Chapter 284

Li Zhuiyuan once desired to abide by the rules they set, given the disparity in their strength. Initially, the young man indeed regarded the three incense sticks as a formidable trial, focusing on countering each move. However, when the second and third figures also descended, forcing his side to confront them at the cost of total loss, the nature of the situation changed. There was no reason for them to repeatedly break the rules while he was expected to simply endure it. Was it not just a game of rules? The "River Walking Code of Conduct" was the result of the young man's strategic battles with the Heavenly Dao since he began his journey along the river. Some things are not understood or mastered more deeply simply by living longer; if that were the case, the river wouldn't have targeted the young man so early. Since he decided on revenge, that revenge had to be evident. Just like Zhao Yi, Li Zhuiyuan also wished to see rivers of blood. The household registers, purged into blank pages, reflected not the young man's obsession but a cold habit.

It was Li Zhuiyuan who instructed Yin Meng to prepare the sacrifice, with the tomb owner as the offering. However, Li Zhuiyuan didn't believe the Great Emperor would truly descend to do anything. If the Great Emperor truly intended to act, there would have been no need to wait until now. This very journey to Fengdu was initiated by the Great Emperor; how could he not know about the actions of his subordinates? Knowing this, yet not preventing or even intending to intervene, meant that even successfully provoking the Great Emperor wouldn't achieve the direct outcome he desired. However, an indirect objective could be achieved.

Previously, within the tomb owner's consciousness, Li Zhuiyuan had taught him a spell. Benefiting from the tomb owner being under the control of Li Zhuiyuan's black book secret technique at the time, Li Zhuiyuan could easily impose his will, leading to highly efficient teaching. Coupled with the tomb owner's own exceptional talent and extensive experience of being possessed by underworld emissaries repeatedly in the past, he learned very quickly. Even so, it was impossible for him to learn and fully comprehend the entire "Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra" in such a short time. What the tomb owner learned was the second chapter of the first volume of the sutra. Most such inherited scriptures, in their first volume, first chapter, introduce the deity's worldview, a stage that can be skipped. The second chapter is a call and prayer to the deity. In reality, in most temples, devotees bowing and then praying before a divine statue are broadly extending this second chapter.

Using this spell to sense a deity is very difficult, and it depends on the individual. For instance, the young Lin Shuyou could sense dark spirits early on, earning him the reputation as a genius of the Guanjiong line. Leaving aside the tomb owner's talent in life, simply the presence of three such entities within his body now meant that invoking the second chapter was, to some extent, equivalent to sending a message to Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva in the names of those three. If the Bodhisattva wasn't omniscient, omnipotent, and privy to destiny... then upon sensing such a prayer, the Bodhisattva should also have been shocked.

Even then, Li Zhuiyuan didn't feel secure. After all, those three had the ability to temporarily block the gaze of the Heavenly Dao, which implied they could also block such an existence. Therefore, Li Zhuiyuan had Yin Meng perform the sacrifice. If the Great Emperor descended and directly enacted punishment, it would be a joyous outcome, and the matter could end there; Li Zhuiyuan would accept this result. Otherwise, it would be akin to inviting the Great Emperor to appear, providing the "vinegar" for the "dumplings" that were to come.

In the past, under the Great Emperor's wrath, a decree was issued, and a hidden family was instantly obliterated. Top forces in the jianghu noticed this movement, and even Granny Liu knew the aftermath of the event earlier than Li Zhuiyuan, the person directly involved. In Zhenjun Temple, Li Zhuiyuan had sensed Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's gaze. At that time, the young man knew that the Bodhisattva could see through the Great Emperor's phantom representing the lineage standing behind him. For such powerful beings, caring about each other's actions is almost an instinct, especially for Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva and Emperor Fengdu. Between them, there isn't just a doctrinal divide but also a struggle for authority in the underworld. When the Great Emperor's gaze openly swept down from above, Li Zhuiyuan didn't believe the Bodhisattva's gaze wouldn't also glance here. When Kṣitigarbha looked here, then any so-called concealment would lose its practical meaning. With this double insurance, Li Zhuiyuan's objective was achieved. Seeing the tomb owner's solemn appearance, an outsider would have thought he was an enlightened monk in life. This was all Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's special "blessing." When the Buddha light manifested, it meant Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva had decided to use the tomb owner as a chess piece and this irregular "three incense sticks" killing move as the chessboard, entering the game!

