Chapter 34: Ambush
"Hello, Jiang Hong?" It was Cao Bin's voice. "Is Lu Xiu with you? Ask him to take the phone, I need to speak to him about something important..."
Jiang Hong: "We're not together."
Cao Bin: "Can you temporarily suspend your task? I need him back immediately."
Jiang Hong: "Uh... I'll try. I'm actually following someone."
Cao Bin: "Following?"
Jiang Hong put on his headphones and quietly relayed the situation to Cao Bin, including the fact that Lu Xiu was asleep.
As a man and a woman walked further away, Jiang Hong dared not get too close, following their footsteps in the snow. Cao Bin, having heard half the story, decisively asked: "Where's the enemy? Are you alone?"
Jiang Hong whispered, "Yes, I didn't dare follow too closely."
Cao Bin said, "From now on, don't speak. Try to get closer to them. Don't worry, most demon hunters and monsters perceive their surroundings through spiritual fluctuations. You don't have spiritual energy, so you're unlikely to alert them."
Jiang Hong said, "I suspect they're heading to the ancient ruins in Qilian Mountains... I've spotted them."
Jiang Hong was about to leave the horse ranch, with no cover around, hoping the others wouldn't suddenly turn back.
Outside the ranch was a vast open plain.
Jiang Hong said, "Principal... there's nothing around here, I might get caught and killed."
Cao Bin replied, "Keep quiet, I'll immediately notify the Demon Hunting Committee and arrange for someone to meet you. Believe in yourself, you're my apprentice after all."
Jiang Hong then bravely moved a bit closer. Cao Bin said through the headset, "If possible, try taking a photo and send it to me."
"I'll try my best."
Jiang Hong stopped talking, moved a bit closer again, circled the wall, and approached the others.
Past the wall and out of the ranch, fifty meters away was a jeep, an ideal spot for taking pictures. Jiang Hong took out his phone, searched for an angle, and captured the two figures.
At the same time, he also observed their body language and accents.
The man said, "Shall we leave now?"
The woman replied, "Let's go, what else can we do? Staying at the ranch isn't an option."
Suddenly, the flash went off, dazzling the two people straight on.
Jiang Hong: "…………………………"
The other party: "……"
Jiang Hong: "Ah… hello there…"
The two messengers were immediately dumbfounded.
Jiang Hong instantly shouted, "Bye!"
Cao Bin, through the headset, asked, "Were you discovered?"
"Forgot to turn off the flash—!" Jiang Hong said, "This is bad, really bad!"
Jiang Hong turned and ran. The man was the first to realize the seriousness and shouted, "Who's there?!"
A man and a woman immediately turned to chase Jiang Hong, but he, a trained runner, was incredibly fast. As soon as he sensed danger, he disappeared without a trace.
The man surprisingly teleported, closing the distance with Jiang Hong. Jiang Hong, looking back and startled, yelled, "I don't know you, I'm just a tourist…"
"He's not from the ranch!" the woman shouted, appearing from under the wall, flicking her hand and extending her nails almost half a meter, flashing coldly. She swiped at Jiang Hong, who was about to be severely clawed, but he suddenly drifted in the snow, turning sharply and rushing into the tents of the ranch.
The man yelled, "Catch him! Don't let him escape!"
As Jiang Hong dashed past a row of tents, he was suddenly pulled into one, and a hand covered his mouth.
The world turned pitch black, one second, two seconds, three seconds.
Jiang Hong didn't struggle. The hand slowly let go, and a male's breath fluctuated near his ear, his body radiating warmth.
Jiang Hong gradually relaxed, realizing that the person behind him was an ally. He slightly looked up and saw the person wearing a camo hoodie with the hood drawn up.
Outside, the man's voice echoed again, asking, "Where is he?"
The woman replied, "I don't know, he was just here, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone."
The man said, "Strange indeed, I didn't sense this guy, where did he come from? We must catch him today, no idea who sent him."
The woman suggested, "Should we go back and find Dong Mang?"
The man said, "Let's not, let's search carefully before dawn."
The sound of footsteps gradually faded away.
The man signaled Jiang Hong to step back a little and follow him into another tent through the corridor, where he turned on the light and removed his hood.
"Dong... Dong Boss?!" Jiang Hong was caught off guard when he saw Dong Mang's face!
"It's me. Didn't we just meet this afternoon, don’t you recognize me?" The voice belonged to Mu Zong, who looked exactly like Dong Mang – their eyebrows, eyes, lips, nose... The only difference was that Mu Zong's features were a bit more robust, while Dong Mang appeared more refined.
Jiang Hong immediately understood; they were twins. This afternoon, Mu Zong was always wearing a hoodie and mask, so no one noticed his face.
Jiang Hong asked, "You two are brothers?"
Mu Zong replied, "Yeah. What exactly are you here for? What mission did Cao Bin assign to you?"
Jiang Hong said, "Uh... It sounds unbelievable even to me, but we are really here for a final term project."
Mu Zong peeked outside the tent to check if the others had gone far. Jiang Hong asked, "Who exactly are they?"
Mu Zong looked at Jiang Hong, seeming hesitant. Jiang Hong quickly added, "It’s okay if you don’t want to say. I can pretend I don’t know anything. Thank you anyway. I should get back to my room and discuss with my partners what to do next."
Mu Zong said, "If I tell you the details, can you help my brother?"
Jiang Hong was a bit troubled, but at that moment, Cao Bin suddenly said in the headset, "Agree to it. Ask him what’s going on. Reinforcements are already on their way."
Jiang Hong then remembered he hadn't hung up the phone.
Jiang Hong said, "I'll do my best."
Mu Zong said, "This isn't a place to talk, come with me."
Jiang Hong quickly responded, "Let's go to our room."
Mu Zong said, "Your room has surveillance, get them to come here."
Jiang Hong took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, not wanting to hang up on Cao Bin, and directly messaged Lian Jiang. Lian Jiang had already come out and encountered a man and a woman who were searching around the horse ranch. Lian Jiang was watching the man, while He Jian and Xiao Pi were focused on the woman.
Jiang Hong sent them his location, asking them to come over and gather. Soon after, Lu Xiu also arrived.
Jiang Hong asked with his eyes: Are you feeling better?
Lu Xiu nodded, made a gesture with his fingers, signaling not to ask too much for now, his eyes conveying appreciation.
Everyone gathered in Mu Zong's small room, which had only two army cots and a small coffee table, on which lay an ashtray full of cigarette butts.
Upon seeing Mu Zong, everyone quickly understood his brotherly relation to Dong Mang.
"Look at the photos of those two I took." Jiang Hong took out his phone to show Lu Xiu, pointing at the ongoing call on the screen: Principal.
Lu Xiu took it over, nodded, and put on the headset.
"I'll get straight to the point," Mu Zong said, sitting on the edge of a cot, while the others were either sitting or standing. He Jian and Xiao Pi were obviously still sleepy, yawning continuously.
Jiang Hong: "Is it about 'Mo'?"
Lu Xiu, still wearing his headset, showed no expression, his gaze fixed on Mu Zong. Then suddenly, Lu Xiu's expression turned grave.
"How can that be? Are you serious?!" Lu Xiu suddenly spoke, clearly addressing Cao Bin on the other end of the phone.
"What?" Everyone looked at Lu Xiu in confusion.
Realizing he shouldn't let them know he was on a call, Lu Xiu removed one earphone and said, "It's nothing, continue."
One ear, concealed by his woolen hat, still had an earphone in it.
