Chapter 144

The old woman's cry was like a death warrant.

The ten-person team above the slope also slowed their pace because of it.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan knew that he had encountered a problem beyond his current level this time.

Fortunately, this was not a mandatory question for him, at least not at this stage.

Moreover, he had already made the choice to skip this question earlier; all he had to do now was continue to bypass it.

The teenager's mind raced; it was now confirmed that while the old couple appeared to run a small, wild service station for passing drivers, they were secretly dealing in the business of an Underworld Road Inn.

There was nothing special about that courtyard, because the teenager was a very cautious person.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he conducted a thorough inspection and found no traces of any formation.

Not only that, he refused the food and lodging services offered by the old couple, including the firewood they provided; he also carefully observed the color of the flames and the smoke when the wood ignited, and he even paid attention to the expressions of the five returning travelers when they smoked the cigarettes they bought at the shop.

Everything was perfectly normal, and that remaining, superfluous action was the key to what was abnormal.

Two white banners, the old man burning paper, and the old woman brandishing a mirror.

The corpse-driving team only chose to enter here to "rest their feet" because of this, and while those seven Wang family members all met a tragic end, only the old couple remained as they were.

White banners... the image of the white banners surfaced in Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's mind; he quickly stripped away the extra accessories and analyzed only their functional details—this was actually a very non-standard set of guide banners.

His own great-grandfather had them too; among the flags held by relatives at the front of a funeral procession, there were ones like these, though they were taller, larger, and much more gaudy.

All these thoughts were completed in an instant.

Since the old couple could safely avoid trouble by relying on this, why shouldn't he follow their example?

The simplest way to solve a problem... is to copy the correct answer directly.

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, set up the offering table!"

"Got it!"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng knelt on both knees, steadied his posture, and reached his hands into his mountaineering pack.

Everyone packed their own mountaineering bags, the purpose being to retrieve what they needed at the fastest speed during critical moments.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng first took out a small tabletop; this board looked very much like the small tables used for eating on hospital beds in some high-end wards.

The difference was that it was more advanced.

His great-grandfather's way of setting up an offering table emphasized pageantry, primarily to provide emotional value to the host family.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's approach here was to completely strip away the complex for the simple.

First, the small table had no fixed legs; one only needed to pull down the opening under the table, and the metal frame below would stand up like a drawbridge; with a slight downward press, it would lock its length and remain stable.

Therefore, even on the slope, it could still stand level.

On the tabletop, there were nine recessed grooves of varying sizes—four in front, four below, and one sitting alone in the bottom corner, all covered with lids.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng quickly pulled off all nine lids.

Fixed under the four topmost grooves were four short candles, two white and two red.

In the four grooves below were: cured meat, salted fish chunks, ham, and pork floss.

No sacrifice is complete without meat; these four were all meat-based and did not spoil easily.

The single groove in the bottom corner contained rice wine that had been poured and sealed beforehand.

A small offering table, complete with color, aroma, and taste, was ready.

At the time, the domestic food industry was not yet advanced, but Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had long since imitated Western trends, taking the lead in using pre-made dishes for offerings.

While Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng did this, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took two small formation flags from his own pack, first planting them in the ground in front of him, then using both hands to tie knots in the flags.

Immediately after, he took five sheets of yellow paper from the seam under the small table; with a flick, the yellow paper ignited without fire, and as he waved them over the candles, the red and white candles were also lit.

White represents the yin, red replaces the yang; with red and white shining together, the yin and yang realms intersect.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan clapped his hands, extinguishing the five half-burned yellow papers; he kept one, handed one to Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, and threw one downward, where it drifted toward the bottom.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin was quick-witted and snatched it.

Finally, the teenager took a bronze mirror from his schoolbag, holding it in one hand, while his other hand pinched two extra sheets of yellow paper.

After doing all this, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan let out a breath; just like that, a simple "Yin-Yang Road Inn" had been set up by him.

