Chapter 66: Caught a Living Father

At the same time, Barun, Wang Zhenqiu, Xia Liuqing, and others glowed with Qi, their expressions grave as they stared at the young man.

The young man—or Lin Yu—smiled faintly and said calmly, “My identity isn’t important. What matters is that I know the origins of those foreigners outside, and I know the secret behind the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Skyward Valley.”

“…”

The group exchanged glances.

Wang Zhenqiu frowned slightly, glancing at Barun without expression, then whispered:

“Is that so? Then tell us—”

The instant Wang Zhenqiu spoke, Lin Yu’s gaze instinctively shifted toward him.

Seeing this, Zhang Chulan’s pupils contracted—he seemed to realize something, and shouted urgently: “Stop!”

Sure enough, at that very moment, Barun, closest to Lin Yu, suddenly struck—his short knife spun, the hilt slamming hard toward Lin Yu’s neck.

Fortunately, Zhang Chulan’s warning came in time—the swinging hilt halted abruptly in midair.

Lin Yu paid no mind to the hilt hovering at his neck, still smiling as he said, “One distracts me with words, the other strikes in secret—quite the coordination.”

“Hehe, just a joke, just a joke!”

Zhang Chulan hurried forward, grinning as he pulled Barun back.

Barun and Wang Zhenqiu frowned; the latter stepped closer to Zhang Chulan and whispered, “Zhang Chulan, what’s your meaning?”

Zhang Chulan glanced at Lin Yu, lowering his voice: “Dude, you know Bao’er—she may act like a lunatic most days, but she never cuts corners on matters like this.”

“Do you really think she brought him back just because he didn’t resist?”

Wang Zhenqiu froze slightly, then turned his head thoughtfully toward Feng Baobao.

Zhang Chulan stepped forward, his face now earnest and smiling: “Big Brother, don’t blame my companions for their impulsiveness—it’s just that your arrival was too coincidental, and you refused to reveal your identity. They were uneasy, so they decided to strike first…”

Lin Yu smiled sardonically: “And now you’re sure?”

Zhang Chulan’s expression turned serious: “I just asked Bao’er. She said you mean no harm. I trust her judgment. So, shall we turn the page on this and continue discussing the information you know?”

As he spoke, his face radiated sincerity.

Lin Yu studied him with interest and praised: “No wonder it’s you, Zhang Chulan!”

Zhang Chulan’s heart stirred: “You know me?”

Lin Yu smiled warmly: “With a reputation as big as ‘Unshaken Green Lotus,’ how could I not know you?”

Zhang Chulan’s smile stiffened, then he sheepishly scratched his head.

“Just empty fame… all empty fame…”

Lin Yu watched Zhang Chulan’s expression with keen interest.

He knew this was merely Zhang Chulan’s surface facade.

Unlike those righteous, shining protagonists, this man was a calculating, strategic lead.

The title “Unshaken Green Lotus” did embarrass him—but context mattered. In this situation, a mere nickname could never shake his composure.

“Zhang Chulan…”

Lin Yu effortlessly snapped his restraints, stretched his shoulders under the group’s wary gazes, then smiled: “For your sake, and the girl’s, I’ll let what just happened slide.”

“As for the people in the cave—I’ll tell you: they’re a mixed group of cultivators and ordinary humans. Most of the ordinary ones are mercenaries; only two are professors and students specializing in biology and the occult…”

From their composition, they did look like an expedition team—but this wasn’t an ordinary dangerous zone.

Especially the Qi Maze outside the valley—only with Golden Phoenix Granny’s guidance could even they enter. How could this mixed group of ordinary humans and cultivators possibly pass through unscathed?

‘They must have an accurate map—likely obtained from Golden Phoenix Granny’s memories!’

Zhang Chulan’s mind raced as he asked: “And the cultivators?”

Lin Yu smiled: “The ones outside probably couldn’t get in. Only three remain inside the cave: one named Liu Mingyuan, the team’s guide; another named Judy, the protected target.”

“Neither is strong—but their trinkets are worth noting.”

Trinkets… were they talismans?

Zhang Chulan and the others thought silently.

Lin Yu continued: “The third is Shaba—a voodoo priestess who worships the Forest God. She carries a guardian spirit named Amru.”

“Amru?”

