Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 405

With his eyes closed, Engineer Luo reached out and grabbed Xue Liangliang's shoulder.

In an instant, all the panic and anxiety of the past few days transformed into the most intense and direct exhaustion, overwhelming Xue Liangliang's entire thought process.

Xue Liangliang, who was sitting on the ground, lowered his head and fell into a deep sleep.

This scene caught Li Zhuiyuan's eye.

The boy thus changed his rating of the thing on Luo Gong's body.

A person like Xue Liangliang must be clean.

He can know some things and participate appropriately, but he shouldn't get too involved.

Throughout history, many great figures have been associated with extraordinary events and tales, such as unusual phenomena at their birth, encounters with immortals in childhood, slaying a python while still a dragon, or being born into a hot climate...

While there are indeed some stories that were fabricated to enhance their sanctity after someone rose to prominence, many of them are actually true.

The martial arts world can be seen as a vast melting pot of cause and effect.

Only a handful of those who manage to enter the fray and ultimately emerge victorious are truly successful; but there is another path: to cross the water vat without getting wet, to merely dabble in it.

It's not a matter of which is better or worse, but only a very few people in the world are qualified to get a ticket to the latter.

Li Lan said she started learning too late, so she simply gave up, but in reality, she may have been on the same path.

In the end, she chose to "fall into self-destruction," wanting to achieve success overnight, probably because she realized that she couldn't reach the heights she wanted on this path.

In times of strife and chaos, everyone has a chance to fish in troubled waters; but in times of peace and prosperity, when power is building and the dragon is about to rise, even the Great Emperor of Fengdu only dares to be the shadow of Elder Zhai, not to stop the flooding of the temple, but to take advantage of the situation and scheme against the Bodhisattva; no matter how she acts, Li Lan, she can never get away with it.

Li Lan's first gift to herself, the pocket watch given to her by her "father" as a token of their love, was not intended for her son to inherit her parents' love story.

The ginkgo leaf specimen in the pocket watch symbolizes something Li Lan wanted to give her at the Kyoto University where they met and fell in love. At the very least, it might be buried under that ginkgo tree.

If nothing unexpected happens, it should contain Li Lan's records and monologues on her choice of route, which can be considered another version of the "Code of Conduct for Not Taking the River".

The thing on Luo Gong's body was what made Xue Liangliang fall asleep at this moment, so that he wouldn't see the violent conflict that was about to unfold. He hoped to suppress the impact of this incident to the level of "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio".

Who knows, decades later, Xue Liangliang might be able to recount his past secrets and experiences to his students and juniors, just like when Engineer Luo was at the night market stall in Wanzhou. And then, as the juniors were still savoring the story, his gentle and generous teacher's wife would appear and take a slightly tipsy Xue Liangliang home.

He understood Xue Liangliang's special abilities; he not only possessed Luo Gong's body, but he also used Xue Liangliang to save his own life.

Ordinary evil spirits, no, even those that can be considered powerful, cannot comprehend this level.

That's really interesting.

What kind of existence is that Goguryeo tomb, that such a "person" could escape from it?

Li Zhuiyuan: "Lin Shuyou will be the main force, with the rest assisting, to divide and resolve the battlefield!"

Tan Wenbin has just tested the strength of these three undead; they are formidable, but not beyond the limit.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't need to rely on Hongxian's command; he only needed to provide a general plan, and they could handle it themselves based on their past tacit understanding.

The reason for focusing on Lin Shuyou is that the opposing team consists of three undead, including the White Crane True Lord and the Ghost General, who have a natural ability to counter such beings.

Lin Shuyou, who was chosen as the main general, immediately poured out his emotions and aura.

"True Lord, evil spirits are only killed, not saved!"

Lin Shuyou charged forward, and the two knights spurred their horses to meet him.

Just before the two made contact, Tan Wenbin pressed his fingertips against his brow, and a bloodshot, tearing look appeared in his eyes.

The two knights trembled, clearly greatly affected.

"Bang!" "Bang!"

The two knights were thrown from their horses by Lin Shuyou and rolled to the ground.

The masked man drew a rusty knife, his figure flashed, and his aura surged, as he tried to attack Ayou's flank.

