Chapter 189

The sunlight in Lijiang is more passionate than in Nantong; as it falls upon one's body, there is a faint, tingling itch.

Just like the woman opposite.

Both sides exchanged morning greetings quite amicably, but the youth's heart was not at peace.

Last night, corpse aura had briefly appeared on the second floor, and Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was instantly jolted awake.

Not long after, he heard the commotion of the four people walking downstairs to check out.

Their footsteps were much heavier than during the day, as if they had collectively gained weight.

During the brief exchange while checking out, the woman's voice did not seem to come from her vocal cords, but rather sounded more like the violent friction of sharp objects.

In short, last night was very quiet, and last night was also very lively.

At this moment, Pang Jin Ge's parents were cleaning the rooms on the second floor, while Pang Jin Ge himself was walking down from the second floor carrying a large stack of bed sheets and quilts, all of which were to be taken for washing.

As he passed in front of Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan, Pang Jin Ge smiled and said: "The guests on the second floor last night suddenly had an urgent matter, checked out, and left."

The youth knew: they had indeed left.

Not long after, Pang Jin Ge called everyone to eat breakfast.

The woman did not come over and continued to sit there drinking tea.

Pang Jin Ge went to invite her and even asked if he should bring breakfast to her, but the woman shook her head, indicating she was not hungry.

Her not coming to the dining table actually allowed Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan to eat his breakfast in peace.

After the meal, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan borrowed a few straw hats from Pang Jin Ge and led his companions out of the guesthouse.

They had wandered around for a whole day yesterday and had also been exposed to the sun for a whole day.

Not long after walking out of the entrance, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's gaze fell upon the four small mounds of dirt in the field ahead.

Quite considerate, taking care of both the killing and the burying.

As they walked along the village road toward the main road, the surroundings were empty and deserted, and everyone finally began to communicate with peace of mind.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You: "My vertical pupils were open last night."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "My two god-sons were almost triggered into a stress response."

Yin Meng: "My Gu insects felt it too."

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng: "Oh."

Although the companions' perception was not as delicate as Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's, the corpse aura, even if it only appeared for a short while, was enough to alarm everyone.

It was only because Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan did not issue an order that everyone chose to remain still, not even getting out of bed.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You: "So, the four people who stayed on the second floor last night also had broken jade, and when the corpse aura in the broken jade erupted last night, they immediately relocated?"

Yin Meng was trying hard to think.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng gave up on thinking.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin thought a bit more and more extremely; he asked: "Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, are those four people still alive?"

In fact, Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin did not grasp more details than Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You, but he was better at observing Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan.

When Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan exchanged morning greetings with the woman opposite in the morning, Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin sensed a different kind of seriousness.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan spoke up: "They are all dead; their bodies are buried in the field by the entrance we just passed."

Those four small mounds were not conspicuous, but Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's memory was simply too good; at a glance, he spotted the difference from his memory of yesterday, and the number matched perfectly.

As soon as Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan said this, everyone's expressions instantly became incomparably solemn.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You asked: "Did she kill them?"

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng: "Pang Jin Ge killed them."

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You scratched his head: "I was just sighing..."

There were only four groups of people in the guesthouse: Pang Jin Ge's family, their own group, the lone woman on the first floor, and the four people living on the second floor.

Pang Jin Ge's family were authentic local commoners and were not in the list of suspects; who did it was already self-evident.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin asked: "Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, could we do that?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan shook his head: "Although I haven't probed or contacted those four on the second floor and don't know their strength, those who can participate in this wave shouldn't be ordinary characters.

Taking an average level of strength, if our side wanted to make a move against them, we couldn't do it so quickly, and it would be even more impossible to be so quiet."

Aside from the commotion caused by the leakage of the broken jade's corpse aura, there was almost no sound of fighting, which meant it was basically a one-hit kill.

And the leakage of the broken jade's corpse aura was a political correctness that had to be gone through.

Yin Meng: "Is that woman that powerful?"

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "After all, she is someone who can walk the jianghu alone."

Forming a team to walk the rivers is the norm; anyone who dares to walk the rivers and ride the waves alone is an existence that is extremely difficult to provoke.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You: "Then are we still going back to that guesthouse today?"

Living under the same roof as someone who has the strength to wipe out a team alone is not about being afraid, but one's nerves would definitely remain in a state of tension.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan continued walking forward while saying: "It's not as simple as whether we return to the guesthouse now; I think she should have already followed us out."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin immediately added a reminder: "Don't look back to find her, keep walking and keep chatting."

