Asianovel

Chapter 99: Calculated Intentions

Awakening in the morning, the sunlight was pleasant.

Lu Ran nuzzled his cheek against the pillow.

He couldn't recall where that teddy bear from his class had gone.

Or perhaps, back then, no matter how hard he tried, he could never obtain that bear.

It was impossible not to feel sad about it.

Thus, he had to suppress his affection, making himself indifferent and uninterested.

But now, Lu Ran suddenly yearned to touch the soft fur of that little bear.

However, Lu Ran didn't have the habit of lingering in bed.

With a sudden leap, he emerged from the covers and proceeded to freshen up in the bathroom.

Before descending the stairs, Lu Ran paused for a considerable time in front of the shoe cabinet.

Inside were shoes that Ji Min had prepared for him.

They were styles that teenage boys in their late teens would adore.

Aside from accompanying Ji Min to certain events, Lu Ran seldom wore the shoes from this cabinet.

Bending down before the shoe rack, Lu Ran gazed upward slowly.

The top few pairs were ready when he first visited Ji Min's home, especially after that birthday celebration.

Yet, at that time, Lu Ran didn't associate those shoes with himself.

Later, when Ji Min casually referred to them as "work attire," Lu Ran took it at face value and believed it to be true.

Now, Lu Ran knew otherwise.

This was likely the first birthday gift he could recall receiving in his memory.

Suddenly, Lu Ran became intrigued.

He examined the shoes in the cabinet for quite some time but still couldn't decide on his favorite pair. Eventually, he picked the first one at the top and sat down on a stool to put them on.

After putting them on, he didn't stand up right away.

Instead, he crossed his legs and stared at them for a while.

It was the weekend, and Lu Ran had no classes, so there was no rush.

However, Big Yellow found him too slow and couldn't resist approaching, swatting at Lu Ran's swinging shoes with its paw.

Lu Ran: "..."

Normally, he wouldn't have cared about such things.

But today, Lu Ran gently removed Big Yellow's paw and earnestly told the dog,

"Don't step on my birthday present."

After that, he led Big Yellow downstairs as usual.

In the downstairs area, Ji Min was up early, just as he usually was.

Sitting at the dining table early, he lifted his gaze at the sound of movement, asking gently, "You're awake?"

Lu Ran didn't respond.

Ji Min raised his gaze once more to behold the youth standing at the stairwell entrance, regarding him with an unusual and profoundly intricate expression in his eyes.

Ji Min's heart skipped a beat under the intensity of the gaze.

Before he could even register the intrusion, the youth on the stairs had leapt down in quick, agile strides, landing deftly beside the dining table.

Ji Min cleared his throat, shifting the conversation to more pressing matters.

"This weekend, tomorrow, we'll visit the Gu family."

"Hmm?" Lu Ran sounded surprised. "So soon? Boss, you're quite efficient."

Ji Min huffed in response.

If they didn't act swiftly, would they have to wait for Gu Zhi to make the first move?

Amidst his surprise, Lu Ran pondered for a moment and posed a soul-searching question, "If it was that easy, then why did we need to contact Uncle Gu last night?"

Ji Min: "..."

Indeed, why?

As Lu Ran enjoyed his breakfast, something else came to mind, prompting him to ask, "Did Uncle Gu contact me again later?"

"No," Ji Min replied.

Ji Min picked up the tea on the table and took a sip.

Asking for contact information, how could that be considered mere "contact"?

Ji Min had finished eating but remained seated at the table, unmoving.

He sipped his tea with casual elegance.

Suddenly, his movements paused ever so slightly as he raised his gaze towards the youth by the table.

There, behold the man who at the dining table usually had eyes only for his food, now biting into a half of a steamed dumpling, his hand propping up his chin as he gazed intently at him.

"What are you looking at?" Ji Min asked.

With a steamed bun in his mouth, Lu Ran shook his head but only heaved a deep sigh while fixating on Ji Min.

Ji Min: "..."

This scene is all too familiar to him.

With his eyes closed, Ji Min could recite word for word what the young man was about to say.

Ji Min nearly held his breath, anticipating the very question from the youth.

Yet, this time, it was as if Lu Ran had completed the entire process after a single sigh.

He turned back and quietly resumed his breakfast.

The long-awaited Ji Min: "..."

The next morning, Lu Ran and Ji Min prepared to visit Elder Gu.

The younger generation of the Gu family, such as Gu Ningqi, were assigned to overseas subsidiaries or sent to specific cities for training.

Gu Zhi's generation, on the other hand, supported the domestic company and resided in close proximity to it.

In recent years, however, Elder Gu had entered his retirement life and lived alone in a garden estate on the outskirts of the city.

Approaching Gu's estate, Lu Ran had his head craned out the window long before they arrived.

The garden was vast, with neatly arranged plots of land on one side, surprisingly cultivating vegetables. On the other side, there was an exquisite landscape garden.

However, Lu Ran didn't have a strong impression of these scenes.

After observing for a while, he withdrew his gaze and asked Ji Min, "I wonder if Uncle Gu is around today. If so, he could serve as our guide."

Ji Min glanced at him and said, "I'm quite familiar with the Gu family's place too."

He casually referred to Gu Zhi as 'Uncle Gu,' making it sound natural.

Ji Min genuinely felt that Gu Zhi wasn't particularly reliable.

Gu Zhi was the old Master Gu's youngest son, with several older brothers above him. As a result, he spent most of his time indulging in pleasure and leisure activities.

He usually had quite an adventurous lifestyle.

When it came to family and friends, it was still manageable. But if he developed feelings for Lu Ran...

Ji Min furrowed his brows and, after some thought, decided to share something more substantial:

"In the company canteen before, Gu Zhi openly asked me all sorts of random questions. He's too playful and lacks seriousness; you should keep your distance from him."

"Hmm?"

Lu Ran lifted his head in curiosity, "What did Uncle Gu ask?"

Recalling Gu Zhi's inquiries, Ji Min was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Just some... personal matters," Ji Min coughed lightly, hinting vaguely.

Hearing this, Lu Ran glanced at him briefly.

Then, lowering his eyes, he asked in a muffled tone, "Oh, you two discussed personal matters?"

Ji Min: "..."

He sensed an inexplicable tension in the air.

If he mentioned it, it might seem like he was unjustly tarnishing Gu Zhi's reputation for no reason.

But if he didn't, there seemed to be some other potential risks involved.

Pausing for a moment, President Ji still followed his heart and explained:

"He said he wasn't very experienced and came to ask me for some... advice on that matter."

As Ji Min spoke, his tone was calm and level.

There was none of the secret male pride that usually accompanied such discussions.

He was simply stating the facts matter-of-factly.

However, when he looked up after finishing his sentence, he saw that the subtle awkwardness on Lu Ran's face had vanished.

In its place was a mixture of indescribable surprise and evident concern.

Ji Min was taken aback, completely failing to comprehend where the child's "heartache" had originated.

Soon, he heard Lu Ran speak with indignation:

"How could he ask you such a question? Was he deliberately mocking you?"

Ji Min: "?"

Upon grasping the meaning behind Lu Ran's words, Ji Min fell into a deep silence. His expression became indescribable.

Was this child assuming... that Gu Zhiming knew he was incapable yet still asked such a question to mock him?

On the other side, the teenager was still immersed in his anger:

"That's too much. No wonder you, Boss, don't like him."

Ji Min: "..."

Gazing at the tender concern etched on the young man's face, an idea suddenly struck him.

Then, he pretended to be aggrieved and lowered his eyes, saying, "Yes, that's right."

Feeling even more sympathetic, Lu Ran assured, "Don't worry, Boss. Next time I see him, I'll scold him on your behalf."

A gentle smile tugged at the corners of Ji Min's lips. "Alright."

When the car pulled up beside Gu's family's garden.

Lu Ran and Ji Min alighted from the car, only to notice an unexpected abundance of vehicles surrounding them.

Peering around, Lu Ran spotted among the crowd a vehicle belonging to the Shen family.

The garden was bustling with activity.

In the sea of people, several familiar figures caught their eye.

Upon seeing this scene, Ji Min also knitted his brow upon exiting the car.

The person who had come to greet them quickly explained,

"When you mentioned that Young Master Shen was visiting, Grandfather thought it would be more lively with more people, so he invited some of the younger generation from the family."

Ji Min's furrowed brow remained unchanged.

If he were here for business, he would have turned and left at the sight of this scene.

But since Lu Ran was the one meeting Elder Gu, Ji Min glanced at him inquiringly.

"Let's take a look," Lu Ran said.

Ji Min nodded, indicating for the Gu family butler to lead the way.

The butler did not dare to be careless and led them all the way to the main hall.

The arrangement of the Gu family's main hall was very traditional.

It was evident that Elder Gu was a nostalgic person, as the furniture on display bore signs of age but had not been replaced.

The butler glanced at Lu Ran and pointed to a reclining chair nearby with a smile, "Does Young Master Shen still remember that you used to love playing on this chair as if it were a rocking horse when you were little?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Min looked up at Lu Ran, "You're still being so mischievous even when visiting?"

Lu Ran: "..." He didn't recall that at all.

The butler then went into the inner room.

But upon inquiry, he found out that Grandpa Gu, who usually woke up early, had been angered by Gu Ningqi after getting up that morning and had gone back to sleep.

There was a hint of embarrassment on the butler's face.

He personally came over to apologize to Ji Min, "The old master is getting on in years, his drowsiness comes and goes. Please bear with him."

It wasn't Ji Min's first meeting with Grandpa Ji, so he was naturally aware of the situation.

He didn't say much, simply nodding to show that he understood.

The butler then proceeded to attend to the other guests.

Ji Min turned back, only to find the youth by his side intently gazing at him.

"What are you looking at?" Ji Min asked.

With a cheerful grin, Lu Ran drew closer and said, "How unusual. Even the boss can get blocked outside?"

"Enjoying the show?" Ji Min raised an eyebrow.

Meeting the youth's gaze, he softly sighed, "Old Master Gu is of advanced age, and he is also our senior. What can be done?"

When Ji Min said this, there was a hint of helplessness on his face.

He seldom displays such emotions openly.

Yet, Lu Ran found it highly amusing.

He gazed at Ji Min for a moment before suddenly reaching out to touch the younger's head affectionately.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to lose your hand?"

Ji Min held onto his wrist.

Lu Ran leaned back on the wheelchair, fibbing with his eyes wide open. "Boss, there's a leaf in your hair!"

"Do you really think I'd believe that?" Ji Min didn't release the grip on his wrist.

As they were conversing,

an exasperated voice suddenly interrupted, "How long do you plan to carry on like this without any regard for others?"

Lu Ran turned around to see that it was actually Shen Xingzhuo and Shen Xingyu who had entered together.

Shen Xingzhuo's expression was contorted.

"I've been here for at least three to five minutes, can't you spare me a glance?!"

Shen Xingyu, on the other hand, remained silent.

He maintained his aloof expression, but his gaze swept over Lu Ran's wrist, which was encircled by Ji Min's hand.

Ji Min raised an eyebrow but didn't let go.

The corner of Shen Xingzhuo's mouth twitched as he spoke bluntly, "Mr. Ji, now that both our older brothers are here, it's time to let him go, right? My brother can't keep tagging along behind you like a shadow!"

Ji Min chuckled but didn't respond. Instead, he released Lu Ran's wrist.

Shen Xingzhuo was just about to call Lu Ran over.

But he saw the teenager by the wheelchair frown and look at him, asking, "Why did you speak harshly to my boss?"

Shen Xingzhuo: "…Was that harsh?"

Ah—this was so infuriating!

Shen Xingyu had probably anticipated this humiliating scene. He walked aside on his own accord and began observing the decorations in the main hall of the Gu family residence.

At that moment, the butler entered the room.

Noticing the tense atmosphere in the living room, he quickly said, "It'll be a while before Old Master wakes up. Why don't you all head to the archery range for some fun?"

"An archery range here?" Lu Ran's interest was piqued.

Shen Xingzhuo huffed and spoke first, "Just an archery place. We've grown tired of it."

Ji Min lifted his gaze to look at Lu Ran, explaining, "Old Master Gu enjoyed archery when he was young and even won championships at the provincial level. That's why there's an archery range in the garden."

"Would you like to take a look?" Ji Min asked.

Lu Ran nodded slightly.

So Ji Min told the butler, "Show us the way."

The butler led the two of them outside.

The path to the archery range was a small lane paved with cobblestones.

It was manageable on foot, but it was rather bumpy for someone in a wheelchair.

Lu Ran noticed this and reached out to gently grasp the back handle of Ji Min's wheelchair, offering support.

Ji Min was slightly taken aback before lowering his gaze.

Fortunately, the path wasn't too long.

The archery range wasn't enormous, but it was fully equipped with professional gear.

Upon reaching their destination, Lu Ran turned around and found that both Shen Xingzhuo and Shen Xingyu had unexpectedly joined them.

"Haven't you gotten bored of this already?" Lu Ran asked.

Shen Xingzhuo choked.

He thought to himself, who else would teach you if not me? Would it be Ji Min, the one in the wheelchair?

With this in mind, Shen Xingzhuo picked up his usual bow and aimed at the target across from him.

Nine rings.

Shen Xingzhuo whistled and said, "Not bad, your skills haven't deteriorated too much."

After saying that, he glanced over at Lu Ran again.

But he found Lu Ran crouching beside the wheelchair, listening intently as Ji Min explained how to wear the protective gear.

Not once did Lu Ran spare a glance in Shen Xingzhuo's direction.

Shen Xingzhuo refused to believe it and shot a few more arrows, each scoring no less than eight rings.

However, Lu Ran didn't approach him as he had expected.

This made Shen Xingzhuo's teeth itch with frustration.

He put down his bow and walked over to Shen Xingyu, unable to resist grumbling,

"Look at this kid!"

Shen Xingyu didn't touch the bow, simply sitting aside and watching.

Upon hearing this, he lifted his gaze and looked over at Lu Ran.

There, the young man had fetched a stool and sat obediently in front of Ji Min's wheelchair, looking up at him attentively.

His demeanor resembled that of when he used to peek through the window of Shen Xingyu's study years ago.

Even though the man before him was confined to a wheelchair and couldn't truly teach him anything.

Shen Xingyu withdrew his gaze.

He said indifferently, "What's so interesting about him?"

"With both of us standing here, why does he have to insist on being taught by Ji Min?" Shen Xingzhuo protested indignantly.

"Meaningless," Shen Xingyu flipped through the magazine in his hand.

He sat quietly for a while, then, seemingly bored, got up to stretch.

Putting on his protective gear, he picked up a bow and gave it a try.

The sight of Shen Xingyu drawing the bow was captivating.

It drew the attention of the other archers in the range.

And his performance was impressive, hitting a perfect ten.

After just one shot, however, his interest waned.

Yet, as he put down the bow, Shen Xingyu couldn't resist stealing a glance at the young man.

The boy, loosely holding the bow, had apparently heard the commotion and looked over as well.

But upon recognizing Shen Xingyu, he quickly averted his gaze.

Assuming the posture of drawing a bow on his own, he turned back to seek Ji Min's approval.

Ji Min gave him a glance.

The man didn't seem angered or destabilized by the subtle implications behind the act of shooting an arrow.

He simply chose a bow with deliberate calmness.

He wasn't wearing any protective gear and was seated in his wheelchair.

With a casual draw of the bow, he merely adjusted the angle of the arrowhead.

A sharp whoosh echoed through the air.

The arrow pierced the center of the target with unwavering precision.

"Woah~"

The youth's voice, filled with awe, was as pure as that of a child.

There was a time when Shen Xingyu didn't need to do anything.

Merely an occasional casual action of his could elicit such exclamations.

Afterward, the child would clap his tiny hands until they turned red, looking up with starry eyes and exclaiming,

"Big Brother is so amazing!"

But now, those exclamations and praises no longer belonged to Shen Xingyu.

Chapter 132: Meeting

Muershi looked at Wen Ying with a pout while casting a lightning bolt to paralyze the demons attempting to sneak away.

Wen Ying gathered his magical power in his feet and spread it across the ground. Twisted vines emerged from the earth, binding all the demons present into a large bundle. Muershi recalled the scene from the midterm exams where Wen Ying had done the same thing to the extremist demons, although there weren't as many today.

Muershi stood up with a sigh, brushing off the dust from his pants. He asked in puzzlement, "When did you find out? If not for your kick, I wouldn't have realized that you knew."

Wen Ying crossed his arms and glanced at him sidelong, "I wasn't entirely sure, but the way you handled Yang Shize felt like your style. So yesterday, I deliberately told them that I would come back tomorrow. Based on my understanding of you, if you were here, you would have taken action before I arrived to snatch the points."

"How about we make a deal?" Muershi raised his hands halfway and grinned, "I'll give you a piece of information in exchange for half of the points here."

Wen Ying rolled his eyes, "What's the information?"

Muershi's smile turned meaningful and teasing, "Beros' whereabouts."

Wen Ying's eyes lit up. Muershi understood him, but he maintained a reserved tone, "A third, no more."

"Deal!" Muershi rubbed his hands together, "But you have to promise me that you won't tell Beros about tonight's transaction. Don't let him know that I was the one who told you his location."

He sensed an undercurrent of intrigue, causing Wen Ying to narrow his eyes slightly. "Suddenly, I don't even want to give you a third of the points."

Muershi's smile faltered.

Wen Ying muttered, as if to himself but also addressing Muershi, "Tell me, if Perseus were to find out that the reason for his recent misfortune is because of you, what do you think would happen when he returns to the Realm of Magic?"

Muershi looked skeptical and replied calmly, "Perseus isn't suffering. I just happened to know his location."

Wen Ying rolled his eyes. "With how cunningly you stole my points just now, Perseus probably hasn't managed to contract with a human yet. He's probably isolated somewhere by you all alone."

"Uh huh huh..." Muershi felt embarrassed at being exposed, rubbing his hands together awkwardly. "I just placed something randomly at the entrance... No less than one-fifth of the points, deal!"

"Fine," Wen Ying reluctantly agreed. "Tell me, where have you isolated Perseus?"

Muershi chuckled. "Perseus teleported right into the company where I possess this human. He truly was unlucky, ending up in the trash can. Fortunately, there wasn't any garbage inside, or else he'd be marinated."

Wen Ying's expression turned odd. "How can you be so sure there was no garbage? Could it be that Perseus teleported into a trash can inside a toilet stall, and that stall just happened to be undergoing repairs?"

Muershi nodded brightly, his smile radiant.

Just now, Muershi mentioned leaving something at the entrance. Wen Ying guessed it was a sign indicating that the stall was under maintenance and not in use.