A Yellow River shovel firmly stopped it.

The force of both sides increased rapidly in an instant, but with a strange twist, the opponent's rusty knife actually passed through Runsheng's shovel handle and went straight for Runsheng's face.

As the energy gate of Runqi opened, the waves of energy, though not reaching the level of Qin Shu's transformed evil dragon, still created a barrier that transcended the physical realm, stopping the rusty knife.

Then, the Yellow River shovel went down and hit the masked man.

The masked man's body twisted, and the Yellow River shovel pierced through his body without causing any real damage.

Tan Wenbin sped up, ignoring Runsheng's situation, and went straight to Lin Shuyou's side to cooperate with Ayou.

Lin Shuyou crossed his two maces and they collided.

White flames burned on the golden mace in his right hand; these were the fires of the underworld. Black frost covered the golden mace in his left hand; it was this substance that the underworld officials used to punish disobedient evil spirits.

With Tan Wenbin's addition, the battlefield was effectively divided.

Even though Runsheng was uncomfortable and frustrated with the fight, he managed to stop the masked man.

While flying a kite for one knight, Tan Wenbin also used his intimidation spell on another knight.

Lin Shuyou, on the other hand, focused on launching rapid and continuous attacks and strangulation at the knight.

The knight was repeatedly sent flying; his undead constitution was completely exposed in front of Lin Shuyou.

Just as the knight was already "battered and bruised", a large eye appeared at his feet.

The eyes first open, then close.

The next moment, the closed eyes instantly covered his lower body, not only immobilizing him but also compressing his own power back.

Standing atop the temple, Li Zhuiyuan gently moved his hand, accelerating the process while also conducting a test.

Previously, this instant-cast array only had a binding effect, but after the main body's improvements and research, its effect has been further enhanced.

It can be said that after inheriting the "study notes" of the original body, the strength of all the feng shui, techniques, and formations that Li Zhuiyuan had mastered in the past has increased by at least 30%. But that is secondary. The real key point is that they have generally been developed to have new effects.

The opponent, who was already nearly defeated by his own attacks, is now also sealed and stunned.
Lin Shuyou certainly wouldn't let this opportunity pass. As the mark between his eyebrows burst open, he spun around and smashed both of his golden maces into his opponent's head at the same moment.

"boom!"

After the first round of attacks, the two maces crossed again.

"Crack!"

The knight's neck and above exploded, turning into black mist.

Lin Shuyou opened his mouth and inhaled deeply, letting all the black mist enter his mouth, a look of enjoyment appearing on his face.

This wasn't the end. It was as if a beverage can had been opened, a straw inserted, and the knight was sucked in repeatedly until his body trembled uncontrollably and he was completely drained.

"Crash..."

All that remained was a pile of rusty armor.

One solution.

Lin Shuyou turned around and aimed at the next knight.

It’s still the familiar formula and familiar routine.

The difference is that Li Zhuiyuan used feng shui strangulation this time.

Just as the knight's spirit was about to collapse after being beaten by Lin Shuyou, invisible feng shui energies pierced through his body.

The boy on the top of the temple slowly raised his right hand.

The knight was lifted off the ground and hoisted up.

Lin Shuyou unleashed both maces, striking the knight on the head, but just as he was about to execute him, Li Zhuiyuan spoke up:

"Wait a moment."

Lin Shuyou immediately stopped what he was doing.

Grandma Liu is a master of feng shui, and she has integrated sword intent into the changes in feng shui, so her methods are often extremely fierce.

Li Zhuiyuan had never practiced swordsmanship.

But he had studied guns.

Before his death, the old man named Xu Fengzhi specifically passed on the essence of the Xu family spear technique to himself.

Li Zhuiyuan made a horizontal slash with his left hand in front of him, and then slapped his palm upwards from the middle.

The invisible intent of the spear, condensed with the help of feng shui energy, was thrown forward by the boy.

This method would seem impractical against physical beings, but it is remarkably effective against spirits.

"puff!"

After a moment of twisting, the knight's head vanished into nothingness.

Lin Shuyou opened his mouth and inhaled, but no black mist came out.

