Yang Yong held up three fingers. "First, the complete method for the array patterns. I want the original, not some stripped-down version."
"Second, once Huang Santainai is rescued, whatever's in Black Water Marsh belongs to me."
"She can't take it from me. Third..."
He paused.
"I'm not going back now."
"I need two days to prepare."
"Come pick me up at Cockscomb Mountain to the east in two days."
The White-Haired Yellow Immortal opened her mouth, the joy on her face fading again.
"Two days... Santainai won't last two days!"
"If she can't hold out, my going won't help."
Yang Yong said, "I just burned Black Water Marsh. Whatever's inside must be going mad right now."
"Going back now would be no different from going to our deaths."
"If you really want what's best for Huang Santainai, go back and tell her not to die."
The White-Haired Yellow Immortal fell silent.
The wind blew through, making her phantom form sway as though it might scatter at any moment.
Only after a long while did she speak quietly.
"This humble Daoist understands."
"I'll await you at the foot of Cockscomb Mountain in two days, young friend."
With that, the white figure slowly faded, finally becoming a few wisps of white vapor that dissolved into the Gray Mist.
Liu San had stayed huddled in his seat the entire time, his mouth open wide enough to fit a fist.
Only after the White-Haired Yellow Immortal vanished completely did he ask shakily, "M-Mr. Yang, are we really going back?"
"We are," Yang Yong said.
He patted the Ten-Thousand-Forged Primordial Furnace. It hummed, as if letting out a satisfied burp.
"But first, we need to see whether what it swallowed is genuine or a trap."
The Demoness Pickup Truck started up again.
In the rearview