Chapter 4, The Monkey Group Monster

The strange person laughed heartily and said, "I never said this was a token of gratitude for you! I gave it to you because I like you. Accept it, and when your cultivation reaches a certain level in the future, you will naturally find it useful."

Upon hearing this, Ling Tongzi nearly fell off his wooden bed. He finally understood why Hai Long had been beaten. With a helpless shake of his head, he dismissed distracting thoughts, closed his six senses, and began his cultivation

The clever little one patted Hai Long on the head and pointed to the small lake that resembled a bright mirror, indicating for Hai Long to go over there

"The universe is boundless, the heavens and earth borrow the law, the heart follows the thought, and the realm breaks to reveal the truth." A peculiar spell drifted from his hand, imprinting itself at the center of the earthen slope before him. The slope began to tremble slightly, as if an earthquake had occurred. Ling Yuzi explained to Hailong: "This is where we store ordinary elixirs. You wait here while I go in to retrieve the purple fungus." As he spoke, a crack opened in the center of the slope, and Ling Yuzi floated inside.

Just as he left the monkeys' dwelling, the voice of the strange person echoed in Hailong's ear, "Do not tell anyone about today's events"

Ling Yuzi cautiously took out the purple mushroom and said in a low voice: "You hold its body and don't let it move; I need to remove this stone first."

Hailong sighed helplessly and said, "Alright, alright, I will risk my life to accompany you. However, if you do not find me something good to eat, you will have to carry me back."

Ling Yuzi gently squeezed the purple mushroom, allowing more of the milky fluid to flow out. Only after this fifth-grade purple mushroom had completely shriveled did he stuff it into the mouth of the little clever one

Under the anxious gaze of Hai Long, Ling Yuzi opened the wooden box. Before he could see the appearance of the purple mushroom, Hai Long was already greeted by a fragrant aroma that wafted through the air, refreshing and invigorating, instantly lifting his spirits.

Hai Long felt a surge of joy in his heart, for he knew that at the very least, Xiao Jiling was still alive

Taking a deep breath, Hai Long suddenly sat down on the ground, patting his chest. It was only now that he realized his clothes were already soaked with sweat

Hailong choked back tears and said: "I was just playing with Little Clever, but accidentally knocked him down from the tree, and as a result, he got hurt on the stones below. He is my only friend here; you must not let him die!"

Hailong nodded and gratefully said, "Thanks to Master Eleven."

Hailong was startled and tentatively moved his body, a flash of insight struck him, and he immediately understood his mistake. Taking a deep breath, he focused his mind on his legs once more, completely relaxing his spirit, and naturally took a step forward. The light and airy sensation returned, and in a state of effortless being, he unexpectedly floated five meters away. To maintain this state, Hailong suppressed his inner joy and tried to keep his emotions as calm as possible. The light and airy sensation returned, and in a state of effortless being, he unexpectedly floated five meters away. To maintain this state, Hailong suppressed his inner joy and tried to keep his emotions as calm as possible. Indeed, his thoughts were correct; his body floated away like a withered leaf, requiring only the tips of his toes to lightly tap the ground, while the scenery around him rushed by. In just a short while, he had already arrived in the orchard. The speed was such that it took half the usual time.

Hailong secretly laughed to himself; it was just a small iron rod, what was so mysterious about it? He responded dismissively.

First release

The large macaque that was about to pounce halted its steps, and the other monkeys looked at the little clever one with some fear. Nevertheless, it seemed they were still unwilling to let the sea dragon approach the pond.

Upon hearing Hai Long's words, the clever little one bared his teeth at him in dissatisfaction

Hailong nodded and said, "Indeed! We have known each other for a long time, playing together every day. I find it quirky and spirited, so I gave it this name. Senior, what is your relationship with these monkeys? Why do they listen to you so well?"

The five-grade purple fungus truly deserves its title as a celestial herb. Under the effect of the white emulsion, the large wound on the little creature was surprisingly healing rapidly, with tender pink flesh continuously growing to mend its body. The little creature's convulsions gradually subsided, leaving only slight tremors in its hands and feet. Ling Yuzi infused his magical power into his voice and said in a deep tone: "Little one, quickly swallow the purple fungus in your mouth."