Ordinarily, no one would enter a restroom stall with a maintenance sign, let alone that restrooms were frequently featured locations in ghost stories. A typical person, upon hearing strange sounds from within a stall, would most likely dash out without looking back.

That was probably why Poros had yet to make a contract with anyone.

Poros's only stroke of luck might be that there was no trash in the bin...

"How about it?" Muershi walked over. "Is this piece of information worth one-fifth of the points here?"

"You're not afraid that Poros will come back to the demon realm and kill you."

Muershi shrugged. "I just put up a sign. I didn't do anything else. If neither of us says anything, nobody will know..." As he spoke, his smile faded, and he looked at Wen Ying, his heart skipping a beat. "You... won't tell, right?"

Wen Ying grinned brightly. "Not for now."

Muershi felt downcast.

Wen Ying continued, "If you don't trick me during the final exam, I won't say anything. But if you do, I'll spill the beans as soon as we get back."

Muershi muttered softly, "I didn't do anything bad..."

Wen Ying surveyed the surrounding demons, most of whom were unconscious, while only a few remained awake, trembling with fear. They knew that many of their companions had disappeared in recent days, and tonight they might become the "missing ones" in their fellow demons' mouths.

Wen Ying walked up to one of the conscious intermediate demons, who happened to be the long-haired demon from yesterday. The demon forced a pleading smile on its face.

"We're just insignificant minions, sir. What I said to you yesterday was a lie. Our group is just a delivery service!"

Muershi approached and lightly kicked the demon with his foot. He crouched down and smiled, asking, "If you can give us any clues related to the Church, we can treat you more kindly."

The long-haired demon's face lit up with joy, but then it quickly froze.

"You don't know much, do you?" Wen Ying could tell from its expression.

The long-haired demon stammered, "We demons are only responsible for receiving the life force from some exorcists and then, through the magic array at our base, delivering it to the high-ranking demons in the Demon Realm."

Muershi crouched in front of it, extending his index finger with a pulsating blue-purple arc of electricity dancing on its tip. His tone was gentle as he spoke, "Think again."

Cold sweat covered the long-haired demon's forehead as it watched the electric arc draw closer and closer...

"I remember!" The long-haired demon shouted with his eyes closed, his head tilted back as far as it could go.

Muershi paused with his fingers mid-air and tilted his head slightly. "Hm?"

"Although the exorcist in charge of providing us with vital energy isn't particularly powerful, there have been a few exorcists of special status who occasionally come to collect it," the long-haired demon hurriedly explained. "The higher-ups don't know about this; it's those exorcists' own initiative. They probably use it to nourish their contracted demons."

Back then, they had all been envious of the demons that these exorcists nurtured, who were offered so much vital energy.

Wen Ying stroked his chin, fond of such unwitting foes. "Do you know their identities?"

"They were cloaked and hooded, so I wouldn't have known their identity, but one day when I went out to hunt for prey, I stumbled upon a group of exorcists dealing with a demon. Among them was someone whose familiar had an eerily familiar demonic aura – it was exactly the same as the one that came to feed on your anger!"

"Your story doesn't quite add up," Muershi commented. "First, you said the exorcist came to collect the anger, then you mentioned that their demon came to eat it."

The long-haired demon, fearing that it might miss its chance to speak, hurriedly explained, "Most of the time, it's the exorcist who comes to collect them. Only on rare occasions do they consume the anger right there and then!"

Wen Ying looked at Muershi. "The logic does seem consistent."

"So, which exorcist did you recognize?"

"It's the attendant knight of the Archangel Church's Saint Son! That person has short hair with a mole by his eye, and he keeps a demon with a human torso and a snake's tail!"

"Saint Son Xiao Long?"

The long-haired demon nodded repeatedly.

Muershi stood up, flicking his right arm. A long, lightning-tinged blade formed from magical energy extended from his hand, effortlessly severing the vines binding the long-haired demon. Then...

"Ahh—"

"Milord, have mercy!"

In a few breaths, the only demon left trembling on the scene was the long-haired one. Muershi calmly finished dealing with the other demons, and the magic energy blade in his hand dissipated.

"Mortal bodies are indeed inferior to our original ones," Muershi complained. "If it were my true form, I could have finished them off with one stroke."

Wen Ying remained composed. "Speaking of which, did you capture Diao Mei? Is he still alive?"

Muershi pulled out a wish bottle that used to be popular among elementary school students. Inside was a mass of black fog, and upon seeing Wen Ying, a large, tearful face pressed against the glass, staring at him eagerly.

"For low-level demons, their forms can't be contained in bottles since they don't have physical bodies. What do you plan to do with this mid-level demon who does have one?"

Muershi pondered for a moment before promptly sending the long-haired demon on its way.

Wen Ying: "......."

He was still not quite accustomed to the demons' actions, even though they were all despicable creatures unworthy of pity.

The deceased demons released a great deal of demonic energy. Muershi sat cross-legged, absorbing the dissipating energy, and called out to Wen Ying, "Your puppet's magic power must be running low as well, right? Absorb it quickly. Although the amount that the puppet can convert is minimal, it's better than nothing."

Muershi set up a barrier to prevent the demonic energy from leaking out and to block any detection by exorcists. He then earnestly began converting the energy for his own puppet.

This puppet seemed almost "unchargeable," but with the large quantity of demonic energy, it could barely manage to absorb a bit.

Wen Ying also hurriedly replenished some magic power for his own puppet. If Muershi hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have known that the puppet's demonic energy could be topped up.

After converting all the demonic energy, Wen Ying realized that it only replenished the magic power he had used against the group of demons, leaving him still far from being fully charged.

When low-level demons died, they would immediately turn into demonic energy. In contrast, when mid-level demons with physical bodies perished, they would leave behind their shells. However, over time, these shells would gradually transform into demonic energy and dissipate.

To prevent the Church's exorcists from discovering the demise of the demons, Wen Ying and Muershi dug a large pit, burying the remains of the mid-level demon within. They then cast a minor spell to conceal the aura, an enchantment that would dissipate after about a week.

Conversing here was inconvenient, so Muershi informed that he would have Huo Jue take him to Yang Rixi's residence tomorrow to seek out Wen Ying, and then departed.

Wen Ying called out to him, inquired about the location of Huo Jue's company and the restroom, then left the area as well.

Tonight, he had ventured out while concealing Yang Rixi's consciousness. It wasn't until he returned home that Wen Ying left Yang Rixi's body, returning to the puppet avatar's shell.

With his magic replenished, Wen Ying became audacious. He flew directly to Huo Jue's company in search of Beros.

According to Muershi's indication, Wen Ying swiftly located the target restroom – it was the men's restroom on the second floor. Surprisingly, instead of a strong odor, there was a refreshing scent of lemon.

Wen Ying dashed to the last toilet stall where a "Maintenance in Progress" sign was placed outside. Rubbing his hands together in anticipation, he eagerly pushed open the stall door.

"Who's there?"

It was Beros' aura. Wen Ying perched atop the trash can, looking down at the cotton doll resembling Beros. He covered his mouth, concealing his delight in the other's predicament.

Beros, upon seeing Wen Ying, became agitated. Unable to speak aloud, he mentally projected his voice, "Wen Ying! Get me out of here quickly!"

Despite being confined to this spot, he could tell from the sounds that it was a restroom. He had been here for an entire week, day and night, and was on the verge of going insane.

Now that he saw Wen Ying, if not for his pride holding him back, he would have rushed over and embraced the other.

Wen Ying raised an eyebrow and slowly descended, stopping about ten centimeters above the trash can. He tilted his head to examine the contents and confirmed that there was indeed no garbage. The trash bag also appeared new.

The doll extended its hand, and a tendril coiled around its fingertips before extending downward, lifting the Perseus doll from inside the trash can.

Wen Ying used the tendril to carry Perseus out, flying through the air.

To be honest, he didn't particularly want to touch Perseus, who had been in the trash for a week, so he kept the doll suspended by the vine.

To avoid drawing Perseus's attention to the "Under Maintenance" sign outside the toilet stall, Wen Ying swiftly flew out, exiting through the restroom window.

His objective was clear: first, take Perseus home, then use Yang Rixi's body to give him a thorough cleaning before any further contact.

As Perseus left his "abyss," his initial excitement gradually subsided, giving way to curiosity.

"Wen Ying, how did you know I was here?"

"I was just passing by, would you believe that?" Wen Ying said. "I've just dealt with a group of demons who were transporting life force to the Demon Realm. I'm out here to see if there are any others."

Beros's greatest fear had come true. While he had been unlucky enough to lie in the dumpster for a week, Wen Ying and his team had already accumulated quite a number of points! His already irritable personality became even more volatile after a week of being inactive.

He should have immediately found a human to make a contract with and started hunting, but in the first few days, Beros had frightened many humans away, causing him to doubt himself.

Although he was confident in his strength, he found humans too weak and timid. Could he really find someone willing to form a contract with him?

"Beros, you should try to control your temper," Wen Ying suggested. "Look, the aura you're giving off right now is terrifying. People will be scared when you talk to them like this."

Beros didn't respond, but from the aggressive energy he exuded, Wen Ying knew that Beros was resistant to the idea.

When Yang Rixi saw Wen Ying bring home a cotton doll that resembled the Wen Ying version he had found earlier, he took a nervous step back. "Mr. Demon, is that doll also a demon?"

He had sensed a terrifying and violent magical power emanating from the toy, causing his limbs to turn cold without his realizing it.

Wen Ying nodded and placed the doll directly on the floor. "I need to borrow your body again to clean it up."

Yang Rixi replied, "Okay."

Wen Ying possessed Yang Rixi's body and bent down to pick up the Bellerophon doll from the ground. He then entered the bathroom inside the room and gave it a thorough cleaning.

Bellerophon: "..." He was clean now, but also not quite.

His emotions were peculiar.

Unbothered by the unusually silent Bellerophon, who seemed like a real doll, Wen Ying carefully washed him with antibacterial soap before using magic to evaporate the water from the doll's body.

Now, he had a Bellerophon doll that smelled of flowers.

Placing the doll on the pillow where he had been sleeping lately, Wen Ying left Yang Rixi's body.

Yang Rixi regained consciousness and sat down by the bed. Gazing at the silver-haired doll sitting beside the toy, he slowly spoke, "Mr. Demon, may I ask for your advice?"

Wen Ying turned his head and replied warmly, "What is it?" He was particularly satisfied with his contractee.

Yang Rixi knitted his brows. "One of my friends from the past wants me to bring him to a famous director's birthday party. My younger brother also wishes to attend and wants me to take them both."

This younger brother couldn't be Yang Shiming. If it wasn't Yang Shiming, then it must be the younger brother from Yang Rixi's adoptive parents' family.

Wen Ying asked, "Is there a problem?"

Why was he being so gentle to a human? Boreas was unhappy. Most of the time when Wen Ying was kind to him, it was either a scheme or a straightforward plan.

"Although my biological parents won't be influenced by demons now, I'm still a little scared. Before, they were ashamed of me and thought my friends were useless. Now that they're finally treating me nicely, what if they feel embarrassed when I bring them over?" Yang Rixi lifted his head to cover his eyes.

"I didn't have any close friends before. Our relationship was just ordinary. If it was only that friend asking, I definitely wouldn't agree. But my brother also requested."

"My foster parents also know about this. They want me to bring him to broaden his horizons and meet the idol he likes."

Boreas felt even worse. What kind of useless human was this, worrying about everything? Just bring them or don't, there was no need for such hesitation.

Wen Ying understood. In a new environment, Yang Rixi was already insecure, and Yang Shize had worsened his insecurities. Although Yang Shize couldn't cause trouble now, Yang Rixi's negative experiences wouldn't disappear.

"You can bring them along," Wen Ying said. "If you can't handle it, I can possess you to help."

Yang Rixi was stunned. This was an unforeseen solution. He immediately brightened up. Wen Ying gave him a sense of reliability, and he wouldn't have to face the situation himself. Overjoyed, Yang Rixi lifted Wen Ying in both hands.

Seeing that he was about to kiss him again, Wen Ying glanced at Boreas beside them and said, "If you want to kiss me, my partner might not be happy."

Almost forgetting that Essence was a taken demon, Yang Rixi calmed down and placed Wen Ying back on the pillow. "I thought that demons didn't have the concept of monogamy. Speaking of which, in many human works, succubi seem rather promiscuous. Are they really like that in reality?"

Since Wen Ying didn't look like a succubus, Yang Rixi asked directly.

This question… Wen Ying recalled Essence's appearance and said, "He seems quite casual on the surface, but I'm not too sure about what he's like in reality." He was referring to physical relationships.

During the entrance exam, he had overheard a demon saying that Essence changed partners very quickly, sometimes even within a day. However, after entering the academy, Wen Ying noticed that Essence seemed to have remained single and hadn't heard of him dating anyone.

As for whether Essence had casual sex partners without a significant other, Wen Ying wasn't aware. He also didn't know if Essence would sleep with his partner when in a relationship.

Persephone chuckled. "Essence doesn't have much scruples."

That means he does, Wen Ying thought to himself. He's experienced.

With Wen Ying's reassurance, Yang Rixi turned to respond to his brother, giving Wen Ying and Persephone some space.

Wen Ying sat facing Persephone with crossed legs. Since Persephone couldn't move, Wen Ying manually adjusted the doll's position. Looking at the adorable Persephone, he couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Persephone: "Do you want to die?"

"Excuse me, excuse me," Wen Ying pressed his hand against his lips, "It's just a little amusing."

Under the same roof, the demon had to yield. For the sake of his final exams and to avoid scoring zero, Beros reluctantly suppressed his fiery temper and pretended not to notice.

"Can you help me find the human with whom I have a binding contract?"

"I have the perfect candidate in mind right now," Wen Ying said, propping her chin on her hands. "That man's younger brother — I've observed him, and he possesses the innate talent to become an Exorcist."

Boros was delighted and couldn't wait to see that human.

"Could you bring him to me?" Balros paused, the last three words seeming to be squeezed out of his throat.

It was exceptionally rare for the proud Balros to use such a pleading tone. Wen Ying looked at him sympathetically. The week of living in a trash can had given Balros a harsh reality check and softened his stubbornness.

Wen Ying caressed the doll's face affectionately. "Sure."

Balros's skin prickled, and he trembled inside.

Wen Ying stood up, ready to take flight when he suddenly turned back. "Oh, by the way, you haven't forgotten that since last week, you're my boyfriend, right? There are still three weeks left."

"......I remember."

It was just a boyfriend, so how could their interactions change? Bellerophon soon realized it was just a matter of semantics.

But... boyfriend... It was merely a temporary title, yet Bellerophon felt an inexplicable strangeness. Their interactions remained the same, but the feeling was different.

Wen Ying first informed Yang Rixi, who was on the balcony making a call to his adoptive parents.

Yang Rixi's first reaction was, "Doesn't that mean he won't be afraid of me anymore?"

Indeed, brothers needed a good beating. Once beaten, he would fear Yang Rixi and not dare to act too provocatively. These past few days, Yang Rixi had been quite satisfied.

"Uh..." Wen Ying was momentarily at a loss for words. Soon, he came up with a cunning plan. "I'll support you. The demon bound to your brother also obeys me. Find more excuses to beat him up these days. Make him fearful. Even if he can overpower you in the future, he'll have psychological trauma and hesitate to act."

Yang Rixi found Wen Ying's suggestion very reasonable.

This Mr. Demon always made sense. Everything he said was correct.

Yang Shiming, engrossed in a game, suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

A knock on the door distracted him, causing him to lose the game. Frustrated, he tossed his phone aside and grumpily called out, "Who is it?"

Yang Rixi entered, and upon seeing him, Yang Shiming rolled his eyes disdainfully. "You made me lose the game! Don't ever come into my room again."

Yang Rixi frowned. "I'm your elder brother."

"My elder brother?" Yang Shiming's expression showed contempt. "An adopted one trying to act like the real deal? You didn't even grow up with us."

Despite Yang Shize being there, Yang Shiming still considered his eldest brother to be Yang Shize. Even though he did some questionable things, it wasn't that bad, right? He just used demons to make them like him.

To the young Yang Shiming, it wasn't a big issue. Yang Shize wasn't a murderer or thief.

In truth, Yang Shiming looked down on his biological brother, Yang Rixi. He was timid and lacked the demeanor expected of someone from their social class; it was embarrassing just to mention him.

Yang Rixi raised his hands, stretching his muscles. Sensing the change in atmosphere, Yang Shiming felt uneasy. Yang Rixi quietly closed the door, which made Yang Shiming spring up from his bed, yelling nervously, "What do you want? Don't think I'm easy to bully. That day, I hadn't eaten, but today, you won't get off so lightly..."

After a beating, Yang Shiming soon found himself on the floor, groaning in pain.

Yang Rixi delivered a sound beating to Yang Shiming, yet his clothes remained impeccably smooth. He gazed down at Yang Shiming with an indifferent expression. "Am I your brother now?"

Yang Shiming's face twitched. "…Yes."

Chapter 98: Little Bear

Lu Ran did not expect such an answer.

Looking up, he met Ji Min's dark, solemn eyes, which seemed even more profound under the warm yellow light.

There was no embarrassment or speechlessness in those eyes, as there usually would be when they discussed similar topics.

Instead, there was an assertiveness that harmonized perfectly with Ji Min's aura.

Lu Ran quickly looked down and started brushing Big Yellow's loose fur.

"Oh, I... um..."

The teenager stumbled over his words before finding the smoothest way to express himself.

He raised his voice, "Don't worry, I'm very professional!"

Faced with the man's focused gaze, his voice softened slightly as he continued, "So, Boss, you don't need to be jealous."

"I will..."

Lu Ran wasn't quite sure what he would do.

This seemed to surpass the boundaries of his previous understanding, leaving him both hesitant and anxious. "I will..."

"Mm-hmm."

The man in the wheelchair acknowledged with a soft sound.

The chilly voice carried an uncharacteristic warmth.

The erstwhile display of assertiveness gradually receded, as he raised his gaze to the young man on the bed, addressing him with the customary, elder-like tolerance:

"Well then, how should this exceedingly dedicated 'ex-boyfriend' approach Gu Zhi with his questions now?"

In a nutshell, Lu Ran found himself back in a situation he was all too familiar with.

"Well... could you ask for me?" he said.

Ji Min returned to the bedside, phone in hand.

Lu Ran stealthily glanced at him, only to avert his eyes when their gazes met.

He resembled a cautious creature, carefully assessing whether the human before him posed any danger.

The man pretended not to notice his subtle gestures and sighed, "If you don't ask tonight, I doubt you'll be able to sleep."

