Chapter 33: The Pursuit
Everyone turned their eyes to Jiang Hong, even Lu Xiu was looking at him.
Jiang Hong hadn't forgotten the agreement he made with Lu Xiu, wondering if they could still resolve this situation themselves.
He decided not to ask for help and raised his hands, reluctantly walking to the center of the cave. Lian Jiang followed Jiang Hong's lead, and soon Lu Xiu and the others also raised their hands and did the same.
"Who are you people?" Jiang Hong asked.
"No talking!" the man's voice commanded, "Line up and walk forward!"
Nearly ten people, both men and women, young in age, emerged from all directions, each armed with an air gun, pointing at the group of five. Jiang Hong said, "Isn't this a bit much? We're just here for a school project."
The other party remained silent, but Jiang Hong felt somewhat relieved seeing that they were not in official police uniforms. After all, this wasn't an ancient site, and they hadn't disturbed the excavation, so there shouldn't be any legal issues.
The group was escorted out through another exit onto a stone path, where two closed-off SUVs were parked. Jiang Hong, Lu Xiu, and Lian Jiang were directed into one vehicle, while Xiao Pi and He Jian got into the other.
The vehicles started, and Jiang Hong exchanged a silent look with Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu raised his eyebrows in a questioning gesture. Jiang Hong glanced at Lian Jiang and then subtly waved his hand, indicating not to take any action yet. Escaping was easy; Lu Xiu could transform into a dragon and flip the cars in a moment, though it might still require Lu Xiu's intervention. Jiang Hong reassessed their strength and decided it was a rational assessment.
But these people were clearly connected to the ruins they were investigating. Perhaps they were guarding the site and might provide useful information. Besides, if they really needed to flee, couldn't they escape later?
Suddenly, Jiang Hong heard something amidst the engine and tire noises - a rhythmic "trot-trot" tapping sound.
Jiang Hong gestured to Lu Xiu to listen, and Lu Xiu seemed to have already noticed it.
Jiang Hong then signaled to Lian Jiang, who pondered for a moment before realizing it too, mouthing the word "Horse."
Someone was riding a horse outside, following the convoy. From this detail, Jiang Hong roughly guessed their identity - horse riders.
Within a ten-mile radius, there was only one Shandan Horse Farm.
Indeed, after nearly fifty minutes, the vehicles stopped. The riders dismounted around them, revealing a vast complex of large tent-like structures and several Mongolian yurt-like buildings.
"We're students!" Xiao Pi still tried to clarify.
"Talk to our boss," the leader of the group said, lowering his gun as he noticed their lack of resistance, his tone somewhat softer. He gestured for them to go inside.
They approached a huge structure resembling a Mongolian yurt. Inside were round tables for dining visitors and a large stage in the center. The leader directed them through a small door, along a tent-like corridor towards the deeper part of the horse farm.
Walking in the middle, Jiang Hong looked around and caught Lu Xiu's gaze. With Lu Xiu by his side, he felt reassured.
"Go in," the leader said, opening the door for them.
Inside was a lavishly decorated office with rosewood furniture, crystal chandeliers, and an antique Middle Eastern carpet. Despite the heavy snow outside, the yurt was warm as spring, with a gas heater on one side.
Everyone's first thought was: It's so warm, finally feeling alive again.
Sitting behind the desk was a tall, thin man, slightly older than Cao Bin. He wore a black suit, had a somewhat long face, hair a bit messy like a mane, and an authoritative, cold demeanor, but with notably large eyes.
Jiang Hong's first thought was: This guy must not be human.
Having spent time among demons, Jiang Hong had gradually learned to identify whether someone was a demon or not, especially those with more distinct features.
"Introduce yourselves," the man said, looking at a document, "Let's see your backgrounds and decide whether to send you back to Chen Zhen or keep you here to help with the horses."
The man had a strong presence, almost like a domineering CEO. He looked quite handsome, Jiang Hong thought, likely the owner of the horse farm, or at least someone in a high position.
No one spoke. Unfamiliar with the "rules of the road" and seeing his companions staying silent, Jiang Hong also remained quiet.
The man, still reading his document and without looking up, added, "My name is Lakshen, Han name Dong Mang."
"Lian Jiang," Lian Jiang spoke first, "from the Lian family of Wuyi Mountain."
Dong Mang showed no reaction, and He Jian coldly stated, "He Jian, from the He family."
Xiao Pi said, "My name is Pi Yunhao. My dad is the head of discipline at Cangqiong University, Xuan Hezhi."
Dong Mang finally looked up from his papers upon hearing Xuan Hezhi's name and glanced at Xiao Pi.
"Xuan Hezhi, the demon vanquisher?" Dong Mang asked.
"Um... yes," Xiao Pi replied, "That happened before I was born, so I don't know much about it."
Jiang Hong remembered Cao Bin mentioning that the last demon-vanquishing event was ten years ago, so...
"Are you only ten years old?" Jiang Hong asked incredulously.
Xiao Pi: "Er, by human age, yes. But because my godfather gave me some dragon power, I matured early."
"And you?" Dong Mang stared at Jiang Hong, but his gaze quickly shifted past him to Lu Xiu standing behind Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong honestly replied, "I don't have any notable family background; I'm just a mortal."
Dong Mang looked inquiringly at Lu Xiu, who was even colder, saying, "I'm just here for the ride, no need to ask me."
Dong Mang didn't press further, sensing vaguely that among this group, Lu Xiu was a formidable character. His tone softened a bit.
"Cao Bin and I have always kept to our own paths," Dong Mang leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced, and said, "You all look mostly like students. What brings you to my turf? Who's in charge? Send a representative to explain properly."
"I have a letter of introduction." Lian Jiang remembered, promptly taking out the prepared materials and the letter from his backpack. Jiang Hong couldn't help but admire his meticulousness. Off-campus projects sometimes indeed attract unwanted trouble, and having a letter of introduction could be very helpful.
Everyone looked at each other and motioned for Lian Jiang to speak. Lian Jiang honestly recounted the situation, and Dong Mang just listened quietly.
However, Jiang Hong noticed something – Lian Jiang didn't tell the horse farm owner that they were investigating an organization called "Mo." He only mentioned that their school assigned them a final project: to find ancient relics in the Qilian Mountains.
After listening, Dong Mang pressed a bell and called someone, instructing, "Let Mu Zong come in."
During this brief wait, Dong Mang said, "You must stay here until next Monday. I have other matters to attend to. After that, I will provide some information you may find useful for your project. It won't be comprehensive, but it should be enough. You can't go back into the ruins; it's our protected area. The Shandan Horse Farm has been rooted here for generations, and one of our responsibilities is to protect the Que God Altar."
Lu Xiu: "..."
Jiang Hong caught a fleeting change in Lu Xiu's expression but didn't ask.
"Wait a minute..." Lian Jiang wanted to speak.
However, Dong Mang didn't give them a chance to ask questions: "During your stay, do not leave the horse farm. The boundary is the surrounding wall. That's it."
The office door opened, and a tall man with a long face, wearing a hoodie and a mask, entered. His appearance suggested he was Dong Mang's bodyguard, and he politely gestured for them to follow.
Xiao Pi seemed hesitant to speak, but Lian Jiang signaled them to stay silent for now. He looked to Jiang Hong for confirmation, and Jiang Hong nodded, indicating the man bore them no ill will, which was already a big relief.
Moreover, the task Zhu Jingling gave them wasn't to move the relic but to find it. They had already obtained two vital pieces of information: one, the name of the relic was the "Huan God Altar." Jiang Hong was full of questions. What did this mean? Second, the Shandan Horse Farm had been guarding this place for generations. Was there some great monster sealed inside?
