The Chasing Light Group's True Colors

The Old Teapot served everyone two pots of tea, which livened up the atmosphere in the Portable Abode considerably.

Mosonov was the most enthusiastic, and he gave a detailed introduction to the Chasing Light Group organization.

This organization believes in light, not some abstract concept, but a substantial existence; in Pro State parlance, it is the light of heaven.

Besides the divine light itself, they also worship people and objects that have been illuminated by it. Those who have been illuminated by the divine light accumulate a great deal of Dao Affinity, acquiring the basic conditions for entering the path in a short period of time.

To the members of the Chasing Light Group, this is a chosen one of light.

Items exposed to sunlight also possess a large amount of Dark Energy, which can serve as a catalyst for cultivators to enter the Daoist path and is an important material for them to become Dark Energy User.

This is somewhat similar to Pro State.

"Where do you get your introductory medicine powder from?"

Mosonov shook his head and said, "In Lafusha Country, there are no Entry Medicine Powder like those in Pro State."

Li Banfeng couldn't understand. "Without the medicinal powder, how did people who were exposed to sunlight survive?"

"Almost no one survives. In the final moments of their lives, they turn towards the light and complete the blossoming of their lives. This is the light's favor upon them, and it will be recorded in our scriptures."

"Bloom?" Li Banfeng sneered. "Why didn't you just say it exploded?"

"Not everyone has achieved the full bloom of life. Our Pope miraculously survived after receiving the light, so he is destined to be our leader, the Messenger of Light who leads us forward."

Who is the Pope?

"I've seen him, many times, but I've never seen his true face. He uses different methods to conceal his appearance."

He speaks many languages, each one fluently, and I can't even tell where he's from.

He is the chosen messenger of light; he is omniscient and omnipotent. To follow him is the greatest honor of my life.

The idea that he is omniscient and omnipotent is definitely nonsense. If he really had such abilities, he wouldn't need to form a Chasing Light Group to cause trouble in Pro State.

But the sunlight shone through. Without any medicinal powder, it's truly remarkable that this person survived under such circumstances; it at least proves that their physical condition is quite unique.

"Since there's no medicinal powder, how did you determine it was from the Daoist sect?"

Mosonov replied, "We don't have what you call a sect. Under the Pope's leadership, we've bypassed that conservative and rigid path. We possess truly controllable power."

After being exposed to enough power of light, we will enhance our abilities according to our own will. Although the process may be difficult, we will not be bound by any conditions. Every bit of power we gain originates from our beliefs and pursuits.

Hong Ying asked the record player, "Xiao Wan, what was that person saying? I can't understand it."

The record player chuckled, "He means that their people have accumulated enough Dao Affinity, but they don't have the Entry Medicine Powder."

"Practice according to your own preferences, and the level you reach depends entirely on luck."

Mosonov said, "This is not due to luck, but to the guidance of light."

Hong Ying laughed and said, "This foreign devil is really talking nonsense, 'guidance from light'? I've seen a lot of people like that back in the day. They couldn't afford the Entry Medicine, so they got some strange and unusual techniques from somewhere and tried to learn Daoist skills."

Of these people, nine out of ten fail to learn anything, and many even lose their lives.

"This is the light's selection of us..."

As he spoke, Mosonov dug at the ground with his fingers, as if...

To ease his embarrassment.

He wasn't actually that embarrassed.

He was dipping his brush in his own blood and writing runes on the ground.

Li Banfeng roughly understood the situation of the Chasing Light Group. This was a group of Dark Energy User who did not use medicinal powder, had no Daoist boundaries, and did not follow Daoist rules.

Although their cultivation methods were somewhat crude, Li Banfeng did not underestimate this group of people. Their cultivation techniques had been refined over many years and must have accumulated a wealth of experience and methods.

Like Dick Chen, he is Sleep Cultivator but has no cultivation level. He probably also used the cultivation method of the Lafusha Country. His individual combat ability is not very strong, but his Sleep Cultivator technique is outstanding. It is not only powerful but also extremely stealthy, which can play a huge role on the battlefield.

Since Dick Chen is from Pro State, why did he choose the Lavsha People's method of cultivation?

Do you know anything about Dick Chen?

Mosonov nodded and said, "He is the bishop of the Pro Camp, and his followers are all from the Pro State."

