Not only Zhang Chen, but even Lin Ying couldn't help but be moved.
What she had been investigating and researching, Li Chonglou had already seen in a book.
That meant this thing had always been recorded, but they had missed it because they were looking in the wrong direction or scope.
With the help of this ancient book, they could at least advance their progress by one-fifth.
How precious this was.
"The book is gone." Li Chonglou flicked his arm, pushing Zhang Chen away.
What ancient book? It was just something he had fabricated; it didn't exist at all.
Of course, if his past life experiences were written into a book, it wouldn't be considered fabricated.
"How is that possible? Such a precious thing, and you say it's gone just like that?" Zhang Chen clearly didn't believe it, his expression displeased. "Do you know how important this book is to us? You must find it no matter what!"
"Zhang Chen, you've gone too far." Before Li Chonglou could express his displeasure, Lin Ying had already chided him coldly.
She believed her junior disciple wouldn't speak without reason or deceive her without cause. Since he said it was gone, it was probably truly gone.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have mentioned it at all.
Zhang Chen's attitude towards Li Chonglou made her very unhappy.
One was her junior disciple, and the other was a persistent suitor. Lin Ying was naturally protective of her own.
The difference in attitude was evident.
Seeing Lin Ying like this, Zhang Chen was stunned for a moment, then understood, and his gaze burned even more fiercely.
Li Chonglou was so ordinary, with no money or power, not even as knowledgeable as him. Why did Lin Ying value him so much?
As the distinguished young master of the Zhang family, possessing both wealth and learning, how was he inferior to Li Chonglou?
He felt extremely unconvinced.
Since Lin Ying was so protective of this so-called junior disciple, he would show her then and there who was more valuable.
Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.
Li Chonglou paid no attention to any of Zhang Chen's behavior. If his senior sister weren't here, he wouldn't even bother with this seemingly arrogant yet actually insecure rich second-generation heir.
He stated seriously, "Senior Sister, this is all the information I have."
"As for the true purpose of Shi Boqiong, no one knows."
"Why are you looking for that thing?"
While stating his position, he indirectly asked this question, which had been the biggest mystery in his heart in his past life.
With his master's ability, he tragically died in prison. His senior sister was killed while excavating a tomb. All of this was for that small bronze dice.
Did they all know that Shi Boqiong could bring people back to life?
Impossible.
He had searched through official and unofficial histories, and there was no record mentioning such a thing.
If he hadn't experienced it himself, he wouldn't have believed it.
Then why did his master and senior sister risk their lives to find it?
Lin Ying didn't answer immediately. Instead, she frowned and pondered for a few seconds, seemingly considering whether to tell Li Chonglou. Finally, a resolute look appeared in her eyes.
She looked up and said, "Have you heard of the Great Cataclysm Era?"
Li Chonglou shook his head in confusion.
In both his past and present lives, this was the first time he had heard this term.
"Ignorant!"
Zhang Chen took the opportunity to sneer. "In our China, we have the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches for recording years. Combined, they form sixty variations, each lasting one year, making it sixty years for a Jiazi cycle."
"And the oldest Western astrology divided the celestial bodies into twelve constellations for easier year recording."
"These twelve constellations alternate, also completing a cycle of sixty years."
"And the Scorpio among them represents destruction, devastation, and war. Therefore, every time the Scorpio era arrives, a great disaster will surely occur."
"Whether it be natural disasters or human catastrophes."
"The so-called Great Cataclysm Era is the ultimate manifestation of the Scorpio era, and perhaps the entire human civilization will vanish because of it."
It had to be said that when Zhang Chen spoke seriously, he still had some scholarly demeanor.
But that sneer was particularly annoying.
"To put it simply, a great disaster is about to happen. This is a prophecy from a Western astrologer, which coincidentally aligns with what my father specializes in, Yi learning. Therefore, this matter cannot be taken lightly." Lin Ying continued, "It is speculated that the Earth's history has experienced the Great Cataclysm Era more than once, such as the extinction of dinosaurs, Ragnarök, Noah's Ark, and other Western myths."
"Even our Chinese *Classic of Mountains and Seas* and the Battle of the Gods are not baseless rumors but proof of ancient civilizations resisting the Great Cataclysm Era."
"My father predicts that this Great Cataclysm Era will arrive within fifteen years at the earliest, and within sixty years at the latest!"
"He has consulted countless materials, even myths and legends, and combined with Yi learning calculations, he concluded that there was a supreme treasure in the Qin Dynasty that could turn the tide."
"Gradually, he discovered that this supreme treasure was a bronze dice."
"This is all the information we have now!"
Shocking!
These words, like falling meteorites from the sky, brought immense shock to Li Chonglou's understanding.
He felt his usually calm heart stirred with waves.
This...
It felt like listening to a story, but his senior sister was so serious that it was definitely not just a story.
However, this Great Cataclysm Era was too fantastical.
But he had to believe it.
In his past life, he was immersed in antiques, and history was a compulsory course.