Mu Zong said, "These people aren't actually called 'Mo'. Their formal name is 'Ying Huo', and they have existed in the world for a long time. We're not sure how many members they have."
The room fell silent. Lu Xiu spoke up, "Isn't Ying Huo Mars?"
Mu Zong spread his hands and said, "I don't know."
No one objected, but Jiang Hong immediately noticed something unusual—Lu Xiu had never interfered with their project along the way, abiding by his promise with Jiang Hong. His sudden intervention and questioning could only mean one thing: the questions must be coming from Cao Bin on the phone.
Lu Xiu said, "Continue, please."
Mu Zong explained, "As you know, the Shandan Horse Farm has existed for over two thousand years. Our ancestors started breeding horses for General Huo Guang in the Han Dynasty along the Hexi Corridor, and this legacy has been passed down generation after generation. So, we still maintain contacts with some organizations from the medieval era. Of course, most of these organizations have either vanished or only contact us on their initiative."
Jiang Hong, suddenly curious, asked, "Besides Ying Huo, are there other ancient organizations?"
"The Demon Hunting Bureau, the precursor to the Demon Hunting Committee," Mu Zong thought for a moment and added, "There's also the Sacred Land of the Demon Race, which occasionally contacts us. Ying Huo has been gone for a very long time and only started to resurface in recent years."
He Jian was also full of doubts, like Jiang Hong. Initially, they thought it was just an archaeological-like final term project, but after Lian Jiang's recounting, He Jian began to realize that the situation was extraordinarily unusual.
"A few years ago?" He Jian said, "We didn't even know about this organization."
"Specifically, they first appeared about ten years ago," Mu Zong answered, "But the ones who appeared ten years ago were not these two messengers."
Jiang Hong glanced at Lu Xiu, who did not ask further questions. Clearly, the name 'Ying Huo' was enough for Cao Bin to take many actions.
Lian Jiang asked, "What are their demands?"
"To turn my brother Dong Mang against us," Mu Zong said seriously. "They are soon planning to overthrow the Demon Hunting Committee and take complete control of the human world, using any means necessary. This plan has been in progress for ten years, with them persuading my brother annually and demonstrating Ying Huo's strength. I'm not clear about the specifics, but they are capable of far more than you can imagine."
Wow, is this a mission to save the world? Jiang Hong thought, I just wanted to do a final term project.
He Jian asked, "But what can they do exactly?"
Mu Zong hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'm not sure, only Dong Mang knows the details."
Lian Jiang asked, "What do you need us to do?"
Mu Zong looked up hopefully and said, "Help me control Dong Mang so I can take over the horse farm. He's decided to join Ying Huo but still wants to negotiate more terms with them. He knows most of the information you seek."
Everyone looked at each other, and finally, their gazes settled on Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong: "……"
Jiang Hong thought: This isn’t right, Lian Jiang is the team leader, why am I making the decision? But it was him and Lian Jiang who discovered this together, so it’s not strange for them to decide together.
"Let’s discuss this first," Jiang Hong said.
"Okay," Mu Zong said, "I'll leave the room to you and wait outside."
As he grabbed his cigarettes and lighter and was about to leave, Jiang Hong asked one more question, "What’s Ying Huo’s purpose in wanting Boss Dong to join them? I mean, what can the Shandan Horse Farm do for them?"
Mu Zong paused, then after some thought, said, "They might need some assistance from Shandan? I'm not sure, my brother always avoided me when he talked with them."
Jiang Hong then asked, "If we help you, can you let us enter the Yehu Altar to complete our final project?"
Mu Zong replied, "Of course, you can go in freely." After waiting a moment and seeing no more questions, he lifted the tent flap and left to smoke outside.
Xiao Pi peeked out the door and saw Mu Zong walking far away, on the other side of the snowy tent.
"Should we help him?" Xiao Pi asked.
Jiang Hong looked at Lu Xiu, who ended the call and handed his phone to Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong said to everyone, "What is Ying Huo's purpose?"
He Jian commented, "I'm more curious about how we've never heard of this name all these years."
Lian Jiang replied, "It's normal, all secret activities. If it was easy to find out, what would be the point?"
Jiang Hong looked again at Lu Xiu, hesitant. Finally, He Jian said, "Jiang Hong, Lian Jiang, you two found out this information, you decide."
With Mu Zong saying so much, how could Jiang Hong not get involved? Could he really take this information and betray them to the Demon Hunting Committee? Of course, Cao Bin had already informed the Committee and reinforcements were on their way, unknown to Mu Zong. It was just unclear who exactly was coming.
Lian Jiang said, "Jiang Hong, you decide. Don't forget our project is to investigate the Yehu Altar, just remember to do the assignment."
Jiang Hong always had a strange feeling—Mu Zong knew something more, he wasn't telling them the whole truth, or most of it.
For safety, Jiang Hong didn't speak out loud but typed on his phone: I think Mu Zong is lying, don't fully trust him.
Jiang Hong showed them the message, and after reading it, Lu Xiu nodded.
Jiang Hong said, "Let's help him, our project depends on him."
Everyone agreed, saying, "Okay."
Xiao Pi then called Mu Zong back in. Mu Zong, covered in snow, rubbed his hands and breathed on them to warm up.
"What do we need to do?" Jiang Hong asked.
Mu Zong replied, "I can't lay a hand on my brother, but his magical powers aren't strong. We need to find a way to lure him out of his bedroom and then trap him for a while until I can take over the entire ranch. He returns to his room every day at half past two."
Lian Jiang skeptically asked, "Can you manage that?"
Mu Zong said, "There's a jade amulet in my brother's possession. As long as we get it, there'll be no problem. The entire ranch only recognizes that amulet."
The others exchanged glances, and Lian Jiang said, "But what about those two messengers? Just leave them be?"
Mu Zong said, "Once we have the amulet, I can mobilize the ranch's guards to capture them."
"Let's split into two groups," Jiang Hong suggested. "How shall we divide?"
Lian Jiang said, "Xiao Pi and I will trap Dong Mang. You guys keep an eye on the two messengers."
Jiang Hong looked questioningly at Lian Jiang, who indicated with a gesture that he had it covered, no problem.
Mu Zong said, "I'll go and summon the ranch's administrative heads to prepare for the next steps."
After Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi left, Jiang Hong asked Lu Xiu, "Did the Principal have something important?"
Lu Xiu replied, "I need to make a call to the Demon Hunting Committee. The results of interrogating Mai Qing are out."
Jiang Hong nodded, and Lu Xiu stayed in Mu Zong's cabin for the time being.
Returning to the snowy outdoors, Jiang Hong pulled up his down jacket hood.
He Jian said, "Even if Mu Zong is lying, Dong Mang is not entirely innocent."
Jiang Hong: "Ah? Why do you say that?"
He Jian explained, "A secret organization has been in contact with the Shandan Horse Ranch for nearly ten years. Throughout this time, Dong Mang never reported to the Demon Hunting Committee. What do you think he's up to?"
Jiang Hong thought about it and realized it was true; the intricacies must be complex. Given Dong Mang's identity as a member of the demon race, he might have been hesitating all this time, not yet decided to join Ying Huo, perhaps because he thought their power was still not enough to contend with the Demon Hunting Committee.
He Jian asked, "Should we capture the two Ying Huo envoys? Hand them over to the Demon Hunting Committee for a thorough interrogation?"
Jiang Hong replied, "Good idea, I'll act as the bait. I might need the senior’s help later, I’ll call him then."
Jiang Hong decided on this division because the other party was currently searching for him within the ranch.
