Chapter 141

Run Sheng had a special sensitivity to the aura of the deceased. Li Zhuiyuan trusted Run Sheng's judgment. However, the young man didn't detect much panic in the woman's statement, "That's my husband."

"Stay away from her!" Run Sheng grabbed Tan Wenbin's arm. As his Qi-gate opened, their previous ordinary swimming transformed into a rapid propulsion, like fish entering water, instantly creating a distance between them and the woman.

Around the woman, stalks of withered grass began to surface. This was only the visible part; underwater, scarecrows with talismans taped to their backs were lurking.

The man in the coir raincoat finally lifted his head, revealing a face full of dynamic scars, and regarded the three individuals, including Li Zhuiyuan, with a scrutinizing gaze.

Anyone in such a situation, seeing their wife and child surrounded by three strange men, would have concerns. Li Zhuiyuan decisively chose to back away, effectively demonstrating his stance to prevent a conflict. He had no reason to provoke them.

Theoretically, they were all in the same examination hall. Although their "papers" were different, their objective was the same. After the others dealt with the first wave, he would finish up. Any unnecessary depletion of their team's resources could reduce the completion rate of their "wave," thereby increasing the remaining difficulty when his own team stepped in. The smartest approach was not only to avoid hindering them but also to offer assistance, helping them complete their "wave" flawlessly. This would, in turn, lessen the challenges of his own "wave," and perhaps even lead to a joint resolution of the issues.

The other party withdrew their abilities. The scarecrows floated to the surface and slowly dispersed, their talismans drifting on the lake. Li Zhuiyuan glanced at them; they were Chenzhou talismans. The man in the coir raincoat remained still, while the woman, pushing her swaddled infant, swam towards him.

Li Zhuiyuan said, "He's injured, and it's serious." They were clearly of the same mindset. The woman spoke of her husband with immense pride, suggesting he was likely quite arrogant himself.

Li Zhuiyuan looked around, then pointed to the nearest patch of shore, indicating they should land there first. After listening to his wife's account, the man in the coir raincoat chose to move towards that patch of shore. Once on shore, his true appearance was revealed. A dense aura of the deceased was so strong that even Li Zhuiyuan could smell it. The man had numerous festering wounds, which appeared to be relapses of old injuries. Especially on his face, something seemed to be wriggling beneath the thick, coarse scars.

"Li, the Body Recoverer from Nantong?" His voice was hoarse and weary. Li Zhuiyuan took two steps forward and nodded to him, "That would be me."

"My wife is kind-hearted and easily deceived."

"Your esteemed wife is intelligent and not easily fooled."

The man in the coir raincoat stared at Li Zhuiyuan, suddenly raising his voice and asking forcefully, "Li, the Body Recoverer, have you ever lit the lamp?"

The feeling when the woman asked the question was indeed different from when the man asked it. The challenging tone was like a ship approaching, sending waves crashing towards you. An invisible wind seemed to rush towards the young man. Yet, upon reaching him, it quickly swirled and dissipated, as if the wind itself felt a pang of guilt.

In the Jianghu, established unspoken rules are always underpinned by the conventions that shaped them. Simply put, it's called "spirit"; more profoundly, it's the river gazing at your courage. Therefore, even if you've been terrified by the river to the point of screaming for your parents, as long as you don't intend to give up by lighting the lamp a second time, you must wipe away your tears and loudly declare the slogan.

But with Li Zhuiyuan, the river encountered an exception. It was the river that broke the rules first, engulfing him before he had even lit the lamp or sworn an oath. This inherent procedural injustice meant that it lost its hold over Li Zhuiyuan in this situation. The young man could challenge Zhao Yi, and Zhao Yi had no escape. Yet the young man himself could arbitrarily adopt any identity. This was originally a minor and insignificant "loophole," but as Li Zhuiyuan began to contend further with the "questioner"—as in the current situation—this "loophole" could prove immensely effective. In the "lighting the lamp" challenge, everyone is an opponent. If one could avoid that specific identity, the level of apprehension would significantly decrease.

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "I haven't personally lit the lamp yet."