The guard named Mu Zong led them, and Jiang Hong noticed a short dagger hanging at his waist.
"You'll stay in the guesthouse behind the horse farm," Mu Zong said, "Come to the central area for three meals a day. Try not to wander around aimlessly and avoid talking to tourists unnecessarily. It's the off-season now, so there aren't many tourists. There's no 4G signal, but there's wifi by the bedside."
Mu Zong, not turning his head and towering high, almost unnaturally so for a man from the Central Plains, was even slightly taller than Lu Xiu.
Leaving the tent corridor, they faced heavy snowfall. Braving the cold wind, they entered a two-story building, each room's door adorned with a gold VIP sign.
Mu Zong had them record their fingerprints one by one, asking, "How will you be staying?"
Lu Xiu said, "Him and I, we'll share a room."
Mu Zong replied, "Alright."
Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu entered a room together, while the other three each took separate rooms. Jiang Hong understood Lu Xiu's intention: Jiang Hong didn't know magic and needed someone to protect him, just in case.
Jiang Hong poked his head out of the room and asked Lian Jiang, "Shall we eat together later?"
"Today's meals will be delivered to your rooms," Mu Zong said. "Starting tomorrow morning, we'll prepare three meals for you."
Mu Zong stood in the hallway, watching them each enter their rooms before turning to leave.
"Ah—" Jiang Hong collapsed onto the sofa. After spending a day and night in the ruins and now residing in a warm, resort-like VIP suite, he couldn't deny his happiness.
Lu Xiu casually pressed a button on the door, triggering a series of error beeps.
"In just a few seconds, others nearby noticed too, and messages in the group chat started rolling in."
Lian Jiang: "[This door can only be opened from the outside; we can't get out from here.]"
Xiao Pi: "[They're trying to put us under house arrest.]"
He Jian: "[Should we call the school?]"
Jiang Hong, completely unaffected, exclaimed, "Wow, such a huge floor-to-ceiling window, and the snow scene is so beautiful."
"The small building must be a premium suite for hosting tourists or leaders during peak season, with an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Looking out, the plains are covered in snow. On a clear day, one could probably see the snowy peaks of the Qilian Mountains from here. The room is heated, and there's a corner fireplace with electric heating elements glowing red. Although not very warm, it's heaven compared to the underground relics."
Lian Jiang: "[I always feel something is off. They obviously want to put us under house arrest, right?]"
Jiang Hong continued in holiday mode, took off his coat, went to wash his face with hot water, changed clothes, and said, "Oh? Snacks too? I'll start with a pack of potato chips."
Then Jiang Hong turned on the TV, finding Gansu Satellite TV, Qinghai Satellite TV, Shaanxi Satellite TV, Ningxia Satellite TV, and several other local channels.
Lu Xiu changed into casual indoor clothes and lay on the sofa, watching TV with Jiang Hong. After randomly flipping channels for a while, Jiang Hong picked up his phone, saw over two hundred messages in the group chat, and got up, thinking about visiting others...
Jiang Hong, slow to realize: "Huh, why can't this door be opened?"
Lu Xiu: "......"
Jiang Hong, not particularly nervous and actually finding it a bit thrilling, started replying to messages on his phone. He thought, to escape, all they needed to do was to break through the floor-to-ceiling window by riding on Lu Xiu.
Unaware of Jiang Hong's plan to use him as a battering ram, Lu Xiu stood up and said, "I'm going to take a shower."
Jiang Hong urged everyone not to panic and began analyzing the situation in the group chat. Suddenly, he thought of using the wifi at the horse farm. Could it be monitored? So, he sent a voice message, saying, "Let's talk here."
Voice messages could be eavesdropped on, but they were still better than leaving written records.
Lian Jiang asked, "What is Lu Xuesheng (Senior Lu) doing?"
"He's taking a shower," Jiang Hong replied, glancing at the bathroom and seeing Lu Xiu's silhouette through the frosted glass. He suggested, "How about we each take a rest first and then discuss after dinner?"
Xiao Pi pondered, "I wonder, what exactly is that 'Huan' altar?"
"I guess it's 'Rui'," Jiang Hong said, "I'll type it out for you to see."
Jiang Hong had seen this character in his world exploration class, but didn't know its meaning. There were only a few lines of explanation in the textbook.
"That's it!" He Jian exclaimed as if awakening from a dream, "Now it makes sense!"
Jiang Hong asked, "What is that?"
He Jian explained, "It's an ancient mythical beast, but it's said to have been extinct for a long time."
Lian Jiang queried, "Did you guys see anything clearly inside the relic?"
The moment the door opened, Jiang Hong stood at the back. Xiao Pi and He Jian, who were in front, saw the inside of the relic. It seemed vast and pitch-black. Lian Jiang now regretted not taking photos immediately.
"There was the light of the earth's veins," said Jiang Hong.
Having once accompanied Lu Xiu on an adventure and witnessed the earth's veins firsthand, Jiang Hong was particularly sensitive to this. He noticed a faint blue light deep within the relic and concluded there must be something unusual inside.
"I suspect this relic is still active," Jiang Hong said. "Although I don't know what it's used for, there must be something important inside."
Lian Jiang agreed, "You're right. The relic doesn't seem to have been sealed for many years. There's not much dust on the door, especially where the handprints are. Someone must have entered recently. Jiang Hong, you're very observant."
Lu Xiu came out after his shower, drying his hair, and gestured that it was Jiang Hong's turn. Jiang Hong then hung up the voice chat to take his shower.
"What is 'Rui'?" asked Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu queried, "Are you asking for my help?"
Jiang Hong: "Uh... never mind, I'll figure it out myself?"
Lu Xiu: "Hmm."
Jiang Hong guessed that Lu Xiu must know what that thing was, but even if the relic was named "Rui" Altar, it might not actually contain 'Rui', just like how temples often don't have the deity themselves present. It might have been repurposed.
"Do you guys remember what Teacher Zhu Jinling said when she assigned the project?" Jiang Hong, having finished his shower, came out to find dinner had been served. He sat opposite Lu Xiu and began eating. The dinner was lavish, with clear stewed lamb, wide noodles from the northwest, and chili powder on the side.
Jiang Hong sent another voice message to the group. The other two seemed to be asleep, with only Lian Jiang still awake.
Lian Jiang: "I remember. Teacher Zhu said that she assigned the topics to each group based on divination, and they all have certain connections to the students."
Jiang Hong: "I'm wondering, what could those connections be? I'm really curious." He stood up again, walked over to the door, and tried to see if he could unlock it. The resort used smart locks which couldn't be opened. The ventilation duct above was too narrow to fit a person through.
Lian Jiang: "Shall we go out and have a look tonight?"
Jiang Hong: "But how can we get out?"
Lian Jiang fell silent, and Jiang Hong turned to Lu Xiu, "This door... Senior, what's wrong with you?"
Suddenly, Lu Xiu also stopped talking. He sat motionless on the edge of the bed, maintaining a peculiar pose, like a statue.
"Senior?" Jiang Hong got startled and became anxious, quickly going over to check on Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu's pupils were slightly dilated, his eyes unfocused, reflecting Jiang Hong's face in his clear, bright eyes.
"Senior!" Jiang Hong panicked, moving closer. Lu Xiu remained in the same position, slightly bent forward as if frozen in a contemplative pose, his hair, eyelashes, and expression as if time had stopped at that moment.