At this moment, Zhao Yi felt both shock and lament. He had previously thought that Li didn't understand family struggles, but in reality, he understood them all too well. No matter how large internal conflicts within a faction were, there was always the possibility of self-reconciliation and absorption. But once exposed, the nature of the situation completely changed. Above, golden light was brewing, as if draped in an untimely dawn glow. It had arrived, but it was hovering, waiting, searching.

Zhao Yi immediately sensed an opportunity. This wave could be described as a small theater attracting a major performer. Since a major performer typically wouldn't appear in person easily, a servant was needed to run errands. Zhao Yi felt he could take on this role. If the Bodhisattva needed a blade, he, Zhao Yi, could immediately shave his head and enter monastic life. As for the twin sisters, they were unconscious and unaware of anything anyway. Besides, at worst, he could just revert to secular life after they woke up.

Zhao Yi raised his head and puffed out his chest, the 'Gate of Life and Death' pattern swirling on his chest. At this moment, he resembled a pet in a market trying hard to get adopted. Li Zhuiyuan slightly raised his gaze, took a look, then moved it away. The dawn glow made its choice, first descending a wisp to shine before Li Zhuiyuan. Bearing the Green Lotus, it was natural for him to more easily receive the favor of the dawn glow. Li Zhuiyuan didn't move, remaining outside the circle. Zhao Yi understood this, thinking that if one had to choose, one would naturally pick the best first. If Li didn't want it, wouldn't he be next?

Indeed, the dawn glow moved to stand before Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi lifted his foot, about to step into it. For him, this was a great opportunity. From then on, when roaming the jianghu, he too could be like Li, having a powerful figure backing him. However, just as Zhao Yi was about to touch the dawn glow, the chanting tomb owner suddenly stopped. The dawn glow before Zhao Yi dissipated, and the glow above also became unstable. Zhao Yi was stunned, looking at the tomb owner. He realized that fellow was targeting him! The problem was, the look in that fellow's eyes, when directed at him, carried intense concern. It was as if he was doing it for Zhao Yi's own good. From the first moment the tomb owner displayed self-awareness, Zhao Yi had noticed that the other party treated him very specially. Even though he didn't know the tomb owner at all, the tomb owner treated him like a childhood friend. The tomb owner resumed chanting the sutra. The heavenly dawn glow solidified, and the circle of light below reappeared before Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi... didn't dare to step in. The brief pause was enough for him to clear his head. He suddenly realized that if it were truly a good thing with no major drawbacks, Li would never have specifically left it for him. Zhao Yi's hesitation was equivalent to a refusal. A moment later, the circle of light before him vanished. There was no one else standing there, so the dawn glow eventually shone only on the tomb owner, with the light from above merging into his body as well.

The red, white, and black colors, already suppressed, were now even more thoroughly contained. They no longer cared about their origins; a strong sense of crisis and the sudden turn of events made them abandon all their minor calculations and try to escape at all costs. "Buzz." "Buzz!" "Buzz!" Three clusters of light and fire violently burst forth from the tomb owner's body, indicating they were now completely desperate. Three rays of dawn light shot out from the tomb owner's body, binding the three clusters of light and fire, creating a stalemate. Zhao Yi looked up, gazing at the wondrous spectacle above, which was incredibly beautiful, like an aurora. As someone who had personally set off "fireworks," a slight sense of accomplishment even rose within him.

However, the expected one-sided crushing defeat did not occur. The three clusters of light and fire were gradually breaking free, and the other three previously appeared colored glows were in the west, coming to their aid. Zhao Yi initially suspected the Bodhisattva was not capable, but then gradually realized it might be the vessel that was insufficient. This kind of remote power struggle heavily relied on the quality of the intermediary.