The man and woman had split up. At two in the morning, the horse ranch was quiet. Jiang Hong tiptoed out from behind a tin shed, unexpectedly coming face-to-face with the man.
Jiang Hong yelled and turned to run. The man quickly pursued, their blurry figures visible in the dark night. Jiang Hong fell in the snow, fearfully stammering, "Who... who are you?"
The man rolled up his left sleeve, revealing a steel claw shimmering coldly. Without a word, he slowly approached, while Jiang Hong gasped for breath.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed behind, swiftly enveloping the man with a cloak.
The world turned pitch black. Then, the darkness expanded, and the man suddenly screamed as a sharp object pierced the back of his neck. He stiffened and fell to the ground.
He Jian appeared, remarking, "Simple and efficient."
"What did you use?" Jiang Hong asked, astonished.
He Jian showed Jiang Hong a metal caltrop in his hand, adding, "This will knock him out for twelve hours."
Jiang Hong dragged the man into the tin shed, locking the door from outside, and said, "Let’s go, on to the next one."
Meanwhile, Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi were crossing the dining area. Xiao Pi said, "Let me handle it this time."
Lian Jiang wasn’t tall, but Xiao Pi was even younger. Lian Jiang, finding it amusing, said, "Okay, you do it," while patting Xiao Pi on the head.
Xiao Pi said, "I also want to do something. I feel useless with you guys always busy."
Lian Jiang looked towards the direction of the private rooms and asked, "Alright, what's your plan?"
Xiao Pi stretched and said, "I learned physical techniques from the Principal. I'll immobilize him, and you can help me tie up his hands and feet."
Lian Jiang cheerfully agreed, "No problem." He took off his jacket and wrapped it around his arms.
Xiao Pi and Lian Jiang hid on either side of the corridor. They saw a figure from afar; Dong Mang finally left the private room, first going to the next door and knocking, "Xiao Bai, work's over, you worked hard today."
That was the same private room where Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang had earlier ambushed the bodyguard after going through the wall. Dong Mang's trusted aide had already been subdued by Lian Jiang and naturally did not respond.
Dong Mang waited for a moment, received no answer, and then pushed the door open.
The bodyguard lay face down on the sofa. As Dong Mang leaned over to wake him up—Xiao Pi suddenly appeared from behind, silently wrapping his arm around Dong Mang’s neck.
However, Dong Mang reacted even faster, straightening his back and spinning around, flinging Xiao Pi into the air!
Xiao Pi rebounded off the wall, clung to Dong Mang’s waist, and used a classic leverage move to throw him to the ground.
Dong Mang didn't forget to yell, "Someone—!"
Lian Jiang applauded from the side, cheering. Xiao Pi threw a punch, but Dong Mang quickly ducked and used Mongolian wrestling techniques to trip Xiao Pi to the ground.
Dong Mang demanded, "How did you get out?!"
Xiao Pi yelled, "Help me, quick!"
Lian Jiang unwrapped his jacket from his arm and threw it over Dong Mang's head. Dong Mang countered with another over-the-shoulder throw, tossing Xiao Pi aside and then rushing out.
Lian Jiang exclaimed, "Who said he was easy to handle!"
Dong Mang burst out into the corridor, about to call for help. Xiao Pi, dazed, got up, and Lian Jiang pulled his wrist. The two simultaneously pounced, encircling Dong Mang. Immediately after, Lian Jiang pressed his left hand on Dong Mang’s back and pushed him against the wall.
Lian Jiang: "Go for it!"
All three of them made a buzzing sound, simultaneously phasing through the wall into darkness.
Dong Mang: "!!!"
Before Dong Mang could react, still unaccustomed to the darkness, he instinctively turned around, only to collide with Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi again.
Lian Jiang: "One more time!"
Dong Mang was hit squarely in the chest. Lian Jiang, shorter in stature and crouching down during the charge, hit him at waist level. With another forceful push, they phased through a second wall, emerging into brightness.
Dong Mang's eyes transitioned from darkness to light, and just as he was dazed, Lian Jiang knocked him over for the third time.
"Bet you didn't see that coming!" Lian Jiang laughed.
With continuous buzzing sounds, Dong Mang was defenseless, dragged by Lian Jiang through five or six walls, losing track of his surroundings. Just as he gathered his wits to punch Lian Jiang, Lian Jiang warned, "Watch out!"
Just as Lian Jiang brought Dong Mang into a room and saw him throw a punch, he abruptly stopped, pulled Xiao Pi by the waist, and the two quickly retreated back into the wall.
Dong Mang, unable to stop his punch in time, hit the concrete wall, yelling out in pain.
Lian Jiang reappeared, and Xiao Pi grabbed a laptop and smacked it against the back of Dong Mang's head, instantly quieting the world.
Lian Jiang looked around and said, "This is his office."
Xiao Pi, catching his breath, said, "We did it. Should we look for his jade amulet now?"
Lian Jiang unbuttoned Dong Mang's shirt, glanced at his chest, saw no jewelry, and then spread his hands in resignation.
Xiao Pi asked, "Should we call others over?"
Lian Jiang waved his hand, saying, "No rush, let's wait for him to wake up. First, let’s see the situation. Come, help me drag him to the chair."
Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi together tied Dong Mang to the office chair.
Xiao Pi fetched a bottle of mineral water and poured it over Dong Mang's face, waking him up.
This time, finding himself restrained, Dong Mang was surprisingly calm and composed.
"Speak," Dong Mang said sternly, "state your terms. I knew this day would come. Who let you out?"
Lian Jiang, lounging on the office desk, laughed, "Do I need someone to let me out?"
"Just one left now..." Jiang Hong murmured.
He Jian joined in, singing, "One by one, one by one..."
As the two searched for the female envoy, He Jian asked, "Your significant other is alright, isn't he?"
"Ah?" Jiang Hong replied, "Should be fine, right? Why? Did you hear something?"
He Jian said, "Do you remember that guy named Yang Feiyao? And our last trip to Nanshan in Chongqing, sneaking into Mai Qing's house?"
Jiang Hong: "Hmm... what about it?"
He Jian: "They're in cahoots. It's a big deal, implicating the internals of the Demon Hunting Committee, with quite a few moles involved."
He Jian's brother is in Quwei, and Jiang Hong had no doubt about the authenticity of this information. He added, "But it doesn't really involve Lu Xiu, does it?"
He Jian said, "It's a bit complicated, apparently it's also related to Lu Xiu."
Jiang Hong: "???"
Lu Xiu rarely deals with Quwei matters, so why would he be involved?
Jiang Hong searched around but couldn't find the female emissary's whereabouts. Approaching 3 AM, it was too cold outside.
He Jian said, "Wait, what's that over there?"
Standing on the rooftop, the two looked towards the horse farm exit. A jeep was speeding away, heading towards distant mountains. It seemed the two emissaries had some special way of communicating; with the man captured, the woman had fled.
"Should we follow?" Jiang Hong hesitated. Only He Jian could pursue, as he was the only one who could fly.
At that moment, a phone call came through.
Lian Jiang spoke on the phone, "We're in the office. You'd better come quickly. Don't worry about capturing anyone right now."
Jiang Hong asked, "What's going on?"
Lian Jiang replied, "You guessed right."
The office was brightly lit. Dong Mang was still tied to a swivel chair, his shirt torn open at two buttons, looking disheveled.
He Jian commented, "This scene looks quite sinister."
Lian Jiang said, "It's not my doing. He tore it himself while struggling."
