Chapter 402: No Return to the Past

"This, this…"

For a moment, Zhang Chengze stammered, seeming not to know how to answer.

"Brother Zhang, you aren't saying it, but actually you mean I have no right to see his father even once?"

Dai Zhishang said, displeased.

"Young Master Dai, you've misunderstood; I don't mean that. The main point is that you're not a member of my Zhang family, and my father and I have no blood or personal ties, so my father cannot meet you in a dream!"

Zhang Chengze explained with a wry smile, "Of course, Young Master Dai, if you have some other ability that lets you meet my father in a dream, I wouldn't stop you!"

Through his mother, he knew that to meet his father in a dream, besides spending day and night together, one must be of the same bloodline; his father had told his mother that himself. As for why Luo Liang can meet his father in a dream and even negotiate terms, that was beyond his knowledge.

Probably.

Luo Liang possesses abilities Zhang doesn't know; after all, he's the Immortal Official of Qingyang County, the top figure there, with some special abilities—nothing unusual.

"I certainly don't want to meet your father in a dream!"

Dai Zhishang quickly shook his head and said, "I heard that a Mountain God can manifest in broad daylight; even if one's cultivation is incomplete, with a Mountain God Token one can appear under the bright sun. So, has your father, now the new Mountain God of Shizi Ling, still not been able to use a Mountain God Token to meet me?"

He has a fondness for dreaming; in his dreams there are all kinds of beauties, and he does all sorts of muddled deeds with them in a daze. He neither wants nor hopes that a man would appear in his sleep.

You should know.

In his dreams, he's a top-tier man; beating one, eleven, a hundred, a thousand is no problem, and he also has an indescribable curiosity.

If a man were to appear in his dream, his reaction wouldn't be the scariest part; the terrifying part is that he couldn't control himself and would strike at that suddenly appearing man.

Or perhaps be killed by the other!

Zhang Chengze gave a wry smile and said nothing.

Dai Zhishang asked in surprise, "Brother Zhang, your father has become the new Mountain God of Shizi Ling; could it be that he still hasn't obtained the Mountain God Token?"

He didn't know much about the new Mountain God of Shizi Ling; he had only just heard the news that a new Mountain God had appeared there.

He hurriedly brought people over.

On the one hand he came to collect wind, on the other he was bored of staying at home.

However, regarding Shizi Ling he knew a bit: for a hundred years it had been occupied by a monster, and it was said the previous Mountain God of Shizi Ling died at that monster's hands.

Perhaps the Mountain God Token of Shizi Ling's Mountain God is in that monster's possession!

"That's not the case; thanks to the elder and another eminent person, they helped us eliminate the monster of Shizi Ling and retrieved my father's Mountain God Token, but the family is unfortunate..."

Zhang Chengze subconsciously glanced at a spot, saying nothing.

"Family unfortunate?"

Dai Zhishang wasn't stupid; he could certainly catch the meaning in Zhang Chengze's words. He looked up instinctively, and not far away, two men whose scalps were bleeding rode together fighting—cough, a proper fight—exclaiming in surprise:

"Brother Zhang, what are they doing? Are they performing?"

"Young Master Dai, they must have fallen under a mysterious master's spell; they can't see the outside, not even hear sounds, perhaps they think they've fled to a safe spot and are fighting over the Mountain God Token!"

Zhang Chengze chuckled.

It was only then that he realized the Du family's father and son, in their zeal to seize his father's Mountain God Token, had been fighting for an unknown length of time, their scalps bleeding and their bodies covered in scars.

If it were anyone else, they might have given up long ago. Their perseverance is extraordinary!

"Brother Zhang, are you talking about the ghost wall?"

Dai Zhishang opened his mouth instinctively, but before he could finish, he realized the scene before him was exactly like the one he saw on the road when he rushed to the Wang family.

Similarly, there was a scholar spinning in place within the ghost wall, nearly exhausted.

However.

To be honest, the ghost wall he encountered then was clearly inferior to this one; back then the ghost wall could still hear sounds from outside, unlike here where even the outside sounds cannot be heard.

Zhang Chengze nodded.

"I still thought you were Brother Zhang; it's your father who refuses to see me, which is why you gave so many excuses!"

Dai Zhishang smiled, turned to Wei Yuan and said, "County Magistrate Wei, do you think you can capture those two and retrieve the Mountain God Token?"

"Young Master Dai, I recall you're close friends with Imperial Attendant Tang, sharing everything despite the age gap. Why come to me with your request without consulting Imperial Attendant Tang?"

This novel you to

Wei Yuan said teasingly.

Since Dai Zhishang appeared, he sensed something was off; neither Dai Zhishang nor Tang Anzhi were interacting much, as if there was some conflict.

If it were before, he might have comforted Dai Zhishang, spoken a few good words for Tang Anzhi, and helped Tang Anzhi connect with Dai Tianli.

Now?

He hoped Tang Anzhi and Dai Zhishang would start hurling insults on the spot, preferably come to blows.

He wanted some excitement to watch, and to ruin Tang Anzhi's good plans.

Dai Zhishang said righteously, "County Magistrate Wei, as the saying goes: one mountain cannot host two tigers. Here it's clear you are the master of this place; even if I have a good relationship with Imperial Attendant Tang, I cannot bypass you to speak with him!"

Wei Yuan looked at Dai Zhishang's righteous demeanor and immediately saw that Dai Zhishang was acting; mainly his acting was poor, being too young and inexperienced, and he chuckled:

"Young Master Dai, you're right; I am the one in charge here, and you cannot go over my orders to my subordinate, Imperial Attendant Tang. Please go and bring back those two—no, just retrieve the Mountain God Token!"

In the past.

Regardless of what he did, even if it required Tang Anzhi to act, he would always speak in a consultative tone and never give direct orders.

Now?

Having seen through Tang Anzhi's true face, he still schemed with Tang Anzhi; if Tang Anzhi hadn't just taken this month's salary, which still had a long way before the month ended, he would have been eager to drive Tang Anzhi away.

Otherwise, if Tang Anzhi failed to protect his life, he might end up harming him!

Tang Anzhi said nothing, rose to leave, and Zhang Chengze pleaded, "Imperial Attendant Tang—no, Lord Tang, those two are relatives of our family; please have your men show mercy and not take their lives!"

Tang Anzhi turned his head, his gaze toward Zhang Chengze full of ill will.

It seemed he was very angry; Zhang Chengze, a poor mountain valley hunter, dared to order him around?

Zhang Chengze trembled all over, his hair standing on end, feeling as if a primeval beast were watching him; cold sweat beaded his forehead, and with a thud he collapsed onto the ground, his face and eyes filled with pure terror.

(End of chapter)