Why should people from Pro State join your organization?

"They wanted to chase the light, but their impoverished circumstances prevented them from affording those luxury medicines."

They didn't want to become low-level mutants, so they chose us. We will give them a chance.

A truly fair opportunity, a chance for them to embark on the path of pursuing the light.

The words may sound a bit convoluted, but they are actually quite simple when translated.

Some people want to become cultivators, but they don't have the money to buy the introductory medicine powder, and they don't want to go to Three Heads Junction to do body cultivation, so they choose this seemingly low-cost way of cultivation.

Of course, that's not the whole story. Jin Yuankang, who also House Cultivator in Iron Gate Fort, joined the Chasing Light Group. His reasons are still unclear.

"Are all your men from Lafusha Country?"

"Yes, we are called the Empire Camp, and our followers all come from the Empire." Mosonov looked slightly smug, and he was secretly drawing runes on the ground.

He has already finished drawing one of the runes. Once he finishes drawing all three, the magic circle will be activated, and he will have a chance to counterattack.

Others were also secretly sketching runes; each additional stroke would increase the power of the magic circle.

Li Banfeng asked, "In Lafusha Country, do you live among ordinary people, or in a place like Pro State?"

"We come from the Land of Slumber, we belong to those who are not accepted by the world." These words seemed to strike a nerve with Mosonov, who gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and looked pained.

In reality, he was secretly speeding up his finger movements, and the second rune was almost finished.

Li Banfeng asked, "How are you doing in the Land of Slumber?"

Mosonov sighed, "The suffering we endured in this Land of Slumber is unimaginable to people elsewhere."

"So you're planning to take over Pro State and find yourselves a better living environment?"

Mosonov did not deny it. "This is the leader's order, and also the will of the followers."

Li Banfeng said, "You guys even opened a Conqueror Restaurant. A restaurant with such an annoying name. It seems you haven't been beaten up enough."

Mosonov didn't retort, letting Li Banfeng say whatever he wanted. The third rune was already half-drawn, and the magic circle would activate immediately if he was given three more minutes.

Li Banfeng continued, "How many battalions do you have left in Pro State?"

"There is another camp called the Boundless Camp. In the Boundless Camp, there are people from all over the world who deliberately ignore the boundaries of bloodline and recruit their so-called elite members."

The Boundless Camp " reminded Li Banfeng of "Boundless Hospital."

"Isn't their bishop Cui Tike?"

Mosonov shook his head repeatedly and said, "It's not him. This person is very strange. He named the hospital 'Boundless,' which led some of our followers to seek refuge with him at the hospital. But those followers who went to the hospital never came back."

That's something Cui Tike would do; it seems he has some knowledge of the Chasing Light Group.

This includes research on the body.

Mosonov continued, "The bishop of the Boundless Camp is named Ge Lubu, and he is currently mainly active in the Ye Song Bridge area. His purpose in going to Ye Song Bridge is still unknown."

Mosonov was telling the truth. He needed to do everything he could to gain Li Qi's trust, because the third rune was almost finished.

After activating the magic array, he will immediately use its power to kill Li Qi, then occupy this strange room and take over its treasures.

With this achievement, he can make his Empire Camp the most powerful camp under the Chasing Light Group Legion.

His status will also rise to that of head bishop.

If they're even luckier, Mystic Life Crimson Lotus might also be in this room. At that time...

Li Banfeng poured a pot of tea on the ground, washing away all the runes.

Mosonov stared at Li Banfeng for a long time, his body trembling.

He wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say.

Li Banfeng had nothing more to ask, "Wife, let's begin the feast."

The record player snorted and said, "These hairy ghosts smell too fishy, I don't want to eat them. Yingying, you eat their souls instead."

Hong Ying shook the gun tip and said, "I don't eat this. It smells terrible, and I'm afraid Seventh Son will find it offensive tonight."

"Pah! Who said your husband slept with you last night?" The record player grabbed a paddleboard, ready to strike, in front of everyone.

But it wouldn't be good to embarrass Hong Ying.

"You lot, don't just sit there! Projector, you got ripped off at the last family dinner, so eat your fill this time." The projector sighed softly, "This tastes... not artistic at all."

The record player snapped angrily, "Eat up, or you'll get yourself beaten!"

