Chapter 279

“Did you see it on your way here? There was a car accident over there; several vehicles burned.”

“I took a different route, so I didn't see it. How bad was the fire? Were there any fatalities?”

“The two large vehicles were fine, but the two small cars sandwiched between them were already mangled from the collision. After the fire, they were completely unrecognizable. I don't know if there were any fatalities; some say the police searched meticulously inside but found no bodies and no victims.”

“Did they burn away completely?”

“Even after burning, human traces would still be visible.”

“That’s true.”

“Our two companions are reportedly fine; they were still lying by the roadside, unconscious, when the police arrived. Car accidents are like that. Look at my hand, like this... *snap*...”

“Were those two cars just stopped on the road, empty?”

“I'm not sure. My cargo is urgent, so I didn't stay long to watch. By the way, are you staying overnight here?”

“Yes, my stomach pain is unbearable; I can't drive any further. I need to rest. Anyway, the truck is empty now, and I'll pick up a load back to Zhoushan after I reach Nantong, so there's no hurry.”

“It's not very peaceful here; there are often 'rats' around.”

“I'll sleep with one eye open and leave once my stomach stops cramping.”

“Alright, be careful. I'm leaving now. Here, have another one.”

“Be careful driving at night.”

Yongzi took the cigarette from the other man, tucked it behind his ear, and after watching him drive away, returned to the driver's cab.

He first reclined the seat, spread out a blanket, then pulled a steel pipe from under the seat. He held it in his right hand, his left hand pressed against his stomach, and slowly closed his eyes.

His stomach discomfort meant he wasn't sleeping deeply. In that semi-awake state, he heard some movement. He immediately woke up, opened his eyes, listened carefully for a moment, and after confirming what it was, immediately grabbed the steel pipe and got out of the truck.

He didn't rush directly. Instead, he tapped the steel pipe, hoping to scare away the fuel thieves.

Some 'rats' in certain areas are afraid of people, but in other places, they're bolder, not only unafraid but also aggressive.

Yongzi had barely tapped a few times when he suddenly felt his neck tighten, and he was pulled backward, constantly stumbling.

The wire around his neck tightened, digging into his flesh. Panicked and losing his balance, the steel pipe slipped from his hand.

A figure appeared in front, presumably the one responsible for stealing fuel. That person picked up the steel pipe from the ground and cursed:

“Knock, knock, knock, you *******!”

The steel pipe swung horizontally, hitting Yongzi's abdomen. Yongzi's body immediately spasmed, but with the wire tightening around his neck from behind, he couldn't curl up. He could only twist his waist in excruciating pain, wanting to kick but unable to generate any leverage.

“Bang!”“Bang.”

He was hit twice more in quick succession. Yongzi's eyes rolled back; the combination of suffocation and blows caused his consciousness to gradually fade.

But the attackers showed no intention of stopping, continuing to choke him from behind and hit him from the front. It was clear they intended to kill him.

They were clearly the fuel thieves, yet after being discovered, they became enraged, as if they were the ones who had been greatly wronged.

Just then, two muffled thuds were heard.

Yongzi first felt his neck loosen, and he lay on the ground. Fresh air rushed in, and his breathing recovered. In a daze, he felt like he was dreaming: two identical, beautiful women, each carrying a fuel thief, walked away.

Immediately after, Yongzi completely lost consciousness and fell into a coma.

When he woke up, he found himself lying in a sleeping bag. A fire was burning in front, with a pot hanging over it, and a fragrant aroma wafted from it.

He mumbled a few words. The good news was his stomach no longer hurt; the bad news was that, apart from his stomach, he was in more pain everywhere else.

“Don't move; I just fixed you up. Here, drink this bowl of medicine first.”

Yongzi looked at Tan Wenbin, who was standing before him, at first finding him familiar, and after a moment's thought, finally remembered who he was.

Looking around, several familiar figures were there.

This group had once saved his father at sea. To repay them, he had driven them from Zhoushan back to Nantong.

Only when he returned home did his father confess that when he originally took them to the island, he not only charged a high price but also stood them up after collecting the return fare.

Yongzi severely reprimanded his father. If he had told him earlier, he could have bought them more cigarettes and alcohol. Putting himself in their shoes, if he had encountered the same situation and saw his father drifting at sea, let alone saving him, not hitting him with a plank would have been considered an act of kindness.

“I...”

“Don't ask; everything's fine now.”

Tan Wenbin couldn't be bothered to explain much. They had arrived just in time; a little later, Yongzi's life might have ended there.

As for the two fuel thieves, the Liang sisters took them away.