Although the terrain was very uneven—a large slope that normal corpse-drivers certainly wouldn't like and would naturally avoid for resting—it didn't matter; at least he had hung out the shingle.

At this moment, flashes of fire also appeared next door.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan turned his head to look and discovered that the woman had also planted two pieces of white cloth in front of her; the cloth even had yellow stains, appearing as if it were a baby's diaper used in a pinch.

The offerings on the ground in front of her were nothing more than peanuts, melon seeds, biscuits, and peach cakes—all snacks she carried with her.

However, she dripped fresh blood from her fingertip onto the biscuits to serve as the meat offering.

At this time, she also pulled out five sheets of paper money, ignited them all, and then extinguished them; she kept one in her hand and stuck one onto the swaddling clothes.

Finally, she took out a pink plastic heart-shaped box and opened it; inside was a mirror.

This style was considered old-fashioned by city girls nowadays.

She pried the mirror surface out with her fingernail and held it between her fingertips.

After doing this, the woman also turned her head to look toward Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's side; she was holding three extra pieces of torn paper money in her hand.

Their gazes met.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly surprised that the teenager's actions were even faster than hers.

Alright, now, on this slope, two "Yin-Yang Road Inns" had opened at once.

The corpse-driving team above finally stopped their steps.

"Ding-ling-ling... ding-ling-ling... ding-ling-ling..."

The yellow-robed Daoist in the front began to turn, the yellow-robed Daoist in the back had to take larger strides, and as for the few in the middle, they only needed to march in place.

After adjusting their direction, they began to descend.

Although it was a slope, they walked as if on flat ground.

They had come down.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan made a downward pressing motion with his left hand, and Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin each grabbed the yellow paper in their hands and lowered their heads.

The two were perhaps silently chanting in their hearts: "Can't see me, can't see me."

Life is a circle.

When he first returned to his hometown and kept running into the dead, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan often did this, and he later taught his companions to do the same.

When you encounter something dirty that you aren't sure you can handle, just pretend you don't see it.

Now, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had found that familiar feeling once again.

However, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan did not simply lower his head like Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin.

Although the teenager did not directly look up to watch the corpse-driving team, he cast his gaze onto the bronze mirror.

He wanted to use the bronze mirror to conduct a close-up observation.

The distance to Peach Blossom Village was actually not too far now, and the inexplicably appearing corpse-driving team was also heading in the direction he was going.

It was likely not the main target of his fourth wave, but it was bound to be related to it.

Being able to obtain some clues in advance would be for the best.

Especially that person—whether it was the three people before or the ten people now—who had never let their feet touch the ground; this person... was the key point.

If the two Daoists carrying a bamboo pole to drive one corpse earlier was respecting tradition, then nine people carrying one corpse now could no longer be called corpse-driving; this was called carrying a sedan chair.

If this guy was an evil spirit, then it likely reached a level of existence that even those in the Profound Gate would not want to easily provoke or anger.

If this guy was a human... that was even more terrifying than it being a ghost.

"Crunch... crunch... crunch..."

The dense and rhythmic sound of footsteps approached.

They had come down and arrived beside him.

Accompanying them was a bone-chilling cold, and above that cold, an even more suffocating pressure.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng gripped the yellow paper in his left hand and the handle of his Yellow Jiang Shui Shovel in his right; although Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan had already set the stage, if the situation collapsed even slightly, he would not hesitate to open his energy gates completely.

His spiritual sense was dull, and like Yin Meng, he still couldn't walk the yin path, but the sense of life-and-death crisis was still there; he knew very well that the thing encountered this time was too powerful, and he had to risk everything from the start, otherwise, he might not have a second chance to strike.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin was the same; he had originally learned to walk the yin path, and additionally, he harbored two vengeful infants; the infants' sensations and emotions could be transmitted to him, further intensifying his panic.

The two little ones were afraid; even when facing the Bai He Master Master Master Master Master Master Master Master Tongzi, although the children were afraid, they hadn't reacted this strongly.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin's heart was beating fast now, but he was also trying hard to comfort himself, and comforting himself was also comforting the two little ones; if things really went wrong, at the critical moment, the kids mustn't be cowards—no matter what, they had to follow their godfather and fight.

