Chapter 94: Inspection
Lu Xiu parked the car outside the gate of the sacred land, and after arranging to have dinner with Jiang Hong in the evening, he let Jiang Hong take Yi Feng to find the Ghost King. After all, bringing an unknowing ordinary person into the sacred land was not a simple matter and needed Jiang Hong's supervision.
Jiang Hong had to admit that Lu Xiu's excuse of a "live streaming base" was too fitting, sparing him from explaining a bunch of things to Yi Feng, including why someone suddenly called him "Your Majesty."
However, Yi Feng did not speak presumptuously, merely following Jiang Hong with his white cane.
"This place is really big," Yi Feng said, his first comment after entering the sacred land.
"Yes, it is," Jiang Hong tried to explain the oddities of the sacred land, worried about making things worse, and said, "Everyone here is doing live streaming."
Yi Feng nodded, asking, "Are you a streamer too?"
Jiang Hong: "No, I'm... administrative staff, helping them with errands and chores. In the company, um, everyone uses their streaming nicknames, so sometimes you might hear 'King' or 'Your Majesty' and such..."
Yi Feng quickly put two and two together, saying, "Oh! The one who brought me here must be the boss then? I think I heard someone calling him 'Little King.'"
Jiang Hong: "Uh... you could say that. You can think of him as the company's prince... Everyone also has nicknames, like the logistics team is nicknamed 'Panda'. Oh, hey! That Panda over there!"
"Ah! Your Majesty!" A panda sitting on a covered bridge, playing with rainwater on the railing, hurriedly wiped its paws on its body and ran towards Jiang Hong.
"Could you please take this back to my room? Thank you." Jiang Hong handed the parcel he had brought from the mountain to the panda, which promptly walked away with it.
"What's in your bag?" Jiang Hong asked Yi Feng.
Yi Feng replied, "It's full of repair tools. I run an electronics repair shop in Chongqing, modifying electronic products for customers."
Jiang Hong: "That's impressive."
"Just making ends meet," Yi Feng said, "Is this also a property of Shengdi Group?"
"Yes... it is," Jiang Hong knew there was a Shengdi Building in Chongqing, which made the explanation a bit easier.
Jiang Hong led Yi Feng into the Ghost King's cave. Although he had been there once before, he was still a bit scared and was about to warn Yi Feng but then remembered he was blind and darkness had no effect on him.
But Jiang Hong was scared! He couldn't just cling to Yi Feng!
"Ahem!" Jiang Hong had no choice but to shout, "Ghost King! Are you there?!"
Yi Feng used his white cane to feel around, touching a stone coffin and showing a puzzled expression.
"This... this place." Jiang Hong saw a light come on in the deepest part of the cemetery and felt a little relieved.
"Did you arrange for the home repair service?" Jiang Hong asked.
The Ghost King was initially confused but then remembered and quickly said, "Yes! Thank you, Jiang Hong! Is this the repairman?"
"Hello, hello," Yi Feng stood and said, "Is the drone broken?"
The Ghost King said, "Please wait a moment."
Then, the Ghost King brought out a drone covered in slime.
Jiang Hong: "What did you do with it?"
The Ghost King replied, "Exploring."
Yi Feng felt it and said, "It's quite dirty."
The Ghost King asked, "Can it be fixed? I've used it for a long time and even named it. I don't want to throw it away and buy a new one."
Yi Feng: "I'll try. First, I need to clean it, then disassemble it."
The Ghost King asked, "You can't see with your eyes? Can you fix things?"
Yi Feng: "No problem, I have good tactile skills. Let me try. I just need a workbench and a ventilated area; it's a bit damp here."
Jiang Hong glanced at the Ghost King. The mountains were always damp, so he suggested, "How about I take him back to my place for the repair?"
The Ghost King said, "That would be too much trouble for you, Jiang Hong."
Jiang Hong: "It's no trouble at all, let me handle it?"
Jiang Hong remembered the parts of the Tmall Genie crushed by Lao Sun. If Yi Feng could fix the drone, he also wanted to ask him to repair the Tmall Genie so he wouldn't have to keep drawing transfer talismans.
So, Jiang Hong took Yi Feng back to his suite. There was a large study opposite the bedroom, with an adjoining rest area. Pulling open the screen door connected it to the bedroom, and he decided to let Yi Feng use this space first.
"Your bag is soaked through," Jiang Hong said, "Should we dry it first? I'll turn on the dehumidifier."
Lao Sun: "Jiang Hong, did you buy me a drone?"
Jiang Hong quickly made a "shush" gesture, pointing to Yi Feng, signaling Lao Sun to keep quiet to avoid startling the guest.
"Thank you, thank you," Yi Feng kept saying while familiarizing himself with the surroundings and then said, "This table is big enough."
Jiang Hong sat down at the other end of the study, pulled out his materials, and started working on his assignments in Ambush Tactics and Artifact Studies. Meanwhile, he pondered Lu Xiu's words. What did they mean? Who is the rebellious demon king? Do I need to be cautious?
Jiang Hong felt he shouldn't know such things, as he couldn't keep secrets well. Knowing this, his expression would always be suspicious when facing the demon kings.
