The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

Startled by the sudden attack, Wang Zhenhuan instantly activated his spiritual energy to protect himself. Simultaneously, he rolled off the roof, turned around, and raised his hand to strike.

"Hey, hey, don't be nervous. It's me, it's me..." Ao Shuang raised her hands and waved frantically behind him, her face full of apology.

Upon seeing it was him, Wang Huanzhen breathed a sigh of relief and dissipated his spiritual energy. He said to him with annoyance, "Why did you scare your little brother in broad daylight, Brother Ao?"

"Just kidding, who knew you'd react so strongly? I heard something happened to the Chen family, so I was planning to come and see. I happened to see you sneaking up the wall, so I followed you," Ao Shuang explained with a smile.

"What do you mean by sneaking around? I came here openly and honestly, okay?" Wang Zhenhuan rolled his eyes at him. His wariness of Ao Shuang increased even further.

He just said he saw Wang Zhenhuan the moment he went up to the gatehouse. But Wang Zhenhuan himself didn't feel anything at all. What does that mean? It means that Ao Shuang's strength is above his!

Considering the previous speculations and the discovery at Puji Temple this morning, it's not hard to conclude that Ao Shuang's strength should be the same as the abbot's, at the True Crimson Qi Realm, but a stage higher!

Although Wang Zhenhuan was pondering this in his heart, his expression remained unchanged. Ao Shuang, hearing Wang Zhenhuan's words, waved to him. Then, after lying down beside him, she looked into the courtyard and asked softly.

"What's going on? Why is no one here? Did something happen to the Chen family?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing! Why did Chen Shanren suddenly die? I thought you were so angry with him that you found a chance to kill him!" Wang Zhen replied irritably.

"What?! Old Chen is dead? How could it be me? He's practically my father-in-law. Now that I've got the inner core, why would I kill him?" Ao Shuang was stunned and subconsciously asked in return.

"Hmm, just carried away, not a single wound on his body. His eyes were wide open, he died with his eyes wide open." Seeing his expression, Wang Zhenhuan felt even more suspicious.

However, he now understood what that tortoise treasure was. It turned out to be Ao Shuang's inner core; no wonder he couldn't cultivate without it. The inner core was essentially a different kind of energy sea; without it, cultivation was impossible.

After hearing Wang Zhenhuan's words, Ao Shuang remained silent, lying on the roof, her expression shifting constantly. Seeing this, Wang Zhenhuan knew that Ao Shuang was hiding something from him, so he pretended to be displeased and said...

"Brother Ao, I was planning to go with you to explore this cave and seek a chance for wealth and fortune. Now that you're unwilling to say anything, how can I trust you?"

"It's not that I'm unwilling, sigh, alright then. If you had come down to that cave with me, you would have naturally found out about this matter. Let's go, let's find a quiet place, and I'll tell you everything, okay?" Ao Shuang sighed, her face full of helplessness.

"Alright, in that case, let's meet in the inn room where I stayed before. I believe Brother Ao won't hide anything from me this time, right?" Wang Huanzhen asked in return.

"Of course not, then I'll take my leave first, brother." Ao Shuang cupped her hands in greeting to Wang Huanzhen, then turned and leaped down. She quickly disappeared into the Huai River.

Wang Huanzhen stood up and looked around the Chen residence's courtyard again. He hadn't concealed his voice when he spoke to Ao Shuang earlier. But strangely, no one came out to check.

However, it seems that Ao Shuang is not surprised by this situation. He is only surprised by the death of Chen Shanren. Therefore, he must know the inside story of why the Chen residence has become like this.

Having thought all this through, there was nothing left for him to miss about the Chen residence. He turned around and leaped down into the street. After looking around to make sure no one was watching, he straightened the wrinkles in his clothes and walked out of the alley.

The gate of the Chen residence remained deserted. Wang Zhenhuan retraced his steps and returned to the inn in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. As soon as he entered the front hall, he saw Xiao Liuzi lying on the platform.

Seeing him walk in, she stood up with delight and said to him, "Sir, someone came looking for you just now. I told him you weren't home. He insisted on waiting for you and said you'd be back soon."

I thought he was just trying to get rid of me, so I sent him to the backyard. I didn't expect that you'd return so soon after he went to the backyard. Do you know that man? If not, I would have sent him away.

"Yes, it's a friend of mine. Could you please have him come to my room for a meeting, Xiao Liu? After that, go and buy some food and drinks and bring them up. The rest of the money is yours. Oh, by the way, I don't eat beef."

Wang Zhenhuan smiled and nodded, then took out a tael of silver from his sleeve and handed it to Xiao Liuzi. Xiao Liuzi took the silver, patted his chest, and said, "Understood, sir. You can go on your way with peace of mind."

And so, when Wang Zhenhuan went upstairs and opened the door to his room, he found Ao Shuang already sitting at the table. Seeing Wang Zhenhuan come in, she poured him a cup of tea and said, "Come on, whatever you want to ask, your big brother will tell you everything today."

Wang Zhenhuan didn't stand on ceremony. After closing the door, he sat down at the table. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Why did you hide the matter of the cave from me, elder brother?"

"It wasn't that I deliberately concealed it; it's just that there were other reasons that I couldn't tell you at the time. I was planning to tell you everything this afternoon, but I didn't expect this to happen," Ao Shuang sighed.

"I'd like to hear the details," Wang Zhenhuan asked, unwavering and meticulous.

"Big brother admits that he lied to you before. The discovery of that immortal's cave was not because of the flooding of the Huai River..." Ao Shuang explained in a heavy tone.

"Is that cave dwelling underground in the Chen residence?" Wang Zhenhuan interrupted him.

Ao Shuang was taken aback upon hearing Wang Zhenhuan's words. She then nodded with a wry smile, saying, "Little brother, you are truly exceptionally intelligent. It seems nothing can be hidden from you. Indeed, that cave dwelling is located beneath the Chen residence."

"So, it wasn't you, brother, who discovered the cave, but rather the head of the Chen family, Chen Shanren himself?" Wang Zhenhuan continued to ask.

"That's right, he discovered this immortal's cave by chance, thanks to my inner core. However, the opportunity in this cave is not something a mortal like him can have access to," Ao Shuang said, shaking her head.

"Why do you say that? Did that Chen Shanren go down into that cave by himself?" Wang Zhenhuan asked, frowning.

"Not only did he die, but his whole family died! And as you saw, he was the only one who survived, and now he's gone too!"