He must not let the situation occur where the Ghost Control Technique failed to execute; that would be too humiliating, even in death.

One, two, three...

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan watched the surface of the bronze mirror, waiting for the one whose feet didn't touch the ground.

When he looked at the three-person corpse-driving team in the courtyard earlier, he couldn't see the Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face of the one in the middle clearly; this time, he should be able to.

Finally, that Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face appeared!

From the bronze mirror, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan saw him—a Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face exactly the same as his own.

In the mirror, it was as if it were himself, being carried along without his feet touching the ground.

So fierce?

This was Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's first reaction.

He only wanted to take a peek at it through the bronze mirror, but it, in this way, wanted to "take him away."

There was an even more terrifying possibility: that "it" was unintentional, and if you took the initiative to look at it and became tainted by it, you would naturally follow it away.

The "self" in the mirror was not himself, but his future self; this was what folk stories called hooking away a person's soul.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan immediately bit the tip of his tongue, forcibly compelling himself to close his eyes.

He silently recited the "Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra" in his heart, his consciousness entering a state of emptiness.

Blood began to spill from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, making him look ghastly.

Even when he fought that pig last time, the boy only suffered some injuries; he had never been this disheveled just from a single "glance."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng noticed Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan's abnormality; he did not look up, but he saw blood dripping onto the ground within his line of sight.

In an instant, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng prepared to stand up, fully open his Qi gates, and fight the opponent to the death.

But he noticed that the hand Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan was using to hold the yellow paper was still pressed firmly against his own Yellow Jiang Shui Shovel.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng gritted his teeth and held back.

The corpse-driving procession marched over, first circling Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin below, then moving to the right to circle the woman.

Perhaps seeing that they were all "inns" but had no "guests" to carry, they slowly walked upward and returned to the small path.

After adjusting their direction, they continued forward.

Everyone under the slope kept their heads down; they did not know exactly where the procession had walked, but they could judge by the sound of the bells moving from near to far.

Once the sound of the bells completely vanished and could no longer be heard, it felt as if the air that had been drained away was flowing back again.

Everyone let out a long sigh of relief, and sweat poured out.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "It's safe."

"Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan?" Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng immediately checked on the boy's condition.

"I'm fine, it's not a big problem." Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan felt his Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face was sticky, and his head was a bit dizzy.

Fortunately, he had rested long enough on the train, and he had been careful to conserve his energy on the road earlier; his current state was a bit bad, but not too bad.

If he had been exhausted and on the verge of overdrawing himself when this happened, he feared he really would have had time to learn "Moon Reflected on the Second Spring."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin crawled up using his hands and feet, took the water bottle and towel from Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's hand, and began to help Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan wipe and clean the bloodstains off his Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng picked up the Yellow Jiang Shui Shovel, stood up, faced the woman, and remained vigilant.

The woman put away the white cloth and offerings, and she ate the blood-stained biscuit.

After everything was packed up, the woman held the child, shouldered her pack, stood up, and looked over.

She turned slightly, as if she had intended to say something, but after her gaze avoided Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's obstruction and saw the boy behind wiping blood from his Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face, her eyes widened:

"You actually looked at it!"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan heard her, but he didn't rush to react, continuing to let Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin wipe his Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face.

The woman held the child with her left hand, and with her right, she pulled a short, sharp black hatchet from the swaddling clothes and said to Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng:

"He has been hooked; now we must kill him!"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng raised the Yellow Jiang Shui Shovel, his clothes billowing, preparing to fight.

He didn't even consider what the woman had said.

"Pfft..."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin opened a can of drink, but because of the earlier shaking, the drink spilled out of the can; he moved it aside to wait for a moment before handing it to Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took the drink, took a few large gulps, and only then stood up again.

Seeing the boy's action, the woman was even more puzzled, but she still put away the hatchet and stuffed it back into the swaddling clothes.