Lu Xiu also mentioned the Moon-Eclipsing Bow and Vajra Arrow... Are these two artifacts really in the sacred land? Were they left by Xiang Cheng? But they wouldn't respond to my summons, would they? Did Lu Xiu mean for me to find them?
Maybe the Wanwu Book could help locate these divine weapons? But what do they look like? I've never seen them. Jiang Hong was utterly confused, feeling that Lu Xiu was implying something without being clear. Was this part of an ambush? It felt like it. A crucial aspect of setting up an ambush is to hide details, even from collaborators, and only guide the development of events.
Jiang Hong pondered for a while and then thought about the demon king matter. He scrutinized Yi Feng, deciding it was best not to let too many people know they had brought an ordinary person into the sacred land. Maybe he should send him back once the drone and the Tmall Genie were repaired?
Jiang Hong found himself unintentionally observing Yi Feng, thinking he was quite handsome, at least more so than himself, and faintly resembled Lu Xiu. Of course, Lu Xiu was a handsome man from every angle, enhanced by his dragon-like demeanor. Yi Feng, with his obscured eyes and brows, had an advantage in appearance; even if not blind, he probably couldn't surpass Lu Xiu.
Yi Feng also possessed some of Lu Xiu's handsome traits, a sort of budget version of Lu Xiu. Even being a lower match, he was still remarkably handsome... Lu Xiu was even better-looking, perfectly handsome... What am I thinking?
As Jiang Hong organized his notes and started on his flowchart, he pondered the rebellion of the demon king, and his thoughts drifted to the gossip about four of the eight S-class exorcists being gay. This gossip was obviously more interesting than finding a traitor. Eight exorcists, four gays - who could they be?
"It's cleaned," Yi Feng looked up as if searching for Jiang Hong, "It needs to air dry before I can fix the circuit board. I'll come back tomorrow."
Jiang Hong quickly said, "You've gone to so much trouble already, just stay here tonight."
With such heavy rain outside, going up and down the mountain was too difficult for a blind person.
Yi Feng replied, "That would be too much of an imposition..."
"Not at all," Jiang Hong insisted, "Could you also take a look at another electronic device for me?"
Jiang Hong brought over Lao Sun, and after feeling it for a while, Yi Feng said, "Is this a speaker? Did it fall?"
"Yes... there's a problem with the control system," Jiang Hong said.
The camera was still turning, and Jiang Hong had warned Lao Sun not to speak nonsense, so Lao Sun wisely stayed silent. Yi Feng said, "I can fix it. Let me see."
Jiang Hong and Yi Feng huddled together. Jiang Hong watched as Yi Feng first felt the circuit board and then counted the connecting wires with his fingers, moving very skillfully. Jiang Hong couldn't help but marvel at how everything has its way - Yi Feng had mastered such intricate technology.
"That's amazing," Jiang Hong said.
"Jiang Hong, what are you doing?" Xiao Pi arrived and asked, "Do you want some afternoon tea... Oh, who is this?"
Yi Feng slightly lifted his head, discerning the voice, and Xiao Pi suddenly froze.
Jiang Hong: "???"
Xiao Pi asked, "What... what are you guys doing?"
Jiang Hong: "He's here to repair a drone for the Ghost King."
Xiao Pi: "Oh, I see... Sorry to interrupt. I thought it was Lu Xiu just now!"
Jiang Hong laughed: "His name is Yi Feng, they do look a bit alike, right? I thought the same just now."
Xiao Pi: "Yeah, it's not about the looks, but the aura... I'm Pi Yunhao, nice to meet you. Is he fixing Lao Sun?"
Jiang Hong then sat down with Xiao Pi, realizing it was time for the afternoon tea break. The pandas came over with coffee, other beverages, and snacks. Soon, Lian Jiang also arrived, and upon seeing Yi Feng, he exclaimed, "Wow."
Then he whispered softly, "He's really handsome."
Lian Jiang, being gay and usually not showing it, was actually very narcissistic and always paid attention to the looks of other men.
Yi Feng, evidently having good hearing, said, "Thank you for the compliment." His lips gently curved into a smile, and he politely added, "Thank you, but I won't eat. I can't get my hands oily."
"Have a bite," Xiao Pi suggested, "Shall I feed you?"
After thinking, Yi Feng took off his gloves and accepted a small piece of sandwich offered by Xiao Pi.
Lian Jiang looked from Jiang Hong to Yi Feng, and then to Xiao Pi, who ignored Lian Jiang.
Jiang Hong: "??"
Jiang Hong couldn't help but smile wryly, typing on his phone: [He's a regular person here for repairs.]
Lian Jiang nodded, understanding clearly, and Jiang Hong then gestured to Xiao Pi, who got the hint.
They seem to be arguing? Jiang Hong sensed a bit of tension in the air and no one spoke for a moment. Lian Jiang kept giving Jiang Hong meaningful looks, and Jiang Hong internally groaned: Ah... I really don’t want to mediate between you two!
Jiang Hong thought about leaving, but Yi Feng was fixing something for him, and it didn’t seem right to leave. Sensing his dilemma, Yi Feng said, “You can go about your work, don’t mind me. I’ve brought bread and don’t need dinner prepared.”