Hearing this, the man in the coir raincoat's gaze visibly softened. He cupped his hands together and introduced himself to Li Zhuiyuan, "Xiong Shan, a wanderer from Changsha."

Li Zhuiyuan was slightly taken aback. Today, he had witnessed an introduction ritual even simpler than his own "Li, the Body Recoverer from Nantong."

Xiong Shan smiled triumphantly and asked, "Perhaps you haven't heard of me?" Calling himself a "wanderer" and having no prominent family background, reaching this point through his own abilities was his pride, much like Zhu Yuanzhang not erasing his history as a beggar after becoming emperor. Li Zhuiyuan deliberately played along, replying, "Indeed, I've never heard of you."

"Hahahaha!" Xiong Shan burst into hearty laughter, and his wife, watching her husband, also smiled.

"It's right that you haven't heard of me. I belong to no sect or school. When I was young, I was abducted by a wicked sorcerer to be his sacrificial child. After years of torment, I found an opportunity to kill him and seize his fortune, which is how I entered this line of work. Later, I figured out how to light the lamp myself and have been traversing the Jianghu ever since, making a few good friends, meeting my wife, and having a child."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "I'm impressed!"

Xiong Shan looked at Li Zhuiyuan and said, "I'm a rough man. Although traveling the Jianghu has broadened my horizons, I've never heard of Li, the Body Recoverer from Nantong. But my wife says you're capable, and you're so young. I fear that in the future, another dragon will rise on the river."

"I appreciate your kind words." The woman began to subtly signal to Li Zhuiyuan. She felt that her husband had offered an opening, and if the young man were to accept his guidance now, his future prospects would be limitless. At the very least, he would gain immense benefits from every "wave" that passed in the Jianghu. Li Zhuiyuan saw her, but pretended not to. Xiong Shan gently patted his wife's hand and said, "He's young and accomplished; he's sure to make his own way in the future. Why would he follow me?"

Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Are you injured?" The genial expression on Xiong Shan's face instantly vanished. He nodded, "Just a minor injury."

"The corpse poison inside you can't be suppressed anymore?"

"You can tell?"

"Do you have a way to treat it yourself?"

"It's just a matter of spending more time; it's fine."

"I have an immediate solution. Would you like to try it?"

Xiong Shan asked, "What's your purpose?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "We're all demon slayers and protectors of righteousness. What's strange about helping each other out?"

"It's that straightforward?"

"My elders at home taught me from a young age that our generation should take it upon ourselves to defend the righteous path."

"Alright, since you're so open, I won't hold back either. If you have a method, please help me try it, but be warned, my condition is quite complex."

"I'll do my best."

After taking off his coir raincoat, Xiong Shan sat cross-legged on the spot. Not only his face, but his chest was also covered in thick scars, beneath which vital essence seemed to be moving. Run Sheng took a deep breath and swallowed several times. Xiong Shan looked at Run Sheng in confusion, "Are you hungry?" Then, Xiong Shan looked at his wife, "Lihua, get him something to eat."

"No need, I have my own." Run Sheng took out a compressed biscuit from his bag, softening it with rainwater while staring at Xiong Shan's body, and began to eat.

Li Zhuiyuan walked up to Xiong Shan and observed him carefully. If the man was poisoned, he would be helpless; that was Yin Meng's specialty. Although Yin Meng didn't seem to know how to detoxify, she could try one method after another. The corpse poison on Xiong Shan was inherent. Once it reached a certain level, it would become uncontrollable, and combined with injuries, it could easily erupt and turn against its host. This guy was indeed human, but the proportion of deceased-like characteristics in his body was significant. No wonder Brother Run Sheng was salivating over him. From a culinary perspective, Xiong Shan was both flavorful and tender, like a piece of high-grade aged steak. The treatment was also simple: temporarily setting up a small formation on him to suppress the corpse energy would suffice. As for the external injuries, they were minor issues for Xiong Shan.

Li Zhuiyuan took out small formation flags from his bag. Seeing this, Xiong Shan asked, "You know formations?"

"Yes, a little."

