Ye Tian asked, "Did you find anything?"
Ren Ping replied, "All the deceased shared a common trait: they exhibited mental abnormalities the day before their deaths, uttering words others couldn't comprehend. Furthermore, they all died in the cave, their heads oriented towards the direction of the bone pit."
Ye Tian looked at Shi Chunhua and asked, "What's your take on this?"
Shi Chunhua stated, "There must be something extremely malevolent there. The more people die, the stronger it becomes. I suggest this place be permanently sealed, prohibiting anyone from entering!"
Ren Ping nodded, "That's what I thought too, but the higher-ups don't agree. They require me to thoroughly investigate this matter." He then sighed, his gaze falling upon Ye Tian.
Ye Tian inquired, "Why are you looking at me?"
Ren Ping explained, "Brother, I'm out of options now and don't want any more of my subordinates to die. Could you possibly go to the scene and take a look for me?"
Ye Tian countered, "Aren't you afraid I'll die in there?"
Ren Ping chuckled, "You are a Human Immortal; you'll surely be fine."
Ye Tian remained silent for a few seconds before asking, "Why is it so important for them to thoroughly investigate this matter?"
Ren Ping shook his head, "It's still unclear, but I also find this whole affair rather peculiar."
Ye Tian declared, "Tomorrow, I'll go. Shen Po, Chen Yongjian, and Xiao Yaozi, you will accompany me."
"Yes," the three responded in unison.
Yang Dongfo offered, "If Mr. Ye requires it, Dongfo can also accompany you."
Ye Tian replied, "You don't need to go. Please look after your mother these few days."
As they ate and chatted, night fell unnoticed. Han Ning Shuang stayed over that night. Fortunately, the large mansion had many rooms, accommodating as many people as needed.
Ye Tian cultivated for a while, and it was already eleven o'clock. Just as he was about to practice some martial arts, his phone received a message.
"Ye Tian! I'm back!"
Upon seeing the message, he was momentarily stunned, a playful face flashing in his mind. The sender, Zhang Chuan, was one of his childhood best friends. Zhang Chuan had offered plenty of advice when Ye Tian was pursuing Lin Ziyi.
However, Zhang Chuan didn't get into university and went out to work. They lost contact afterward, and there had been no news. Now, seeing this long-lost online alias on his phone, he was very surprised.
"You're not dead, you bastard!" he replied.
Subsequently, Zhang Chuan called.
When the call was connected, Ye Tian heard a familiar yet strange voice: "Ye Tian!"
Ye Tian laughed, "Damn, where have you been all these years?"
Zhang Chuan said, "It's a long story. Brother is short on cash right now; can you transfer some to me?"
Ye Tian asked, "Sure, how much do you need?"
Zhang Chuan replied, "One hundred thousand."
Ye Tian instructed, "Send me your account number."
Zhang Chuan said, "Thanks, brother! I'll hang up now."
A moment later, the account number arrived, and Ye Tian transferred one hundred thousand yuan to him. He knew Zhang Chuan's personality; he disliked asking for favors, so if he asked for money, it must be an urgent need.
After about ten minutes, Zhang Chuan sent an address with a message: "Come out for a drink!"
Despite not seeing each other for many years, Ye Tian didn't feel estranged. He replied with an "Okay" and asked the driver to take him there.
Forty minutes later, he arrived at an indoor barbecue restaurant. As soon as he entered, he saw a tall, thin young man sitting at a large octagonal table, browsing his phone.
"Zhang Chuan," Ye Tian called out.
The two, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, looked at each other for a few seconds, both breaking into smiles. Zhang Chuan stood up and hugged him, patting his back forcefully, saying, "I almost didn't get to see you again!"
Ye Tian asked, "Where the hell have you been all these years, playing hide-and-seek?"
Zhang Chuan said, "Let's sit down and talk."
He ordered a few bottles of craft beer, a dozen skewers of barbecue, and a few plates of snacks. Then, he downed a bottle, wiped his mouth, and said, "It's a miracle that I could come back alive."
Ye Tian's interest was piqued, "Tell me about it."
Zhang Chuan recounted, "When I went out to work, a fellow worker tricked me into going abroad. There, I was controlled, brainwashed, and forced to commit illegal and criminal acts. Some of those who didn't comply were beaten to death, while others were crippled."
"I knew I couldn't fight them, so I was very compliant. I endured it for over a year before finally seizing an opportunity to escape. But it was a foreign country, and I was unfamiliar with the place. Fortunately, I learned a bit of the local language and finally escaped their clutches. There, I met a girl who helped me a lot. Later, we got together, and she even gave birth to our daughter."
Ye Tian commented, "So, you were already married and settled down."
Zhang Chuan sighed, "I thought I had found a stable life, but I later discovered that place was even more terrifying than where I had been before!"