Liu Ting walked into the pavilion with a cheerful smile.
She still wore the same simple and loose clothes as when she was at Li Sanjiang's house, perfect for work.
If one didn't know better, they might think she was a cook who had wandered out from the back kitchen of the establishment.
"I heard someone say that Xiao Yuan has come?"
Liu Yuemei slightly tilted her head towards the southwest corner.
Liu Ting followed her gaze and saw a boy and a girl sitting closely together on a stone bench.
On one side, there was a lotus pool, and on the other, one could see the lofty mountains, making it a wonderful place to enjoy the scenery.
The boy was animatedly narrating something.
The girl leaned slightly to the side, resting her chin on her hands, her eyes sparkling as she listened intently.
Whenever the boy laughed, the girl couldn't help but smile, and when he got excited, gesturing with wide-open hands, she would nod her head in agreement.
In Liu Ting's daily life, the boy had given her the impression of being cute and lively on the outside, yet exuding a maturity that didn't quite match his age.
He would play alongside his peers, but astute observers could still detect a sense of distance in him, an air of encapsulating acceptance.
Now, he seemed just like any other village boy, sitting on a hay pile, excitedly sharing, "Let me tell you a secret! You mustn’t tell anyone else, alright? I’ll tell you about what happened yesterday..."
As for her own Ah Li, she was not at all the same as before.
No, the truth was, before the boy arrived, she had been cool and aloof, but once he showed up, she transformed into a normal little sister, brimming with curiosity and admiration for the stories her elder brother told.
Liu Ting sighed, "Who would've thought our Ah Li and Xiao Yuan would play so well together?"
"Ah, children are like that."
Liu Ting merely chuckled to herself, not daring to provoke further by asking, "Which child is like these two?" She understood the old lady's stubbornness well, but that didn't stop her from enjoying watching how long the old lady could maintain her inflexible front.
"I saw a woman causing a commotion earlier, it was Ding Lao Er's youngest son, who just divorced his official wife and is now bringing in a pregnant concubine. Today, it’s officially time to introduce her to people."
Liu Yuemei asked, "Is Ding Lao Er willing to show up?"
"He was reluctant at first, but the son pleaded so much he couldn't help but agree."
"Then the Ding family might not enjoy many good years ahead. When Ding Lao Da was present, they could still hold onto some decorum; now that he’s gone, the whole foundation seems destined to crumble. Ah, it’s ridiculous to have something so causing a scene as bringing in a beloved concubine and discarding the main wife."
"Look at how you speak, times have changed after all."
"True, times have changed, but some principles remain constant. One cannot enjoy the benefits of the old style while shouting for the freedoms of the new. You see, it’s not a big problem whether one's legs are long or short, but if those two legs try to walk in different directions, they will certainly fall."
"Ding Lao Er has hinted to me, hoping you could be kind enough to accept a cup of tea offered by the younger generation."
"Tea?"
Liu Yuemei chuckled, pointing to the two children who had finished chatting and begun playing chess from a distance: "Call the two kids over; dinner is ready."
Liu Ting turned around, standing at the edge of the pavilion, calling out: "It's dinner time!"
Li Zhuoyuan immediately dropped his piece in surrender, taking the girl's hand as they stood up.
After being away from home for days, the boy seemed to hear nostalgia echoing in Liu Ayi's voice.
They crossed the lotus pool and followed the winding path to an open stone gate, inside were stone platforms adorned with various potted plants, all meticulously trimmed and arranged, likely maintained by a dedicated gardener.
On the way, Liu Ayi actively introduced Li Zhuoyuan like a guide showing a tourist around.
At the end, two staircases appeared—one leading up and another down.
Ding Lao Er, bringing along a group of sons, was hastily descending from the top.
Ding Lao Da originally had a son and a daughter, both of whom had unfortunately passed before the old man, resulting in Ding family branching out quite early.
Ding Lao Er had five sons, each born to different wives, which created a significant age gap among the siblings.
His eldest grandson was two years older than his youngest son.
As they neared Liu Yuemei, Ding Lao Er’s smile grew wider, nearly fawning, and he bent lower with each step.
"Young Mistress."
This form of address didn’t quite match Liu Yuemei's age.
But Li Zhuoyuan quickly picked up on it; the Ding family was likely former subordinates of the Qin clan.
It was like visiting a married couple's home; if one was closer to the husband, they'd call the wife "sister-in-law," while if the connection was stronger with the wife, they’d refer to the husband as "brother-in-law."
"You haven’t been out for a while, what a rare sight! I gathered some of the younger ones to let them meet you. Please, take a seat inside, let them offer you tea."
The younger fellows lined up in front, all wearing eager smiles.
The womenfolk remained on the stairs, lined up as well, neatly dressed with hands poised in front of them.