He blinked his vertical pupils.

After a while, the black mist suddenly dissipated.

Lin Shuyou quickly opened his mouth again, using all his strength to inhale most of the dispersing black mist. Because he inhaled too much air, his belly swelled up.

"Hiccup..."

A long burp came out, and his belly deflated.

This is because Brother Xiaoyuan's magic is too fierce, like an executioner who strikes too quickly. The head is gone, but the body hasn't even reacted yet, and blood doesn't even spurt out immediately.

Ah You was deeply impressed; his little brother Yuan was amazing.

The boy was horrified.

It can only be said that he truly deserves to be the successor of the Fengdu Emperor. The disadvantage of all spiritual beings in the world is that they lack a complete physical entity, and since he did not practice martial arts, their disadvantages were offset by each other.

But on this basis, that one truly has too many rich methods to manipulate spiritual beings at will.

Li Zhuiyuan looked down at his fingertips.

He could have added karmic fire and other secret techniques from Fengdu to the Fengshui Spear Intent, but that would have been like using a cannon to kill a mosquito. Increasing the caliber further would have been pointless and might have accidentally killed the knight, leaving not even the boy's snacks.

In the past, when he cast spells of this intensity, he couldn't do so at will, and the exhaustion was very obvious. He would easily get tired after a few repetitions. Now, he can do it with ease.

It can be said that, in the present day, as long as he is not subjected to close-quarters combat and other means of competition, he can not only win with his intellectual advantage, but also achieve a mindless crushing victory.

Runsheng was having a very difficult time. He could stop the masked man, but he couldn't build up his strength like he used to.

But with the two knights dealt with, Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou joined the battle on his side, and the situation suddenly reversed.

Runsheng was responsible for blocking the masked man's escape route, Tan Wenbin was responsible for intimidation and suppression, and Lin Shuyou was responsible for the main attack.

There was no red line directing, but everyone's sense of rhythm was very clear and precise.

Speed ​​is not the priority; avoiding injury is the only goal.

This is extremely difficult for the side being besieged.

There was no chance, no opening; the outcome could be seen the moment the fight began.

The masked man had considered retreating, but as soon as he made that move, he noticed that the outer array had been erected.

He couldn't understand how, when he was the hunter, he ended up walking into a trap set by his prey.

Time keeps passing.

When Lin Shuyou's golden mace shattered the masked man's chest armor, the masked man finally collapsed and knelt on the ground.

The eyes beneath the mask were filled with resentment.

On the roof of the ancestral temple, Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand again, preparing to deliver the final blow.

Just then, the masked man produced a token and held it up.

The token is just a token; it has no other function.

It has a simple and ancient shape, and is entirely black, with no carvings in the center except for the border patterns.

It was precisely because of its "harmlessness" that Li Zhuiyuan stopped what he was doing.

Furthermore, the boy noticed that when the masked man took out the token, the black mist emanating from Luo Gong's body became slightly disordered.

We haven't been to Ji'an yet, so this wave can't really be considered the beginning.

In the early stages of the wave, the most important thing is to gather enough clues.

If it's unwilling to fight to the death, then let it live for now.

Currently, Li Zhuiyuan's speculation is that the Goguryeo tomb is a prison, the thing on Luo Gong's body is a fugitive, and the masked man is a constable sent out to arrest him.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Self-imposed isolation."

Lin Shuyou, Runsheng, and Tan Wenbin all withdrew, surrounding but not attacking.

The masked man seemed to hesitate, but finally, he raised his other hand, clenched his fist, and smashed it into his chest.

In order to survive, he decided to restrain himself.

But as soon as he did this, the token in his hand melted, turning into a metallic light and shadow that disappeared into his body.

The masked man struggled in agony, his body riddled with holes, quickly turning into a sieve. A little sunlight would melt him away without a trace.

Li Zhuiyuan was stunned for a moment.

The boy simply couldn't understand why you would choose to surrender if you knew that you were under a restriction that would kill you if you betrayed the order.

This explains why Li Zhuiyuan didn't know Tan Wenbin was using a stick of incense to distract the masked man and cover Xue Liangliang's escape from the ambush; otherwise, all of this would make sense.

