The time rewinds a bit.
Eleven o'clock at night.
On the road from Wucha Town to Shiluan Village, Xia Panqiu and Wu You walked together and quickly found the legendary stone arch bridge.
Wu You leaned against the bridge railing, a cigarette in his mouth, and observed the stone arch bridge entwined with vines under the moonlight. He couldn't help but sigh, "There's not even a streetlight here... no wonder there are ghost stories like that."
Xia Panqiu leaned against the stone railing, saying nothing.
"Why didn't you bring the two newcomers?" Wu You, receiving no response, straightened up, lit another cigarette, and asked with a smile.
"No need."
Xia Panqiu replied softly, "They wouldn't be of any help."
Wu You looked at Xia Panqiu's face and exposed him, "You just don't want them to know about the existence of the Yellow Springs Fragment, do you?"
Xia Panqiu said nothing.
"Actually, there's no need to be so cautious. Lu Hao's situation is not your fault; even if you didn't say anything, Ah Yue would still have told Lu Hao later."
Wu You slowly exhaled the smoke that had swirled in his lungs and continued, "And given his obsessive personality, even if Ah Yue mentioned it, he'd probably find a way to reclaim the fragment that records his authority.
After all, handing over the Yellow Springs Fragment that records one's authority means one's authority could be stripped away at any time. For him, that's no different from giving his lifeline to someone else; a person like him would never accept that."
Xia Panqiu softly said, "Ah Yue has already handed his in."
"You can't expect everyone to be like Ah Yue."
Wu You laughed, "Even if his authority was stripped, Ah Yue would probably just shrug it off. People are different."
Xia Panqiu pursed her red lips, not responding.
Wu You looked at Xia Panqiu's profile in the moonlight, sighed, and changed the topic, "So, any change in your evaluation of the two newcomers?"
Xia Panqiu hesitated for a moment, then replied, "No."
"Really no change?"
Wu You glanced mischievously at Xia Panqiu, "I thought you agreed to let Chen Lusi come along because you set aside your prejudice against him and wanted to clarify things. Yet he apologized and explained to you, and you did nothing."
"What kind of apology was that?"
Xia Panqiu turned her head to the side.
Wu You chuckled, "So, do you plan to apologize?"
"...Wu You, I know you like Chen Lusi, but don't forget."
Xia Panqiu didn't answer directly but softly said, "He really did shoot. Your guidance was not only directed at Chen Lusi but also at Li Tian. Yet the latter suppressed his inner impulses, while Chen Lusi just went ahead and shot.
...This isn't about prejudice or siding with anyone; I'm genuinely worried that under high-pressure conditions, he might become the biggest unstable factor.
Surely you remember your assessment of him, right? In comparison, Li Tian is actually much more normal. Although a bit opportunistic, always trying to curry favor, at least he's controllable and stable."
"Of course I remember."
Wu You noticed Xia Panqiu speaking earnestly about her views and put away his smile, "But the human heart is hard to predict... like, have you considered this possibility? Perhaps the reason why Chen Lusi chose to shoot on the rooftop was mainly because you discriminated against him?
Think about it. Chen Lusi, a young guy in his twenties, didn't even understand the situation before being treated differently. It's such a humiliating experience, especially in front of peers; he'd surely be angry, right? If it were me, I'd definitely be mad too.
He might even develop a rebellious mindset: 'You say I'm like Lu Hao? Then I'll become Lu Hao to show you!' After all, he already tried to bow his head and was met with indifference; even a simple 'it's okay' would have sufficed. A little courtesy wouldn't hurt! Nor would explaining the reason for the discrimination! It costs nothing!"
"......"
As Wu You spoke.
Xia Panqiu visibly tensed up.
She bit her glossy red lip, straightened her posture, and stood for a while before pulling out her phone from her pocket.
Yet she hesitated, scrolling back and forth on the messaging page.