At the very end stood one, extravagantly made up and waving a string of pearl necklaces with one hand while holding a purse with the other.
She stood out like a crane among chickens, but to Liu Yuemei, even those dressed appropriately weren't of much worth—those who could teach yet chose not to, those who could offer advice yet remained silent, clearly wanting her to embarrass herself in front of guests.
It was one thing to bicker within the household; airing their dirty laundry outside merely suggested that the family rules had long fallen apart.
"No need for that. They're all mismatched and of no consequence."
This remark truly gave no face.
Many attendees' expressions shifted.
Both Ding Lao Er and his eldest son appeared frightened, while the rest of the sons showed dissatisfaction, particularly the youngest, who opened his mouth as if to scold but was promptly pulled back by his older brother.
The women above also started whispering, tossing disapproving glances, while the extravagantly dressed woman said loudly, "Oh, I thought some lady of high standing was here, acting all high and mighty, coming to eat and stay, and yet pushing her weight around!"
"Plop!"
Ding Lao Er fell to his knees in fright.
His eldest son followed suit, albeit a little slower; after all, he wasn’t as practiced in kneeling as his father.
The remaining sons paused in surprise but soon followed suit, even the previously disgruntled youngest finally sobered and joined them.
The extravagantly dressed woman who had spoken earlier stood with her mouth agape, unable to utter a sound, realizing the mistake she had made.
Ding Lao Er immediately glared at his youngest son in anger, "Tell that wretched woman, she can forget ever stepping foot into my Ding family again. The child in her womb will never bear the Ding surname!"
Hearing this, the youngest son dared not retort.
Ding Lao Er raised his head, glancing up, "Young Mistress, I..."
"I'm not interested in your family’s affairs; perhaps you should go pay respects to your elder brother."
Liu Yuemei maneuvered around the kneeling crowd, descending the stairs.
Throughout the whole process, she didn’t spare the extravagantly dressed woman a single glance.
The cicadas of summer indeed chirped annoyingly, but who had time to find out which one was the source of the noise?
Below was a spacious platform; a few round tables were placed in the front hall where several elders sat, each with a junior standing behind them.
The elders closer to the main seat had younger attendants, almost resembling their grandchildren, with a couple of open seats next to them occupied by grandsons and granddaughters almost the same age as Ah Li.
The elders sitting further down, however, had older juniors standing behind them, caring for them in their advanced age, some already sporting white hair.
The Qin and Liu families came from a riverside ancestry, but when it came down to it, the Mountain City was to them one of their homes.
The people gathered here were, after all, the former “friends” of the two clans from the Mountain City’s territory.
As soon as Liu Yuemei arrived, everyone stood, dropping their canes and shrugging off their juniors' assistance.
Some bowed low, others raised a thumb as a greeting or knelt directly like Ding Lao Er moments ago.
Various greetings indicated their distinct backgrounds and standing within the world.
Even the forms of address were divided into two categories: "Seen the Young Mistress" and "Seen the Young Lady."
Liu Yuemei stood still, acknowledging their respects.
Then, waving her hand with a smile, she said, "What era are we in? Why must you still observe such old customs? It's no longer fashionable."
Upon hearing this, smiles spread across everyone's faces.
Some elders even turned back to catch a glance at their juniors, filled with a sense of childish pride.
They had long foregone such old manners for two main reasons: one being that it was indeed out of style, and the other being that in their own households, they hardly encountered anyone worthy of their respect.
But dropping this bow truly evoked a sense of nostalgia, as if they were suddenly decades younger.
The elders who had brought their grandchildren spoke up in succession: "Young Lady, my old bones feel somewhat useful only when I bow to you."
"Young Mistress, when it comes to flattery, this old dog will bow down to you."
"Hahaha."
"Hahaha."
With her left arm resting on Ah Li's shoulder, Liu Yuemei leaned towards Li Zhuoyuan and pointed to the two elders, introducing them, "This one is called Zhen Mubai, and that one is Su Wenluo."
Liu Yuemei only introduced these two, clearly showing the rest did not qualify to be individually named.
Li Zhuoyuan smiled and slightly bowed, greeted with "Hello, Grandpa Zhen," and another bow for "Hello, Grandpa Su," finally addressing all the elders with a deep bow, saying, "Hello, Grandpas."
The elders returned warm and enthusiastic responses, with praises and bewildered whispers in their hearts, "Who is this boy?"
They all understood that the girl beside him was the sole remaining descendant of the Qin and Liu families.
Was it possible that this boy was a child bride groom raised by the Young Mistress (or Young Lady)?
Yet, all the seasoned elders, keenly aware of the age old rivalries, easily discerned the boy’s unassuming yet dignified aura.
