Chapter 141

Inside the study, the boy and the girl were both drawing.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's pen moved faster, as he only needed to copy the image of the corpse-driving Daoist.

A Li, however, needed to apply a certain degree of artistic interpretation based on the boy's description.

The boy finished his drawing, set down his pen, and stood by the drawing table, staring intently at the Daoist.

Although the Daoist's hair was messy and covered his Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face, his Daoist robe and the multi-layered cloth shoes he wore appeared very clean, and this cleanliness was not just a lack of dirt.

The Daoist in the painting was moving forward, his left foot stepping out to reveal the sole of his shoe; the sole was very white, and the neat stitches were visible.

The yellow Daoist robe, at the collar and cuffs, was also smooth, without the slightest fraying.

Even the bell held in his right hand, and the red and yellow knot hanging from its base, were so fresh and delicate.

These were brand-new clothes, shoes, and ritual implements...

Therefore, one could boldly guess that the physical body of this corpse-driving Daoist must have been buried in some place, and the burial items were all new.

Although Yu Yu Popo had applied thick powder when she appeared, one could still see the feeling of a "blind old woman"; facts proved that her clay statue was only missing a pair of eyes to be restored.

When the Great Fish was hooked, its body rotting and festering with pus was also a manifestation of its reality.

Of the five Yin spirits, except for that pig, all were depicted as having suffered heavy injuries; only that pig showed no visible wounds; this firstly indicated that among the five, the pig was in the best state; and secondly, it showed the pig's dominant status among these five Yin beasts, implicitly suggesting that the other four images were forcibly dragged out by this pig to take the stage.

Therefore, the images that those things presented in A Li's dream were a reflection of their reality.

So, the question arises.

Since this corpse-driving Daoist could appear in A Li's dream, it meant he had a "life-and-death friendship" with the previous Long Wang.

And yet, he had been buried with dignity.

There are only two possibilities that could lead to this situation.

One possibility is that although Long Wang had suppressed him back then, he cherished him as a worthy opponent or had a past connection, and thus arranged for his proper burial.

Another possibility is that although Long Wang suppressed him, someone else recovered his remains and handled them properly, including finding a grave for his burial.

The former is unlikely, because an opponent who could have such a friendship with Long Wang, even if he died at Long Wang's hands, would likely not stoop to the dirty business of bullying an orphaned girl.

Unless he came out this time with another purpose.

Just like the Great Fish last time; it didn't come out of the fog to provoke, but wanted to borrow Long Wang's power to find an opportunity to perish together with Daoist Daoist Daoist Daoist Daoist Daoist Daoist Yu Yu Yu Xuzi.

Moreover, when the Old Old Old Jiang water didn't move and the other entities in the white fog didn't dare to show themselves, the corpse-driving Daoist came out on his own initiative.

Considering all these factors, it is truly difficult to pre-set the stance label of the corpse-driving Daoist.

The other possibility is easier to understand: that this person still has a surviving lineage, and if one wants to deal with him, one must Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face his current descendants.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan would rather choose this possibility; the stances of both sides are clear, the nature of the event is clear, and everyone holds a very simple purpose, racking their brains to kill the other.

But reality is not a popular TV drama where good guys and bad guys are clearly visible the moment they appear.

When his great-grandfather accompanies Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng to watch TV, the most frequent question he asks is: "Is this a good guy or a bad guy?"

That fellow Yu Yu Popo is not a human to begin with, and the Great Fish and the recent pig are not either.

But this corpse-driving Daoist... he really is a human.

Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Zhengdao emphasized in the *Records of Jianghu Monsters* that the "dead-risers" who become such after a wicked cultivator dies are the hardest to deal with.

He not only understands your methods, but also possesses some of his own from when he was alive, and can even play mind games with you.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes, first erasing the various complex logics that had just formed in his mind, to find the primary contradiction.

When he opened his eyes again, the boy's gaze was much clearer.

Regardless of whether you are good or bad, whether you have hidden difficulties or ulterior motives, since you appeared in A Li's dream, and since I intend to treat you as an experimental subject and actively build a causal path to approach you...

Then my ultimate goal is to kill you completely, and that can't be wrong.