In this world, not everyone, whether human or ghost, can be understood using purely rational thinking.

From then on, all three spirits perished.

Runsheng walked to the foot of the ancestral temple. Li Zhuiyuan took a step forward and landed, but was caught steadily by Runsheng's shovel. Runsheng moved the shovel down, and the boy landed directly on the ground with his second step.

Engineer Luo kept his eyes closed.

Tan Wenbin carried the unconscious Xue Liangliang away, and Engineer Luo did not stop him.

Lin Shuyou stood beside Li Zhuiyuan, guarding against any possible sudden attack.

Li Zhuiyuan said, "He is my teacher."

Engineer Luo: "What do you mean?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "What I mean is that your actions are extremely heinous."

Luo Gong: "Do you think you can kill me?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Many people have said the same thing to me, and then they are no longer alive."

Luo Gong: "If I don't come out on my own, killing me is the same as killing your teacher."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I can accept it."

Engineer Luo: "What?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I don't like threats. I can accept being killed along with my teacher. I can accept my teacher leaving this world cleanly."

Engineer Luo: "You really are a good apprentice."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'll give you ten breaths to decide whether I'm bluffing or not."

There was no emotion in the boy's eyes.

He knew how difficult this thing was to deal with; if it didn't want to come out on its own, he had no way to separate it.

Rather than being coerced or pulled along, it's better to keep things simple.

Before ten breaths had passed, just as Li Zhuiyuan finished speaking, a dark shadow flew off Luo Gong and landed beside him.

He was decisive.

The shadowy figure was blurry, but it could be made out that it was a man dressed in a wide-sleeved robe, like a scholar.

The black hair swaying under his head must be his beard, proving he was very old—yes, he was very old when he died.

Considering the perspective it presents, it fits the descriptions of people from the Ming Dynasty.

"What are you going to do with me?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'll ask, you answer."

"it is good."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Name".

"Ye Liangzhong".

Upon hearing this name, Li Zhuiyuan's gaze sharpened.

"You know me?"

"Ye Dui, courtesy name Liangzhong, also known as Mr. Simei and Guigenzi, was a native of Taizhou. Sorry, he should be from Yu'an, Ninghai County."

"Am I that famous?"

“You once presented the ‘Military Strategy: One Principle and Three Principles’ to the Duke of Wu and predicted that ‘the Chinese will rise again and the barbarian will come to an end.’”

"That's right, it was me who did it. Do you have a past relationship with me?"

“I once found a ghost-face incense burner with the words ‘This is the true face of Ye Dui’ engraved on it.”

“My dear friend made a bet with me and lost the Ghost Face Furnace to me, but he was unwilling to accept it, so he left this message to vent his anger.”

Li Zhuiyuan found that incense burner at a construction site in Jinling.

Strange things happened at the construction site at the time, with frequent water seepage, which forced the construction to be suspended. That night, the construction company hired a carload of fake monks and Taoist priests to perform a ritual, but unexpectedly, there really was a corpse demon at the construction site.

Corpse demons are formed when human and animal corpses mutate together. Old Lady Niu from my hometown was one such case.

At that time, Li Zhuiyuan had not yet been sent to the river by the Light of the Lamp. That battle with the Corpse Demon was the team's first official battle before they officially set off on the river.

After dealing with the corpse demon, Runsheng dived underwater and found the furnace, which seemed to be the only thing of value, in the corpse demon's tomb.

Moreover, the reason Li Zhuiyuan got involved in this matter was because Luo Gong's wife Zhao Hui's niece, Jingjing, was possessed by this corpse demon. Jingjing was living in Luo Gong's house at the time, and Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Liangliang were invited by Luo Gong to his house to eat the meal cooked by his master's wife.

Back then, Li Zhuiyuan obtained this ghost-faced furnace through Luo Gong's "connection," and today, seeing the furnace's owner, Ye Dui, is also "connected" by Luo Gong.

This man was indeed a clever one. His strategy almost accurately predicted the future course of events, yet he refused the Duke of Wu's offer to stay, and promptly withdrew to retire to the countryside, thus avoiding the terrible political vortex of the early Ming Dynasty.