As Jiang Hong entered, he met Lu Xiu at the doorway. Under the dim corridor light, Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong, almost bumping into him.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu gestured that it was nothing and signaled Jiang Hong to go into the office first. But suddenly, Jiang Hong felt that something was different.
Something must have happened, Jiang Hong thought, looking at Lu Xiu questioningly.
"Let's deal with the current situation first, we can talk about other things later," Lu Xiu responded.
"Nothing serious, right?" Jiang Hong remembered Cao Bin's call, emphasizing "something important." What had happened with Quwei?
"Go in," Lu Xiu said, his tone still brusque and unapproachable.
The desk lamp shone on Dong Mang's face. Lian Jiang hadn't untied him, saying, "We need everyone's input to make a decision."
He Jian dragged in the captured emissary, who was still unconscious.
Dong Mang said, "What I'm about to say, I'll only say once. Whether you believe it or not is up to you." He glanced at the unconscious Hyanghuo emissary on the ground and added, "As expected, sent by Quwei."
"You guessed wrong," Lian Jiang replied. "We're not lying to you; we're all students."
"Students?" Dong Mang questioned. "I can't think of any reason why students would meddle in the affairs of the horse farm."
Xiao Pi said, "Cangqiong University was established by Quwei. Saying we're on the same side makes sense."
He Jian interjected, "Cut the nonsense. If you knew Hyanghuo's intentions, why didn't you report truthfully to Quwei?"
Dong Mang replied, "It seems you know quite a bit. Didn't your brother, the exorcist, tell you that Shandan Horse Farm doesn't take sides? We've been here for over two thousand years, before Jesus was even born, long before the existence of the Exorcist Department. What right does the current committee have to govern us?"
Lian Jiang said, "Mr. Dong, with that attitude, don't expect us to be able to help you."
Dong Mang's expression turned slightly somber as he sighed.
"Alright," Dong Mang conceded. "I'll tell you everything. Since Quwei and Cangqiong University have clashed, your superiors must already be on their way here."
"That's more like it," Lian Jiang remarked.
Dong Mang continued, "Where to start? What did my brother Mu Zong tell you? He wouldn't have told you the truth..."
"That's not important," He Jian said. "What exactly is Hyanghuo?"
Dong Mang explained, "No one knows for sure. I was just as confused at first. Hyanghuo approached me ten years ago, asking Shandan Horse Farm to join their organization. Why not interrogate Bai Cong whom you've captured? That would be quicker."
Dong Mang glanced at the unconscious male emissary, still pondering.
"Is Mai Qing a member of Hyanghuo?" Lu Xiu suddenly asked.
Dong Mang replied, "I'm not sure. They've always contacted me through a single channel."
"What is their goal?" Jiang Hong wondered aloud. It was the third time he asked this question today, convinced that this organization called Hyanghuo must have a purpose.
Dong Mang replied, "This story begins ten years ago. When the first emissary of Hyanghuo came to me, they mentioned a very ancient relic. Do you know about the Book of Everything?"
Jiang Hong: "?"
Everyone exchanged puzzled looks, but Lu Xiu said, "I know. Continue."
Lu Xiu's expression became serious. Jiang Hong was eager to ask what it was, but knew it wasn't the right time, so he held back.
Dong Mang: "Do you believe in the existence of the Book of Everything?"
Lu Xiu: "I don't believe it. So, Hyanghuo claims to possess the Book of Everything?"
Seeing the others' confused expressions, Dong Mang explained, "Legend has it, there exists a supreme document in the world, surpassing all magical treasures, known as the 'Book of Everything.' This book records everything, from the vast mountains and earth to the tiniest grain of sand. It encompasses everything, leaving nothing out..."
"So, it's the Map of Mountains and Rivers?" He Jian wondered.
Dong Mang clarified, "No, it's not. Some used to think so. Legend says that whoever possesses the Book of Everything becomes omnipotent, for it contains all secrets, both known and unknown to mankind."
Jiang Hong said, "I find it hard to believe such a thing exists..."
Dong Mang continued, "The envoy of Hyanghuo claimed they have the Book of Everything. Where they got it from, I don't know."
Lu Xiu: "Did they show it to you?"
Dong Mang: "No, but it's said that their leader used the Book of Everything as a 'medium' to gain the art of resurrection."
Lu Xiu: "!!!"
Lu Xiu's expression changed instantly. Dong Mang added, "The emissary told me that if the Hyanghuo leader wishes, he could resurrect all the dead, from the dawn of creation to the present moment, provided there is enough material and energy."
Jiang Hong also remembered the Wuzhiqi that appeared in Chongqing!
Lu Xiu: "Did they demonstrate it to you?"
Dong Mang: "They were in the process of doing so. The Que God Altar was one of their experimental sites. It has the remains of Que, and one of Shandan Horse Farm's duties is to guard the Que God Altar through generations, preventing unauthorized access. They used the power of ley lines to revive 'Que,' a process they called 'awakening.'"
Jiang Hong recalled the conversation he had overheard in the private room.
Dong Mang: "Hyanghuo has already succeeded once, haven't they? I heard they revived an ancient water demon in Chongqing."
"I'm the one asking questions now," Lu Xiu said coldly, "Why didn’t you immediately report to Quwei?"
Dong Mang: "Hyanghuo promised that if we cooperated, they could revive our deceased father, mother, grandfather, and maternal grandfather... Imagine, the dead returning to life, what condition could you not accept?"
Jiang Hong: "But even if the resurrection of the dead were successful..."
Xiao Pi interjected: "Can souls be called back too? Aren’t they already in the cycle of reincarnation within the veins of the universe?"
Dong Mang: "True, I've always known this, but part of me still held on to hope, thinking what if my departed loved ones hadn’t yet entered the cycle of reincarnation..."
"That's almost impossible," Lian Jiang remarked.
Dong Mang continued, "So I hesitated. But just when I decided to shut down the Que God Altar and withdraw from this affair, my brother Mu Zong changed his mind. He believed in them, while I planned to close the altar completely. When Mu Zong learned about my intentions, we had a severe falling out."
Having said that, Dong Mang indicated that the current situation had arisen from there.
"If you hurry to stop him now, there's still time," Dong Mang said, "Only the blood of my brother and me can open the barrier deep within the Que God Altar."
"What stage has the resurrection of the Què reached?" Lu Xiu stepped forward and said in a deep voice.
"It's nearing the end," Dong Mang said. "I don't know where you got this information, the existence of the Què altar is quite secretive, only recorded in the ancient scrolls collected by the Exorcism Commission."
"Your end-of-term project is now over," Lu Xiu said. "I'll take over here. Listen to my arrangements. The four of you, stay here, guard Dong Mang, and wait for the exorcist to arrive."
Having said that, Lu Xiu rushed out the door like a gust of wind. Jiang Hong had just chased a few steps when he saw the dragon's huge body take off and fly towards the Qilian Mountains.
"Lu Xiu! Wait!" Jiang Hong chased to the door, watching Lu Xiu leave.
Jiang Hong turned to look at Dong Mang, then towards the direction where Lu Xiu had departed.
Jiang Hong asked, "Is the demon beast known as Què very strong?"
Dong Mang replied, "Què is a creature from ancient mythology, capable of rivaling dragons. Dragons are born from the earth's veins and nurtured by the aura of the heavenly veins; Què, on the contrary, is born from the sky and resides underground over the long years. Què and dragons could be considered natural enemies."
Lian Jiang asked, "Is it still possible to seal it now?"
Dong Mang said, "If we hurry to the Qilian Mountains and stop Mu Zong, there's still time. I know a shortcut there, but it's not accessible by car."
