No one can say for sure what will happen tonight.
The issue of settling Xiao Miaomiao was indeed a headache, but in the end, it was Fatty who stepped forward and volunteered.
Fatty felt that he probably wouldn't play a significant role in this event. Since it involved those strange and mysterious matters, the little fox could provide more help to Ye Tiancheng. Therefore, what Fatty could do was basically to help Ye Tiancheng take care of the child.
This time, he was unexpectedly safe. Perhaps if he didn't do anything extra and just took a child to hide, he wouldn't encounter any particularly dangerous events.
At that time, with some additional protection for Fatty and Xiao Miaomiao, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Ye Tiancheng was quite touched by Fatty's actions. After weighing the pros and cons and confirming that this was a better plan, he made arrangements. For the evening's party, only Ye Tiancheng and the little fox would attend together.
Fatty would not go. He would stay in the guesthouse room to protect Xiao Miaomiao. Ye Tiancheng and the little fox would also take protective measures at Fatty's place to prevent any accidents.
Xiao Miaomiao knew that they were all doing this for her own good, so she followed Ye Tiancheng's arrangements in these matters. Whatever Ye Tiancheng arranged for her to do, she would do.
She was truly a very sensible and good child, and considering her life experiences, it made people feel even more heartbroken.
With these arrangements made, Ye Tiancheng had fewer worries. It was unlikely that anything would go wrong with Hou Mingzhu's side. It was a critical juncture, and with Hou Mingzhu watching over her own affairs, it was even harder for things to go wrong.
Ye Tiancheng believed that Hou Mingzhu could definitely handle such a small matter.
There wasn't much else that could be done in the time that followed.
Ye Tiancheng and the little fox were basically in a state of waiting. It would be difficult to gather any more clues by continuing to investigate, so Ye Tiancheng didn't bother.
After all, some things would naturally be revealed to them when night fell. There was no point in trying to cram at this late hour.
They analyzed the existing clues.
Ye Tiancheng leaned towards the idea that although the couple who adopted Xiao Miaomiao had called her a substitute, Ye Tiancheng felt that no matter what they called her, Xiao Miaomiao was likely still a kind of "sacrifice."
Moreover, Ye Tiancheng noticed something at this moment.
The couple who adopted Xiao Miaomiao had a biological daughter who was doted on and spoiled. This affection was likely genuine. Therefore, Xiao Miaomiao's sudden adoption and being treated as a "substitute" was highly suggestive.
Unfortunately, no matter how smart Xiao Miaomiao was, she couldn't understand many things and couldn't provide the evidence Ye Tiancheng needed for his speculation.
This was not a major issue. Ye Tiancheng could still verify his suspicions from other angles.
Ye Tiancheng recalled that Mei Mei, the guesthouse owner, had a seriously ill husband who needed to be cured, which relied on the so-called "Mountain God." And indeed, Mei Mei had gone to worship the "Mountain God" and, despite knowing the outcome and the price, still chose to be an accomplice.
If the little fox was chosen, and if this was indeed related to the "Mountain God," then the reason for the little fox's harm, and the method Mei Mei used to harm others, would be very important.
He wondered by what means the "Mountain God" granted wishes so "effectively."
If sacrifices were needed, were they for the "Mountain God" itself, or for those who sought favors?
Of course, this was not to say that Ye Tiancheng believed the so-called "Mountain God" was completely unnecessary. However, if both the "Mountain God" and the supplicant had their own needs, whoever had a greater need for a "substitute" would determine the means and nature of the "god-human" transaction.
If the need was greater on the human side, then the matter would be quite intriguing.
In fact, Ye Tiancheng's speculation already indicated that this possibility was infinitely high.
What did the supplicant need? Naturally, it was what they sought.
Mei Mei's seriously ill husband needed health and the continuation of life. The couple who adopted Xiao Miaomiao, with a high probability, were not doing it for themselves, but very likely for their biological daughter.
It was a pity that Ye Tiancheng couldn't determine what problem their biological daughter had.
Otherwise, it would have provided more evidence for Ye Tiancheng's inference. But it was okay if he didn't have it, as the possibility was already very high.
Ye Tiancheng thought that perhaps the greater need for a "substitute" was truly on the side of the supplicant, and what they needed was taken from the "substitute."
Although he had speculated about most of it, and some parts still couldn't be logically reconciled, Ye Tiancheng felt that the matter of the little fox being targeted was not something that could be easily explained away. There might be other reasons he hadn't discovered, but it was too late to think about it now.
But it didn't matter. Ye Tiancheng felt that he might soon know the reason.
Ye Tiancheng thought that he absolutely had to meet this "Mountain God."
There were still no clear clues about the fragments of the Fuxi Qin, but Ye Tiancheng felt that, on the surface, the clues he had gathered and the matters he had encountered, while seemingly unrelated to the Fuxi Qin fragments, were actually deeply connected.
Perhaps after he met the so-called "Mountain God," he would be able to know more clearly where the Fuxi Qin fragments were hidden.