Ah! Master Eleven, why are you hitting me so hard? It hurts so much! My head is about to explode

The aged voice sounded again, "Is 'Little Clever' the name you gave it?"

Without the obstruction of the monkeys at https://m.hetushu.com, the Sea Dragon quickly approached the back of the strange man. The little clever one jumped down from his shoulder and ran to the side of the strange man, chattering away as if trying to say something.

Upon hearing the words of the eccentric, Hai Long felt a stir in his heart, but he quickly dismissed the thought, shaking his head and sighing softly: "I saved Xiao Jiling because he is my friend; I never considered asking for anything in return. If I were to take your things, it would seem as if I were seeking something from Xiao Jiling, and I do not like that feeling"

Following the clever little creature through a cluster of dense trees, Hailong arrived in a world of monkeys. As far as the eye could see, it was truly an ocean of monkeys; whether on the trees or on the ground, there were monkeys of various shapes and sizes jumping around everywhere. Some were chasing each other, while others were playfully fighting. Most amusingly, some little monkeys were grooming the larger ones for lice. In this peaceful world, they were having a great time. In the center of this forest stood a large protruding rock, approximately ten meters high and covering an area of about one hundred square meters. In front of the rock flowed a clear spring, gurgling as it ran. The crystal-clear water gathered not far from the massive rock, forming a small pond. Although there was some distance, Hailong could still distinctly feel the cold emanating from the spring. He thought to himself that this monkey spring must be the source of life for these monkeys, which explained why they gathered here.

Yes, you may leave now. Come back here with Xiao Jiling tomorrow morning. Remember to diligently practice the Tianxin Jue, as it is indeed a very superior cultivation method

Hailong stopped in his tracks and shouted in the direction of the monkey group: "I understand. I will not tell anyone about having met you. Thank you for the iron rod you gave me"

Ling Yuzi took a deep breath, grasped the sharp end of the stone, and with a soft exclamation, forcefully pulled it out. Since he had previously sealed the bloodline of the little spirit with the Vitality Spell, there was no blood spattering when the stone was extracted. The little spirit began to convulse violently, its gray eyes turning pitch black. Hai Long quickly exerted more strength, pinning down its hands and feet to prevent any movement.

"What are you little ones doing? If there are guests, let them come over," an elderly voice resonated from the direction of the water pool, the tone pure and compelling. Upon hearing this voice, the monkeys all deflated like punctured balloons, immediately retreating far away to give the sea dragon a wide path.

Ling Yuzi smiled wryly and said, "I fear that you are the only one in the world who speaks to Master like this. Magical power is a form of energy, derived from our ability to absorb the spiritual energy of all things in the universe through our mental strength. The Tianxin Method is the means of absorption, and your daily practice is the process of this absorption. It is actually quite simple to utilize this magical power effectively. You just need to rely on your intention." The Tianxin Method is the means of absorption, and your daily practice is the process of this absorption. It is actually quite simple to utilize this magical power effectively. You just need to rely on your intention.

Having stretched his muscles, Hailong stepped out of the room. He knew that the masters would continue their training until noon and that there was not much work to be done today. As usual, he decided to find the clever little one, wondering if his injuries from yesterday had fully healed. It was best if there were no lingering effects. With this thought in mind, Hailong quickly made his way toward the orchard. As he walked, he instinctively followed what Ling Yuzi had said yesterday, channeling the gathered magical energy within him into his feet. A marvelous sensation instantly spread throughout his body, and in that moment, he felt as if he had taken flight; his body felt weightless. With a casual step, he found himself gliding forward two or three meters. Elated, Hailong stomped down hard to see just how much his speed had improved. However, contrary to his expectations, this exertion disrupted the essence of the Tianxin Jue's principle of effortless action. Not only did his speed not increase, but his body also became heavy again. Hailong was momentarily unprepared for this sudden change, stumbling slightly and nearly falling.

The strange person snorted and said, "You must be referring to that fellow Daoming. Compared to me, what is he worth? However, to be fair, I do consider myself a cultivator, though my methods differ from those of your Lianyun Sect. Since my little grandson brought you here, I must offer you some benefits as a token of gratitude for the fifth-grade purple ganoderma you gave him. Feel free to ask for anything you desire. I will do my best to fulfill your request. Since you are a cultivator, I have many treasures that would suit you."