The family started their meal amidst their disgust. Mosonov tried to lead a rebellion, but he was Seven Tenths Ripe by the Old Teapot and became completely immobilized.

Li Banfeng returned to Carefree Dock, found Xiao Yeci, and asked about Ye Song Bridge.

When her hometown was mentioned, Xiao Yeci became very excited. "Ye Song Bridge is a wonderful place. Although it's just a town, it has a strong scholarly atmosphere with many schools and academies. And now that summer is approaching, it's the perfect time to visit."

Li Banfeng said, "Then let's go take a look!"

When the suggestion to go take a look was made, Xiao Yeci lowered her head and remained silent.

Li Banfeng frowned and asked, "What's wrong? What are you afraid of?"

Xiao Yeci chuckled dryly twice, "I'm not going—.—"

Lu Chunying knew Xiao Yeci's predicament. In Ye Song Bridge, the mother and daughter lived a very miserable life, especially Xiao Yeci, whose reputation was not very good.

But the more things are like this, the more we should go back.

"Mom, I'm going to Ye Song Bridge to take care of the business."

"Do we have business in Ye Song Bridge?"

"There are some."

"Oh," Xiao Yeci pursed her lips and said, "Then you can go, I think I'll pass."

"Mom, what's wrong with us going back to our hometown in a respectable manner?"

No matter how much Lu Chunying tried to persuade her, Xiao Yeci refused to go.

Li Banfeng advised Lu Chunying, "Don't make things difficult for your mother. She must have her reasons for not wanting to go home with you. Hold her down first, and I'll go find a rope to tie her up."

Lu Chunying said, "Does tying them up mean it's not difficult?"

"It's not exactly making things difficult, it's more like forcing someone." Li Banfeng took the rope over.

Xiao Yeci shouted, "What are you doing! Why are you tying me up?! Don't tie me up so tightly! Don't!"

"Wailing sound - "

Li Banfeng silenced Xiao Yeci, ordered his men to buy train tickets, and took the train that day to Ye Song Bridge.

He Yuxiu went to Ye Song Bridge to manage her business, and since it was on the way, they went together. The two chatted idly on the train.

He Yuxiu remarked with considerable emotion. "The place Ye Song Bridge is quite interesting; it has many mountains, many rivers, many trees, and many bridges."

Girl, am I right?

Xiao Yeci nodded vigorously.

He Yuxiu added, "But doing business there isn't very interesting, because there are only a few businesses. Rice sellers sell rice their whole lives, oil sellers sell oil their whole lives, and every shop is a century-old establishment."

Nothing has changed over the years.

Xiao Yeci nodded with tears in her eyes.

He Yuxiu sighed, "If I had known that was your hometown, I should have handed over the business to you and Chunying. I really don't want to do business here anymore, especially your Xiao family's timber business."

Our accountant, Lao Sheng, keeps telling me we shouldn't be doing this business anymore. Seven Autumn City has tons of timber; Seventh Brother even gave me a whole forest. I don't know how to sell all this timber. Maybe I should get more from Ye Song Bridge.

It's not worth it.

Xiao Yeci's tears fell.

He Yuxiu frowned and said, "Why are you crying? Are you worried about your business? It's nothing, I was just saying."

"For the sake of our sisterly bond, I have to go through with this business deal."

"Mmm~" Xiao Yeci cried out.

He Yuxiu asked, "Little sister, is there something you want to say?"

Xiao Yeci nodded repeatedly, He Yuxiu quickly took the cloth out of Xiao Yeci's mouth.

After catching her breath, Xiao Yeci cried out, "Sister Xiu, quickly help me untie this, I'm going to wet my pants!"

"Sister, why didn't you say so sooner?" He Yuxiu quickly untied Xiao Yeci. "Seventh Brother is really ruthless."

Why are they tied so tightly?

Just a little longer, girl, just a little longer, girl, please bear with it, we'll be right there—well, girl, do you have any extra pants?

The train journey took three whole days, and finally we arrived at Ye Song Bridge.

After getting off the train, Xiao Yeci was a little scared, but she couldn't hide her excitement at returning to her homeland.

Ye Song Bridge has many waterways. It's located in town, and there are different routes to different places. There are also places to catch a bus.