As for whether you feel comforted and finally liberated, or are ashamed and angry and die unwillingly in the end, that is a matter for later; it is just another "seasoning" added when everyone sits around the grill eating barbecue after the event is over.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan did not see the "corpse" behind the corpse-driving Daoist, so he did not draw it, but he did take special note of the details of the yellow paper money the opponent scattered.

Moreover, he drew enlarged depictions of both sides of it in the two corners of the scroll.

Due to different customs and habits in various places, the design of paper money varies greatly.

Although "Hell Bank Notes" have become popular, they are not yet mainstream, and their appearance is quite recent.

The paper money here in Nantong is mainly square yellow paper; when attending a funeral, close relatives generally buy a stack of yellow paper to bring as a gift.

Many families in the village also put this yellow paper in the toilet basket to use as toilet paper.

Because its texture is better than newspaper, it is thicker and less likely to break, and it has no hollowed-out patterns in the middle.

And the paper money in many other places, in terms of design, really looks like "copper coins," and their colors, specifications, and other aspects all have their own traditional habits.

In some places, they are even more particular, and words are printed on the paper money.

Fortunately, there were words printed on the paper money scattered by the corpse-driving Daoist.

The reason Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan chose the two corners to draw the paper money was also because this paper money came in two types, identical in design but with different text.

The paper money in the left corner read on its front and back: "Yin people on the road, Yang people step aside."

The paper money in the right corner read on its front and back: "Bestowed by the Xie family, little ghosts pay respects."

These two types of paper money should have been stacked together, and when scattering them, both were thrown out at the same time.

The meaning of the paper money on the left is very simple; it is a form of notification.

The tradition of corpse-drivers is to travel at night, because traveling during the day easily disturbs people and invites unnecessary trouble.

Moreover, people engaged in this trade are generally considered unlucky by secular society, and they themselves are too lazy to force their way into the mainstream, preferring to stay low-key.

This point is very similar to corpse-fishers; his great-grandfather's house usually has no outside guests.

Even today, as employees of the funeral home, a public unit, when they go out and introduce their work to strangers, they often encounter prejudiced looks.

But the tone of the text on the right paper money is not right.

"Bestowed by the Xie family" points out the family status.

"Little ghosts pay respects" points out the hierarchy.

This shows that the Xie family has a high status on the "Yin-Yang Road," and it is no longer a matter of begging the little ghosts not to cause trouble on the road, but rather: "I am rewarding you with some money; if you are sensible, get out of my way."

Daring to print such words proves that the Xie family's status is real, and it is definitely not just them feeling good about themselves.

Because those in this line of work avoid this the most; they generally keep a low profile, saying only seven parts of what they can do, fearing that a strong wind might slip their tongues.

Without this true foundation, if you dared to scatter this paper money, you would just be waiting for those dirty things to come to your door and destroy your whole family.

This is also why the term "walking the river" is exclusive to the Long Wang family.

In the literary circle, insiders can amuse themselves, flattering each other to raise their status, shamelessly.

Throughout history, it's not as if no one in the Profound Heaven Sect has played like this, but they all ended up sinking to the bottom of the river.

"The Xie family?"

With a family name, things are much easier to handle, saving him from searching like a needle in a haystack.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan tapped his temple lightly with his fingertips; in his mind, there were indeed two records that could match this Xie family.

One originated from a travelogue of an ancestor of the Yin family, mixed into the Yin family genealogy; when he was traveling, he once stayed at an inn on the outskirts of Dayong City at night.

At night, a corpse-driver brought guests to stay.

A normal inn would naturally not dare to host a corpse-driver, but some inns have this special background, and... some inns might really be doing so poorly that they are about to go out of business; bankruptcy is more terrifying than a corpse.

The innkeeper lit a lamp at night and instructed the other guests to try not to go out before dawn, implying that a corpse-driver had come to stay.

That Yin family ancestor was naturally not among them; not only did he go out, but he also sought out the corpse-driver, and the two drank and chatted, becoming "soulmates."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan felt that this "soulmate" part was exaggerated.

Because since Yin Yin Changsheng, the Yin family's strength and status had been in a two-thousand-year downward spiral.

But because Yin Yin Changsheng's fame was too great, and he was vaguely the Great Emperor of Emperor Emperor Fengdu himself, every time the Yin family descendants went out traveling, they could always mention an ancestor... and always manage to get invited to drink and eat.

