Old Daoist Yuan hurried all the way back to Changchun City. Instead of returning to his Daoist temple, he made his way with practiced familiarity to a residential neighborhood.
In one of its alleys, he found a Children's Welfare Hall.
Earlier, three locations in Changchun City had emitted fluctuations heralding the emergence of a Numinous Treasure. This Children's Welfare Hall had been one of them.
However, the hall was operated by the Liu Family of Beyond the Pass.
Thus, the wandering cultivators had chosen not to enter, waiting outside instead.
After the trial in Fule City began, quite a few Snake Demons from the Liu Family had entered Fule City through the red and black gates hidden here.
Now, the Snake Demons who had been randomly transported out of Fule City were making their way back to this Children's Welfare Hall.
Several Snake Demons in human form, dressed in long robes, paused slightly at the sight of Old Daoist Yuan. Their leader recognized him and greeted him. "Oh, isn't this Mr. Yuan? What brings you here? Instead of cultivating quietly in your temple, what business brings you to our Liu Family's Children's Welfare Hall? Didn't we just meet in Fule City? What, did you get some treasure too, Mr. Yuan?"
Old Daoist Yuan forced a faint smile and nodded, then got straight to the point. "I have an urgent matter to discuss with Third Brother Liu. Please let him know."
The Snake Demon shook his head helplessly. "Mr. Yuan, you're putting us in a difficult position.
"You know how Third Brother Liu is...
"We hardly ever get to see him ourselves.
"You could wait outside the Children's Welfare Hall. Perhaps Third Brother Liu will come back.
"We don't know whether he entered Fule City either."
After the Snake Demons entered