Hailong then released his hands and embraced the little clever one who was about to jump up, "You little thing, you really scared me to death. You don't need to die, that's great, truly great."

The strange man trembled slightly; he could tell that Hai Long's words came from the heart, without any pretense. Yet he could not help but ask, "Are you willing to consider a little monkey as a friend?"

He casually tucked the iron rod back into his embrace, just as he was about to begin today's Tianxin Jue training, when he suddenly heard a clear sound of something slicing through the air from outside. An inexplicable pressure made him feel a wave of oppression in his heart. Hai Long's first reaction was that someone was coming. Remembering the beautiful Ling Feizi who had visited a year ago, he felt a surge of warmth in his heart and hurriedly ran out, taking two steps at a time.

Hailong nodded and said, "Then I shall take my leave." The little clever one seemed very happy as it jumped to Hailong's side, pointed to the path they had come from, and ran out first. Hailong cast a deep glance at the mysterious figure; throughout the entire time, he had not seen the figure's face. Suppressing his curiosity, he helplessly shook his head and turned to chase after the little clever one

With little effort, Ling Yuzi quickly walked out, holding the wooden box that Ling Muzi had brought initially. Casually re-establishing the restrictions of the alchemy room, Ling Yuzi signaled for Hailong to place the little clever one on the ground

At that moment, the little clever one suddenly jumped up from the ground and landed on the Sea Dragon's shoulder. One monkey paw steadied its body on the Sea Dragon's head, while the other monkey paw waved vigorously, letting out loud screeches

Hailong wiped the tears from his face with his shoulder and, breaking into a smile, said: "Master Eleven, thank you."

Strange Person said: "You need not concern yourself with what it is; when your cultivation is sufficient, you will naturally understand."

"How is it? Master Eleven, is there still hope for it?" Hai Long asked anxiously

Hai Long urged, "Then let us quickly go find our master! Let us ask the venerable elder to save Xiao Jiling."

The little clever one blinked its eyes and tapped the sea dragon's head with its tiny monkey paw

Although the use of magic had significantly increased his speed, the sea dragon could not compare to the innate advantage of the little clever one. No matter how the sea dragon pushed his magic to the limit, he could not catch up to that gray-brown figure. The little clever one was acting strangely today, stopping to wait for the sea dragon after running for a while. As soon as he noticed the sea dragon getting closer, he would accelerate and run ahead. Unbeknownst to them, they had already passed through the fruit forest and entered the most primitive mountain forest beyond the Mo Yun Ping.

Ling Yuzi became serious, nodding solemnly, and said: "Yes, it is the intention. Intention is the best tool for controlling magical power. For example, when you are climbing a mountain, you use your intention to direct the magical power within your body into your feet, making it much easier. And when you are chopping wood, you use your intention to control the flow of magical power to your hands, do you understand"

Hailong nodded and asked seriously, "If I channel my magical power to my backside while defecating, will it feel more comfortable?"

Ling Yuzi helplessly shook his head and said, "What is there to thank? Who told you I am your master? Moreover, saving lives and healing injuries is only beneficial for us cultivators. When Fourth Senior Brother asks later, I will still have to explain to him, but since we are doing this to save a life, Fourth Senior Brother should not say much about it."

Hailong tentatively said, "Senior, is this your place? I came here unintentionally with Xiaojiling, please do not take offense." After all, this is someone else's territory, and those strong monkeys possess the ability to threaten his life, so Hailong naturally became polite.

Hai Long instinctively reached out his hand and took the object into his grasp. The black light converged, and Hai Long felt a weight in his hand. Upon closer inspection, it was merely a small, thin iron rod about the length of his palm. However, it was not light; it was heavier than the short axe he used for chopping wood, seemingly weighing nearly twenty pounds. "Senior, what is this? I told you, I don't want anything."

The speed of recovery for the little clever one was astonishingly rapid. Half an hour had passed, and the penetrating wounds on its chest and back had completely healed, with a few strands of monkey hair even sprouting on the newly formed tender flesh. Its gray eyes had turned red again, spinning around restlessly. It could be said that it had turned misfortune into fortune; the fifth-grade purple ganoderma not only healed its injuries but also fundamentally transformed its constitution, changing it from an ordinary mortal monkey into a spiritual body. Its gray eyes had turned red again, spinning around restlessly. It could be said that it had turned misfortune into fortune; the fifth-grade purple ganoderma not only healed its injuries but also fundamentally transformed its constitution, changing it from an ordinary mortal monkey into a spiritual body.