No one stopped to look around.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan continued: "The four people living on the second floor were probably too impatient and made the first move to probe, which instead exposed the fact that they had a piece of broken jade in their hands."

Teams without broken jade would not be in a hurry to probe; everyone is very cautious and cherishes the opportunity to make a move.

Precisely because that team on the second floor probed, they were immediately judged by that woman as having the broken jade in their hands.

The mission of those four people seemed to be to escort the broken jade here, and after the mission was completed, they vanished into thin air.

This is the jianghu.

The dragon of the river in front, the dead fish and rotten shrimp behind.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin: "So, Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, you said she is following us now... is she trying to use us as a shield?"

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "She should also have a method to suppress the corpse aura of the broken jade, but I conclude that her method cannot last long and it will erupt sooner or later.

If I were her, I would also choose a team right in front of me to accompany, using us to attract attention.

She is alone, which makes it very convenient for her to act; besides, she probably thinks we are weak and easy to handle."

Upon hearing the last sentence, everyone's gaze sank.

We can admit you are strong, but we do not accept being looked down upon by you.

In the end, strength is not a fixed number; fighting for one's life is not like playing cards, simply comparing the size of the cards.

In the past few waves, it's not like they haven't experienced winning against the strong while being weak; mainly with Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan leading the team, Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan has the ability to integrate everyone's strength and exert an effect several grades higher.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "She should know that we will suspect the broken jade might be in her hands, so next, according to the pre-determined open-line plan, we are going to start targeting her.

I think we can have a fight."

Everyone had originally prepared to follow Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan's next arrangements and planned to take a strategic route, but they didn't expect that Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, who was always cautious and disliked abrupt risks, would directly give such a plan.

But obviously, everyone liked this plan very much.

Everyone's breathing became rapid because of it.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan knew that his team never had to worry about morale.

But he said this not just because his blood was hot and he wanted to risk his life.

"Three reasons.

First, if we don't target her, it will make her suspicious because it doesn't conform to logic.

Second, it is normal for us to launch an attack on her; since she wants to use us as a cover, in the first confrontation, she will likely hold back slightly, at least she won't go for the kill from the start.

Third..."

"Beep! Beep!"

The sound of a car horn interrupted Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's words.

The group had already reached the end of the village road, and ahead was a road where motorcycles and tricycles would come to solicit passengers.

Everyone was waiting for the youth's "third," but Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's expression just darkened; he didn't continue speaking and instead said to Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin:

"Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Binbin, call a car."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin hailed two cars, negotiated the price, and everyone got in to head to today's scenic spot.

Near noon, the sightseeing ended, and they found a restaurant nearby and ordered cured pork ribs.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was the first to finish eating; he put down his chopsticks and sat quietly.

Because Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng wanted to eat incense, they specifically chose a corner position at the back of the shop, and Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan was facing a hillside ahead.

In a trance, he seemed to see a figure flash by amidst the vegetation on that hillside.

It was her.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan believed he hadn't seen wrong because the feng shui aura on the mountain ahead had fluctuated slightly; she was using secret arts to hide her tracking.

She was very cautious and at the same time very conceited; she also didn't need to know what they were talking about, she only needed to confirm their location.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan took a can of Jianlibao from his backpack.

"Pop."

The sound of opening it made the companions who were eating look at each other.

In the past, Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan would only drink this after being exhausted, but now, there was no battle, and they had just finished eating.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan drank the beverage sip by sip.

The third point he hadn't said earlier was: 【Even if we lose the fight, we will be left with our lives; at worst, we will be temporarily coerced or forced to sign a humiliating treaty, acting as her shield in cooperation, anyway, there is still room for maneuver.】

At the end, there was a summary: 【In summary, this fight is very cost-effective.】

A confrontation where you have a safety net if you lose is indeed very cost-effective.

This was the result of Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's brain's previous normal deduction.

The reason I didn't say it out loud wasn't because I felt it was a loss of Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face; tactical detours and retreats are sometimes necessary, with the goal of trading space for time to create a better strategic posture.

But the problem lies right here: Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan suddenly realized that deductions made under this "normal rhythm" actually couldn't provide him with a better result.

Based on this deduction, "not getting to know each other without a fight" can be extended into three paths.