He was naturally familiar with the changes every sixty years that Zhang Chen mentioned.
It was just that he hadn't thought in that direction at the time. Now, upon careful recollection, it was indeed as Zhang Chen had said.
Every sixty years, the entire world would undergo drastic changes, big or small.
Counting backward from the present, the Three Years of Natural Disasters, the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion, every Opium War, the Fang La uprising, Huang Chao entering Chang'an – each of these events occurred around the Gengzi year.
Twice in a year might be a coincidence, but a major change every Gengzi year could not be explained by coincidence.
Combined with his master's profound knowledge and deductions, and the fact of his own rebirth and transmigration, this Great Cataclysm Era was definitely not a baseless rumor.
However, he lived for nearly seventy years in his past life and didn't encounter it.
But this life is different from the previous one.
Because of his rebirth, many people's destinies have changed. Could this, like the wings of a butterfly, also bring an unpredictable change to the vast operation of the universe?
Suddenly, Li Chonglou's heart felt heavy as stone.
He vaguely understood why his master had taken him as a disciple from their first meeting.
His discerning eyes must have discovered something unusual about him.
And the purpose of Shi Boqiong sending him back was likely not just to mend regrets and save his mother.
Thinking of this, Li Chonglou couldn't help but feel his hairs stand on end.
For the first time, he felt that his life was not under his own control, like a chess piece held in the palm of an invisible, overarching hand.
"Senior Sister, why are you telling me this?" Li Chonglou looked up at Lin Ying, their eyes meeting.
Lin Ying did not answer directly. Instead, she looked at Zhang Chen and uttered two words: "You go out first."
Zhang Chen's eyes widened again, pointing at himself, his face full of indignation.
But seeing Lin Ying's serious and solemn expression, he finally lowered his head and walked out of the East Wing without a word.
Through the glass, he glared hatefully at Li Chonglou. If looks could kill, Li Chonglou would have been cut into a thousand pieces long ago.
After he left, Lin Ying finally replied solemnly, "With great ability comes great responsibility. You have become my father's successor and cultivated my Lin family's martial arts techniques. This is no coincidence."
"The first time my father saw you, he felt you were the person he was looking for."
"He couldn't calculate his own fate; he didn't know when an accident might happen to him, so he had to have someone inherit his legacy and aspirations."
"Ironically, his aspiration was to protect me."
"Logically, someone like him, who spent all day studying Yi learning, should be aloof and unemotional when looking at anything."
"But he was an anomaly. He felt that the so-called great laws of heaven and earth, or the balance of all things, had nothing to do with him."
"He only cared about what was in front of him. To be blunt, he only cared about me, and possibly now, you too!"
"So you can understand that he did all this simply to protect me, not to save humanity or the world."
These words were like thunder to Li Chonglou's ears.
It wasn't funny at all. He didn't laugh, and he never would.
Because he knew that what his senior sister said was absolutely the truth about his master.
He knew very well how protective his master was and how much he cared about his daughter, Senior Sister Lin.
For her, he would do anything.
If he had the intention and actions to save the world, it was definitely because without this world, there would be no Senior Sister Lin.
But it was precisely this extreme selfishness of protective desire that made him seem incredibly great.
More real and admirable than any hero in mythology.
And he, by chance, had become another target of his master's protection. He was fortunate for three lifetimes!
"Senior Sister, I understand." Li Chonglou broke free from the immense turmoil and shock within him, his eyes showing unshakeable determination. "Master wanted to protect you, and I also have people I care about."
"Let me participate in this matter, perhaps I can help."
"Ah, I was waiting for you to say that." Hearing this, Lin Ying's previously tense face bloomed with a smile, her tone instantly shifting from serious to casual banter. "If I had known you would agree so readily, why would I have given such an emotional speech?"
"You've made me so thirsty, why don't you quickly make some tea for your senior sister?"
Saying this, she beckoned to Zhang Chen, who was waiting anxiously outside the door, completely ignoring the stunned and still-confused Li Chonglou. "Come in."
As if receiving a royal decree, Zhang Chen's dissatisfaction vanished instantly. He eagerly scurried over and sat beside Lin Ying.
He also shot Li Chonglou a fierce glare.
"Zhang Chen, I've decided to let my junior disciple join the team. From now on, don't hide anything from him." Lin Ying said generously.
Zhang Chen's eyes bulged out: "This is favoritism!"
"Him? What qualifications or abilities does he have to join the team?"
"Lin Ying, you can't just break the rules because he's your junior disciple. Even if I agree, others won't!"
His words were filled with contempt for Li Chonglou.
He had tolerated Li Chonglou for a while, and the resentment in his heart had accumulated to the tipping point. At this moment, it all erupted.
After speaking, he pointed at Li Chonglou and yelled, "Kid, have you studied archaeology? Do you have any experience? You're just a hothead."
"I don't know how you managed to fool Lin Ying into agreeing, but as long as I'm here, you won't get away with this!"
"Because you don't deserve it!"