Without any hesitation, Ling Yuzi tore open the purple fungus in his hand. Instantly, a few drops of a milky white liquid flowed down, and under Ling Yuzi's deliberate control, they dripped into the terrifying wound of the little clever one.

Ling Tongzi was just about to begin his afternoon training when he suddenly heard a mournful howl from Hai Long, which startled him. He couldn't help but focus his attention to listen closely.

In the early morning, Hai Long awakened from his profound meditation. It seemed that last night's practice was different from before. With the explanation of the Spirit Jade Child, he felt that his speed of absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had significantly increased. The flow of heat within him had also become more substantial.

Hailong crouched down and smiled, saying, "Little Jiling, why didn't you throw fruit at me today? Is your injury healed?" As he spoke, he grabbed Little Jiling's body and looked at the wound from yesterday. Indeed, the Zizhi fruit was miraculous; the place that had been injured yesterday showed not a trace, and the gray-brown monkey fur had already grown back.

The strange man suddenly chuckled, "In fact, you need not pretend to be any particular kind of person in front of me. Regardless of who you are, the mere fact that you are willing to use the fifth-grade purple fungus to treat the injuries of my little grandson proves that your essence is kind. Just this alone is sufficient. Acting according to one's nature is not a bad thing at all"

When the clever little machine returned the sea dragon to Moyunping, it was just lunchtime, and everything was as usual, with nothing unusual to note. After lunch, the sea dragon returned to his room. He took out the small iron rod from his pocket and examined it carefully. The dark rod had no markings at all; no matter how he looked at it, he could not sense anything special about it

After crossing two more hills, just as Hailong was about to give up, he heard a strange sound. It was a voice similar to that of the little clever one, a series of high-pitched squeals rising and falling, accompanied by the rustling of leaves, creating a lively atmosphere. Hailong immediately understood, panting with laughter, and said: "Well, little clever one, you really are something, you actually brought me to your monkey den."

Hailong lowered his head to look at the little clever one in his arms and said gently, "Little clever one, you must hold on! With Zizhi, you will be saved. We still have to play in the orchard in the future, and you will get to eat sweet peaches! As long as you can get better, I promise you won't need to hit me with stones anymore; you can throw peaches at me instead, okay?"

The previously calm monkey troop became agitated the moment they saw the sea dragon approaching the water pool, and their piercing cries echoed through the mountains and forests. A sharp sound, "Zhi—", emitted from the mouth of a small, clever monkey, its penetrating voice remarkably standing out amidst the cacophony of the other monkeys' screeches, as if it were extremely enraged.

Ling Yuzi had just entered the late stage of Tengyun today, feeling exceptionally elated, when he suddenly heard the cries for help from Hai Long, which startled him. He hurried over, and only relaxed when he saw that it was not Hai Long who was injured. He asked, "What happened?"

Hearing the calls of its kind, the little clever one became exceptionally excited, performing several flips in the air and calling out loudly

"Chirp, chirp." A gray-brown figure jumped in front of the sea dragon, its pair of small red eyes spinning wildly.

Hello, little clever one, where are you taking me! I can hardly run anymore. This place is like a maze, and I can no longer remember the way I came. How am I supposed to get back!

Taking a deep breath, the sea dragon calmed the unease within itself. Since it had already come here, it might as well listen to the little clever one. After all, it had saved it yesterday, so it surely wouldn't harm itself. With these thoughts in mind, the sea dragon slowly made its way toward the water pool.

The arrival of the outsider immediately put the monkeys on high alert. Some large macaques, nearly the height of a person, quickly pounced near Hailong, baring their teeth and appearing threatening, clearly unwelcome. Other monkeys also watched him with unfriendly gazes. This made him feel a surge of fear; not to mention the sheer number of monkeys here, even a single strong macaque would likely be more than he could handle. Thinking of this, Hailong couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret for following the clever little one here.