However, this intelligent person is currently in a rather miserable state.

Li Zhuiyuan: "What kind of place is that?"

Ye Dui: "Humans can suppress and wear down evil spirits, and evil spirits can also suppress and wear down humans. That place is the latter kind of place."

Li Zhuiyuan: "If a person lives this long, is he still human?" Ye Dui: "Indeed, he's no longer human. Look at me, I'm neither human nor ghost now."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Then why don't you die?"

Ye Dui: "Because I'm not willing to accept it."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Be specific."

Ye Dui: "Young friend, I dare to say it, but do you dare to listen?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I dare."

Ye Dui shook his head: "Listening to this won't do you any good."

Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand: "Then you can go die."

Ye Dui: "We have a history, and we were just having a good chat, why is it like this?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "The information value is not enough, so it's not worth keeping you here."

Ye Dui: "Young friend, you really are... Well, I've already said it. I am not reconciled. I have spent my whole life deducing the secrets of heaven, and every word and deed I have never overstepped the bounds, yet I am still abandoned by heaven and suppressed and killed by the hand of the false evil spirits of heaven!"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Are you sure you've never overstepped your bounds?"

Ye Dui: "I confirm it."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Then you've figured out the rules too well. Your body hasn't overstepped the line, but your mind has been crossing it for who knows how long."

Ye Dui: "Actually... that's what I originally thought too."

Li Zhuiyuan: "And now?"

Ye Dui: "Now, I'm starting to doubt all of this. Even if the heavens above us wanted to kill someone, they wouldn't do something so obvious themselves."

Li Zhuiyuan remained noncommittal.

But what Ye Dui said wasn't entirely wrong. The lantern that led the river caught fire on its own before it was lit, and the lantern that surrendered couldn't be lit no matter what. That was quite obvious. But at least, Heaven didn't strike him dead with a single bolt of lightning.

The lightning that nearly killed Xiao Hei was not a "natural phenomenon".

In dealing with itself, it went beyond the bounds, but it didn't break the rules.

Li Zhuiyuan: "How many other 'people' like you are imprisoned there?"

Ye Dui: "Not many left, very few. Actually, that place had been closed off for a long time and could even be described as abandoned. I went in on my own initiative."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Go in voluntarily?"

Ye Dui: "I calculated the secrets of heaven and found an auspicious position, thinking I had a connection with immortals, but instead I fell directly into the tiger's mouth."

That's why I hated it from the beginning, hated that Heaven deliberately tricked and killed me! I didn't want to die, I didn't want to perish, and in order to continue to exist, I didn't hesitate to turn myself into this.

I could sense that many people had been killed there as well, and most of them had made the same choice as me, but they had all perished over time.

I'm young, which is why I've managed to hold on until now.

By a stroke of luck back then, a breach appeared in the place where I was sealed off, which gave me hope. That kid was still young back then…”

Ye Dui said this while looking at Engineer Luo.

“He should have been buried there, but I saw that he had a strong destiny and thought that keeping him alive could benefit the world, so I helped him get out alive.”

Li Zhuiyuan: "Speak like a human being."

Ye Dui paused for a moment.

After a long silence, he gave a bitter laugh and said:
“When I first saw that he was full of good fortune, I thought I would first establish a karmic connection with him, and then, when his good fortune was full, I would plan for the future and have him come to my aid.”

Li Zhuiyuan: "Are you kidding me?"

Ye Dui: "This kid was originally fine and could have escaped safely."

But I really didn't want to give up this only glimmer of hope for escape in hundreds of years, so I deliberately used some means to involve him and let him wander around inside, thinking that the bizarre and wonderful things here would be unforgettable for him, and that he might be able to revisit the place in the future.

At the same time, I will share my own fortune and merits with him, in order to secure a vague opportunity for the future.

As it turned out, he actually came, so I left.

But to be honest, I never expected that what I had just poured out back then would one day turn into a river.

He walked this path himself, but he was also influenced by the general trend. He was someone who was able to align himself with the general trend, and I, in the end, benefited from it.

However, this young student... is the truly frightening one.