No matter how big the other party's background was, and no matter if the current Yin family was qualified to sit at the table, they would always give Yin Yin Changsheng some Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face.

Therefore, the travelogues of the Yin family ancestors were actually quite interesting, because they could always mingle in high-end circles.

For example, the corpse-driver whom this Yin ancestor considered a soulmate was surnamed Xie.

But unfortunately, ancient people wrote things quite briefly; that Yin ancestor just told this experience as a small episode and did not describe it in detail.

Therefore, as a later reader of the records, the only thing Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan could know from this entry was:

He went to Dayong and drank with the Xie family corpse-driver, bragging all night.

Dayong is what is now Zhangjiajie.

Another record in his mind originated from Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Zhengdao's *Records of Jianghu Monsters*, in which he recorded a "dead-riser" who had become such from a wicked cultivator; this dead-riser was surnamed Xie when he was alive, and together with Xie, Xie, Bu, and Wang, they were known as the four great corpse-driving families of the Old Heaven Gate.

Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Xue Liangliang had said that Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's brain was like an encyclopedia, and this was indeed true.

In the past, these records were just read and then forgotten, but they were all stored in his brain.

When he really needed to ruminate on them, he would then give them more detailed consideration.

Xie, Xie, Wang, Bu, the four great corpse-driving families of the Old Heaven Gate.

The "Old Heaven Gate" here should refer to Tianmen County.

In 263 AD, Mount Mount Gaoliang split, and a cave opened like a gate on the thousand-fathom stone wall.

Sun Xiu, Emperor Jing of Wu, the sixth son of Sun Quan and the third emperor of Eastern Wu, regarded this as an auspicious omen, renamed Mount Mount Gaoliang to Mount Tianmen, and divided the northwestern part of Wuling County to establish Tianmen County, with the county seat located in present-day Zhangjiajie.

In 555 AD, during the reign of Emperor Jing of Liang in the Southern Dynasty, the imperial court abolished Tianmen County and established Lizhou.

When Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Zhengdao wrote this book, Tianmen County had already been renamed, so he called these four families the "Old Heaven Gate."

It is likely that at that time, these four families continued to retain the original name; there was no other reason... the old name sounded better.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan rubbed his brow; actually, there was originally a simpler method; if the Qin and Liu families could have had complete family histories passed down, it would have been better.

He could have used the biographies of the various Long Wangs to search, which would have been more efficient.

But the old lady had said that the Long Wang family would not specifically record this; it was always recorded by others.

This shows that the Long Wang family's arrogance is only the shallow first layer; the deeper reason is that there have been too many Long Wangs in the family, and generation after generation of Long Wangs have been doing the work of acting on behalf of Heaven; if their biographies were really clearly recorded... who would dare to read them?

This is equivalent to your family serving as the human white glove for the Heavenly Dao for generations, yet you actually secretly keep private accounts behind their backs?

If you really did keep them, and then two white-glove families of the Heavenly Dao intermarried and merged into one, and then the two families combined their private accounts... the consequences would simply be too terrifying.

Therefore, what has been passed down by the Qin and Liu families are merely stories and deeds passed down by word of mouth from ancestors through the generations.

On the contrary, those like the Zhao of Jiujiang, who have only produced one generation of Long Wang, might be a bit cheaper; but even so, the so-called Long Wang Notes are definitely not public within the family. Among the younger generation, I fear only that brat Zhao Yi is qualified to read them, and reading this will inevitably come at a certain price—it is equivalent to prying into the secrets of Heaven.

As for the Yin family... that family is essentially a broken pot that has been smashed; it doesn't matter.

Moreover, the biggest problem with the Yin family genealogy is that they recorded the life of Yin Yin Changsheng as if it were a myth or legend, which is seriously distorted.

But looking at it now, perhaps this is also a protective measure. If it had really been recorded realistically and in detail, the Yin family would not just be in decline; they would have been extinct long ago.

As for the things Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan wrote himself, they only circulate within the team and cannot be spread outside.

Therefore, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan does not want to ask the old lady now if she knows about the Xie family. Although the Fourth Wave has not yet begun, he is already prepared to go, so it is better not to involve the old lady in this karma.