"I won't, nothing can disrupt my eating and sleeping," Lu Ran assured.

"Oh, then why didn't you have dinner?" Ji Min inquired.

Lu Ran: "..."

Ji Min sent a message to Manager Chen, requesting him to send some midnight snacks upstairs.

Thereafter, he leaned against the edge of the youth's bed, positioning his phone in such a way that the person lying there need only lift their head slightly to see it clearly.

"Go ahead, what would you like to ask?"

Lu Ran inched closer step by step.

In truth, when he first saw the photo of his younger self, Lu Ran's heart was far from calm.

But when it came to specifics about what he wanted to ask, he hesitated.

After some thought, Lu Ran said, "Ask him if I can visit the Gu family next week. I'd like to meet Elder Gu."

Ji Min nodded.

Lowering his gaze, he typed on his phone.

Lu Ran then stole glances at him.

After a while, the man suddenly stopped typing and turned his head to look at Lu Ran.

Lu Ran quickly averted his eyes, pretending to be busy as he reached out to stroke Big Yellow's fur.

However, Big Yellow, annoyed by his constant petting, had already jumped off the bed and run away.

He could only pretend to examine the photographs in the box once more.

After flipping through them for a while, he noticed no movement beside him.

Only then did he look back.

Their gazes met at the exact moment.

"...Why haven't you asked yet?" Lu Ran hurriedly said.

"How should I ask?" Ji Min looked at him without moving. "In your tone or mine?"

"It doesn't matter, either way is fine," Lu Ran replied.

"Then use yours."

Ji Min handed him the phone.

Lu Ran took the somewhat heavy business phone again.

He lowered his head to type in the message box.

Only when he started typing did he realize something was off.

He was using Ji Min's phone and WeChat account.

Looking at Ji Min's profile picture and typing with the tone Ji Min usually used, he felt a sense of strangeness.

"I mean, why are you asking in my tone?" Lu Ran asked.

"There's no particular reason," Ji Min replied.

It was simply because this way seemed more intimate, and might help sober up that fellow Gu Zhi a bit.

But Ji Min wouldn't disclose this reasoning.

Lu Ran pressed his lips together, unusually feeling a bit uncomfortable.

When he regained his senses and looked down at his phone, he muttered, "Oh no..."

"Mm?" Ji Min raised an eyebrow.

Lu Ran showed him the chat interface.

He had accidentally tapped on the emoji pack and sent over a dozen of them in one go.

"Well, does this count as my tone too?"

As he spoke, he looked down and felt even more awkward.

Gu Zhi had directly called him via video chat.

Lu Ran was about to hang up when he heard Ji Min's voice beside him. "Answer it."

The man seemed to lean in closer to view his phone screen.

His voice and breath brushed against Lu Ran's ear.

Lu Ran instinctively drew back slightly.

Yet, the man urged softly, "Come closer, I can't see."

"Okay, okay." Lu Ran hurriedly held up his phone again.

On the other end of the call.

As soon as Gu Zhi connected the video call, he saw the intimate scene of the two of them being close together.

It was a late-night blow to the heart.

As a single person, Gu Zhi subconsciously wanted to hang up the call.

But he still said, "When you sent so many emojis at once, I thought it was some sort of distress signal."

Ji Min scoffed coldly. "He wouldn't send a distress signal to you."

...

To be honest, when Gu Zhi saw Ji Min sending him an emoji pack, he was almost scared to death.

But the moment he saw Lu Ran in the video, Gu Zhi realized he might have asked a foolish question.

As expected, Ji Min pointed at Lu Ran with his chin and said, "He sent it."

Upon seeing Gu Zhi, the discomfort Lu Ran had just felt vanished.

He focused on the matter at hand and showed the photo to Gu Zhi. "Uncle Gu..."

The moment he called him that, Ji Min silently clicked his tongue.

Unaware of this, Lu Ran continued his question, "Is the person in the photo my grandfather?"

Upon seeing the photo in Lu Ran's hand, Gu Zhi perked up, "Hey, you got it? That's your grandpa, and the other one is you!"

"I was the one who took this picture. I asked you to smile, and you instinctively tried to, but when you sneaked a glance at your grandpa, you immediately put on a straight face."

Recalling the amusing scene from back then, Gu Zhi kept talking nonstop.

Until Ji Min, with a poker face, interjected, "Your voice is too loud, it's disturbing me."

Gu Zhi: "..."

Lu Ran: "..."

Lu Ran then suggested at the right moment, "How about you sit a bit further away, Boss?"

Ji Min: "..."

He didn't say anything else and obediently leaned back in his chair to rest with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, Lu Ran felt like laughing.

He had no recollection of these details that Gu Zhi mentioned, nor was he particularly interested.

After pondering for a moment, he continued, "How was my relationship with my grandfather?"

As he asked, it was as if he was an unrelated outsider looking in.

Gu Zhi was taken aback before responding, "You really don't remember, huh?"

Then, he added, "I suppose that's right. You were only four back then. Even if you did remember, you wouldn't have waited so many years."

"Your grandfather... he doted on you quite a bit, didn't he?"

Gu Zhi's tone suddenly became uncertain.

Scratching his head, he said, "Mr. Shen... um, he wasn't particularly close to anyone, was he?"

"Still, you must have been around him a lot when you were young?" Gu Zhi waved his hand. "It's been so long, I can't recall the specifics either."

Assuming the child might be more interested in elders, he suggested,

"Perhaps you could ask my father? He's getting on in years and often reminisces about the past. Plus, he's quite acquainted with Mr. Shen."

Lu Ran didn't decline.

Shen Hongyuan had hidden the gift from the Gu family and intentionally summoned Gu Ningqi for this purpose.

It seemed he didn't want Lu Ran to have any contact with the Gus.

Lu Ran was also somewhat intrigued by this Mr. Shen.

He agreed and asked Gu Zhi for a suitable time.

Gu Zhi, on the other hand, felt awkward. "My father can be unpredictable with his mood swings due to his age. I'll need to check with him first."

Ending the video call with Gu Zhi, Lu Ran instinctively reached to toss the phone onto the bedside table but stopped halfway, remembering that it was Ji Min's device.

He promptly returned it to Ji Min.

The man extended his hand leisurely. Looking up at the young man, he said, "If you want to meet Elder Master Gu, Gu Zhi can't arrange it, but I can."

"Hmm? What method do you have?" Lu Ran inquired.

Ji Min didn't reply immediately but stated, "However, I'll need compensation for it."

"....What kind of compensation?" Lu Ran asked.

Ji Min cast him a glance.

The youth's countenance still bore a touch of unguarded bewilderment.

Ji Min's fingers twitched.

In the end, he reached into the box and picked up a photograph, saying, "Give me this photo, please."

"Aah?"

Lu Ran's gaze shifted to the box.

"But, but these are just pictures of some young kids. What's so special about them to give away?" Lu Ran stammered.

"But I want them," Ji Min said.

"Oh," Lu Ran replied, then lowered his head to fiddle with his fingers. Finally, he pretended to be generous and pushed the box over. "Then go ahead and pick one!"

A hint of a smile tugged at Ji Min's lips.

He picked up the stack of photos and began to choose meticulously.

As Lu Ran pretended not to care, he couldn't help but sneak glances to see which photo Ji Min had selected.

Initially, when he wasn't sure if the child in the picture was him, it didn't matter much.

But now he knew.

As he watched Ji Min's fingers gently glide across the cheeks of the children in the photographs, Lu Ran felt restless.

He changed his posture eight times in a minute.

Eventually, he couldn't help but urge, "Boss, why are you being so fussy?"

"With such hard-earned payment, of course, I have to choose carefully," Ji Min replied with justification.

Lu Ran fell silent again, only watching Ji Min's fingers intently.

Among them were a few where he sat obediently on a stool, looking adorable with his clean and fair appearance.

Lu Ran initially thought that Ji Min would pick those photos.

To his surprise, the man eventually chose one where his hands were covered in mud, and he was holding a worm.

Ji Min gazed at the photo of the child reaching out for a hug for a moment, then curved his lips. "We'll take this one."

Lu Ran felt slightly embarrassed.

Silent, he quietly gathered the other photos.

Ji Min glanced at the pictures still in his hand.

Suddenly, he said, "I feel like I got the short end of the stick."

"Hmm?" Lu Ran looked up at him.

The man bargained, "Mr. Gu is quite hard to meet. I should have asked for two."

Lu Ran: "…Don't push your luck!"

He hastily put away the remaining photos.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of one and paused slightly in his movement.

"What's wrong?" Ji Min inquired.

"Nothing much, I'm just tired. Why aren't you leaving yet, Boss?" Lu Ran replied.

Ji Min: "..."

He was really pushing it with his haste.

But upon looking at the photo in his hand, he felt it was worth it.

"Remember to have a late-night snack, or you might get hungry in the middle of the night," he instructed before leaving Lu Ran's room.

Lu Ran peered out for a while.

Only when the man's figure had completely vanished did he inexplicably feel relieved.

Taking a few quick steps, he closed the door to his room.

Back in bed, Lu Ran took out the photo he had glimpsed earlier for a closer look.

At first glance, the picture seemed unremarkable.

But upon closer inspection, one could spot the tiny words "Happy Birthday" printed on the bib around the child's neck.

Below the photo was the date it was taken.

Lu Ran stared at the image for a while.

Suddenly, he sat up straight, opened the calendar app on his phone, and cross-checked the date that appeared on the photograph.

It was neither too early nor too late – it was precisely the day he was officially accepted back into the Shen family.

That very same night, Ji Min had taken him out.

They had celebrated "Big Yellow's" grand birthday in advance.

There were beautiful lanterns, candies scattered across the ground, colorful balloons, and an extravagant three-tier cake.

Many people were still singing the birthday song.

Lu Ran sat quietly on the bed for a long time.

It was almost cold by the time he finally bent down to pick up the puppy on the floor, saying,

"Bad Big Yellow, you tricked me."

Lu Ran had a dream that night.

Although he saw many childhood photos, the memory he dreamed of was not from before he got lost.

Instead, it was at the orphanage.

Back then, someone had donated a batch of stuffed toys to the orphanage.

When it was the turn of Lu Ran's class, there was an adorable little bear among them.

The bear was black but had incredibly soft fur and sapphire-like eyes.

Lu Ran had a particular fondness for this teddy bear.

However, the items in class belonged to everyone.

They could only play with these toys during designated times and had to take turns with each classmate.

Only when it was Lu Ran's turn could he properly hold and embrace the teddy bear.

But soon, it would be time to pass the bear on to the next student willingly.

Yet, Lu Ran wasn't very keen on giving the bear to someone else.

He proactively approached the teacher, suggesting that he could take on all the cleaning duties in class.

He offered to do it consecutively for a month, a year, or even longer.

He asked the teacher if the teddy bear could be assigned to him alone.

But the teacher kindly refused with a smile, telling him that the cleaning duties were too tiring and couldn't be managed by one person alone.

That very evening, Lu Ran completed the class cleaning on his own.

He mopped the floor diligently and mustered the courage to approach the teacher while they were still around.

With a dirty little face, he earnestly pleaded, "I can do everything by myself. Can I have the teddy bear, please?"

However, the teacher gently declined, albeit reluctantly.

Because the teddy bear belonged to everyone.

Lu Ran was at a loss.

Yet, he still adored it deeply.

But no matter how much he loved it, it made no difference.

All he could do was to gently hug the teddy bear and softly caress its soft fur with his cheek within the designated time.

When the time came, he would have to let go.

He intended to personally hand the teddy bear over to another classmate.

To witness someone else cradling his beloved teddy bear in their arms.

As time dragged on.

Even the brief yet cherished moments of playing with the little bear became torturous.

Lu Ran held onto the teddy bear, his heart nervously counting down the seconds.

Until the very last moment, he personally handed over the little bear.

Liking someone seemed to have turned into a torturous affair.

Gradually, such incidents piled up, one after another.

Lu Ran had forgotten what it felt like to be fond of someone.

Upon reflection, what arises in the mind is the sorrow of parting with one's dearest possession.

And that sense of powerlessness in never being able to attain it.

But in this dream, the little bear seemed to be running towards him on its own.

Chapter 94 - Station 23: Human Incense

Diao Qingchang followed the servant carrying a white paper lantern through increasingly magnificent corridors, realizing that the guest room he had previously occupied was quite a distance from the Dragon Fish Hall.

It could also be because the Dragon Fish Hall was simply enormous.

As they approached the hall, an inexplicable mist grew denser, and the talisman attached to his chest burned fiercely, turning to ashes within seconds.

Diao Qingchang remained vigilant as he accompanied the servant through the corridors, finally catching sight of the entrance to the Dragon Fish Hall.

A colossal Pixiu statue stood guard at the door, with a plaque above it reading "Zephyr-like Spring." Two couplets hung on either side: "Virtuous souls arrive here with no regrets, while evil ones tremble at our gate."

Upon entering, he found himself in an unusually spacious courtyard surrounded by buildings. The butler, Xi Yi, waited inside, holding something in his hand.

The lantern-bearing servant stopped at the entrance.

As Diao Qingchang approached Xi Yi, he noticed that the butler was holding three gleaming golden incense sticks.

The incense stick itself was brown, with speckles resembling crushed gold dust interwoven within.

These golden flakes were meticulously minced and mixed into the incense paste during the manufacturing process to ensure they did not disrupt the function of the incense.

The edges of the gold foil had clearly been polished with great care, as they felt incredibly smooth to the touch. Apart from the natural texture of the incense, there were no irregularities or bumps.

Diao Qingchang was witnessing such intricate craftsmanship for the first time. As he held the incense sticks delicately, he feared damaging this artwork.

Xi Yi was pleased with Diao Qingchang's respectful demeanor and instructed him:

"Mr. Diao, please take these three incense sticks and offer them in the main hall."

Diao Qingchang, holding the incense, proceeded to the main hall.

Above the entrance hung a plaque inscribed with the words "Remembering Glory, Honoring Ancestors." On either side of the hall, couplets read: "Centuries pass, bones turn to dust; Thousand-mile lands, buried under earth's embrace."

Diao Qingchang sensed that the inscriptions on the main entrance and the couplets on the hall seemed to have been penned by a different hand altogether, conveying entirely distinct meanings now.

But there was no time for him to ponder over it deeply.

He stepped into the main hall, holding the golden incense in his hand.

The dark lacquered wooden door closed slowly behind him, engulfing the white mist that filled the courtyard.

-

The expressions of those still seated in the guest rooms were a mixed bag.

Liao Xinya did not feel uneasy because Diao Qingchang had left; she remained engrossed in her thoughts.

"I'm pondering if the manner of death in a pigsty has any connection with the cruel practice of 'human zhi'."

Yan Qiling turned to look at her, while Lin Yongjian appeared somewhat perplexed.

"Hostage? What hostage?"

The young lady replied to his question with an icy demeanor.

"Liu Hou detested Lady Qi for attempting to seize power and subjected her to horrifying torture. She cut off her limbs, deafened and blinded her with smoke, then sliced away her nose, mouth, and ears. After that, she was thrown into a pigsty, labeled as a 'human pig,' meaning 'one resembling a pig.'"

While Lin Yongjian remained unaffected, Yu Kui started to weep in fear, appearing utterly powerless.

Liao Xinya paid no attention and continued sharing her insights on the phrase "promotion and wealth":

"Since 'early birth of an honored child' has its limitations, so does 'promotion and wealth.' It should only be said to unmarried men or married men. Today, I was fortunate not to have directed it at the wrong person. Later, I'll try to figure out the specific restrictions."

Yan Qiling listened and looked at Ming Yiyang, who understood his intention and shrugged slightly:

"My speculation aligns with hers, though not as professionally. If we use these two phrases wisely, they will likely benefit us more than harm us. Perhaps they could even guide us to an exit."

Liao Xinya ignored their conversation and turned her attention to the man sitting at the main seat in the guest room:

"Yan Qiling, since you now possess the right to not enter Longyu Hall, you could assist in finding Shi Wen Guang. After all, every additional person brings another possibility. If we can locate and save him, we can test whether Red Note's rules can be exploited through the state of the living dead."

The man, who had been about to drink tea, suddenly lifted his head to look at her.

Liao Xinya was not captivated by his allure; instead, she spoke calmly:

"If this is a loophole intentionally created by the Master of Wujian, we can exploit this state to improve our living conditions. It would be a very useful tool for future explorations or dealing with threats."

Yan Qiling understood her point.

The disrupted rules were now essentially ineffective. If they could find a way to manipulate these states, they could disregard the entire set of rules on the Red Note, making their future actions much more manageable.

"…You're right," Yan Qiling said, wearing a soft, appreciative smile. "I'll try to figure out what's going on."

Liao Xinya had no doubts about his abilities and wanted to add some details, but Yu Kui abruptly reacted, looking outside again.

Sure enough, the child holding the white lamp had returned.

There was no sign of Diao Qingchang behind him.

The child stood alone by the door, giving off an ethereal air as if he could vanish with the wind at any moment.

With a tranquil tone that belied his young age, he said:

"May one of you step forward to accompany me to the Fish-Dragon Hall for an exorcism ritual."

Liao Xinya adjusted her skirt and rose to respond:

"I'll come."

As she took a step, a gentle male voice reached her from behind:

"In reverence to heaven, earth, and deities, incense is a symbol of purity. Hence, when lighting incense, never blow on it with your mouth."

Liao Xinya turned and nodded to him appreciatively:

"Thank you for your guidance."

After she left, the four people in the room fell into a silence. Lin Yongjian gazed at the pair across from him, closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled and asked:

"When did you meet him, Teacher Yan?"

Before the man's affectionate and flirtatious eyes could shift away, Lin Yongjian blocked any chance of evasion:

"You don't need to mention your amnesia again, Yan Qiling. I'm not an idiot."

Ming Yiyang chuckled at the last remark, lifting his snowy eyelashes provocatively as he said in a languid tone:

"Why does it concern you when I met him? What right do you have to ask him, and what obligation does he have to report to you? Are you his boss?"

"Even if he is your employee, you have no right to interfere with his personal life. So, are you even monitoring whether he buys condoms for his private nights?"

Lin Yongjian was practically driven to fury by this person. What made it worse was that Yan Qiling didn't refute a single word but simply watched them quietly.

An awful thought couldn't help but arise in his mind... Could it be that Yan Qiling and this little ruffian had already established some sort of intimate relationship in bed? !

His eyes reddened from thinking, and his whole body trembled slightly from rage. It felt as if all his blood was rushing to his head.

But the most frustrating part was that, just as this little scoundrel said, he truly had no grounds to question anything about Yan Qiling.