So handsome... Jiang Hong thought. This was the first time he had looked at Lu Xiu so closely. His lips were softly curved, his jawline sharp, and his eyelashes trembled slightly with his breath.
Jiang Hong noticed that he was still breathing and reached out to check again.
Three seconds later, Lu Xiu suddenly snapped out of it as if awakened from a dream.
Lu Xiu: "What?"
Jiang Hong: "Are you okay?"
Lu Xiu exhaled slowly and said, "I was summoned just now. How long was I gone?"
Jiang Hong, puzzled, asked, "Summoned? By whom? About a minute, I guess? You scared me."
"Another dragon," Lu Xiu replied, "He suddenly sent me a signal."
"The principal?" Jiang Hong was shocked, "Where is he?"
"Hmm." Lu Xiu sat up, his hair a bit messy, and said, "He's in the Xia Yu era. He shouldn't be in this time period..."
"It's okay!" Jiang Hong quickly said, "If you have important matters, go ahead and take care of them."
"It's over now," Lu Xiu said. "He asked me to investigate something in this era, and it just so happens I had recently read a document about it..."
Jiang Hong: "Do you need to rest for a while?"
Lu Xiu's back was covered in sweat, soaking through his T-shirt. He nodded, took off his T-shirt, and Jiang Hong fetched him clean clothes to change into.
"Temporal communication is very draining on spiritual energy," Lu Xiu said tiredly, "I need to sleep for a bit."
Jiang Hong: "I'll sleep with you."
Lu Xiu initially wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but after looking at Jiang Hong, his expression softened and he replied, "Thank you. Don't worry, I'm just tired, it's not dangerous. You can move around freely, don't worry about waking me up."
The conversation between dragons could actually transcend time and space! Jiang Hong watched Lu Xiu with curiosity as the latter drifted into a dragon's dream.
Jiang Hong waited for a while, unsure how long Lu Xiu would sleep. By around ten o'clock, the surroundings were serene, with only the soft rustling of heavy snow outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
Yawning, Jiang Hong lay down beside Lu Xiu. On the large bed, Lu Xiu’s body was naturally stretched out, leaving little space. Initially, Jiang Hong curled up beside him, but feeling uncomfortable after a while, he turned and embraced him. Seeing Lu Xiu had no reaction, Jiang Hong used him as a pillow and fell asleep.
Eleven o'clock sharp.
With a "hum", a light flashed from the wall, and a figure burst out.
Jiang Hong abruptly sat up, facing the person eye to eye, almost screaming in fright but luckily managed to keep quiet.
Lian Jiang: "......"
Jiang Hong: "......"
"Sorry to disturb," Lian Jiang said, "I... thought you might still be awake."
Seeing Jiang Hong holding Lu Xiu in his sleep, Lian Jiang immediately felt awkward.
Jiang Hong quickly gestured with his hand that it was fine and signaled him to keep his voice down.
Jiang Hong quickly put on his trousers and got out of bed, asking, "What's wrong? Huh? How did you get here?"
Lian Jiang made a spellcasting gesture and whispered, "Family secret technique, 'Juli Sunshu,' for underground movement."
Jiang Hong: "Wow! You can go through walls!"
Lian Jiang, now dressed in a down jacket and wearing a knitted hat, said, "I'm planning to go out and investigate. He Jian and Xiao Pi are asleep. Are you coming?"
"Let's go!" Jiang Hong was thrilled, quickly getting dressed. He was excited to be considered for such an adventure!
"You can go through walls!" Jiang Hong, now with his hat and gloves on, finally saw Lian Jiang's special skill. "That's an incredible ability! Couldn't you just walk into any bank vault?"
Lian Jiang: "The thicker the wall and the higher the Mohs hardness, the greater the chance of failure. I can only pass through brick walls, not through too much steel reinforcement. Bank walls are made of steel plates, so no, that's not possible. Besides, that would be a crime... Ready now?"
Jiang Hong said, "Ready."
Lian Jiang unfurled his scarf, wrapped Jiang Hong in it, and dragged him along, saying, "Let's go!"
Inside, Jiang Hong was screaming with excitement. With a "whoosh" sound by his ear and a blur before his eyes, they were suddenly in the hallway, greeted by a blast of cold air.
So cold! In the midst of Gansu's freezing winter night, under the Siberian cold front ravaging the Qilian Mountains, Jiang Hong almost had a heart attack from the shock.
"Where are we going?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lian Jiang whispered, "Don't know, let's just look around. Maybe we'll find some useful information, what do you think?"
Lian Jiang and Jiang Hong descended from the two-story building, heading towards the central area of the horse farm.
Jiang Hong encouraged, "Do another one."
Lian Jiang: "The surge of spiritual energy makes it easy for us to be detected."
Despite saying that, Lian Jiang still pulled Jiang Hong along and stylishly performed the move, "buzzing" through a wall.
"Wow!" Jiang Hong clapped excitedly. Lian Jiang laughed, seemingly enjoying the admiration for his simple underground movement technique, then pulled Jiang Hong along to "buzz" through three more walls.
"You're really cute," Lian Jiang said, amused.
"That's amazing!" Jiang Hong exclaimed. "From today on, you're my idol!"
"No more playing," Lian Jiang said. "Where are we?"
They found themselves in a dark storage room. Jiang Hong, ensuring no one was around, turned on the light. It was a cluttered room used for storing festival items. He then turned off the light, opened the door, and entered the central corridor of the horse farm.
As Lian Jiang moved to go outside, Jiang Hong reminded, "Watch out for the cameras."
Lian Jiang glanced up, and they carefully avoided the areas covered by cameras. Fortunately, there weren't many cameras inside the horse farm.
Jiang Hong suggested, "Shall we check his office?"
Unsure of where else to go, as he lacked much investigative experience, Lian Jiang agreed, "Okay, I'll follow your lead. Do you remember the way?"
Jiang Hong vaguely remembered. As they proceeded along the corridor, they almost bumped into a patrolling guard. The horse farm's guards moved silently, nearly catching them. Lian Jiang quickly pulled Jiang Hong back and used his underground movement technique to go through a wall into a room, hiding until the guard passed.
"He didn't let us come out for dinner tonight," Jiang Hong said. "There might be something going on."
Lian Jiang agreed, "I think so too."
They returned outside Dong Mang's office, where the lights were still on and the door was locked, likely with no one inside.
As another patrolling guard approached, Lian Jiang pulled Jiang Hong, zipped through the wall, and they entered the office.
In their earlier hurried visit, Jiang Hong hadn't paid much attention to the office layout. Now, he took a closer look. Dong Mang's office was adorned with numerous horse racing trophies and photographs with senior leaders.
The desk was neatly organized. Lian Jiang opened Dong Mang's sleeping laptop, found it password-protected, and then closed it.
The drawers weren't locked, and there was a safe in the corner. Jiang Hong casually opened a drawer to find a stack of racehorse pedigree certificates and documents.
They found no useful information.
Lian Jiang: "What now?"
Jiang Hong was at a loss too. As rookie investigators, they couldn't just rummage through someone else's office. Racking his brain and recalling detective films he had seen, he asked, "Are there any hidden compartments here?"
"I have no idea," Lian Jiang admitted, skilled in magic but a novice in this field.
Jiang Hong felt it was a tricky situation, as Dong Mang seemed very meticulous, making it difficult to find any loopholes or clues.
Jiang Hong suggested, "Let's check for hidden compartments by passing through walls."
Lian Jiang: "Okay, let's try."
