Chapter 724 Changes
A normal person, not a martial artist, could leave behind their spiritual energy precisely because of the intense longing in their heart, which transformed into spiritual energy that remained fixed at that moment.
Master Weng had always lived on the mountain tea garden. For him, the most important thing in life was naturally the tea garden. But now that the tea garden had become this way, his own life's end had also arrived.
Even without the infestation of the death qi, Master Weng wouldn't have lived much longer.
The life force condensed by the death qi attached to Master Weng, perhaps this was the reason he passed away so peacefully. Before leaving, Master Weng finally got to see another side of the tea garden.
Master Weng's passing did not disturb anyone, including Chen Yan Ding. It was only his intense worry for Chen Yan Ding that ultimately transformed into spiritual energy.
Watching Master Weng's eyes gradually lose their color,
Chen Yan Ding was momentarily unable to accept what was happening: "Why? If someone had to go, it should have been me!"
Chen Yan Ding did have other relatives, but like him, the only ones who felt a connection to this tea garden were Master Weng.
Now that Master Weng was gone, Chen Yan Ding couldn't understand why he should remain.
Chen Yan Ding couldn't figure out whether he was longing for the tea garden itself, the various experiences he had there, or the comforting presence of Master Weng, who was also nearing his twilight years.
"My condolences."
After speaking, Chen Yang signaled Nan Zhu, and they both took two steps back to speak in low voices.
"What do you plan to do with the person hidden inside Master Weng?"
Chen Yang's gaze fell upon Nan Zhu. After all, this was Nan Zhu's territory, and such a major event had occurred. Nan Zhu would undoubtedly have the final say.
Nan Zhu looked at Chen Yang with a hint of surprise. Chen Yang's question was rather peculiar.
Regardless of who the peak Grandmaster hidden within was, the Southwestern Prefecture would certainly want to control them.
Chen Yang couldn't possibly be unaware of such matters, nor was there a need for him to ask.
His sudden inquiry now likely meant he already had something in mind.
"How do you want to handle it? Although this is the Southwest, I'm only here to help with the tea garden matters. If you don't want to deal with it, I'll talk about taking over then."
Chen Yang understood Nan Zhu's implied meaning. This fellow clearly understood him as well.
Chen Yang was actually somewhat apprehensive about this matter.
After all, they still hadn't fully figured out the situation of the peak Grandmaster within Master Weng.
Just then, Chen Yan Ding cried out in surprise: "You, you, you..."
Everyone immediately turned their heads and saw an extremely pale shadow floating above Master Weng.
"I know you, your name is Chen Yan Ding. I will not harm you."
This person's voice was ethereal and indistinct. If it weren't for his visible form, even Chen Yang might not have been able to detect his presence.
"Who are you? Master Weng said you are the guardian of this tea garden, but I grew up in this tea garden and have never heard of any guardian!"
Chen Yan Ding was very puzzled why Master Weng trusted this person before him so much.
"Who am I? I don't know who I am. When I gained consciousness, I was already in this tea garden."
"But I have my own name. My name is Cha Shan."
Cha Shan was not a name he came up with himself; it was given to him by Master Weng.
Chen Yang could see that Cha Shan had no ill intentions, so he directly inquired about his purpose.
"This is my home, and naturally, I will protect it."
This answer puzzled everyone. Protect?
Everyone involuntarily looked at He Feng Yun, as he had been absorbing the energy here for a long time.
Seeing everyone's gazes on him, He Feng Yun coughed awkwardly and said, "The energy I absorbed is the life force of this place. I never touched your death qi."
Cha Shan nodded: "I know, that's why I never killed your insects. However, although my death qi can preserve the original state of the plants and even make them bear fruit, the resulting products seem very different."
As soon as he said this, everyone finally understood why the tea trees, in their current state, could still bear fruit.
It turned out that Cha Shan was responsible for the "supply" behind all of this.
What special good taste could tea trees, supplied by death qi, possibly have!
At this moment, Chen Yan Ding suddenly said: "I don't plan to reopen this tea garden."
"Since Master Weng is no longer here, and no one will tend to this tea garden, so be it!"
Chen Yan Ding was no longer interested in other matters, even though the person before them, known as the guardian of the tea garden, had reached the peak of Grandmaster.
What Chen Yan Ding was most concerned about now was how to bury Master Weng.
Just as Chen Yan Ding was about to pick up Master Weng and leave, Cha Shan blocked his path: "You cannot take him away!"
"He will stay here with me!"
Cha Shan's firm attitude caught everyone completely off guard.
They all understood that this Cha Shan before them was a peak Grandmaster possessing death qi.
Although there were three peak Grandmasters present, it would still require some effort to completely control him.
Seeing Chen Yan Ding's agitated expression, Chen Yang quickly stepped between them and whispered to Cha Shan: "Master Weng is already gone. He is dead and cannot stay with you anymore."
But Cha Shan's stance remained resolute: "Of course I know. I understand what you're saying. The death qi I wield is condensed from the dead. The reason I want Master Weng to stay is because this is Master Weng's home. He would be uncomfortable elsewhere."
"You mean? You want Master Weng buried on the mountain? But there is so much death qi here..." Chen Yang questioned Cha Shan's intentions. With such dense death qi, Master Weng might undergo changes if buried here.
The "changes" referred to were not solely physical. For instance, even coffins would rapidly decay in such a place.
"It's alright. I can control all the death qi here." Cha Shan was actually very nervous. This was the first time he had seen so many people, and the first time he had communicated with so many at once.
Master Weng had taught him many things, but his guidance on social interaction was somewhat lacking.
If Cha Shan had a physical body, he would probably be drenched in sweat by now.
Chen Yang seemed to sense something unusual about Cha Shan, but he first looked at Chen Yan Ding. This matter still rested with Chen Yan Ding.
Chen Yan Ding gazed deeply at Cha Shan for a long moment, then sighed in resignation and nodded, "In that case, let him be buried here."