He only regretted not making a move sooner, and resented why Yan Qiling had so many superior romantic resources, yet chose Ming Yiyang, who was virtually good for nothing except his face and fists.

Obviously... his qualifications and sincerity far surpassed this man's. He had remained chaste all these years for Yan Qiling.

But this blond ruffian seemed to have had quite a history of relationships, with an appearance that screamed heartlessness and promiscuity.

He'd encountered such men countless times in the circle. Not to mention Yan Qiling, he himself wouldn't deign to associate with them... But why...

Did Yan Qiling prefer men with ample experience, or did he think that the purity he perceived was just a facade, and that the real Yan Qiling was engaged in something he couldn't even fathom?

Lin Yongjian's mind was a jumbled mess from the flames of fury, but one thing was clear.

He was going to give Ming Yiyang a punch.

"If you dare touch Teacher Yan, I'll beat you to death!"

He lunged forward swiftly, but Ming Yiyang seemed too lazy to react, propelling himself back two meters with a flick of his foot, leaving Lin Yongjian swinging at thin air!

Lin Yongjian immediately stepped forward. Just as he was about to grab the man's collar and deliver a vicious blow, a white paper fan deflected his wrist.

Lin Yongjian clutched his wrist and stepped back, about to retort at the interfering fan-wielder, but then he turned to see Yan Qiling holding his fan with an air of nonchalance.

In his moment of astonishment, Yan Qiling had already effortlessly tapped his pressure point on the waist with the fan.

All his strength drained from his body, and if not for his quick grab on the small table, he would have nearly fallen to the ground.

The unexpected display of martial prowess was more surprising to Lin Yongjian than Ming Yiyang's relationship with Yan Qiling.

However, Yan Qiling didn't give him much time to ponder over it.

Leaning his chin on the fan, Yan Qiling smiled and said,

"It's your turn."

Following the other's gaze, Lin Yongjian noticed that the servant holding the white lantern had been standing respectfully at the door without him realizing.

This time, Liao Xinya hadn't returned either.

The man took hold of his arm with his cold hand, helping him stand straight, his tone soft as freshly kneaded dough as he spoke:

"Go ahead."

That fear within him transformed into an endless wave of wistfulness and sorrow with those words.

Lin Yongjian turned to look at the person.

He could still feel a lingering sense of regret in his heart.

He said,

"Mr. Yan, if I don't make it this time, then this will be my final question."

"Are you really together with him?"

He asked sincerely, believing this to be a personal struggle within his own mind.

Unbeknownst to him, the other person present, who seemed nonchalant on the surface, was secretly clenching their palms in their jacket, beads of sweat forming from the intensity of the question.

Yan Qiling replied with a smile,

"..."

The silent mouthing went unnoticed.

Despite Ming Yiyang's towering figure, he couldn't see the man's lips from his position behind him. Thus, he could only infer the response from Lin Yongjian's expression.

Lin Yongjian's face didn't reveal much change; however, a faint smile emerged, which was indistinguishable between a sense of relief or a conviction of victory amidst his loneliness.

This fleeting moment made Ming Yiyang feel foolish for not standing opposite Yan Qiling.

Without casting another glance at anyone, Lin Yongjian held onto Yan Qiling's unspoken answer and followed the lantern-bearing servant down an unknown passage.

Three people remained in the room.

The man's heterochromatic eyes slowly shifted towards Yu Kui, who was trembling in the corner.

Upon meeting the enigmatic gaze, Yu Kui's tremors intensified.

-

Throughout his journey, Lin Yongjian hadn't come across Diao Qingchang or Liao Xinya.

Taking the three golden incense sticks from Xi Yi in the courtyard, he stepped into the so-called main hall with a mixture of doubt and belief.

The grandeur of the Dragon Fish Hall surpassed his imagination.

From the outside, the main hall appeared unremarkable, but inside, it was an expanse of dazzling gold and brilliance.

The floor tiles were enormous; anyone with knowledge of interior design would know that natural stone floors were more expensive the larger they were. This main hall's floor tiles were the size of four ordinary tiles combined.

They had the lustrous, cold sheen of polished ink jade, and above all, they looked incredibly costly!

Elaborately carved beams and pillars adorned with gilt were not even worth mentioning, nor were the gilded wooden columns; in this main hall, such luxuries were standard fare.

The most captivating item in the chamber was undoubtedly the deity statue enshrined at its center.

Lin Yongjian was left dumbfounded by the sight.

Chapter 178: Beyond the Mountains

After discussing in the evening, the outcome was predictable. Everyone agreed: "We should plant!"

Zhou Lizheng said, "We can't grow rice outside, but planting soybeans and vegetables will be profitable as long as we can harvest them. We won't have to worry about a vegetable shortage in winter, and soybeans can also serve as food."

No one knew when peace would return. In these times, conserving food was equivalent to preserving lives.

With that decision made, everyone set out early on the third day. Instead of hunting, they divided into two groups, led by Shen Lie and Chen Dashan respectively. One group cut down trees to build entrances for the other two caves, and constructed simple earth ovens. They even cooked two meals using firewood. The other group prepared the land for planting soybeans within the next few days to catch the season.

The fourth day was the agreed date with Shopkeeper Xu to carry out the grain transport. Three of the six caves looked inhabited from the outside, and everyone had brought their house locks when they left the village. A locked door would indicate occupation, but with the owners out hunting or gathering.

The preliminary construction of the village outskirts was complete. For the people in the valley, this place served as a strategic location for both offense and defense.

In normal circumstances, the young and strong could develop the outer region together. If the situation became too much for them to handle, they could retreat to the valley, leaving behind an illusion of the owners being out or the caves being deserted.

As usual, Shi Da and Shi Er, along with Lu Er and Lu San, were to stay behind to defend the inner part of the valley. The sheep had accumulated some grass, and the Lu and Shi brothers would venture out together later to sow the soaked soybean seeds. With several 'households' nearby, there was no need to worry about leaving traces. They could easily gather leaves and grass close by. Shen Lie and Chen Dashan's departure for over ten days wouldn't cause any concern.

Since they were transporting grain for the Xu family, Shopkeeper Xu, Uncle Xu, Xu Wenqing, and Wei Qinghe, all capable of carrying the load, joined the mission.

It's safe to assume that the mountains are teeming with people now. To avoid drawing attention, I haven't brought any tools or supplies, planning to figure out a solution once I'm out of the mountains. I've only packed weapons and essentials for a long journey.

Among them, if Xu Changguang was nervous, then Xu Wenqing was excited. Just a fifteen-year-old youth, though he had sought refuge in the mountains, he didn't find it hard; instead, it was like opening up an entirely new world to him. Especially since he could travel with Shen Lie and Chen Dashan, he was exceptionally thrilled, even going so far as to bring along the bow and arrows he had borrowed for practice.

Yet, this excitement was abruptly doused the following morning, while they were on the road, when they stumbled upon four skeletons by the edge of Forest Edge Mountain Trail. The bones had been savagely gnawed down to mere scraps of flesh.

It was the skeleton of a human being, accompanied by tattered fragments of clothing that swarmed with innumerable flies, bearing a putrid stench.

Without pausing to pity anyone, Shen Lie covered his mouth and nose and led the group quickly around the area. It was only after they had traveled a considerable distance that he lowered his hand and said, "Someone has ventured deeper in, and they're clearly not up to the task."

After another hour or so, they encountered a similar scene, and everyone's hearts sank. The mountains in this region were incredibly vast and deep, and no one could accurately gauge their expanse. Having endured several epochs of war, the population of the Great Qian Dynasty was not substantial. Before the siege, there were only a few thousand people trapped within Qiyang County. They had no idea how many managed to escape, but even if everyone took refuge in the mountains, they should be scattered, not gathered closely together. Yet, they had already stumbled upon two sets of remains devoured by beasts in such a short time.

Something was seriously amiss.

By mid-afternoon, they finally spotted living humans. Shen Lie was keen on inquiring, but upon seeing them – especially the weapons in their hands – the others displayed panic, swiftly avoiding them.

These were not bandits preying on travelers; their reactions suggested they were local villagers. There were more of them than before, yet without exception, upon catching sight of Shen Lie's group armed with blades and arrows, their faces paled, and they fled hastily.

"Something must've happened outside," Chen Dashan looked at Shen Lie.

Shen Lie gazed at the men who had swiftly vanished into the depths of the forest, remarking, "Perhaps. We should be cautious from now on."

This speculation proved true as, after the second day, they didn't encounter anyone from the third day onwards. For three consecutive days, not a single living soul was spotted. This made Shopkeeper Xu feel increasingly uneasy.

With obvious issues lurking outside, should they still venture out?

Hesitant, he expressed his concerns.

Shen Lie glanced at Chen Dashan and said, "We've come this far. We can exit the mountain in half a day. Should we bypass Three Mile Village to avoid a direct encounter with the county town?"

Chen Dashan was also eager to know the situation outside. They couldn't remain ignorant of the world beyond the mountains. Thus, he nodded in agreement, and their group veered off course, heading towards Ten Mile Village.

...

Ten Mile Village had become a deserted ghost town. As Shen Lie's group infiltrated the village, they noticed that many yards were overgrown with weeds reaching waist height, leaving no clear path to tread.

It seemed that none of the people trapped in the county town when it fell had returned since its collapse. Whether out of fear or because they couldn't return, the truth remained unknown.

Chen Dashan looked at Shen Lie and asked, "What do we do now? Should we still investigate the direction of the county town?"

Shopkeeper Xu himself panicked first, saying, "Shall we just forget about it? I feel like this silence isn't quite right."

Having come this far, Shen Lie was inclined to investigate further. Whether or not they would retrieve the grain, he felt it necessary to understand the situation outside.

He looked at Chen Dashan and asked, "What do you think?"

Both of them were seasoned travelers and could handle such disturbances. Chen Dashan shared the same idea as Shen Lie. "Should we settle Shopkeeper Xu and the others in Little Jin's shelter and go check things out?"

Their thoughts aligned.

However, halfway through their journey towards the mountainous area where they had set a trap for Shen Jin, Shen Lie suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The others were puzzled, but Chen Dashan, following Shen Lie's gaze, soon realized something after a few moments. "These soybeans haven't been uprooted?"

He recalled encountering Zhou Laizi and his son in Ten Mile Village, where they mentioned that the crops in this area were destroyed after the soldiers surrounded the village two days later.

Shen Lie stared thoughtfully at the almost ripe soybeans. He went over to inspect and noticed a few very shallow footprints between the dry furrows.

"Someone was here recently," he said.

He rose to his feet and scanned his surroundings but found nothing. Just as he was puzzled, a faint rustling sound reached his ears. Immediately, someone exclaimed in delight, "A-Lie? Da-Shan?"

Shen Lie, Chen Dashan, and the Xu family members turned their heads, and they saw from a distance that a patch of grass beneath a tree suddenly bulged and grew taller, standing upright.

It wasn't just grass—it was two living men, completely covered in it!

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan recognized them at once: It was Zhou Laizi and his son.

"Auntie Zhou," they greeted as they approached. They never expected to encounter the Zhou father and son again in Shili Village, especially after witnessing its desolation. Seeing a fellow villager who was still alive and had a bit of a relationship with them was undeniably uplifting.

However, Zhou Laizi and his son were even more ecstatic than Shen Lie and Chen Dashan, as if they had met saviors!

"It's so great to see you! Why have you returned to the village now?"

What Shen Lie and Chen Dashan were more intrigued by, though, was the grass covering the pair. As Zhou Laizi and his son rushed over, the grass remained firmly attached to their bodies without falling off.

Shen Lie circled around Zhou Laizi and noticed not only the grass but also a few dozen scattered leaves clinging to it. When they lay down, they blended into a grassy terrain seamlessly. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a garment made of grass, sewn together with a layer of tightly woven hemp threads on the inside. The leaves were also meticulously attached to the grass cloak using thin hemp strings.

Zhou Laizi, noticing the two examining his grass cloak, chuckled. "It's too dangerous to venture out lately, so my wife came up with this idea. She sewed these outfits for us to wear while traveling. When we're not wearing them, we sprinkle some water to keep them fresh. They last quite a while."

The eldest Zhou brother even took off his outer garment and passed it to Shen Lie and Chen Dashan for inspection. It was actually a cloak-like attire. Upon realizing its usefulness, he laid flat on the ground, covering his head as well. He sought out areas with crevices to hide, ensuring that the grass cloak wouldn't reveal the outline of a human body. This way, he could mostly conceal himself effectively.

Shen Lie praised sincerely, "Aunt Zhou has such a clever idea."

The Xu family members, who had been standing by, also came over to observe.

Zhou Lazi sighed, "It was a solution born out of necessity. Haven't you noticed that there's hardly anyone in the mountains?"

This struck a chord with everyone. Shen Lie responded, "What's going on? We were also puzzled. We've been walking in the mountains for over three days and haven't encountered anyone. Are the bandits from the county still around?"

A somber expression appeared on both Zhou father and son's faces. Zhou Lazi said, "Yes, they're conscripting men. After that group of bandits attacked the county town and occupied it, they declared themselves some sort of king and appointed many officials. They announced it in the mountains with gongs, and I overheard them from hiding, but I didn't catch the name of their king."

Chen Dashan asked, "What about the people in the county? Did anyone escape when the city fell?"

Zhou Lazi shook his head. "Some did, but not many. On the first day, there were still people entering the mountains, but after that, it was quiet. Most likely, they're all still trapped in the city. But those bandits often come out. Smaller groups go into the mountains to recruit soldiers, and if that fails, they conscript people, regardless of gender. They've also been recruiting refugees. Many refugees from the north have been lured into the county, and they've become part of their gang. Not long ago, they launched a large-scale attack on neighboring counties, plundered a lot of grain, and apparently occupied another county. Nowadays, bandits still frequently venture into the mountains every other day. No one dares to stay in the outer mountain areas anymore."

Pausing for a moment as if he wanted to say something, Zhou Lazi hesitated and remained silent.

Shen Lie glanced at the field of soybeans and asked, "Are you staying here because of these soybeans?"

Zhou Lazi quickly nodded. "Yes, our family doesn't have much food left. When the grain in the village was uprooted and destroyed, we didn't hide ours too far away. We came back to find it… You know, as farmers, how could we bear to waste our crops? Plus, we were short on food, so after the soldiers left, we selected two more secluded plots of land and replanted some of the less damaged soybeans. Some didn't survive, but others did. When we met you last time, we weren't just searching for supplies in the village, we were also here to water these soybeans."

At this point, he fell silent again. The eldest Zhou son glanced at his father with concern but, despite his urgency, found himself unable to speak as well.

They had come today to harvest the soybeans, and after that, they planned to flee into the mountains.

It was a given that they couldn't handle the wild beasts deep in the mountains, let alone ensure their safety on the journey. Besides, who knew what would happen in the future? But compared to the bandits who had now become tyrants outside the mountains, the Zhou family was more afraid of those 'kings' in disguise.

They had witnessed firsthand how those bandits treated the people they captured – obedient men were dragged back, while uncooperative ones were killed. As for women… death was a mercy they couldn't even beg for.

The eldest Zhou son's hands trembled at the thought of his mother and sister being discovered by those people.

He wanted to beg Shen Lie to take his family with them, but when the families had fled, Shen Lie had only instructed his father to head for the mountains without actually including them. That was already an answer in itself.

Who would dare take along a family without provisions?

Even if they now had some soybeans.

The eldest Zhou son understood this all too well, but he also knew that encountering Shen Lie and Chen Dashan as they emerged from the mountains might be their family's last chance at survival.

Gathering his courage, he inquired, "A-Lie, what's the purpose of your trip?"

Shen Lie gave him a glance and replied, "I want to head to the mountains near the county town. Do you have any information on the current situation there?"

Before the eldest Zhou could speak, Zhou Laizi's expression had already changed. He hastily said, "It's not safe to go there. The area is infested with bandits now. We don't even dare venture into the mountains three miles from Sanli Village, let alone further. If we were to encounter them, there'd be no escape."

Upon hearing how dire the situation was, Shopkeeper Xu immediately said, "Shen Lie, we won't retrieve the grain. People are more important than food. It'll be the same for us to follow you and Da Shan into the mountains to find sustenance."

Moreover, even if they couldn't obtain this batch of grain outside the county town, the family could survive on half rations for two and a half years with their stored grain in the valley. With Shen Lie guiding them, they could start hunting, though initially, they would likely rely more on gathering. The food wouldn't be the best, but they wouldn't starve.

There was still some harvest in the valley, and with soybeans and vegetables being cultivated outside, it would be a supplement as long as they weren't plundered or stolen.

As for what would happen after two and a half years, who knew? They couldn't risk danger now just because they might go hungry in the future. Not only would they be putting themselves in harm's way, but also Shen Lie and Chen Da Shan.

They were merely helpers who hadn't even accepted the 30% of the grain he had offered.

If anything happened to them, what would become of their families? And if something happened to Shen Lie and Chen Da Shan, what would happen to the fifty-three people in the entire valley?

With these thoughts in mind, Shopkeeper Xu firmly refused to retrieve the grain. "Let's return to the mountains. We'll leave right away."

Even Xu Wencheng and Wei Qinghe echoed, "Let's go back first. We can come again when there's an opportunity, and retrieve the grain when it's safe. If not, then forget about it."

As for the possibility of the grain getting damp in the cave, there was nothing they could do about it.

Only now did Zhou Lazi and his son realize that they had come out to fetch grain, which filled them with sorrow.

Grain, oh grain.

Those without food understood its value all too well.

Still, he advised, "We really can't go over there. They've attracted many refugees who are training as soldiers outside the city gates every day."

Shen Lie was also aware of how much grain the Xu family had in storage. He wouldn't risk his life for something uncertain, so upon hearing this, he nodded. "Alright, let's hunt and gather more in the future. We'll talk about the grain another time if we get the chance."

Upon hearing this, the eldest Zhou brother grew anxious. The words he couldn't previously express now slipped out in a panic, "Ah Lie, can you take us with you if you're leaving? It's too dangerous out here. Bandits roam the mountains from time to time. We're hiding in the mountains right now, only daring to light a fire and boil beans in the middle of the night after sealing off the cave entrance. Our family doesn't even dare to leave the cave. We originally planned to flee deeper into the mountains after gathering the beans today, but with just us, we might not be able to fend off wild beasts. Can you give us a ride?"

Zhou Lazi also looked at Shen Lie and Chen Dashan pleadingly. "Yes, Ah Lie, Dashan, can you give us a ride? We don't need to stay with you. Just bring us deeper into the mountains, a little farther away from here. We'll find our own cave to settle down."

Zhou Lazi didn't dare to think about how they would survive after finding a place to settle.

