I asked in a deep voice, "Did you mark it over there?"

"Yes!" Xu Er nodded. "Right there at the entrance to the alley!"

I stood up. "Lao Liu, how many entrances does this alley have?"

"Only one, the north side where we came in!" Lao Liu stood up as well.

Xu Er was immediately dumbfounded. The direction he had pointed was south. "Does Weizi Alley have a north entrance?"

I didn't answer him but quickly walked out of the house, pushing the door open and looking left and right. "Interesting."

After Xu Er followed me out for a look, his face turned ashen.

Both entrances to Weizi Alley were gone, leaving only two moss-covered brick walls.

We were trapped in the alley.

I turned around and went back inside. Xu Er and Xu San discussed something in the courtyard for a while before coming in. Xu Er said, "Hall Master Li, we brothers were just..."

I waved my hand. "Let's skip the pleasantries and get down to business. What do you want to do?"

Xu Er said, "We want Hall Master Li to lend a hand. We'll add some of our lifespan from this mission, plus a little gift, and ask you to help save our brother."

"I don't want your mission. I won't take your money either!" Disappointment appeared on Xu San's face when I was only halfway through my sentence, but I changed my tone. "However, I can join forces with you to take this deal. I want to guarantee Chen Xiaobei's safety. As for the others, their life or death is none of my concern."

Xu San was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly. "Okay, okay..."

Xu Er asked, "May I ask, what is the relationship between that Chen Xiaobei and Hall Master?"

"An old friend from a previous life!" My casual reply caused the Xu brothers to gasp, and their eyes showed a hint of awe as they looked at me.

Later, I would learn that finding a reincarnated old friend wasn't as simple as I thought.

When a person dies and is reincarnated, it's like cutting off all ties with their previous life. To find a reincarnated person is to bring the karma of the past life into this one.

No matter who helps me find my old friend's current life, they will have to bear a significant responsibility. In the world of術道 (Shu Dao, esoteric arts), even the most skilled Tian Suan Ming Shi (Heavenly Calculation Life Diviner) wouldn't easily get involved. In the underworld, you'd have to find someone high up to dare touch this matter.

My simple sentence was enough to make the Xu brothers respectful because, in their eyes, I had close ties to the underworld and was a powerful figure with connections everywhere.

At that time, I didn't know what they were thinking. Even if I did, I wouldn't explain. People sometimes scare themselves. If they wanted to treat me as a big shot, why would I explain?

I pointed to the stools. "Let's sit down and talk."

I was making them sit down because I wasn't used to looking up at them while sitting down and listening to them. In their eyes, this was the demeanor of a great figure. They quickly straightened their backs and sat down, their butts only touching half the stool.

At that time, I was wondering what their problem was. Later, when I learned the truth, I couldn't help but laugh.

In Lao Liu's words, not everyone in the martial world is as洒脱 (sa tuo, natural and unrestrained) as you, East Master. There are more people who want to be officials, seek favors from officials, and are afraid of seeing officials. People who have no desire for power are rare.

I didn't think much about it at the time. "Xu San, is what you just told me true or false? Also, how did you end up at this Lao Yu's house?"

Xu Er said, "Let me tell you about it!"

"The three of us brothers came across the river to do business. We originally planned to visit Hall Master Feng Cai at Liangjie Tang (Two Realms Hall), but the Hall Master wasn't there at the time. After leaving our calling card, we found Yu Xue Lin."

When San Yan Biao (Three-Eyed Biao) came, I was still at Wang Butcher's place. It was normal that they didn't see the master and enter the mountain to pay respects.

Xu Er continued after seeing that I had no reaction. "Yu Xue Lin told me everything here, including what I just said."

I immediately became interested. "Are you saying that the things you mentioned didn't come from the old man's mouth?"

"The old man Yu is long dead!" Xu Er shook his head. "This house belongs to Yu Xue Lin."

I immediately reacted. "Lao Liu, contact Ye Yang and have him arrest Yu Xue Lin. No matter who's protecting him, bring him back alive."

Xu Er was stunned. "Hall Master Li, what are you doing?"

I turned my head and said, "Don't tell me you arranged the flowers and plants in this courtyard."

Xu Er also reacted. "Damn it, that Yu dared to lie to me."

Xu San still looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

Xu Er said, "Yu Xue Lin has been living in this alley. He's been studying Weizi Alley for more than a day or two. He only gave us this little bit of information. What does he want to do?"

"He's using us as cannon fodder. If Hall Master Li hadn't come, we would have foolishly walked into his trap."

Xu San also understood. "Big brother is still with Yu Xue Lin?"

I added, "Lao Liu, tell Ye Yang not to hurt Xu Da. Tell each other any secret signals you have quickly, in case of accidental injury. I won't be responsible."

While Xu San was talking to Lao Liu, I asked again, "How many days have you been here? Why haven't you made a move on the Chen family?"

I stared intently at Xu Er's face, wanting to know how many hunters were in this Weizi Alley hunting ground.

I don't want to become someone else's prey!