Some places require a boat, and others a sedan chair. Xiao Yeci said as she left the station, "My Benefactor, I know an inn that's very close by, so I don't need to take a boat."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "We can't stay at the inn. Let's go to the market to buy some things first."

"What are we buying?" Xiao Yeci asked, carrying her luggage. "If we're not staying at an inn, are we going to buy a blanket to sleep on the street?"

"Let's go buy a house!"

"Who buys a house just by going out for a short trip?"

Lu Chunying said, "I think what Seventh Brother said makes sense. We still don't have a house in our hometown."

He Yuxiu said, "I have a house here. Let's go and stay here first. A house isn't something you can just buy on a whim."

"You can stay at Sister Xiu's place for now, but we have to buy a house." Li Qi told his men to settle their luggage first, and then he took Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying to buy a house.

The town is small, and there aren't many good houses. There happen to be two for sale today: one is the Liang Family's mansion, and the other is the Xiao family's mansion.

In the past two years, both the Liang Family and Xiao families have experienced poor business performance, and they have sold off a significant portion of their assets.

Lu Chunying took a liking to the Xiao family's house. "Mom, if I remember correctly, this house was used for my eldest uncle's wedding, right?"

Xiao Yeci nodded. "Yes!"

Lu Chunying said, "My eldest uncle had a house bought for him before he even got married. I heard it cost my grandfather six thousand silver dollars."

Less than a month later, my daughter and I were kicked out of our home. How much money did Grandpa give you back then?

Xiao Yeci lowered her head and said, "I... I forgot—"

"I think I heard you mention it once, it was two hundred Huan Country Notes, right? One hundred for each of us, mother and daughter."

Xiao Yeci stammered, "After all these years, I can't remember anymore."

Lu Chunying called over a real estate agent and asked him how much the house was priced.

The broker didn't recognize Lu Chunying, nor did he know anything about the young girl's background, but since she had asked,

He replied politely, "Master Xiao's asking price is seven thousand silver dollars."

"Oh dear, the price has gone up," Lu Chunying smiled. "I bought it for six thousand and sold it for seven thousand, which is still fair. Here's a check for you. Go to the bank to cash it in a bit. I'm taking this house."

The broker was startled. "Miss, may I ask your name?"

"Go tell Master Xiao that Xiao Yeci has bought the house!"

"Xiao Yeci?" Ya Lang exclaimed in surprise. "The Xiao family, that one—"

He almost revealed that Xiao Yeci had been kicked out of the house, so he quickly corrected himself, saying, "You mean that young lady from the Xiao family?"

Xiao Yeci was a little nervous, He Yuxiu said from the side, "Sister, when it's time to save face, you must not back down."

Xiao Yeci took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said, "It's me."

Ya Lang didn't dare say a word. He took the check, went to the bank to verify it, but he didn't dare to withdraw the money. He then took the check to the Xiao family.

When the Xiao family heard that the house had been sold without the buyer haggling over the price, they were quite pleased. The patriarch, Xiao Jianzhang, asked, "What's the buyer's surname? Are they a local?"

"They're locals, and they're practically family with you," Ya Lang chuckled dryly. "Your daughter, Xiao Yeci, bought it."

Upon hearing the name Xiao Yeci, Xiao Jianzhang became angry. "What is she trying to do?"

Xiao Jianzhang's eldest son, Xiao Yucheng, stepped forward and said, "Dad, please don't get angry. Ye Ci is not simple now."

"Back then, she took that girl, Lu Chunying, into the Lu Family. Ye Ci is, in name only, that child's mother!"

"I know about this!" Xiao Jianzhang frowned. "No matter what her status is now, she is still my daughter. If she wants to return to her parents' home, I can let her in. If she dares to act arrogantly in front of me, I will not tolerate her!"

Tell her, I won't sell this house to her, not even for ten thousand silver dollars. I won't sell it even if she sets it on fire!

Xiao Jianzhang's legal wife, Sun Huiqin, said to the matchmaker, "Ye Ci is getting more and more unruly as she gets older. Tell her she doesn't need to go back to her parents' home anymore. The way she talks, the 'ya-ya-ya' sounds exactly like her dead mother. I find it annoying too."

Xiao Yucheng said, "Why are you doing this? If you offend the Lu Family, how can we expect to have a good life in the future?"