If the sky falls one day in the future and the old lady wants to stand up and hold it up, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan can understand and will not oppose it, but in daily life, there is no need for him to use a soft knife to cut her flesh.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan picked up his pen again and wrote under the scroll: Xie family, Zhangjiajie.

It seems there is going to be another team-building trip.

A Li put down her pen at this moment and looked at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan.

"Finished painting?"

A Li nodded.

"Let me see."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked over.

What A Li painted was the ending scene of his Third Wave.

She had originally painted a draft beforehand, which was the scene of those five Yin Beasts side by side, but that was not the official version; if there were more suitable ones later, they would have to be removed.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan looked over; in the picture, he was tiny, his feet stepping on a pig's head, and that pig was crawling on the ground, its body constantly extending backward like a small mountain.

Is this... is this artistic license a bit too much?

At that time, that pig had been beaten into collapse by him and was already in a dying state, along with the other three Yin Beasts—the monkey, the ox, and the centipede—whose forms were all very small, translucent, and very weak.

When he stepped on that pig's head, the pig's size was such that in an ordinary farmer's house, it wouldn't even be its turn to be slaughtered for the New Year; it would have to be kept to continue growing meat.

However, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan also understood why A Li designed it this way, because stepping on an ordinary little pig... really didn't look very good.

Yu Yu Popo's image was eerie and strange, the big fish was fierce and huge, and the third painting turning into a little pig—the contrast was indeed a bit too large.

A Li gently stroked the drawing paper with her fingertips; clearly, she was also worried about this point.

"A Li, you painted it really well, I like it very much."

A Li looked up at the boy.

"I'm serious, there's nothing to be embarrassed about with this. This sketchbook won't be spread outside, and we'll only flip through it to appreciate and reminisce when we're older. Since it's painted for ourselves to see, what's there to be embarrassed about?"

A Li nodded.

As for the possibility of it accidentally being lost in the future and seen by others, what does that matter? I painted it for my own amusement in the first place, and those who peek don't have the qualifications to say my painting is exaggerated.

A Li pointed to the edges of the scroll, meaning she still needed to enrich the scroll, for example, by adding the images of those four Yin Beasts.

"Those four can be added, but there's no need to paint them as fierce, and don't paint them on the side of that pig. They have been doing good deeds and accumulating merit, and now they can be considered part of our sect."

A Li nodded, signaling that she understood.

Since they are part of their sect, their images must be painted with a kind and benevolent look to form a contrast with this pig.

"A Li, this is for you." Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took a design blueprint out of his pocket; this was the Seven-Aperture Concentric Lock recorded in Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Wei Zhengdao's book. "When you have time, make two locks: one to lock the study door, and one to lock your sketchbook."

A Li's eyes showed confusion, then she looked up at the ceiling above.

She understood.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan didn't want to tattle; after all, no child likes their elders peeking at their diary. But A Li was too smart; Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan didn't even need to struggle with whether to find an excuse, as she already knew the reason for doing so.

However, A Li wasn't angry either.

She didn't feel there was anything bad about the image of the boy she painted being seen by outsiders.

But Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had to think about the old lady's health.

These days, the old lady had been coughing incessantly.

A true martial artist who could crush a solid wood chair into fine powder in a fit of temper—how could she have a cold for so long and not get better?

It could only be that she had peeked at some things she shouldn't have. Sigh, what a curious and mischievous old lady.

A Li put away the design blueprint; she would go and make them.

"I'll be going on a long trip in a while."

A Li had just picked up her brush, preparing to continue finishing the scroll, but upon hearing this, she silently put the brush down again.

She stood up and left her seat.

The boy was going on a long trip, so she had to help prepare and pack his luggage in advance.

Please... you.... collect_(!)

During the Third Wave, the team's consumption of talisman paper and other tools was very high and they hadn't had time to replenish them. Besides, it was inconvenient to replenish them while on a long trip, so they had to bring more for emergencies.

Therefore, she had to go to the third floor now to get materials.

Ancestral spirit tablets are treasures from head to toe.

The base is hard and can be used as a handle end and external connection parts, the outer skin can be used as talisman paper, the inside can be made into wooden scroll flowers, and if crushed, it can also be used as thunder-gathering material.

Especially the side with the characters; even if the spirits of the ancestors are gone, that side can sometimes still exert a "deterrent" effect. Every time A Li gathers materials, she will first carefully peel off that side.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's original intention wasn't to hint at this; if he needed these, he could have just said so directly. But seeing that A Li had already walked out of the study, he could only follow.

