"We... truly cannot kill you."
The male Han Ba replied, then looked at Zhang Wei leisurely and said,
"I hope you keep your promise."
With that,
He turned and walked towards Wan Tai Sui.
Seeing this, Zhang Wei nodded:
"Don't worry, in the Great Xia of this era, I'm at least a significant figure. I will keep my promise."
...
Meanwhile.
At the entrance to the valley deep within the Yunnan Worm Valley.
At this moment.
Including Wu Nian, everyone was slumped against the forest before the valley entrance, gazing listlessly at the valley's opening.
Wu Nian clasped his hands together, sitting cross-legged like an old monk, his prayer beads constantly turning as he chanted blessings. However, his brow furrowed deeper with each chant and with the passage of time. Finally, he sighed and murmured to himself,
"Amitabha... Alas, how will I explain to Zhang Chao when I return that my strength is still insufficient."
His voice was not loud.
But everyone present heard it. They all fell silent, some sighing, others with grim expressions. It wasn't until Huang Xiao Dan spoke,
"How much time has passed? It shouldn't be ten minutes yet."
"It's already been half an hour."
Huang San glanced at Huang Xiao Dan, understanding his meaning. If little time had passed, Zhang Wei would still have a slim chance of survival. But as time dragged on, if Zhang Wei didn't appear, his chances would dwindle to zero.
It was for this reason that
They were reluctant to check the time. They even walked back from the depths to the valley entrance. Despite encountering no zombies orθθ« on their return journey compared to their arrival, they took longer. Each step was slow, clinging to the hope that Zhang Wei might still come running from behind before they exited the pass.
Instantly.
As Huang San spoke, everyone's spirits sank.
Even Hill rubbed his temples with a headache, feeling that fighting the Archangel previously was less exhausting than this.
Following that.
Lin Gu Shi said leisurely,
"Stop holding onto hope. Instead of thinking about Zhang Wei's return, let's think about how to give Zhang Wei a grand funeral."
Mentioning the funeral.
Huang Xiao Dan immediately interjected,
"Zhang Wei definitely deserves a grand funeral. He died for our Huang family. He was so close to Wan Tai Sui, and if it weren't for those two Han Ba, he would have obtained Wan Tai Sui. And it's all your fault; if you hadn't run, there might still have been hope."
"I'm sorry."
Those who had hidden did not refute Huang Xiao Dan's words.
The old Corpse Herder chimed in,
"He definitely deserves a grand funeral. Although the Wei Dao Division has sent previous batches who all failed, and we also failed, Zhang Wei died saving us. If a grand funeral is to be held, let me help. At least let Zhang Wei depart with dignity."
"I'll call my great-grandfather to attend."
Hu Shiliu replied with a choked sob. As the only woman present, she was the most emotional. Zhang Wei had saved her life multiple times, and she felt immense gratitude and indebtedness. Now that Zhang Wei was dead, she was filled with deep guilt.
Mentioning the funeral now, she was even willing to invite the Old Master of the Hu family, which would be an absolute honor. Even if a True Dragon Guard died, the Old Master of the Hu family might not be persuaded to appear. If he were to attend the funeral, it would surely cause a stir in Great Xia, and even the global ghost-exorcism community would take notice.
Following that.
When Zhang Wei's funeral was mentioned, everyone offered their opinions on how to make it grand. They pledged money, offered assistance, all wanting to ensure Zhang Wei's funeral rivaled that of a True Dragon Guard, or even surpassed it.
"Right, we can invite the Pope of the Vatican! Didn't Zhang Wei help the Holy See overcome difficulties? With the Pope's prestige, he could invite the national-level powerhouses from various countries to attend."
Huang Xiao Dan suddenly thought of something and quickly said,
"Even for the funeral of a True Dragon Guard, it's not guaranteed that national-level powerhouses from various countries would attend. If we have the Pope and other foreign national-level powerhouses come, Zhang Wei's funeral will surely be remembered in the history of Great Xia's ghost-exorcism."
As soon as he spoke,
The Fengmen Zombie glanced at Huang Xiao Dan. The latter felt the gaze and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, saying,
"Why are you looking at me? Oh, right, I almost forgot. You're from the Sen Luo Division. Let's be clear, you and Zhang Wei were enemies, but Zhang Wei is dead now. If your Sen Luo Division tries to disrupt even the funeral, my Huang family won't let you off."
The others also turned their attention upon hearing this.
The Fengmen Zombie found it both amusing and exasperating. He looked at Huang Xiao Dan because he was satisfied with his suggestion, but he didn't expect the other party to misunderstand. It was understandable, given his sensitive identity.
However, at this moment.
Before Huang Xiao Dan could say more, or before anyone else could speak.
A voice was heard.
"Huh? My funeral will be remembered in the history of Great Xia's ghost-exorcism? Excuse me, everyone, I'm not dead yet, so why are you already planning my funeral? And inviting the Pope? Do you want the Pope to pray for me and send me to heaven to meet God?"
The voice was not loud.
But at this moment, it boomed like thunder in everyone's ears.
The next moment.
Everyone's bodies trembled. Without the time to speak or think, they all turned towards the source of the sound, which was the valley entrance.
Then.
Everyone became ecstatic, their excitement irrepressible. Even the Fengmen Zombie couldn't hide his joy. Fortunately, he was at the rear of the crowd, and everyone's attention was focused on the valley entrance, otherwise, his happy smile would have been noticed.
They saw a young man in tattered clothes emerging from the valley entrance.
It was Zhang Wei!
He had come out alive, returned alive from the hands of the most ancient and powerful Han Ba.
"Zhang Wei!!!"
"Captain Zhang Wei!!"
"Zhang Wei!!"
Everyone was incredibly excited, rising to their feet and rushing forward, surrounding Zhang Wei. Even the usually stoic and reserved Wu Nian ran towards Zhang Wei, grabbing his shoulders and examining him closely:
"Amitabha, Buddha bless, Buddha bless! Is it really you? I must be seeing things. Zhang Wei, you came out alive from the Han Ba? Are you injured? Let me see."
Wu Nian examined him back and forth.
The others were the same, happy and excited.
"It's definitely me. Isn't it normal for me to come back alive? Didn't I tell you to wait for me here? And not only did I come back alive, but I also..."
As he said this.
Zhang Wei smiled and opened his palm. In his hand was a small bottle, about the size of his palm, containing a red liquid. A sniff revealed a bloody scent with a peculiar fragrance.
"I also brought this back, the fresh blood of Wan Tai Sui."
Like a cannonball hitting a lake.
Zhang Wei's voice not only boomed in their ears this time but exploded in their hearts and minds.
"Captain Zhang Wei, you're not joking, are you? Oh my heavens, hahahahaha, Captain Zhang Wei, you're too amazing."
"How did you do it? This is great, this is great."
"Haha, we did it, we completed the impossible mission."
Everyone was so excited they were babbling incoherently.
There was hope.
Zhang Wei had obtained the legendary Wan Tai Sui medicinal ingredient from the Han Ba.
Old Master Huang would be saved!
Zhang Wei also looked at everyone with a smile and handed the bottle containing Wan Tai Sui's blood to Huang San:
"My mission is accomplished. Now, everyone, let's set off back."
"Yes! Captain Zhang Wei."
Everyone responded in unison, their faces beaming.
...