Jiang Hong: “Then I'll step out for a while and come back later.”
As soon as Jiang Hong left, Lian Jiang followed, slinging an arm around him. Knowing Lian Jiang had something to say, Jiang Hong didn’t resist.
“What kind of internship work are you doing?” Lian Jiang asked, “You probably don’t have to do anything, right?”
Jiang Hong was thinking about the investigation. Lian Jiang, being human and not involved in demon affairs, decided not to share with him.
“Indeed, I’m just wandering around,” Jiang Hong replied, “What’s up?”
Suddenly, Jiang Hong remembered Lian Jiang's family secret techniques… Maybe he could be a big help!
“Teacher Xuan Hezhi always thinks I’m not a decent person,” Lian Jiang said, “He’s afraid I’ll corrupt Xiao Pi and wants us to break up. What should I do?”
Jiang Hong thought: Figures.
“You’re asking me,” Jiang Hong said, “How should I know? You don’t exactly act like a decent person. Behave better.”
Lian Jiang: “And I don’t know why, but Teacher Xuan always thinks I’m after Xiao Pi… Do you think he knows I’m gay?”
Jiang Hong: “He’s a father who raised Xiao Pi all these years; it’s natural for him to be protective…”
Lian Jiang: “Right, I have a question…”
Jiang Hong swiped his jade token and led Lian Jiang into the courtyard, to which Lian Jiang immediately said, “I can’t be here; I’ll get scolded if caught.”
Jiang Hong: “They wouldn’t dare scold me. What’s your question?”
Lian Jiang: "They might not dare to scold you, but they will scold me for sure, Your Highness!"
Jiang Hong: "I remember you can walk through walls. Can you pass through all walls in the sacred land? Are there any barriers?"
Lian Jiang: "Not all walls have barriers... It's too power-consuming and can cause structural problems due to energy conflicts. What are you planning to do?"
Jiang Hong whispered, "You said you had a problem?"
Lian Jiang: "I heard Teacher Xuan Hezhi favors boys from wealthy backgrounds, is that true?"
Jiang Hong looked clueless while scanning the empty courtyard.
Jiang Hong: "Uh, but I advise you not to flaunt your wealth... Being seen as a nouveau riche might make you appear less serious, right?"
Jiang Hong thought: Important places are likely protected by barriers. I can reverse-engineer this. Where I can walk through walls is safe; where I can't needs investigation!
"I'm a genius," Jiang Hong silently praised himself, feeling satisfied with his plan.
Jiang Hong then turned to Lian Jiang and asked, "Are you a top or a bottom?"
Lian Jiang: "I'm a top. Why do you ask?"
Jiang Hong: "Then let's go! Start here, pass through it!"
Lian Jiang: "Hey, wait a minute!"
Lian Jiang, still unclear about the connection between being a top and walking through walls, and unaware of Jiang Hong's intentions, was pulled by him and suddenly activated his power to pass through the wall!
Lian Jiang: "Where are we? Don't mess around, I don’t want to get in trouble…"
Jiang Hong found an empty room with carpets, likely a foyer, and continued pulling Lian Jiang through more walls.
Jiang Hong: "This magic is amazing, it's a skill even dragons don’t have!"
Lian Jiang: "My ancestors were famous river bandits... the kind that only stole from officials, not the common people. What kind of gift do you think would impress Teacher Xuan Hezhi? Wait a minute..."
"Pass through!" Jiang Hong led them into another place, a long corridor. Lian Jiang, dizzied by the constant movement, said, "Perhaps money can embellish my soul a bit?"
"Just remember to keep it moderate, moderate!" Jiang Hong looked around, thinking how he would never have done this in the past. Even during his trip to Qilian Mountains, he wasn’t this bold. Being a demon hunter for a while seemed to have fattened his courage.
"Where are we now?" They found themselves in a bedroom with a large water bed and a sizable dressing table.
"Gold might be a good idea," Lian Jiang suggested, then Jiang Hong quickly replied while turning around, "But absolutely no big gold chains…" and they passed through another wall.
Study, hallway, bedroom, bathroom, conference room, foyer…
The scenes before them kept changing rapidly. In just ten minutes, Jiang Hong had nearly traversed all nearby rooms, witnessing a variety of decor styles - from Nordic to Japanese gardens, tropical rainforests, and then English-style interiors.
Lian Jiang: "A tour of the sacred land in a day? Wait, be careful of the surveillance!"
"We're moving too fast, the cameras will only capture a blur, no one will watch it closely…"
"Wow!" Lian Jiang exclaimed, "Where is this? So many suits? Definitely a suit enthusiast."
They stood in a walk-in closet. Jiang Hong guessed this might be the Eagle King's area and was about to leave when they heard the sound of flapping wings.
Lian Jiang quickly pulled Jiang Hong behind the closet, narrowly avoiding a collision with a parrot.
"…I can't do anything about that," came the voice of Liu Heng.
Oh no! We've ended up in someone's bedroom!
Liu Heng was having afternoon tea, with a student-looking person standing beside him. Lian Jiang tried to peek out, but Jiang Hong promptly stopped him.