Chapter 34: Ambush
"Hello, Jiang Hong?" It was Cao Bin's voice. "Is Lu Xiu with you? Ask him to take the phone, I need to speak to him about something important..."
Jiang Hong: "We're not together."
Cao Bin: "Can you temporarily suspend your task? I need him back immediately."
Jiang Hong: "Uh... I'll try. I'm actually following someone."
Cao Bin: "Following?"
Jiang Hong put on his headphones and quietly relayed the situation to Cao Bin, including the fact that Lu Xiu was asleep.
As a man and a woman walked further away, Jiang Hong dared not get too close, following their footsteps in the snow. Cao Bin, having heard half the story, decisively asked: "Where's the enemy? Are you alone?"
Jiang Hong whispered, "Yes, I didn't dare follow too closely."
Cao Bin said, "From now on, don't speak. Try to get closer to them. Don't worry, most demon hunters and monsters perceive their surroundings through spiritual fluctuations. You don't have spiritual energy, so you're unlikely to alert them."
Jiang Hong said, "I suspect they're heading to the ancient ruins in Qilian Mountains... I've spotted them."
Jiang Hong was about to leave the horse ranch, with no cover around, hoping the others wouldn't suddenly turn back.
Outside the ranch was a vast open plain.
Jiang Hong said, "Principal... there's nothing around here, I might get caught and killed."
Cao Bin replied, "Keep quiet, I'll immediately notify the Demon Hunting Committee and arrange for someone to meet you. Believe in yourself, you're my apprentice after all."
Jiang Hong then bravely moved a bit closer. Cao Bin said through the headset, "If possible, try taking a photo and send it to me."
"I'll try my best."
Jiang Hong stopped talking, moved a bit closer again, circled the wall, and approached the others.
Past the wall and out of the ranch, fifty meters away was a jeep, an ideal spot for taking pictures. Jiang Hong took out his phone, searched for an angle, and captured the two figures.
At the same time, he also observed their body language and accents.
The man said, "Shall we leave now?"
The woman replied, "Let's go, what else can we do? Staying at the ranch isn't an option."
Suddenly, the flash went off, dazzling the two people straight on.
Jiang Hong: "…………………………"
The other party: "……"
Jiang Hong: "Ah… hello there…"
The two messengers were immediately dumbfounded.
Jiang Hong instantly shouted, "Bye!"
Cao Bin, through the headset, asked, "Were you discovered?"
"Forgot to turn off the flash—!" Jiang Hong said, "This is bad, really bad!"
Jiang Hong turned and ran. The man was the first to realize the seriousness and shouted, "Who's there?!"
A man and a woman immediately turned to chase Jiang Hong, but he, a trained runner, was incredibly fast. As soon as he sensed danger, he disappeared without a trace.
The man surprisingly teleported, closing the distance with Jiang Hong. Jiang Hong, looking back and startled, yelled, "I don't know you, I'm just a tourist…"
"He's not from the ranch!" the woman shouted, appearing from under the wall, flicking her hand and extending her nails almost half a meter, flashing coldly. She swiped at Jiang Hong, who was about to be severely clawed, but he suddenly drifted in the snow, turning sharply and rushing into the tents of the ranch.
The man yelled, "Catch him! Don't let him escape!"
As Jiang Hong dashed past a row of tents, he was suddenly pulled into one, and a hand covered his mouth.
The world turned pitch black, one second, two seconds, three seconds.
Jiang Hong didn't struggle. The hand slowly let go, and a male's breath fluctuated near his ear, his body radiating warmth.
Jiang Hong gradually relaxed, realizing that the person behind him was an ally. He slightly looked up and saw the person wearing a camo hoodie with the hood drawn up.
Outside, the man's voice echoed again, asking, "Where is he?"
The woman replied, "I don't know, he was just here, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone."
The man said, "Strange indeed, I didn't sense this guy, where did he come from? We must catch him today, no idea who sent him."
The woman suggested, "Should we go back and find Dong Mang?"
The man said, "Let's not, let's search carefully before dawn."
The sound of footsteps gradually faded away.
The man signaled Jiang Hong to step back a little and follow him into another tent through the corridor, where he turned on the light and removed his hood.
"Dong... Dong Boss?!" Jiang Hong was caught off guard when he saw Dong Mang's face!
"It's me. Didn't we just meet this afternoon, don’t you recognize me?" The voice belonged to Mu Zong, who looked exactly like Dong Mang – their eyebrows, eyes, lips, nose... The only difference was that Mu Zong's features were a bit more robust, while Dong Mang appeared more refined.
Jiang Hong immediately understood; they were twins. This afternoon, Mu Zong was always wearing a hoodie and mask, so no one noticed his face.
Jiang Hong asked, "You two are brothers?"
Mu Zong replied, "Yeah. What exactly are you here for? What mission did Cao Bin assign to you?"
Jiang Hong said, "Uh... It sounds unbelievable even to me, but we are really here for a final term project."
Mu Zong peeked outside the tent to check if the others had gone far. Jiang Hong asked, "Who exactly are they?"
Mu Zong looked at Jiang Hong, seeming hesitant. Jiang Hong quickly added, "It’s okay if you don’t want to say. I can pretend I don’t know anything. Thank you anyway. I should get back to my room and discuss with my partners what to do next."
Mu Zong said, "If I tell you the details, can you help my brother?"
Jiang Hong was a bit troubled, but at that moment, Cao Bin suddenly said in the headset, "Agree to it. Ask him what’s going on. Reinforcements are already on their way."
Jiang Hong then remembered he hadn't hung up the phone.
Jiang Hong said, "I'll do my best."
Mu Zong said, "This isn't a place to talk, come with me."
Jiang Hong quickly responded, "Let's go to our room."
Mu Zong said, "Your room has surveillance, get them to come here."
Jiang Hong took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, not wanting to hang up on Cao Bin, and directly messaged Lian Jiang. Lian Jiang had already come out and encountered a man and a woman who were searching around the horse ranch. Lian Jiang was watching the man, while He Jian and Xiao Pi were focused on the woman.
Jiang Hong sent them his location, asking them to come over and gather. Soon after, Lu Xiu also arrived.
Jiang Hong asked with his eyes: Are you feeling better?
Lu Xiu nodded, made a gesture with his fingers, signaling not to ask too much for now, his eyes conveying appreciation.
Everyone gathered in Mu Zong's small room, which had only two army cots and a small coffee table, on which lay an ashtray full of cigarette butts.
Upon seeing Mu Zong, everyone quickly understood his brotherly relation to Dong Mang.
"Look at the photos of those two I took." Jiang Hong took out his phone to show Lu Xiu, pointing at the ongoing call on the screen: Principal.
Lu Xiu took it over, nodded, and put on the headset.
"I'll get straight to the point," Mu Zong said, sitting on the edge of a cot, while the others were either sitting or standing. He Jian and Xiao Pi were obviously still sleepy, yawning continuously.
Jiang Hong: "Is it about 'Mo'?"
Lu Xiu, still wearing his headset, showed no expression, his gaze fixed on Mu Zong. Then suddenly, Lu Xiu's expression turned grave.
"How can that be? Are you serious?!" Lu Xiu suddenly spoke, clearly addressing Cao Bin on the other end of the phone.
"What?" Everyone looked at Lu Xiu in confusion.
Realizing he shouldn't let them know he was on a call, Lu Xiu removed one earphone and said, "It's nothing, continue."
One ear, concealed by his woolen hat, still had an earphone in it.
