How did I, a fake bodyguard, become a terrestrial immortal?

Boom!

Like the sound of a drum, a muffled thud suddenly came from the life-locking box inside the carriage.

Everyone's expression changed at the same time.

The second sound rang out, even heavier than the first.

The black box vibrated continuously under the seat, and the dark red patterns on its surface began to light up rapidly.

Captain Qin immediately pressed down on the hilt of his sword.

Several officers from the Zhenwu Division also dispersed and surrounded the carriage.

Shen Guanqi hurried to the carriage and placed the white paper lantern back on the ground: "Oh no! The life force within the Life-Locking Box is dissipating!"

Lu Yang's heart tightened: "What do you mean?"

"The Life-Transforming Gu has been killed, and the person who cast the Gu should have noticed something amiss."

Shen Guanqi quickly took out three copper coins and placed them on three different sides of the black box: "The other party is actively severing the connection between the Life-Locking Box and Fang Xuan."

"If his life force completely disappears, we will never be able to find Fang Xuan again."

Shen Guanqi raised his hand and made a hand seal, and the white paper lantern on the ground spontaneously combusted without a flame.

The pale light enveloped the Life Lock Box, suppressing the dark red patterns on its surface, and the vibrations gradually weakened.

Just then, Bai Miyao suddenly covered her ears: "Uncle Fang..."

Her face was pale, and her voice was trembling with tears.

Bai Yixin quickly hugged her tightly: "Yao'er, did you hear Mr. Fang speak again?"

Bai Miyao nodded.

"What did he say?" Lu Yang asked.

Bai Miyao tried hard to discern the sounds inside the Life-Locking Box.

After a moment, she looked up: "Uncle Fang said..."

"Don't go to the ferry crossing..."

The alleyway fell silent instantly.

Lu Yang and Captain Qin exchanged a glance.

Fang Xuan was indeed trapped near the ferry pass.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically mentioned this place.

But since he told everyone not to go there, it meant that there was great danger there.

"Is there anything else?" Lu Yang pressed.

Bai Miyao listened with her eyes closed for a while, then shook her head.

"there is none left."

"Uncle Fang's voice is gone."

The bronze destiny plate in Shen Guanqi's hand trembled continuously.

The pointer on the chart turned south, but it never managed to stabilize completely.

He pressed the last copper coin onto the life-locking box, and the red light on the surface of the box finally gradually went out.

Shen Guanqi let out a long breath: "It's saved for now. However, the life force within the Life Lock Box can only last for three more days at most."

"Three days from now, whether or not we can find Fang Xuan, this wisp of life force will completely dissipate."

Bai Yixin asked with a worried expression, "Can we reach the ferry crossing within three days?"

Qin, the military officer, replied, "It would normally take five days by the official road."

"But if we switch to fast horses and travel day and night, and take the small road used by the Zhenwu Division to deliver urgent reports, we can arrive in two days."

Lu Yang looked at Commandant Qin: "Are you willing to help us?"

"I'm not helping you." Captain Qin's expression was cold: "The Life-Transforming Gu has appeared in Hanlin City, and the real Fang Xuan has been taken away. This matter is no longer just a grudge between the martial world."

"The Zhenwu Division must find out the identity of the person behind this."

Lu Yang suddenly realized: "So we'll go ahead and scout the way for you?"

Captain Qin did not deny it: "You could understand it that way, after all, it takes time for us to gather manpower."

Lu Yang's lips twitched. You've been so direct; it's a bit hurtful.

However, compared to those who say they're doing it for your own good but secretly push people into a pit of fire, Captain Qin is at least much more honest.

Qin, the captain, took a black token from his waist and threw it to Lu Yang.

Lu Yang raised his hand and caught it.

The token has the character "武" (Wu) engraved on the front and the seal of the Hanlin Town Martial Division on the back.

"This is a temporary pass."

"With this, you can pass directly through the south gate of Hanlin City without being checked again."

"Three miles outside the South Gate, there is a Zhenwusi post station. I will have someone prepare a fast horse in advance."

Lu Yang looked at the token in his hand.

"Will this thing still be usable once we reach the ferry crossing?"

"cannot."

Qin, the military officer, answered very decisively.

"This token can only be used to mobilize the post stations within the jurisdiction of Hanlin City."

"When I get to the ferry crossing, the people there might not give me any face."

Captain Qin glanced at Bai Miyao: "Especially since you two are hiding something you don't want the Zhenwu Division to know."

Bai Yixin instinctively hugged Bai Miyao tightly.

Captain Qin continued, "Today, I can follow the rules and stop the investigation on the grounds that the Soul-Illuminating Lamp did not respond."

"But the Zhenwu Divisions in other places may not be like this."

"After leaving Hanlin City, you'd better not easily expose this child's abnormality."

Lu Yang put away the token and slightly bowed, saying, "Understood."

Commandant Qin pointed to the carriage: "You can no longer use this carriage."