“It’s a phonetic translation,” Lin Yu said, turning to Xia Liuqing. “You—go to the crack and look. See the water they’re drinking? That’s Amru. Drink it, and they gain the Forest God’s protection. When attacked, Amru emerges to shield them.”

“…”

Xia Liuqing’s face darkened.

Why didn’t you say this sooner?

The silent Golden Phoenix Granny suddenly murmured: “The sect master’s collection is vast. If we don’t drive these people away, we can’t move things quietly.”

“Golden Phoenix, driving them out is easy…”

Xia Liuqing narrowed his eyes, glancing at Lin Yu nearby: “But hiding it from this guy? That’s hard.”

Lin Yu seemed to hear their exchange and smiled faintly: “Don’t worry—I’m only interested in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Skyward Valley. As for the rest? Honestly, I don’t care.”

Here, Lin Yu paused, then added with a smile: “If you’re still worried, just leave someone to watch me.”

“After all, there’s only one decent cultivator in the cave. With your numbers, losing one won’t matter…”

The group exchanged glances, falling silent.

Feng Baobao looked left and right, then raised her hand quickly: “I…”

Zhang Chulan and Wang Zhenqiu spoke in unison: “No!”

As the words died, Zhang Chulan glanced at Wang Zhenqiu in surprise, then coughed twice: “Bao’er, this isn’t something to trouble you with!”

He scanned the cave’s occupants.

First, Golden Phoenix Granny was out—leaving her alone, Xia Liuqing would never agree.

Leaving Xia Liuqing was equally impossible.

As long as he was separated from Golden Phoenix Granny, he wouldn’t feel safe—he wasn’t a viable choice.

Wang Zhenqiu’s eagerness to help Old Xia likely stemmed from his desire to find the group that kidnapped Ma Xianhong.

If those people in the cave carry talismans, they’re connected to Ma Xianhong. With Wang Zhenqiu’s nature, he’d never miss such suspects.

As for Zhang Chulan himself—he had something he absolutely had to do.

Thus, the only one left to watch Lin Yu was Barun…

Thinking this, Zhang Chulan turned to look at Barun.

At the same moment, Wang Zhenqiu also turned toward him—clearly sharing the same thought.

Barun blinked, then smiled lightly: “Since none of you want to, I’ll do it.”

No one objected. The agreement was reached instantly.

Soon, Zhang Chulan and the others moved toward the cave, preparing to capture or drive out the group inside.

Not long after, they clashed with the cultivators and ordinary humans in the cave.

As Lin Yu said, each ordinary human carried some form of protection—when attacked, black mist spread from their bodies, clinging to plants, soil, and stone, forming tree-like monsters.

Each of them had one of these Amru monsters.

Combined with their firearms and Qi-enhanced bodies, Zhang Chulan’s group found themselves unable to overcome them.

Amid the chaos, Zhang Chulan seized an opportunity, dragging Feng Baobao to a corner of the cavern and whispered: “Bao’er, I never got a chance to ask—why did you bring that guy back?”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice how strange he is…”

Feng Baobao blinked, equally puzzled: “Yeah… why?”

Zhang Chulan’s heart sank: “Could you… be influenced by him?”

“Possible!” Feng Baobao tilted her head in thought, then looked at him. “Aren’t you the same? He told you to leave someone watching him, and you did. I suggested leaving more people, and you refused.”

More people?

Zhang Chulan froze, then suddenly realized.

Of course—why must it be just one person? With the numbers outside, Bao’er and Barun alone would suffice. The rest could stand by—no need for everyone to fight…

Thus, it wasn’t just Feng Baobao—everyone had been subtly influenced.

‘If even Bao’er can be influenced, this isn’t capturing a captive—it’s capturing a living father!’

Zhang Chulan’s scalp prickled. He opened his mouth—then suddenly remembered something, whirling to look back the way they came.

“No—Barun!”

At the same moment, in a secluded cave.

Barun, seated on the ground, felt a sudden alarm—he leapt up violently, spinning his body as his short knife slashed swiftly behind him.

“Shhh—”

Sparks flew from seemingly empty air.

A blurred figure emerged, touched Barun once, then leapt backward.

Barun sheathed his knife, staring coldly at the distorted air: “Since earlier, I’ve felt eyes on me. So… there really is a second person!”

(End of Chapter)