Lian Jiang, though the group leader, was quite accommodating. He started passing through walls with Jiang Hong, but the area was just tents, unlikely to have hidden spaces like behind bookshelves in Mai Qing's house.
However, as they roamed through the dark tents, they suddenly stepped into a brightly lit compartment of the central banquet hall, overhearing someone talking.
They had entered a lit private room adjacent to the main banquet hall. The person inside was facing away from them, and Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang almost bumped into him as they emerged from the wall.
There was a bodyguard in a black suit, wearing headphones, listening to music, munching on pickled peanuts, and drinking.
From the adjacent private room, the voices of Dong Mang and a guest could be heard. Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang immediately tiptoed around, trying not to make a sound.
"Shadows, shadows!" Jiang Hong hissed to Lian Jiang, gesturing him to walk against the light to avoid casting shadows on the wall that might be spotted by the bodyguard.
Lian Jiang nodded, pointed at the bodyguard, and made a 'slashing' gesture to Jiang Hong, asking if they should knock him out since it was too risky.
Jiang Hong nodded and gestured back the same 'slashing' motion, indicating that Lian Jiang should do it.
Lian Jiang waved his hand, urging Jiang Hong to go ahead, and took a stance, indicating he would handle catching the bodyguard.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong thought, 'Alright then,' and so he rolled up his sleeves, walked quietly to the bodyguard's back, took a deep breath, and raised his hand.
'Faint now!' Jiang Hong struck the bodyguard's neck with a chop of his hand.
The bodyguard was startled and immediately turned around.
Jiang Hong and the bodyguard locked eyes, and then Lian Jiang rushed in from the corner, holding a bronze vase, and hit the bodyguard over the head with it. The bodyguard collapsed, and they hurriedly caught him, gently laying him on the ground.
Jiang Hong exploded, "It should have been you; I have no clue how to do this..."
Lian Jiang whispered, "Didn't you learn physical techniques? Didn’t the principal teach you?"
Jiang Hong: "No, forget it... Let's hurry and eavesdrop."
Lian Jiang gestured for silence, and they continued to eavesdrop on the conversation in the next room. Only a thick tent curtain separated the two yurts, casting the shadows of several people on the curtain, making their voices exceptionally clear.
A male voice said, "… Mr. Dong has always known."
A female voice laughed, "Mr. Dong is indeed a wise man."
Dong Mang did not respond. Hearing these words, Jiang Hong felt that the speakers were like lobbyists.
After a long silence, Dong Mang finally spoke.
"Alright, let's leave it at that for today," said Dong Mang.
Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang exchanged glances, thinking, 'We just got here, and you're already done talking?'
But the two people showed no intention of leaving. The woman said, "Mr. Dong, today you must give us an answer, no matter what. The Zhu Shen Altar has been waiting for over two thousand years. From any perspective, now is the best opportunity."
The man added, "Our boss has already shown enough patience with the Shandan matter. We came today to alleviate your concerns. Mr. Dong, if you have any worries or demands, please express them all at once, so we can report back to our superiors."
After a brief silence, the woman spoke again, "Mr. Dong, you really needn't worry. The last appearance of Wu Zhi Qi in Chongqing..."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Lian Jiang: "?"
Hearing this, Jiang Hong was stunned. His first thought wasn't about the vast difference between these two matters but rather: 'Zhu Jinling's research topic was so accurate! It really does involve me!'
Lian Jiang mouthed: 'What's that?'
Jiang Hong quickly gestured with his hand to keep listening.
"...Although we didn't achieve our ultimate goal last time, the experiment proved that the path ahead of us is unobstructed. More demon spirits will join us in the future. Just imagine, even if the Exorcist Committee grows stronger, they are still human. How can they compare to our ancestors?"
Dong Mang's voice was calm, "So this time, what do you plan to awaken?"
The woman, avoiding a direct answer, said, "The only enemy in the Committee is Chen Zhen. The rest are just inexperienced kids. And us? Kuafu, Hanba, Xingtian... With enough spiritual power, we could even awaken Zhuyin. This is another battle of gods, the only difference being the absolute power is on our side. The Committee stands no chance against our strength..."
The man lazily said, "Victory favors the prepared, Mr. Dong."
"Enough," Dong Mang said coldly.
Jiang Hong, recognizing many names from the literature, was dumbfounded along with Lian Jiang. Lian Jiang, having not participated in the battle against Wu Zhi Qi, was completely clueless about the situation and looked utterly bewildered.
But Jiang Hong began to realize the situation was more complicated than expected. He regretted not bringing Lu Xiu along and wondered what Lu Xiu was dealing with...
Distracted, Jiang Hong missed part of the conversation. He quickly took out his phone and started typing notes in a memo app to avoid forgetting key information.
They only heard Dong Mang say a few more words in a low voice, concluding with, "You may leave now."
"This will be my last visit," a woman's voice responded.
Sounds of packing up came from the neighboring room. Dong Mang didn't seem to get up to see them off. A man's voice said, "Stay in touch."
"Did he agree?" Jiang Hong whispered.
Lian Jiang, looking puzzled, shook his head, unable to confirm.
"I didn't catch the last few sentences clearly either," Lian Jiang said. "What do we do now?"
Jiang Hong pulled Lian Jiang to the side of the wall, ready to phase through it and escape if someone approached. But the man and woman didn't come their way. It seemed the bodyguard was not from the emissary but stationed by Dong Mang.
After the emissary left the private room, Jiang Hong gestured for silence and pointed towards Dong Mang's room.
Lian Jiang then led Jiang Hong through the wall into the adjacent room. They appeared silently, finding Dong Mang sitting with his back to them, seemingly deep in thought.
Jiang Hong signaled, and they tiptoed out of the room.
"I'll follow them," Jiang Hong said. "You go back and wake everyone up. Time to get to work."
It was half-past midnight, and outside, the wind howled, swirling the snow.
"Wake up for what?" Lian Jiang was still confused about the situation.
Jiang Hong explained, "They must have a vehicle. We'll check the license plate, and if necessary, we can follow them to see where they go after leaving the horse farm."
"Be careful then!" Lian Jiang said after a moment's thought, then turned and left.
Jiang Hong slipped into the night, swiftly moving behind the tents. He suddenly regretted his boldness. Am I really this brave? He checked his protective amulet — as long as he had it, he would be fine, and he could always summon Lu Xiu if needed.
Not far away, the male and female emissaries walked through the snow, leaving a trail of footprints. Jiang Hong followed discreetly, feeling like a stealthy thief. The thrill of the chase was exhilarating, and it seemed the emissaries were oblivious to his presence.
The emissaries mentioned Wuzhiqi and "awakening." When Wuzhiqi was discovered, Lu Xiu and the exorcists had agreed that this powerful demon had vanished from history. But these people had "awakened" it. Did they possess some ability to resurrect powerful demons?
They also mentioned ancient legendary beasts like Kuafu, Hanba, and Xingtian in their conversation. Could they be part of the organization known as "Mo"?
Zhu Jingling's end-of-term project is too extreme! I'm just a freshman!
While lost in thought, Jiang Hong continued to follow the pair. They walked silently, almost ghost-like in the snowstorm, heading towards the outskirts of the horse farm.
Jiang Hong followed more closely, crossing a large part of the horse farm, recalling their mention of "Quwei." He saw the man and woman stop behind a tent.
Suspecting they might talk, Jiang Hong hid behind the tent.
Just then, his phone suddenly rang.
Terrified out of his wits, Jiang Hong quickly answered the call. Fortunately, the sound of the wind masked the ringtone, and the two did not notice.
