After completing the bizarre game, the world experienced a global resurgence of strange occurrences.

Looking at the scattered straw fragments on the ground and the ashes drifting in the wind, Fang Yuan instantly guessed what had just happened.

Fortunately, he had experienced many situations with Chen Zhuo, so he was used to them and didn't show much surprise on his face.

He simply sighed softly, once again marveling at Chen Zhuo's unfathomable strength.

But the woman beside him, from the moment she rushed to the top of the mountain and saw this scene, stood there dumbfounded.

She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, but couldn't utter a single word.

After a long while, she finally found her voice, her tone trembling uncontrollably, and she tugged at Fang Yuan's arm beside her.

"I...I'm not dreaming, am I? Is it all...over?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Yuan helplessly shrugged.

"You're not dreaming, it's all over."

He lifted his foot and walked towards the eerie door. The woman quickly followed, intending to join forces with them to seal the eerie door.

Before the two even reached Chen Zhuo's side, they saw Chen Zhuo slowly raise his white bone cane.

Without the slightest hesitation, he smashed down hard on the strange door in front of him.

A crisp, piercing shattering sound exploded instantly on the empty mountaintop, echoing continuously through the forest.

A crisp breaking sound rang out, and Fang Yuan and his companion froze in place.

The two of them froze, like statues.

They watched helplessly as the Ghost Gate fell apart in Chen Zhuo's hands.

Fragments of the wooden door lay scattered on the ground, the eerie aura lingering on them dissipating at a visible rate.

The two subconsciously exchanged a glance, both seeing extreme shock and bewilderment in each other's eyes.

At this moment, their past understanding of strange events, like the smashed eerie door, shattered completely.

They never imagined that the Ghost Gate could possibly be destroyed!

Only after the last trace of eerie energy on the gate completely dissipated did Chen Zhuo retrieve his white bone cane.

He turned around and walked straight down the mountain.

Seeing the two still standing there in a daze, Mirror Ghost couldn't help but speak, his tone tinged with pride.

"What are you still standing there for? Everything's been resolved, it's time to go down the mountain and back to the village."

"Do you really intend to spend the whole night standing on this desolate mountaintop, letting the mountain winds blow through the air?"

Upon hearing this, the two snapped out of their daze and quickly followed after him.

As they descended the mountain, neither of them spoke much, their minds replaying the scene from the mountaintop, which still felt somewhat unreal.

It wasn't until they followed Chen Zhuo back to the village that the two of them finally came to their senses.

As soon as he reached the main road at the village entrance, Fang Yuan took out his walkie-talkie and contacted his operator.

Tell them that the strange incident in Hefeng Village has been resolved and that the missing colleagues and villagers have been found.

As for the details of the incident, he will compile them into a complete report and submit it to the branch on time.

After hanging up the call, Fang Yuan led the woman to Chen Zhuo, his face full of gratitude and admiration.

"Brother, thank you so much this time. If it weren't for you, we would probably both be doomed here."

The matter has been resolved, and we should return to the Xiaolu City branch to report back. Goodbye for now.

Chen Zhuo nodded slightly, acknowledging his words, and didn't say anything more.

Fang Yuan thanked her again, then left the village with the woman.

The two figures gradually disappeared on the road at the village entrance, completely leaving Hefeng Village.

Watching the two leave, Chen Zhuo turned around and walked towards the small courtyard of Shi's mother's house.

As soon as he reached the courtyard gate, before he could even push it open, he heard suppressed, intermittent sobbing coming from inside the house.

The voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable sadness that made one's heart ache.

Chen Zhuo stopped in his tracks and stood quietly outside the courtyard gate without pushing it open to go inside.

Inside the house, Shi's mother was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding a photo of Shi Yi in her hands.

She gently stroked her son's face in the photo, tears falling drop by drop onto the glass.

The Mirror Ghost witnessed all of this and relayed it to Chen Zhuo.

Chen Zhuo quietly took a few steps back and retreated back into the courtyard. After waiting for a moment, he raised his voice slightly.

"Auntie, I'm back."

The crying inside the house stopped instantly.

Shi's mother quickly wiped away her tears with her sleeve and carefully put away the photo in her hand.

By the time Chen Zhuo entered the room, her face had returned to its usual appearance.

Look

"Oh dear, you're covered in dust! Quick, take off your coat, Auntie will wash it for you."

Before Chen Zhuo could refuse, she reached out and took off his coat, then turned and walked towards the back room.

For the rest of the afternoon, Chen Zhuo helped Shi's mother with chores.

As Shi's mother watched him bustling about, her eyes were filled with relief, yet also with a hint of bitterness.

Chen Zhuo only stopped working when it gradually got dark.

"Auntie, I have some things to take care of, and I'll be heading back to Dachang City soon."

Hearing that Chen Zhuo was leaving, Shi's mother was extremely reluctant to let him go.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she just nodded.

"Then... take care on your journey, and come back to visit when you have time."

"Yes, Auntie, I've added my phone number and WeChat to your phone so you can contact me anytime."

After saying that, Chen Zhuo turned and left.

Standing at the gate of the courtyard, Shi's mother watched his departing figure, tears streaming down her face.

Hearing the voices behind him, Chen Zhuo couldn't bear it, so he quickly got into a midnight taxi and asked it to take him away.

They all knew, but none of them wanted to say it out loud.

Because once it's out in the open, all hope is gone.

Chen Zhuo's mood calmed down a little after leaving Hefeng Village.

He leaned back in the back seat and contacted Wu Yu.

"Wu Yu, please contact Minister Wan for me."

"OK."

Shortly after Wu Yu answered, Wan Guanhai's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Consultant Chen? Is there something you need?"

"Strange things have been discovered in Hefeng Village."

Wan Guanhai's voice paused noticeably for a moment.

"Hefeng Village? Shi Yi's mother... how is she?"

"She's fine, she's safe."

Wan Guanhai breathed a heavy sigh of relief upon hearing this, his tone tinged with guilt.

"Advisor Chen, I'm really sorry, this was our mistake."

Chen Zhuo interrupted him directly: "I understand that there are frequent strange events and the branch is short-staffed."

I left behind a magical artifact to ensure her safety.

I hope that the branch office can take better care of her in terms of her daily life in the future.

"Don't worry, Consultant Chen, I will personally arrange this matter, and there will absolutely be no more mistakes," Wan Guanhai solemnly promised.

Chen Zhuo gave a casual reply, then changed the subject: "I'm on my way back to Dachang City now, and I can deal with the new strange incident tomorrow."

Wan Guanhai understood Chen Zhuo's meaning and immediately had someone compile a list of the strange events that had remained unresolved over the past few days.

A moment later, Wan Guanhai's voice came again: "There is a tricky situation here, and we need your help as an advisor."