The tomb owner directed his gaze towards Li Zhuiyuan. A twofold gaze: one of plea, one of clear instruction. The former came from the tomb owner himself; the latter was identical to what Li Zhuiyuan had felt in Zhenjun Temple. Li Zhuiyuan said in a clear voice: "Humans and ghosts walk different paths, yin and yang are separated, the order of heaven and earth must not be violated. Now there are three minor devils wreaking havoc in the human realm. I beseech the Bodhisattva to bestow mercy and save the people!" After Li Zhuiyuan finished speaking, the tomb owner echoed, "Humans and ghosts walk different paths, yin and yang are separated..."

With each recitation, the dawn glow remained unchanged, but the strength of the red, white, and black lights being drawn by the west diminished, meaning the summons from Fengdu's underworld government was withdrawn. Covertly opening a backdoor in private was fine, but once it was out in the open, things had to be done by the rules. However, the pull from the other three lights still persisted. It was unknown whether those six entities genuinely had good relations, or if, being in the same boat, the three who hadn't descended were still unwilling to abandon the three who had. So far, for the tomb owner's side, it was merely a return to a stalemate, which wasn't enough.

Li Zhuiyuan opened his right hand. Amidst condensing blood mist, the blood-porcelain-colored formation flag reappeared, and the young man clutched it. "Snap!" With a crisp sound, the formation flag broke. The formation originally set up there began to collapse. In an instant, white light burst forth. The surrounding feng shui energy surged in, cleansing away all filth and obscurities, illuminating the place as if it were day. Zhao Yi was forced not only to immediately close his eyes but also to quickly shut down his senses. Inner dread surged once more. Simply destroying the formation wouldn't cause such a phenomenon. The current scene indicated that when Li designed and set up this formation, he secretly embedded this underlying structure. No wonder Li had sat there drawing and writing for so long; his calculations were far more extensive than Zhao Yi had imagined. In the past, when this fellow wasn't so strong, Zhao Yi truly had opportunities to kill him. Now, with his gradual rise, his methods and meticulous scheming had instilled fear in Zhao Yi. Putting himself in the other's shoes, Zhao Yi felt that the Heavenly Dao was still too lenient. If he were the Heavenly Dao, he would have long since sent down thunder to strike Li dead, and not just once. After Li's burial, he would have continued to strike the grave several times to prevent him from resurrecting as a zombie. In short, for a short period, there would be nothing here that could obscure the Heavenly Dao's gaze.

Li Zhuiyuan took the opportunity to speak: "Have you heard the Buddha say: 'If hell is not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha?'" The tomb owner clasped his hands together, chanting sincerely: "If hell is not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha!" With this, the three entities originally in the west, coming to receive the three lights, also let go. Even if it was brought into the open earlier, the three who hadn't descended could still choose to ignore it at some cost, thinking, 'What can they do to us?' But now, it was like stepping onto a scale; if they didn't let go, their own hands would also be placed on the balance. Ultimately, although there were still special existences under the Heavenly Dao that could defy it and remain, in the grand scheme, the Heavenly Dao still held an absolute advantage. Even if someone were to appear who could contend with the Heavenly Dao, it would have to be the Great Emperor first; it certainly wouldn't be their turn.

Stripped of all external aid, the red, white, and black lights were forcibly pulled back into the tomb owner's body, then completely covered by the dawn glow. One after another, Buddhist seals appeared on the tomb owner's body, like successive shackles. Zhao Yi finally understood why the tomb owner had dissuaded him earlier when he wanted to step into that circle. This wasn't an opportunity; it was a seal. If he, Zhao Yi, had gone in just now, he would have been impressive for ten minutes, and then... there would have been no "then."

Zhao Yi spun around abruptly, glaring at the young man: "Li, you actually didn't warn me just now!" Li Zhuiyuan lowered his head. Zhao Yi thought to himself: *Damn it, here you go again! Are you going to open another can of soda later?* But this time, the young man wasn't deliberately avoiding Zhao Yi; rather, his spiritual consciousness had been completely drained after helping the tomb owner declare the grand vow earlier. Now, Li Zhuiyuan's vision was entirely reduced to shades of gray and white, very close to becoming blind again as he had been last time. The young man sat down, fumbled in his backpack, pulled out a can of Jianlibao, opened it with a "pssh," and chugged it down. Zhao Yi: "Heh heh."