It wasn't difficult to don a robe; genuine poise was far harder to cultivate.
What can be taught is one thing, but what springs genuinely from the heart cannot be masked from their eyes.
In fact, even Liu Yuemei was somewhat surprised by the boy's reaction.
The reason she had called the boy over for introductions was that Ah Li couldn't speak yet.
Standing in the back, Liu Ting quietly observed this scene, eager to see just how stubborn her respected mistress could be.
Such gatherings were connections of relationships, as well as the passing of social niceties.
What a treatment was this for a potential future recognized disciple?
“I'll go pay respects to that old fellow Ding.”
Liu Yuemei walked through the front hall to the back hall, with the elders following closely behind.
The back hall housed the funeral altar, having been specially cleaned and maintained for Liu Yuemei’s arrival.
Despite having passed over a month since the elder's burial, it seemed like they had only just passed yesterday, still working on the funeral proceedings.
At this moment, Ding Lao Er arrived quickly with his eldest son from the side corridor.
Ding Lao Er knelt on the mat, preparing to reciprocate the bow, while his eldest son brought up incense to present.
From the earlier greeting of the gathered elders, Li Zhuoyuan speculated that the Ding family must have been servants of the Qin family in earlier years.
Liu Yuemei was now staying at Ding's house as a guest; being of subordinate status, they were to show deference and bow to the host.
Although it was an old custom, some elders still kept it.
Of course, the reason they observed this was not out of respect for "traditional customs."
Li Zhuoyuan couldn't help but feel puzzled.
With the current state of the Qin and Liu families diminished, what was left that could compel these elders to willingly bow and observe old customs?
Real life is not like martial arts novels, and the values of friendship and loyalty are revered in such tales precisely because they are rare in practice; ones who wouldn’t take advantage of someone in distress and would not fight over scraps could be hailed as exceptionally righteous.
Yet the fact remained that those gathered here were genuinely afraid, and indeed Liu Granny wielded respectable influence.
Liu Yuemei lit the incense and placed it in the incense burner.
She took two steps back, looking at the mat in front of her.
Ding Lao Er responded, "Young Mistress, please do not, my brother cannot bear your respect."
Many elders behind him also chimed in, insisting it was against the rules.
Liu Yuemei did not insist on performing the gesture of respect but looked towards Li Zhuoyuan, "Xiao Yuan, this should be done in Ah Li’s stead, please help her out."
"Ding Lao Da was indeed a man. Even I, the old Granny, must respect him."
"Understood."
Li Zhuoyuan stepped forward to offer respects.
To be honest, this whole procedure, even seasoned attendees of funerals like Li Sanjiang would still fall far short of the boy’s professionalism.
It was unavoidable; on one hand, there were the local customs, while on the other, seasoned practitioners who had studied extensively.
The amount of books the boy had read was not in vain.
When the rites concluded, Ding Lao Er began his return gesture.
He raised his left thumb upward and his right hand clenched, lifting upward, crossing before him, and finally dropping both arms to the side.
This was a form of respect.
Liu Yuemei was just about to speak out, saying Xiao Yuan was unfamiliar with this.
But she found the boy had raised his right pinky finger down, clenched his left hand, and mimicked a dive; then he bent his arms in front of his chest while bowing three times in return.
The surrounding elders gazed with admiration and fond memories.
Liu Yuemei's eyes instantly filled with confusion.
Who taught him?
In reality, the "Qin Clan’s Jiao Observation Method" stated at the very beginning that this set of actions was based on traditional greetings derived from the earliest observations of feng shui and weather.
Other professions would also exhibit similar techniques involving distance and orientation through mere hand gestures without the use of tools, which made them effective in this context.
Ding Lao Er performed his respect; the python grew and slithered; Li Zhuoyuan performed his respect; the jiao guarded the gate.
The boy naturally realized that after performing these gestures, Liu Yuemei would become suspicious of him, as he had been deliberate in showing off; he had been accepted early into Haihe University, and Ah Li was recovering well.
Some matters would eventually come to light.
The advanced understanding and techniques from both "Qin Clan’s Jiao Observation Method" and "Liu Clan’s Energy Watching Spell" were something he would certainly share with Liu Yuemei later.
Ding Lao Er's face was streaked with tears, for at this moment, he wasn't pretending, showing real emotions flowing.
Because this scene reminded him of the time when he followed his elder brother to present respects to several elders from the Qin family.
He was small back then, and his brother was still young.
The head of the household, who was not adept at managing the family, often easily swayed by his younger son's affections, felt somewhat lost; yet even such a person was inherently sentimental and sensitive at heart.
At this point, Zhen Mubai and Su Wenluo, situated behind, both looked toward another elder, surnamed Sheng, who had previously taken a seat down lower as a servant of the Liu family.