As time passed, the evening glow illuminated the horizon, turning the entire sky a fiery red. The party was about to begin.
Many people began to move, heading towards the place they had to be tonight.
Seeing this scene, Ye Tiancheng and the little fox exchanged glances, confirmed that their preparations were complete, and after carefully reminding Fatty and Hou Mingzhu to pay attention and remain vigilant, they followed the main group and set off together.
Their destination was the center of this remote mountain village, where there was a large open space, somewhat like a plaza. It was said that any particularly important activities in this small mountain village were held in that place.
Upon arriving at the open space, it could no longer be called an open space. Only a central circle and the main thoroughfares were kept clear, preventing congestion. No one wandered around randomly. Other areas were crowded with people.
It was so crowded here, with people packed shoulder to shoulder, that Ye Tiancheng, worried about getting separated from the little fox, held his hand.
It was simply too crowded; he couldn't not hold on.
With such a crush, the entire scene was like a school of sardines thrown into a pile of catfish. People were so squeezed that they could have thrown up. If one wasn't careful and got separated in the crowd, they wouldn't be able to find each other again unless they both left the scene together.
Just getting back to each other's side would be a difficult task.
Although the scene was already so crowded and lively, there was still some time before the party officially began.
Everyone had arrived early. As Ye Tiancheng pulled the little fox through the crowd, he overheard a few conversations, which gave him a general understanding of the reason.
It seemed that seeking the so-called "Mountain God" was not an easy matter. At least, opportunities did not come fairly to everyone. Every year, only a small number of lucky individuals could obtain such an opportunity.
And among these limited spots, some were already reserved.
A significant portion of the spots were taken by locals. Even if they didn't use them themselves, they would never give them to outsiders.
No wonder it was so lively. This was actually a good thing.
Ye Tiancheng thought about the number of missing persons Nie Chongyang had told him about and felt that the fewer spots there were, the better.
Suddenly, Ye Tiancheng felt a tug on the hand he was holding the little fox's. He thought the little fox was being pushed away, so he quickly pulled the person closer. However, after pulling, he realized that things were not as he had imagined.
The little fox was still by his side, and with the tug, he stumbled onto Ye Tiancheng's shoulder.
The reason Ye Tiancheng felt his hand being pulled was that the little fox had done it intentionally.
The little fox had something to say to Ye Tiancheng, but in such an environment, it was not a good place to talk. It was too noisy and chaotic, with a cacophony of voices. Without shouting or speaking into someone's ear, it was difficult for people to react immediately.
Therefore, the little fox had tugged on Ye Tiancheng first to get his attention.
Now that Ye Tiancheng had reacted, the little fox leaned closer, speaking to Ye Tiancheng and pointing in a direction, "Brother, look over there, isn't that Boss Mei?"
The direction the little fox pointed was quite close to the front. Mei Mei, the guesthouse owner, was clearly among them.
Ye Tiancheng pondered, his gaze sweeping over the people in the front rows.
He hadn't been busy for nothing these past few days; he could recognize many of the people in the front rows as locals.
A thought flashed through Ye Tiancheng's mind, and he realized that most of the locals in the front rows were likely involved in tonight's god-seeking activities.
Mei Mei, the guesthouse owner, was indeed one of them.
Ye Tiancheng turned his head and said to the little fox, "Now it's confirmed. Boss Mei is probably really using you to extend her husband's life."
The little fox shivered with a chill, trembling twice.
The little fox was still frightened and horrified by his experience the previous night. Facing Mei Mei, the guesthouse owner, who was possibly one of the accomplices, the little fox's first reaction was to frown.
The little fox said, "I think if she can do such a thing, and if our guess is correct, she wouldn't be unaware of the consequences and the price, yet she still does it..."
Ye Tiancheng sighed softly.
It was understandable to desperately want to extend the life of a loved one, but it should not come at the cost of another person's life.
If Mei Mei didn't want her husband to die, then were the people who were extending Mei Mei's husband's life supposed to die?
"I don't know when it started..." the little fox murmured softly.
He was also pressed tightly against Ye Tiancheng to ensure he wasn't pushed away by the crowd and separated from Ye Tiancheng. He was so squeezed that he felt like he was going to throw up.
However, just as he was murmuring, there was a faint, different sound.
Ye Tiancheng and the little fox both looked towards the main thoroughfare, which no one had ventured onto. The sound was coming from there, as if something was approaching.
At this moment, Ye Tiancheng and the little fox both knew that the main event was about to begin.
Indeed, they didn't have to wait long. Ye Tiancheng and the little fox saw a long procession gradually appearing on the main thoroughfare, moving slowly from afar towards the center.
The procession was quite long. At the very front, several people were carrying a sedan chair. The specifications of this sedan chair were somewhat strange, in short, it didn't look like a sedan chair for people to ride in.
Ye Tiancheng and the little fox immediately understood that the main event was about to begin.