Mu Zong said, "These people aren't actually called 'Mo'. Their formal name is 'Ying Huo', and they have existed in the world for a long time. We're not sure how many members they have."
The room fell silent. Lu Xiu spoke up, "Isn't Ying Huo Mars?"
Mu Zong spread his hands and said, "I don't know."
No one objected, but Jiang Hong immediately noticed something unusual—Lu Xiu had never interfered with their project along the way, abiding by his promise with Jiang Hong. His sudden intervention and questioning could only mean one thing: the questions must be coming from Cao Bin on the phone.
Lu Xiu said, "Continue, please."
Mu Zong explained, "As you know, the Shandan Horse Farm has existed for over two thousand years. Our ancestors started breeding horses for General Huo Guang in the Han Dynasty along the Hexi Corridor, and this legacy has been passed down generation after generation. So, we still maintain contacts with some organizations from the medieval era. Of course, most of these organizations have either vanished or only contact us on their initiative."
Jiang Hong, suddenly curious, asked, "Besides Ying Huo, are there other ancient organizations?"
"The Demon Hunting Bureau, the precursor to the Demon Hunting Committee," Mu Zong thought for a moment and added, "There's also the Sacred Land of the Demon Race, which occasionally contacts us. Ying Huo has been gone for a very long time and only started to resurface in recent years."
He Jian was also full of doubts, like Jiang Hong. Initially, they thought it was just an archaeological-like final term project, but after Lian Jiang's recounting, He Jian began to realize that the situation was extraordinarily unusual.
"A few years ago?" He Jian said, "We didn't even know about this organization."
"Specifically, they first appeared about ten years ago," Mu Zong answered, "But the ones who appeared ten years ago were not these two messengers."
Jiang Hong glanced at Lu Xiu, who did not ask further questions. Clearly, the name 'Ying Huo' was enough for Cao Bin to take many actions.
Lian Jiang asked, "What are their demands?"
"To turn my brother Dong Mang against us," Mu Zong said seriously. "They are soon planning to overthrow the Demon Hunting Committee and take complete control of the human world, using any means necessary. This plan has been in progress for ten years, with them persuading my brother annually and demonstrating Ying Huo's strength. I'm not clear about the specifics, but they are capable of far more than you can imagine."
Wow, is this a mission to save the world? Jiang Hong thought, I just wanted to do a final term project.
He Jian asked, "But what can they do exactly?"
Mu Zong hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'm not sure, only Dong Mang knows the details."
Lian Jiang asked, "What do you need us to do?"
Mu Zong looked up hopefully and said, "Help me control Dong Mang so I can take over the horse farm. He's decided to join Ying Huo but still wants to negotiate more terms with them. He knows most of the information you seek."
Everyone looked at each other, and finally, their gazes settled on Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong: "……"
Jiang Hong thought: This isn’t right, Lian Jiang is the team leader, why am I making the decision? But it was him and Lian Jiang who discovered this together, so it’s not strange for them to decide together.
"Let’s discuss this first," Jiang Hong said.
"Okay," Mu Zong said, "I'll leave the room to you and wait outside."
As he grabbed his cigarettes and lighter and was about to leave, Jiang Hong asked one more question, "What’s Ying Huo’s purpose in wanting Boss Dong to join them? I mean, what can the Shandan Horse Farm do for them?"
Mu Zong paused, then after some thought, said, "They might need some assistance from Shandan? I'm not sure, my brother always avoided me when he talked with them."
Jiang Hong then asked, "If we help you, can you let us enter the Yehu Altar to complete our final project?"
Mu Zong replied, "Of course, you can go in freely." After waiting a moment and seeing no more questions, he lifted the tent flap and left to smoke outside.
Xiao Pi peeked out the door and saw Mu Zong walking far away, on the other side of the snowy tent.
"Should we help him?" Xiao Pi asked.
Jiang Hong looked at Lu Xiu, who ended the call and handed his phone to Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong said to everyone, "What is Ying Huo's purpose?"
He Jian commented, "I'm more curious about how we've never heard of this name all these years."
Lian Jiang replied, "It's normal, all secret activities. If it was easy to find out, what would be the point?"
Jiang Hong looked again at Lu Xiu, hesitant. Finally, He Jian said, "Jiang Hong, Lian Jiang, you two found out this information, you decide."
With Mu Zong saying so much, how could Jiang Hong not get involved? Could he really take this information and betray them to the Demon Hunting Committee? Of course, Cao Bin had already informed the Committee and reinforcements were on their way, unknown to Mu Zong. It was just unclear who exactly was coming.
Lian Jiang said, "Jiang Hong, you decide. Don't forget our project is to investigate the Yehu Altar, just remember to do the assignment."
Jiang Hong always had a strange feeling—Mu Zong knew something more, he wasn't telling them the whole truth, or most of it.
For safety, Jiang Hong didn't speak out loud but typed on his phone: I think Mu Zong is lying, don't fully trust him.
Jiang Hong showed them the message, and after reading it, Lu Xiu nodded.
Jiang Hong said, "Let's help him, our project depends on him."
Everyone agreed, saying, "Okay."
Xiao Pi then called Mu Zong back in. Mu Zong, covered in snow, rubbed his hands and breathed on them to warm up.
"What do we need to do?" Jiang Hong asked.
Mu Zong replied, "I can't lay a hand on my brother, but his magical powers aren't strong. We need to find a way to lure him out of his bedroom and then trap him for a while until I can take over the entire ranch. He returns to his room every day at half past two."
Lian Jiang skeptically asked, "Can you manage that?"
Mu Zong said, "There's a jade amulet in my brother's possession. As long as we get it, there'll be no problem. The entire ranch only recognizes that amulet."
The others exchanged glances, and Lian Jiang said, "But what about those two messengers? Just leave them be?"
Mu Zong said, "Once we have the amulet, I can mobilize the ranch's guards to capture them."
"Let's split into two groups," Jiang Hong suggested. "How shall we divide?"
Lian Jiang said, "Xiao Pi and I will trap Dong Mang. You guys keep an eye on the two messengers."
Jiang Hong looked questioningly at Lian Jiang, who indicated with a gesture that he had it covered, no problem.
Mu Zong said, "I'll go and summon the ranch's administrative heads to prepare for the next steps."
After Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi left, Jiang Hong asked Lu Xiu, "Did the Principal have something important?"
Lu Xiu replied, "I need to make a call to the Demon Hunting Committee. The results of interrogating Mai Qing are out."
Jiang Hong nodded, and Lu Xiu stayed in Mu Zong's cabin for the time being.
Returning to the snowy outdoors, Jiang Hong pulled up his down jacket hood.
He Jian said, "Even if Mu Zong is lying, Dong Mang is not entirely innocent."
Jiang Hong: "Ah? Why do you say that?"
He Jian explained, "A secret organization has been in contact with the Shandan Horse Ranch for nearly ten years. Throughout this time, Dong Mang never reported to the Demon Hunting Committee. What do you think he's up to?"
Jiang Hong thought about it and realized it was true; the intricacies must be complex. Given Dong Mang's identity as a member of the demon race, he might have been hesitating all this time, not yet decided to join Ying Huo, perhaps because he thought their power was still not enough to contend with the Demon Hunting Committee.
He Jian asked, "Should we capture the two Ying Huo envoys? Hand them over to the Demon Hunting Committee for a thorough interrogation?"
Jiang Hong replied, "Good idea, I'll act as the bait. I might need the senior’s help later, I’ll call him then."
Jiang Hong decided on this division because the other party was currently searching for him within the ranch.