Xiao Jianzhang said, "We do business with the He Family and have never had any dealings with the Lu Family. No matter who's in charge of the Lu Family, no matter who's here today, they need to make things clear. I'm her father, and I can't put up with this!"

"He said he was mistreated?" Lu Chunying sneered. "He asked for seven thousand, and we bought it for seven thousand. Who made him mistreated? What did he suffer?"

The broker didn't dare say anything more.

Xiao Yeci sighed and said, "In the end, it's because he didn't respect me. I'll go see him and make everything clear to him that I wanted to say back then!"

Lu Yuanxin said, "Madam, don't go. Let's talk about this later. I'll go and explain the house to him first. He didn't want seven thousand, so I'll give him one thousand now and see if he'll sell it or not."

He Yuxiu watched from the side. Lu Yuanxin's temperament was really similar to Lu Dongjun's. If he went, something terrible would happen to the Xiao family. He didn't take a thousand silver dollars to buy a house; he took money to save his life.

"Yuanxin, you don't need to go either. I'll send someone over." He Yuxiu wasn't afraid of someone dying, but she didn't want Xiao Yeci to suffer too much, so she sent the accountant Sheng Shanzhou, to the Xiao family.

Sheng Shanzhou had come to revitalize his business, and upon entering the Xiao family home, he was warmly welcomed. After inspecting the quality and price of the wood, Sheng Shanzhou shook his head and said, "Leave this timber to other families; we don't want it."

Xiao Jianzhang panicked. "Master Sheng, what happened? Please tell me what's wrong with this timber."

"Nowhere is suitable," Sheng Shanzhou had long ago advised He Yuxiu against doing timber business in Ye Song Bridge.

"I'll just turn this deal down today. Old Xiao, we've known each other for so many years, let me give you a piece of advice: broaden your horizons, loosen your purse strings, and be more discerning in your actions."

Your daughter Xiao Yeci, came with our boss. They're as close as sisters. Since your house couldn't be sold, and your daughter bought it, you should go and thank her.

Have you forgotten how you treated them? After thanking them, you still have to apologize!

Xiao Jianzhang retorted angrily, "Master Sheng, that's not how you talk! I'm her father!"

"Oh, Mr. Xiao, you've got quite the presence to say that! You're a father now!" Sheng Shanzhou sneered. "With your abilities, stop wasting your breath on me. With your seniority, go be the patriarch of the Lu Family. What's the point of you doing this little business?"

Sheng Shanzhou got up to leave, but Xiao Jianzhang quickly stopped him. "Mr. Sheng, I'm not doing this to you, I'm just—"

"You'd be even worse off confronting her, Old Xiao. If I were you, I'd take the land deed and house deed to Miss Xiao."

Let's give the house away and see if we can make up for it.

"If you can find it, your Xiao family can live a good life from now on. If you can't find it, from today onwards, none of the major Lineage in Pro State will do business with you. Don't you believe me?"

Sheng Shanzhou is gone. Xiao Jianzhang sat in the courtyard, his eyes glazed over, sighing repeatedly.

After thinking for more than two hours, Xiao Jianzhang finally understood.

He asked his wife, Sun Huiqin, to bring out the house deeds and land deeds.

Sun Huiqin protested, "Master, that's Yu Cheng's house. Why should it be given to that girl?"

Xiao Yucheng said from the side, "Mom, don't make things worse. This house should have been sold in the first place. We really did wrong Ye Ci back then."

"Who has wronged her!" Sun Huiqin shouted. "She has ruined our family's reputation. Shouldn't we kick her out of the house?"

Xiao Yucheng sighed, "You know who ruined your reputation. Please don't bring this up again."

To bring it up again would be a slap in the face to the Lu Family!

After taking the house deed and land deed, Xiao Yucheng handed them to Xiao Jianzhang: "Dad, take these to him."

"You take it," Xiao Jianzhang said, shaking his head. "I can't bow down in front of her."

Xiao Yucheng sighed, "It's no use if I send it; they might not even accept it."

As expected, Xiao Yucheng delivered the land deed and house deed, but he didn't even get to see Xiao Yeci; he was sent back immediately.

"Dad, Ye Ci and Chunying want you two, along with me, to go find her together."