He went up to the third floor, pushed open the door, and walked into the room where the ancestral spirit tablets were placed.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan stepped forward first, took down all the tablets that looked slightly older, and together with A Li, each holding some, they walked downstairs.

Now that more tools have been developed, the number of users has expanded from just himself to the entire team, so the consumption rate of ancestral spirit tablets has also increased a lot.

It's already hard to tell the difference between new and old; everyone is actually quite new.

When going downstairs, Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei was just about to come out holding a copy of "New Liu Family Qi-Gazing Technique." Seeing the two children carrying so many ancestors down, Liu Liu Liu Liu Liu Yumei turned and stopped, sitting back down to continue drinking tea.

Downstairs, Qin Shu walked in carrying a bucket of water. Seeing the two children coming downstairs, he immediately walked into the kitchen. While pulling back Liu Yi, who was about to come out with a rag to wipe the dining table, he asked, "Think again, what other vegetables are suitable for planting in the courtyard."

Returning to the study, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan helped A Li stack the tablets neatly.

This feeling was like stacking firewood waiting to be used.

After doing all this, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan didn't stay at Grandma Liu's house for lunch and returned to the dormitory first.

Almost right after him, Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin also returned, carrying a thermal container in his hand.

"Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, these are spring rolls and lotus root cakes made by my mom. Do you want to try some?"

"Okay."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin opened the thermal container.

"I'll go find the dormitory manager and get some vinegar for you to dip them in."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin went out with a bowl. When he returned, he not only brought a small bowl of vinegar but also a large bowl of bone soup.

"The manager is stewing bone marrow, and she gave me a bowl."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan started eating his lunch, while Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin talked about what happened at noon.

He said that Luo Mingzhu was very annoying; not only did she want to get close to him, but she also wanted to pull him into forming a new exploration team.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin made a gesture of shooting a gun, pressing it against his own forehead: "I must be crazy to form a team with someone like her."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan picked up a spring roll and said while dipping it in vinegar: "The method is feasible."

"Huh?" Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin immediately asked, "Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, do you have some kind of plan?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan nodded. He wasn't used to talking while eating, so he sped up, finished his lunch, and then tidied up the thermal container.

Seeing this, Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin knew there was something serious to discuss. During the gap while Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan went to the sink to wash the thermal container, he ran to the hot water room downstairs to get two bottles of water. After pouring two cups, he neutralized them with mineral water, then picked up his notebook and pen, preparing to take notes.

Yin Meng was at the hospital accompanying Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, and Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You had a professional course in the afternoon that he couldn't skip.

But strictly speaking, even if the three of them attended this discussion meeting, the role they would play would just be "focusing on participation."

Currently, in the team, the only one who could help Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan find omissions and fill gaps to assist in perfecting the plan was Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin.

The two sat facing each other in the dormitory. Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan handed Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin the "River-Walking Code of Conduct 2.0," the "Proposal for Actively Moving Toward the Waves," and the scroll depicting the corpse-driving Daoist that he had written last night.

Then, he began to recount what happened in the morning and introduced his current thoughts.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin was reading the code of conduct while looking at the proposal, and had to glance at the scroll from time to time, while his ears had to pay attention to receiving Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuanzi's speech; he could be said to be busy flying.

After all, he wasn't a genius who could do two things at once, but fortunately, he was familiar with how to coordinate.

For these things, he would read what he should read, understand what he should understand, and listen to what he should listen to. He didn't need to understand and correct the theoretical things; he only needed to help Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuanzi implement the ideas into reality on a familiar basis.

Besides that, he also had to digest and ruminate on his own, and find time to convey Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuanzi's spirit to others in the team, so that Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuanzi wouldn't have to find people one by one to repeat it.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan finished speaking, picked up his cup, and drank two sips of water.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin also put down the notebook and scroll in his hand, nodded, and said: "I understand, Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, we want to actively create karma?"

"Right. In the past, it was always the river water that pushed the karmic threads to our side. Even if we discovered it in advance and followed the vine to find the melon, it was based on it having already been constructed.

Even if we went very early, the banquet had actually already been set up.

This time, let's change the way we play. I want to test whether the river water will recognize the karma we create ourselves."