"It's muddy all around here; setting up a formation might be inconvenient."

"It's fine. I'll set up the formation on you. It'll be a bit painful, so bear with it."

"No problem, go ahead."

Li Zhuiyuan inserted the small formation flags into Xiong Shan's body one by one. Each time, he rotated it with his fingers before releasing it with a flick of his fingertip. It felt like acupuncture, but with larger needles. The woman held her child, watching cautiously beside them.

After setting up the formation flags, Li Zhuiyuan reminded him, "I'm about to activate the formation. Cooperate with its power to suppress the corpse poison in your body."

"Okay!"

"Brother Binbin, hold the umbrella."

Li Zhuiyuan activated the formation. Xiong Shan's eyes widened, and his body trembled. Soon, the previously raised scars began to recede, and pus accelerated its outward spurt. Tan Wenbin quickly positioned the Luo Sheng umbrella in front of Brother Xiaoyuan, preventing him from getting covered in filth. The ground around Xiong Shan became putrid black, but his body felt much lighter. Red blood began to seep from his wounds, indicating genuine improvement and recovery.

"Phew..." Xiong Shan regained his breath and said incredulously, "You call this 'knowing a little' about formations?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "Just a lucky coincidence."

"Would you consider joining my group? I will wholeheartedly ensure your safety."

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head.

Xiong Shan didn't get angry; he chuckled self-deprecatingly, "It seems I'm ill-informed. The Li family of Nantong must be one of those reclusive great clans in the Jianghu."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "Not quite, but we live pretty well." His great-grandfather always had wine and meat, so life in the countryside could indeed be described as comfortable.

Xiong Shan said, "You're too modest." In the Jianghu, those skilled in formations are like children nowadays who list piano, skiing, or equestrianism as hobbies—the child might not necessarily be truly exceptional, but their family's financial situation is likely good.

Xiong Shan stood up, letting the rain wash away the bloodstains from his body, then put on his coir raincoat again. "Young brother, I owe you a favor. Without your help, I would have been delayed for a long time, and the situation might have worsened because of it."

"Just strive to resolve the situation here, and consider that my favor repaid."

"So young, yet with such foresight."

"You've been in there before?"

"Yes, I've been inside. Taohua Village is beneath the lake. Behind the village, there's an underwater pool, which should be the center of the original Yinma Lake. From there, one can enter the depths of that water burial site. Inside... there are many people. I managed to sneak in and was almost about to meet that general, but at the last step, my identity was discovered. There were too many deceased inside, and the corpse aura was too dense. I was injured, causing the corpse poison in my body to become uncontrollable, and I nearly perished there. Fortunately, I've roughly figured out the situation inside. Once my people and the representatives from the other three families arrive, we can go down one more time and reseal that general."

"The other three families. Are you referring to the Xie, Wang, and Bu families?"

"Who else would I mean?"

"The Wang family members are already gone."

"Lihua told me, but that doesn't count. Although this general is decayed and dilapidated, long past his former glory, he's not someone you can handle by simply sending in a few family cats and dogs. These three families need to send their true core members. I need them to provide cover for me and create opportunities."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "I think you might be thinking too simply."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I've heard stories of the Four Great Families of Old Tianmen, but I remain skeptical about their authenticity."

"Even if there's some embellishment, it shouldn't be too outlandish."

"Perhaps it is outlandish. The Ming-Qing transition period should have been the golden age for corpse drivers. Several large-scale migration waves created a huge demand for transporting corpses. Yet, even in such an environment, the Niudao Jieshi never revived. What could be the reason for that?"

"Are you suggesting those three families have been suppressing the Niudao Jieshi? But even among the Four Great Families of Old Tianmen, isn't it normal for factions to have internal conflicts and rivalries?"

"Perhaps it's more serious than that."

"Are you implying they would dare to commit such a grave offense? Aren't they afraid of the watchful eye of the Heavenly Dao?"

"The Heavenly Dao only cares about outcomes; it seems to disregard everything else."

"One must still try to think of the best in people. I believe that in matters like this, those three families wouldn't be foolish."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded, "So, you plan to have those three families act as cannon fodder to draw away the 'people' in the water burial?"