"She's gone too far!" Xiao Jianzhang was indignant and contacted relatives and friends, trying to sell the timber to others, but no one dared to take it on.

Left with no other choice, Xiao Jianzhang took the house deed and land deed, along with his wife, to see Xiao Yeci.

This time, both Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying made an appearance.

The two stayed at He Yuxiu's house, sitting in the living room playing cards with He Yuxiu. Xiao Jianzhang, along with Sun Huiqin and Xiao Yucheng, stood in the courtyard for two hours.

Lu Chunying looked at Xiao Jianzhang and finally spoke, "Grandpa, the year you kicked my mother and me out, I didn't remember much, but I heard from others that my mother cried for a whole day, and you didn't even bother to look at her. Now I've made you two stand here for two hours, isn't that a bit too lenient on you?"

Suppressing his anger, Xiao Jianzhang lowered his head and said, "At the time, I had my reasons—"

"What's your predicament? Tell me! Is it my mother who has disgraced the Xiao family, or me?"

Xiao Yucheng tugged at Xiao Jianzhang from behind, reminding him not to say anything carelessly.

Xiao Jianzhang sighed deeply and said, "It wasn't easy to protect this family business. Everything I've done is for this family! Ye Ci, if you have any hatred, hate only me. As long as the Xiao family business is preserved, I'm willing to die here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Jianzhang was about to run into the rock when Sun Huiqin and Xiao Yucheng quickly stopped him from behind. "Dad, you can't! Our family can't do without you!"

He Yuxiu lit a cigarette and laughed, "None of you stop him. Let me see if Old Xiao really has the guts to die here."

Xiao Jianzhang panicked and looked at his wife and son, signaling them to stop him.

The whole family was crying their hearts out, still putting on an act. Xiao Yeci turned her face and finally spoke, "Father."

"Ye Ci!" Xiao Jianzhang quickly replied.

Xiao Yeci said, "I grew up with my mother since I was little, and I didn't enter the Xiao family until I was nine. My mother told me to call you Dad, but you never agreed. You looked down on my mother and you looked down on me. What are you doing here looking for me now?"

With tears in his eyes, Xiao Jianzhang said, "I did all this for the Xiao family."

Xiao Yeci couldn't understand. "Looking down on me, is it all for the sake of the Xiao family? What kind of logic is that?"

Xiao Jianzhang sighed, "Ye Ci, what happened back then is all in the past, I don't even remember it, why are you bringing it up again?"

"All I ask of you now is that you give the Xiao family a way out. If you really can't let go of this grudge, you can do whatever you want with me!"

Xiao Yeci nodded and said, "Okay, you said it, so I'll do whatever I want with you."

Xiao Jianzhang looked back at his wife and son, signaling them to make sure they stopped him at this crucial moment.

Xiao Yeci took out her wallet and pulled out a stack of Huan Country Notes: "Back then, when you kicked us out of the house, you gave me two hundred yuan. Now, to show my filial piety, I'm repaying you tenfold. I'll give you two thousand yuan."

"You leave the Xiao family with nothing, find your own way to make a living, and that's the end of it."

"I—" Xiao Jianzhang turned around and gestured for his wife and children to stop him.

Sun Huiqin did not stop him.

Xiao Yucheng didn't stop him.

They can accept this result.

But Xiao Jianzhang couldn't accept it. "This, this, this won't do! I'm doing this all for the Xiao family. The Xiao family can't do without me."

Lu Chunying couldn't help but laugh.

He Yuxiu laughed out loud.

Xiao Yeci breathed a sigh of relief; the knot in her heart that had been there for so many years had finally been untied.

Sitting in the small boat, Li Banfeng looked at the scenery on both sides of the river. He had to admit that Ye Song Bridge was truly beautiful, like a painting. The neat buildings, all with black tiles and white walls, and the distant mountains, appearing and disappearing in the mist, had simple lines and a profound artistic conception. If it weren't for the occasional sight of people walking on the stone path, one would really think that this scenery was drawn with ink and brush.

When they reached the entrance of an alley, Li Banfeng paid for the boat and went ashore.

Deep in the alley, there is a two-story building. Li Banfeng has found a clue these days: the bishop of the Boundless Camp of the Chasing Light Group lives there.