"Understood, it means creating reasons. That's why Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, you just said that Luo Mingzhu's new exploration team can be utilized, for example, this time, the Xie family, Zhangjiajie.

We need to actively create a reason for us to go to Zhangjiajie first."

"Right, that's what it means."

"If I join Luo Mingzhu's exploration team and then hint for her to go to Zhangjiajie, then the reason for us to go to Zhangjiajie is established?"

"I said the method is feasible, but it doesn't have to be Luo Mingzhu."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin carefully chewed on the meaning of this sentence, and then suddenly realized that Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan was just using Luo Mingzhu's exploration team as an example, and didn't really want to use this method.

"Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, it's because this method has flaws..." Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin made a motion of holding a shovel to dig a trench, "We are digging the trench in advance when there is no water, but afterwards, water is destined to flow into this trench."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan nodded: "Involving ordinary, innocent people easily creates secondary trouble."

These people are very likely to suffer the backlash of karma.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin suddenly clapped his hands and said: "That's easy to handle. If we don't involve innocent people, then we'll just involve guilty ones."

Immediately, Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin looked at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and said: "Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, you actually thought of this point long ago, didn't you?"

"Yes, but the specific implementation measures need your help to design."

"That's easy. I'll go to my dad's bureau first. There are plenty of wanted criminals there, and many requests for assistance in investigations. I'll find a wanted criminal who is on the run or possibly hiding in Zhangjiajie.

As an outstanding youth recognized by the police bureau with a certificate of merit, I must certainly contribute to social harmony and stability. With the wanted poster, I can go to Zhangjiajie."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "One thread is not enough; it's easy to break, and it's not easy to continue."

In the past, when they deduced in reverse, they all used several threads together. For example, the last time they went to Sianzhen, they deduced in reverse with three threads simultaneously.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin took a cigarette case out of his pocket, pulled one out, and without worrying about Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan being right beside him, he lowered his head to light it, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled:

"Got it, add another one. Let Xiang Seeing Yin Meng or Ayou—one a girl, one looking young and tender—carry some money in their pockets, and put a treasure map showing gold bricks buried somewhere in their hometown of Zhangjiajie, then deliberately wander in front of those social scum.

Let those scum take the initiative to rob them. That money is to boost their confidence and also to give them travel expenses. Let them set off for Zhangjiajie first. Since our people were robbed, we must certainly retaliate and chase the money back. This way, there's another reason to go to Zhangjiajie."

Walking the river is meant to pacify evil spirits and accumulate great merit, making the world peaceful. Using these human scum as bait to set a trap is even more "clearing the clear."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Hmm, not bad. The first thread of the wanted criminal has a high degree of freedom; as long as we haven't found him, we have a reason to run around everywhere in Zhangjiajie.

For the second thread, we can also guide it. While chasing that group of robbers, we can leave some clues and hints in front of them, letting them follow our rhythm. Wherever we want to go, we lead them there."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Then can the third one also follow suit..."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "No. There are already two guilty threads, and both have a rather dark style. The third thread is best kept with a normal style; this fits the aesthetic of Old Old Old Jiang Shui."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin puffed on his cigarette hard, his right hand constantly scratching the back of his head: "This is so hard to handle..."

"Since you want to avoid involving innocent people and creating secondary trouble, then remove this type of person from this scope. Which people wouldn't care about being involved in karma?

Those with extremely strong purpose who are actively willing to pay the price for it, as well as those who don't care about the price or for whom the price has little impact."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin followed Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's line of thought and said: "The former is not easy to find; it depends on luck. The latter is easier to find. To give a simple example, like the last wishes of deceased elderly people or the wishes of the terminally ill."

These two types of people—one is already dead, and the other doesn't care about anything else anymore.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Actually, the difficulty lies right here. Precisely because the first two threads are easy to design and the third thread requires luck, this third thread is the most important cornerstone."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Understood."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "The third wave has just passed, and we still have plenty of time. No rush, let's look slowly. We can also think carefully; perhaps we can come up with other, better methods."

"Okay, Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan. Then I'll go to my dad's bureau first to pick out a suitable wanted criminal, then go to the hospital to visit Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and Xiang Seeing Yin Meng and the others. By the way, I'll tell them this too. I'll take these materials and scrolls with me for now."