"What do you mean 'cannon fodder'? That's too harsh. It's called sacrificing for the righteous path, hehe." A hint of grimness showed through Xiong Shan's laughter. He had intended to keep up appearances, but since the young man had pointed it out, he simply stopped pretending. Fundamentally, someone who rose from obscurity to reach his current position could be upright, but certainly not truly foolish. Otherwise, it would be extremely unfair to those who had already drowned beneath the river.

"Did you see that Niudao Jieshi?"

"I've surveyed both above and below the water, but I haven't seen him. However, I did find some signs of human activity. Someone deliberately broke the seal to release the general, or at least to allow the general's power to seep outside."

Li Zhuiyuan remained silent. He understood that Xiong Shan's objective was to reseal the general, meaning his own future task should be to deal with the Niudao Jieshi.

"Gurgle gurgle... gurgle gurgle..." In the lake ahead, a strange long string of bubbles emerged, starting in one spot, then appearing in several others.

"They're coming out again, a bit too close, Lihua."

"Yes." The woman responded, pulled out the child's diaper again, set up a cloth sail as a table, placed a mirror, and began burning paper offerings. This time, Li Zhuiyuan didn't move. He reached out and took a half-burnt piece of paper money from the woman's hand. Run Sheng and Tan Wenbin also each took one.

Soon, a team emerged from under the water, a few dozen meters away diagonally. Everyone lowered their heads, including Xiong Shan. As soon as that team emerged, a second team appeared on the other side, followed by a third, then a fourth... In total, there were eight teams. Each team specifically came to their "Yin-Yang Road Inn," circled once, and then departed to the sound of bells. This time, Li Zhuiyuan didn't try to peek at "it," but even with his head bowed, he could see their feet in his peripheral vision on the ground. Each consisted of two people, one in front and one behind, walking while carrying a bamboo pole between them. In the middle was a person whose feet did not touch the ground.

After they left, everyone looked up. Xiong Shan said, "When they return, there will be more than just these people. They always pick up others along the way."

Li Zhuiyuan asked, "Is this the General's patrol?"

"That's a very good and vivid analogy. In every corpse-driving team, there's one whose feet don't touch the ground. He represents the General's eyes, and any attempt to peek at him will lead to dire consequences. Lihua said you've seen him?"

"Curiosity drove me."

"How did you do it? Can you teach me?"

"I'm willing to teach, but it's not easy to learn."

"No problem. You've asked me so much about what's down there. I believe you want to go down and see for yourself, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I can take you down and satisfy your curiosity."

"Thank you."

"Do you know how I went down there?"

Li Zhuiyuan mused, "Could it be when the corpse-driving teams that came out earlier return..."

"Exactly. I blended in and helped carry the bamboo pole."

Next, it was time to wait. Xiong Shan tended to his injuries while playing with his son on his lap. Run Sheng set up two tents for shelter from the rain, one on each side. Li Zhuiyuan quietly ate his biscuit. The young man knew clearly that he had helped Xiong Shan suppress the corpse poison, and the atmosphere between them was friendly, but a clear boundary still existed. Xiong Shan could sacrifice those three families as "offerings," which meant he could just as easily sacrifice him if needed. However, there was nothing to complain about. On the contrary, this mode of interaction, where each party clearly understood the other's boundaries, made both comfortable. No one was a fool; everyone had a sense of proportion, so there was no need to worry about the other party's actions becoming inexplicably distorted.

The rain stopped, but the already dim sky had now turned completely dark. Xiong Shan carried his son and walked over to Li Zhuiyuan, asking, "Do you like children?"

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head.

"I love my son very much."

"I can tell."

"Precisely because I suffered so much as a child, I want to give him everything best."

"Hmm." Li Zhuiyuan had no intention of debating his so-called "parenting philosophy." Although his method of hoping his son would become a dragon (succeed spectacularly) would probably be considered too extreme even by extremists.

"This is the mindset of a parent." Li Zhuiyuan took out a packet of biscuits and offered it to him, "Would you like to try this?"

