The old ghost's identity remains unclear, but a general idea has been formed.
Anyone who can challenge General Zuo Quan and still sit here drinking with him, who else could he be? His status is no lower than Zuo Quan's.
Upon leaving the mansion, I saw no one intercepting me, nor did I see the general named Zuo Quan. This implies that either my fifth brother secretly controlled Zuo Quan, or the old ghost before me had killed him.
Either way, it's enough to prove that the old ghost before me is no ordinary wandering soul.
Being fooled once is naivety, but being fooled twice is "stupidity." I have no desire to be toyed with like a pig by others.
Perhaps they are all in cahoots, deliberately putting on a show for me?
A fool once is enough; if I continue to be one, I fear I'll truly be treated as a fool.
"The wine is drunk, and the talk is done. Old ghost, I've helped you with your task. Fifth Gege's malevolent thoughts are gone, and benevolent thoughts have returned to his soul. You don't need to say anything else; I'll find my own way out of Molu Village." Without heeding the old ghost's wailing cries from behind, I quickly descended the stairs.
As I walked further into the village, I encountered more living people. However, when they saw me, they kept their distance, as if trying to avoid me.
I didn't bother telling them I was alive and not to be afraid. Here, the distinction between the living and the dead isn't so clear; everyone is just trying to get by.
Since I acquired the Tiger Kui Seal, I've sensed that some people in the marketplace are indeed alive, still conducting business, and doing even better than those selling ghost marriages.
After leaping over the courtyard wall of Old Madam Wang's house, I saw Zhang Dabiao pacing anxiously in the yard.
"Brother Zhang, I'm back."
Zhang Dabiao, who had been looking anxious, immediately relaxed. He scanned me, ensuring I wasn't injured or missing any limbs, before speaking, "Where have you been for the past day and night? I was worried sick about you. If you hadn't returned tonight, I would have gone out to find you."
Facing this elder brother, whom I'd only met a few times, I truly didn't know how to express his concern for me. In all these years, no one had ever cared about me as much as Zhang Dabiao. My master, who only knew how to beat me, was even less comparable.
"Brother Zhang, I'm fine. I just helped the old ghost with something, and now that it's done, I'm back."
Zhang Dabiao didn't press for details and instead pulled me into the house.
As soon as I sat down, Zhang Dabiao said, "Sun Chuang is missing."
I shot up from my chair, looking at him in surprise. "Missing? How did he go missing? Did Fang Huixin come by?"
Zhang Dabiao pushed me back into the chair. "Don't get agitated. Let me finish."
After I sat down, Zhang Dabiao slowly recounted the events.
The morning after I went with the old ghost to handle his business, Sun Chuang woke up. Zhang Dabiao was naturally delighted because with Sun Chuang awake, we had one less problem. Once I returned, the three of us could leave as easily as playing.
Seeing Sun Chuang awake, Zhang Dabiao naturally looked for food and drink for him. However, as there was very little food at Old Madam Wang's house, after giving Sun Chuang a simple meal, he slipped out unnoticed to find more. Fearing that Wang Jun and others might enter, Zhang Dabiao specifically arranged for Sun Chuang to stay in the cellar of Old Madam Wang's house, telling him to be careful, and then went out to find food for him.
When Zhang Dabiao returned with food and drink and opened the cellar, Sun Chuang was nowhere to be found.
At first, Zhang Dabiao thought Wang Jun and his group had abducted Sun Chuang. However, when he saw the letter left on the makeshift bedside, he realized Sun Chuang had left on his own.
I took the handwritten letter from Zhang Dabiao. It contained only a few sentences.
"Little brother, don't blame Sun Ge. Old brother Fang Huixin is someone I cannot afford to offend. I am just an ordinary person, unlike you who possesses great abilities. Therefore, Old brother will return first and ask my uncle to come and rescue you. You must take care..."
I was so angry that I didn't bother reading the rest and tore the letter to shreds.
"This Sun Chuang is a complete coward! Damn it, I went through all this trouble to save you, and you just ran off like a rabbit! Do you have any conscience?"
I jumped up and cursed Sun Chuang in the house for half an hour, finally collapsing onto a chair, panting heavily.
During this time, Zhang Dabiao did not stop me. Only after I finished did he pour me a cup of water.
"Drink some water to quench your thirst."
I downed the water in the cup and stood up, saying, "Brother Zhang, we should leave quickly too, or it will be troublesome when Fang Huixin or Wang Jun's group catches up."
Compared to my panic, Zhang Dabiao appeared calmer, with a wry smile on his face.
I had a bad feeling and asked uncertainly, "They didn't find us here, did they? Fang Huixin or Wang Jun's group?"
Zhang Dabiao nodded, not denying it. "As soon as I returned, a group of people barged in here, led by Fang Huixin."
My face turned somewhat pale, and my voice trembled as I looked at Zhang Dabiao, "It couldn't be that Sun Chuang leaked our location, could it?"
Zhang Dabiao grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "What else do you think?"
I slumped onto the chair, completely devoid of the energy to curse or make any further moves.
What is wrong with this world?
How can someone who was just calling you brother turn around and sell you out?
If the old ghost had sold me out, I wouldn't have been surprised, as we had no prior relationship, and he was essentially a stranger. But Sun Chuang? Why did he sell me out?
He's a distant relative of my master! How will he explain this to my master?
Thinking of this, I quickly asked Zhang Dabiao for my phone, intending to call my master and report this scoundrel Sun Chuang.
"Sorry, the user you are calling is currently on another call. Please try again later. Sorry..."
"What's going on? On another call?"
After hanging up, I waited two minutes and dialed again.
Hearing the prompt, I almost smashed my phone.
"Sorry, the user you are calling has turned off their phone. Sorry..."
"Master, what are you doing now? Are you just going to abandon me in this godforsaken place?"
I stood up irritably, pacing the room like an enraged lion.
"Clang!"
Just then, there was a banging sound at the door from outside. Then, through the glass, I saw a group of people with flashlights rushing in.
The leader, dressed in a red suit late at night, was exceptionally conspicuous against the backdrop of the night.
"You two inside, still breathing, come out and talk. Do you want me to invite you?"
The man in the suit's voice was sharp, like an ancient eunuch, and incredibly grating.
Already feeling agitated, hearing such a scoundrel speak, my anger erupted like a volcano.
"Damn it, do you know how to talk? If not, I'll help you correct your speech."
Grabbing a folding stool by my side, I charged out.
Zhang Dabiao was stunned and quickly said, "Don't be impulsive, you..."
My blood was boiling, and I couldn't hear Zhang Dabiao's words. After rushing out, I didn't care how many people were there and hurled the folding stool.
"Clang!"
"Crack... Crack..."
The sound of the folding stool hitting the ground mingled with a series of cracking noises. If I had only heard screams, my anger wouldn't have subsided, but upon hearing the crisp "crack" sounds, my anger was half extinguished. When I saw the situation before me, the remaining half also vanished.
"Holy shit!"