The first path: I show my cards to her, telling her that I also possess a piece of the jade fragment. Doing this would certainly dispel her wariness, but at the same time, it would reveal to her that I have the ability to continuously seal the corpse Qi of the jade fragments.

If I could truly help her seal that piece of jade, that would be one thing; it could be used as an important bargaining chip for cooperation.

But the fact is, I can only continuously seal the piece I have on hand, because that was a bottom-layer sealing design I prepared before entering Lijiang, back when the jade fragment hadn't yet shown any changes.

In this way, I would only become a "sweet pastry" in her eyes, giving her the motive to further intervene or even hold me hostage and manipulate me.

The second path: I hide the fact that I possess a jade fragment and actively cooperate with her, acting as her shield while hoping to gain her help to obtain the jade fragment, then using the opportunity to slack off and wait for the "banquet" to begin.

She would likely agree; in any case, she wouldn't actively help me, and she could even discard me at any time.

But this second path is merely cooperation in name only—it sounds better, but in reality, I would still have to shoulder the task of attracting fire. It's like acting as a shield and then wanting to gild my own sign; it's completely meaningless.

The third path: Pretend to be forced into becoming her shield, while waiting for an opportunity to counter-calculate against her. For example, I could deliberately attract some people to divert the disaster, letting both sides become shields for each other.

But the operational difficulty of this third path is too high, and the benefits and risks are completely disproportionate. In all likelihood, it would become the unwilling fantasy of a shield.

When it comes down to it, she is acting from a position of strength, looking down at you from on high.

In her eyes, my team and the squad she wiped out last night are no different in essence.

And when you are in the mindset of the weaker party, your calculations and planning will likewise be extremely limited.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan quickly finished the canned drink.

The young man's hand grasped the empty can, slowly rotating it, while his gaze swept over every companion present.

A common flaw of smart people is one that Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan has actually always had: holding bargaining chips while constantly calculating back and forth, always wanting to avoid risks and find a guaranteed winning situation for himself.

It's just like Zhao Yi, whom I met last time in Guizhou.

The biggest difference between Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and him might be that because of his own illness, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan can let go of more at critical moments; he can forcibly suppress his so-called "rationality" time and again.

If retreating not only failed to trade for a better situation but instead made my predicament even more awkward... then why retreat at all?

"Click..."

The empty drink can was continuously deformed in the young man's hand.

When a predetermined line of thought cannot deduce an acceptable result, then I have no choice but to consider reshuffling the deck.

Although I had realized it early on, only when it came to a head did I truly realize that fighting against evil spirits and fighting against people are truly different.

Someone I met for the first time yesterday has today become a dark cloud hovering over my team's heads.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You and Yin Meng, seeing this, sensed that Brother Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan had something to say, so they silently put down their chopsticks.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin put food into Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You's bowl and urged the two of them, "Eat quickly, eat until you're full."

The companions sped up their eating, and Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin had the owner add two more pots' worth of cured pork ribs.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan's gaze turned once again to the mountain peak opposite. Although the Feng Shui pattern there had returned to calm and it was difficult for others to see the problem, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan could discern that touch of deliberation thanks to his own Feng Shui attainments.

From this far away, taking the initiative to attack from the outside is not appropriate.

But judging from her performance this morning, she also seems to know the importance of the clue involving Pang Jin Ge, and she will also continue to stay at the homestay.

Therefore, the battlefield can only be Pang Jin Ge's homestay; only when there will the distance between the two sides be the shortest.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "I want to change the plan I mentioned earlier... from having a fight to killing her!"

Everyone listened while continuing to eat, only using more force when chewing.

"Once we make a move, do not hesitate for a second:

Yin Meng, cast your most potent poison!

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin, use the Ghost-Driving Technique immediately!

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You, use the Evil-Breaking Talisman Needle to trigger the strongest God-Descending state of the Bai He Master Master Master Master Master Master Master Master Tongzi!

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, open all your Qi gates directly!"

Even though everyone was consciously trying to eat seriously, they couldn't help but lower their heads and look at the rice bowls in their hands at this moment. Is this... not planning to live anymore?

In the past, every such method was saved for the final critical moment, and we avoided using them in the early stages if possible.

Because after using them, except for Yin Meng, the other three would be paralyzed for a long time, not only losing combat power but even losing the ability to take care of their daily needs.