Elder Sheng unconsciously wiped the sweat on his forehead, turned his head to his son beside him, and pointed, “Go on.”
His son, hair half-white, stepped out of the crowd and began to perform Liu family greetings towards Li Zhuoyuan.
Li Zhuoyuan noticed that Liu Yuemei's eyes were starting to squint—a sure sign that the elder was displeased.
When a lion is provoked, regardless of how it reacts, to outsiders, the lion appears weakened.
Such was the martial arts world, where big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp.
Even if everything appeared respectful on the surface, currents of tension brewed beneath.
The two elders were hoping to test Liu Yuemei’s intentions behind raising this boy, which prompted Sheng's family to step forward.
Liu Yuemei turned her anger into a smile, “Xiao Yuan, what are you hesitating for? Return the greeting.”
Although she didn’t know where the boy learned the Qin family greetings, Liu Yuemei trusted that if he knew the Qin way, he should also know the Liu way.
Seeing Liu Granny had spoken, Li Zhuoyuan offered respect to the elderly gentleman.
At that moment the surrounding Zhen Mubai and Su Wenluo instinctively straightened their backs, and those elders behind them silently focused, reevaluating this boy.
It was undeniable; could he perform both Qin and Liu family greetings publicly? The Young Mistress (or Young Lady) clearly intended for him to inherit the honor of both the Qin and Liu families.
Ding Lao Er bent close, whispered, "Young Mistress, may we take our seats now?"
Liu Yuemei nodded slightly.
Everyone took their seats, with Liu Yuemei naturally taking the honored place.
The older generation sat at two tables, while the younger generation occupied the other two.
Li Zhuoyuan had initially planned to share a meal alone with Ah Li, but Liu Ayi signaled him to join the table, taking Ah Li away instead.
To keep up appearances on behalf of Ah Li, Li Zhuoyuan reluctantly complied as the main guest, flanked by peers with surnames Zhen and Su, while the other attendees were significantly older than the three of them.
The table was lively, with those seated close together talking and listening to each other.
The older generation at their table indeed engaged in artful conversation, whereas the younger crowd was only imitating.
Li Zhuoyuan caught onto their intentions; they were subtly trying to pry more information from him.
The boy and girl next to him chanted “Brother Zhuoyuan” affectionately, clearly trying to dig deeper into his life.
These two were quite perceptive, believing they had expertly grasped what this peer was about; after averting the conversation, their mouths curled slyly as they held back their self-satisfied smiles.
Their inquiries were about mundane details, and Li Zhuoyuan candidly shared the intricacies of his past life.
As he spoke, the elderly folk at the adjacent table leaned in to eavesdrop.
But the more they heard, the more uneasy they grew, their hearts racing with dread.
"Children speak freely," the boy’s shared details about life could hardly be that of an ordinary child from the capital!
This instinctively triggered speculation among them, exchanging looks confirming their suspicions—could it be the Young Mistress (or Young Lady) was truly securing a match for her granddaughter with someone of prominent status?
In reality, Liu Yuemei too listened in on the adjoining table, intrigued by the particulars but knowing very well how clever the boy was.
He might just be entertaining himself at their expense, which was amusing in its own right.
After downing three cups of wine leisurely, Liu Yuemei turned her empty cup upside down.
Her three cups were a considerable show of respect.
Flipping the cup meant clearly that the feast was enjoyable, and the conversation was concluded.
All present exchanged puzzled glances; prior to arriving, they had prepared their respective offerings—a partition of properties—and knew that if Liu Yuemei intended to rise again to prominence within the Qin and Liu families, they would inevitably have to make sacrifices.
But Liu Yuemei’s demeanor now signaled that she wasn’t interested in bringing up the matter, clearly conveying she had no intention of accepting gifts.
However, her stance brought about apprehension among the elders present.
None believed Liu Yuemei had come solely to pay respects to Ding Lao Da; after all, it had been over a month since his burial.
But surely, she wasn't here just to reminisce...?
Was she really looking for an excuse to pay a visit to the Mountain City?
Liu Yuemei stood up, calling out: “Xiao Yuan.”
“Coming, Young Mistress,” Li Zhuoyuan also rose to follow her.
As the elderly and the boy moved away from the table, the attendees once again bowed respectfully, and Zhen Mubai and Su Wenluo both promptly knelt down, sliding a short distance forward.
“We're merely following old ways; please don't toss the table over.”
“Young Mistress…”
“Young Lady…”
Liu Yuemei’s icy gaze swept across, halting all chatter.
She then pointed at the overturned wine cup on the table.
Afterwards, she took hold of the boy’s hand and walked out.
The remaining elders wore expressions of fear and uncertainty—some looked regretful, while others scolded Ding Lao Er for being a poor host, and some indirectly criticized Zhen Mubai and Su Wenluo.