Wu You observed this scene, a mischievous smile reappearing on his face as he teased, "Want to explain? Isn't it a bit late now? How about this—it's the first time I've heard someone say you look good in long hair and a skirt... and white silk. How about you try dressing like that for your explanation? It might yield better results."
"...What do you mean?"
Xia Panqiu turned sharply, glaring at Wu You, "Do you think I'm an idiot!? I'll never dress like that in my life!"
"Take it easy, don't be so absolute."
"I'd jump off the bridge and head to the Yellow Springs alone before dressing like that!"
"I'm just messing around."
Wu You laughed heartily at the clearly flustered Xia Panqiu, stepping back as he chuckled, "You really are quite cute, no need to always look so stern—you're only twenty, why act like an old lady."
"...Get lost."
Xia Panqiu turned her head away.
Wu You chuckled, not provoking her any further. He leaned against the bridge, gazing up at the stars, "Hope we can resolve this tonight; the road is closed, it'd be awkward if nothing happened."
Unfortunately, things didn't go as hoped.
That night.
Nothing happened.
...
The next morning.
Early morning.
Chen Lusi got up early, the aftereffects of forcibly absorbing the spirit had faded.
The bloated feeling, the nausea had disappeared.
Instead, there was a strange sensation of foreign matter in his body.
But where exactly was the foreign matter... Chen Lusi couldn't sense it.
The foreign matter felt like it was embedded in his flesh, as if ants were crawling all over his body, making him itch uncomfortably, yet scratching brought no relief.
"Incarnation... allowing the flesh to contain the spirit, temporally storing the spirit inside, but the records didn't mention it would feel this uncomfortable."
Chen Lusi rubbed his arms vigorously, a bit helplessly.
It took him quite some time to barely adapt to the intense discomfort.
Getting out of bed.
Chen Lusi drew back the curtains, thought for a moment, and decided to wake up Li Tian.
"Do you want breakfast?"
Chen Lusi looked at the still-sleepy Li Tian and asked, "By the way, I'm planning to go check out the bridge and ask about something, wanna come along?"
"...Yes."
Li Tian initially intended to refuse, but upon hearing the latter part of Chen Lusi's sentence, he forced himself to rally his spirits and sat up.
"Didn't sleep well last night?"
While waiting for him to dress, Chen Lusi noticed his poor complexion and asked casually.
Li Tian hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
Damn it.
It seemed his body had an issue!
Whenever he meditated, the spirit would vanish!
Each time he meditated, it disappeared!
It was as if he'd seen a ghost.
But he couldn't discuss this with Chen Lusi, as the latter might not even understand as much as he did...
He planned to consult Xia Panqiu and Wu You.
Chen Lusi noticed that Li Tian seemed hesitant to speak, shrugged, and didn't press the issue.
Five minutes later.
They walked out of the small inn together.
At this moment.
The small town was yet to awaken, the shops hadn't opened, and morning fog shrouded the entire small town, with mottled dawn light adorning the sky.
The scenery and air were quite nice.
But it was a bit cold.
Chen Lusi and Li Tian were both wearing short sleeves, and just as they stepped out, they couldn't help but shiver. After a brief pause, they together went to find a place to buy breakfast.
Finding a place that sold breakfast wasn't difficult.
Very soon.
Chen Lusi followed the scent to a bun shop.
Probably because it was only six o'clock, there weren't many customers in front of the bun shop.
Chen Lusi greeted Li Tian and went to buy breakfast for four people.
He was carrying the buns, planning to turn around and find the waiting Li Tian.
"Hey there, handsome."
A figure suddenly appeared, blocking his path.
It was a woman in her early thirties, wearing a long red dress, her figure enchanting, exuding the charm of a mature woman.
But the most striking wasn't her figure, but the tattoo on her face.
She had a beautiful face, clean and fair on one side, while the other was tattooed with a budding peony flower.
No matter how much Chen Lusi had seen, it was his first time seeing a woman who had a flower directly tattooed on her face.