In the past, Shen Lie would indeed have hesitated, but he would still have taken them along for a while, though not necessarily to their destination. However, just before they left, they had set up traps around the village. Their neighbors were decent people, and in such troubled times, it wouldn't be right to turn a blind eye to their plight.

Exchanging a glance with Chen Dashan, who didn't object, Shen Lie nodded. "We can take you with us and help find you a place to settle down. But there are too many of you, and neither Dashan nor I can guarantee your safety on the road. Besides, there are many wild beasts in the depths of the mountains. You must consider this carefully."

Zhou Lazi and his son were overjoyed. Seeing a glimmer of hope in their desperate situation, Zhou Lazi's eyes moistened as he hurriedly said, "Taking us along is enough. No one can ensure safety in the depths of the mountains, and we'd fare even worse if we went alone. We understand the risks. It's unbearable to stay in the outskirts, otherwise, we wouldn't dare to ask."

The people in the outskirts were like livestock, dirtier and more ruthless than animals. Falling into their hands would likely be a more painful death than being mauled by a beast.

Seeing that they were mentally prepared, Chen Dashan said, "Alright, everyone, lend a hand to gather these soybeans quickly. We'll leave immediately."

The two plots of land were less than an acre combined, so they didn't harvest the stalks, only picking the pods.

With eight people working together, they finished swiftly. They collected three bags of pods and beans, which, after drying, might yield just over one bag of soybeans.

For this extra bag of soybeans, the father and son had risked much. If the bandits had patrolled the surrounding villages more thoroughly or ventured into more remote areas, they could have easily caught sight of these unattended soybeans and captured the duo by chance.

All for a bit of food. If not for relying on this grain for survival, how could they have come to this?

The Xu family watched with mixed emotions. In comparison, their early preparations had put them in a much better position. The loss of the grain outside the county no longer weighed heavily on their minds.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan remained silent, allowing the Zhou father and son to lead the way. The group of eight proceeded toward the cave where the Zhou family had taken refuge.

Chapter 177: Village Beyond the Village (Slightly Revised)

They were indeed live sheep.

Not just one, but two, with a mother sheep leading the way and her two little lambs following.

It took much effort for Shen Lie and Chen Dashan to guide the mother sheep through the entrance. Thankfully, the two lambs led the way, allowing them to successfully carry the sheep inside.

Descending into the valley was an even greater challenge. The wolves and the dead lamb were manageable as they wouldn't struggle, but the three live sheep had to be bound in a basket, secured with multiple ropes to prevent them from escaping before being carefully lowered down.

The bleating of the sheep first caught the attention of the children in Shen Jinkan's cave. The commotion was so unusual that they rushed downstairs out of curiosity.

After everything was safely lowered, Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang finally descended to the bottom of the valley. The three sheep and the dead wolf were already surrounded by a group of children. The Xu family, who lived nearby, had also heard the noise and hurried over.

Uncle Xu looked at the wolf, swallowing hard. Even mushroom picking could result in encountering wolves.

Xu Wenqing, on the other hand, had his eyes shining with excitement. After digging the pond, the inner part of the valley was too small. Apart from the tree area designated for the children to play, there was no space left for archery practice. He had already moved his practice sessions to the outer part of the valley, precisely where the compost pits were dug...

He didn't mind the stench anymore.

Well, it seems they used a special composting method, so there wasn't a particularly pungent smell.

In any case, everyone was filled with excitement.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan still had to go out and tidy up. Unlike when they previously hunted wild boars, which were processed outside before being brought back, they now brought the sheep directly, one of them still injured. They were worried that blood might have been left behind, so they needed to investigate the area and deal with any traces.

Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang first carried their belongings back to the cave. Upon hearing the news, Old Man Chen and Old Lady Chen came out, calling for Chen Youtian to help them prepare the large cave to accommodate the sheep. Actually, there wasn't much preparation needed; the most crucial task was to build a wooden fence to create a pen. With crops and vegetables growing outside, they couldn't afford to let the sheep wander freely and ruin everything.

A group of children followed, and from the Xu family, Manager Xu, Xu Wenchao, and Uncle Xu came out to assist. The Shi, Zhou, and Lu families also heard about it, and the men brought along extra wooden planks and strips that they had from making furniture at home.

With around ten people working together, led by Chen Youtian, they quickly constructed a fenced enclosure with a gate.

Initially, they planned to enclose the entrance of the cave, but the women, being meticulous, thought that just as humans needed sunlight, the sheep did too. In the end, they created a small circle outside the cave entrance, giving the three sheep a few square meters, similar in size to a modern balcony, to bask in the sun and get some fresh air.

When the three sheep were released, they bleated and scurried into the cave, leaving the children standing outside the fence, disappointed with their long necks stretched out.

Little girls were especially fond of these cuddly creatures. Xu Wenying's attention didn't shift away from the sheep until they were out of sight. She exclaimed to Shen Ning, "You'll be able to drink goat milk now!"

Xili Village was a small village, and Shen Ning had never seen anyone raise goats there before. Thus, the idea of drinking goat milk from raising goats was unfamiliar to him. It wasn't until Xu Wenying mentioned it that he realized what she meant. He turned to look at Sang Luo, asking, "Big Sister, there really is goat milk?"

Sang Luo chuckled. "Yes, but the mother sheep is injured and has to nurse two lambs. She's also timid from being in a new place, so let her settle first."

Upon hearing that there was indeed a sheep, Shen Ning, despite having no idea what goat's milk tasted like, couldn't help but feel delighted.

The adults, being more pragmatic, began considering how they would feed the animal in the future.

Before Sang Luo could speak, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan returned. They immediately sought out a few key household heads to discuss matters, and soon, everyone became aware of their plans.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan proposed occupying several caves near the valley before the refugees entered the inner perimeter.

Shen Lie said, "A’Luo brought it up, and after discussing with Da Shan, we realized that it makes sense. Rather than allowing outsiders to settle here and making our comings and goings passive, we should seize the initiative and occupy the area ourselves, putting up locks on the entrances. That way, whether we're chopping wood nearby or leaving obvious traces from daily activities, the numerous signs will blend in, making them less noticeable. This way, our valley can receive better concealment, and the elderly, women, and children can hide safely."

"It's almost autumn, and our harvest in the valley is limited, but resources outside are abundant. Folks, we can't keep hiding in the valley. Uncle Zhou, Manager Xu, if your families are willing, you can send a few people to join us. We'll venture out to gather more supplies before the season changes, so we can save some food for the winter."

"If we encounter anyone while hunting or gathering, we'll temporarily stay in caves outside. Then, under the cover of darkness, we can transfer our findings back to the main cave at the entrance of the valley. This will save us a lot of trouble. In fact, to avoid leaving obvious traces, the main workforce could even live in those smaller outside caves during the gathering season, only sending supplies into the valley every few days. As long as we set up proper defenses and look out for each other, there shouldn't be any major issues."

Who would refuse such a proposal?

No matter how cautious they were, their movements would always leave some trace. Over time, it would be difficult to conceal them. The valley couldn't provide enough food, vegetables, meat, or firewood to sustain itself. It was unrealistic not to venture out at all.

With people wandering outside, both visibly and invisibly, the valley could be concealed thoroughly in contrast.

Not to mention that with able-bodied men free to hunt and forage, the risk of exposing the valley was significantly diminished.

It was well-known that autumn was a bountiful season in the mountains. Even Lu Erliang and Shi Dalang dared to venture only as far as they were accompanied by Shen Lie and Chen Dashan; the Zhou and Xu families wouldn't dare to burden them at all.

Now, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan offered to secure an external cave, guide them out, and help gather resources – something they hadn't even dared to request before. How could they refuse?

They were more than eager to accept!

One by one, they agreed.

Only then did Shen Lie say, "There's one more thing. Each family needs to decide who they're sending, and they'll have to be approved by either me or Big Mountain. They also need to be someone we can manage to bring along."

In simpler terms, they had to be individuals the group was willing to take with them and not become too much of a burden.

Everyone understood this, and in reality, these rules restricted the four families that needed assistance.

Lao Lu was the first to declare, "For us, it'll still be Second and Third Brother."

Schirr Da-lang declared, "In our family, it'll be my second brother and me."

When it was Zhou Village's turn, he pondered for a moment before saying, "We should also leave some able-bodied men in the valley. I have three sons; they can take turns to go out in pairs."

After hearing all the other households' arrangements, Shopkeeper Xu thought for a while and proposed, "In our family, it'll be me, Uncle Xu, Wenqing, and Qinghe taking turns as well, with two of us going out at a time."

There was no need to discuss matters for the Chen and Shen families. The Chens would alternate between Qin Fangniang and Chen Youtian, while for the Shens, either Shen Lie would bring along Sangluo or Shen Jin. Whether or not Sangluo joined them would be up to her.

With the matter settled, Shen Lie didn't waste any time. "Those who will venture out of the valley later, gather and meet up with me and Big Mountain. Before nightfall, we'll scout the nearby hills, especially the entrances, to determine the number of caves. We'll choose which ones to use and bring along machetes or axes to chop firewood for storage."

Stockpiling firewood was a major task. The large cave above was spacious, and aside from the small area near the entrance that would be used for conveying supplies, it would be best to fill the rest with firewood, as transporting it wouldn't always be convenient.

Sangluo wanted to join them, but with the addition of new sheep and the harvest of silver ear mushrooms, fungi, and wild fruits that needed to be cleaned and dried before sunset, she decided against it. Trusting Shen Lie to handle things competently, she put the matter aside and planned to ask him to bring her along another day.

Before Shen Lie left, she instructed him to collect some tender leaves from shrubs that the sheep enjoyed eating, as well as plenty of fresh grass to feed the chickens, ducks, and sheep.

When Shen Lie and Chen Dashan ventured out again, each carried an empty basket on their backs.

It was already late afternoon, yet a large group of people were still going out. The heads of each household were well aware of the reason, and if their wives inquired, the men would discreetly inform them. However, they did not mention a word to their children.

Although the Lu family had split into different branches, when Old Man Lu counted the number of participants, he made no mention of Lu DaLang.

The members of the Lu family's main branch were not allowed to leave the valley – this was an unspoken understanding among all its inhabitants. Hence, even without Shen Lie explicitly instructing them, everyone tacitly agreed not to mention anything about the cave to their children who were most likely to spread rumors.

When Lu DaLang saw Lu Er and Lu San heading out with their axes at this hour, he assumed that Shen Lie had called everyone to gather firewood and didn't give it much thought.

...

When Shen Lie left, the children led by Shen Ning, having had their fill of watching Chen Youtian prepare hay for the sheep, set up the water and feeding troughs, returned to assist Sang Luo in drying mushrooms and washing silver ear fungus.

A group of children, including Xu Wenying, joined in the fun, making the task proceed swiftly. Towards the end, Sang Luo took out the two clusters of slightly purple wild grapes that Shen Lie had picked and asked Shen Ning to wash them. They were then shared among the children in the valley.

The mere thought of it made her wince, yet the group of children were incredibly fond of it. With puckered faces from the tartness, they still eagerly gathered around, asking for more.

Sang Luo found it amusing and couldn't help but laugh.

During this time, Chen Youtian was called over to skin the wolf and remove the flesh from the wound on the lamb. The meat was then divided between the two families. Sangluo asked Shen An to deliver a portion of the meat to Master Xu's household, along with a bowl of mushrooms. She also shared some among Shen Jin and his brothers.

Shen Lie and his group made two trips back to the large cave, delivering firewood and lowering two baskets of grass leaves from above. After that, they left again, not returning to the valley until it was almost dark.

By then, Sang Luo and Shen Ning had already prepared dinner. It was indeed late, and everyone was famished. However, Shen Lie's eyes sparkled. After washing his hands and face, he whispered to Sang Luo, "Our family's cave is located on another peak beside the entrance. It's the closest cave to the entrance. I'll take you there tomorrow."

Unspoken but noticeable, ever since Sang Luo asked him to sit beside her while she practiced calligraphy, Shen Lie had consistently occupied that spot during meals. At first, Shen Ning didn't catch on and had her seat taken by her elder brother for three or four consecutive days. Gradually, she realized what was happening and silently switched seats.

Thus, Shen Lie now had the opportunity to whisper a few secret words to Sang Luo.

Sang Luo had grown accustomed to his occasional proximity and nodded with a smile.

...

With enough herbs gathered for a substantial amount of medicine, Sang Luo abstained from the next day's gathering. She let Shen Lie take Shen Jin out for a walk, allowing the younger ones to collect mushrooms and hunt some wild chickens. After all, their meals also included what Shen Lie had provided.

Shen Lie, aware of Shen Jin's concerns, invited people from the other families to join them the following day without going herb-gathering. They set off early in the morning, returning in the late afternoon with their prey and mushrooms. Leaving Shen Jin behind, Shen Lie took an axe, hoe, and the young men from each family and headed out again.

They didn't return until the sun began to set, ready to show Sang Luo the cave.

The Shen family's external cave was situated on a neighboring peak above the entrance to the valley. The other families' caves were scattered across the surrounding mountains, all situated around the mountain near the valley entrance. The advantage was that they were close to the entrance, and not too far apart. If someone shouted at the top of their lungs, those in the other caves would hear and could provide assistance if needed. This was a beneficial arrangement.

The drawback, as Shen Lie had mentioned, was that the cave was tiny, extremely small. Sang Luo estimated that her family's cave was no more than six or seven square meters. After placing a bed, there wouldn't be much space left. Moreover, Shen Lie said that there were two other caves even smaller, which resembled recessed rock walls that needed a stone wall and a door to be inhabitable safely.

There were larger caves, but they were too far away. For the purpose of guarding the entrance to the valley and mutual support, these caves were the best choice.

No wonder Shen Lie and Chen Dashan never considered using these caves.

However, as a temporary shelter, they would suffice.

The Shen family's cave already had a door constructed, made from thick logs, several times thicker than a regular door plank, likely for protection against fierce beasts. A thin door wouldn't be enough if a destructive force were to arrive.

Sang Luo examined it closely. Someone had ingeniously left a small opening on the door that could be opened and closed from the inside. It allowed observation of the outside situation and even allowed one to shoot arrows outward in case of an attack. It was indeed a secure design.

Outside the cave was a small clearing. Walking around it, Sang Luo found it relatively flat. She suggested, "In the future, we can put a bed inside and build a shelter outside, along with a simple stove. It should serve well as a temporary residence when you go hunting. Yes, we can also transplant more anti-venomous herbs nearby."

Speaking of planting anti-venomous herbs, Sang Luo suddenly paused. She looked at Shen Lie, who was also looking at her, both their eyes lighting up.

Sang Luo swallowed and said, "Shen Lie, since we're living out here, we can fully cultivate this mountain land. We can still plant a crop of soybeans now, and many vegetables are still viable. As long as we can protect them, they'll be our food source."

If refugees did pour in and they couldn't protect the crops, the loss would only be the seeds and effort. With the seeds they had planted in the valley, they could save some for future use, with minimal loss. As for effort, they currently had plenty of it.

In a land as bountiful as Mountain Full, it was uncommon for an ordinary person to touch something that clearly belonged to someone else. If one did resort to such actions, they were either morally depraved or struggling to survive.

The southern region was mountainous and fertile, so those capable of venturing deep into the wilderness were less likely to be in dire straits. As for those with wicked intentions, Shen Lie and his group weren't pushovers either.

Considering they aimed to conceal the valley by putting up a facade, wouldn't it make more sense to cultivate additional crops besides settling in a cave?

It seemed Shen Lie and Sang Luo were on the same wavelength. They looked at each other and laughed.

"Let's go back for lunch. Afterward, we'll ask Little An to invite the villagers to discuss this matter."

Chapter 131: Harvest

Wen Ying, inhabiting Yang Rixi's body, gazed closely at Hell Orange's face, his heartbeat quickening not just from the fear of being discovered, but also from the excitement of seeing his former idol up close.

He had once been an immense fan of Hell Orange. Before he became accustomed to the handsome and beautiful demons in Mo Jun's world, he considered Hell Orange to be the epitome of handsomeness.

"I'm not from the scriptwriting industry," Wen Ying said bashfully, "I just came here out of curiosity to see what the head of the Devil Mobile Game looks like."

Hell Orange gave off a laid-back vibe, appearing as someone unserious and casual. He sized up Wen Ying with his eyes, which seemed to have a natural smile etched into their curvature, and his eyelids slightly raised.

However, when he was cosplaying as the Three-Headed Hellhound, his aura was entirely different—cold, ruthless, and tyrannical, as if a completely different personality emerged. This was well-known within the industry.

"You're a fan of the mobile game, huh?" Hell Orange stroked his chin. "Although it might sound a bit thick-skinned, I feel like you really like me?"

As he spoke, Hell Orange took out a colored paper from the shoulder bag carried by his assistant. It was a photo of him cosplaying as the Three-Headed Hellhound. He then fetched a golden signature pen and signed his name on it with flourish, handing it over to Wen Ying with a bright smile.

Wen Ying's eyes lit up instantly. The moment Hell Orange finished signing, he stretched out both hands obediently, waiting for the photo to be passed to him.

Hell Orange chuckled as he handed it over. "Seems like it's not just me being thick-skinned. You really do seem to like me."

Wen Ying nodded repeatedly while holding the signed fan art, "I really like your Cosplay of the Cerberus from Hell."

Staring at the sketch of Hell Orange as the three-headed hound, Wen Ying thought of Beros. An odd idea popped into his mind – it seemed that one of them, either Hell Orange or Beros, was an impostor.

He had first fallen for Hell Orange and then Beros, suggesting that Beros was the substitute.

But if he were to be honest with himself, he liked the Cerberus itself, not the unmasked Hell Orange, which made Hell Orange the substitute.

Wen Ying found himself trapped in a peculiar logic of substitution.

"By the way," Hell Orange pulled out a thick sketchbook from his assistant's bag, "this is a sample the company gave me today. If you like it..."

Lost in his thoughts, Wen Ying jumped at the mention of a sample, "I like it! I like it!" He would love anything extra.

Hell Orange chuckled, and the staff around them smiled warmly at Wen Ying's sparkling puppy-like eyes. No one would suspect the young man of pretending, as no acting could appear this genuine.

Wen Qinxue explained, "This child loves these things. So when he heard I was coming over today, he begged me to bring him along."

"One of our employees who accompanied us in said you must have been disappointed," another staff member commented, "Our office interior doesn't have much of a demon mobile game vibe. Those merchandise are mainly kept in the product department and the PR department."

"Wen Ying asked eagerly, "Can I come over and take a look later?"

"It's not a problem. Many people have visited," the person replied. "But you can't enter the room where the unreleased products are kept in the R&D department."