It was a purple ganoderma shaped like a large mushroom. Although I had seen the ganoderma seahorse before, this purple one was a first for me. What was most peculiar was that there were five golden lines on this purple ganoderma, which were very clear and evenly distributed, indicating at a glance that it was no ordinary item

Hailong thought to himself, how could there be a person among this group of monkeys? Could it be someone from our Lianyun Sect? He turned his gaze towards the pond. To his astonishment, he discovered that within a ten-meter radius of the pond, not a single monkey was present. Sitting by the pond was a person, their back facing him, draped in a large cloak that completely covered their entire body, including their head.

Ling Yuzi furrowed his brow in distress. Although his status at Moyun Peak was not much higher than that of Hailong, he could not make decisions regarding this celestial herb. Glancing at the small, clever creature that was about to perish, he gritted his teeth, clasped his hands together, and said: "Master! It is said that saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. Although this is just a little monkey, it is still a life. I hope Master will not hold it against me." With a serious expression, he turned to Hailong and said: "Quickly, hold it and come with me."

Little Clever was startled by the speed of the Sea Dragon, looking him up and down in astonishment. The Sea Dragon said proudly: "Impressive, right? This is my new skill that I just learned. If you continue to compete with me, I will definitely make you roll over in defeat."

Ling Yuzi sat beside him and smiled, saying, "Hailong, I didn't expect your heart to be so soft. Are you at ease now?"

The little spirit seemed to understand, nodding its head. It jumped down from the embrace of the sea dragon, glanced at the spirit jade and then at the sea dragon, before bouncing away. Just as it was about to disappear from sight, it suddenly stopped, turned around, and gazed deeply at the sea dragon. The sea dragon waved at it, and only then did the little spirit vanish into the mountains and forests

The clever little one blinked its eyes, first shook its head, then nodded, leaving Hai Long completely puzzled. With a whoosh, the clever little one jumped onto Hai Long's shoulder, then performed a somersault and landed in front of him, waving its hand.

It seemed that the voice of the sea dragon was heard, and the little clever one's body twitched slightly.

A deep, muffled laughter echoed as the strange person said: "They are all my children. Thank you for saving my little grandson's life yesterday"

I, I was just asking a question! Can't magic be directed to the buttocks?

Hailong's eyes suddenly brightened, as if he had thought of something, and he murmured: "Got it, got it. Master Eleven, the purple fungus that Master Lingmuzi and the others brought last time is still here! Let's use the purple fungus. Didn't Master Lingmu say that the purple fungus has very good effects?"

What are you doing? Are you taking me to eat some fruit? Sure! I have nothing to do anyway. If there are good ones to eat, I will take a few back for the masters. Those guys are so lazy, and they still want me to serve them every day. " As he spoke, Hailong lightly stepped forward and landed beside the little clever one

Hailong knew that if he were to pull out that stone right now, the little clever one would likely perish immediately. In desperation, he could only carefully hold the little clever one in his arms and rush towards Moyunping at the fastest speed, fully unleashing his potential in his anxiety. By the time Hailong returned to Moyunping, the little clever one was already gasping for breath, its chest rising and falling much weaker, its vitality gradually fading away. As soon as he arrived at Moyunping, Hailong saw Ling Yuzi stretching his limbs in front of the house, as if he had encountered a savior. Hailong cried out, "Master Eleven, please save it, please save it!"

Ling Yuzi grasped the paw of the clever little monkey, continuously inquiring about its physical condition. After a while, he finally sighed in relief and said: "Alright, this little fellow has managed to save its life. Hailong, you should keep holding it like this until the effects of Zizhi's medicine are fully realized, and it will be able to return to normal."

The strange person sighed and said, "Good, very good. Even among those who cultivate the Dao, few can regard life as equally as you do. In truth, neither I nor Daoming can truly understand what you are thinking. We can only use the mind-reading ability from the Six Divine Powers of Daoism to see if you are lying. With your disposition, you should be most suited for such things." A beam of black light floated out from the strange person, slowly approaching Hailong.

"Chirp, chirp." The familiar sound echoed, and Hai Long instinctively turned his body to the side, hiding behind a large tree. However, unlike usual, no expected fruit was thrown over today. Hai Long realized that his hand had reflexively reached for his waist, but today the pouch was completely empty.

The little clever one called out a few times with satisfaction, pointing again at the water pool

Hai Long was overjoyed and did not bother to thank Ling Yuzi. He hurriedly embraced the little clever one and followed him towards the back mountain. After turning a corner and passing through a small grove, Ling Yuzi stopped in front of a small hill.