"You actually weren't hooked."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan said: "You are not from the Wang family."

If she were from the Wang family, why didn't she order those Wang family members to run together just now? She clearly had the ability to save them, but she didn't do so.

The woman shook her head: "It's better if you don't know my identity."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan inexplicably felt these words were familiar.

The woman continued: "When traveling, never get involved in unnecessary trouble; this place is not a peaceful land recently, you should go."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin licked his lips; he felt this woman had stolen his usual lines.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan asked: "Are you going to Meiling Town, to Peach Blossom Village?"

The woman began to walk up the slope and said without looking back: "That's not a good place; it's not fun, and you'll lose your life."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Then why are you still going?"

The woman: "I have no choice but to go; you are different."

"What if I also have no choice but to go?"

"Heh, good words cannot persuade a ghost that is destined to die; do as you please."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin whispered: "This woman's tone is so arrogant."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was noncommittal; after Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng tidied up the offering table, the three of them also climbed the slope and reached the small path.

The woman had already turned back and returned to the courtyard.

She kicked open the door and walked in.

Before long, the old couple was dragged and kicked by her, all driven out of the house into the courtyard.

Especially the old woman, who had a clear shoe print on her Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face.

Everything had been fine before, but it was because this old woman shouted one extra time, "There are still five people who haven't hit the road," that a new round of strange changes almost occurred.

It was no wonder the woman was angry; among the five people, excluding the boy's group of three, the old woman even counted her own son in the swaddling clothes as a person.

As a mother, she couldn't stand anyone daring to hurt her child.

The old couple wailed and cried, seemingly unaware of why, begging for mercy and shouting in pain.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan said to Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin and Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng: "Go into the house and check carefully."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin went first; Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng was a bit hesitant, as he didn't dare leave Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan alone in the courtyard to Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face this woman.

When the woman took out the hatchet earlier, that sharp aura was enough to make his Qi gates ache; she was definitely an expert.

"She won't hurt us for now, Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng; go inside and search the place thoroughly."

"Alright." Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng chose to listen to Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, but as he passed the woman, he still glared at her.

The woman kicked the old couple again, knocking them to the ground, then looked provocatively at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and took several steps toward him on her own initiative.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan stood there, motionless.

In the end, the woman stopped herself and asked: "This isn't like you; earlier on the train, when I was breastfeeding the child, you were suspicious and staring at me closely, so why are you so at ease with me now?"

"It's mutual."

The woman is not from the Wang family; this point can be confirmed for now.

She pinched the child and made him cry, which was actually a very subtle way of reminding him.

Why was it subtle?

Because she couldn't be bothered to speak plainly; she wanted to see the Wang family members die, and as for whether the three of them lived or died, she didn't have much obsession—if they understood the hint, they could run; if they didn't, they could go along and carry the corpses.

Perhaps the reason she pinched the child to make him cry was also to return the favor of him letting Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng help her set up the tent for her sleeping bag.

This mindset gave Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan a strong sense of familiarity.

And the reason he had Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng set up the tent and give her the sleeping bag earlier wasn't purely out of kindness; he simply couldn't see through the woman's flaws, yet he could never feel at ease with her, so he simply gave and took to shift the dynamic.

Showing goodwill is also a way of testing.

However, he didn't owe her anything, because even if she hadn't pinched the child, he had intended to run anyway.

As for later, he set up an offering table and burned five sheets of yellow paper, reserving two, while the woman also burned five sheets of paper money and reserved three.

The reserved ones were all prepared for the other party.

It was just that there was no need for sentimentality here; the intention to help each other wasn't strong, it was purely out of fear that if they didn't give to the other, the other would act like a cornered dog and cause trouble, ruining his setup and bringing him down to die together.

Didn't you see that both sides quickly set up their own first, then held the extra paper money, and then looked at the other's reaction?

If they were truly that warm-hearted, one of them would have shouted long ago: Don't panic, I have a way!