A flicker of excitement sparked in Wen Ying's overheated mind as he picked up on a potential clue. He disguised his curiosity and asked, "Unreleased products? Is there any sign on that room? I'll make sure not to go inside."

A female employee nearby said, "No need to be so nervous. That room is always locked, and only a few people from the R&D department have the key. Relax, just treat it like a casual visit."

Yang Rixi had a pleasant appearance. Though not exceptionally handsome, his youthfulness and cleanliness gave off an innocent vibe, making him easy to get along with. Thus, everyone grew fond of "Yang Rixi."

"Huh?" Hell Orange turned his head. "Why didn't I know about this secret product in the R&D department that's locked up? It makes me so curious."

"In fact, we're not very clear about it either, since our department only deals with film and television production," the person explained.

"Is that so?" Hell Orange pondered.

Wen Ying had a hidden agenda for this visit. With his suspicious mindset, he saw ulterior motives everywhere. He felt that Hell Orange was up to something secretive.

If there was a group within the Exorcist Association collaborating with the extremist faction, there would undoubtedly be another group investigating them.

"Let this sister take you there to have a look," Wen Qinxue suggested at the right moment. "I'll head to the meeting room later, and there won't be anything interesting for you there."

Wen Ying nodded, deeply touched. His mom was far more reliable than his great-grandfather.

The female employee who had spoken earlier led Wen Ying to the product department. Hell Orange watched their departing backs with narrowed eyes.

This shy and innocent boy was a bit peculiar, but not in a bad way. He simply aroused an unusual level of interest in Hell Orange, whose real name was Xiao Le. However, he didn't spend much time pondering over Wen Ying, as he had more pressing matters to attend to, such as that locked research room.

Wen Ying was brought to the product department by the employee, where he greeted the staff and eagerly checked out the merchandise on display. There was so much! It was his paradise of joy.

After admiring the items for a while, Wen Ying left his colleagues behind and moved to a corner where a wall blocked the view from the outside office.

He took out his doll body from his backpack, closed his eyes, and returned to his consciousness.

Yang Rixi was conscious. Since entering the company building, Wen Ying had stopped suppressing Yang Rixi's awareness. He hadn't informed Yang Rixi about his relationship with Wen Qinxue, only mentioning that he had a way to get her to bring him here.

"Do you want to go into that room?" Yang Rixi whispered. "How do you plan to get there?"

Before returning to his doll body, Wen Ying cast a spell to conceal his aura. As he moved around to reacquaint himself with the body, he instructed, "You leave and continue wandering in front of the shelves displaying the merchandise, pretending to be very interested. I shared my senses with you just now, so you understand what I mean, right?"

Yang Rixi nodded. "I see. But how do you plan to get in? The door is locked, and the window might be too."

"I'll check things out first," Wen Ying instructed Yang Rixi to help him divert attention while he, using his puppet body, sneaked over to the window stealthily.

Although ordinary people couldn't see demons, Wen Ying wasn't sure if the security cameras would capture his demonic form. Therefore, he cautiously avoided the surveillance, his small size facilitating his movements.

Flying out of the office window, Wen Ying reached the outside of the locked room's window.

The glass was privacy-protected, so Wen Ying extended his hand to sense that an enchantment seemed to envelop the building's exterior. He couldn't enter from the outside, and his plan to unlock the glass with thin vines had fallen through.

Since he could only enter but not exit, Wen Ying couldn't directly return to the building through the previous window. He sent a telepathic message to Yang Rixi, asking him to use the excuse of buying milk tea to meet up with him before re-entering together.

Assuming Yang Rixi's body once again, Wen Ying returned to the building and, after reaching the product department's office, separated from Yang Rixi at their usual spot. He asked Yang Rixi to go back with Wen Qinxue later, as he intended to stay overnight here.

Yang Rixi fretted, "Will everything be alright?"

"Relax, I've told you that this body isn't my true form. Even if something goes wrong, it won't affect me."

After finishing her discussion with the person in charge of the film and television segment, Wen Qinxue found Yang Rixi sitting on a chair sipping milk tea. Relying on her years of understanding of her son, she immediately realized that the current Yang Rixi was indeed her son, no longer Wen Ying.

She was slightly worried, unsure if Wen Ying had encountered trouble or taken the initiative to do this. However, she couldn't show her concern, feeling anxious inwardly.

Yang Rixi said, "Aunt Wen, I have plans with a friend today. Thank you for bringing me here. I'll take my leave now."

Plans with a friend? Wen Qinxue felt that Yang Rixi's words were meant to imply that Wen Ying was fine. Her smile relaxed a little. "Alright, come find Auntie again next time if you want to visit. Auntie still has some clout to bring someone in for a stroll."

To avoid suspicion, Yang Rixi called a friend to hang out and treat them to dinner as soon as he left the building.

Inside his office, Wen Ying hid patiently, awaiting nightfall.

The Product Department staff stayed for an additional half hour after work hours before finally leaving. Darkness quickly descended, and without anyone working overtime, the office remained unlit, shrouded in gloom.

Wen Ying waited patiently until eleven o'clock. By then, almost no one was left in the building except for the security guards patrolling the area.

Using objects for cover, he flew to the entrance of the office.

Two rooms away from this office was the locked R&D department.

Wen Ying raised his hand, casting a magical mist to envelop the corridor's surveillance camera, disguising the scene. Then, he flew to the locked room's entrance. Wrapping around his arm, vines extended into the lock.

Wen Ying attempted to pick the lock, and after some effort, he successfully unlocked it. He beamed with pride, "Seems like I have a knack for lockpicking."

With the lock open, Wen Ying pushed aside a narrow entrance just big enough for him to squeeze through. After swiftly entering and ensuring there was no danger, he closed the door behind him.

Inside, it was equally dim. The windows were tightly shut, and the glass blocked any external light, resulting in poor visibility for ordinary humans. However, for demons, it was manageable, albeit a bit darker.

Wen Ying scanned the room, confirming the absence of cameras before turning his attention to the items within.

At first glance, the room seemed unremarkable. Along the walls stood numerous shelves filled with merchandise from a demon-themed mobile game. Wen Ying casually inspected a few items, verifying that they were all unreleased products.

As he continued looking, one item inexplicably drew his attention.

It was a thermos cup. There were six of them on the shelf, seemingly part of a collection. The one that captivated Wen Ying had an illustration of a bakeneko, a mythical cat creature.

Observing it closely, Wen Ying couldn't detect anything unusual about the thermos. After a moment's thought, he twisted the cap open. In that instant, a rich vitality escaped, leaving Wen Ying momentarily dazed.

It took a few seconds for Wen Ying to regain his senses. He promptly sealed the thermos again. His instinct urged him to devour the vitality within, causing his eyes to involuntarily transform into a cold, empty hunting state.

A vitality potent enough to entice even a half-demon like Wen Ying must have been abundant. To fit inside the thermos, this vast vitality had likely been compressed and refined, making it even more alluring to demons.

It was merely a small thermos, yet it had caused untold mischief. A cold glint flashed in Wen Ying's eyes as he surveyed the room. He could sense his demonic bloodline stirring with excitement — there was an abundance of life force within this space.

Only by getting close could one confirm the contents of the storage, and only by opening it could one tell that it held life force, not demonic energy. If one wasn't a demon, even an exorcist wouldn't know what was hidden inside without opening it.

Wen Ying no longer worried about receiving a zero on his final exam. Whoever entered and took the life force-containing item would be connected to the extremist faction. At the very least, he'd catch one culprit.

He aimed to secure at least one and hoped for more. It all depended on luck.

In the still of the night, the faint sound of a doorknob turning was as clear to Wen Ying's ears as a key dropping to the ground. Instantly, he hid behind a square cushion.

The person who entered moved quietly. After entering, they seemed to observe their surroundings before the door clicked shut with a soft sound.

Wen Ying stealthily observed, but the person's face was indistinct. Their physique suggested a tall man, someone familiar. Upon closer inspection, Wen Ying realized it was Hell Orange. Why was he acting like a thief on his own turf?

Hell Orange touched this and that, as if searching for something.

Wen Ying felt a sense that Hell Orange was concealing the life force-containing item.

Indeed, humans were unable to detect the contents hidden within these items. As Wen Ying scanned through Hell Orange's merchandise, not even after observing those that piqued his interest did he sense anything amiss.

Hell Orange's luck wasn't on his side. Although he opened a few products, none of them contained the life force he was seeking.

He began tapping on the ground in frustration.

Of course, it was fruitless. With a frown, Hell Orange left the room. Could he have been mistaken? Was it possible that whatever Lin Wenpu had concealed wasn't stored here?

After Hell Orange departed, Wen Ying emerged from behind the square cushion.

He didn't leave but stayed hidden until the following night.

No one entered during the day. At midnight, a person entered with a key.

It was Lin Wenpu.

Wen Ying was thrilled by his stroke of luck, as if he could now draw an SSR in a game. He made sure to suppress his presence even further, not daring to make the slightest sound.

Upon entering, Lin Wenpu started making a phone call.

"…Hurry up, I'm running out of time. The nosy hounds in the Church have already started to suspect me…"

"…Same old spot. We'll consider a different location for future transactions."

After Lin Wenpu finished his call with an unknown individual, he switched on no lights and deftly approached the display of his enlivening products. He picked up a candy tin, opened it, and verified that its contents were as they should be.

"I was clever to hide them well. No exorcist, no matter how powerful, would detect anything amiss here," Lin Wenpu chuckled slyly.

Wen Ying remained utterly still, his heart racing despite the body he inhabited lacking a physical one.

Lin Wenpu was a kind soul, offering buy-one-get-one-free deals and even more besides.

A soft tapping sound came from the window after a while. Lin Wenpu approached cautiously and asked, "How many do you want?"

"Five."

Relieved to hear the correct code, Lin Wenpu slid open the window.

Wen Ying, ever observant, noticed that the opening of the window also created a gap in the protective enchantment, allowing demons from outside to slip in unnoticed.

Outside, there were two demons, both of intermediate rank, with humanoid forms. They flew in through the window and promptly shut it behind them.

"Did anyone follow you?" Lin Wenpu asked casually.

"No, we're scared too," the long-haired demon replied. "These past few days, several of our comrades have vanished. Everyone's on edge."

Upon hearing this, Lin Wenpu anxiously nibbled on his finger. "Could it be the Association?"

"It could also be Exorcists from the Church."

Lin Wenpu continued, "Most of the upper echelons in the Church are ours, and quite a number of the middle-ranking members as well. If anything were to happen, we'd know. So it's likely unrelated to the Church. They've only noticed something amiss but haven't found concrete evidence yet."

"Xiao Le came by yesterday to investigate and didn't find any issues."

"The perpetrator seems to be rather powerful," the short-haired demon commented. "And it feels like there might be more than one of them."

Wen Ying furrowed his brow slightly. It seemed that he was lagging behind. His classmates seemed to have eliminated quite a few individuals and demons associated with the extremist faction.

The long-haired demon added, "The elders in the Demon Realm seem to be undergoing a cleansing recently. They're requesting us to send more life force over to aid in their recovery."

"I won't be able to venture out on the streets anytime soon," Lin Wenpu shook his head. "I'll have to cut off this connection for now and resume it once the heat dies down."

"Our recent plan is to directly target exorcists. The life force within an exorcist can equal that of many ordinary people."

Lin Wenpu frowned. "Won't that cause too much commotion?"

"It'll be the perfect opportunity to get rid of those exorcists who are doggedly pursuing us."

Lin Wenpu promptly asked, "Can you take care of Xiao Le first? He's already investigating me!"

The two demons seemed hesitant.

"Xiao Le is more powerful. We can't defeat him one-on-one, and a group attack would likely be detected by him beforehand. Our previous ploys, which failed with Wei Ranfeng, are now well-known and can't be used again."

Lin Wenpu handed the candy box, thermos, and some other items to the two demons. "Take these and leave quickly. This is all the life force I have here. I won't be replenishing it in the near future."

The two demons took the life force and flew out through the open window.

Lin Wenpu also opened the door and stepped outside.

Wen Ying waited for him to leave before promptly flying out the window, in pursuit of the two departing mid-level demons.

"Who's there?" The long-haired demon turned warily, only to freeze upon seeing a palm-sized doll. However, it was quickly overwhelmed by the intimidating aura emanating from the figure, causing both demons' faces to turn pale with the suppressive power that originated from their bloodline.

They knew they couldn't win.

Without a second thought, they attempted to flee, but Wen Ying's flight speed was swifter, blocking their path.

"Who are you? We shouldn't have any grudges, right?" The short-haired demon cautiously asked.

The long-haired demon's heart skipped a beat as he thought of the box containing the irate spirit. "Could it be that you want these?" he asked, lifting the objects in his hand.

Wen Ying didn't waste time with them. The puppets only possessed a fraction of their original power, so he dared not be reckless. With the utmost caution, he engaged the two mid-level demons in combat.

With an air of arrogance, Wen Ying said, "Tsk, how weak. How large is your organization? Can you contact the Demon Realm?"

Upon hearing this, the two mid-level demons, who had believed they were doomed, exchanged glances, each seeing the surprise in the other's eyes.

The long-haired demon replied respectfully, "We have many companions, though not as powerful as Your Excellency, but together, we're a force to be reckoned with in the human world."

"We have means to communicate with demons from the Realm of Devils. Through transactions with them, we can acquire even greater strength."

Wen Ying's expression remained calm. "Where is your main base?"

"…Longle Mountain."

So it was that scenic spot, Wen Ying nodded slightly, indicating understanding, then furrowed his brow. "Shouldn't your main base be within the church?"

The two demons were utterly horrified.

"Lord, who told you this?"

Although they were indeed conducting business with exorcists, only a select few demons were privy to this information, which was kept strictly confidential. Ordinary demons were completely in the dark. If this were to get out, the Church's exorcists would undoubtedly eliminate them without mercy.

It would also be disastrous for their cause.

"Wen Ying," he said, exerting an even more formidable aura, "take me there."

The two demons hesitated for a moment before leading Wen Ying along.

Such a powerful and arrogant demon didn't seem like someone who would be controlled by an exorcist.

Most of the demons in the human world were on their side, and there weren't many who supported the extremist faction.

Upon arriving at Longle Mountain, Wen Ying untied them directly. The two demons, perceptive as they were, stopped their companions from rushing forward and introduced themselves to him.

Wen Ying's gaze swept over these mid- to low-level demons as he spoke with a hint of arrogance, "I've recently advanced in rank and am looking for subordinates. I think you're quite good, and your connection to the Demon Realm is also excellent. It can help me rise even further."

The group began to chatter, extolling the benefits of their organization to Wen Ying. He decided to join them without hesitation.

"One of our targets is an exorcist," the long-haired demon ventured cautiously. "He isn't weak, but his anger is abundant. What do you think?"

Wen Ying scoffed. "What's there to think about? Tell me his name and appearance."

"Of course, of course, Lord! With your power, it won't be a problem at all!"

Wen Ying put on a show, studying the photo of Hell Orange. He then strolled out of their headquarters with great fanfare, saying before leaving, "I have something to attend to tonight, but I'll come back tomorrow night. If you want me to take action, you'll need to prepare an offering of anger that satisfies me."

"Certainly, Your Excellency. We will prepare the offerings accordingly."

As Wen Ying left Longle Mountain, his arrogant demeanor shifted. He touched his face and muttered to himself, "Joining was that effortless. It seems those demons here hold average positions within their organization."

Wen Ying sighed. The magic within this body was dwindling, and he had just expended half of it during that encounter. Had he possessed more, he would have eradicated those demons on the spot.

He could only possess Yang Rixi's body to deal with the situation.

The following day, Wen Ying, using Yang Rixi's body, headed to Longle Mountain early in the morning, masquerading as an ordinary tourist, wandering near the demons' hideout.

As evening approached and the crowd thinned, Wen Ying scoped the area, confirming no spies were present. He then leaped onto a large tree, silently lying in wait.

The Longle Mountain scenic area closed at six o'clock. When only staff remained, Wen Ying spotted a familiar figure – the young man they'd encountered in the bar on the night of their contract with Yang Rixi.

But his aura was different from that night. Back then, he was an ordinary man under the spell of a bewitching enchantment; today, he exuded a grounded presence with barely any vulnerabilities.

This person's name seemed to be Huo Jue, Wen Ying recalled from his memories.

As expected, "Huo Jue" moved like a hunter who had scouted his prey, storming into the demons' stronghold from the previous night and reaping them with deadly efficiency.

Wen Ying found the situation amusing. Playing the game of the mantis catching the cicada while the oriole is behind, this fellow was undoubtedly Muershi. As "Huo Jue" was almost done with his cleanup, Wen Ying made a swift flying kick, sending the person crashing to the ground.

"Sss..." "Huo Jue" knelt on the floor, rubbing his scraped elbow pitifully. "You already saw through my plan, so why did you still strike so fiercely?" What a waste of effort; Muershi was genuinely frustrated and felt wronged.

Chapter 97 - Tight Defense

The child in the photograph was approximately three or four years old, wearing a creamy-yellow knitted sweater on top.

Below, they had on a blue denim overalls with straps.

The straps were a bit loose and had slipped off the child's shoulders, hanging loosely around their elbows.

What caught the most attention were the child's eyes.

With shiny black irises, when looking up at the camera, they resembled a well-behaved little puppy.

It tugged at one's heartstrings with affection.

If... one could overlook the wriggling earthworms clutched in the child's dark, sooty hands.

Ji Min was somewhat surprised, staring at the photo in his hand for quite some time.

He then looked up at the teenager sitting on the bed.

By now, Lu Ran had already leaped off the bed barefoot and was bending down to pick up the photographs from the floor.

Seeing that Ji Min had them, he wasn't in a hurry anymore.

He just scratched his cheek uneasily and grumbled, "Why did you suddenly come in?"

"Who asked you not to close the door?"

Ji Min casually replied, still engrossed in the photos he held, seemingly quite fond of them.

Lu Ran waited for a moment before extending his hand to prompt him again. "Why haven't you finished looking?"

Ji Min's gaze wandered between the photograph and the young man's face.

He lingered particularly long on those pair of eyes.

"How did you find this picture of me when I was little?" he asked.

Lu Ran reached out to retrieve the photo from his hand, then turned around and jumped back onto the bed.

There was a touch of unease on his face, a characteristic sentiment one might exhibit when encountering childhood photos as a young adult.

Yet, it was intertwined with a hint of confusion and bewilderment.

He rummaged through the stack of photographs on the bed and selected another one.

Gazing at the image of the soft, fair child, he then held the photo beside his face, looking somewhat incredulous as he asked Ji Min,

"Boss, is this really me when I was young?"