The clever little one pouted, made a face at the sea dragon, and, expanding its form, swiftly darted into the depths of the fruit forest like a shooting star.

Hailong said: "What does it matter? As long as I like it, even snakes, insects, mice, and ants can become friends. We are all life; who is superior to whom? Each has its own abilities. For instance, when it comes to running in the mountains, I am far inferior to the little clever one, but of course, my mind is much smarter than it, hehe"

Hailong gently fiddled with the small iron rod and said, "Well then, I will accept it. Although it looks quite ordinary, its weight is quite unusual. Senior, is this some kind of special ore?" It didn't seem like a valuable item, so Hailong casually tucked it into his bosom.

Hailong wiped the tears from his face and said, "You should go home now. Come back to the orchard to play with me tomorrow."

Hailong currently lacks interest in cultivation, saying: "Well, I suppose I will reluctantly learn a bit then"

Ling Yuzi sighed softly and said, "Hai Long, it is not that I do not wish to save it, but its injuries are too severe. Unless there are treasures like celestial herbs, it is impossible to bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bones. However, these celestial herbs are rare and cannot be sought after. Although we have planted quite a few on Moyun Peak, they have not matured yet and are completely ineffective. The last three drops of dew liquid were given to Ling Mu and the others. The other mature celestial herbs are all kept with your ancestral master." Although we have planted quite a few on Moyun Peak, they have not matured yet and are completely ineffective. The last three drops of dew liquid were given to Ling Mu and the others. The other mature celestial herbs are all kept with your ancestral master.

Hailong secretly laughed to himself, thinking that if these monkeys were all your children, then wouldn't you be an old monkey? Although he thought this in his heart, he said, "What happened yesterday is actually all my fault; it was I who accidentally knocked it down from the tree, which caused it to get hurt. Helping it recover is the right thing to do."

Cultivating the mind is the first step in the path of cultivation. Every authentic cultivator possesses a compassionate heart, without any hesitation. Ling Yuzi quickly formed a hand seal, and a beam of azure light emanated from his fingertips. "Go." The light flashed and entered the chest of the little spirit. This was the most ordinary life-rejuvenating spell. Amidst the shimmering light, the little spirit's wound finally ceased to bleed, but its breathing had become faint and weak, lying limp in the embrace of the sea dragon

Hailong nodded and carefully held down the clever little one's hands and feet

It seemed that upon hearing Ling Yuzi's words, the little clever one's throat began to gradually move.

The little clever one was running happily, showing no signs of fatigue at all. Upon hearing Hai Long's words, it stopped in its tracks, pointed ahead and then pointed to itself, chirping incessantly.

I am referring to you; you have brought shame upon both our reputations at Moyunping

Having saved a life, Ling Yuzi was in high spirits and said, "Since there is nothing much to do right now, I will teach you about the application of magical powers."

Hai Long questioned: "Intention?"

Hailong was momentarily taken aback and said, "Are you also a practitioner of the Dao? To see through my innermost thoughts, you must possess cultivation comparable to that of my master’s ancestor"

The clever little one made an angry expression towards the sea dragon and turned to continue running forward

Hailong's entire body trembled violently, and his face suddenly turned pale. He could never have imagined that his unintentional mistake would cost the clever little one's life. His body shook slightly as he murmured, "Is there really no way out? Master Eleven, don't you all possess profound spells? Can't you save it?"

After a while, Ling Yuzi, having carefully confirmed the state of the little clever one, nodded at the Sea Dragon and said: "Alright"

The large macaques, upon hearing the clever little one's "monkey language," showed a decrease in hostility, letting out a few whimpers before retreating a bit further. However, their vigilance was clearly unchanged, as nearly all the monkeys ceased their playful antics and fixed their gaze on the outsider, Hai Long.

Hailong was worried about the injury of the clever little one. Just as he was about to inquire, he noticed a faint circle of bluish light rising around Ling Yuzi's body

Ling Yuzi shook his head and said, "Your master ancestor is in a deadlock; the peak is now surrounded by powerful restrictions. Unless he chooses to exit, none of us can enter."

Ling Yuzi sighed softly and said, "It is very difficult. Your monkey friend's injuries are indeed too severe, and he has lost too much blood. I fear that..."