Chapter 33: The Pursuit
Everyone turned their eyes to Jiang Hong, even Lu Xiu was looking at him.
Jiang Hong hadn't forgotten the agreement he made with Lu Xiu, wondering if they could still resolve this situation themselves.
He decided not to ask for help and raised his hands, reluctantly walking to the center of the cave. Lian Jiang followed Jiang Hong's lead, and soon Lu Xiu and the others also raised their hands and did the same.
"Who are you people?" Jiang Hong asked.
"No talking!" the man's voice commanded, "Line up and walk forward!"
Nearly ten people, both men and women, young in age, emerged from all directions, each armed with an air gun, pointing at the group of five. Jiang Hong said, "Isn't this a bit much? We're just here for a school project."
The other party remained silent, but Jiang Hong felt somewhat relieved seeing that they were not in official police uniforms. After all, this wasn't an ancient site, and they hadn't disturbed the excavation, so there shouldn't be any legal issues.
The group was escorted out through another exit onto a stone path, where two closed-off SUVs were parked. Jiang Hong, Lu Xiu, and Lian Jiang were directed into one vehicle, while Xiao Pi and He Jian got into the other.
The vehicles started, and Jiang Hong exchanged a silent look with Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu raised his eyebrows in a questioning gesture. Jiang Hong glanced at Lian Jiang and then subtly waved his hand, indicating not to take any action yet. Escaping was easy; Lu Xiu could transform into a dragon and flip the cars in a moment, though it might still require Lu Xiu's intervention. Jiang Hong reassessed their strength and decided it was a rational assessment.
But these people were clearly connected to the ruins they were investigating. Perhaps they were guarding the site and might provide useful information. Besides, if they really needed to flee, couldn't they escape later?
Suddenly, Jiang Hong heard something amidst the engine and tire noises - a rhythmic "trot-trot" tapping sound.
Jiang Hong gestured to Lu Xiu to listen, and Lu Xiu seemed to have already noticed it.
Jiang Hong then signaled to Lian Jiang, who pondered for a moment before realizing it too, mouthing the word "Horse."
Someone was riding a horse outside, following the convoy. From this detail, Jiang Hong roughly guessed their identity - horse riders.
Within a ten-mile radius, there was only one Shandan Horse Farm.
Indeed, after nearly fifty minutes, the vehicles stopped. The riders dismounted around them, revealing a vast complex of large tent-like structures and several Mongolian yurt-like buildings.
"We're students!" Xiao Pi still tried to clarify.
"Talk to our boss," the leader of the group said, lowering his gun as he noticed their lack of resistance, his tone somewhat softer. He gestured for them to go inside.
They approached a huge structure resembling a Mongolian yurt. Inside were round tables for dining visitors and a large stage in the center. The leader directed them through a small door, along a tent-like corridor towards the deeper part of the horse farm.
Walking in the middle, Jiang Hong looked around and caught Lu Xiu's gaze. With Lu Xiu by his side, he felt reassured.
"Go in," the leader said, opening the door for them.
Inside was a lavishly decorated office with rosewood furniture, crystal chandeliers, and an antique Middle Eastern carpet. Despite the heavy snow outside, the yurt was warm as spring, with a gas heater on one side.
Everyone's first thought was: It's so warm, finally feeling alive again.
Sitting behind the desk was a tall, thin man, slightly older than Cao Bin. He wore a black suit, had a somewhat long face, hair a bit messy like a mane, and an authoritative, cold demeanor, but with notably large eyes.
Jiang Hong's first thought was: This guy must not be human.
Having spent time among demons, Jiang Hong had gradually learned to identify whether someone was a demon or not, especially those with more distinct features.
"Introduce yourselves," the man said, looking at a document, "Let's see your backgrounds and decide whether to send you back to Chen Zhen or keep you here to help with the horses."
The man had a strong presence, almost like a domineering CEO. He looked quite handsome, Jiang Hong thought, likely the owner of the horse farm, or at least someone in a high position.
No one spoke. Unfamiliar with the "rules of the road" and seeing his companions staying silent, Jiang Hong also remained quiet.
The man, still reading his document and without looking up, added, "My name is Lakshen, Han name Dong Mang."
"Lian Jiang," Lian Jiang spoke first, "from the Lian family of Wuyi Mountain."
Dong Mang showed no reaction, and He Jian coldly stated, "He Jian, from the He family."
Xiao Pi said, "My name is Pi Yunhao. My dad is the head of discipline at Cangqiong University, Xuan Hezhi."
Dong Mang finally looked up from his papers upon hearing Xuan Hezhi's name and glanced at Xiao Pi.
"Xuan Hezhi, the demon vanquisher?" Dong Mang asked.
"Um... yes," Xiao Pi replied, "That happened before I was born, so I don't know much about it."
Jiang Hong remembered Cao Bin mentioning that the last demon-vanquishing event was ten years ago, so...
"Are you only ten years old?" Jiang Hong asked incredulously.
Xiao Pi: "Er, by human age, yes. But because my godfather gave me some dragon power, I matured early."
"And you?" Dong Mang stared at Jiang Hong, but his gaze quickly shifted past him to Lu Xiu standing behind Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong honestly replied, "I don't have any notable family background; I'm just a mortal."
Dong Mang looked inquiringly at Lu Xiu, who was even colder, saying, "I'm just here for the ride, no need to ask me."
Dong Mang didn't press further, sensing vaguely that among this group, Lu Xiu was a formidable character. His tone softened a bit.
"Cao Bin and I have always kept to our own paths," Dong Mang leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced, and said, "You all look mostly like students. What brings you to my turf? Who's in charge? Send a representative to explain properly."
"I have a letter of introduction." Lian Jiang remembered, promptly taking out the prepared materials and the letter from his backpack. Jiang Hong couldn't help but admire his meticulousness. Off-campus projects sometimes indeed attract unwanted trouble, and having a letter of introduction could be very helpful.
Everyone looked at each other and motioned for Lian Jiang to speak. Lian Jiang honestly recounted the situation, and Dong Mang just listened quietly.
However, Jiang Hong noticed something – Lian Jiang didn't tell the horse farm owner that they were investigating an organization called "Mo." He only mentioned that their school assigned them a final project: to find ancient relics in the Qilian Mountains.
After listening, Dong Mang pressed a bell and called someone, instructing, "Let Mu Zong come in."
During this brief wait, Dong Mang said, "You must stay here until next Monday. I have other matters to attend to. After that, I will provide some information you may find useful for your project. It won't be comprehensive, but it should be enough. You can't go back into the ruins; it's our protected area. The Shandan Horse Farm has been rooted here for generations, and one of our responsibilities is to protect the Que God Altar."
Lu Xiu: "..."
Jiang Hong caught a fleeting change in Lu Xiu's expression but didn't ask.
"Wait a minute..." Lian Jiang wanted to speak.
However, Dong Mang didn't give them a chance to ask questions: "During your stay, do not leave the horse farm. The boundary is the surrounding wall. That's it."
The office door opened, and a tall man with a long face, wearing a hoodie and a mask, entered. His appearance suggested he was Dong Mang's bodyguard, and he politely gestured for them to follow.
Xiao Pi seemed hesitant to speak, but Lian Jiang signaled them to stay silent for now. He looked to Jiang Hong for confirmation, and Jiang Hong nodded, indicating the man bore them no ill will, which was already a big relief.
Moreover, the task Zhu Jingling gave them wasn't to move the relic but to find it. They had already obtained two vital pieces of information: one, the name of the relic was the "Huan God Altar." Jiang Hong was full of questions. What did this mean? Second, the Shandan Horse Farm had been guarding this place for generations. Was there some great monster sealed inside?
