Last night, he had completely concealed himself, with only his eyes visible. Yet Li Chuiyuan could recognize those eyes.
Just moments ago, Li Chuiyuan had seen him. He was standing close to Tan Wenbin, both sharing a faucet to soap themselves, and he had even called out "Big Brother" to Li Chuiyuan.
With that confirmed glance, Li Chuiyuan didn't bother to look at his lower leg, caring neither if there were gun grazes nor if he had attempted to conceal them.
Already certain, the young man saw no need to seek further corroboration, as it would be not only redundant but also likely to arouse the other party's suspicion. After all, the other person had seen him before. However, the other person probably didn't realize that Li Chuiyuan had recognized him too. Therefore, the other person was still putting on an act, and it was highly probable that a smug satisfaction swelled within him as he innocently called out, "Hello, Big Brother."
Li Chuiyuan hoped he would keep it up. The more he wished to maintain the pretense, the less he desired to reveal his true identity, which in turn meant Li Chuiyuan was relatively safer for the time being.
There was no other way; student Lin Shuyou’s combat skills were simply terrifyingly good. If he were to truly unleash his power, Li Chuiyuan’s bronze mirror amulet and the pair of high heels he held might not be enough to stop him.
However, what could be generally confirmed now was that Lin Shuyou was not the true culprit in the case from seven years ago. A person's appearance can reveal a sense of their age, much like the annual rings of a tree. Li Chuiyuan was certain that Lin Shuyou was the same age as Tan Wenbin, which meant he would have been in fifth grade seven years ago when the incident occurred.
Aunt Liu had mentioned he was a "Guan Jiang Shou." Normally, individuals in this "profession" are akin to those who portray Guan Gong at temple fairs in other mainland provinces, and are thus expected to embody righteousness. However, nothing is absolute. Li Chuiyuan could also point out that body retrievers typically possess a compassionate nature. Yet, that doesn't prevent individuals like the Mao family father and son from appearing among them. Therefore, while the profession itself might be noble, the individual practicing it may not necessarily be so.
Consequently, Li Chuiyuan decided to act swiftly, intending to neutralize this potential threat while the other party was still committed to their charade. This wasn't even about whether the other person had been in that teaching building last night. The mere thought that such an individual resided on the same floor, in a dormitory so close to his own, was enough to prevent the young man from sleeping soundly. How could he allow a competitor to sleep soundly so close to him?
Tan Wenbin returned, humming a tune after his shower. He closed the door and sat on his own bed. "Yuan-ge, I was going to invite Lin Shuyou to Old Sichuan for grilled fish tonight, but he actually said he wanted to go to the school library to 'enjoy the atmosphere.'"
What struck Tan Wenbin as odd was that his usually compliant new friend had suddenly developed his own ideas. Of course, this wasn't wrong, and it was quite normal, but it clearly didn't align with the persona he had presented when they first met. Especially at the beginning of the semester, everyone has clear social needs and objectives; otherwise, not having a companion to walk to and from class or eat at the cafeteria with would be incredibly awkward.
Hearing this, Li Chuiyuan understood. It seemed that student Lin Shuyou also found it difficult to sleep soundly at night.
The dormitory building, bustling with activity in the early evening, settled into quietude in the latter half of the night. The exhaustion from daytime military training prevented these otherwise energetic university students from maintaining a full nightlife rhythm, at least for now. On the two beds in the dormitory, Li Chuiyuan and Tan Wenbin were sound asleep.
Under the cover of night, a dark figure slowly descended headfirst toward the window. It was a muggy summer night, and the dormitory window was already open. Just as he was about to enter, the pair of high heels beneath the windowsill suddenly flew up, striking at the dark figure. With a flick of a single arm, the dark figure wrapped the black cloth from his sleeve around the high heels, instantly capturing them. Though signs of persistent struggle and rolling remained beneath the black cloth, not a single sound could escape.
Immediately afterward, the dark figure entered the balcony, then the room, and stood beside the young man's bed. Just as he reached out to grab the young man's neck, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he swiftly recoiled.
A shovel swept horizontally from below. The shovel’s edge was sharp; had the dark figure not dodged in time, he might have lost a foot. Run Sheng pushed off with one foot, sliding out from under the bed, and delivered another swift strike at the opponent with the Yellow River Shovel. In Run Sheng's eyes, anyone who infiltrated their space and intended to harm Xiaoyuan deserved to die.