Everyone was quite indifferent, but it was easier for indifferent people to get along; as long as there was no absolute conflict of interest, they would be very restrained and avoid unnecessary conflict.

The woman looked back at the old couple on the ground: "Tell your people to kill these two old things."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Why don't you do it yourself?"

The woman: "It's not convenient for me."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan nodded: "What a coincidence, me too."

Immediately after, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan pointed to his own forehead: "I suspect these two old people have a problem here."

They weren't acting; from the moment he entered this place, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had never stopped observing them and hadn't seen the slightest problem, which meant that at the time, they were likely not acting.

And when the corpse-driving procession arrived, the two old people showed an abnormally excited and highly efficient state.

This condition was like a transformation in personality and thinking after being stimulated by some event, which was Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You's future serious illness, multiple personality disorder. Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin walked out; they had truly searched the place, and Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng was holding two sets of old yellow Daoist robes, which also had tools like Bagua mirrors and peach wood swords.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin had a photo frame in his hand, which he had found under the bed; there were four people in the photo, the two old people sitting in the middle weren't that old at the time, and the twin sons on both sides hadn't fully grown yet, but it could be distinguished that these twins were the two young Daoists in yellow robes at the front and back of the corpse-driving procession.

The woman also saw these things, and when she looked at the two old people again, her eyes showed contemplation.

Immediately, she stepped on the old man's chest and questioned: "Speak, what is your relationship with them!"

The old man stammered, only caring about showing pain, and did not answer.

The woman continued to ask: "What is the relationship between your sons and that thing!"

Hearing "sons," the old man's expression froze, and then he shouted: "Both our sons went out to work, to earn big money, to get rich, and then come to pick us up to the city to enjoy life!"

The woman took a deep breath; one could see her current anger.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took the initiative to walk over and said: "Let me ask."

The woman withdrew her foot, stood to one side, and made room for the boy.

"Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin, find a pair of chopsticks and a bowl."

Please... you.... bookmark 6... 9... book....!

"Alright."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan walked to the old woman, took out a Cleansing Heart Talisman, and stuck it on her forehead.

The old woman's originally panicked and fearful mood suddenly calmed down.

The youth slowly swayed the bone ring worn on his fingertip back and forth in front of the old woman's line of sight.

The old woman's eyelids lowered slightly.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan made a gesture.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin picked up his chopsticks and began to tap the bowl: "Ding... ding... ding..."

The luster returned to the old woman's eyes, as if she had become a different person.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan leaned his Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face in close and spoke to her in a low voice, and the old woman also began to reply at the same volume.

While communicating, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand and snapped his fingers several times in succession toward the woman.

Don't think about eavesdropping.

The woman's chest heaved with anger.

After finishing the questioning, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan pressed his thumb onto the paper charm on the old woman's forehead; her body trembled, and she fell asleep.

Immediately after, the youth took out another Heart-Clearing Charm, stuck it onto the old man's forehead with a press, and the old man also fell asleep.

"Brother Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, carry them back to bed."

"You got it."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng carried the two old people into the room.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan then looked at the woman, saying nothing.

Want to listen?

Exchange it for information.

The woman spoke up: "The four great corpse-driving families of the Old Heaven Gate, do you know them?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "I know."

"Behind Peach Blossom Village in Meiling Town, there is a Weiming Weiming Weiming Lake, ancient name: Horse-Drinking Weiming Weiming Weiming Lake.

It has always been rumored locally that there is a water burial beneath the Weiming Weiming Weiming Lake, burying an ancient general.

Later, a unit of Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan soldiers arrived here, excavated the water burial, robbed the tomb for wealth, awakened that general, and triggered a disaster that nearly engulfed the four directions.

For the sake of the common people and their homeland, the four great families of the Old Heaven Gate joined forces and, with the help of a great figure, suppressed that general back down together.

Do you know these things?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan said somewhat impatiently: "I know."

"In this battle, that great figure was severely wounded and has since vanished from the jianghu.