"Eagles have extremely sharp vision, covering almost all angles. We can't risk it."
"As for the Demon Hunter Committee," Liu Heng continued, "the Demon Association can't mediate, especially since your uncle is involved with their enemies."
"Which organization?" asked the bewildered young man, "I only know they’re the Committee's adversaries…"
Yuan Shiyu!
Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang exchanged a surprised look.
"I can't disclose more information," Liu Heng added. "The only person who might appeal to the Demon Hunter Committee on your behalf is Lu Xi. He was once your teacher; maybe he will consider old ties."
Yuan Shiyu responded, "I hardly ever spoke to him."
Liu Heng didn't reply, probably making a gesture of helplessness, followed by the sound of Yuan Shiyu's footsteps leaving the bedroom.
Jiang Hong tugged Lian Jiang, signaling to leave.
As they moved on, Lian Jiang asked, "What's wrong with his uncle?"
"Let's continue discussing about Xiao Pi," Jiang Hong suggested.
"Oh, right!" Lian Jiang remembered, "What do you think about giving Xiao Pi a life-sized gold statue? That should show enough sincerity, right?"
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "I didn't mean for you to give gold! Isn't that a bit too extravagant?"
Lian Jiang reasoned, "Of course, Teacher Xuan just wants to see if I'm a decent person. That should be enough to let me be friends with Xiao Pi, right?"
Jiang Hong hesitated, "Being decent doesn't necessarily mean... well, at least he might realize..."
As they were randomly moving through walls, they suddenly entered the main hall where Lu Xi was daydreaming. Seeing Jiang Hong, he immediately stood up.
"Sorry to disturb you!" Jiang Hong quickly said to Lu Xi, then hurried off to the other end of the hall with Lian Jiang.
"Teacher Lu, long time no see! Your motorcycle is super cool!" Lian Jiang called back before disappearing.
"What else can you tell?"
"It's obvious your family is wealthy..."
Finally, they hit a wall!
Jiang Hong had never expected that a barrier-protected area would be so close to the main hall. Right after leaving Lu Xi's throne, and after passing through two corridors, they encountered it behind a wall in an anteroom.
Both yelled as they hit the wall, bumping their foreheads solidly.
"Ouch, that hurts," Jiang Hong said.
Lian Jiang remarked, "You shouldn't run so fast."
Quickly getting up, Jiang Hong took out the Book of Everything and pointed it at the wall.
"What's that?" Lian Jiang asked. "A chopstick?"
After forging the Western sword last time, Jiang Hong discovered that the Book of Everything could change its form, so he turned it into a wand. Not only was it more convenient to use, but it also looked cooler, resembling a conductor's baton.
The Book of Everything itself was like the conductor's baton of the world, making its transformation quite fitting.
"Shush," Jiang Hong whispered. "I can see the barrier runes. Have you ever seen this?"
Through the wall, Jiang Hong observed the slowly moving magical runes and promptly sketched them in his notebook.
"It's a..." Lian Jiang started. "A living creature seal? I need to retake my barrier class; I didn't learn it well. Why don't you ask Hu Qingquan or Lu Xi about it?"
"Let's check the nearby rooms," Jiang Hong said, feeling he was close to uncovering the truth. Next, he needed to figure out to whom the room belonged.
[Lu Chaoyang's arrival in 00:00:12.]
Alarmed, Jiang Hong quickly pulled Lian Jiang to hide behind the wall. Soon after Lu Chaoyang passed by, they reappeared.
"Is this Xiang Liu Wang's area?" Lian Jiang asked.
"Doesn't seem like it," Jiang Hong replied. "Where are we?"
The décor here didn't resemble the aquatic theme of a water tribe's area, lacking the pervasive blue. Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang circled around. The room was small, ordinary-looking, and sealed on all sides, typical of an administrative area.
"It could be an existing seal," Lian Jiang suggested, "like for storing valuable treasures or archives."
"Hmm…" Jiang Hong knew not every sealed room could be conclusively linked to a traitorous demon king, but it was worth investigating further.
"Should we keep searching?" Without a map, Jiang Hong found it challenging but tried to memorize the general layout.
They then discovered another seal, leading to a narrow corridor ending in an ancient-looking door, resembling a garden fence, partially open and revealing a bridge-like structure behind it.
The door also had a seal.
Soon, they found a third and fourth seal.
The third was on a public area wall, featuring a bas-relief of the Witch of Mount Wu wrapped in a giant serpent, overlooking the mountains, with a vast sky behind the wall.
The fourth seal was in front of a staircase to an attic, not far from the main hall's throne. It seemed like a storage area for ceremonial fabrics, decorations, candelabras, and more.
Seeing these ordinary kitchenware items, as well as a laundry room and a storage room for vacuum cleaners, Jiang Hong felt a down-to-earth vibe from the demon association.
"Hey, it's getting late," Lian Jiang said, "I need to go back and prepare my life-size golden statue."
"Alright." Jiang Hong was truly grateful to Lian Jiang; otherwise, he would have had to wander the palace with his Book of Everything, which could have taken half a month.
He roughly marked the four locations, planning to explore them under the cover of a dark, windy night.