The younger generation could only stand around and watch, most seeing for the first time just how disgraceful their head of the house could appear.
It was as if offending that woman had pierced a hole through their roof, leaving them in uncertainty.
Li Zhuoyuan followed Liu Yuemei, noting that she seemed not to be headed directly back indoors but was instead strolling along the wooden rail by the cliff, easing her mind.
After a long while, Liu Yuemei paused, gazing down towards the myriad lights of the Mountain City below.
“You little rascal, today’s performance was quite commendable, you made quite a spectacle of yourself.”
“Because I have you, Young Mistress, backing me.”
Actually, while living in the capital, although Grandma Bei didn’t have a good relationship with Li Lan, Grandma Bei truly cherished him, taking him out whenever the opportunity arose to meet old comrades.
“Ha, how could I be your support? My back won’t hold anymore.”
“But they truly fear you.”
“They’re not fearing me.”
“Then are they afraid of the Qin and Liu families?”
“The ancestral lineage in the east room—didn’t you see it? The last survivors are my mother and me; what remains of the Qin and Liu families now?”
This confused Li Zhuoyuan.
After mastering the "Qin Clan’s Jiao Observation Method" and "Liu Clan’s Energy Watching Spell," he had no doubt that the Qin and Liu families once held a transcendent status.
But with the core family barely functioning anymore, how was a sheltered old lady keeping her granddaughter’s health while evading the world going to compel servants and former subordinates into a bow again?
This hardly made sense.
Real life deviates from martial arts novels; the values of friendship and loyalty are praised in the martial world precisely because they are scarce.
If they didn’t swarm to capitalize on your misfortune, and didn’t set upon you like locusts, that alone could be dubbed "benevolence unexcelled."
Yet it seemed that crowd was genuinely frightened, and Liu Granny displayed an uncommon confidence.
Liu Yuemei gently brushed the boy's head and calmly said, "Half of those ancestral tablets are from the times when we followed Fourth Master to fight against the devils. The other half were established when we crossed the river."
…
After having a late-night snack with Ah Li, Li Zhuoyuan was arranged to sit in a car back to the hotel.
The car drove alongside the river, and the boy gazed out of the window at the river under the night sky, which now appeared gentle.
Upon reaching the hotel lobby and stepping out, he spotted Xue Liangliang sitting by the flowerbed.
“Xiao Yuan, you’re back!”
“Brother Liangliang, what are you doing here?”
“Runsheng and Binbin left in the afternoon and haven't returned yet. I couldn't leave, worried no one would be here when you got back. Now that you're here, let's head out to search for them together.”
“Alright.”
After all, they were two grown men, and with Runsheng around, there was no need to worry about any accidents.
What was called finding them was more a stroll than anything else.
Xue Liangliang shared about his new job, mentioning how he could stay another couple of days in the Mountain City before heading off to Wanzhou.
There was a project in the exploratory stage, so he needed to join and learn.
Meanwhile, Luo Tingrui had also requested him to bring along his junior.
Li Zhuoyuan felt a little unaccustomed to referring to someone as “junior,” especially when Xue Liangliang described him as Luo Gong’s "closed-door disciple."
The boy recognized it was a choice—if he couldn't adapt to having a "master," he would have to adjust to the mundane routines of university life.
Xue Liangliang exaggeratedly teased, "Look at you! You can’t date anyone in university."
Li Zhuoyuan countered, "Were you dating in university?"
As they walked and talked without the intent of finding anyone specific, they coincidentally came across Tan Wenbin and Runsheng returning, both of them quite excited.
Xue Liangliang picked a barbecue stall on the roadside and ordered three bottles of beer and a bottle of soymilk for them.
The four of them chatted while eating and learned about the events of the day since Tan Wenbin and Runsheng had left the hotel.
After leaving the hotel, the two had been strolling around near Guanyin Bridge.
Although Nantong also had urban districts, its population couldn't compare to the lively atmosphere of the Mountain City.
Once they grew tired of their stroll, it got dark, so they grabbed something to eat from the roadside stall to fill their stomachs and inquired about good places to visit.
Following the vendor's suggestion, they reached a large building, and from afar, they heard the sounds of billiard balls colliding.
Tan Wenbin proposed to teach Runsheng how to play.
Upon entering, they spotted the billiard room's sign—Midnight Impact.
They rented a table, and as they played, they noticed people entering the billiard hall and ascending to the second floor; even while playing, they could hear the sounds of singing wafting down from the staircase.
Driven by curiosity, they decided to check it out, and after buying a couple of cheap tickets at the entrance, they found the inside was quite crowded.
A large cluster of men and women danced in the ballroom—not spread out, but rather each hugging their partners and pushing into the crowd.