The four great families of the Old Heaven Gate also suffered heavy losses, with the Niu Dao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family suffering the most; it is rumored that the Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family head of that generation personally used his own body to suppress the corpse, which helped that great figure complete the seal and resolve a massive catastrophe.

Later, the remnants of the Niu Dao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family moved their ancestral residence to this Peach Blossom Village to guard it for generations.

Firstly, the family's losses in that battle were too heavy, and secondly, living in seclusion was unfavorable for development.

The Niu Dao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family gradually declined from then on; although they still hold the name of one of the four Old Heaven Gate families, they have long since become a mere shell of their former selves.

Do you know these things?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "I know, do you have anything fresher?"

"During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it should have been the golden age for the development of corpse drivers, and the Niu Dao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family also wanted to use this to revive the family, but unfortunately, several attempts all failed.

In the late Qing dynasty, the celestial phenomena were turbulent, and the general suppressed in Horse-Drinking Weiming Weiming Weiming Lake caused trouble again; the other three families of the Old Heaven Gate gathered people here again to suppress that anomaly back down.

However, the records of this time are sparse, and all four families are tight-lipped about it.

It is only known that the brutality of this battle was no less than that of the one during the Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan dynasty; the Niu Dao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family was almost wiped out, completely declining, leaving only a name.

Of the people sent out by the other three families, few returned alive, and they all refused to mention a single word for the rest of their lives."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan sighed: "Sigh, old stories that you know, I also know; can you talk about contemporary matters? Don't waste our time."

"Ten years ago, it was said that one person from the Niu Dao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family went astray into an evil path, was bewitched by the suppressed general, and became his minion."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's expression became serious, as if to say that they had finally reached a place he didn't know about.

The woman: "And then, that was it."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "That was what?"

The woman: "It was just as you saw; the one you saw earlier should have been a corpse driver who died in battle here back then; I don't even know which of the four families he belonged to.

They died, yet they 'lived' again.

In the past ten years, many such incidents have occurred near Peach Blossom Village.

It's just that I didn't expect it to spread so far this time; we haven't even reached Meiling Town yet, and there is still quite a long way to go from Peach Blossom Village, yet they were able to move this far."

"Corpse drivers, people driving corpses, corpses driving people?" Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan revealed a thoughtful look before asking, "Is that Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family member using this method to rebuild the family?"

The woman was slightly stunned upon hearing this.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan pressed further: "What, has someone else said my previous words to you?"

The woman didn't answer, just lowered her head and gently patted the child in the swaddling clothes.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "The child's father, your husband?"

The woman raised her head again, her eyes showing anger.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "It seems it really is him; where is your man?"

The woman: "You are not worthy of knowing his name, nor are you qualified to know him."

"Hmm, perhaps."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan nodded; although he hadn't been walking the river for long, his status was high, and there weren't many people in this jianghu who could make him unqualified to know them.

However, he had swindled out another piece of information: the woman's husband was not dead, and she was not a widow.

A guess faintly rose in the bottom of Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's heart.

The woman: "Hey, it's your turn."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan spoke: "She said her two sons went to seek immortality with an immortal, and after they successfully cultivate, they will come back to take the old couple to the Heavenly Palace to enjoy blessings."

"Are you playing me?"

"I can swear, that's all there is."

"Then why did you talk to that old woman for so long just now?"

"I chatted with her about other things; I asked her if she was anxious that her two sons weren't married yet? She said no, saying how could a mortal woman be worthy of her sons, and that after they ascend to immortality, her two sons can marry fairy maidens."

"Hehehe..." The woman let out a gnashing laugh, "What exactly are you?"

"Our team leader's family runs a black-hearted restaurant at the Jin Ling Audit University exploration team; he has plenty of pocket money, and after knowing that supernatural events were happening here, he sponsored us to come explore."

The woman held the child and turned to leave.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan stood in the courtyard, watching her back disappear into the distance; she was still heading in the direction of Meiling Town.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin spoke up: "Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, what is her identity?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "I suspect it's the same as yours."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin's eyes rolled: "A worshiper of the Long Wang?"