The tomb owner continued to retreat. His tomb was behind him, and the "looter's tunnel" he had opened to exit was still there. As he retreated, the shackles on his body grew heavier and heavier, almost completely enveloping him in several layers, even covering his head. Before nearing the looter's tunnel, the tomb owner first looked at Li Zhuiyuan. Without the young man, it wouldn't have been able to complete this posthumous vengeful catharsis. Immediately after, the tomb owner's gaze fell on Zhao Yi again. The two had no prior connection; Zhao Yi's grandfather hadn't even been born in the era the tomb owner lived. Yet, due to the evolution of memories, the tomb owner retained recollections involving "Zhao Yi." Before his eyes were also covered by shackles, a brilliant light shone from the tomb owner's eyes, as if he bestowed a blessing. Zhao Yi felt an itch in his heart; his withered and faded peach blossoms actually seemed to have a chance to regrow. At the same time, the tomb owner's past memories flooded into Zhao Yi's mind; in a short period, he saw the tomb owner's entire life. The tomb owner fell into the looter's tunnel. Zhao Yi subconsciously reached out. His previous confusion now turned into sudden clarity, but it was too late to say anything more, even to make an active gesture with his eyes, leaving a huge regret. The surrounding dawn light surged wildly into the looter's tunnel, converging, and the tunnel entrance was subsequently filled and sealed. Underground, tremors emanated as the subterranean structure underwent changes. The feng shui above was also swept clean at that moment, and the former auspicious burial ground ceased to exist. The most ingenious seal doesn't require grand architecture; if it's ordinary enough, it becomes untraceable. "Phew..." Zhao Yi exhaled. Although they had only recently left Nantong and this wave was just beginning, he felt as if a great wave had ended.

Walking back to Li Zhuiyuan, Zhao Yi observed him carefully before realizing the young man's body was indeed in trouble. He waved his hand in front of Li Zhuiyuan. "Hey, Li." "Not blind." Zhao Yi took out a pill and handed it over. Li Zhuiyuan opened his mouth and took it. Zhao Yi didn't forget to add a note: "This pill is for my own life, Old Man Tian can't make it. It's the last one." "Oh." "Kid, why do you like testing me so much? It was like this under the peach blossoms, and it was like this just now." "I only realized later that entering that circle would get me sealed. I didn't think that at first." "Then why didn't you go in?" "We're going to Fengdu on this trip. I have too much of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's aura on me; it's not suitable for Fengdu." "Heh, hahaha!" Zhao Yi pointed in the direction of the looter's tunnel behind him and burst out laughing, "You've already gotten those three fellows sealed there, and you're still worried about the 'clothes' on you being inappropriate for Fengdu?" "Is it not allowed?" "Isn't it absurd?" "I've been stirring things up all along, never holding back." "Mm, I know..." Zhao Yi understood Li's meaning. From the perspective of an elder in his own family, the more troublesome a child under one's care was, the more pleased one would feel, believing the child had potential. And Li, as the actual successor of the Great Emperor, wasn't actually afraid of rebellion and mischief; what he feared most was silence. It was even possible that the more outlandish his antics, the harder it would be for the Great Emperor to get directly angry. He'd have to endure it, then vent his anger on some unfortunate soul who happened to be passing by. Zhao Yi swallowed. Was there anyone more suitable to be an unfortunate soul than himself?

"Li, let me ask you something, tell me the truth." "Mm." "Did you design my role from the very beginning? Insisting on digging a pit and taking me to Fengdu, just to find a scapegoat for the Great Emperor in advance? When we get there, I go to the eighteen levels of hell, while you and the Great Emperor are there showing filial piety like master and disciple?" "I didn't think that at first." "Hehehehe." "You don't need to worry too much; things aren't that bad." "The Great Emperor's wrath always needs an outlet. Do you think the Great Emperor won't be angry about what happened today?" "He truly might not be angry." Zhao Yi's gaze sharpened. Li Zhuiyuan continued: "Some things cannot be explicitly stated; they can only be deduced from various known conditions." "You mean, the Great Emperor wanted to act but found it inconvenient, so he might as well borrow a knife to kill. Imperial cunning, huh." "You said it." Zhao Yi: "Anyway, I'm like someone with too many lice to fear a bite. At worst, my whole family is done for. This time out, many ghost commanders and generals were eliminated, and those three were sealed away. That frees up a lot of positions, which is good for my Zhao family to strive underground again." "That's good." "It still feels somewhat unreal. Such beings descended, and such beings were then sealed. We merely put together a makeshift troupe, yet we managed to invite so many great deities to perform. Afterwards, there's also a feeling that we were just pawns." "Weren't the four master and disciples in 'Journey to the West' also pawns?" "So my name being removed from the Book of Life and Death this time is like a tribute? Heh heh." As he laughed, Zhao Yi's mood dipped again: "That one, just got buried like that." Li Zhuiyuan: "If you miss him, you can always dig him up and chat." "You implanted memories of me in him?" "Mm, used you to evoke pity and as an inspirational example." "Tsk, what a shame. That old fellow was a good guy. When the time is right, we really could dig him up to get some fresh air."