Most people live ordinary lives, but those who can see through the general trend can become outstanding individuals. He... was born almost in response to the trend, a hidden dragon in the abyss!

Such people are blessed by heaven and will be protected by benefactors when they encounter difficulties.

I escaped with great difficulty, and I am now at my last gasp. Only by finding him and getting to his side can I hope to catch his coattails and receive his help.

Young friend, in all accounts, you are also a benefactor to this old man.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Since you knew an important person was coming, why didn't you want me to come in from the beginning, but instead tried to exclude me?"

Ye Dui: "I have been on the run all this time and am already a frightened bird. Young friend, you are very capable. You have laid a trap in advance and lured me into it, making it impossible for me to tell whether you are friend or foe."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I might believe it if someone else said it, but I don't believe it when you say it."

Ye Dui: "Young friend..."

Li Zhuiyuan brought his face close to Ye Dui's shadow and asked:
"If you're so good at reading faces, didn't you even look at me at first glance?"

Ye Dui: "Young friend, you have an excellent life; wealth and honor are ordained by Heaven!"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I knew it."

Ye Dui fell silent.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Let me explain. You know, with Xue Liangliang around, those three stupid undead have virtually no chance of catching up with you. Luo Gong's luck isn't enough, and you still want to borrow Brother Liangliang's luck to wear away the karmic burden you're carrying."

Therefore, you don't want my appearance to ruin your plans.

"It's because Xue Liangliang suddenly went on strike that you had no choice but to let me in as backup and protection. Otherwise, you would have certainly died—no, you would have been captured and taken back there."

Ye Dui: "Hahahahahahaha!"

Li Zhuiyuan waited until his laughter ended.

Ye Dui: "What you say is indeed reasonable, but you have made a mistake, that is... you have misjudged me!"

Li Zhuiyuan waited for him to continue.

Ye Dui: "Throughout my life, I have never overstepped the bounds of propriety. I am unwilling to die, for I only seek clarity. If I were to do such a thing, why would I have endured this long and arduous ordeal in that prison cell beneath the tomb? Wouldn't I have deserved my fate?"
I did use some tricks against Luo Tingrui back then, but I didn't harm him. He is your teacher, and you have been in contact with him for a long time. Have you noticed any other arrangements I made for him?
I let him experience sleepwalking, and shared his merits to help him live a peaceful and smooth life; this act caused me to suffer torture in the years that followed, which was many times worse than before.

Admittedly, my actions were somewhat unethical and manipulative, but to be fair, I haven't wronged him in any way.

I had hoped to ask this young man for help from a benefactor, but when I looked up and saw that this benefactor was none other than you…

Heh, I really can't bear to see this young child become something to be used to eliminate your karmic burdens!

Why don't you look in the mirror and see what kind of person you really are?
The reason you are said to be rich and noble is because everything you have received, deserve, or need is determined by the will of Heaven.

And you, rejected by heaven and earth!

Ye Dui looked at Xue Liangliang with loving eyes and continued with emotion:
“Count for yourself how many times you have used this child, and how many times you have used him to resolve your karmic obstacles.”

Li Zhuiyuan: "We are friends."

Ye Dui: "Friends? Do you have any friends?"

Li Zhuiyuan's gaze darkened: "Continue."

Ye Dui: "Hahahaha, someone like you, you think you can have friends? You probably don't even have a human skin!"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Who else did you see under that tomb?"

The other party could not have seen him, but he clearly knew his features and had a reference point.

This means that the other person has met someone who looks very, very similar to them.

If that person has any connection to the Goguryeo tombs in history, then this might become the key to their next wave!

Even the river itself may have been pushing this wave towards itself.

Ye Dui shut his mouth and said nothing more.

Li Zhuiyuan smiled.

Ye Dui also smiled.

The other party deliberately steered the conversation here. All the previous banter and insults were just to push everything to the point that interests you the most, and then end it here.

He wanted to live; he wanted to continue existing in the world.

Li Zhuiyuan: "After I came in, you closed your eyes. Did you not want me to see the thoughts in your eyes?"

