Controlling Afang Nu to find the bone chain was definitely a viable plan.
Lin Zhitong considered for a moment and agreed with Yan Shouyi's method.
She then said, "The method is feasible, but its implementation requires careful planning. Luo Ning is not in Chang'an and will need time to get here, so..."
Yan Shouyi picked up, "So, let's first figure out a way to get back. Once Luo Ning is summoned and we've devised a plan to deal with Afang Nu, we'll return to the imperial city to search for the bone chain!"
Though the plan sounded simple, both of them understood that putting it into action would inevitably involve numerous obstacles and troubles.
However, all beginnings are difficult. Since both had conceived a method, all that remained was to act upon it and leave the rest to fate.
"Let's go."
Yan Shouyi stood up, ready to signal Sanyuan to descend and pick them up to return to the shore.
During the conversation with Wei Wuxin, the bronze coffin had drifted further down the mercury river, nearing the outer city.
If they reached the outer city, they might encounter Lu Huai and Afang Nu, which would be troublesome.
Sanyuan sensed Yan Shouyi's command and began to descend.
But just as it was about to land, it suddenly seemed to be interfered with, its movements becoming stiff and slow!
"Sanyuan!"
Yan Shouyi sensed something was wrong and urgently called out Sanyuan's name.
But Sanyuan merely shook its head unnaturally, its wings stopped moving, and it could only glide in its direction before crashing headfirst onto the shore.
Lin Zhitong's expression also changed drastically. Sanyuan had always been reliable and never had problems at critical moments.
But its sudden state now was extremely eerie, filling Lin Zhitong with worry and unease.
"Sanyuan's soul seems to be sealed," Yan Shouyi said in a deep voice. "I am connected to Sanyuan, but now I cannot sense its existence!"
The worst-case scenario was that Sanyuan had been completely annihilated, but nothing else had happened, and Yan Shouyi refused to believe that was the case.
He thought hard and found that the only issue seemed to be the Golden Mandarin Duck.
Sanyuan had been fine before. It was only this time, to deal with the蛊师 (gu master), that he had to use the Golden Mandarin Duck as a temporary vessel for Sanyuan.
"The Golden Mandarin Duck was made by Huo Ban. Could it be..."
Yan Shouyi's expression changed, and he turned to look at the half-open bronze coffin.
The Imperial Preceptor had opened the bronze coffin before and had not closed it since. Who knew if anyone was still inside?
Huo Ban had meticulously and deliberately built such a tomb for himself, and it surely wouldn't be without purpose.
"Come... come... come..."
Suddenly, a strange voice echoed in Yan Shouyi's ears.
The voice was very faint, yet it seemed like someone whispering in his ear. Just two simple words, but they were filled with confusion, causing Yan Shouyi's eyes to narrow and a wave of drowsiness to wash over him.
His body leaned forward involuntarily, his steps unsteady, like a drunkard trying to grab the door handle of a taxi but failing to grasp it.
Lin Zhitong's face changed, and she quickly stopped Yan Shouyi, "Big idiot, what's wrong?!"
Seeing that Yan Shouyi still didn't react, Lin Zhitong realized that he, like Sanyuan, had encountered a problem.
"Wake up! Wake up!"
Lin Zhitong shook Yan Shouyi's body, constantly calling his name, but Yan Shouyi showed no reaction, only desperately trying to move towards the bronze coffin.
With no other option, Lin Zhitong had to shake the soul-summoning bell, using the unique secret art of Lushan, to try and awaken Yan Shouyi.
But the moment she shook the bell, she was suddenly attacked by a mysterious force from the coffin.
This attack caused her consciousness to blur and her head to spin, and she collapsed straight onto the ground.
With Yan Shouyi no longer restrained, he quickly walked towards the bronze coffin.
Lin Zhitong was extremely anxious, "Big idiot, don't go! Don't go there!!"
Attracted by the voice, Yan Shouyi quickly reached the bronze coffin, placed his hands on it, and climbed up with difficulty.
He saw that an old man was lying in the bronze coffin. The old man had a kind and gentle face, with mild eyes, and was beckoning to him.
Yan Shouyi froze, and unintentionally uttered, "Grand... Grandpa?"
He saw that the person lying in the coffin was his grandfather, Yan Baixiang!
Yan Baixiang had been dead for more than half a year, but Yan Shouyi still hadn't come to terms with his grandfather's death.
After all, ever since his father was imprisoned, Yan Shouyi had followed his grandfather around the martial world, relying on each other. For so many years, his grandfather had not only taken meticulous care of him and protected him but had also taught him the skills to survive and the principles of life.
In this world, there was no one closer to him than his grandfather. Even Yan Chou's status in Yan Shouyi's heart could not compare to Yan Baixiang.
Therefore, when Yan Shouyi saw his grandfather in the bronze coffin, he immediately dropped all his defenses, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Grandpa... I miss you so much!" Yan Shouyi cried with a choked voice.
His grandfather smiled at Yan Shouyi, opened his arms, and said gently, "Good child, come here, come to Grandpa..."
Yan Shouyi was about to climb into the coffin immediately.
But as he propped himself up, he felt someone pulling at his ankle, preventing him from entering the coffin.
He looked down and saw it was Lin Zhitong!
Lin Zhitong's head was splitting, but she still struggled to stop Yan Shouyi.
She tightly gripped Yan Shouyi's ankle and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Big idiot, calm down! You buried Grandpa with your own hands in Chenjia Village, don't you remember?!"
Yan Shouyi loved Lin Zhitong, he loved her very, very much.
If there was any voice in the world that could awaken a lost Yan Shouyi, it would be Lin Zhitong's voice.
Hearing Lin Zhitong's heart-wrenching cry, Yan Shouyi gained a moment of clarity.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What am I doing?!
Three questions flashed through Yan Shouyi's mind, making him instantly recall his situation.
Why am I next to a coffin?
I think I saw Grandpa just now!
But how could Grandpa be in Qin Shi Huang's bronze coffin?
With these questions, Yan Shouyi looked back into the bronze coffin.
This time, he saw clearly.
The interior of the bronze coffin did not contain his grandfather at all, only a skeleton.
Strangely, the bones of this skeleton were all carved with strange runes, which were now flowing with a dim light, very mysterious.
"Come... come... come..."
The voice from before entered Yan Shouyi's mind again, and his consciousness blurred once more, but this time he understood.
It was Huo Ban's doing!
That voice came from Huo Ban's skeleton; he wanted to control me, to pull me into the bronze coffin!
Yan Shouyi was furious—
What does this Huo Ban want!