Zhao Yi checked on the condition of the Liang sisters. The once youthful and beautiful sisters were now heavily injured and looked haggard. Zhao Yi's fingers lightly brushed their faces. "Li, do you think they're stupid?" Li Zhuiyuan didn't answer, closing his eyes. Zhao Yi continued to himself: "I tricked you, so why did you really risk your lives for me?" Li Zhuiyuan was genuinely asleep.

When he woke up, he found himself in the passenger seat of a truck, buckled in. Outside, it was bright daylight, the scenery pleasant and expansive. Zhao Yi, in the driver's seat, had a cigarette in his mouth and expertly gripped the steering wheel, looking like an experienced driver. "Awake?" "Mm." Li Zhuiyuan rubbed his brow. His vision was still a monochrome of gray and white, devoid of color. From this perspective, everyone looked like a memory, their features faded. "Are you hungry? You've slept for a long time." "Hungry." "Then let's eat at the next service area." "Where are they?" "They haven't woken up yet, but I've been regularly giving them medicine, so it's not a big problem."

At this moment, Zhao Yi noticed in his rearview mirror a small truck behind them changing lanes, attempting to overtake. He first signaled, then deliberately steered left, occupying the left lane and forcing the small truck behind to fall back. Immediately, Zhao Yi merged back. A construction zone appeared ahead, turning the road into a single lane. After entering the service area, Zhao Yi parked the truck. "Wait here, I'll go buy packed meals for us to eat together." Zhao Yi got out of the truck. Through the rearview mirror, Li Zhuiyuan saw the small truck also entering the service area, parking behind them. Then, a short middle-aged man got out and followed Zhao Yi. Li Zhuiyuan picked up a bottle of water. Just as he was about to drink, he saw a group of plainclothes officers arrive in the service area, checking vehicles. Unless they were undercover, most police officers, even in plain clothes, could be identified by subtle details, especially their eyes. He didn't know who was checking what, but if they checked their truck, it would be troublesome. Because their truck wasn't carrying goods; it was full of people, all unconscious and with many "cut open." However, Li Zhuiyuan wasn't too worried. According to past experience, mundane troubles encountered during a river journey would easily be avoided. Following the trend of the plainclothes officers fanning out from the front to check, at the very latest... the minivan parked in front of them would be the one with problems.

Indeed, as one person approached the minivan and opened the driver's door, the surrounding plainclothes officers swarmed, subduing him and another person seated inside the vehicle. Immediately afterward, police began searching the minivan, even bringing in police dogs. At the same time, another group revealed their identities, set up a cordon, and temporarily prohibited outsiders from approaching; even nearby drivers were not allowed to board their vehicles at that moment. Li Zhuiyuan saw Zhao Yi returning with the packed meals, accompanied by the man around thirty years old. The two were chatting and laughing. Zhao Yi gave Li Zhuiyuan a glance, then simply opened his packed meal with the man beside him, eating while watching the police search. A police officer was tired, his eyes red. After the suspect was apprehended, he took a break and walked over to Li Zhuiyuan to light a cigarette. "Little one, where's your dad? Outside, right? Don't worry, your dad will be here soon." Li Zhuiyuan took out a can of soda and offered it. The officer licked his somewhat chapped lips, felt his pocket, then pulled over a passing young officer, asked for money, and handed it to Li Zhuiyuan. "Here you go, little one, thanks." "No need, it's police-civilian friendship." "Hahaha!" The officer laughed, but still dropped the money in. Li Zhuiyuan bent down, picked up the money, and said to him, "Uncle, you need to go to the hospital to get your heart checked." From his complexion, he was not only overworked but also showed signs of illness in his 'danfu' (elixir field, or vital organs). The officer said nothing, opened the drink, took two large gulps, then immediately staggered, clutching his chest tightly with one hand. "Captain Zhou!" "Captain Zhou, what's wrong?" Fortunately, his colleagues were nearby and immediately supported him, putting him into another car, presumably heading to the hospital. Li Zhuiyuan lowered his head and took another sip of water. He hadn't been jinxing him; for some illnesses, early detection and discovery when someone is nearby can actually be a blessing.