Chapter 94: Inspection
Lu Xiu parked the car outside the gate of the sacred land, and after arranging to have dinner with Jiang Hong in the evening, he let Jiang Hong take Yi Feng to find the Ghost King. After all, bringing an unknowing ordinary person into the sacred land was not a simple matter and needed Jiang Hong's supervision.
Jiang Hong had to admit that Lu Xiu's excuse of a "live streaming base" was too fitting, sparing him from explaining a bunch of things to Yi Feng, including why someone suddenly called him "Your Majesty."
However, Yi Feng did not speak presumptuously, merely following Jiang Hong with his white cane.
"This place is really big," Yi Feng said, his first comment after entering the sacred land.
"Yes, it is," Jiang Hong tried to explain the oddities of the sacred land, worried about making things worse, and said, "Everyone here is doing live streaming."
Yi Feng nodded, asking, "Are you a streamer too?"
Jiang Hong: "No, I'm... administrative staff, helping them with errands and chores. In the company, um, everyone uses their streaming nicknames, so sometimes you might hear 'King' or 'Your Majesty' and such..."
Yi Feng quickly put two and two together, saying, "Oh! The one who brought me here must be the boss then? I think I heard someone calling him 'Little King.'"
Jiang Hong: "Uh... you could say that. You can think of him as the company's prince... Everyone also has nicknames, like the logistics team is nicknamed 'Panda'. Oh, hey! That Panda over there!"
"Ah! Your Majesty!" A panda sitting on a covered bridge, playing with rainwater on the railing, hurriedly wiped its paws on its body and ran towards Jiang Hong.
"Could you please take this back to my room? Thank you." Jiang Hong handed the parcel he had brought from the mountain to the panda, which promptly walked away with it.
"What's in your bag?" Jiang Hong asked Yi Feng.
Yi Feng replied, "It's full of repair tools. I run an electronics repair shop in Chongqing, modifying electronic products for customers."
Jiang Hong: "That's impressive."
"Just making ends meet," Yi Feng said, "Is this also a property of Shengdi Group?"
"Yes... it is," Jiang Hong knew there was a Shengdi Building in Chongqing, which made the explanation a bit easier.
Jiang Hong led Yi Feng into the Ghost King's cave. Although he had been there once before, he was still a bit scared and was about to warn Yi Feng but then remembered he was blind and darkness had no effect on him.
But Jiang Hong was scared! He couldn't just cling to Yi Feng!
"Ahem!" Jiang Hong had no choice but to shout, "Ghost King! Are you there?!"
Yi Feng used his white cane to feel around, touching a stone coffin and showing a puzzled expression.
"This... this place." Jiang Hong saw a light come on in the deepest part of the cemetery and felt a little relieved.
"Did you arrange for the home repair service?" Jiang Hong asked.
The Ghost King was initially confused but then remembered and quickly said, "Yes! Thank you, Jiang Hong! Is this the repairman?"
"Hello, hello," Yi Feng stood and said, "Is the drone broken?"
The Ghost King said, "Please wait a moment."
Then, the Ghost King brought out a drone covered in slime.
Jiang Hong: "What did you do with it?"
The Ghost King replied, "Exploring."
Yi Feng felt it and said, "It's quite dirty."
The Ghost King asked, "Can it be fixed? I've used it for a long time and even named it. I don't want to throw it away and buy a new one."
Yi Feng: "I'll try. First, I need to clean it, then disassemble it."
The Ghost King asked, "You can't see with your eyes? Can you fix things?"
Yi Feng: "No problem, I have good tactile skills. Let me try. I just need a workbench and a ventilated area; it's a bit damp here."
Jiang Hong glanced at the Ghost King. The mountains were always damp, so he suggested, "How about I take him back to my place for the repair?"
The Ghost King said, "That would be too much trouble for you, Jiang Hong."
Jiang Hong: "It's no trouble at all, let me handle it?"
Jiang Hong remembered the parts of the Tmall Genie crushed by Lao Sun. If Yi Feng could fix the drone, he also wanted to ask him to repair the Tmall Genie so he wouldn't have to keep drawing transfer talismans.
So, Jiang Hong took Yi Feng back to his suite. There was a large study opposite the bedroom, with an adjoining rest area. Pulling open the screen door connected it to the bedroom, and he decided to let Yi Feng use this space first.
"Your bag is soaked through," Jiang Hong said, "Should we dry it first? I'll turn on the dehumidifier."
Lao Sun: "Jiang Hong, did you buy me a drone?"
Jiang Hong quickly made a "shush" gesture, pointing to Yi Feng, signaling Lao Sun to keep quiet to avoid startling the guest.
"Thank you, thank you," Yi Feng kept saying while familiarizing himself with the surroundings and then said, "This table is big enough."
Jiang Hong sat down at the other end of the study, pulled out his materials, and started working on his assignments in Ambush Tactics and Artifact Studies. Meanwhile, he pondered Lu Xiu's words. What did they mean? Who is the rebellious demon king? Do I need to be cautious?
Jiang Hong felt he shouldn't know such things, as he couldn't keep secrets well. Knowing this, his expression would always be suspicious when facing the demon kings.