When the song ended, the lights would briefly brighten, allowing some to step aside, whereupon the men would pay the women, and the latter would move to the outer circle, while men wandered about in search of their next desired partner.
When the next song started, the lights would dim again.
Xue Liangliang asked if they had joined in on the dancing, to which the two shook their heads.
They were shy and felt awkward, so they sat along the wall observing.
Aside from the ticket price, their only expense was two cups of tea, plus they had gotten a couple of bottles of hot water from the bar.
Xue Liangliang chuckled at this and doubled over laughing.
After that, everyone returned to the hotel to rest.
For the next two days, Xue Liangliang took them on tours around many sites in the Mountain City, indulging in hotpot and rabbit meat, even specially riding the cable car over the Yangtze River.
When the river surged below his feet, Li Zhuoyuan felt mystery and shock wash over him.
However, what left the four of them happiest these two nights was that every evening after finishing work, Xue Liangliang would go to the office building below, leveraging connections to borrow a car, and drive everyone around the Mountain City to enjoy the breeze.
While driving, he would extend his arm out of the window, pointing out future plans at various spots, saying that a new bridge would be built here, and that area would undergo development.
The Mountain City would become so much more prosperous in the future!
He must have seen government规划资料, yet many details seemed to be pieces of his own imagination; he truly saw himself as a designer of the city's future, sharing the blueprint of his dreams with his friends.
During these times, Xue Liangliang displayed a unique charisma that easily drew everyone into his perspective.
The still images around seemed to fast forward—bridges rose, roads unfurled, buildings sprouted—the entire city was changing with visible speed.
After driving about, Xue Liangliang would fill the tank back at the office.
Before leaving the Mountain City, the four of them visited Liberation Monument and enjoyed hotpot again in the vicinity.
Li Zhuoyuan originally thought he didn’t like spicy food, as did Tan Wenbin, but after several tries, he found he was hooked.
It seemed that spiciness was merely the external feature of Mountain City hotpot; its core was deliciousness.
The car to Wanzhou was also sent by the company, again with Xue Liangliang driving, but this time the travel expenses could be reimbursed.
Once they left the Mountain City, the views along the way were breathtaking, though the roads were a bit rocky.
The destination was not within the Wanzhou city, but further down.
The last stretch of road, soaked from rain the night before, had the car tires sinking into the muddy pits.
Thankfully, Runsheng was there to help push the car out and continue on.
When they arrived at the work site, it was already deep into the night.
Though the guesthouse’s conditions were somewhat crude, the rooms were spacious.
Li Zhuoyuan opened the window, and right below was the river; although Nantong had a preference for building houses by the river, those were gentle streams, nowhere near this turbulent one.
Fishing enthusiasts could toss a rod from their rooms and enjoy tea while waiting for a bite.
After Xue Liangliang went down and returned, he remarked that there was a meeting still taking place.
Would Li Zhuoyuan like to join and listen in? Naturally, Li Zhuoyuan agreed, and he followed Xue Liangliang to the meeting hall on the first floor of the guesthouse.
Inside, the table and wall were covered in blueprints while a group was divided into two factions, passionately arguing back and forth, their faces flushed with excitement and rage, slamming their hands on the table so much so that the already peeling surface continued to lose more paint.
In the midst of the debate, the leading figures halted in unison, with some drinking water while others snacked—though it seemed far from over, and it would take another round of shouting before anyone could go back to sleep, for otherwise, they wouldn’t feel settled.
Xue Liangliang didn’t participate in the argument, just sat nearby and listened carefully.
Li Zhuoyuan was intrigued by these blueprints, continuing to observe.
Finally, after exhausting their debates, they collectively decided to come up with separate proposals to submit for the higher-ups to decide between.
Early the next morning, the whistle sounded, followed shortly by knocking on doors, calling everyone to wake and prepare for the day's fieldwork.
Xue Liangliang had a recognized position, while although Li Zhuoyuan had yet to enroll, he also held half a status; as for Runsheng and Tan Wenbin, they were welcomed in the group, after all, who wouldn’t appreciate a couple of able-bodied workers?
This time they set out not only with equipment but also brought tents and food.
The crew was heading toward a work-in-progress road.
Once they reached an impasse where vehicles could go no further, everyone began to carry their supplies on foot.
It wasn't too far, but neither was it short, mainly due to the rough roads that demanded they cross streams and hills.
Li Zhuoyuan couldn't help but muse, once revered like treasure in Nantong, these high mountains were merely small hillocks noted on a map.
Upon reaching their destination, they set camp, boiled some water on the fire, and dined on crackers and canned food.
Soon, they began to work, and following Xue Liangliang, Li Zhuoyuan and his friends moved to a slope to take measurements.
