’t have psychic abilities, making it impossible to ascertain the conditions of the four from Lake Hunting."

"Think again, think carefully... besides Kong Youling and the Mentor, among the remaining Psychic Ability users, the only one who might confirm whether Lake Hunting has been tampered with is probably the doctor from the Brigade—’Ryukawa Chiba’. It just so happens the Brigade will interact with Lake Hunting; I’ll see if I can get some information from the doctor."