"No thanks, I'm not used to eating this."

"Oh." Li Zhuiyuan didn't press him; he just wanted to interrupt what the other party might have continued to say.

"Young brother, how much do you know about the Jianghu?"

"Not much."

"Although you're still young, and you'll at least need to be an adult before you truly light the lamp and travel the Jianghu, it's still good to know some things in advance. Look at this lake before us now. It's one way, but once you light the lamp, it will appear entirely different. At that point, even if you don't want to go, the river will push you forward, completely beyond your control."

"My elders at home told me that you can light the lamp a second time, either to retire from the world or to settle down at a dock."

"That means admitting defeat."

"You won't admit defeat?"

Xiong Shan lowered his head, looking at his son in his arms, "Actually, I'm already tired, but for his sake, I want to strive a little more."

"I understand."

"I know this mindset of mine isn't right. People who get red-eyed from winning at the gambling table often end up losing everything."

"Can't you imagine yourself as the ultimate winner?"

"Heh heh." Xiong Shan gave two dry laughs. "The Jianghu is vast. I've seen self-made people who truly impress me. Not to mention those from established families and sects; some of their techniques and spells are beyond my comprehension. And above them, there are truly top-tier houses. In the Jianghu, they are called Dragon King families. Such families have produced too many ultimate victors throughout history, and their foundations are frighteningly deep. When their family descendants light the lamp and emerge, they don't call it 'traveling the Jianghu,' or 'wandering,' or 'venturing out.' They call it—'walking the river.' Listen to that—what audacity! Yet, they truly have the confidence to back it up."

Li Zhuiyuan listened quietly, pondering why Xiong Shan was telling him all this. After much thought, he concluded that the other party genuinely didn't seem to have any hidden agenda against him; it was as if he was simply speaking from the heart.

Xiong Shan asked, "Do you think I can win against these 'river walkers'?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "It depends on human effort. Even the Dragon King families, didn't they also start from humble beginnings?"

"Young brother, you can certainly have that spirit, but I cannot." Xiong Shan stretched out a finger and gently pinched his son's cheek. "If I hadn't met you today, I doubt I would have felt this way."

"Oh?"

"So young, yet your mastery of formations is divine. Do you know, that's very intimidating."

"That's an exaggeration."

"It's not an exaggeration, because I don't believe you only know formations and nothing else."

"It's alright."

"It's fortunate you haven't lit the lamp, as I know I won't ultimately have to compete with you. But I'm certain that somewhere in the Jianghu, there's a young person as outstanding as you who has already lit the lamp. The thought of eventually having to fight tooth and nail against someone like that for the final spot... I feel afraid."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "If you keep talking like this, aren't you afraid it will affect your spirit?"

"It doesn't matter. Seeing you and then looking at my son, I actually feel a sense of hope, hehe. I don't mean to take advantage of you, but as I was healing earlier, watching him on my lap, I genuinely thought to myself, perhaps it's time for me to retire. I should raise him well and let him contend in the Jianghu later. Once this 'wave' is over, I'll..."

Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand, "It's best not to say such things; they're inauspicious."

"Hahahahaha!" Xiong Shan burst into laughter.

Just then, columns of dark figures appeared from multiple directions in the distance. The corpse-driving teams were returning.

"Lihua!" Xiong Shan called to his wife.

"I'll do it this time, Brother Run Sheng."

Run Sheng immediately brought out a small table, and Li Zhuiyuan quickly completed the setup. Xiong Shan watched the young man's actions intently. The earlier "affectionate gazes and heartfelt sentiments" were in the past; no one should take them truly seriously. What truly maintained and ensured their cooperation was strength. This time, Li Zhuiyuan directly lit the candles with karmic fire. The two candles, one red and one white, burned with flames that shimmered with dark shadows. Since he didn't believe Li Zhuiyuan knew nothing else besides formations, Li Zhuiyuan would simply prove it to him.

Xiong Shan nodded, licked his lips, and said, "There's a strong, righteous, and honest scent." The burnt yellow paper began to be distributed, one piece per person. After several repetitions, everyone had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

Xiong Shan said, "Last night, this was when I blended into their team. You have to keep strictly to their rhythm; you can't mess up. Most importantly, you mustn't look at the one in the middle."