"Not necessarily a worshiper of the Long Wang, but she should be walking the river, though they might not use the term 'walking the river'."

Walking the river is a term exclusive to the Long Wang family; the woman's skills were indeed good, but her bearing really didn't look like that of the Long Wang family.

Liu Yi used to dress like a rural woman at the great-grandfather's house, but that was to disguise herself and blend in; after arriving at the university, she put on casual clothes and looked like a university female teacher.

The temperament cultivated from growing up beside the old lady since childhood cannot be erased, and the old lady is already considered the most low-key in the Long Wang family.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Is that child her biological one?"

"I have looked at the child's physiognomy; the mother-child appearance is very clear, and to disguise herself to the point of the lactation period, isn't this cost too high?"

"Indeed, but to walk the river with a child, does her 'Long Wang' agree?"

"The child's father might be that 'Long Wang'."

"Then I understand even less; how dangerous is this..."

"Walking the river with a child, the merit falls on the child."

"Damn, then the expectations my parents had for me to become a dragon compared to them, really counts as doting."

"She is not a Wang family member, but she should have been keeping an eye on the Wang family; our arrival made the Wang family take action, and she followed along, hitching a ride."

Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin, does it feel very similar?"

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Yes, like our previous separate actions."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng asked doubtfully: "Do they use the same method as us?"

In Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's view, his little Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan's brain is the smartest.

If the method they use is also used by others, wouldn't that mean others also have someone as smart as Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan?

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "After soaking in the river water for a long time, one can more or less grasp the temper of the waves; this is not strange."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, I think that woman is responsible for watching the Wang family; as for the Xie family and the Bu family, there should also be their own people watching the movements. Her husband, that 'Long Wang'... either he is watching one of those two families, or he went straight to Peach Blossom Village to find the Niu Dao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Zhao Jie family at the first opportunity."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan nodded: "Hmm."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin shrugged: "They are clearly walking according to the push of the river water; what a crude, primitive method."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng revealed a smile upon hearing this.

However, Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng immediately asked again: "Then if we encounter others in her team or encounter her husband, will it be dangerous for us?"

Among those who walk the river, there is also competition.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Remember what Zhao Yi did back then? Shout the slogans, raise the tone; even if they want to make a move on us, they have to weigh the cost.

But now is not the time to worry about this, because we seem to be too far ahead."

He was actively seeking the waves this time.

He didn't expect that after finding the examination hall, the previous exam hadn't ended yet, and there were still examinees inside answering questions.

The current version of himself is equivalent to standing outside the classroom window, watching them take the test at close range.

No,

not just that.

Strictly speaking, the team of corpse-haulers he just experienced was targeting the Wang family, but that should have belonged to the woman's ripple, yet he ended up experiencing it along with her.

Therefore, he is not standing outside the window watching; he has already sat down in the examination hall.

He is sitting beside the woman, becoming her desk-mate; although he has no test paper in hand, he has also taken out scratch paper, watching her questions, and whatever questions she does, he has just done along with her.

The reactions, movements, and methods of arrangement are all exactly the same.

"Heh..."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan suddenly let out a laugh, finding it quite interesting:

"We are currently inside someone else's river-walking event."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan did not rush to continue his departure for Peach Blossom Village, but instead let everyone take advantage of the time before dawn to rest, and he himself also took a short nap, which counted as recovering a bit of vitality.

After dawn, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had Xiang Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng combine the gasoline from the two vans, and then had Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin drive, carrying the three of them to continue forward.

The section of the road that had collapsed yesterday had already been cleared; after the construction workers learned they were going to Peach Blossom Village, they told them that Peach Blossom Village had been relocated by the government many years ago due to the risk of severe geological disasters, and it is now a deserted village.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin returned the favor with a pack of cigarettes, then started the car and continued forward.

After passing through Meiling Town, using the town's telephone to contact Yin Meng and Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You to replenish some supplies, they continued their departure.