The inspection concluded. The suspects, stolen goods, and minivan were all taken away, and the service area returned to normal. Zhao Yi got into the truck and handed Li Zhuiyuan the packed meal he had bought; he had already finished his own. At that moment, the middle-aged man got into his own car, then got back out, holding two packs of cigarettes, which he tossed into their truck: "Cigarettes from our area, try them." "Okay, thanks." Li Zhuiyuan unwrapped his chopsticks, rubbed them together, and said, "Got to know him well?" Zhao Yi: "He's quite interesting. Just because I gave him a heads-up on the road earlier, he followed me here and insisted on treating me to a meal. He even paid for the packed meals. His name is Zhang Xinhai; he owns a small spring factory and supplies parts to car manufacturers." Li Zhuiyuan began eating. Zhao Yi propped his legs out the window, not in a hurry to drive, waiting for the young man to finish his meal peacefully. When Zhang Xinhai's small truck passed by to leave, the two waved goodbye again. "Li, we're about to enter the mountain city territory. Fengdu isn't far now." "Drive a bit further, stop before entering Fengdu, and we'll only go in once everyone has recovered." "Then I'll drive slowly, take it easy, and then help Yongzi give this truck some maintenance. I didn't dare slow down before, fearing something might go wrong with our vehicle, but now I'm not afraid. This distance, we could even walk." "Either way is fine." "It's raining."

After Li Zhuiyuan finished eating, Zhao Yi started the truck and drove out of the service area. The rain grew heavier. After driving for a distance, a long queue of vehicles appeared ahead. There had been a mudslide, burying a section of the road, and it was unknown when it would be cleared. Taking advantage of the sparse traffic behind them, Zhao Yi simply turned around and entered a town located off the provincial highway. Since they were going to be stuck in traffic anyway, rather than being immobile on the road, it was better to find a convenient place to rest nearby.

At the edge of the town was a long, self-built house with a spacious courtyard. Signs for "meals" and "water" hung outside. A large bus was already parked inside. Zhao Yi drove the truck in, then got out to negotiate with the owner. Upon returning, he said: "There were originally guest rooms, but they've all been taken by the people from the bus upfront." "Sleeping in the truck is fine too." Zhao Yi took out a piece of paper and asked Li Zhuiyuan, "What color is this?" Li Zhuiyuan: "Blue." "Have you recovered, or do you just remember the cover of Yongzi's pornographic magazine in the car?" "Not recovered." Zhao Yi took out a pill and handed it over: "Then take another one." "Is this also the last one?" "That's right, this pill is literally called 'The Last One,' for good luck." Watching Li Zhuiyuan take the pill, Zhao Yi got out and went to busy himself in the back of the truck. Li Zhuiyuan leaned against the car seat, looking through the window at the curtain of rain outside. The town was located on the mountainside. Vaguely, he could see the distant greenery. Occasionally, people passed by with umbrellas, their shouts in the rain carrying a Sichuan-Chongqing accent. Perhaps because he had traveled to the Sichuan-Chongqing area so frequently recently, this dialect actually sounded somewhat familiar.