Those two sisters had a streak of brutality in them. Back in Dujiangyan, when they felt bored, they would intentionally create opportunities to entrap people at bars, just to have a legitimate reason to vent. If the two fuel thieves were played to death, that would be one thing, but if not... their fate would certainly be worse than death.

After Yongzi drank the medicine, he felt much more comfortable. After talking with Tan Wenbin for a while, he drifted back into a deep sleep.

By the bonfire, Li Zhuiyuan had an easel in front of him and was painting.

Zhao Yi, sitting next to him, was also painting, but he was squatting on the ground.

Tan Wenbin walked over and said, “Brother Xiao Yuan, we've arranged it with Yongzi. Tomorrow, we'll take him to the clinic, and we can rent his truck.”

Li Zhuiyuan simply nodded.

Lin Shuyou, sitting nearby, said, “It's quite a coincidence to run into someone we know.”

Zhao Yi: “It's not a coincidence. Rather, because he knows you, there's a karmic connection. He was destined for a tribulation, so he 'happened' to appear here, hoping to seize an opportunity to overcome it. This is the unique aspect of 'River Walkers'; they have a significant karmic impact on those around them. Those who do good receive aid, while those who do evil are consumed. The more merit you accumulate with each 'wave,' the more people will be drawn to you seeking to overcome their tribulations, even if they themselves are unaware.”

Lin Shuyou: “Oh, that's good.”

Zhao Yi: “Are you very familiar with him?”

Lin Shuyou: “Everyone knows him.”

Zhao Yi: “No, you two have a history. Tell me about it.”

Lin Shuyou became flustered: “No, no history.”

Zhao Yi: “Earlier, when we were choosing someone to accompany Li into the restaurant, Zhuangzhuang mentioned you had experience. This truck driver... is he the one who took you to a 'proper sisters' restaurant to 'have your first taste'?”

Lin Shuyou: “I didn't 'have my first taste'! I ran out!”

Zhao Yi: “Oh, so that's how it is.”

Li Zhuiyuan asked, “How many more paintings do you have left?”

Zhao Yi: “Four, I'm almost done.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Alright, finish before dawn.”

Zhao Yi: “Is this method really effective?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Not necessarily. But even if it's not effective externally, it can provide a psychological comfort internally.”

Zhao Yi: “Indeed.”

Their first hurdle on the journey was overcome, but a new problem now lay before them:

How were they to get to Fengdu next?

In the past, long-distance journeys usually involved trains, planes, or driving themselves.

Taking a plane was out of the question this time.

Trains or long-distance buses were also unsuitable. This group was targeted by spirits, making them highly ominous individuals. Not having an incident would be the biggest surprise, so there was no need to involve innocent ordinary people.

As for driving themselves... others worried about fuel consumption per hundred kilometers, while they worried about vehicle wear and tear per hundred kilometers.

It wasn't that they couldn't afford it, but they had just left Nantong, and Fengdu was still far away. Who could withstand such continuous strain multiple times?

To address this, Li Zhuiyuan devised a plan.

Dawn broke.

In his drowsy state, Yongzi felt a slight swaying. When he woke up that morning, he found himself lying in a hospital bed, and a nurse was walking over to change his IV drip.

“You're awake. Your friends left, but they pre-paid a significant amount for your medical expenses and even hired a family member from the next room to be your caregiver.”

“Oh...”

Yongzi responded, and as he tried to turn over, he heard a rustling sound under his pillow. He reached in and found an envelope and a piece of paper.

The envelope contained a sum of money, and the paper was a rental contract, signed by Tan Wenbin.

On the road.

The truck was driving smoothly, with Zhao Yi at the wheel.

Yin Meng, sitting in the back of the truck, marveled, “He drives so skillfully! You'd think he was an experienced freight driver.”

Tan Wenbin: “Smart people learn quickly.”

Beside them, the Liang sisters smiled at the compliment.

The Liang family's standing in the jianghu was no less than that of the Jiujiang Zhao family. If it were a legitimate marriage alliance between the two families, that would be one thing. The issue was that Zhao Yi had specifically come to their family to find new subordinates after his own team members died.

Then what the Liang family valued was not the Jiujiang Zhao family, but Zhao Yi himself.

After all, not everyone is qualified to be a son-in-law in such a prominent family; their discerning eyes are very selective.

With this thought, the two sisters simultaneously turned their heads and looked through the glass partition at the young man sitting in the passenger seat.

They had personally witnessed how terrifying the Dragon King's family was; their own leader had literally knocked his head bloody just by kowtowing.

The old lady was by no means an easy or foolish person to deal with. Her silent approval of her granddaughter being childhood sweethearts with the young man was not due to her being open-minded.

