"If you lose, I'll take this kid's life."
The figure's words sent a chill down my spine. How could anyone in the world use another person's life as a bet?
And from the tone of his voice, he was definitely not joking.
"If you don't speak, I'll assume you agree."
I cursed inwardly. Who would agree to your terms? If I could speak, I'd spray you with cologne.
"I'll give you three days. If you can find my location, I'll give you this kid's soul. This bet is quite simple, isn't it?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the figure waved his hand at "me." Immediately, I felt a dizzying sensation, and then found myself back inside my own body.
Seeing me wake up, Zhang Dabiao looked at me with concern. "How is it? Are you okay?"
I shook my head. "I'm fine."
"Did you find Sun Chuang's soul?"
"Yes, I did."
"Where is it?"
"I don't know. Sun Chuang's soul has been detained by a strange person. That person gave me three days to find his location, or he'll kill Sun Chuang."
I recounted my recent experience to Zhang Dabiao again.
After listening, Zhang Dabiao's expression also changed.
"Fortunately, that person didn't attack you, otherwise you probably wouldn't have come back."
I nodded inwardly, agreeing with Zhang Dabiao. I also had that feeling; if that figure had attacked me, I might not have returned.
After I calmed down, Zhang Dabiao continued, "Do you have a way to find that person?"
I shook my head. "No. I can only estimate a general location based on my memory."
Then, I took out paper and pen and began to draw based on my memory.
As soon as the drawing was finished, Zhang Dabiao snatched it and looked at it for a few moments before saying, "Brother, did you draw it wrong? This doesn't look like a route map at all. Look at the direction indicated at the end, it seems to be going underground!"
I took the map back from Zhang Dabiao and looked at it. Indeed, it seemed that way. Could that person be hidden underground?
Did I draw it wrong?
Fearing I had made a mistake, I quickly drew another one based on my memory. Comparing the two, they were exactly the same.
I handed the map to Zhang Dabiao. "Look, there's absolutely no mistake."
Zhang Dabiao compared them carefully but found no issues.
"Then this is strange."
After drawing it a few more times, the result was the same as the previous two. I was certain my memory was not faulty. My master had disciplined me severely for not being able to memorize physiognomy secrets and various hidden techniques when reading books. It was from then on that my master forced me to develop a good memory.
After studying it for a long time without reaching a conclusion.
"Let's stop studying. We'll just follow the map tomorrow and see where it leads."
...
The next morning, after breakfast, we went out.
Following the route drawn on the map, we started walking.
Not long after we started, I had a feeling of being watched.
Without making it obvious, I nudged Zhang Dabiao with my shoulder. "Brother Zhang, do you have a feeling of being watched?"
Zhang Dabiao nodded almost imperceptibly. "I noticed it as soon as we left the house. I've been trying to figure out what's following us, but I haven't found it yet."
"Brother Zhang, do you think it could be the person who detained Sun Chuang's soul, sent to monitor us?"
"It's very possible. But it's broad daylight, so we don't need to be afraid of them."
I grunted in agreement.
Morui Village, as a trading market for underground spirits, had few pedestrians in the morning. Most people started to come out and about closer to dusk, when it was no less lively than a small county town.
Whatever was following us was very stealthy. I had tried to look back while turning corners, but I found nothing.
"What exactly is this?"
Zhang Dabiao pondered for a moment. "I don't know. It's not a spirit, because spirits can't come out during the day. It's probably not a person either, or I would have discovered it by now."
Just then, an eagle flew overhead, calling out "Yo yo." Instantly, that feeling of being watched disappeared.
Zhang Dabiao and I exchanged glances and said in unison, "An animal."
Only an animal following us would be so easily overlooked, because who would pay attention to a passing small animal?
According to the map, the two of us walked in a winding path, and finally found ourselves back at our own residence.
My face darkened. "How is this possible?"
I knew in my heart that there would be no result, but it should have led us somewhere. I never expected this place to be our residence.
Zhang Dabiao frowned and looked at me. "Think carefully again. Is there anything you missed or remembered incorrectly?"
"How could I possibly remember wrong? We walked straight out of the door, then turned right, then left..."
I repeated the entire route, and Zhang Dabiao followed my description with his finger on the map. The final conclusion was still our own residence.
"This is strange."
At this moment, Zhang Dabiao held the map at a forty-five-degree angle, and I stood beside him. The sunlight shone on the map from the side, and a pattern flashed and disappeared.
"Brother Zhang, don't move."
I suddenly spoke, startling Zhang Dabiao, and the map fell to the ground.
Zhang Dabiao looked at me displeasedly. "What are you doing, being so jumpy?"
"I think I know what the problem with the map is."
"Where is the problem?"
"I can't explain it clearly. You still need to hold the map in the same position, and you'll understand in a moment."
Then, I had Zhang Dabiao assume the same posture he was in when looking at the map, and I adjusted his position little by little. As the image on the map appeared.
"Okay, hold that pose and don't move. I'm going to take a picture with my phone."
"What is this thing? It looks like Snake."
Since I had drawn a simplified map, it only showed turns. With the sunlight as a reference, it really did look a bit like Snake.
"It really is," I said, looking at the image in front of me with surprise. "What exactly is this?"
"Have you heard of the Ouroboros?"
I nodded. "Of course I've heard of it, but isn't that from foreign mythology? It represents the cycle of creation and destruction, life and death." Sudan Novel Network
"You're mistaken. It was invented by the Mohists as a mechanism. It once appeared in a tomb, and if it hadn't been for the state's protective excavation, countless tomb robbers would have died on it."
I could deeply relate to this. The drawing didn't show any intersections, but as you walked, it would unconsciously lead you back to where you started, showing the power of Mohist mechanisms.
Knowing what was going on, my mind suddenly became clear.
Then, based on my memory and calculations, I drew another map.
Looking at the place indicated by the map, Zhang Dabiao and I exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.