Unable to sleep, Li Zhuiyuan took out his brick phone, preparing to call Xue Liangliang. Although he had already clarified the objective of this wave and the specific destination, as the starting point of this wave, it was appropriate to show some respect. The other end quickly connected. "Hello, Brother Liangliang, it's me." "Xiao Yuan, have you decided?" "Yes, I'm going to Fengdu. The approximate date is five days from now, is that okay?" "Yes, I'll arrange it for you. The new exploration team just left a few days ago and hasn't reached Fengdu yet. They'll also rest once they get there, so they'll probably start work in about five days too." Xue Liangliang provided the address and number for accommodation. Li Zhuiyuan noted them down. Just as he was about to hang up, Xue Liangliang said: "Xiao Yuan, since you've decided to go, there's something I won't hide from you anymore, hehe. Mr. Luo and I will also be going to Fengdu in a few days." "Brother Liangliang, you don't need to specifically hide this from me." Li Zhuiyuan understood Xue Liangliang's concerns. Perhaps during their last call, he had noticed Li's unusual reaction to going to Fengdu, so he was deliberately avoiding revealing his own motives for going. "Xiao Yuan, I don't have other abilities. I just don't want to cause you trouble." "It's fine, brother, you have money." "Short on money?" "Short a few vehicles." "Urgently?" "Not urgent." "Alright, then before I leave Jinling, I'll go to the car dealership to pick out cars, and then have someone drive them to Nantong for you. What type of cars do you need?" "Any type is fine." "Then I'll buy a few different models, so you can choose whichever you like." "Okay. But don't drive the cars into the village; it'll scare Grandpa Tai." "Then where should I drive them?" "Park them by the river. There'll be people to watch them, and you won't have to worry about them being stolen." "Hmm, buying cars is a big life event. I thought about it, and I don't feel at ease having others buy and deliver them. If something goes wrong with the cars and causes you an accident on the road later, I'd be held accountable. How about this: I'll go to the dealership right now to pick out the cars, then I'll personally lead people to drive them back. That way, I can test drive all those cars myself on the way." "Mm, Brother Liangliang, you've considered everything very thoughtfully." "Thank you, Xiao Yuan." Xue Liangliang was very busy. He almost had an endless amount of work. In fact, even if he was busy, making a trip to Nantong was entirely feasible. But he couldn't get past his own mental barrier. Previously, he had official leave after project completion, but now, secretly taking time off would be for personal reasons at the expense of public duty. However, if it involved helping Li Zhuiyuan, it wasn't subject to this rule and could be done as a matter of course.

After hanging up the phone, Li Zhuiyuan saw a sedan and a police car also drive into the courtyard. They weren't there on official business; it seemed more like a visit. The two parties met on the second floor. The person representing the other side was a vigorous elder with half-white hair. After a brief conversation, the sedan left, but the police car remained. It gradually grew dark. The host came to invite Zhao Yi and Li Zhuiyuan to eat inside, as the establishment specialized in traditional earthen stoves. The truck was parked in the courtyard, clearly visible from the dining area, so the two went down to eat. Upon entering, he saw eight people at the elder's table, a classic mix of old, middle-aged, and young. When Mr. Luo used to lead teams out, it was also with this configuration: capable assistants and new, young disciples gaining experience. Seeing that Li Zhuiyuan and Zhao Yi were only two people, the elder warmly invited them to join their meal. Zhao Yi looked at Li Zhuiyuan and whispered, "By his appearance, he's a person of high status." Li Zhuiyuan: "Do you even need to look at his face for that?" Surrounded by disciples and students, with a police car providing security outside, it was obvious. Li Zhuiyuan didn't refuse and sat down with Zhao Yi, joining their table. The elder's surname was Zhai, and his name was Zhai Quming. When he introduced himself, Li Zhuiyuan knew his identity. He recognized the name; in the industry, Elder Zhai held the same standing as his own teacher, Mr. Luo. After a slight probing of their destination, it turned out to be Fengdu as well. It was just that they had learned about the road closure ahead earlier, so they had come down here in advance to wait. Li Zhuiyuan didn't reveal his identity and acknowledge them. If he did, he would have to ride in their bus, but he still had a group of injured companions in his truck. Fortunately, they didn't discuss too many professional matters at the dinner table, mostly talking about scenery, life, and aspirations. Zhao Yi introduced himself as an orphan, driving a truck with his younger brother to make a living. As he spoke, he put his arm around Li Zhuiyuan's shoulder and shook him, proudly boasting, "My little brother is very smart and does very well in school!" Zhao Yi had no qualms about saying his parents were deceased. What he enjoyed more was taking advantage of Li in public. Although Zhao Yi hadn't attended university, it didn't mean he couldn't guess the identity of these people, especially since they had already revealed their destination.