The man and woman had split up. At two in the morning, the horse ranch was quiet. Jiang Hong tiptoed out from behind a tin shed, unexpectedly coming face-to-face with the man.
Jiang Hong yelled and turned to run. The man quickly pursued, their blurry figures visible in the dark night. Jiang Hong fell in the snow, fearfully stammering, "Who... who are you?"
The man rolled up his left sleeve, revealing a steel claw shimmering coldly. Without a word, he slowly approached, while Jiang Hong gasped for breath.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed behind, swiftly enveloping the man with a cloak.
The world turned pitch black. Then, the darkness expanded, and the man suddenly screamed as a sharp object pierced the back of his neck. He stiffened and fell to the ground.
He Jian appeared, remarking, "Simple and efficient."
"What did you use?" Jiang Hong asked, astonished.
He Jian showed Jiang Hong a metal caltrop in his hand, adding, "This will knock him out for twelve hours."
Jiang Hong dragged the man into the tin shed, locking the door from outside, and said, "Let’s go, on to the next one."
Meanwhile, Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi were crossing the dining area. Xiao Pi said, "Let me handle it this time."
Lian Jiang wasn’t tall, but Xiao Pi was even younger. Lian Jiang, finding it amusing, said, "Okay, you do it," while patting Xiao Pi on the head.
Xiao Pi said, "I also want to do something. I feel useless with you guys always busy."
Lian Jiang looked towards the direction of the private rooms and asked, "Alright, what's your plan?"
Xiao Pi stretched and said, "I learned physical techniques from the Principal. I'll immobilize him, and you can help me tie up his hands and feet."
Lian Jiang cheerfully agreed, "No problem." He took off his jacket and wrapped it around his arms.
Xiao Pi and Lian Jiang hid on either side of the corridor. They saw a figure from afar; Dong Mang finally left the private room, first going to the next door and knocking, "Xiao Bai, work's over, you worked hard today."
That was the same private room where Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang had earlier ambushed the bodyguard after going through the wall. Dong Mang's trusted aide had already been subdued by Lian Jiang and naturally did not respond.
Dong Mang waited for a moment, received no answer, and then pushed the door open.
The bodyguard lay face down on the sofa. As Dong Mang leaned over to wake him up—Xiao Pi suddenly appeared from behind, silently wrapping his arm around Dong Mang’s neck.
However, Dong Mang reacted even faster, straightening his back and spinning around, flinging Xiao Pi into the air!
Xiao Pi rebounded off the wall, clung to Dong Mang’s waist, and used a classic leverage move to throw him to the ground.
Dong Mang didn't forget to yell, "Someone—!"
Lian Jiang applauded from the side, cheering. Xiao Pi threw a punch, but Dong Mang quickly ducked and used Mongolian wrestling techniques to trip Xiao Pi to the ground.
Dong Mang demanded, "How did you get out?!"
Xiao Pi yelled, "Help me, quick!"
Lian Jiang unwrapped his jacket from his arm and threw it over Dong Mang's head. Dong Mang countered with another over-the-shoulder throw, tossing Xiao Pi aside and then rushing out.
Lian Jiang exclaimed, "Who said he was easy to handle!"
Dong Mang burst out into the corridor, about to call for help. Xiao Pi, dazed, got up, and Lian Jiang pulled his wrist. The two simultaneously pounced, encircling Dong Mang. Immediately after, Lian Jiang pressed his left hand on Dong Mang’s back and pushed him against the wall.
Lian Jiang: "Go for it!"
All three of them made a buzzing sound, simultaneously phasing through the wall into darkness.
Dong Mang: "!!!"
Before Dong Mang could react, still unaccustomed to the darkness, he instinctively turned around, only to collide with Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi again.
Lian Jiang: "One more time!"
Dong Mang was hit squarely in the chest. Lian Jiang, shorter in stature and crouching down during the charge, hit him at waist level. With another forceful push, they phased through a second wall, emerging into brightness.
Dong Mang's eyes transitioned from darkness to light, and just as he was dazed, Lian Jiang knocked him over for the third time.
"Bet you didn't see that coming!" Lian Jiang laughed.
With continuous buzzing sounds, Dong Mang was defenseless, dragged by Lian Jiang through five or six walls, losing track of his surroundings. Just as he gathered his wits to punch Lian Jiang, Lian Jiang warned, "Watch out!"
Just as Lian Jiang brought Dong Mang into a room and saw him throw a punch, he abruptly stopped, pulled Xiao Pi by the waist, and the two quickly retreated back into the wall.
Dong Mang, unable to stop his punch in time, hit the concrete wall, yelling out in pain.
Lian Jiang reappeared, and Xiao Pi grabbed a laptop and smacked it against the back of Dong Mang's head, instantly quieting the world.
Lian Jiang looked around and said, "This is his office."
Xiao Pi, catching his breath, said, "We did it. Should we look for his jade amulet now?"
Lian Jiang unbuttoned Dong Mang's shirt, glanced at his chest, saw no jewelry, and then spread his hands in resignation.
Xiao Pi asked, "Should we call others over?"
Lian Jiang waved his hand, saying, "No rush, let's wait for him to wake up. First, let’s see the situation. Come, help me drag him to the chair."
Lian Jiang and Xiao Pi together tied Dong Mang to the office chair.
Xiao Pi fetched a bottle of mineral water and poured it over Dong Mang's face, waking him up.
This time, finding himself restrained, Dong Mang was surprisingly calm and composed.
"Speak," Dong Mang said sternly, "state your terms. I knew this day would come. Who let you out?"
Lian Jiang, lounging on the office desk, laughed, "Do I need someone to let me out?"
"Just one left now..." Jiang Hong murmured.
He Jian joined in, singing, "One by one, one by one..."
As the two searched for the female envoy, He Jian asked, "Your significant other is alright, isn't he?"
"Ah?" Jiang Hong replied, "Should be fine, right? Why? Did you hear something?"
He Jian said, "Do you remember that guy named Yang Feiyao? And our last trip to Nanshan in Chongqing, sneaking into Mai Qing's house?"
Jiang Hong: "Hmm... what about it?"
He Jian: "They're in cahoots. It's a big deal, implicating the internals of the Demon Hunting Committee, with quite a few moles involved."
He Jian's brother is in Quwei, and Jiang Hong had no doubt about the authenticity of this information. He added, "But it doesn't really involve Lu Xiu, does it?"
He Jian said, "It's a bit complicated, apparently it's also related to Lu Xiu."
Jiang Hong: "???"
Lu Xiu rarely deals with Quwei matters, so why would he be involved?
Jiang Hong searched around but couldn't find the female emissary's whereabouts. Approaching 3 AM, it was too cold outside.
He Jian said, "Wait, what's that over there?"
Standing on the rooftop, the two looked towards the horse farm exit. A jeep was speeding away, heading towards distant mountains. It seemed the two emissaries had some special way of communicating; with the man captured, the woman had fled.
"Should we follow?" Jiang Hong hesitated. Only He Jian could pursue, as he was the only one who could fly.
At that moment, a phone call came through.
Lian Jiang spoke on the phone, "We're in the office. You'd better come quickly. Don't worry about capturing anyone right now."
Jiang Hong asked, "What's going on?"
Lian Jiang replied, "You guessed right."
The office was brightly lit. Dong Mang was still tied to a swivel chair, his shirt torn open at two buttons, looking disheveled.
He Jian commented, "This scene looks quite sinister."
Lian Jiang said, "It's not my doing. He tore it himself while struggling."