Ji Min couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

He maneuvered his wheelchair to the bedside of the young man, countering with the question, "Who else could it be but you?"

Lu Ran retracted the photo and glanced down at it again, muttering, "I thought it was Shen Xingran."

As an adult, Lu Ran had seen photographs of himself from his childhood days in the orphanage.

As a child, he had been in poor health, and every surviving photograph showed him pale and thin.

Despite the orphanage teachers' dedication, it was impossible for them to attend to so many children with equal care.

Therefore, Lu Ran never imagined that he had once looked like this.

Ji Min raised an eyebrow.

Similar to Shen Xingran? This guy must be blind to faces.

Lu Ran meticulously flipped through the photos in the box once more.

Then, he nonchalantly pushed the box onto the bed.

Holding the empty container, he grumbled, "Shen Hongyuan kept it so securely, I thought it would be something valuable. Why are there just photographs?"

"What did you expect?" Ji Min asked.

Lu Ran held the box thoughtfully for a moment before admitting, "A large check."

Ji Min: "..."

He covered his forehead and chuckled for a while before reaching out to grab the photos on the bed.

There weren't many pictures—just a dozen or so.

Yet, Ji Min found these more precious than any large sum of money.

Seated in his wheelchair, Ji Min flipped through the photographs one by one.

Lu Ran, who had complained earlier, also came over to take a look.

The teenager sprawled across the bed, leaning his head close to the man's side.

Big Yellow, seemingly curious about what they were looking at, joined them as well.

All three—two humans and a dog—focused intently on the child in the pictures.

After flipping through for a while, Ji Min noticed that most of the shots were candid portraits of the child alone.

Yet at the edges of some frames, an aged hand or a cane would inadvertently appear.

Flipping through, Ji Min came across pictures of the child with others.

In the photographs was a man in his sixties or seventies, with an exceedingly solemn expression, bordering on severity.

There were only two group photos.

In one, the elder and the child stood on either side, both sternly facing the camera.

The child stood next to the elder as if at attention during military drill.

In the other, the elder sat majestically in a purple sandalwood armchair.

The child sat on the elder's right knee but did not lean into his embrace. Instead, he tried his best to sit straight and look into the camera.

Neither of these photographs conveyed a particularly intimate relationship.

The child in the picture didn't seem as lively as in other photographs.

Lu Ran peered at it and couldn't resist pointing at the elderly man inside, asking,

"Who's this? Is he Gu Ningqi's grandfather?"

Ji Min gave him an unexpected glance before bending down to study the elder's face in the photograph carefully.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "This should be Elder Shen."

Elder Shen had passed away when Ji Min was only around fourteen or fifteen.

The Ji family and the Shen family weren't closely related, so Ji Min didn't have a strong impression of Elder Shen.

Lu Ran, on the other hand, studied the picture intently before nodding. "I think so. Shen Xingyu would probably look like this when he's old."

"So many photos, and you don't remember any of them?" Ji Min asked.

Lu Ran shook his head. "Not at all!"

"Sigh, your mind…" Ji Min shook his head in exasperation.

But upon further reflection, perhaps it was for the best that Lu Ran didn't remember.

Ji Min pointed at some of the backgrounds in the photos, straining to recall his memories from over a decade ago:

"Are these from the Gu family? They seem to have been taken in the Gu family's garden."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran gazed at Ji Min for a moment.

Suddenly, he said, "Boss, could you give me Uncle Gu's WeChat ID?"

Ji Min was taken aback.

Looking at the photos again, he suddenly felt that something wasn't quite right.

These pictures didn't appear to be professionally shot; they seemed more like casual snapshots taken by family or friends.

And within the Gu family... it seemed that only Gu Zhi had a passion for photography.

So...

He could only glimpse the adorable appearance of the child through the photograph.

But Gu Zhi had seen him more than ten years ago.

Not only had he seen him, but he had also played with him and even taken pictures?

Ji Min slowly caressed the child's cheek in the photo.

He said nonchalantly, "Which Uncle Gu? Old Master Gu has three sons."

"The one who came on your birthday!" Lu Ran said.

Ji Min put down the photo leisurely.

"Was someone from the Gu family there that day? I don't remember," he said.

Lu Ran gave him a strange look, wondering what kind of goldfish memory he had.

"It's that one..."

Struggling to recall, Lu Ran finally managed to remember the name, "Was it Gu Zhi or someone who cared?"

Seeing that the person couldn't even remember the name correctly, Ji Min felt somewhat appeased and said, "Just call him Gu Zhi. Why bother with 'Uncle Gu'?"

"That's right, that's the one!"

Lu Ran urged him.

Seeing his eagerness, Ji Min suddenly became reluctant once more.

"It's too late today, and I seem to have forgotten my phone when I came."

No sooner had he finished speaking.

The youth lying prostrate on the bed before him crawled forward another two steps, his hand reaching out to pat at his trouser pocket.

"You brought it!"

"..." Ji Min shuddered at the tap.

Silently, he took out his phone.

He thought to himself that some children didn't keep their promises; they clearly said they wouldn't add anyone's WeChat randomly that same day.

Ji Min unlocked his phone and accessed the contacts page, scrolling down through the list.

This was his work phone, so it had many contacts.

After swiping for a while, he couldn't find Gu Zhi anywhere.

The longer he hesitated, the more anxious Lu Ran became.

He gestured wildly from the side, urging, "Search! Tap on that search bar!"

After much dilly-dallying, Ji Min finally found Gu Zhi's contact information.

Lu Ran continued to guide him, "Send me his contact card."

The youth had half of his body leaning over the wheelchair.

The urgency was palpable.

Ji Min's eyebrows rose high, and he decided to be straightforward, saying, "What business card? I don't know how to reject it."

Lu Ran: "???"

He froze. "You don't?"

"Yes," Ji Min replied leisurely. "I'm older now. I don't engage in such games."

"So..."

Lu Ran blinked twice, sensing something amiss.

He furrowed his brows and pondered. "That's not right. You clearly said you wanted to recommend it to me the other day. It was me who turned it down."

"...You must have misheard," Ji Min said.

Lu Ran slowly returned to his bed and sat down.

He silently stared at Ji Min.

After being watched for a while, Ji Min finally sighed.

He spoke with a dignified tone, "It's just Gu Zhi's work WeChat. I'm not sure if he'd be willing to give it to you. If you have any questions, we can chat using my phone."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but secretly malign Gu Zhi, "He has a rather complicated personal life, so I'm not comfortable with you adding him on WeChat."

"But why does his complicated personal life concern me?" Lu Ran asked, confused.

Ji Min didn't respond; he simply handed over his phone.

Yet in his mind, he thought, How is it unrelated?

Lu Ran addressing Gu Zhi as 'Uncle Gu' was not an error.

Unlike him, who had forcefully inserted himself as an "elder," the Shen and Gu families were genuine, long-time friends.

In terms of seniority, Gu Zhi could indeed claim with justification to be Lu Ran's elder.

If we set aside seniority...

Given Gu Zhi's age, fulfilling the arranged marriage between the Gu and Shen families on behalf of Gu Ningqi would pose no issue.

Taking the phone, Lu Ran leaned on the pillow and began sending messages to Gu Zhi.

The calf rested leisurely, swaying gently back and forth.

With the corner of his eye, Ji Min caught sight of the young man's actions, yet his fingers gently rubbed against the metal puppy on the remote control.

After glancing for a moment, the man couldn't resist and reached out to grab the teenager's erratically swaying ankle.

With restraint, his fingertip did not glide.

He simply held it firmly, tucking it securely within the thin quilt beneath the youth's body.

Startled, Lu Ran turned to look at him, instinctively kicking the covers again. "I'm not cold."

"Well, don't sway around then," Ji Min whispered softly.

Lu Ran turned his head to gaze at him for a moment longer.

Suddenly, he put down his phone and sat up.

"What are you looking at? Aren't you going to continue your conversation?" Ji Min asked.

Lu Ran let out an "oh" and slowly leaned back down.

Ji Min stood quietly by the window of the young man's room, his ears pricked attentively for a while, yet no sound of any message notifications reached them.

Realizing my oversight, I remembered that I had silenced my phone after finishing work.

It was unclear what the two were discussing.

Glancing down at Big Yellow, who was obediently lying on the carpet, Ji Min suddenly lifted his finger and gave the command to "speak."

Big Yellow perked up instantly, sitting up and giving a lively "Woof."

Hearing the barking, Lu Ran immediately put down his phone and turned to look at Big Yellow.

"What's wrong, Big Yellow?" he asked the puppy.

The puppy couldn't speak.

President Ji took the initiative to convey its message.

He said, "I'm not sure why it's barking. Does it want to go for a walk?"

"That shouldn't be the case."

Lu Ran got up and picked up Big Yellow for a closer inspection. "At this time, Big Yellow is usually asleep."

"Maybe it needs to use the bathroom," suggested Ji Min.

"But it just went not too long ago." Lu Ran rubbed Big Yellow's head in confusion.

Big Yellow didn't bark again, only gazing silently at Ji Min.

Ji Min cleared his throat softly, eventually asking, "What did you want to ask Gu Zhi?"

"Oh, I gave him my WeChat ID and asked him to add me," Lu Ran shared.

The vigilant Ji Min: "..."

"Then you two add each other and chat."

With a strained expression, Ji Min forced out a few words and grabbed his phone, preparing to leave.

Yet, upon glancing down, he found Gu Zhi's chat window on his phone empty and devoid of any messages.

Ji Min paused, turning to look at Lu Ran.

The youth cradled the little dog in his arms, his smile cunningly playful.

Ask him, "Boss, were you just feeling jealous?"

Ji Min never expected to be outmaneuvered in such a way.

He fell silent for a long while before suddenly turning to look at the young man, fixing him with his gaze and saying, "What if I were to say yes?"

Lu Ran: "Hm?"

Chapter 93: Station 23: Exorcising Evil

Liao Xinya was the last one to be brought to the guest room.

Upon entering the room, she immediately noticed the absence of a man with glasses, and then sensed that the atmosphere inside seemed somewhat peculiar.

Ming Yiyang and Lin Yongjian sat on opposite sides, both wearing grim expressions. Yet, both of them couldn't help stealing glances at Yan Qiling.

Yan Qiling sat at Ming Yiyang's upper seat, intently using the tea lid to skim the floating foam from the tea leaves.

Upon seeing her enter, the man closed his teacup lid halfway and set it aside before rising to bow respectfully.

"Housekeeper Xi Yi," he greeted.

Liao Xin Ya followed the other servants in returning the gesture.

It was precisely because she was the last one that Xi Yi personally escorted her.

As a maid to the young miss, she could only trail behind Xi Yi. When guests of higher status than herself paid respects to Xi Yi, she couldn't simply stand idly by; she had to promptly return the courtesy.

Xi Yi chuckled and returned the greeting with a bow, but he didn't take a seat. Instead, he gestured for Yan Qiling to sit first and surveyed the surroundings before asking:

"I wonder what your thoughts are on the puppet's demise?"

Diao Qingchang, always mindful of the rules, promptly spoke up:

"Housekeeper Xi Yi, this... Two murders in one day. In my opinion, perhaps the marriage between the two ladies should be postponed?"

Xi Yi's triangular eyes, resembling dead fish, lifted to look at him critically:

"Mr. Diao, that might not be the most appropriate thing for you to say. Aren't you more aware of the situation than I am? Nobody knows Madam's intentions better than you; she is wholeheartedly determined to see this marriage through. Now, whether this marriage happens or not, it must happen. Isn't that right, Mr. Diao?"

Diao Qingchang had no intention of directly confronting him. Noticing his words being tactfully dismissed, he laughed it off:

"Yes, yes, mainly... um, ah, it truly is an eventful time, isn't it?"

"You're right about that; it is indeed an eventful time," Xi Yi replied, still maintaining his insincere smile.

Diao Qingchang found his joyful appearance akin to the paper figurines hung at the front of a wedding palanquin, possessing an eerie kind of charm.

Well, it wasn't exactly beautiful.

... Never mind.

Xi Yi surveyed the surroundings once more and spoke leisurely, "There have been some incidents in the family, but they're not significant issues. As long as the bride arrives at the Wen residence on the wedding day, everyone will be generously rewarded. Madam has made it clear that the Bai family will never neglect those who have helped us."

His words held hidden meaning, leaving the others with little to say.

Yan Qiling picked up his teacup again, sipping gently before setting it down and saying softly, "Xiao Ou's death was peculiar, but it seems to have been an accident – a slip and fall into the water. It has nothing to do with any of us. May I ask, Steward Xi Yi, what is the purpose of our presence here? Please enlighten us."

Finally, Xi Yi cracked a wide grin, delighted that someone had paved the way for him to speak further, "To be honest, Madam is also deeply concerned about this matter. Last night, she consulted the Dragon Fish Ciyu Deity, and this afternoon, the revered deity appeared in Madam's dream, revealing that among the recent newcomers to the Bai household, there is someone whose fate is incompatible, carrying a harmful aura. It's said that this person needs to undergo a 'dispelling of evil' ritual to remain in the Bai residence."

Lin Yongjian frowned slightly and asked,

"What would happen if we don't perform the exorcism?"

Xi Yi's smile turned cruel,

"Well, that might require sending her to the 'Pigsty' first. It's an unfortunate necessity for the two ladies' weddings... I hope you all can bear with it temporarily. Once the 'exorcism' is successful, Madam Old Bai will have peace of mind when any of you visit the Bai family."

His sinister triangular eyes shifted to Liao Xinya behind him,

"Xiao Jia, you shall start."

Before the young girl could speak, Yan Qiling promptly interrupted,

"Butler Xi Yi, we naturally follow Madam Old Bai's arrangements. However, since this situation is unexpected, it would be unwise to let the young lady enter the Dragon Fish Hall first. She's young and inexperienced. If she were to offend the divine spirits recklessly, it wouldn't be a good thing."

"How about I go in first, and then she follows? What do you think?"

Xi Yi's expression changed slightly, revealing an appeasing demeanor.

"Madam has instructed that you are an utterly pure and virtuous person. Hence, there's no need for you to participate in the purification ritual. It would suffice for you to sit in the guest room and enjoy some fruits," the servant said respectfully.

Yan Qiling grasped the underlying message.

Although the servant appeared courteous, his words had aroused suspicion among the others.

The "purification ritual" likely wasn't as straightforward as it seemed, especially for ordinary folks like Liao Xinya. It could be a challenging obstacle for them.

By intimidating or even eliminating these people... Old Madam Bai seemed intent on demonstrating a stern lesson through a show of force.

Not insisting further, Yan Qiling suggested, "In that case, let everyone have a cup of tea before we proceed. Since we're invoking the divine power for the purification, we should be adequately prepared to honor the deity's goodwill."

Xi Yi had already refused once, so he didn't wish to decline again. Besides, Madam's attitude toward Yan Qiling was perplexing, and he dared not comment recklessly.

After some deliberation, Xi Yi agreed to the request, stating that he would return to collect the group after finishing his tea.

The moment he left, Liao Xinya briefly recounted the sequence of events, from Yue Pengpeng's plea for help to her disappearance.

Immediately, Yan Qiling unfolded the red note and pointed out the new rules to the others.

However, compared to those rules, he was more concerned about the "eight characters" left behind by the man in red shoes.

Diao Qingchang also noticed it and quickly connected it to the clue in Xi Yi's words:

"Xi Yi just said that 'incompatible fates' carry evil energy. This is indeed related to the eight characters, so perhaps we need to modify them to pass this so-called divine test?"

Lin Yongjian was surprised:

"Don't eight characters determine someone's fate at birth? How can they be changed?"

Diao Qingchang didn't think it was that difficult:

"It can be temporarily concealed, like a charm for good luck. It's not a permanent change. I could draw such a talisman, but the issue is—"

"What kind of eight characters do we need? Who knows what requirements the Dragon Fish Benevolent Jade God has for one's fate. Sigh... if only Boss Chi were here, he would surely figure it out."

Ming Yiyang had long retracted the purple hue in his eyes. He gently twirled the necklace around his neck before releasing it and speaking up:

"Most people have ordinary fates. The so-called 'malefic influence' merely signifies how many lives the Vengeful Spirit King intends to take this time," Ming Yiyang explained.

Others looked slightly alarmed, while Diao Qingchang stroked his blue Utpalaka flower around his neck, deep in thought.

"That makes sense... Then I'll draw some impressive fates for everyone. A fate with pure yang energy will not only be free from malefic influence but also ward off ghosts and deities. Hehe."

Diao Qingchang was an action-oriented person; even before he finished speaking, he pulled out a stack of yellow talismans from his bosom. Ignoring the surroundings, he bit his finger and began to draw.

Ming Yiyang had no objections to his actions but simply said, "Draw them for the others. I don't need one."

Diao Qingchang paused, then nodded in understanding.

However, he soon realized something was amiss. "Where is Shi Wenguang? He hasn't arrived yet."

Previously, when Shi Wenguang was absent, Diao Qingchang had assumed he was just running late, based on Yan Qiling's explanation. But now, with Xi Yi's arrival, Shi Wenguang still hadn't shown up.

Yan Qiling, upon hearing the question, promptly pulled out a red slip from his sleeve.

The last entry on the red slip seemed to have dissolved like ink soaked in water, becoming utterly indistinct.

Diao Qingchang's face paled with shock.

"What does this mean? I lost my side gig?!"

This heaven-defying focus was enough to make Ming Yiyang roll his eyes if he were listening.

Now, the purpose of the red slip was evident: whenever someone died, its rules would instantly alter.

But this was the first time it had blurred into an indiscernible mass, leaving everyone baffled.

Yet, Yan Qiling quickly grasped the reason:

"Shi Wenguang probably hasn't died yet. He's currently in a state between life and death, so the red slip's rule hasn't changed. But once he passes away, a new rule will appear on the slip."

Diao Qingchang, who had been consistently composed, finally revealed a hint of anxiety.

He distributed the drawn talismans to each person, speaking rapidly:

"This yellow talisman can disguise your birth chart. As long as you carry it with you, your birth charts will become what I just described - not only free from negative influences but also capable of repelling ghosts. However, this item can only protect you for two hours, so remember to manage your time."

Then, he pulled out another talisman, intending to give it to Yan Qiling:

"I'll have to leave when Xi Yi comes to collect the person. I need to finish this matter quickly and find Shi Wen Guang. You don't have to worry about me, alright? If anything unexpected happens, use this talisman to contact me. Come on, come on, Mr. Yan, would you please hold onto it?"

Yan Qiling waved his hand in refusal:

"Let Ming Yiyang take it. He's a celestial master and proficient in this."