The guard named Mu Zong led them, and Jiang Hong noticed a short dagger hanging at his waist.
"You'll stay in the guesthouse behind the horse farm," Mu Zong said, "Come to the central area for three meals a day. Try not to wander around aimlessly and avoid talking to tourists unnecessarily. It's the off-season now, so there aren't many tourists. There's no 4G signal, but there's wifi by the bedside."
Mu Zong, not turning his head and towering high, almost unnaturally so for a man from the Central Plains, was even slightly taller than Lu Xiu.
Leaving the tent corridor, they faced heavy snowfall. Braving the cold wind, they entered a two-story building, each room's door adorned with a gold VIP sign.
Mu Zong had them record their fingerprints one by one, asking, "How will you be staying?"
Lu Xiu said, "Him and I, we'll share a room."
Mu Zong replied, "Alright."
Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu entered a room together, while the other three each took separate rooms. Jiang Hong understood Lu Xiu's intention: Jiang Hong didn't know magic and needed someone to protect him, just in case.
Jiang Hong poked his head out of the room and asked Lian Jiang, "Shall we eat together later?"
"Today's meals will be delivered to your rooms," Mu Zong said. "Starting tomorrow morning, we'll prepare three meals for you."
Mu Zong stood in the hallway, watching them each enter their rooms before turning to leave.
"Ah—" Jiang Hong collapsed onto the sofa. After spending a day and night in the ruins and now residing in a warm, resort-like VIP suite, he couldn't deny his happiness.
Lu Xiu casually pressed a button on the door, triggering a series of error beeps.
"In just a few seconds, others nearby noticed too, and messages in the group chat started rolling in."
Lian Jiang: "[This door can only be opened from the outside; we can't get out from here.]"
Xiao Pi: "[They're trying to put us under house arrest.]"
He Jian: "[Should we call the school?]"
Jiang Hong, completely unaffected, exclaimed, "Wow, such a huge floor-to-ceiling window, and the snow scene is so beautiful."
"The small building must be a premium suite for hosting tourists or leaders during peak season, with an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Looking out, the plains are covered in snow. On a clear day, one could probably see the snowy peaks of the Qilian Mountains from here. The room is heated, and there's a corner fireplace with electric heating elements glowing red. Although not very warm, it's heaven compared to the underground relics."
Lian Jiang: "[I always feel something is off. They obviously want to put us under house arrest, right?]"
Jiang Hong continued in holiday mode, took off his coat, went to wash his face with hot water, changed clothes, and said, "Oh? Snacks too? I'll start with a pack of potato chips."
Then Jiang Hong turned on the TV, finding Gansu Satellite TV, Qinghai Satellite TV, Shaanxi Satellite TV, Ningxia Satellite TV, and several other local channels.
Lu Xiu changed into casual indoor clothes and lay on the sofa, watching TV with Jiang Hong. After randomly flipping channels for a while, Jiang Hong picked up his phone, saw over two hundred messages in the group chat, and got up, thinking about visiting others...
Jiang Hong, slow to realize: "Huh, why can't this door be opened?"
Lu Xiu: "......"
Jiang Hong, not particularly nervous and actually finding it a bit thrilling, started replying to messages on his phone. He thought, to escape, all they needed to do was to break through the floor-to-ceiling window by riding on Lu Xiu.
Unaware of Jiang Hong's plan to use him as a battering ram, Lu Xiu stood up and said, "I'm going to take a shower."
Jiang Hong urged everyone not to panic and began analyzing the situation in the group chat. Suddenly, he thought of using the wifi at the horse farm. Could it be monitored? So, he sent a voice message, saying, "Let's talk here."
Voice messages could be eavesdropped on, but they were still better than leaving written records.
Lian Jiang asked, "What is Lu Xuesheng (Senior Lu) doing?"
"He's taking a shower," Jiang Hong replied, glancing at the bathroom and seeing Lu Xiu's silhouette through the frosted glass. He suggested, "How about we each take a rest first and then discuss after dinner?"
Xiao Pi pondered, "I wonder, what exactly is that 'Huan' altar?"
"I guess it's 'Rui'," Jiang Hong said, "I'll type it out for you to see."
Jiang Hong had seen this character in his world exploration class, but didn't know its meaning. There were only a few lines of explanation in the textbook.
"That's it!" He Jian exclaimed as if awakening from a dream, "Now it makes sense!"
Jiang Hong asked, "What is that?"
He Jian explained, "It's an ancient mythical beast, but it's said to have been extinct for a long time."
Lian Jiang queried, "Did you guys see anything clearly inside the relic?"
The moment the door opened, Jiang Hong stood at the back. Xiao Pi and He Jian, who were in front, saw the inside of the relic. It seemed vast and pitch-black. Lian Jiang now regretted not taking photos immediately.
"There was the light of the earth's veins," said Jiang Hong.
Having once accompanied Lu Xiu on an adventure and witnessed the earth's veins firsthand, Jiang Hong was particularly sensitive to this. He noticed a faint blue light deep within the relic and concluded there must be something unusual inside.
"I suspect this relic is still active," Jiang Hong said. "Although I don't know what it's used for, there must be something important inside."
Lian Jiang agreed, "You're right. The relic doesn't seem to have been sealed for many years. There's not much dust on the door, especially where the handprints are. Someone must have entered recently. Jiang Hong, you're very observant."
Lu Xiu came out after his shower, drying his hair, and gestured that it was Jiang Hong's turn. Jiang Hong then hung up the voice chat to take his shower.
"What is 'Rui'?" asked Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu queried, "Are you asking for my help?"
Jiang Hong: "Uh... never mind, I'll figure it out myself?"
Lu Xiu: "Hmm."
Jiang Hong guessed that Lu Xiu must know what that thing was, but even if the relic was named "Rui" Altar, it might not actually contain 'Rui', just like how temples often don't have the deity themselves present. It might have been repurposed.
"Do you guys remember what Teacher Zhu Jinling said when she assigned the project?" Jiang Hong, having finished his shower, came out to find dinner had been served. He sat opposite Lu Xiu and began eating. The dinner was lavish, with clear stewed lamb, wide noodles from the northwest, and chili powder on the side.
Jiang Hong sent another voice message to the group. The other two seemed to be asleep, with only Lian Jiang still awake.
Lian Jiang: "I remember. Teacher Zhu said that she assigned the topics to each group based on divination, and they all have certain connections to the students."
Jiang Hong: "I'm wondering, what could those connections be? I'm really curious." He stood up again, walked over to the door, and tried to see if he could unlock it. The resort used smart locks which couldn't be opened. The ventilation duct above was too narrow to fit a person through.
Lian Jiang: "Shall we go out and have a look tonight?"
Jiang Hong: "But how can we get out?"
Lian Jiang fell silent, and Jiang Hong turned to Lu Xiu, "This door... Senior, what's wrong with you?"
Suddenly, Lu Xiu also stopped talking. He sat motionless on the edge of the bed, maintaining a peculiar pose, like a statue.
"Senior?" Jiang Hong got startled and became anxious, quickly going over to check on Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu's pupils were slightly dilated, his eyes unfocused, reflecting Jiang Hong's face in his clear, bright eyes.
"Senior!" Jiang Hong panicked, moving closer. Lu Xiu remained in the same position, slightly bent forward as if frozen in a contemplative pose, his hair, eyelashes, and expression as if time had stopped at that moment.