When heading toward Peach Blossom Village again, the dirt road was clearly in disrepair, and because Peach Blossom Village had long been abandoned, no vehicles or pedestrians were to be seen.

But as they drove, a tractor appeared parked on the side of the road.

In the haystack beside the tractor lay a man with a Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face full of stubble, his legs twisted and clearly broken on purpose; seeing someone coming, he hurriedly let out wails, attempting to call for help.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin looked back at Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "She did it."

Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan did not say to stop, so Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin continued driving forward.

The reason for not stopping was very simple: Peach Blossom Village had long been abandoned, and no one walked this road; the woman had walked to Meiling Town last night, found a tractor, and had the other party drive her to Peach Blossom Village.

They hadn't reached their destination yet, and she wouldn't have broken the driver's legs ahead of time for no reason; it was highly probable that the driver saw a woman holding a child in the middle of the wilderness and had developed crooked intentions.

Sure enough, not long after driving, the woman's figure appeared ahead.

The woman turned sideways, looking at this familiar van.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took the initiative to reach out and open the car door, saying: "Get in."

The woman hesitated for a moment, but ultimately held the child and got into the car.

The car continued to drive, and the woman suddenly spoke: "He doesn't follow the rules."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan nodded: "Learn to drive when you have time."

It was only noon, but the sky had gradually become gloomy, and a murky rain had begun to fall.

The car was difficult to drive, shaking incessantly.

The woman began to breastfeed the child; this time, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan turned his head away.

The rain grew heavier and heavier, and the Weiming Weiming Weiming Lake water ahead overflowed, submerging the road; the road was broken.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan pulled a black umbrella from his schoolbag and handed it to the woman; the woman opened the umbrella and got out of the car.

"Luo Sheng umbrella? You are corpse-haulers."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan subsequently got out of the car, and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin held up an umbrella to shield Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan.

Facing the woman's inquiry, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan replied very calmly: "Is it very strange?"

"I didn't expect to meet peers; at which wharf do you dock?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan cupped his hands: "Nantong Haohe Wharf — Corpse-hauling Li."

"Oh."

The woman responded, and holding the umbrella, she waded through the water with the child in her arms.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan asked: "Just an 'oh'?"

"Being able to see him is already your honor; he is the flood dragon of the future."

"I am looking forward to it."

The water was getting deeper and deeper.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan had no choice but to climb onto Xiang Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's back.

Logically speaking, they should have arrived, but there was no trace of a village ahead; the youth suspected that Peach Blossom Village had already been submerged by the Weiming Weiming Weiming Lake water.

The water level was getting higher and higher, and everyone began to swim across.

The swaddling clothes actually looked like a small boat, capable of floating.

The child was very well-behaved, still not crying or making a fuss; this was truly having seen the world from a young age.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan patted Xiang Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng's shoulder and pointed ahead; Xiang Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng understood, came before the woman, and helped her block the waves, making it a bit more stable behind her.

The woman noticed this and asked: "Are you traveling?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "I am on vacation."

The woman suddenly asked seriously: "Hey, Corpse-hauling Li, you haven't lit the lamp yet, have you?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan answered just as seriously: "Mm, I haven't lit the lamp myself."

The woman seemed to heave a sigh of relief; since last night, she seemed to have been worried about something, but when asked so seriously, the other party would definitely not lie.

Her husband had said that lying about this matter would destroy one's spirit.

The woman: "Corpse-hauling Li, I'll give you a chance; see if you can grasp it yourself."

"What chance?"

"When you see my husband, I can help introduce you; see if you can have the opportunity to soar like a dragon."

"Many thanks for the promotion."

"What I say isn't certain; my husband has his own ideas, but I can feel that although you are young, you are different, very different."

"Many thanks for the compliment."

Xiang Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng stopped.

The woman also stopped.

Xiang Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng raised his hand and pointed ahead.

On the water surface ahead, a person was floating, wearing a coir raincoat, Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face down, motionless.

Xiang Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng: "Dead-fall."

The woman: "That is my husband!"

(End of chapter)