"The fake Fang Xuan had been in contact with the carriage, so it's impossible to determine whether there are any other Gu worms left on it."

Bai Yixin's expression changed slightly, while Lu Yang quickly moved half a step away from the carriage.

The thought of those densely packed Gu worms sent chills down Lu Yang's spine.

Good grief, I just stuck my hand in there and groped around for ages.

Why didn't you say so sooner, Commandant Qin?

No, he reminded himself at the time, but I don't think I paid attention.

Shen Guanqi picked up the white paper lantern from the ground and carefully placed the life-locking box under the lampshade.

The pale light fell, completely concealing the aura of the black box.

He then handed the paper lantern to Lu Yang.

"This lamp is called the Life-Seeking Lamp. Place the Life-Locking Box under the lamp, and as long as it is no more than thirty miles away from Fang Xuan, the lamp's light will automatically veer towards his location."

"However, remember, do not open the Life-Locking Box. And do not pour your vital energy into it again."

Lu Yang took the paper lantern: "Why?"

Shen Guanqi gave him a strange look: "Your qi and blood are too heavy."

"For ordinary evil Gu, this is suppression. It's the same for Fang Xuan's wisp of life force that's about to dissipate."

Lu Yang understood.

Simply put, his Xuanwu Qi and blood cannot distinguish between friend and foe.

Gu worms can kill.

Fang Xuan's life fire might also be destroyed along with it.

If your expertise doesn't match your job, it's best not to seek treatment haphazardly.

Shen Guanqi said, "I'm not going with you. The Four Gates Illumination Formation still needs someone to oversee it. Since the Life-Transforming Gu was able to infiltrate the City Lord's Mansion, there's likely more than just one in the city."

"I must stay and continue the investigation."

"However, I will use the Fate-Illuminating Array to keep an eye on the life energy in the south for you."

"If there are any new discoveries, I will have the Zhenwu Division send a message by falcon."

Lu Yang nodded.

Shen Guanqi glanced again at the Xuanwu Dart Token in Lu Yang's arms.

"As for your father..."

"When you return safely from the ferry crossing, I will tell you everything I know."

Lu Yang smiled and said, "Then you'd better live well."

"Don't wait for me to come back, or you'll turn into a puff of black smoke too."

Shen Guanqi's face darkened, and his mustache bristled with anger: "I'm a human being!"

......

No one lingered any longer.

The officers from the Zhenwu Division quickly found another carriage.

Although both carriages were made of blue cloth, the wheels and horses were clearly more sturdy than those prepared by the city lord's mansion.

Bai Yixin carried Bai Miyao into the carriage, while Lu Yang sat outside the carriage shaft.

This time, he refused to go back in no matter what.

It's not that I'm afraid there are bugs inside.

The main point is that even close bodyguards need to pay attention to balancing work and rest.

You can't keep it on all the time, or it will start to react!

The carriage slowly drove towards the south gate of Hanlin City.

Before leaving, Bai Miyao peeked out of the car window and looked at Shen Guanqi and Qin Xiaowei.

"Goodbye, Grandpa Shen and Uncle Qin!"

Shen Guanqi waved with a smile, while Qin Xiaowei, though still cold-faced, nodded slightly.

Lu Yang glanced back at Hanlin City, where he had lived for several days.

The memories this city left him with were somewhat overwhelming.

"We're leaving. Don't miss us too much."

Lu Yang grinned: "Once we get him out, we have to make him treat us to a good meal."

Bai Miyao nodded seriously: "Yao'er wants to eat candied hawthorn."

"No problem, have Fang Xuan buy a hundred skewers."

Fang Xuan's fate is currently unknown, and the two of them have already started discussing having him treat them to a meal.

……

at the same time.

In a damp, dark stone chamber, a nauseating, fishy stench permeated the air.

The walls were covered with a dense swarm of black beetles.

The swarm of insects kept wriggling, making a soft rustling sound.

Deep inside the stone chamber, Fang Xuan was bound by dozens of black Gu threads and suspended on a stone platform engraved with runes.

His pale white robe was soaked with blood, and his face was so pale that it was almost bloodless.

In front of the stone platform, there was a black life lamp.

Just now, the lamp wick suddenly went out.

The woman sitting before the lamp of fate slowly opened her eyes.

She wore a loose black robe and a white mask without facial features.

Only two eyes peered silently through the gaps in the mask at the extinguished lamplight: "The Life-Transforming Gu is dead."

The woman spoke softly, her voice gentle.

All the black beetles around them stopped moving at the same time.

Fang Xuan struggled to lift his head; his lips were chapped and his voice was hoarse: "It seems you've chosen the wrong person."

"Lu Yang isn't as stupid as you think; he won't come."

Upon hearing this, the woman in black chuckled softly: "Is that so? Knowing him, he will definitely come."

"Once the Lu family accepts a shipment, there's no reason for them to turn back halfway."

The woman slowly raised her head, her gaze piercing through the thick stone wall and looking into the distance.

"His father was like that, and so was he."