After questioning Hua Yi, Chen Lin handed her the hairpin and let her investigate its uses herself.
He remained where he was, waiting with worry written all over his face.
An incense stick's worth of time later.
His sense of connection with Tiezhu finally returned, and Chen Lin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Soon.
A shadow flashed through the darkness, and Tiezhu coiled around his wrist.
"What took you so long?"
Chen Lin immediately questioned him.
"Heh, heh."
Tiezhu gave a dry chuckle.
"I accidentally slipped inside. Then I couldn't get out in time and was carried into the void. I nearly lost my way and couldn't get back."
"Didn't I tell you not to go inside? That was far too dangerous. You must never act so recklessly again."
Chen Lin warned him sternly.
"Understood."
Tiezhu hastily agreed.
Then he sought credit for his efforts. "But the trip wasn't wasted. I saw something strange."
"What was it?"
Chen Lin immediately asked.
"I discovered that the temple held a world of its own. Besides the main hall with the statue, there was another space that seemed to contain a lot of people. But a spatial barrier separated us. I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn't dare force my way through, and I couldn't make out what those people looked like."
"A lot of people?"
Something stirred in Chen Lin's heart.
After a moment's thought, he asked, "Did you see a cat? A dark one, somewhat like Xiao Xun, but with one glowing eye. It was crouching beneath the eaves on the temple's left side."
"There was a cat? I didn't notice one."
Tiezhu was taken aback.
Then he added, "Dad, how did you see it? From so far away, with another barrier around the temple, you could actually