Lu Xiu also mentioned the Moon-Eclipsing Bow and Vajra Arrow... Are these two artifacts really in the sacred land? Were they left by Xiang Cheng? But they wouldn't respond to my summons, would they? Did Lu Xiu mean for me to find them?
Maybe the Wanwu Book could help locate these divine weapons? But what do they look like? I've never seen them. Jiang Hong was utterly confused, feeling that Lu Xiu was implying something without being clear. Was this part of an ambush? It felt like it. A crucial aspect of setting up an ambush is to hide details, even from collaborators, and only guide the development of events.
Jiang Hong pondered for a while and then thought about the demon king matter. He scrutinized Yi Feng, deciding it was best not to let too many people know they had brought an ordinary person into the sacred land. Maybe he should send him back once the drone and the Tmall Genie were repaired?
Jiang Hong found himself unintentionally observing Yi Feng, thinking he was quite handsome, at least more so than himself, and faintly resembled Lu Xiu. Of course, Lu Xiu was a handsome man from every angle, enhanced by his dragon-like demeanor. Yi Feng, with his obscured eyes and brows, had an advantage in appearance; even if not blind, he probably couldn't surpass Lu Xiu.
Yi Feng also possessed some of Lu Xiu's handsome traits, a sort of budget version of Lu Xiu. Even being a lower match, he was still remarkably handsome... Lu Xiu was even better-looking, perfectly handsome... What am I thinking?
As Jiang Hong organized his notes and started on his flowchart, he pondered the rebellion of the demon king, and his thoughts drifted to the gossip about four of the eight S-class exorcists being gay. This gossip was obviously more interesting than finding a traitor. Eight exorcists, four gays - who could they be?
"It's cleaned," Yi Feng looked up as if searching for Jiang Hong, "It needs to air dry before I can fix the circuit board. I'll come back tomorrow."
Jiang Hong quickly said, "You've gone to so much trouble already, just stay here tonight."
With such heavy rain outside, going up and down the mountain was too difficult for a blind person.
Yi Feng replied, "That would be too much of an imposition..."
"Not at all," Jiang Hong insisted, "Could you also take a look at another electronic device for me?"
Jiang Hong brought over Lao Sun, and after feeling it for a while, Yi Feng said, "Is this a speaker? Did it fall?"
"Yes... there's a problem with the control system," Jiang Hong said.
The camera was still turning, and Jiang Hong had warned Lao Sun not to speak nonsense, so Lao Sun wisely stayed silent. Yi Feng said, "I can fix it. Let me see."
Jiang Hong and Yi Feng huddled together. Jiang Hong watched as Yi Feng first felt the circuit board and then counted the connecting wires with his fingers, moving very skillfully. Jiang Hong couldn't help but marvel at how everything has its way - Yi Feng had mastered such intricate technology.
"That's amazing," Jiang Hong said.
"Jiang Hong, what are you doing?" Xiao Pi arrived and asked, "Do you want some afternoon tea... Oh, who is this?"
Yi Feng slightly lifted his head, discerning the voice, and Xiao Pi suddenly froze.
Jiang Hong: "???"
Xiao Pi asked, "What... what are you guys doing?"
Jiang Hong: "He's here to repair a drone for the Ghost King."
Xiao Pi: "Oh, I see... Sorry to interrupt. I thought it was Lu Xiu just now!"
Jiang Hong laughed: "His name is Yi Feng, they do look a bit alike, right? I thought the same just now."
Xiao Pi: "Yeah, it's not about the looks, but the aura... I'm Pi Yunhao, nice to meet you. Is he fixing Lao Sun?"
Jiang Hong then sat down with Xiao Pi, realizing it was time for the afternoon tea break. The pandas came over with coffee, other beverages, and snacks. Soon, Lian Jiang also arrived, and upon seeing Yi Feng, he exclaimed, "Wow."
Then he whispered softly, "He's really handsome."
Lian Jiang, being gay and usually not showing it, was actually very narcissistic and always paid attention to the looks of other men.
Yi Feng, evidently having good hearing, said, "Thank you for the compliment." His lips gently curved into a smile, and he politely added, "Thank you, but I won't eat. I can't get my hands oily."
"Have a bite," Xiao Pi suggested, "Shall I feed you?"
After thinking, Yi Feng took off his gloves and accepted a small piece of sandwich offered by Xiao Pi.
Lian Jiang looked from Jiang Hong to Yi Feng, and then to Xiao Pi, who ignored Lian Jiang.
Jiang Hong: "??"
Jiang Hong couldn't help but smile wryly, typing on his phone: [He's a regular person here for repairs.]
Lian Jiang nodded, understanding clearly, and Jiang Hong then gestured to Xiao Pi, who got the hint.
They seem to be arguing? Jiang Hong sensed a bit of tension in the air and no one spoke for a moment. Lian Jiang kept giving Jiang Hong meaningful looks, and Jiang Hong internally groaned: Ah... I really don’t want to mediate between you two!
Jiang Hong thought about leaving, but Yi Feng was fixing something for him, and it didn’t seem right to leave. Sensing his dilemma, Yi Feng said, “You can go about your work, don’t mind me. I’ve brought bread and don’t need dinner prepared.”
