Qi Lin's voice was weak, but he mustered his strength to reply, "I could hear everything you said to me today, but I couldn't wake up."
"I'm so tired..."
This response perfectly confirmed Si Yan's guess from that morning.
Qi Cang's soul was suppressed in the world outside the town, so he could share a body with Qi Lin.
But here, the magic power surged exponentially, even faintly revealing its true form and phantom image. As an ordinary human, Qi Lin's soul would naturally be suppressed and unable to awaken.
Qi Cang pursed his lips. " Xiao Lin, we're withdrawing from the competition."
"No, perhaps here... you can find your lost body."
This is the real reason why Qi Lin agreed to participate.
Qi Cang's soul body is gradually repairing itself, and he is now able to sense that his physical body is hidden in this location, within this small town.
Qi Lin was unusually stubborn, but knowing that Qi Cang responded better to gentle persuasion than force, he softened his voice, "I don't want to leave, I want... to wait until you find your body so I can hold you."
Qi Cang clenched his fist, then relaxed it, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Fine, I won't leave."
Si Yan squinted, her tone displeased, "Have you two finished whispering?"
Qi Lin stepped forward, smiled apologetically at Si Yan, and said, "I'm sorry, Young Master, A-Cang... he's always been outspoken."
Si Yan: "Hmph."
Only a small part of the secret of the underground monsters had been revealed, Qi Lin was preparing to continue his investigation when he saw the weeder who had been hiding running over excitedly.
"Stranger."
The weeder's voice was very weathered, sounding quite old. He lowered his voice and whispered, "Strangers, do you possess the power to save us?"
"If there is, I would be happy to show you the way to the underground river, which is not far below the garden."
His voice grew lower and lower until it was almost inaudible, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Si Yan and Qi Lin.
"Follow the underground river, and you'll find what has caused despair and despair throughout the entire town."
Si Yan: "A demon?"
The lawnmower covered his ears with both hands, "Don't say it!"
Si Yan: "..."
"... You continue."
The weeder. "Of course I can show you the way. I pray that you will save this town before the darkness of eternal damnation descends."
As he spoke, his hunched back suddenly straightened, revealing a scar on his face that stretched from his brow to the corner of his lip, as if it had been slashed by a knife—grotesque and terrifying, with his eyes darting around.
Si Yan: "I'll try my best."
The weeder pointed them in the right direction to a secluded pile of rocks, then handed Si Yan a hand-drawn map, instructing her not to open it until she was in a safe place.
"Let's go back quickly, it's almost night."
The weeder continued his hunched retreat, muttering to himself, "Tonight... it's a full moon night."
What was that old man saying...? I didn't understand a word he said.
[This town is full of protagonists, my goodness! Everyone seems a bit off.]
--
When Si Yan and Qi Lin returned to the hotel, they saw Yue Qian hurriedly coming downstairs.
The direction downstairs is still along the corridor where the Hua Country Team is staying.
Qi Lin received a signal from Si Yan and placed it at the top of the stairs. "Where are you rushing off to? Did you rescue Mikazuki Shunsuke?"
Yue Qian stopped in his tracks, ignoring Qi Lin, and instead looked at Si Yan, as if he were thinking.
Then a cruel smile appeared on his face. "Do you know Jiang Nuo? Do you want to know what he was like before?"
"I know."
Qi Lin looked at Si Yan with a puzzled expression, but didn't say anything.
Yue Qian's smile grew wider and wider, almost manic. "He used to live a life worse than death, he was driven insane, and later... he killed many people he shouldn't have killed."
The last half-sentence was uttered through gritted teeth by Yue Qian, almost as if squeezed out of his throat.
Si Yan coldly parted her lips, her expression unchanged, "Crazy."
There was no surprise or astonishment as Yue Qian had imagined.
"What's with your reaction? Could it be... that Jiang Nuo told you about what happened there?"
Yue Qian's expression changed first. He hurriedly pushed Qi Lin away and ran out of the hotel without looking back.
Qi Lin touched the tip of his nose, and despite his great curiosity, he dared not ask any more questions.
Si Yan gazed at Yue Qian's departing figure from afar, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, a flash of murderous intent crossing them.
" Si Yan."
Jiang Nuo and Su Yi happened to return, avoiding Yue Qian. As soon as they entered, they saw Si Yan standing at the top of the stairs, his expression inscrutable.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Nuo asked softly, quickening her pace as she walked over.
Si Yan immediately opened his arms for a hug, his dim eyes igniting with a bright glint, and he held the person tightly in his arms, only then did he feel safe.
"It's so cold." He nestled against Jiang Nuo's neck, his deep voice weak.
It's really cold.
Jiang Nuo almost shivered from the cold.
He quickly rubbed Si Yan's back to dispel the Demonic Qi he had unconsciously inhaled.
Jiang Nuo gently kissed Si Yan's lips and whispered, "Shall we go back to the room to rest?"
"Um..."
Si Yan responded and put her arm around him as they walked upstairs.
Su Yi and Qi Lin followed closely behind. Su Yi didn't show much curiosity about Qi Lin's awakening, as she was thinking about the church, since the town's crisis was more urgent.
The door was locked. Jiang Nuo took out several talismans and placed them in the four corners, then used a red string to create a physical barrier.
Aside from the cameras inside, even vengeful ghosts and demons, unless their strength surpasses Jiang Nuo's, cannot eavesdrop on their conversations.
From the moment Si Yan entered the room, he clung to Jiang Nuo like a sloth, refusing to let go.
Jiang Nuo sat down on the sofa, and he simply snuggled into her arms, wrapped in a thick blanket, only revealing half of his weak and handsome face, yet he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.
The two teams each recounted what had happened to the other.
After thinking it over, all four of them realized something was wrong.
The haunted house of Tang Mu and Shali, and the lawnmower.
Throughout today's journey, they played the roles of guide and clue provider, respectively.
Jiang Nuo slowly withdrew the Demonic Qi from Si Yan, raising an eyebrow as she asked them, "Don't you think it's a coincidence?"
Qi Lin nodded. "It's a coincidence, so coincidental that it's hard to believe it's a coincidence."
Su Yi picked at her fingers, thinking carefully, "Our itinerary for today was planned from the library onwards, and we also happened to receive important clues and help in two different places."
"Huh? Good grief, I thought you'd run into some kind-hearted townspeople, but it turns out to be a trap?"
Hahaha, this coincidence is too much; something just doesn't feel right. It always happens like this.
[Hilarious! I'm watching with two accounts simultaneously, and the Wa Country livestream next door is experiencing the same coincidences one after another. They think it's just their luck...]
Jiang Nuo couldn't help but recall the old man who delivered the newspaper.
He pondered for a moment, then rubbed his left eyelid a few times.
"Perhaps another force exists in this town, trying to fight against the Dark Power controlling it, but as townspeople, they cannot disobey the rules."
"So their timidity and hesitation allow them to exploit us and break the rules."