"Good."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin went out.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan sat alone in the dormitory for a while, then got up and first turned the bronze mirror to Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face the dormitory door, preventing any possibility of outside interference.

Then he walked to the corner, picked up the evil book that had been wrapped into a ball, placed it on the desk, and unwrapped it.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan picked up a brush, dipped it in some ink, and casually wrote a simple, damaged formation.

After he finished writing, the ink disappeared, and new characters emerged, completing this simple formation.

The young man did this just to test whether the "ink" of this book had automatically continued again.

The fact was indeed so; the ink it revealed was deep and very clear.

This meant that the inkless state it presented last time was a deliberate threat; it didn't want to be used for free and wanted to obtain some compensation.

But Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan didn't indulge it. After sealing it up again, he threw it aside, deciding to ignore it completely.

It was afraid and had admitted defeat.

Moreover, it would even find reasons for itself. A new line of text emerged on a blank page:

"I've rested well."

Rested well?

Then let me try.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took out the paint palette, mixed the pigments, and then began to paint on the blank page of the evil book.

He was painting that corpse-driving Daoist.

Since this evil book can distinguish techniques and repair formations... can it also recognize people?

It would be best if, once he finished painting a person, it could reveal that person's life records.

Of course, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan also knew this possibility was very low, almost impossible.

Therefore, he painted this picture in the book to verify another matter.

This painting was drawn by his own hand. The corpse-driving Daoist in the painting was the target he chose for the fourth wave. It could be said that it was stained with his own karma of walking the river.

Although things were still in the planning and starting stage, the young man wanted to see if this had already involved "heavenly secrets."

Heavenly secrets cannot be leaked, but they can be sensed. Zhao Yi of the Jiujiang Zhao family had a similar effect with the life-and-death gate on his forehead, which could help him avoid misfortune.

But if you really want to talk about who can best sense heavenly secrets and best avoid misfortune... it must be evil objects.

The very existence of such things is a provocation to the Heavenly Dao. If it had no sense of heavenly secrets, it wouldn't have survived until now and would have long since vanished in the long river of history.

This evil book is terrifyingly evil. Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan is very cautious every time he uses it, and because of this, he has great confidence in his keen perception of this book.

As long as it can react, even if only weakly, it can prove from the side that the attempt he is making now, the path he is taking, has a probability of success!

In fact, only the young man would be willing to use such a precious thing as a consumable to probe heavenly secrets.

If it were anyone else, even righteous people, they wouldn't touch this evil book, nor would they be willing to use it as firewood just to see a light. This is a true act of squandering a heavenly treasure.

At first, when Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan just started painting, as if it knew the young man was painting a person, the evil book would even help add a few strokes to save the young man effort.

When the young man started to color, the evil book could help fill and render quickly on its own.

Sometimes when it helped incorrectly, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan only needed to pause the tip of his brush on it slightly, and the evil book would erase the part it had misinterpreted and added unnecessarily, letting Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan paint it himself.

But seeing that it was almost finished, even the paper money had been painted, the evil book still maintained a light and airy appearance.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that he was really just amusing himself?

However, since he had painted it, he should finish it thoroughly and pursue the details.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan began to write the characters on the paper money as well, switching to a fine brush for this purpose.

The first paper money: "Yin people on the road, Yang people give way."

When Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had only written the "Yin" character of these eight, the evil book thoughtfully imitated his handwriting and proactively filled in the remaining seven characters for him.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan nodded, and on another piece of paper money in the painting, he lifted his brush and wrote the character "Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie."

Once this character appeared, the evil book did not fill in the following characters.

What should have followed was: "Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family bestows, little ghosts thank and bow."

Not only that, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan sensed that the evil book was trembling; it was afraid, extremely terrified.

It was definitely not just a Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family that could make it so fearful.

Because Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had once used it to test the advanced version of the "Liu Family Qi-Gazing Technique," and it had also generously emerged to tell him which technique it was.

No matter how powerful and terrifying the Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family is, it cannot compare to the true Dragon King family.

Therefore, what it feared was not the Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family; what it feared was...

"Bang!"

A ball of flame rose up.

The book caught fire.

———

Note: On April 4, 1994, Dayong was renamed Zhangjiajie. The text uses "Zhangjiajie" directly for the convenience of readers; the same applies to Wanzhou earlier.

(End of chapter)