As the meal drew to a close, Elder Zhai asked the host to fry some crispy pork and rice cakes, which he personally carried to the comrades in the police car responsible for security in the courtyard. He had invited them to eat with them earlier, but they had declined. Afterwards, Elder Zhai had his students make room, freeing up a room for Li Zhuiyuan and Zhao Yi. The window of the second-floor room faced the courtyard, directly above their truck, so it wouldn't be inconvenient. Li Zhuiyuan first took a shower. After lying down, he gently rubbed his eyes. Likely due to sufficient rest and the enhanced effects of the two "Last One" pills, the young man's eyes could now perceive some colors. Zhao Yi: "You sleep first, I'll go help them relieve themselves." After saying that, Zhao Yi jumped out the window. A short while later, Zhao Yi returned, carrying Tan Wenbin on his shoulder. "He's awake. The spiritual beasts inside him are truly considerate; not only did they help him endure, but during healing, they prioritized him." Tan Wenbin scoffed at himself: "I woke up first, but they're still asleep. What's the point?" Zhao Yi: "We're in the territory now; your accent has changed." Tan Wenbin: "Young Master Zhao, could you get me some hot soup?" Zhao Yi: "Boss Tan, you sure ask for a lot. Just stick to compressed biscuits." Tan Wenbin: "This is really discriminatory. If A-You woke up, he definitely wouldn't get this treatment." Zhao Yi: "Honestly, Boss Tan, if it weren't for the trap you set for me back then, I wouldn't have had to come on this trip. The fact that I didn't casually strangle you when I first found you awake is already a big difference in treatment." Tan Wenbin stopped talking, silently eating his compressed biscuit. Giving up the bed in the room for them to sleep, Zhao Yi took a rain poncho and went to sleep on the roof, simultaneously keeping watch. Below him was Elder Zhai's room. The old man was still awake at this late hour, discussing things with his students, as if holding a class.

Night deepened. Inside the truck, the Gu worm crawled out from Yin Meng's collar. Yin Meng also slowly awakened at this moment. In fact, her injuries weren't severe; she had merely been overwhelmed mentally and spiritually by the strain of being swept by the white light and then forcibly initiating the sacrifice, which caused her to faint from exhaustion. Sitting up, she surveyed the truck interior, then instructed the Gu worm to fly out, stand guard before each person's nostrils. Once it returned and confirmed everyone was alive, Yin Meng also breathed a sigh of relief. She first went to Run Sheng. Run Sheng's chest had already been bandaged with medicine applied, the technique quite delicate and familiar, clearly the work of the unofficial captain. Reaching out, she touched Run Sheng's face. Although he hadn't woken up yet, she could already feel his warmth. Yin Meng then checked on the others. The two sisters were the most severely affected; not only were their injuries serious, but they also appeared much older. After doing all this, Yin Meng decided to get out of the truck to find Brother Xiao Yuan and the others. Since they weren't in the truck, they should be somewhere nearby. Reaching the edge of the truck's rear compartment, heavy rain was still falling outside. Yin Meng had just woken up and was still very weak, so she didn't jump directly, but instead turned and got out in the usual way. The moment her feet touched the ground, Yin Meng felt something was amiss. The sound of the rain... why had it suddenly vanished? Yin Meng released her grip on the handrail and slowly turned around. The scene she had seen moments ago from inside the truck was gone. Before her lay an endless, solemn expanse of water. "Whoosh... whoosh..." The sound of water rippled. Yin Meng turned again and found that the truck she had just exited had transformed into a coffin. The coffin wasn't tall and was very familiar; she had crafted it herself. The coffin lid wasn't completely closed, but left open by a hand's breadth. Yin Meng looked down and saw her grandfather lying inside. Shadows fell over her. Yin Meng slowly raised her head, looking upwards. As her eyes widened, she trembled and whispered: "An... cestor?"