The altar was simple, just a small sacrificial platform built from stones.
Atop the platform was a slightly larger stone tablet.
Beneath the platform, there was a table, and judging by the items placed upon it, it was highly likely that it was once laden with food.
Zhang Tian did not examine the surrounding layout. Instead, he fixed his gaze directly on the inscription on the stone tablet.
"Hong Hai Hua, blooms in yin times, lunar calendar, yin path."
"When the flower blooms, yin mist arises, the mist lingers for ten thousand years, sending the deceased on their way."
"Also known as Yan Wang Hua, offerings are required to avoid [this fate]."
Reading the string of small characters, Zhang Tian gained some understanding of the Cang Hai Hua.
It was a flower that bloomed in yin places, and as for offerings, Zhang Tian surmised that animal sacrifices might also suffice.
"There's more here," Zhang Qilin said from the side.
He stood behind the stone tablet.
Upon arriving here, Zhang Qilin had immediately begun his exploration. This fellow attached great importance to his memories.
After Zhang Qilin spoke, Zhang Tian's figure flashed, and he was instantly by Zhang Qilin's side.
Behind the stone tablet.
A pattern emerged.
It depicted the appearance of a grand hall or mansion.
Above the main hall, there seemed to be a plaque.
Zhang Tian looked closely. The plaque bore the two large characters "Lun Zhuan."
From these characters, it could be deduced that this was likely the hall of the Tenth Hall, King Lun Zhuan.
King Lun Zhuan was on the tenth level, essentially the final one.
On this level, those awaiting reincarnation would ultimately be sent to the barbaric lands.
In ancient times, the barbaric lands referred to the regions west of Tibet or even further north.
These "Tibetan red flowers" were most likely flowers that grew along the path leading to the tenth level of the underworld.
Given the location and manner of their blooming, and even the design on the stone tablet, it was most ideal for this flower to bloom on the tenth level.
Thus, Zhang Tian surmised that the two guards outside were likely the Yama envoys of King Lun Zhuan.
"So that's who is being worshipped," Zhang Tian murmured, his understanding of the situation gradually deepening.
King Lun Zhuan was clearly not as powerful as the Yama kings of the upper layers of the underworld. His primary role was to oversee reincarnation after people had undergone their suffering.
From this perspective, these Cang Hai flowers likely possessed a certain attribute, which allowed them to ensnare the lost souls of others.
However, the duration of this soul-locking was unlikely to be long.
As for the lingering souls, Zhang Tian speculated that it was most probably due to some sorcery performed by someone above.
This sorcery caused the Cang Hai flowers to not control the souls, or perhaps the souls were trapped within a mold, entering a dormant state.
Only when the intended recipient appeared would the souls re-emerge, thus being able to persist for three days.
This was because the maximum duration a soul could naturally remain in the human world was three days.
The custom was that souls would return on the third day and linger until the seventh.
At this thought, Zhang Tian's eyes lit up.
Their gazes turned to Zhang Qilin.
"I know the location," Zhang Tian said. Zhang Qilin looked at Zhang Tian with some confusion.
Had Zhang Tian found it so quickly?
"Where?" Zhang Qilin slowly spoke the words.
"If I'm not mistaken, it's in the middle of the sea of flowers."
"Go and dig up the soil. See if there's a vessel containing souls," Zhang Tian said softly.
Zhang Qilin nodded slightly. His figure flickered, and he was already in the center.
The Cang Hai flowers might not have been able to deal with Fatty and the others. The long vines eventually retreated into the earth.
Zhang Qilin stood amidst the red flowers.
He began to dig gently with his hands.
Gradually, one of the red flowers emitted a glow.
Zhang Tian's pupils contracted at the sight.
He understood.
"So the best vessel isn't the outer five, but the Cang Hai flower itself."
"This lama master is truly formidable, using the Cang Hai flower as a vessel and then refining it to become a spiritual entity."
Thinking this, Zhang Tian felt a degree of admiration for that lama master, his method being quite ingenious.
The Cang Hai flowers would not attack their own kind, thus Bai Ma's soul would not be in danger.
"Why is that flower glowing?" Fatty asked, looking at the flower emitting a faint white light in the darkness.
"We must have found it," Hu Bayi's hoarse voice replied. His dark face showed a hint of excitement.
He was happy for Zhang Qilin.
This trip had brought Hu Bayi considerable gains.
He had resolved the long-standing burden in his heart, and at the same time, he had seen his former comrades.
And if Zhang Qilin could recover some of his memories, that would be the best outcome.
Zhang Qilin looked at the white light before him. His eyebrows slightly raised.
It was a very familiar feeling.
A strange feeling, much like the one he felt at Zhang Tian's home.
Zhang Qilin did not know what emotion this was, but he liked this feeling very much.
After the white light, there was no more illumination in the dark night.
Gradually, a figure appeared before everyone's eyes.
Upon seeing the figure, Zhang Tian knew it was Bai Ma's soul that had appeared.
When Zhang Qilin saw the figure, his face remained expressionless.
However, a strange stir arose within his heart.
Despite meeting this woman for the first time, countless peculiar sentiments welled up within Zhang Qilin.
These were feelings Zhang Qilin had never experienced before.
"What is this..." Zhang Qilin wondered, unable to comprehend these emotions.
"Is that Second Brother's mother? So radiant," Fatty said, looking at the figure emitting a soft glow.
"Fatty, you idiot. Let's go. Don't disturb their reunion," Hu Bayi glared at Fatty and then pulled him away from the sea of flowers.
Wu Tianzhen and the others were also tactful, and everyone began to slowly retreat.
Seeing that the matter was handled, Zhang Tian also quietly left the scene.
Now was a time for reunion between Zhang Qilin and his mother, and Zhang Tian did not wish to be a third wheel.
However, Zhang Tian was curious to hear what they would say.
Soon, Zhang Tian's figure disappeared from the sea of flowers, leaving only Zhang Qilin and the newly awakened figure.
When the woman opened her eyes, a flicker of excitement appeared in them.
Bai Ma looked at the tall figure before her, and at the face half-hidden by hair.
Although Zhang Qilin wore a hat, she recognized him instantly.
"Is it you? Xiao Guan?" Bai Ma's voice emerged.
Xiao Guan was the childhood nickname Bai Ma had given to Zhang Qiling, which had appeared in interviews; the original work did not specify his given name. Zhang Tian was aware of this.
Zhang Xiao Guan, the name sounded quite endearing, but it was not mentioned in the film and television adaptations that Zhang Tian was familiar with.
Meanwhile, inside the cave.
Zhang Tian, Fatty, Hu Bayi, and even Shirley Yang were all pressed against the cave walls.
Each of them was like a cat hearing the sound of a mouse, eagerly wanting to know what was happening.
"Xiao Guan... Boss is so heartwarming," Fatty repeated, a smile even appearing on his lips.
Zhang Tian's lips curved upward involuntarily.
"Ahem, Fatty, be quiet," Zhang Tian said.
This guy really knew how to ruin the atmosphere.
Hearing the voice, Zhang Qilin's heart trembled.
But his face remained expressionless.
He did not know what to say.
His emotions had been absent since his journey to the Zhang family.
Looking at Zhang Qilin, who lacked emotion, Bai Ma's heart ached intensely. This was something she absolutely could not bear to see.