Lin Shuyou lay sprawled out on the truck bed, basking in the sun. It was spacious enough for everyone to roll around freely.

He had 'sucked' every peach blossom petal yesterday, and after finishing, he handed them over to Zhao Yi for a second round of replenishment.

The quantity was too large and too pure, causing even the boy to fall into a deep sleep, as if carbon-poisoned.

Lin Shuyou still felt cool and refreshed at that moment, as if he had mint in his mouth even when breathing out.

The large truck provided a strong sense of security: first, its spacious interior made it easier to jump out and avoid accidents; second, in many situations, when an accident occurred, the large truck could simply roll over it.

Of course, these were secondary; their true reliance was...

Rung Sheng: “The wind is a bit strong; we need to secure it.”

None of those sitting were idle; they all got up to help.

On both sides of the truck body, five paintings were affixed to each side, forming the Ten Kings of Hell when combined.

Additionally, five placards, resembling those carried during sports event entrances, were fixed to the side edge of the truck, representing the Five Ghost Emperors.

Above the truck's cab, the largest painting stood upright, depicting the Great Emperor of Fengdu.

Doing this would naturally not make them invulnerable to all evil, but at least it could make the ignorant 'little devils' on the road, who were being used as pawns, sober up a bit.

As the saying goes, 'It's easier to meet the King of Hell than to deal with the minor demons.'

If a major one really came, they could simply deal with it as it came, but they feared those minor demons causing trouble again, perhaps creating a traffic accident.

The effect was actually quite good; for the entire next day, the truck drove normally and without incident.

Everyone strictly followed the rules for emergencies: they ate the dry rations they brought, and even for bathroom breaks, they resolved them nearby, ensuring no one was left alone.

Li Zhuiyuan, sitting in the passenger seat, was constantly writing and drawing with paper and pen.

Zhao Yi was initially curious about what Li was 'scribbling.' But once he understood that it was research on the Zhao family's formations, Zhao Yi said with a forced smile:

“Hey, do you need to study up so early?”

“I'm just passing the time.”

Thanks to Zhao Yi repeatedly bringing him the Zhao family's ancient texts for refinement, Li Zhuiyuan had the basic logic of the Zhao family's formations and restrictions in his mind.

Following this, by deducing upwards, he could understand the development trajectory of the Zhao family's practical applications.

With these preparations, when he later visited the Jiujiang Zhao family's treasury, it would be much more convenient and discreet, and he wouldn't disturb the owners' rest.

Zhao Yi: “Oh, and after you're done taking things, remember to fix the door for me.”

Zhao Wuyang's copper coin sword was still with Zhao Yi and had not been returned. He had already decided to trade the Zhao family's treasury for this sword.

The meaning of that last sentence was that after Li Zhuiyuan entered the treasury to collect what he needed, he should also take the opportunity to upgrade the Zhao family treasury's formations and restrictions — essentially hiring a thief for anti-theft technical guidance.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Is that appropriate?”

Zhao Yi: “You're a professional.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Depends on how many good things are inside.”

Zhao Yi: “You won't be disappointed. You can tell from the miscellaneous cultivation methods in our family that my Zhao family ancestors were truly like hamsters, scurrying around collecting everything to enrich our heritage.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “That's certainly a filial analogy.”

Zhao Yi: “Sometimes I feel sorry for them. The old folks always hoped that another generation of Dragon Kings would emerge from the family, but they didn't realize that if a Dragon King really appeared, the first thing they'd do is kill them, haha.”

Li Zhuiyuan then put away his paper and pen, closed his eyes, and began to rest.

There weren't many cars on the road at night, and Zhao Yi drove quietly.

In the back of the truck, they also slept in shifts.

Suddenly, Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes, and Zhao Yi immediately slammed on the brakes.

Under the truck's headlights, a figure dressed in purplish-black official robes appeared in front.

The figure had its head bowed, holding an incense burner with three sticks of incense burning inside.

The darkness behind it, like an inverted mountain range, was instantly overwhelming.

He appeared abruptly in front of the truck, but once the truck stopped, he vanished, undetectable.

Zhao Yi: “They're here.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Yes.”

Behind them, Rung Sheng tapped on the glass, saying a painting of Yama had just cracked.

Zhao Yi pulled the truck to the side and lit a cigarette.

“I thought we'd only encounter their moves when we were close to Fengdu territory, but I didn't expect them to appear so early, not even halfway there.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “You insulted them too harshly, smashing all their pendants and ornaments, and even spitting on them.”

Zhao Yi's eyes widened as he looked at Li Zhuiyuan: “Li, you can't say that!”

Li Zhuiyuan: “I'm stating facts.”