Jiang Hong: “Then I'll step out for a while and come back later.”
As soon as Jiang Hong left, Lian Jiang followed, slinging an arm around him. Knowing Lian Jiang had something to say, Jiang Hong didn’t resist.
“What kind of internship work are you doing?” Lian Jiang asked, “You probably don’t have to do anything, right?”
Jiang Hong was thinking about the investigation. Lian Jiang, being human and not involved in demon affairs, decided not to share with him.
“Indeed, I’m just wandering around,” Jiang Hong replied, “What’s up?”
Suddenly, Jiang Hong remembered Lian Jiang's family secret techniques… Maybe he could be a big help!
“Teacher Xuan Hezhi always thinks I’m not a decent person,” Lian Jiang said, “He’s afraid I’ll corrupt Xiao Pi and wants us to break up. What should I do?”
Jiang Hong thought: Figures.
“You’re asking me,” Jiang Hong said, “How should I know? You don’t exactly act like a decent person. Behave better.”
Lian Jiang: “And I don’t know why, but Teacher Xuan always thinks I’m after Xiao Pi… Do you think he knows I’m gay?”
Jiang Hong: “He’s a father who raised Xiao Pi all these years; it’s natural for him to be protective…”
Lian Jiang: “Right, I have a question…”
Jiang Hong swiped his jade token and led Lian Jiang into the courtyard, to which Lian Jiang immediately said, “I can’t be here; I’ll get scolded if caught.”
Jiang Hong: “They wouldn’t dare scold me. What’s your question?”
Lian Jiang: "They might not dare to scold you, but they will scold me for sure, Your Highness!"
Jiang Hong: "I remember you can walk through walls. Can you pass through all walls in the sacred land? Are there any barriers?"
Lian Jiang: "Not all walls have barriers... It's too power-consuming and can cause structural problems due to energy conflicts. What are you planning to do?"
Jiang Hong whispered, "You said you had a problem?"
Lian Jiang: "I heard Teacher Xuan Hezhi favors boys from wealthy backgrounds, is that true?"
Jiang Hong looked clueless while scanning the empty courtyard.
Jiang Hong: "Uh, but I advise you not to flaunt your wealth... Being seen as a nouveau riche might make you appear less serious, right?"
Jiang Hong thought: Important places are likely protected by barriers. I can reverse-engineer this. Where I can walk through walls is safe; where I can't needs investigation!
"I'm a genius," Jiang Hong silently praised himself, feeling satisfied with his plan.
Jiang Hong then turned to Lian Jiang and asked, "Are you a top or a bottom?"
Lian Jiang: "I'm a top. Why do you ask?"
Jiang Hong: "Then let's go! Start here, pass through it!"
Lian Jiang: "Hey, wait a minute!"
Lian Jiang, still unclear about the connection between being a top and walking through walls, and unaware of Jiang Hong's intentions, was pulled by him and suddenly activated his power to pass through the wall!
Lian Jiang: "Where are we? Don't mess around, I don’t want to get in trouble…"
Jiang Hong found an empty room with carpets, likely a foyer, and continued pulling Lian Jiang through more walls.
Jiang Hong: "This magic is amazing, it's a skill even dragons don’t have!"
Lian Jiang: "My ancestors were famous river bandits... the kind that only stole from officials, not the common people. What kind of gift do you think would impress Teacher Xuan Hezhi? Wait a minute..."
"Pass through!" Jiang Hong led them into another place, a long corridor. Lian Jiang, dizzied by the constant movement, said, "Perhaps money can embellish my soul a bit?"
"Just remember to keep it moderate, moderate!" Jiang Hong looked around, thinking how he would never have done this in the past. Even during his trip to Qilian Mountains, he wasn’t this bold. Being a demon hunter for a while seemed to have fattened his courage.
"Where are we now?" They found themselves in a bedroom with a large water bed and a sizable dressing table.
"Gold might be a good idea," Lian Jiang suggested, then Jiang Hong quickly replied while turning around, "But absolutely no big gold chains…" and they passed through another wall.
Study, hallway, bedroom, bathroom, conference room, foyer…
The scenes before them kept changing rapidly. In just ten minutes, Jiang Hong had nearly traversed all nearby rooms, witnessing a variety of decor styles - from Nordic to Japanese gardens, tropical rainforests, and then English-style interiors.
Lian Jiang: "A tour of the sacred land in a day? Wait, be careful of the surveillance!"
"We're moving too fast, the cameras will only capture a blur, no one will watch it closely…"
"Wow!" Lian Jiang exclaimed, "Where is this? So many suits? Definitely a suit enthusiast."
They stood in a walk-in closet. Jiang Hong guessed this might be the Eagle King's area and was about to leave when they heard the sound of flapping wings.
Lian Jiang quickly pulled Jiang Hong behind the closet, narrowly avoiding a collision with a parrot.
"…I can't do anything about that," came the voice of Liu Heng.
Oh no! We've ended up in someone's bedroom!
Liu Heng was having afternoon tea, with a student-looking person standing beside him. Lian Jiang tried to peek out, but Jiang Hong promptly stopped him.