The boy learned quickly, while Tan Wenbin found it slightly difficult yet remained enthusiastic, for he was determined to pursue this field in the future too.
When dark fell, they returned to camp.
The deputy leader, Ma Yiming, organized a data summary meeting.
The following day repeated the previous day's outline, again transmitting a small team to take measurements.
By noon, the quartet paused for a break, resting on a large stone while enjoying their food.
Xue Liangliang jokingly remarked to Tan Wenbin that it still wasn’t too late to change his mind.
Tan Wenbin immediately shook his head, reinforcing his resolve.
"Our work is like this; whether during the exploratory design phase or construction phase, it's a monotonous repetition day after day. Only when the project is finally completed can we awaken from our dreams and truly appreciate the romance that's uniquely our own."
In the afternoon, after two and a half days of exploring and learning, Li Zhuoyuan presented another touch of romance to Xue Liangliang's measurements.
He integrated the methods of feng shui observation into his measurements, and when Xue Liangliang continued to set equipment, he surprisingly found the errors were within acceptable ranges.
For a moment, even he couldn't evaluate which data set was more accurate.
However, relying solely on feng shui to document data left Xue Liangliang feeling uneasy; on the other hand, neglecting such an approach felt foolish.
Eventually, he resorted to a smart technique: using Xiao Yuan's data as a basis, he verified and validated it, ensuring accuracy while saving considerable time.
Regrettably, such a method couldn’t be promoted widely; it merely allowed their small team to cut corners, while others in different locations couldn’t benefit.
Thus, at dusk, Xue Liangliang took the three of them to the stream to catch some fish.
The others merely cheered them on, while Runsheng boldly leaped into the deeper waters, hauling in fish one by one.
Once the four had finished cleaning the fish by the stream, they returned to camp before it got dark, lit the pot, and began cooking fish soup.
Groups of other teams gradually trickled back, laughter filling the air as they congregated; although it wasn't too cold yet, after a tiresome day, returning to a delicious hot meal was undoubtedly a treat.
The soup simmered to a creamy white, and three ladles awaited everyone’s serving.
Li Zhuoyuan took his bowl, sprinkled in some pepper, and a splash of vinegar, then carefully sipped from the iron bowl, savoring each bite.
Time inexorably passed, and soon it was nearly time for everyone to return to their tents to sleep.
However, an aura of unease enveloped the camp, for one team still had not returned.
Ma Yiming took the initiative to search but found nothing; logically, the area where the team had spread out was not far from the camp, and all were outfitted with lighting equipment.
Even if something had gone awry, they could signal far away by turning their lights toward the sky.
With no other choice, Ma Yiming could only mobilize everyone together to search.
After crossing two streams and weaving through a gully, they climbed up to where the small team had set out to measure tasks.
At this point, flashlight beams and calls echoed throughout the hills, yet strangely for this trio of men, not only were they missing, but even their equipment had vanished without a trace.
Ma Yiming cursed, "Damn it! Where the hell could they be?"
Under a dangerous scenario, if something had happened, people would prepare to deal with it; at the very least, everyone would have some background understanding.
However, in this area, the most considerable danger involved merely twisting an ankle when crossing hills or streams.
These three grown men couldn't have simply disappeared without reason!
Next, the survey team was divided into two groups—one moving upstream along the slope, while another searched downstream.
Xue Liangliang’s team had been assigned to explore upstream, and after searching for quite a distance, they instinctively decided to split into pairs, communicating with their flashlights.
"Xiao Yuan, I'll carry you," Runsheng said.
“No need, Brother Runsheng."
“Where the hell did they go?” Tan Wenbin said, confused. “Their measurement area was easier than ours; ours has a deep water section, while theirs just barely covers the ankles, they can’t have been washed away.”
"Could there be wild animals here?" asked Runsheng.
Xue Liangliang shook his head.
"Team leader Ma checked with locals beforehand; there's no feral beasts nearby. Even if there were, how could a single beast snatch away three adult men? Even if it chose to eat them right there, it would leave substantial signs behind.”
Just then, they heard glimmers of light down the slope.
Xue Liangliang waved, “Let’s go check over there.”
Nearby teams gathered toward the signal.
Arriving at the location, they discovered a hat and a broken hiking pole beneath a large rock, confirming they belonged to the missing team members.
Xue Liangliang shined his flashlight attentively, then lay against the large stone to lower it—placing his hiking pole horizontally, wedged between the ground and rock edges.
He immediately called out, "Look over there for any signs, check closely."
"I see it, there's a white scratch mark!"
After confirming, Xue Liangliang crouched down, illuminating small rocks on the ground, even picking several up to smell both sides.
"Take a look ahead; check whether the smaller stones on the ground have been overturned, and observe their color intensity and the smell."