So handsome... Jiang Hong thought. This was the first time he had looked at Lu Xiu so closely. His lips were softly curved, his jawline sharp, and his eyelashes trembled slightly with his breath.
Jiang Hong noticed that he was still breathing and reached out to check again.
Three seconds later, Lu Xiu suddenly snapped out of it as if awakened from a dream.
Lu Xiu: "What?"
Jiang Hong: "Are you okay?"
Lu Xiu exhaled slowly and said, "I was summoned just now. How long was I gone?"
Jiang Hong, puzzled, asked, "Summoned? By whom? About a minute, I guess? You scared me."
"Another dragon," Lu Xiu replied, "He suddenly sent me a signal."
"The principal?" Jiang Hong was shocked, "Where is he?"
"Hmm." Lu Xiu sat up, his hair a bit messy, and said, "He's in the Xia Yu era. He shouldn't be in this time period..."
"It's okay!" Jiang Hong quickly said, "If you have important matters, go ahead and take care of them."
"It's over now," Lu Xiu said. "He asked me to investigate something in this era, and it just so happens I had recently read a document about it..."
Jiang Hong: "Do you need to rest for a while?"
Lu Xiu's back was covered in sweat, soaking through his T-shirt. He nodded, took off his T-shirt, and Jiang Hong fetched him clean clothes to change into.
"Temporal communication is very draining on spiritual energy," Lu Xiu said tiredly, "I need to sleep for a bit."
Jiang Hong: "I'll sleep with you."
Lu Xiu initially wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but after looking at Jiang Hong, his expression softened and he replied, "Thank you. Don't worry, I'm just tired, it's not dangerous. You can move around freely, don't worry about waking me up."
The conversation between dragons could actually transcend time and space! Jiang Hong watched Lu Xiu with curiosity as the latter drifted into a dragon's dream.
Jiang Hong waited for a while, unsure how long Lu Xiu would sleep. By around ten o'clock, the surroundings were serene, with only the soft rustling of heavy snow outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
Yawning, Jiang Hong lay down beside Lu Xiu. On the large bed, Lu Xiu’s body was naturally stretched out, leaving little space. Initially, Jiang Hong curled up beside him, but feeling uncomfortable after a while, he turned and embraced him. Seeing Lu Xiu had no reaction, Jiang Hong used him as a pillow and fell asleep.
Eleven o'clock sharp.
With a "hum", a light flashed from the wall, and a figure burst out.
Jiang Hong abruptly sat up, facing the person eye to eye, almost screaming in fright but luckily managed to keep quiet.
Lian Jiang: "......"
Jiang Hong: "......"
"Sorry to disturb," Lian Jiang said, "I... thought you might still be awake."
Seeing Jiang Hong holding Lu Xiu in his sleep, Lian Jiang immediately felt awkward.
Jiang Hong quickly gestured with his hand that it was fine and signaled him to keep his voice down.
Jiang Hong quickly put on his trousers and got out of bed, asking, "What's wrong? Huh? How did you get here?"
Lian Jiang made a spellcasting gesture and whispered, "Family secret technique, 'Juli Sunshu,' for underground movement."
Jiang Hong: "Wow! You can go through walls!"
Lian Jiang, now dressed in a down jacket and wearing a knitted hat, said, "I'm planning to go out and investigate. He Jian and Xiao Pi are asleep. Are you coming?"
"Let's go!" Jiang Hong was thrilled, quickly getting dressed. He was excited to be considered for such an adventure!
"You can go through walls!" Jiang Hong, now with his hat and gloves on, finally saw Lian Jiang's special skill. "That's an incredible ability! Couldn't you just walk into any bank vault?"
Lian Jiang: "The thicker the wall and the higher the Mohs hardness, the greater the chance of failure. I can only pass through brick walls, not through too much steel reinforcement. Bank walls are made of steel plates, so no, that's not possible. Besides, that would be a crime... Ready now?"
Jiang Hong said, "Ready."
Lian Jiang unfurled his scarf, wrapped Jiang Hong in it, and dragged him along, saying, "Let's go!"
Inside, Jiang Hong was screaming with excitement. With a "whoosh" sound by his ear and a blur before his eyes, they were suddenly in the hallway, greeted by a blast of cold air.
So cold! In the midst of Gansu's freezing winter night, under the Siberian cold front ravaging the Qilian Mountains, Jiang Hong almost had a heart attack from the shock.
"Where are we going?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lian Jiang whispered, "Don't know, let's just look around. Maybe we'll find some useful information, what do you think?"
Lian Jiang and Jiang Hong descended from the two-story building, heading towards the central area of the horse farm.
Jiang Hong encouraged, "Do another one."
Lian Jiang: "The surge of spiritual energy makes it easy for us to be detected."
Despite saying that, Lian Jiang still pulled Jiang Hong along and stylishly performed the move, "buzzing" through a wall.
"Wow!" Jiang Hong clapped excitedly. Lian Jiang laughed, seemingly enjoying the admiration for his simple underground movement technique, then pulled Jiang Hong along to "buzz" through three more walls.
"You're really cute," Lian Jiang said, amused.
"That's amazing!" Jiang Hong exclaimed. "From today on, you're my idol!"
"No more playing," Lian Jiang said. "Where are we?"
They found themselves in a dark storage room. Jiang Hong, ensuring no one was around, turned on the light. It was a cluttered room used for storing festival items. He then turned off the light, opened the door, and entered the central corridor of the horse farm.
As Lian Jiang moved to go outside, Jiang Hong reminded, "Watch out for the cameras."
Lian Jiang glanced up, and they carefully avoided the areas covered by cameras. Fortunately, there weren't many cameras inside the horse farm.
Jiang Hong suggested, "Shall we check his office?"
Unsure of where else to go, as he lacked much investigative experience, Lian Jiang agreed, "Okay, I'll follow your lead. Do you remember the way?"
Jiang Hong vaguely remembered. As they proceeded along the corridor, they almost bumped into a patrolling guard. The horse farm's guards moved silently, nearly catching them. Lian Jiang quickly pulled Jiang Hong back and used his underground movement technique to go through a wall into a room, hiding until the guard passed.
"He didn't let us come out for dinner tonight," Jiang Hong said. "There might be something going on."
Lian Jiang agreed, "I think so too."
They returned outside Dong Mang's office, where the lights were still on and the door was locked, likely with no one inside.
As another patrolling guard approached, Lian Jiang pulled Jiang Hong, zipped through the wall, and they entered the office.
In their earlier hurried visit, Jiang Hong hadn't paid much attention to the office layout. Now, he took a closer look. Dong Mang's office was adorned with numerous horse racing trophies and photographs with senior leaders.
The desk was neatly organized. Lian Jiang opened Dong Mang's sleeping laptop, found it password-protected, and then closed it.
The drawers weren't locked, and there was a safe in the corner. Jiang Hong casually opened a drawer to find a stack of racehorse pedigree certificates and documents.
They found no useful information.
Lian Jiang: "What now?"
Jiang Hong was at a loss too. As rookie investigators, they couldn't just rummage through someone else's office. Racking his brain and recalling detective films he had seen, he asked, "Are there any hidden compartments here?"
"I have no idea," Lian Jiang admitted, skilled in magic but a novice in this field.
Jiang Hong felt it was a tricky situation, as Dong Mang seemed very meticulous, making it difficult to find any loopholes or clues.
Jiang Hong suggested, "Let's check for hidden compartments by passing through walls."
Lian Jiang: "Okay, let's try."
