Zhou You had always been curious about Shao Qi's purpose for returning. Only when Shao Qi said, "This is it," did he ask, "What did you lose?"

"A stone."

"What?" Zhou You thought he'd misheard, but realizing its potential significance, he paled. Hadn't he found an unusual stone nearby that night? Could it be what Shao Qi was looking for?

Zhou You instinctively touched his chest, unaware of the stone's location or its effects on him. Trying to hide his unease, he asked, "What's so important about this stone? A treasure?"

Shao Qi shook his head, "Indispensable to me, but worthless to others."

Zhou You thought: Why did it attach itself to me? Wouldn't it be best to return it to its rightful owner now?

He had been with Shao Qi for several days, yet the stone remained inert. Couldn't it recognize its owner?

Hesitating on whether to confess, Zhou You heard Shao Qi say, "Wait here. I'll be back shortly."

After Shao Qi exited the vehicle and ventured into the forest, he soon disappeared from sight. Zhou You climbed atop the vehicle, muttering, "Better show yourself. If he discovers I took it, I'm afraid of what he might do."

"Why did you attach to me? And you seem useless. Why are you so crucial to Shao Qi? Could his unhealed injuries be because of your loss?"

Zhou You couldn't figure it out, so he simply sat down in meditation to cultivate his skills. As for the mystery of that stone, he'd wait for Shao Qi to return and perhaps he'd have a solution. After all, the stone seemed of no use to him.

Shao Qi walked forward with his eyes closed, his hands continuously forming various hand signs. A faint flow of vital energy circulated within his meridians, eventually emanating from his gestures and dispersing around him.

Logically, his life-bound heart stone should resonate upon sensing this trace of energy. But other than a faint response at the beginning, he couldn't detect any feedback now.

"This doesn't make sense. The resonance was clearer yesterday. Could I have passed it?" He had assumed that without his vital energy to nourish it, the stone would have patiently stayed put, waiting for his return. Had a wild beast taken it away?

What significance could an unremarkable stone hold?

Zhou You felt the sensation of nearing a breakthrough once again. Feeling warmth in his chest, he looked down and realized that a radiant glow was emerging from his chest during cultivation.

Had he always been like this? Had Shao Qi noticed this glow when they cultivated together? No, if such a light had been there, he surely would've noticed it in the cave. Could it be...

"Is it you, stone?" Zhou You closed his eyes again, directing his internal energy through his meridians and then focusing it towards his chest. However, no matter how much energy he channeled, it seemed to vanish at that spot.

"Did this stone choose me because it sensed Shao Qi's weakening state? Does it take me for a fool?" Zhou You couldn't see the stone nor sense it, wondering how such a stone could embed itself inside him. Could it form a calculus?

It took Shao Qi two hours to return. Zhou You observed his expression, which seemed no different from usual, revealing neither joy nor disappointment.

"About that..."

"I didn't find it," Shao Qi preemptively replied, climbing to sit atop the vehicle. "I retraced our earlier path, but saw no sign of it. Maybe it's lost."

Zhou You cautiously inquired, "What happens if it's lost?"

"I'm not sure. This is the first time I've misplaced it."

"Is it possible the stone chose not to return to you? Does your artifact have the ability to choose its owner?"

Shao Qi leaned in close, looking intently into Zhou You's eyes, "You seem quite curious and knowledgeable about my item. Do you want it?"

"No, not at all! I just wanted to tell you that, well... I might know where the thing you're looking for is."

Chapter 062: What's So Frightening About a Corpse?

"What did you say?" For once, Shao Qi looked genuinely startled. Having faced many challenges, he was usually unshakeable, but now he seemed quite perturbed.

"Ahem... I don't know why it burrowed into me, or even if it's still there. I can't feel anything," Zhou You touched his chest, explaining.

Shao Qi's gaze darkened. Had it been anyone else, he'd suspect they aimed to claim his life-bound heart stone. But Zhou You wouldn't, and he had no reason to.

"Take off your shirt!" Shao Qi ordered.

Without hesitation, Zhou You removed his shirt, revealing his well-defined muscles.

Shao Qi focused on a small red mole in the center of Zhou You's chest. Upon touching it, Zhou You felt a tingling sensation, akin to an electric shock, coursing through him, causing goosebumps as the cold wind blew.

"Did you have this mole before, or did it appear later?" Shao Qi pointed at his chest, inquiring.

Zhou You hadn't noticed this spot before. Feeling the small mole, he confirmed, "It wasn't there before."

Shao Qi offered a brief apology, "Forgive me." He then pressed his hand to the man's chest and whispered reassuringly, "Don't be alarmed; I'm merely checking something. It won't harm you."

A wisp of genuine qi emanated from his palm. Even though it was faint, Zhou You felt it. He thought to himself, "So this is Shao Qi's internal energy. It's different from mine. While mine feels like a warm current, his carries a dominant force. When his qi emerges, my chest heats up, just like the previous times."

Lowering his gaze, Zhou You could see a faint glow emerging from his chest. It was a startling sight, reminiscent of a light bulb.