"Understood."

"You're not tall enough, so just walk by holding onto one of their clothes."

"Thank you, you're very thoughtful."

The teams converged from all directions. When they weren't too close, there was no need to rush to bow their heads; one could still observe them. Of course, the one in the middle whose feet didn't touch the ground was always indistinct. Upon their return, the number of people in each team had visibly increased. It seemed they had "picked up" people along the way, or perhaps visited different numbers and locations of "inns." In any case, the returning teams were not as tightly packed as when they left during the day, with varying distances between each team.

The first team had four people. No wonder they returned so quickly and were first in line; they had only picked up one person. It was a woman, her eyes closed, hair disheveled, and clothes dirty and torn. Her appearance strongly resembled the fool he had once encountered in Min'an Town. As this team approached, everyone lowered their heads. Once they entered the water, everyone looked up again towards the second team.

The second team had five people: a white-haired elder and a gaunt, hollow-eyed middle-aged person. They also had their eyes closed. Li Zhuiyuan noticed a pattern: the people being picked up seemed to be those destined to die. So, what he experienced last night was an anomaly? Because he, the woman, and the seven Wang family members were all outsiders and intruders? Or perhaps, the identity of the Wang family members caused particular sensitivity?

Two corpse-driving teams had already entered the lake and disappeared from sight. However, when the third corpse-driving team appeared in the distance, visible from afar, the situation immediately changed. The third team consisted of four people. Logically, with fewer people to pick up, it should have been earlier in the line. Could it be because its route was the longest? Li Zhuiyuan glanced at Xiong Shan beside him and saw that he, too, looked puzzled. Xiong Shan was experienced, so it shouldn't be a matter of route; a genuine deviation had occurred.

When the third team came closer, Li Zhuiyuan saw that the only person being carried was a woman. She was wearing light blue silk pajamas and cloth slippers, with long hair draped over her shoulders, looking as if she had just been roused from bed. Most importantly, she had a mole below her lip. This woman was the one who had received them at the antique market that day, and it was she who had provided him with initial information about the Niudao Jieshi family. But she should be in the city now; how did she get here? She shouldn't have come here voluntarily, because if she had, she wouldn't be dressed like this. Li Zhuiyuan recalled her saying that her husband had suddenly disappeared during the first lunar month five years ago. Had her husband disappeared in this same manner back then? Was she now merely retracing her husband's old path? So, this third corpse-driving team actually went into the city?

Tan Wenbin and Run Sheng also exchanged glances; they recognized the woman too. As the third team passed by and was about to begin circling, everyone lowered their heads. A lingering smoky fragrance emanated from the woman and persisted long after the team circled past. After this team entered the water, Li Zhuiyuan spoke, "She's from the Wang family." Xiong Shan's brows furrowed at the statement.

The fourth team arrived, and everyone looked up. It also consisted of four people, meaning only one person was brought back again. It was a well-off old woman, dressed in luxurious clothes, adorned with numerous jewels and jade accessories. Xiong Shan said, "That's Old Madam Bu. She just had a big birthday celebration recently, and I even crashed her banquet."

The fifth team also had four people, bringing back a young man wearing a white tank top. His upper arms had very distinct indentations, and his calves were exceptionally muscular. This resembled the seven Wang family members seen earlier. Corpse drivers need to train their arms to carry bamboo poles and practice corpse-kicking leg techniques, so these two areas show very distinct musculature from deliberate training. A Wang family member, a Bu family member... then, without surprise, this young man with clear corpse-driver characteristics must be from the Xie family, right? So, these three corpse-driving teams actually went to the other three families of Old Tianmen and brought back one person from each?

The sixth team was a bit far, so only distant dark figures were visible for now. Xiong Shan asked, "Why do you think the General captured these three families?"

Li Zhuiyuan replied, "Revenge." Besides revenge, he couldn't think of a second reason. It certainly wasn't to invite them for a meal underwater, was it?