The others immediately complied.
Soon, several reported discovering signs of overturned stones.
In that moment, it clicked for everyone: a vision emerged in their minds of someone being dragged along the ground, struggling to jab the hiking pole into the stone and ground, but whoever was dragging him had such strength that they could snap the pole in two.
One person immediately asked, “Who did this?”
Xue Liangliang shook his head. “It wasn’t a person; if it was, there’s no need for brute force.”
“Then what on earth was it?” Another person made a discovery nearby, picking up a smooth object the size of half a palm from the ground, his flashlight shining through—like glass, but with an unfamiliar texture.
Everyone took turns examining it but couldn’t recognize what it was.
By the time it reached Li Zhuoyuan, the boy held it up to his nose to sniff and then handed it to Runsheng, who understood and lowered his head to smell too.
“Xiao Yuan, it carries an earthy scent.”
“Earthy scent?” Xue Liangliang furrowed his brow at Li Zhuoyuan, "Xiao Yuan, do you have any guesses about what this might be?"
Li Zhuoyuan replied, “Could this be snake scales?”
This suggestion was a bit horrifying; if a piece this large were indeed a snake scale, how massive would the snake's body need to be?
Several surrounding individuals scoffed, chuckling that while the boy was smart enough to get ahead academically, his imagination was rather rich.
Someone proposed since they had discovered traces, they should continue exploring, and this suggestion was quickly met with agreement from most, with many proceeding to trek further upstream.
Li Zhuoyuan tugged at Xue Liangliang’s sleeve.
"Brother Liangliang, I don't think we should advance any further. If we are going, we need to wait for daylight."
Xue Liangliang let out a helpless sigh, “If we haven’t found them by dawn, we'll have to halt operations and request the police and local government to mobilize nearby villagers for help. And since the three have just gone missing, it’s crucial that this is still within the golden hour of golden rescue efforts. Most importantly, Xiao Yuan, you’re all veteran members here. My words won't carry enough weight. How about this—Runsheng, Binbin, you all stay here or return to camp. You're not considered formal team members yet."
The implication was that he had to move ahead with the search; given a colleague had gone missing, he had no reason not to try and save them, even if he knew there could be danger up ahead.
"Ugh, let’s all go together, and have everyone shine their flashlights on the ground to see if we can spot more reflective scales."
“Alright, accepted.”
They began to search further.
The upward slope grew steeper on the left side, while the water on the right grew deeper, forcing everyone up the flat land along the riverbank.
Although they failed to find any similar scales again, in a small hollow, they discovered a shoe with bloodstains around it.
This confirmed for the first time that one of the missing team members had suffered injuries.
Someone at the forefront called out, “There's an opening here!”
Everyone rushed over and indeed found a two-person-high cave entrance on the left slope.
Directing their flashlights inside, they quickly illuminated the stone walls.
At first, they believed this cave might be shallow, but when someone shone their light downwards, they realized there was a massive hollow deep inside, black as charcoal.
On the cave's edge, sharp rocky spikes seemed to hang something, but facing the unknown cave gave rise to worry; none dared to be the first to venture in to investigate.
Xue Liangliang moved aside those at the front and stepped into the cave.
Cautiously, he approached the mouth of the hole, stretching out to grasp what was there—it was a strip of cloth from a work uniform that likely originated from a chest area, still bearing a name tag that read "Feng Zhigao," exactly one of the missing members.
When Xue Liangliang pulled this out, everyone gathered to inspect it closely.
“So, the person is down there?”
“How could they end up there?”
“What did this?”
Li Zhuoyuan didn’t step forward to venture closer to see the cloth.
Instead, he stood by the cave entrance, ears slightly twitching—he could distinguish the sound of wind whistling through the cave, evidently deep and with wind howling within.
Huh? Something felt off; there were other sounds—a kind of scratching sound?
Li Zhuoyuan crouched low, placing his ear to the ground.
Seeing Xiao Yuan’s action, Runsheng, Tan Wenbin, and Xue Liangliang quietly approached.
All understood the boy's hearing was sharp.
The group's formation was: cave entrance—Li Zhuoyuan and friends—several scouts—river.
The scratching sound grew clearer; Li Zhuoyuan listened while raising his eyes toward the cave entrance, seemingly bracing for something to emerge.
Just as he was preparing to shout to everyone around to flee from the cave, he suddenly discerned something wrong—the sound wasn’t coming from the cave but rather from the opposite side.
In the river, something was crawling out of the water and heading toward here; it was coming!
Li Zhuoyuan immediately straightened up, looking back at the clustered group of scouts gathered around the riverbank to inspect the clothing and discuss what was happening above them…
Suddenly, two massive red lanterns blazed to life directly above their heads!
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(End of Chapter)