When I arrived at the crossroads of the cross-flower path, Sun Chuang was nowhere to be seen. Several patches of blood that had not yet dried on the ground gleamed darkly under the flashlight. The surrounding ground was also a mess, indicating that the evil entity fighting with Zhang Dabiao was very powerful.
But was the "evil entity" fighting with him really Sun Chuang?
A person might change after certain experiences, but such changes usually refer to personality, such as becoming irritable or violent. I had never heard of someone transforming into a master of the Yin line after not seeing them for a few days. This was rather hard to explain.
One must understand that cultivating the Yin line requires time, proceeding step by step. Trying to get rich quick would only lead to disaster, and it's impossible to get rich quick anyway.
It seemed that to understand the whole story, I had to start with Sun Chuang.
When I returned home, Zhang Dabiao was already asleep. I checked the time; it was only a few hours until dawn. Without disturbing him, I went back to my room and pasted Yin-repelling talismans on the doors and windows.
I didn't want to open my eyes and see the face of a Yin spirit again. Being scared multiple times could easily lead to neurasthenia.
...
The next day, I was woken up by the alarm clock at precisely eight o'clock. I wanted to sleep in, but there were still many things to do today.
First, I had to repair the main door. Second, I needed Manager Xue to contact Sun Chuang, preferably to meet him and see if I could find anything out from him. Third, I had to inform the Hu family about the events at Beishan Mine Town. Sudannovel.com
When I woke up, Zhang Dabiao was already sitting at the small table in the yard, eating breakfast. Manager Xue was also sitting beside him. Seeing me come out, his expression was somewhat hesitant.
I knew what he meant. He had promised to pay a large sum of money when we encountered danger last night. Looking at him now, it seemed he had gone back on his word. I ignored him, letting him figure it out himself. If he wanted to pay, fine; if not, so be it.
I served myself a bowl of porridge and took a sip before saying to Manager Xue, "Manager Xue, could you do me a favor? Please contact Sun Chuang. I'd like to meet him."
"Aren't you friends? Don't you have his contact information?" Manager Xue asked, startled.
"My phone is broken."
Manager Xue thought I was going to talk about money when he heard me call him. Upon hearing that I was looking for Sun Chuang, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "No problem. I'll find him for you, even if I have to turn Tianhua City upside down."
I nodded, hoping so.
Then, I turned my gaze to Zhang Dabiao and hesitated before speaking, "Brother Zhang, do you know the Hu family's contact information? Or their operating hall?"
Zhang Dabiao shook his head and said, "I don't have their contact information. As for the Hu family's hall... I think they have one in Tianhua City, but I don't know exactly where. You shouldn't ask me about this; you should ask Huang San. He's a wild immortal and knows wild immortals best."
I slapped my thigh. How could I forget Huang San? He was the local overlord and one of the Five Immortals. He should know a lot about wild immortals.
"Huang San, stop sleeping, come out quickly. I need to ask you something." I didn't get up to go inside but sat directly in the courtyard and called out to him.
My shout was a bit sudden, startling Manager Xue, who almost dropped his bowl on the ground. He mumbled a few words and then continued eating, mainly because he was very hungry, and the millet porridge brewed by Sister Zhang was indeed very good.
"Ah... why are you calling me? Don't you know it's my sleeping time during the day?" Huang San's dissatisfied voice came from inside the house, followed by him walking out.
Huang San had found a piece of yellow cloth from somewhere and tied it around his lower body. He stood on his hind legs, his front paws covering his mouth, just like a person yawning.
If he were truly human, everything would be fine. But he forgot that he was a weasel, and a weasel as large as a fox. Seeing him walk out upright suddenly wearing a pair of shorts was quite shocking.
"Ah... ah, Great Immortal Huang... this..." Manager Xue hadn't finished speaking before he fainted, and the bowl of porridge in his hand spilled all over his face.
I was also quite stunned by Huang San's attire. I wanted to say something to him, but then I thought better of it. He could transform, so he naturally didn't want to walk on all fours anymore and was learning to act like a human in every way. Keeping him in his original form would be disrespectful.
Zhang Dabiao, on the other hand, marveled, his eyes shining as he looked at Huang San. "Huang San has good fortune. Someone has granted him the 'Kou Feng' to transform into a human."
Huang San felt uneasy under Zhang Dabiao's gaze. As soon as Zhang Dabiao finished speaking, Huang San scurried over to him and said, "This is all thanks to Master Zhang! Hehe... it's all due to Master Zhang's excellent guidance."
Zhang Dabiao, flattered by Huang San's sycophancy, chuckled and waved his hand, continuing to eat.
"Alright, Huang San, stop learning these bad habits and making flattery. I have something serious to ask you."
Upon hearing that there was something serious, Huang San's smile vanished, and he looked at me earnestly. "Young Master Song, please ask whatever you wish. I will tell you everything I know and will not deceive you..."
"I remember asking you why you didn't open a hall, and you told me that you needed the Hu family's permission to do so. Do you know where the Hu family's hall is located?"
"I know that. There is one hall in Tianhua City, and another hidden small hall two villages away," Huang San scratched his head and looked at me, asking somewhat confusedly, "Why are you looking for the Hu family's hall? As far as I know, your master isn't on good terms with the Hu family!"
Hearing Huang San say he could find it made me happy, but his next words poured a bucket of cold water over my head.
"Not on good terms? What do you mean? Don't tell me my master has a grudge with the Hu family?"
"How should I put this?" Huang San looked troubled.
"What's there to not say? Just tell me the truth."
"Do you know why there are no operating halls in your village, or even in the surrounding villages? You hardly see any disciples of the operating immortals even in the city."
I shook my head, indicating I didn't know, and urged him to speak quickly and stop being coy.
"That's because your master doesn't allow disciples of the operating immortals to operate in his territory. As soon as he finds one, he dismantles their hall. So..." Huang San didn't finish his sentence, but I understood what he meant.
"Dismantle halls?" I scratched my head, feeling that this matter was becoming a bit difficult to handle.
What is a hall? It's the face of an operating immortal. If there was a conflict between the two parties and their halls were dismantled, it would be understandable. But from what Huang San said, my master simply didn't allow them to establish halls in the city, directly cutting off their source of income!
But then I thought, that's not right. I've been studying divination with my master for ten years, and I've never heard him mention dismantling anyone's hall. There must be something I don't know.
"Does my master dismantle all halls, or only the Hu family's halls?"
"Does it make a difference?" Huang San asked doubtfully.
"Of course, it makes a difference. Answer my question quickly."
"Your master dismantles halls of all families. He spares no operating immortal's hall and declares that anyone who dares to open a hall in his territory will have it dismantled as soon as he finds out."
I stumbled, almost falling to the ground.
Master! I know you are capable, majestic, and unparalleled in spirit, but aren't you being a bit too overbearing? You're treating this Pan Yu City as your own territory.