Zhao Yi: “You were clearly the one who first poured black dog blood and wantonly insulted them. I merely followed up... I couldn't stand seeing the 'adults' being humiliated like that, so I swiftly destroyed those ornaments, saving the dignity of the 'adults' that you trampled.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “It doesn't matter much. We couldn't truly silence those commanders and generals; they definitely took the real information back. Our identities will only become clearer to them over there. I am the successor, and Mengmeng's surname is Yin. If I were them, given their scale, coming out of Fengdu would involve enormous risk. Directly targeting Mengmeng and me would obviously not be suitable, so they would naturally prioritize you.”

As Li Zhuiyuan spoke, he pointed to the truck window in front of Zhao Yi.

Outside the window, there was already a layer of dust, and now the faint marks of three incense sticks were visible.

The young man: “These incense sticks are for you.”

Zhao Yi: “This is really unfair.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “There's no difference. You're just being placed in front. Nominally, it targets you, but in reality, it's aimed at all of us.”

Zhao Yi reached out and touched the window: “Three incense sticks, does that mean he has three chances to strike?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Yes, beings of their magnitude cannot freely appear in the human world; they are naturally subject to great restrictions.”

The young man again took out paper and pen and began to draw from memory, sketching the image of the judge from before.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Take a look. Recall the details and see if it matches what I've drawn.”

Zhao Yi: “It's different. Although it's very similar, I'm certain what I saw was different from yours.”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded, seemingly not surprised: “That makes sense, then. That judge is an amalgamation—a judge, yet not a judge. If it were just to facilitate observation for the powerful figures behind the scenes, then it was crafted too subtly. You completely manipulated him according to the psychology of a judge, and you succeeded. So, at that time, I guessed that perhaps the Underworld had its own rules, and officials of the judge's rank were not allowed to travel to the human world. Ghost commanders and generals, however, could be freer, as they indeed needed to travel outside to apprehend wandering souls and evil spirits.”

Zhao Yi: “Then why don't they continue sending out ghost commanders and generals? I don't believe we rounded up all of Fengdu's ghost commanders and generals yesterday. Wait, could it be because the lineage of ghost commanders and generals is more rigid? In their view, continuing to send out ghost commanders and generals would just be delivering more targets to you.”

“Yes, that's likely the case. Yesterday's miasma wasn't set up by that judge alone; it was likely the combined effort of those four commanders and eight generals. The judge, on the other hand, could gain more freedom and adaptability within the miasma.”

Zhao Yi: “So this major appearance, including what we just saw, is actually a diversion?”

“Wait a moment.”

Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes, and the image of the robed figure holding an incense burner appearing in front of the truck, which he had seen earlier, came to mind.

The young man was reviewing the same scene from different perspectives.

Zhao Yi smoked, while feeling the constantly and violently shifting feng shui energies in the passenger seat.

A moment later, the young man opened his eyes and began to draw.

Besides the original one he had drawn, the young man drew five more images, generally similar but with differing details.

Zhao Yi extinguished his cigarette butt and flicked it away, then pointed to one of them: “This is what I saw.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Then this Yama, like yesterday's judge, was collectively conjured for use in the human world.”

Zhao Yi: “So the damaged painting behind us was actually psychological warfare, meant to mislead us into thinking there would be nine more rounds of attacks? Each round with three chances to strike.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Yes.”

Zhao Yi: “There are Ten Halls, but you only drew six figures in total. What about the other four?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Not even those above and below are united. Do you still expect those of the same rank to work together? If some make a move, others will surely choose to observe.”

Zhao Yi: “Three incense sticks. If they want to intimidate us into giving up this way, then these three chances to strike will surely be terrifying, designed to cause death.”

Li Zhuiyuan took out three incense sticks from his bag and offered them to Zhao Yi: “Then you should actively accept them.”

Originally, it was only theoretically going to target Zhao Yi first, with a possibility of evasion. But accepting these three incense sticks as a response would be equivalent to explicitly accepting this challenge.

Zhao Yi didn't hesitate and took the incense sticks from the young man's hand.

Opening the truck door, Zhao Yi jumped out, performed the Zhao family's clan ritual by the roadside, and inserted the incense sticks.

The incense lit itself.

At first, there were just three points of red light and faint white smoke, but gradually, the red light turned black, and gray smoke rapidly rose. In a few blinks of an eye, the three incense sticks completely burned out.

A cold wind blew, and the black incense ash formed the character for "death".

With a “pffft” sound, Zhao Yi opened a Jianlibao (soda) and took a sip.

He appeared calm and collected, but in reality, the hand holding the beverage can was trembling slightly.

Not fearing death did not mean being able to face the threat of death without any reaction.

The people in the back of the truck witnessed all