And this wave has only just begun; the slaughter for the jade fragments has only just begun to unfold, and there is still the main event of going to be a guest later.

Just like that, play all our trump cards?

However, although everyone was shocked, no one questioned it. The trust formed over a long time made them instinctively and unconditionally believe in Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan's judgment.

Everyone chewed their rice vigorously, swallowing like a whirlwind, while squeezing out a firm response from between their teeth:

"Understood!"

"Understood!"

"The hand of cards isn't good, so we have to change the way we play. This time, I want to make a big bet.

Since she has already made it clear that she wants to follow us and use us as shields and scapegoats, then we are mortal enemies. Rather than waiting for the corpse Qi in the jade fragment in her hand to erupt and attract more unknown opponents, it's better to take the initiative ourselves.

Step one: Go all in and kill her.

Step two: Seize the jade fragment in her hand.

This way, we will have two jade fragments in our hands—one that I can continuously seal, and one that, even if I take it over halfway, I can only seal for a while before the corpse Qi inevitably erupts.

Step three: With two jade fragments in hand, hide as much as possible and stall for time.

I don't know how long step three can last, but I will do my best to strive for it.

Step four: When the jade fragment's corpse Qi erupts and attracts attention and contention, I will admit defeat in public and proactively hand over that jade fragment with great fanfare, 'withdrawing from the contention.'

In this plan, the initiative is completely in our hands; we don't need to look at anyone else's Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Human Face.

It's just that the gambling element is relatively high, and there are two places where we need to gamble.

First, taking advantage of the opportunity that she will hold back during our first clash because she wants to use us as a shield, we will go all out and leave her no room for regret.

Second..."

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin took a sip of soup, which was so salty he stuck his tongue out, but he didn't forget to add:

"Betting that the time for this jade fragment contention will be long enough, and the time for the 'banquet' will be later, allowing us to have enough time to recuperate and recover even if we are overdrawn and paralyzed from the start."

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan: "That's right."

Under normal circumstances, trump cards must be used at the final critical moment, but if they are used early enough and there is enough time in between... then after recovering, we can use them again at the final critical moment—that's a profit.

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You put down his chopsticks. He was full. He rubbed his belly with his left hand and took out the Evil-Breaking Talisman Needle from his bag with his right, using it as a toothpick.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin pointed at him and laughed, scolding: "I say, how can you be so good at putting on an act?"

Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Lin Shu You: "Hehe, it's all thanks to Brother Bin's good teaching."

Yin Meng spread her palms, and the Gu insects began to cooperate with her in playing a mountain-climbing game on her palms.

Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Lu Runsheng, seeing that they were all finished eating, moved the pot in front of himself, poured the rice into it, added the fragrance, picked up the large soup ladle, and continued to eat.

Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan hadn't officially seen him with his Qi gates fully open yet. This time, he could finally show it off in front of Marquis Xiao Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Brother Yuan, and it was the Qi gates fully open after eating the Gu child; he himself was also extremely looking forward to it.

Hmm, these cured pork ribs are indeed delicious, but compared to the texture of the Gu child, they are still much worse.

In the afternoon, everyone found an ancient town to stroll around in.

It was mainly because going back was too close and inconvenient for discussion. While strolling through the ancient town and going in and out of ancient buildings, they arranged and deployed the battle plan for the evening.

Near dusk, Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan and the others returned to the homestay wearing straw hats. Except for Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan, the four companions all looked emphatically at the four inconspicuous small mounds when passing by the farmland at the entrance.

Pang Jin Ge brought out flower cakes, shared them with everyone to taste, and asked if they had a good time today.

【167】 Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin took the initiative to pick up the conversation and chatted happily with Pang Jin Ge at the counter.

Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Tan Wenbin took the initiative to chime in, chatting very happily with Fat Jin Ge at the counter.

Incidentally, he learned from Pang Jin Ge that the woman had sat outside today and drank tea for the whole day.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan heard it, but he didn't believe it; she should have a kind of puppet illusion technique.

Walking into the courtyard, he saw the woman.

Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan knew that she, who had been following them during the day, had also returned here at this moment. There were traces of her long journey on her, and the tea in her cup had no temperature.

The woman raised her teacup and, just like in the morning, said to Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Li Zhuiyuan:

"Little brother, good evening."

"Auntie, good evening."

——

This chapter is to make up for yesterday's word count; there will be more tonight.

(End of chapter)