"Eagles have extremely sharp vision, covering almost all angles. We can't risk it."
"As for the Demon Hunter Committee," Liu Heng continued, "the Demon Association can't mediate, especially since your uncle is involved with their enemies."
"Which organization?" asked the bewildered young man, "I only know they’re the Committee's adversaries…"
Yuan Shiyu!
Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang exchanged a surprised look.
"I can't disclose more information," Liu Heng added. "The only person who might appeal to the Demon Hunter Committee on your behalf is Lu Xi. He was once your teacher; maybe he will consider old ties."
Yuan Shiyu responded, "I hardly ever spoke to him."
Liu Heng didn't reply, probably making a gesture of helplessness, followed by the sound of Yuan Shiyu's footsteps leaving the bedroom.
Jiang Hong tugged Lian Jiang, signaling to leave.
As they moved on, Lian Jiang asked, "What's wrong with his uncle?"
"Let's continue discussing about Xiao Pi," Jiang Hong suggested.
"Oh, right!" Lian Jiang remembered, "What do you think about giving Xiao Pi a life-sized gold statue? That should show enough sincerity, right?"
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "I didn't mean for you to give gold! Isn't that a bit too extravagant?"
Lian Jiang reasoned, "Of course, Teacher Xuan just wants to see if I'm a decent person. That should be enough to let me be friends with Xiao Pi, right?"
Jiang Hong hesitated, "Being decent doesn't necessarily mean... well, at least he might realize..."
As they were randomly moving through walls, they suddenly entered the main hall where Lu Xi was daydreaming. Seeing Jiang Hong, he immediately stood up.
"Sorry to disturb you!" Jiang Hong quickly said to Lu Xi, then hurried off to the other end of the hall with Lian Jiang.
"Teacher Lu, long time no see! Your motorcycle is super cool!" Lian Jiang called back before disappearing.
"What else can you tell?"
"It's obvious your family is wealthy..."
Finally, they hit a wall!
Jiang Hong had never expected that a barrier-protected area would be so close to the main hall. Right after leaving Lu Xi's throne, and after passing through two corridors, they encountered it behind a wall in an anteroom.
Both yelled as they hit the wall, bumping their foreheads solidly.
"Ouch, that hurts," Jiang Hong said.
Lian Jiang remarked, "You shouldn't run so fast."
Quickly getting up, Jiang Hong took out the Book of Everything and pointed it at the wall.
"What's that?" Lian Jiang asked. "A chopstick?"
After forging the Western sword last time, Jiang Hong discovered that the Book of Everything could change its form, so he turned it into a wand. Not only was it more convenient to use, but it also looked cooler, resembling a conductor's baton.
The Book of Everything itself was like the conductor's baton of the world, making its transformation quite fitting.
"Shush," Jiang Hong whispered. "I can see the barrier runes. Have you ever seen this?"
Through the wall, Jiang Hong observed the slowly moving magical runes and promptly sketched them in his notebook.
"It's a..." Lian Jiang started. "A living creature seal? I need to retake my barrier class; I didn't learn it well. Why don't you ask Hu Qingquan or Lu Xi about it?"
"Let's check the nearby rooms," Jiang Hong said, feeling he was close to uncovering the truth. Next, he needed to figure out to whom the room belonged.
[Lu Chaoyang's arrival in 00:00:12.]
Alarmed, Jiang Hong quickly pulled Lian Jiang to hide behind the wall. Soon after Lu Chaoyang passed by, they reappeared.
"Is this Xiang Liu Wang's area?" Lian Jiang asked.
"Doesn't seem like it," Jiang Hong replied. "Where are we?"
The décor here didn't resemble the aquatic theme of a water tribe's area, lacking the pervasive blue. Jiang Hong and Lian Jiang circled around. The room was small, ordinary-looking, and sealed on all sides, typical of an administrative area.
"It could be an existing seal," Lian Jiang suggested, "like for storing valuable treasures or archives."
"Hmm…" Jiang Hong knew not every sealed room could be conclusively linked to a traitorous demon king, but it was worth investigating further.
"Should we keep searching?" Without a map, Jiang Hong found it challenging but tried to memorize the general layout.
They then discovered another seal, leading to a narrow corridor ending in an ancient-looking door, resembling a garden fence, partially open and revealing a bridge-like structure behind it.
The door also had a seal.
Soon, they found a third and fourth seal.
The third was on a public area wall, featuring a bas-relief of the Witch of Mount Wu wrapped in a giant serpent, overlooking the mountains, with a vast sky behind the wall.
The fourth seal was in front of a staircase to an attic, not far from the main hall's throne. It seemed like a storage area for ceremonial fabrics, decorations, candelabras, and more.
Seeing these ordinary kitchenware items, as well as a laundry room and a storage room for vacuum cleaners, Jiang Hong felt a down-to-earth vibe from the demon association.
"Hey, it's getting late," Lian Jiang said, "I need to go back and prepare my life-size golden statue."
"Alright." Jiang Hong was truly grateful to Lian Jiang; otherwise, he would have had to wander the palace with his Book of Everything, which could have taken half a month.
He roughly marked the four locations, planning to explore them under the cover of a dark, windy night.