Diao Qingchang was about to persuade further when a hand reached from behind, snatching the talisman away from the tall youth.

The young man securely rolled up the talisman and put it in his inner pocket, waving at Diao Qingchang:

"I'll take care of it. If there's any issue, we'll contact you."

Diao Qingchang clicked his tongue, nodding slowly and reluctantly.

"Sure, why not."

Ming Yiyang lifted his sharp, snowy brows with a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Diao Qingchang sensed trouble and promptly complimented him:

"How could I not trust Brother Ming holding onto it? Of course, I have absolute faith in you."

Liao Xinya had no objections to Diao Qingchang's self-appointment. However, for her, the current priority lay elsewhere:

"I would like to know if there are any further plans. After tonight, we have less than two days left. Have we found any leads on the exit?"

A faint approval flashed in Yan Qiling's dual-colored eyes as he turned his gaze to Diao Qingchang:

"We haven't seen anything at the Bai family yet. I wonder how things stand at the Wen family's place."

Diao Qingchang shrugged and shook his head candidly:

"No luck there."

"Though I think it's mainly because we didn't stay long enough. Plus, the incident with Mai Zeyu kept us entangled with the Wen family, preventing us from investigating any leads. If possible, we should revisit the Wen family tonight... Oh, indeed, there is something I haven't mentioned to you all. But it was mainly because it's still in the speculative stage, so I held off on sharing."

Seeing everyone's attention fixed on him, he couldn't help but exclaim:

"Are you guys really expecting me to speak now? I feel like the Master of the Abyss is watching us. What if it stops me from finding any clues once I share them?"

Liao Xinya replied calmly:

"You've already revealed that you possess a clue. If It truly is observing you, then whether or not you speak, you'd still be Its next target. It's better to contribute something while you're still alive than to die without leaving any evidence."

Diao Qingchang was astonished by the young girl's decisiveness and ruthlessness:

"Holy shit, what a valid point... Alright."

"I suspect that the Bai family and the Wen family might have a mirrored structure."

Yan Qiling's eyes lit up with interest:

"Elaborate."

Diao Qingchang no longer held back:

"The butler of the Bai family is named Xi Yi, while the one for the Wen family is Yi Xi. The room allocated to me by the Bai family is on the right, and the one from the Wens is on the left. Essentially, their layouts are identical, just flipped in reverse."

"Therefore, I suspect that other aspects might be inverted as well. Anyway, since Brother Ming has a map, I plan to roam around with it, particularly checking the accounts office and the storehouse – I didn't get the chance yesterday."

As he was about to continue, Yu Kui, who had been cowering in the corner, abruptly stood up with a start, staring fearfully at the entrance.

However, there was nothing there.

Just as everyone was puzzled, a page boy carrying a white paper lantern stepped in from outside.

The boy was only waist-high, but his grin was unsettlingly chilling.

With a crisp child's voice, he announced, "May one of you please come out and accompany me to the Fish-Dragon Hall for an exorcism."

Diao Qingchang took a deep breath, patted Ming Yiyang's arm, and gave him a firm handshake.

"Brother Ming, I'll be going."

Ming Yiyang looked at him and, surprisingly, nodded.

Diao Qingchang followed the child away just like that.

As soon as the child left, Yu Kui immediately retreated back into his corner, muttering to himself in an enigmatic manner.

Ming Yiyang rubbed his fingers and met Yan Qiling's gaze.

The man strolled slowly to his front, gently taking Ming Yiyang's hand in his, and whispered, "Let me see your injury."

Ming Yiyang compliantly opened his palm.

In the large, calloused hand, a result of years of wielding a blade, there were no fresh wounds; only a crumpled piece of paper lay there.

As if genuinely inspecting the wound, the man used two fingers to unfold the note, then fully spread it out on the warm palm:

Yu Kui is acting strange, his toes are pointing backward in the mirror.

A fleeting hint of purple flickered in his eyes, but Yan Qiling's palm promptly covered it.

"Stay still."

"It's just a minor injury."

The man's icy breath brushed against the nape of his neck:

"It might come in handy."

Chapter 96: Imprisonment

Shen Xingzhuo carried his coffee up to the second-story balcony.

Shen Xingyu was seated at a round table on the balcony, engrossed in some documents.

The two brothers didn't have the best relationship; they glanced at each other from a distance before attending to their own affairs.

However, Shen Xingzhuo couldn't stay still. He alternated between sitting and standing, peering down from the balcony.

He muttered, "How shameless of Ji Min to even block me, his own brother."

Finding this irritating, Shen Xingyu closed the file he was reading and prepared to leave.

Just as he was about to stand up, Shen Xingzhuo leaned over the balcony again, frowning. "Why is the Lino family's car still here? That old man must be losing his mind to associate with them."

The Shen and Lino families were long-standing enemies.

Even if Shen Xingzhuo was an uninvolved and carefree heir, he didn't have any favorable impressions of the Linos.

He looked down for a moment before turning to ask Shen Xingyu, "Hey, do you know if there's something sinister on the old man's mind?"

Shen Xingyu frowned but didn't respond, instead saying, "That's our father. What kind of address is that?"

Shen Xingzhuo rolled his eyes and ignored him.

After a while, when Shen Xingyu had already reached the balcony door, Shen Xingzhuo suddenly said,

"He's back today. He even brought two bodyguards with him when he returned to his own home."

Shen Xingyu froze, quickly realizing who 'he' was in Shen Xingzhuo's words.

His fingers, which were on the doorknob, relaxed, and he slowly withdrew his hand.

Turning away from the door, he returned to the balcony and sat down at a random seat, continuing to look through the documents in his hands, though clearly not fully focused.

"Don't you want to go down and see him?" Shen Xingzhuo asked.

"There's no need."

Shen Xingyu flipped through the pages in his hand.

Shen Xingzhuo didn't descend either, merely leaning against the railing and gazing down indolently.

After a moment, he asked, "Is Ranran not home today?"

"I don't know," Shen Xingyu replied coldly.

Shen Xingzhuo found his attitude irritating.

He wanted to leave the balcony, but his feet remained still.

Downstairs, Lu Ran was engaged in some unknown activity.

To be honest, Shen Xingzhuo wasn't sure how to approach Lu Ran.

He had always been accustomed to doing as he pleased.

Due to his family background, his playmates usually revolved around him.

Aside from Shen Xingran, Shen Xingzhuo had never tried to curry favor with anyone else.

Treating Lu Ran the same way as he did with Shen Xingran somehow felt odd.

Moreover...

People generally found it challenging to confront their mistakes, let alone make amends for them.

With his own mood spoiled, Shen Xingzhuo found himself particularly intolerant of Shen Xingyu.

"Hey, do you think he carries bodyguards around because of you? It's all because you've been treating him awfully," Shen Xingzhuo commented.

Shen Xingyu's grip on the document paper paused abruptly.

Suddenly, he recalled Ji Min's words.

"At that time, he was so cruel to me, probably because he knew you were my brother," Shen Xingyu mused aloud.

But in the next instant, Shen Xingyu resumed his actions.

Shen Xingzhuo simply walked over and sat down on the sofa beside him.

After a moment of contemplation, Shen Xingzhuo spoke with a tinge of injustice, "Why is that? You were so harsh on him, yet why did he spare you so much mercy?"

"Spare me mercy?" Shen Xingyu recalled the events since his return home and raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

Shen Xingzhuo made a thoughtful comparison.

Between having dog feces thrown on his back and accidentally eating a cockroach...

Shen Xingzhuo still felt that he had it worse.

"I only put some bugs there to scare you. Do you have any idea what I've been through?"

Shen Xingyu was unaware and didn't bother to investigate.

He just found Shen Xingzhuo's nagging annoying.

Shen Xingzhuo continued to grumble indignantly, "He definitely held back. This guy has had a crush on you since he was young, always sticking by your side, right?"

Shen Xingyu abruptly closed the file in his hand.

He got up and walked out onto the balcony.

Returning to his room, he put down the documents.

After a moment of hesitation, Shen Xingyu opened his door and stepped out.

Ever since his last encounter with Ji Min, he hadn't seen Lu Ran again.

He descended the stairs slowly, expecting to witness a heated argument between Lu Ran and Shen Hongyuan.

Surprisingly, however, the first floor was unexpectedly quiet.

Not only was Lu Ran absent, but also the Lino family and Shen Hongyuan were nowhere to be seen.

Shen Xingyu frowned as he glanced at the courtyard.

The Lino family's car was still there.

He stopped a passing servant and asked, "Where are the head of the family and the guest?"

Upon seeing Shen Xingyu, the servant showed great respect and said, "Young Master Lu Ran seemed to have something to attend to just now. He asked the head of the family and the guest to follow him to the..."

Pausing for a moment, the servant then pointed in the direction of the first floor restroom, "To the restrooms."

"Did they go together? How long ago was it?" Shen Xingyu inquired.

"A while," the servant replied.

After a moment of thought, the servant added, "It seemed like the two young masters from the Lino family went into the restroom with Young Master Lu Ran first. Later, Young Master Lu Ran rushed out to speak with the head of the family, and then the head went over."

Upon hearing this, a deep frown formed between Shen Xingyu's brows.

He didn't ask further and simply walked toward the restroom.

As he proceeded, his expression grew even more solemn.

Shen Xingyu could roughly guess Shen Hongyuan's intentions.

The HZ project was likely to provoke a fierce battle between the Shen and Lino families.

Currently, there was a severe financial deficit within the Shen family, while the Lino family had just recently shifted their base domestically, with an unstable foundation.

A collaboration between the two families was indeed a viable solution.

Marriage served as a crucial bond to solidify such cooperation.

Even if the collaboration couldn't be negotiated, using marriage to stabilize the Lino family temporarily would still be a decent strategy.

From the perspective of the Shen family, Shen Hongyuan was doing the right thing.

In theory, Shen Xingyu shouldn't intervene at this juncture.

Yet...

Shen Xingyu blinked his eyes shut.

He recalled the eldest son of the Lino family, who was quite unpredictable.

There had been numerous scandalous incidents involving him overseas, engaging in excessive romantic escapades.

But this was the Shen family's residence; surely nothing like that would happen here...

Shen Xingyu paused in front of the bathroom door.

Without knocking, he reached out and pulled the door open.

In that fleeting moment, a horrifying sight greeted his eyes.

Reacting instinctively, Shen Xingyu raised his hand.

With a sharp "slam," he closed the door.

This instinct was born out of sheer terror.

Forgive him for having never witnessed such chaos in his life.

"The... What happened here?" The servant walking beside him asked cautiously.

Shen Xingyu took a deep breath.

Shouldering the responsibility as the family heir, he gathered himself and opened the door once more.

Now, only the "victims" remained inside.

The eldest son of the Leno family was leaning against the toilet bowl, his expression dazed.

The second son was desperately trying to pull a toilet brush out of his mouth while hunched over, spitting repeatedly.

Old Leno had a plunger stuck on his forehead.

As for Shen Hongyuan, the front of his shirt was soaked, and he was holding onto the toilet, muttering deliriously, "Rebellious child! Rebellious child!"

Shen Xingyu double-checked the setting.

Indeed, it was a bathroom.

Washing his face silently, Shen Xingyu finally grasped the meaning behind Shen Xingzhuo's words "go easy on them."

"Go... call an ambulance?"

He instructed the servant beside him with uncertainty in his voice.

To his surprise, the three Lino family members reacted intensely upon hearing this.

They sprang up from the ground and exclaimed, "No way!"

Spotting Shen Xingyu, who hadn't witnessed the incident, standing outside the door, they desperately tried to justify themselves, "No, nothing happened! We were just playing around; there's no need to go to the hospital!"

If news of them being rubbed against the toilet bowl were to spread, how would their Lino family be able to save face?!!

Shen Xingyu: "..."

Meanwhile, Lu Ran hadn't left yet.

He unlocked the door to Shen Hongyuan's study with a key.

Only after entering and locating the cabinet that Shen Hongyuan had mentioned did Lu Ran realize that the cunning fox had once again told a lie.

That was because the cabinet was equipped with a digital lock.

Lu Ran's gaze darkened.

Exiting the study, he spotted Shen Xingyu and promptly approached to seize the man's wrist.

"Come here, to me."

Intent on seeking out someone to "make a formal complaint," Shen Xingyu was momentarily taken aback, allowing the youth to tug him forward by the wrist.

The grip on the wrist was firm and unyielding, held tightly in place.

Shen Xingyu was suddenly reminded of his childhood.

Back then, when his relationship with his younger brother hadn't soured and the child didn't fear him.

Occasionally, he would have the leisure to play with the child for a while.

It seemed to be right after school had ended that day.

Upon entering the house, a soft little hand reached out and grabbed his wrist.

The child eagerly pulled him along to the backyard, eager to show him the small nest he had crafted for the rabbits.

Shen Xingyu blinked, and the blurred scene before his eyes cleared away.

What now held his wrist was no longer that soft, pudgy little hand devoid of any notable strength.

It was not the hand of an elegant scholar, but one with calluses on its palm and fingertips, indicating the strength of a youth who labored frequently.

The one pulling him was no longer that short and plump ball from those years; they had grown into a somewhat slender figure.

Shen Xingyu remained in a daze.

Then, he felt a chill on his fingertips.

His hand was forcefully pressed onto a fingerprint scanner.

What awaited him was no longer the soft nest made of tissues and cotton from years ago.

Recalling his surroundings, Shen Xingyu frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"

But Lu Ran didn't reply.

Fixated on the fingerprint lock displaying an error, he cursed under his breath.

Then, he left Shen Xingyu behind, rushed downstairs, and dragged the unsuspecting Shen Hongyuan, who was washing his face, upstairs.

He pulled Shen Hongyuan over and pressed his hand against the cabinet.

"Beep," the lock unlocked.

Shen Hongyuan was infuriated by Lu Ran's brazen behavior and eventually pointed at Shen Xingyu beside him, asking,

"Look at him, aren't you going to do anything?"

Shen Xingyu's lips quivered.

In the end, he sighed and asked Shen Hongyuan, "What on earth are you hiding?"

"Hiding something?" Shen Hongyuan raged in frustration, "Everything in the Shen family belongs to me! What do you mean by me hiding something?"

Lu Ran paid no attention to the two of them.

The cabinet was almost empty.

As expected, someone like Shen Hongyuan would never trust his sons and wouldn't keep anything important at home.

At the very bottom, there was a box that hadn't been dealt with yet.

Lu Ran glanced at the pattern—it was the same as the gift box for the wristwatch that Shen Hongyuan had given him previously.

He took out the gift box and waved it at Shen Hongyuan. "Old fellow, I hate it when others hide my things."

"However, if you have some peculiar hobby and enjoy drinking toilet water, then by all means, keep hiding it."

With that, he ignored the father and son, and left the Shen residence with the box in hand.

That evening, Ji Min returned home from work.

But one figure was missing from the dinner table.

Ji Min waited for a while, but to no avail.

Somewhat surprised, he turned to ask Manager Chen who sat beside him, "How odd. What could have kept him from even having dinner?"

Manager Chen replied, "He said he was a bit tired and went straight to his room to rest after coming back."

Ji Min paused, then didn't say anything further.

He had a light meal and called over the two bodyguards who had been with Lu Ran.

"Something happened today, right? Why is he so exhausted?" Ji Min inquired.

Upon hearing Ji Min's question, the expressions of the two bodyguards became rather animated.

After pulling off such a grand feat, it was only natural for him to be tired!

Seeing that they were hesitant to speak, Ji Min faintly frowned. "Speak."

He exuded a strong aura of authority on any ordinary day.

Now, with just one word from him, coupled with the bodyguards' guilty consciences, they immediately began pouring out their tale like beans spilling from a bowl:

"I'm sorry, Boss, we didn't intentionally let Young Master Lu Ran take matters into his own hands."

"Though it was quite explosive to push someone into the toilet, we did eventually go to assist. Uh... I was the one who stuffed the toilet brush!"

The other bodyguard also eagerly raised his hand, claiming his part. "I was the one with the plunger!"

Ji Min: "..."

He sighed, resting his forehead in his hand before he continued, "Hold on, that's not important. I'm not asking about that..."

The bodyguards' eyes widened in disbelief.

Not important?

How could this be unimportant? What possibly could be more significant?

They assumed it was because they hadn't been sincere enough and quickly reassured him:

"Please rest assured, Sir. From now on, leave such matters to us. Young Master Lu Ran says whom to massage, we'll massage whom!

"We absolutely won't let Young Master Lu Ran lift his sleeves even once!"

Ji Min: "...."

These two used to be quite reliable.

How did spending time with Lu Ran turn me into this?

Interrupting the duo's detailed account, Ji Min sighed again before inquiring, "I meant, where did he go today?"

"Oh, Young Master went back to the Shen residence."

Upon hearing this, Ji Min had a vague idea of the situation.

He dismissed the bodyguards.

Ji Min lingered downstairs for a while longer before taking the elevator up to the second floor.

Exiting the lift, he steered his wheelchair toward his bedroom.

Yet, his gaze strayed to a room at the other end of the corridor.

Half the lights in the hallway were off, casting a dim glow.

Ji Min paused for a moment, turning to glance at Manager Chen beside him and saying,

"Go check if he's awake and bring him something to eat if he isn't," the butler Chen instructed.

But Chen continued without waiting for Ji Min's response, entering the elevator immediately.

Ji Min: "..."

He stood still for a moment before slowly maneuvering his wheelchair down the dim and tranquil hallway, heading towards Lu Ran's room at the end.

The wheelchair came to a halt in front of the door.

The door was still ajar, not even latched shut.

Ji Min hesitated, knuckles poised to knock, then thought better of it. Perhaps Lu Ran was asleep, and he shouldn't disturb him.

In the soft glow, the usually tightly sealed barrier seemed slightly more permeable.

Gently, Ji Min pushed the door open and rolled his wheelchair inside with barely a sound.

Entering the suite, the door to the bedroom inside was still ajar.

Warm yellow light illuminated the space.

For some reason, Ji Min felt an instant relief.

He's still awake...

The teenager in the bedroom must have just woken up.

With disheveled hair, he was sitting at the head of the bed, engrossed in something, so much so that he didn't even notice someone had entered the room.

Ji Min cleared his throat softly and tapped on the bedroom door with a bent finger.

The youth seated on the bed startled, fumbling in a flustered haste to gather the scattered items upon it.

Owing to the intensity of the movement, some items were sent flying out directly.

Ji Min raised an eyebrow as he cast a glance at the youth, then bent down to retrieve the scrap of paper that had drifted to his feet.

That was a photograph.

In the picture, a fluffy little child was stretching out their arms, asking for a hug directly into the camera.