As Jiang Hong entered, he met Lu Xiu at the doorway. Under the dim corridor light, Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong, almost bumping into him.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu gestured that it was nothing and signaled Jiang Hong to go into the office first. But suddenly, Jiang Hong felt that something was different.
Something must have happened, Jiang Hong thought, looking at Lu Xiu questioningly.
"Let's deal with the current situation first, we can talk about other things later," Lu Xiu responded.
"Nothing serious, right?" Jiang Hong remembered Cao Bin's call, emphasizing "something important." What had happened with Quwei?
"Go in," Lu Xiu said, his tone still brusque and unapproachable.
The desk lamp shone on Dong Mang's face. Lian Jiang hadn't untied him, saying, "We need everyone's input to make a decision."
He Jian dragged in the captured emissary, who was still unconscious.
Dong Mang said, "What I'm about to say, I'll only say once. Whether you believe it or not is up to you." He glanced at the unconscious Hyanghuo emissary on the ground and added, "As expected, sent by Quwei."
"You guessed wrong," Lian Jiang replied. "We're not lying to you; we're all students."
"Students?" Dong Mang questioned. "I can't think of any reason why students would meddle in the affairs of the horse farm."
Xiao Pi said, "Cangqiong University was established by Quwei. Saying we're on the same side makes sense."
He Jian interjected, "Cut the nonsense. If you knew Hyanghuo's intentions, why didn't you report truthfully to Quwei?"
Dong Mang replied, "It seems you know quite a bit. Didn't your brother, the exorcist, tell you that Shandan Horse Farm doesn't take sides? We've been here for over two thousand years, before Jesus was even born, long before the existence of the Exorcist Department. What right does the current committee have to govern us?"
Lian Jiang said, "Mr. Dong, with that attitude, don't expect us to be able to help you."
Dong Mang's expression turned slightly somber as he sighed.
"Alright," Dong Mang conceded. "I'll tell you everything. Since Quwei and Cangqiong University have clashed, your superiors must already be on their way here."
"That's more like it," Lian Jiang remarked.
Dong Mang continued, "Where to start? What did my brother Mu Zong tell you? He wouldn't have told you the truth..."
"That's not important," He Jian said. "What exactly is Hyanghuo?"
Dong Mang explained, "No one knows for sure. I was just as confused at first. Hyanghuo approached me ten years ago, asking Shandan Horse Farm to join their organization. Why not interrogate Bai Cong whom you've captured? That would be quicker."
Dong Mang glanced at the unconscious male emissary, still pondering.
"Is Mai Qing a member of Hyanghuo?" Lu Xiu suddenly asked.
Dong Mang replied, "I'm not sure. They've always contacted me through a single channel."
"What is their goal?" Jiang Hong wondered aloud. It was the third time he asked this question today, convinced that this organization called Hyanghuo must have a purpose.
Dong Mang replied, "This story begins ten years ago. When the first emissary of Hyanghuo came to me, they mentioned a very ancient relic. Do you know about the Book of Everything?"
Jiang Hong: "?"
Everyone exchanged puzzled looks, but Lu Xiu said, "I know. Continue."
Lu Xiu's expression became serious. Jiang Hong was eager to ask what it was, but knew it wasn't the right time, so he held back.
Dong Mang: "Do you believe in the existence of the Book of Everything?"
Lu Xiu: "I don't believe it. So, Hyanghuo claims to possess the Book of Everything?"
Seeing the others' confused expressions, Dong Mang explained, "Legend has it, there exists a supreme document in the world, surpassing all magical treasures, known as the 'Book of Everything.' This book records everything, from the vast mountains and earth to the tiniest grain of sand. It encompasses everything, leaving nothing out..."
"So, it's the Map of Mountains and Rivers?" He Jian wondered.
Dong Mang clarified, "No, it's not. Some used to think so. Legend says that whoever possesses the Book of Everything becomes omnipotent, for it contains all secrets, both known and unknown to mankind."
Jiang Hong said, "I find it hard to believe such a thing exists..."
Dong Mang continued, "The envoy of Hyanghuo claimed they have the Book of Everything. Where they got it from, I don't know."
Lu Xiu: "Did they show it to you?"
Dong Mang: "No, but it's said that their leader used the Book of Everything as a 'medium' to gain the art of resurrection."
Lu Xiu: "!!!"
Lu Xiu's expression changed instantly. Dong Mang added, "The emissary told me that if the Hyanghuo leader wishes, he could resurrect all the dead, from the dawn of creation to the present moment, provided there is enough material and energy."
Jiang Hong also remembered the Wuzhiqi that appeared in Chongqing!
Lu Xiu: "Did they demonstrate it to you?"
Dong Mang: "They were in the process of doing so. The Que God Altar was one of their experimental sites. It has the remains of Que, and one of Shandan Horse Farm's duties is to guard the Que God Altar through generations, preventing unauthorized access. They used the power of ley lines to revive 'Que,' a process they called 'awakening.'"
Jiang Hong recalled the conversation he had overheard in the private room.
Dong Mang: "Hyanghuo has already succeeded once, haven't they? I heard they revived an ancient water demon in Chongqing."
"I'm the one asking questions now," Lu Xiu said coldly, "Why didn’t you immediately report to Quwei?"
Dong Mang: "Hyanghuo promised that if we cooperated, they could revive our deceased father, mother, grandfather, and maternal grandfather... Imagine, the dead returning to life, what condition could you not accept?"
Jiang Hong: "But even if the resurrection of the dead were successful..."
Xiao Pi interjected: "Can souls be called back too? Aren’t they already in the cycle of reincarnation within the veins of the universe?"
Dong Mang: "True, I've always known this, but part of me still held on to hope, thinking what if my departed loved ones hadn’t yet entered the cycle of reincarnation..."
"That's almost impossible," Lian Jiang remarked.
Dong Mang continued, "So I hesitated. But just when I decided to shut down the Que God Altar and withdraw from this affair, my brother Mu Zong changed his mind. He believed in them, while I planned to close the altar completely. When Mu Zong learned about my intentions, we had a severe falling out."
Having said that, Dong Mang indicated that the current situation had arisen from there.
"If you hurry to stop him now, there's still time," Dong Mang said, "Only the blood of my brother and me can open the barrier deep within the Que God Altar."
"What stage has the resurrection of the Què reached?" Lu Xiu stepped forward and said in a deep voice.
"It's nearing the end," Dong Mang said. "I don't know where you got this information, the existence of the Què altar is quite secretive, only recorded in the ancient scrolls collected by the Exorcism Commission."
"Your end-of-term project is now over," Lu Xiu said. "I'll take over here. Listen to my arrangements. The four of you, stay here, guard Dong Mang, and wait for the exorcist to arrive."
Having said that, Lu Xiu rushed out the door like a gust of wind. Jiang Hong had just chased a few steps when he saw the dragon's huge body take off and fly towards the Qilian Mountains.
"Lu Xiu! Wait!" Jiang Hong chased to the door, watching Lu Xiu leave.
Jiang Hong turned to look at Dong Mang, then towards the direction where Lu Xiu had departed.
Jiang Hong asked, "Is the demon beast known as Què very strong?"
Dong Mang replied, "Què is a creature from ancient mythology, capable of rivaling dragons. Dragons are born from the earth's veins and nurtured by the aura of the heavenly veins; Què, on the contrary, is born from the sky and resides underground over the long years. Què and dragons could be considered natural enemies."
Lian Jiang asked, "Is it still possible to seal it now?"
Dong Mang said, "If we hurry to the Qilian Mountains and stop Mu Zong, there's still time. I know a shortcut there, but it's not accessible by car."