Ye Dui: "Young friend, please don't be offended. It's just that the world is tough, and it's not easy to survive."

Li Zhuiyuan: "If you succeed, I will keep you here so that you can continue to exist in this world."

Ye Dui: "Don't worry, young friend, I will naturally tell you what you want to know."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Deal."

Ye Dui: "Straightforward."

Li Zhuiyuan: "But, it's not just Engineer Luo who's missing; there are three others too?"

Ye Dui: "Young friend, you are so young yet so wise. Alas, no wonder the heavens are jealous of such a talent."

Li Zhuiyuan: "We call that incident the 'Ji'an 572 Civil Defense Project Incident.' Some people never came out again, but some others, like Engineer Luo, witnessed the strangeness inside and came out alive."

So, back then, you weren't the only one planning the prison break. You chose Engineer Luo, and there were three other old guys who also had their own choices.

"Including you, there are four who escaped this time!"

Ye Dui: "Indeed."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Who are those three people? Where did they go? Tell me."

Ye Dui: "Why are you interested in this, young friend? Do you intend to capture all those who escaped this time and send them back?"

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head: "I will not insist on sending them all back. I have no reason to do so."

Ye Dui: "That's right."

Li Zhuiyuan: "But I have to keep them all under my control."

Ye Dui looked around, then at Tan Wenbin, Lin Shuyou, and Runsheng, and asked, "Young friend, are you on the river now?"

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

Ye Dui: "Each wave has its own difficulties, and each wave has its own way of overcoming them. Since I am involved in this wave of cause and effect for you, young friend, I should help you get through it. With me alone, that is enough."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You really are a loyal friend."

Ye Dui: "The centuries-long suffering of imprisonment was only averted because the four of us encouraged each other; otherwise, it would have been completely wiped out long ago."

Li Zhuiyuan: "But I still want to hold onto them all. As you said, you can help me get through this wave. If I add three more, wouldn't that mean I have three more strategists? Wouldn't it be easier to get through this wave?"

Ye Dui: "Young friend, why bother?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "It has to be this way."

Ye Dui: "Young friend, why are you so eager for merit?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "If I said no, would you believe me?"

Ye Dui: "Very well, I will tell you about their affairs and where they will go in the future. For now, you should think about how to settle me down."

Wherever I go, the karmic burdens I carry will soil the people and things around me.

"Alas, in my days wandering the world, I encountered countless evil spirits. I never imagined I would become the worst of them all. What a cruel irony!"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I have a good place that can accommodate you. It is not only rich in the fragrance of books, but also has beautiful women to add fragrance to your life."

Upon hearing this, Ye Dui couldn't help but stroke his long beard: "Wonderful, wonderful! Please take me to that treasure land quickly, young friend. I've been tormented and ravaged for so long, it's time for me to relax a bit."

"Okay, I'll take you there now."

Li Zhuiyuan took out the "Wordless Book".

The black mist around Ye Dui surged instantly; he sensed something was wrong.

Li Zhuiyuan opened the "Book Without Words".

Ye Dui: "Young friend, I suddenly feel that it's not necessary to go through all this trouble. We should be able to think of other methods..."

A wordless book, yet it exudes the fragrance of books; on the first page, there is a beautiful woman.

Li Zhuiyuan slammed the "Wordless Book" down at Ye Dui.

A powerful suction force erupted from the book, and Ye Dui struggled desperately.

"Young friend, this place is far too precious. I am dirty and afraid of defiling this treasure. Let's find another place!"

Li Zhuiyuan formed a hand seal with his right hand, and a ghost gate appeared behind Ye Dui to suppress him.

Ye Dui is still holding firm.

"Young friend... why did you have to go to such lengths? Why did you have to go to such lengths!"

Feng shui and weather patterns bind Ye Dui.

"Young friend...please don't..."

The spirit of the dragon roared out from the boy's palm, engulfing him and then carrying Ye Dui into the wordless book.

On the second page, a cage appears, and Ye Dui is sitting inside.

The black mist around him disappeared, and he became very refreshed, resembling an old scholar with an excellent demeanor.

The entire "Wordless Book" is always a constantly changing second page, but the first page remains unchanged.

