Chapter 134: Enchantment Art
During the previous narration, regarding the demon script on human skin, Zhou Daoshi had only briefly mentioned it, without going into detail.
And Yang Haoran hadn't impatiently interrupted him, choosing instead to let Zhou Daoshi continue speaking. Now that Zhou Daoshi had finished, most of the doubts in his heart were resolved, and he then steered the conversation back to the demon script on human skin.
Facing Yang Haoran's inquiry, Zhou Daoshi uncharacteristically didn't explain immediately. Instead, a hesitant expression clouded his face, as if he were wary of something.
Yang Haoran coldly chuckled, not pressing him, but instead glancing outside the courtyard.
Unconsciously, the sky outside had already darkened. Night was falling.
Yang Haoran switched on the electric lamp, and spoke with an unconcerned expression: “Time really flies, I should start preparing dinner. Oh, right, what would you like to 'eat' tonight? Slaps or punches? ”
Zhou Daoshi's spirit body trembled. He knew Yang Haoran was threatening him, but he also knew that this fellow wasn't just making threats; he would genuinely follow through.
“Anyway, your spirit body has recovered a bit, so taking a few hits shouldn't be a big deal. ” Yang Haoran said with a smile.
“I can tell you, but you must agree to one condition. ” Zhou Daoshi's voice suddenly grew serious.
With that slap, Zhou Daoshi's spirit body, which had only just begun to recover, was once again significantly weakened by Yang Haoran's blow.
“I say, Zhou Daoshi, have you watched too many movies, or read too many novels? Are you sure you were just talking to me? ”
Zhou Daoshi remained silent, but his expression turned very ugly.
“Are you awake now? ” Yang Haoran shook his hand, dispelling the Spirit Power from it, and asked coldly.
Zhou Daoshi didn't answer immediately. Struggle and hesitation appeared on his ugly face.
Yang Haoran observed this scene, and inwardly sneered. He was someone who had been deceived by Zhou Daoshi before, so he didn't believe Zhou Daoshi's current reactions in the slightest.
He had once trusted this fellow, and almost lost his own life as a result. Furthermore, his parents, and all the clansmen in the village, had their souls scattered (Soul Transformation) at his hands.
Suffering such a loss once was enough to make him collapse. He didn't want to suffer a second time!
“Alright, since you're in such a dilemma, don't force yourself any longer. It's one thing to force yourself when you're alive, but to still force yourself after death, wouldn't that be too tragic? However, you must believe me, I absolutely have ways to pry your mouth open, little by little. ”
Having said that, Yang Haoran prepared to leave. He had originally thought Zhou Daoshi would call out to him at this moment, after all, that's how it always played out in movies. However, the scene he imagined didn't occur.
Zhou Daoshi remained silent.
“Hmph, what a convincing act. If people like this don't become actors, they're just a menace left in the world. ”
Yang Haoran sneered inwardly. As he cursed Zhou Daoshi in his mind, he completely failed to realize that he himself was quite adept at acting.
Seeing Zhou Daoshi putting on an act, Yang Haoran had no intention of exposing him. He let Zhou Daoshi kneel there and continue his performance, while he went to the kitchen to cook.
After dinner, Yang Haoran came to the offering table. Seeing that Zhou Daoshi's expression hadn't improved, still looked terrible, still tormented by indecision, and still hesitating, he couldn't help but begin to admire Zhou Daoshi's acting skills in his heart.
“Someone who can deceive me, is indeed no ordinary person. What a truly masterful performance. ”
Thinking this, Yang Haoran's expression gradually turned cold. He spoke lightly: “I'm done eating, it's your turn next. Hmm, let's go with explosive slaps to the face. This 'dish' is highly nutritious. You're very weak right now, it's perfect for replenishing yourself. ”
“No need, I'll tell you everything. You don't have to threaten me anymore. ”
At this point, Zhou Daoshi sighed, as if he had resigned himself to fate. His expression and tone were utterly convincing, quite professional.
Yang Haoran didn't expose his act. He coldly watched Zhou Daoshi, wanting to see how he would perform next.
“That demon script on human skin, the content recorded on it is indeed a demonic secret art called Enchantment Art. Although this secret art is a demonic one, humans can also cultivate it. Once successfully cultivated, when interacting with other living beings, there will be a certain chance of triggering this secret art, thereby confusing the other party's mind, making them develop a sense of trust and familiarity towards you. The higher one's cultivation realm, the greater the chance of it triggering, and the deeper the target will fall. ”
As soon as these words were uttered, the cold sneer on Yang Haoran's face froze. Zhou Daoshi, however, showed no surprise at Yang Haoran's reaction, as if he had long anticipated it.
“That day we met, as you and I conversed, this Enchantment Art was passively triggered. Although I cannot actively use the Enchantment Art, I can sense it once it's triggered. ”
If Zhou Daoshi's previous words had merely surprised Yang Haoran, then now, upon hearing these words from Zhou Daoshi, his heart was no longer merely surprised; it was utterly shocked!