So, he couldn't help but be drawn in at first glance.
While Chen Lusi was sizing up the woman, the woman was also sizing up Chen Lusi, and as she looked, she licked her red lips.
"Is there something you need?"
Chen Lusi snapped out of it and asked.
"Auntie can let you relax, do you want that?" The mature woman with the peony tattoo leaned forward, licked her red lips, and asked seductively.
"Ah, this..."
Chen Lusi was momentarily stunned, then quickly collected himself and responded with a stifled laugh, "I think I'll pass, my friend is still waiting for me, bye-bye."
He said this while laughing, attempting to pass by the alluring mature woman.
At the same time, he sighed.
The customs here are really... open.
The mature woman didn't entangle him further, just watched as he left, then seemingly talking to herself, gently said, "One in the incarnation stage, one in the adaptation phase, authority unclear, probably newcomers, Xia Panqiu and Wu You are here."
No one replied.
She licked her red lips and continued, "That little boy just now is mine."
"Just don't call him Lu Hao while he's with you."
This time.
There was eventually a response.
...
Chen Lusi was biting into his bun, thinking about the "auntie" just now, and he found it somewhat amusing.
"What's wrong?" Li Tian, noticing Chen Lusi's expression, asked curiously.
"Nothing."
Chen Lusi shook his head and handed him a bun.
The two of them, eating their buns, were heading toward the stone arch bridge that linked the market and the village.
They had asked locals yesterday.
They recognized the path.
Because yesterday Wu You had contacted the local security office, the road leading to the stone bridge had been barricaded, and as it was very early, they hadn't seen a soul along the way.
Very soon.
Chen Lusi spotted the bridge and Xia Panqiu and Wu You.
They both looked a bit listless.
Xia Panqiu was fiddling with her phone, while Wu You had cigarette butts scattered at his feet.
They looked extremely bored.
As Chen Lusi and Li Tian approached.
Wu You noticed the two of them.
He promptly came over, cursing and swearing like an overworked corporate slave, "Damn it, Kunlun clearly said it would be today, I've been waiting since midnight till six... didn't see a soul."
Upon hearing this, Chen Lusi roughly understood what had happened, remained silent, and just handed over the buns.
"Thanks."
Wu You barely suppressed his emotions, sighed, and crouched down to eat a bun.
"Do you want one?"
Chen Lusi glanced over at Xia Panqiu not far away.
Xia Panqiu opened her mouth, just about to respond.
"…Tsk."
Wu You suddenly clicked his tongue and shouted, "Panqiu."
Just about to refuse Chen Lusi, Xia Panqiu's expression changed.
Chen Lusi was taken aback, not quite responding in time, he noticed Wu You dropping the bun and suddenly standing up.
At the same time.
A cold sensation came from his neck.
Chen Lusi jolted, just about to turn his head, and then felt a sting on his neck.
"Don't move, handsome... You didn't respond to auntie earlier, so auntie chased after you, happy?"
The coquettish voice came.
The mature woman with the peony tattoo placed a knife against Chen Lusi's neck and gently blew towards his face.
"..."
Chen Lusi immediately stopped his head-turning motion.
From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed to the side.
Not only was he held hostage.
On the other side.
Li Tian was also grabbed by the neck and lifted off the ground.
He struggled desperately, wanting to break free.
But the man holding him was extremely robust, like a small mountain, holding Li Tian with one hand, immobile.
As soon as Li Tian started to struggle, the robust man raised his fist and punched Li Tian in the side.
The punch was powerful and heavy.
It immediately halted Li Tian's struggle, making him double over, and he vomited the buns he had just eaten.
"..."
Wu You and Xia Panqiu helplessly watched as Li Tian and Chen Lusi were subdued, yet they chose not to act, instead slowly retreating to stand together.
They looked at the man and woman holding Li Tian and Chen Lusi, their faces darkened.
On the mist-covered stone arch bridge.
The atmosphere dramatically shifted.