"Just now."
Yang Yong said, "While I was waiting for White Fur on Cockscomb Mountain, he never came."
"Someone who was shouting about rescuing his lover never even showed his face. That wasn't normal."
"The only possibility is that he deliberately let me get all three things, then hid himself far away."
"He knew I would go back to Black Water Marsh."
Long Ya fell silent.
The corn in her hand had gone completely cold and sticky, but she hadn't eaten it.
"So you want me to leave," she said quietly.
"Yezi will protect you."
Yang Yong said, "Once that girl's Ghost Domain opens, ordinary Eerie can't get near you."
"Liu San may be useless, but he's strong. He can lend a hand along the way."
"The Demoness Pickup Truck knows the way. Drive east and get out of this area first."
"Can't I stay?" Long Ya looked at him.
Yang Yong said nothing. He raised a hand and gently pressed it against the top of Long Ya's head.
"You haven't brought those people back yet."
"Your younger brothers and sisters are still at the service area."
"You can't die here."
Long Ya's lips moved, but she said nothing more.
She stuffed the remaining half ear of corn into her mouth and bit into it, mouthful after mouthful, biting hard, as if she meant to chew up some words and swallow them.
Yang Yong wasted no more time.
He had Long Ya and Liu San get into the truck.
Liu San took the seat behind the driver's seat. The moment his backside touched the seat, he sprang up, then sat down again.
His face was frighteningly pale, like a dough figurine just pulled out of water.
"Mr. Yang, are we really leaving?"
Liu San's voice sounded as though it had