Xiong Shan said, "I suddenly realized that I might need to seriously consider what you said about the internal conflicts within the Four Great Families of Old Tianmen. I suspect this isn't revenge from the General."

Li Zhuiyuan said, "It could be revenge from that Niudao Jieshi. He can already borrow the General's power." Li Zhuiyuan paused, then added, "Unless that Niudao Jieshi is dealt with, the General's seal will never truly be stable." At this point, some guidance was needed, but it couldn't be too forceful.

Xiong Shan nodded, "Indeed."

The sixth team drew closer and became visible. This time there weren't four people, but five, meaning two had been picked up. One on the left, one on the right, one tall and robust, the other lean, all with their eyes closed. Beside him, Xiong Shan's breathing suddenly quickened. Li Zhuiyuan specifically looked at him. It seemed Xiong Shan not only knew these two but was very familiar with them. While Xiong Shan managed to restrain himself, the woman was already shocked. She murmured, "Second Brother, Third Brother!" Second Brother, Third Brother? Were these two people from Xiong Shan's team?

As this sixth team approached, Xiong Shan warned in an extremely suppressed voice, "Heads down." This warning was directed at the woman. The woman lowered her head. The sixth team entered the lake, disappearing beneath the surface. The woman began to sob, reaching out to grip Xiong Shan's clothes. It was evident that the team had a very good atmosphere, with a strong sense of mutual recognition.

Xiong Shan clenched his fists, and the scars on his face became prominent once more. "How could this happen? How could this happen..."

Li Zhuiyuan asked, "What did you send them to do?"

Xiong Shan gritted his teeth and said each word slowly, "Would you believe me if I told you I only sent them to keep an eye on the Yan family, Xie family, and Bu family?"

Li Zhuiyuan was initially skeptical. If they were just observing those two families, like the woman, and waiting for them to send people before following, how could they have been inexplicably drawn into this corpse-driving team? But soon, Li Zhuiyuan had no choice but to believe. Because he witnessed an even more incredible scene: the seventh team arrived. This team consisted of eight people, which was considered large-scale for this night.

The one at the front was very familiar to Li Zhuiyuan: the young Taoist priest he saw last night, who was the twin son of the old couple. However, the one following behind him, carrying the bamboo pole, was none other than Brother Hu. On Brother Hu's other side and behind him were his two gangster brothers. Weren't these three supposed to be in the city on his orders, looking for opportunities? How did they end up here?

The next moment, Run Sheng and Tan Wenbin also gasped sharply. Because an even more bizarre sight appeared than Brother Hu and his two companions being in the team. Behind Brother Hu and his two companions, two more people were carrying the pole: Yin Meng and Lin Shuyou! When passing through Meiling Town that morning, Tan Wenbin had contacted them via the town's phone, and everything was normal at the time. Since the path ahead was still unclear, he hadn't asked them to lead Brother Hu and his two companions here. Yet now, all five of them were here.

Li Zhuiyuan said, "Heads down!"

The seventh team approached. Run Sheng and Tan Wenbin reluctantly lowered their heads, even though their fists were clenched. As Li Zhuiyuan lowered his head, he looked at the bronze mirror in his hand and began searching for an angle. According to previous custom, this team would circle the "Yin-Yang Road Inn" where they were located before returning to the lake bottom. He needed to calculate their movement speed to avoid the invisible person in the middle whose feet didn't touch the ground.

After Brother Hu's figure appeared in the bronze mirror, Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes and counted silently. If he opened his eyes too quickly, he would see "it" and be injured again. If he opened them too slowly, he might miss Yin Meng and Lin Shuyou. When the time came, Li Zhuiyuan quickly opened his eyes. In the bronze mirror, he saw Lin Shuyou. Yin Meng, due to her position on the other side, was obscured by Lin Shuyou because of the angle.

At that moment, Lin Shuyou seemed to sense something. He actually opened his eyes, a look of confusion in them. As he glanced around blankly, his mouth opened as if speaking, but no sound came out. However, from the changes in his mouth shape, it was clear he was saying:

"Brother Xiaoyuan?"