The dark figure moved with agility, grabbing the upper bed railing with both hands and flipping himself onto it. Tan Wenbin then threw back his thin quilt, grabbed the Seven-Star Hook hidden underneath, and lunged at the dark figure. The dark figure brought his feet together, clamped the Seven-Star Hook between them, and with a forward flick, caused Tan Wenbin to lose balance, simultaneously delivering a backward kick with one leg.
"Thud!"
Tan Wenbin was kicked in the shoulder, sending him tumbling back onto his bed. Run Sheng had already risen, and the Yellow River Shovel swept horizontally again, producing a piercing whooshing sound in the air. The dark figure evidently dared not engage Run Sheng directly. He slapped the top of the bed with his left hand, propelling himself diagonally like a swallow, not only dodging the blow but also landing back on the balcony. Immediately, the dark figure's gaze swept back to the young man's bed, where he saw the young man now sitting up, staring at him with icy eyes.
Realizing the other party was already prepared, the dark figure wasted no time. He pushed off the ground with both legs, his body launching into the air as his limbs bent forward, exiting the balcony in a back-dive motion.
Li Chuiyuan got out of bed, walked behind Run Sheng, and placed a hand on his right shoulder. Run Sheng took a swift stride, lifted his leg sideways at the window, and with the young man, flipped over the balcony. Tan Wenbin followed closely, clutching the Seven-Star Hook in his right hand and cradling his shoulder with his left. He accelerated into a jog, slowed down before the window, then turned, opened the dormitory door, and headed downstairs via the staircase.
Just as the dark figure was about to land, a leather whip lashed out at him; it was Yin Meng, who had been lying in wait, making her move. The dark figure exerted force from his waist, suddenly flipping forward again just before landing, narrowly dodging the whip. Yin Meng’s expression turned grim; she now believed this individual could indeed dodge bullets. However, she knew her duty. After her initial strike failed, she immediately closed in, swinging the leather whip in her right hand to coil it around her fist, then struck at the opponent.
For a brief moment, they exchanged rapid blows with fists and palms, then almost simultaneously, both delivered kicks.
"Thud."
Yin Meng was sent staggering backward by the kick, instinctively clutching her abdomen. The dark figure, however, remained stationary, as he had shifted his body sideways when Yin Meng kicked, preventing a solid impact and dissipating most of the force. Yin Meng had taken the brunt of it, but her objective was achieved: Run Sheng and Xiaoyuan had landed.
The dark figure genuinely feared Run Sheng. Seeing his opponent charging again, he had no intention of engaging as before, turning to flee without hesitation. Run Sheng, with Li Chuiyuan on his back, began the pursuit, following the dark figure over the dormitory courtyard wall, through a flower garden, and finally into the empty sports field. Carrying another person, Run Sheng couldn't unleash his full speed, allowing the dark figure to gradually widen the distance.
But just then, Li Chuiyuan, still on Run Sheng’s back, snapped his fingers.
"Snap!"
The seal attached to the pair of high heels was released by Li Chuiyuan. The dark figure, who had been moving rapidly ahead, instantly decelerated and stopped, flinging out the high heels he had been carrying. This brief delay completely changed the situation; not only did Run Sheng catch up, but Yin Meng and even Zhuang Zhuang also managed to close in. The three formed a triangle, surrounding the dark figure.
The dark figure made no attempt to conceal his intentions, turning his head to glance at the corner where Tan Wenbin stood, clearly identifying the weakest link. Tan Wenbin, provoked to laughter, retorted, "Can't you be less obvious, damn it!" Immediately, Tan Wenbin simply dropped the Seven-Star Hook to the ground and pulled out his Returning Home Net from his clothes. His message was clear: "I won't fight you, and you can break through here and hit me anytime you want, but I will do everything in my power to ensnare both myself and you within this net." As the team's weak link, Zhuang Zhuang had no choice but to make himself as troublesome as possible.
Li Chuiyuan slid off Run Sheng’s back, stood to the side, looked at the dark figure, and spoke. "Let's talk."
Only when his side held the advantage was Li Chuiyuan willing to converse with the other party and reveal their identities. However, just as Li Chuiyuan prepared to perform the Liu family ritual, he furrowed his brow slightly and halted his actions. The wind began to pick up.
The dark figure let out a theatrical cry, drawing out the final syllable. "A vile ghost-raiser dares to speak with me?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than he pointed his right hand at his own brow, and his eyes instantly transformed into vertical pupils. The high heels, which had been flung to the ground and were still struggling to assert their presence and contribution to Li Chuiyuan, fell silent in an instant. As his vertical pupils swept across the field, everyone present felt an overwhelming pressure. Tan Wenbin glanced down at his legs, which were uncontrollably trembling, and immediately cried out, "What's happening?"