At this very moment, he finally understood why he had fallen for Zhou Daoshi's trick.
For so many years, he had been roughing it out in the world, and had met all sorts of people. Though he wore a smile all day long, it was merely a protective coloring to avoid getting hurt.
Towards outsiders, especially strangers, his guard was extremely strong. He would never easily believe anyone's words.
Although Zhou Daoshi wasn't a stranger, he and Zhou Daoshi were merely acquaintances; calling them friends was a stretch. For such people, his guard was equally high. If he could believe three-tenths of what they said, that was already quite good.
Yet, an unexpected exception occurred with Zhou Daoshi. That day, he had unconsciously felt that Zhou Daoshi was actually a decent person. He not only chose to actively trust him, but even felt guilty, thinking that doubting Zhou Daoshi's sincerity was too much, it was simply judging a gentleman's heart with the mind of a petty person.
Regarding this issue, he hadn't given it much thought before. He believed he had fallen for Zhou Daoshi's trick simply because Zhou Daoshi's acting was too good and his schemes too profound, which was why he had been entrapped.
But there was one problem he had overlooked: When it came to acting and scheming, could Zhou Daoshi truly compare to Old Master Wu?
The answer was, of course, no. Old Master Wu had spent a lifetime battling in the business world. What kind of cunning schemers or manipulative individuals hadn't he encountered? And he himself was a man of profound calculation, deep cunning, and excellent acting skills. Compared to him, Zhou Daoshi truly fell far short of Old Master Wu.
But the problem lay precisely here: Yang Haoran had never truly trusted Old Master Wu. Even though the other party had been very good to him, sending him money and giving him a car, this hadn't changed Old Master Wu's image in his mind.
Yet, this very Zhou Daoshi, had inexplicably made him feel trust. The thick wall of caution in his heart, was utterly useless in Zhou Daoshi's presence!
Now he finally understood what all this was about. If Zhou Daoshi hadn't spoken today, he probably would never have known that he had fallen into the trap because of this so-called Enchantment Art!
Although some time had passed since the incident, thinking about it now, Yang Haoran couldn't help but feel a wave of lingering fear. Cold sweat trickled down his back.
He hadn't imagined that this Enchantment Art was so perverse. It would unconsciously make people drop their guard, and then develop fondness and trust for the Enchantment Art practitioner!
This might seem harmless, but if the other party harbored ill intentions, just like Zhou Daoshi, and you had lost your mental guard, and developed trust and fondness for them, what would the final outcome be?
The result would be simple: at best, you'd be manipulated at their whim; at worst, you'd be directly played to your death. It's even highly possible that you'd be played to death without even realizing it, and even as a ghost, you'd still be thinking of their kindness!
Looking at it this way, one couldn't help but realize the terror of this Enchantment Art.
Regarding Zhou Daoshi's current explanation, Yang Haoran wasn't overly suspicious, because Zhou Daoshi's demeanor didn't seem like he was lying.
Of course, Yang Haoran had been deceived by this person once before, so he wouldn't lower his guard against Zhou Daoshi just because of this. After all, the hardest lies to see through are those that mix falsehoods with truths, and truths with falsehoods. Such lies are the most troublesome.
At this moment, Zhou Daoshi's words seemed true to Yang Haoran, but that didn't mean everything he would say next would be true. Yang Haoran had to be on guard against that.
As if sensing Yang Haoran's thoughts, Zhou Daoshi spoke again.
“I am already dead now, and in this state, let alone a passively triggered secret art like Enchantment Art, even other active offensive techniques against enemies are beyond my capability. So you shouldn't be on guard against me. ”
Yang Haoran sneered. If he were to believe Zhou Daoshi's words, he'd be an utter fool. It was true that Zhou Daoshi, being a spirit body, could no longer employ his former techniques, but Yang Haoran wouldn't lower his guard against Zhou Daoshi just because of that.
“I know about the Enchantment Art now. I'm surprised the demon race possesses such a secret art. But there's still a crucial matter you haven't mentioned: How do you recognize demon script? Don't tell me one can cultivate this demon race's Enchantment Art without recognizing demon script. ” Yang Haoran asked with a cold chuckle.
“Without recognizing demon script, one naturally cannot cultivate the Enchantment Art. And the reason I recognized demon script is because in the stone chamber where I discovered the Enchantment Art, I found an animal skeleton, and. . . ”
Speaking up to this point, Zhou Daoshi hesitated to continue, a struggling expression on his face. It seemed this matter involved something extremely important, making him very reluctant.
In Yang Haoran's view, of course, Zhou Daoshi was putting on an act again. However, this time he didn't let Zhou Daoshi continue his performance. With a cold face, he impatiently interrupted:
“Are you going to speak or not? Just spit it out! ”
Zhou Daoshi's expression panicked, and he quickly said: “I'll say it, I'll say it! I'm saying it right now. ”
Yang Haoran was getting impatient. He raised his hand, about to slap him!
“I found a Demon Pill inside that animal's skeleton! ”
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