Li Zhuiyuan turned to the first page.

The woman, conjured from the "evil book," knelt with her forehead touching the ground, ready to listen to her master's commands.

I like the formal feel of "The Evil Book," and she even adds her own dramatic flair.

After a long period of adjustment, "The Evil Book" has found a sense of belonging among the young people. After all, "The Evil Book" should fall into the hands of a truly evil person.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Torture him to extract everything he wants to know. If he can withstand it, then you have no value in continuing to exist."

The scene shifts abruptly, revealing a cage filled with countless "torture instruments" inside, where the evil book is located.

As a reward, Li Zhuiyuan did not exploit her regularly during this period, so the "Evil Book" has grown a lot recently. The "torture instruments" she showed were not traditional tools, but books of magic techniques known for torturing and tormenting people that hung on the wall.

These techniques aren't advanced, and Li Zhuiyuan wouldn't be interested in them, but they're actually quite difficult to collect when you need them.

Li Zhuiyuan returned to the second page and extracted the black dragon spirit that was perched on the cage bars.

When the art style changed again, the incredibly alluring woman appeared in the cage on the second page.

Close the book and put it away.

Ye Dui's choice was not wrong; preserving a secret of sufficient value in exchange for achieving his goal was also understandable.

But Li Zhuiyuan simply disliked the feeling of being coerced and manipulated.

People who are good at thinking often prefer to do things without thinking.

If Ye Dui had revealed the secret from the beginning, given the boy's style, he would have granted his request and given him better treatment.

After Ye Dui was taken away and sealed into the book, the surrounding environment is slowly fading away.

Li Zhuiyuan, impatient with the situation, took the initiative to break through the miasma, and everyone returned to reality.

The boy checked Luo Gong's body; he was very weak, but not in mortal danger.

As for Liangliang, he was sleeping soundly, still muttering to himself:

"Zhilan...Zhilan...I miss you and the children so much..."

Lin Shuyou: "So, your sister-in-law's name is Bai Zhilan?"

Runsheng: "You have to remember each one clearly?"

Lin Shuyou: "..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "There's no need to send them to the hospital. I'll give them acupuncture to relieve their fatigue and prescribe some medicine to help them recover. It's more important for them to rest now than anything else."

Ah You, go to the nearby pharmacy to get the medicine later. I'll also brew some for Lu Yi; take it to the school clinic for him to take.

They had medicine in their backpacks, but it was all potent and dangerous, too strong for ordinary people to handle.

"Runsheng, carry him on your back."

"Brother Binbin, is this all Brother Liangliang's house?"

Tan Wenbin nodded: "If he didn't buy anything else on the side, this should be the only one."

However, all the other houses have been rented out by the agency, so I'll arrange for you to stay at Yunyun's house. It's fully furnished, and I have the key.

“Ayou, page Chen Lin and ask her to send Zhou Yunyun away and then help her buy some daily necessities.”

Tan Wenbin took out his mobile phone:

"Brother Xiaoyuan, let me make the call. If Ayou makes the call, we'll have to start all over again from when we got the date's number from the matchmaker."

"Ayou, call my dad and tell him the person has been found; they're here."

Lin Shuyou nodded and said, "Oh, okay."

……

Finding a missing person in one of the top-ranked cities in the country is as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

Even if one could start by investigating the other party's work and life trajectory, when Xue Liangliang's workload and the various units he was dealing with were listed in front of Tan Yunlong, the veteran criminal police officer felt a headache coming on.

Moreover, some departments that are inconvenient to list are not included yet.

Tan Yunlong, with a cigarette between his fingers, truly couldn't understand how a young man could achieve such a feat. Didn't he get tired?

During this time, several bureau leaders also called to inquire about the progress of the search. Tan Yunlong could tell that they were asking on behalf of higher-ups. Even though he knew there were no results yet, these calls were a form of urging.

Just then, Tan Yunlong's pager went off, so he found the nearest phone and called back.

"Hello, this is Tan Yunlong. Oh, it's you, Ayou. What, the person has been found? Where is he!"

What? Xue Liangliang was found in Zhou Yunyun's room?

(End of this chapter)