"Old Han! Old Li! A few young people have arrived outside, saying they're looking for you!"
Outside the imperial mausoleum, on the ground, Li Chongxi and Old Han were coordinating the work of various departments.
Amidst the heavy rain, someone ran over to report to Li Chongxi.
Old Han glanced at Li Chongxi sideways, "Did you invite more consultants?"
Old Han knew a little about Li Chongxi's capabilities, and coupled with the performance of Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong today, it made Old Han even more aware of Li Chongxi's extraordinariness.
Li Chongxi frowned and shook his head, unsure who was looking for him.
Upon inquiry, the messenger replied, "They said they are Mr. Yan's friends."
"Oh."
Li Chongxi nodded. During the earthquake yesterday, Li Chongxi had met some of Yan Shouyi's friends and knew they were not ordinary people either.
So, Li Chongxi waved his hand, signaling to let them in first.
Although he had only allowed Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong into the imperial mausoleum, there was no harm in others waiting outside the exit.
A moment later, Long Feicheng, Wang Jizhi, and Weng Qianxiang, holding umbrellas, arrived in front of Li Chongxi on the muddy path.
Li Chongxi sized up the three and said in turn, "The Debt Collector, the Skin Painter, and you..."
Long Feicheng thought about it. Wang Jizhi and Weng Qianxiang both had titles, but he didn't. How awkward that would be.
So he gave himself a title and said with his head held high, "I am a successor to socialism."
Li Chongxi: "..."
Everyone's eyelids twitched.
"Ahem!" Wang Jizhi, who was slightly more serious, coughed and said, "Senior Li, Yan Shouyi, he..."
"They have already entered the imperial mausoleum," Li Chongxi replied, "but you cannot enter for now."
Wang Jizhi nodded. In fact, he was the most well-behaved person in the group besides Yan Shouyi. As long as Li Chongxi said they couldn't enter, he absolutely wouldn't.
"However, you can wait here. There are tents nearby, so you can sit and rest," Li Chongxi offered.
The three went into the tent to take shelter from the rain, while Li Chongxi went back to his work.
Long Feicheng cautiously observed Li Chongxi from behind, saying in a low voice, "Is he Li Gengmiao's biological father? Brother Yan seems very respectful of him, but why does he look like an ordinary person?"
"Don't talk nonsense," Wang Jizhi reminded him.
Long Feicheng's silence lasted no more than three seconds before he spoke again, "Shouldn't Luo Ning and A Gong be arriving soon?"
After Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong entered the imperial mausoleum this morning, Long Feicheng contacted Luo Ning and others. He found that everyone was near Chang'an, so he decided to gather everyone together.
The Corpse Mover Luo Ning, the Paper Figure Maker A Gong, the Illusionist He Xiping, and the Spirit Medium Zhao Yiyao.
They were all inheritors of folk cults and also Yan Shouyi's most reliable companions. Upon learning that Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong had entered the imperial mausoleum, they rushed over immediately.
It was estimated that they would arrive at the imperial mausoleum in less than half an hour.
Half an hour later, Li Chongxi led four people over – it was Luo Ning and the others!
After they parted ways at Longhu Mountain, everyone had been searching for inheritors of folk cults according to the roster of folk cults provided by Weng Qianxiang. Thus, they hadn't seen each other since descending the mountain.
Now that good friends had met again, there were naturally some emotions. Long Feicheng even ran up to Luo Ning and flexed his biceps, saying,
"Luo Ning, do I look much stronger recently?"
Luo Ning reached out and pinched, nodding with satisfaction, then said, "You have gotten much stronger. Your body is just right for refining into a corpse."
"...My apologies."
Social Luo Jie, fierce and concise!
Long Feicheng was initially intimidated, but then he chatted happily with Luo Ning, seeming unconvinced that Luo Ning would actually turn him into a zombie.
A Gong spoke less, but he was happy to see his good friends. Everyone first shared their recent experiences, but the topic soon shifted to their mutual friend – Yan Shouyi.
Wang Jizhi said, "Old Yan is currently inside the imperial mausoleum. I wonder if he has encountered any danger or difficulties."
"Do you even need to ask?" Luo Ning snorted, "Where Yan Shouyi is, danger might be late, but it will never be absent."
Everyone was speechless because Luo Ning was stating a fact.
However, no one thought of separating from Yan Shouyi because of his "danger-attracting" constitution.
Zhao Yiyao said, "Why don't I have Huang Sipi sneak down to take a look?"
"Perhaps not. Senior Li looks rather formidable," He Xiping said, shaking his head.
Since they couldn't enter the imperial mausoleum, everyone could only wait outside.
Long Feicheng, bored of waiting, decided to ask He Xiping to go to a corner for a smoke and pee.
The imperial mausoleum, after the earthquake, was already in ruins, like a half-finished construction site. No one was that particular anymore.
The two went to a corner. Long Feicheng, with a cigarette in his mouth, opened the floodgates and hummed, "Even though this young master didn't get to defecate on the emperor's head, he at least peed here. I can brag about this for a year."
He Xiping laughed heartily.
Just as the two were zipping up, preparing to return, He Xiping suddenly saw something drifting down from the sky.
"What is this..."
He walked closer. He thought it was a plastic bag, but it was a paper figure with its eyes drawn.
"A paper figure? A Gong! Your paper figure has escaped!" Long Feicheng called back.
A Gong poked his head out of the tent, looking at Long Feicheng and He Xiping in confusion, "What paper figure?"
"This paper figure isn't yours?" He Xiping asked, holding up the paper figure.
A Gong shook his head.
If it were a paper figure he had made himself, he would recognize it instantly. Even from such a distance, A Gong could discern the difference in craftsmanship.
Wang Jizhi heard the commotion and frowned.
His expression suddenly changed, and he shouted to He Xiping and Long Feicheng, "Quick, throw away that paper figure!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the paper figure in He Xiping's hand suddenly rolled its eyes and came to life!
Its hands each held a gleaming dagger, which it thrust directly at He Xiping!
He Xiping also instantly sensed the approaching danger, immediately let go, turned, and a fierce flame erupted from his mouth, engulfing the paper figure!
Long Feicheng jumped aside, exclaiming, "What's going on!"
He Xiping shouted, "Little Long, this paper figure is not afraid of fire. Quickly draw your sword and cut it!"
Long Feicheng had been with everyone for quite some time, so he had the reflexes. He immediately drew the Caiwei Sword from his back and sliced the paper figure in half with one strike.
Everyone was still shaken, looking at each other, not knowing the origin of this paper figure.
Only Wang Jizhi remained calm. He said in a deep voice,
"In Chang'an's ghost market, we encountered Li Gengmiao's subordinates."
The New Xuan Mountain Sect!?
Everyone's hearts skipped a beat, and they understood what was happening.
Li Gengmiao was also after the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and judging by this paper figure, their people had likely arrived near the imperial mausoleum...