Lian Jiang, though the group leader, was quite accommodating. He started passing through walls with Jiang Hong, but the area was just tents, unlikely to have hidden spaces like behind bookshelves in Mai Qing's house.
However, as they roamed through the dark tents, they suddenly stepped into a brightly lit compartment of the central banquet hall, overhearing someone talking.
They had entered a lit private room adjacent to the main banquet hall. The person inside was facing away from them, and Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang almost bumped into him as they emerged from the wall.
There was a bodyguard in a black suit, wearing headphones, listening to music, munching on pickled peanuts, and drinking.
From the adjacent private room, the voices of Dong Mang and a guest could be heard. Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang immediately tiptoed around, trying not to make a sound.
"Shadows, shadows!" Jiang Hong hissed to Lian Jiang, gesturing him to walk against the light to avoid casting shadows on the wall that might be spotted by the bodyguard.
Lian Jiang nodded, pointed at the bodyguard, and made a 'slashing' gesture to Jiang Hong, asking if they should knock him out since it was too risky.
Jiang Hong nodded and gestured back the same 'slashing' motion, indicating that Lian Jiang should do it.
Lian Jiang waved his hand, urging Jiang Hong to go ahead, and took a stance, indicating he would handle catching the bodyguard.
Jiang Hong: "..."
Jiang Hong thought, 'Alright then,' and so he rolled up his sleeves, walked quietly to the bodyguard's back, took a deep breath, and raised his hand.
'Faint now!' Jiang Hong struck the bodyguard's neck with a chop of his hand.
The bodyguard was startled and immediately turned around.
Jiang Hong and the bodyguard locked eyes, and then Lian Jiang rushed in from the corner, holding a bronze vase, and hit the bodyguard over the head with it. The bodyguard collapsed, and they hurriedly caught him, gently laying him on the ground.
Jiang Hong exploded, "It should have been you; I have no clue how to do this..."
Lian Jiang whispered, "Didn't you learn physical techniques? Didn’t the principal teach you?"
Jiang Hong: "No, forget it... Let's hurry and eavesdrop."
Lian Jiang gestured for silence, and they continued to eavesdrop on the conversation in the next room. Only a thick tent curtain separated the two yurts, casting the shadows of several people on the curtain, making their voices exceptionally clear.
A male voice said, "… Mr. Dong has always known."
A female voice laughed, "Mr. Dong is indeed a wise man."
Dong Mang did not respond. Hearing these words, Jiang Hong felt that the speakers were like lobbyists.
After a long silence, Dong Mang finally spoke.
"Alright, let's leave it at that for today," said Dong Mang.
Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang exchanged glances, thinking, 'We just got here, and you're already done talking?'
But the two people showed no intention of leaving. The woman said, "Mr. Dong, today you must give us an answer, no matter what. The Zhu Shen Altar has been waiting for over two thousand years. From any perspective, now is the best opportunity."
The man added, "Our boss has already shown enough patience with the Shandan matter. We came today to alleviate your concerns. Mr. Dong, if you have any worries or demands, please express them all at once, so we can report back to our superiors."
After a brief silence, the woman spoke again, "Mr. Dong, you really needn't worry. The last appearance of Wu Zhi Qi in Chongqing..."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Lian Jiang: "?"
Hearing this, Jiang Hong was stunned. His first thought wasn't about the vast difference between these two matters but rather: 'Zhu Jinling's research topic was so accurate! It really does involve me!'
Lian Jiang mouthed: 'What's that?'
Jiang Hong quickly gestured with his hand to keep listening.
"...Although we didn't achieve our ultimate goal last time, the experiment proved that the path ahead of us is unobstructed. More demon spirits will join us in the future. Just imagine, even if the Exorcist Committee grows stronger, they are still human. How can they compare to our ancestors?"
Dong Mang's voice was calm, "So this time, what do you plan to awaken?"
The woman, avoiding a direct answer, said, "The only enemy in the Committee is Chen Zhen. The rest are just inexperienced kids. And us? Kuafu, Hanba, Xingtian... With enough spiritual power, we could even awaken Zhuyin. This is another battle of gods, the only difference being the absolute power is on our side. The Committee stands no chance against our strength..."
The man lazily said, "Victory favors the prepared, Mr. Dong."
"Enough," Dong Mang said coldly.
Jiang Hong, recognizing many names from the literature, was dumbfounded along with Lian Jiang. Lian Jiang, having not participated in the battle against Wu Zhi Qi, was completely clueless about the situation and looked utterly bewildered.
But Jiang Hong began to realize the situation was more complicated than expected. He regretted not bringing Lu Xiu along and wondered what Lu Xiu was dealing with...
Distracted, Jiang Hong missed part of the conversation. He quickly took out his phone and started typing notes in a memo app to avoid forgetting key information.
They only heard Dong Mang say a few more words in a low voice, concluding with, "You may leave now."
"This will be my last visit," a woman's voice responded.
Sounds of packing up came from the neighboring room. Dong Mang didn't seem to get up to see them off. A man's voice said, "Stay in touch."
"Did he agree?" Jiang Hong whispered.
Lian Jiang, looking puzzled, shook his head, unable to confirm.
"I didn't catch the last few sentences clearly either," Lian Jiang said. "What do we do now?"
Jiang Hong pulled Lian Jiang to the side of the wall, ready to phase through it and escape if someone approached. But the man and woman didn't come their way. It seemed the bodyguard was not from the emissary but stationed by Dong Mang.
After the emissary left the private room, Jiang Hong gestured for silence and pointed towards Dong Mang's room.
Lian Jiang then led Jiang Hong through the wall into the adjacent room. They appeared silently, finding Dong Mang sitting with his back to them, seemingly deep in thought.
Jiang Hong signaled, and they tiptoed out of the room.
"I'll follow them," Jiang Hong said. "You go back and wake everyone up. Time to get to work."
It was half-past midnight, and outside, the wind howled, swirling the snow.
"Wake up for what?" Lian Jiang was still confused about the situation.
Jiang Hong explained, "They must have a vehicle. We'll check the license plate, and if necessary, we can follow them to see where they go after leaving the horse farm."
"Be careful then!" Lian Jiang said after a moment's thought, then turned and left.
Jiang Hong slipped into the night, swiftly moving behind the tents. He suddenly regretted his boldness. Am I really this brave? He checked his protective amulet — as long as he had it, he would be fine, and he could always summon Lu Xiu if needed.
Not far away, the male and female emissaries walked through the snow, leaving a trail of footprints. Jiang Hong followed discreetly, feeling like a stealthy thief. The thrill of the chase was exhilarating, and it seemed the emissaries were oblivious to his presence.
The emissaries mentioned Wuzhiqi and "awakening." When Wuzhiqi was discovered, Lu Xiu and the exorcists had agreed that this powerful demon had vanished from history. But these people had "awakened" it. Did they possess some ability to resurrect powerful demons?
They also mentioned ancient legendary beasts like Kuafu, Hanba, and Xingtian in their conversation. Could they be part of the organization known as "Mo"?
Zhu Jingling's end-of-term project is too extreme! I'm just a freshman!
While lost in thought, Jiang Hong continued to follow the pair. They walked silently, almost ghost-like in the snowstorm, heading towards the outskirts of the horse farm.
Jiang Hong followed more closely, crossing a large part of the horse farm, recalling their mention of "Quwei." He saw the man and woman stop behind a tent.
Suspecting they might talk, Jiang Hong hid behind the tent.
Just then, his phone suddenly rang.
Terrified out of his wits, Jiang Hong quickly answered the call. Fortunately, the sound of the wind masked the ringtone, and the two did not notice.