Li Chuiyuan said, "The spirit medium is entering a trance."
"Whoosh!"
The dark figure's black cloak split open, revealing his true form under the moonlight. He was dressed in colorful robes with upright shoulder pads, wearing straw sandals, a crane crown on his head, and his face adorned with white fish-tail patterns. With a clap of his hands, an imposing aura emanated from him, despite his lack of weapons.
"Heretics and evildoers are to be slain, not saved."
Lin Shuyou, who had previously avoided direct confrontation with Run Sheng, now deliberately advanced toward him, taking three steps with a pause, two light and one firm, in a ceremonial gait known as the "Three Steps Praise." The state after entering the trance, known as fuji, meant a deity had descended into his body. Li Chuiyuan knew that at this moment, Lin Shuyou was no longer himself, but the White Crane Boy. The other party was now beyond communication.
"Hold him off, buy me time."
Li Chuiyuan began to retreat, while Run Sheng advanced. After retreating a certain distance, Li Chuiyuan closed his eyes and began chanting the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra.
The White Crane Boy approached Run Sheng. Mindful of Xiaoyuan’s request, Run Sheng adopted a defensive stance with his shovel, not initiating an attack. Although confident in his own strength, he trusted Xiaoyuan's judgment more. However, as the White Crane Boy's hands shot out like claws and he parried with the Yellow River Shovel, Run Sheng realized, after just that simple exchange, that he had underestimated his opponent. The shovel in his hands was no longer entirely under his control. In this raw display of strength, Run Sheng found himself at a disadvantage, and his lower body began to falter.
This sight startled both Tan Wenbin and Yin Meng. They were well aware of Run Sheng's strength, and for this individual to become so terrifying after entering a trance was astonishing. Without hesitation, Yin Meng and Tan Wenbin simultaneously launched an attack on the White Crane Boy from the flanks.
The White Crane Boy turned his head, a faint, eerie glow flickering in his vertical pupils. His strength surged, and with a swing of his arms, he astonishingly lifted the Yellow River Shovel. Run Sheng, still gripping the Yellow River Shovel, was passively lifted off the ground and forcibly spun in the air. As he landed, just as he was about to use the momentum, the White Crane Boy pulled his arms back and kicked him squarely in the chest. Run Sheng was knocked to the ground, and the Yellow River Shovel fell entirely into the opponent's grasp.
"Whoosh whoosh…"
The Yellow River Shovel was swung down at Run Sheng. Run Sheng clapped his palms on the ground, pushed forward, and swiftly evaded.
"Thud!"
On the spot, the concrete basketball court ground was gouged into a crater by the shovel, with dense cracks radiating outwards. Yin Meng lashed out with her leather whip, aiming directly for the opponent's face, but the White Crane Boy raised his left hand and precisely seized the whip. Immediately afterward, an immense force emanated from the other end of the whip, yanking Yin Meng off her feet and pulling her into the air like a kite. Then, the White Crane Boy yanked the whip downwards, sending the airborne Yin Meng hurtling toward the ground, where she crashed.
Tan Wenbin unfurled his Returning Home Net, casting it like a fishing net to ensnare the White Crane Boy. Theoretically, given the properties of the Returning Home Net, malevolent entities enveloped by it typically experience a disruption in their perception of the outside world. However, the White Crane Boy merely tilted his head, his vertical pupils precisely fixing on Tan Wenbin.
Tan Wenbin felt a tingling sensation down his spine from the gaze, and awkwardly raised his hands. "Good evening."
"Rip!"
With a sweep of the Yellow River Shovel in his hand, the Returning Home Net draped over him tore apart. The White Crane Boy advanced towards Tan Wenbin, who continuously retreated. However, despite the seemingly slow pace of the White Crane Boy's "Three Steps Praise," his form constantly shifted like a phantom, relentlessly closing the distance to Tan Wenbin. Under such overwhelming pressure, Tan Wenbin stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
The White Crane Boy raised the Yellow River Shovel. Run Sheng had now scrambled to his feet, reaching for a net rope on the ground and flinging it towards the White Crane Boy. The net rope coiled around the White Crane Boy's ankle, and Run Sheng began to pull with all his might. The White Crane Boy turned his head to look at Run Sheng, but the Yellow River Shovel he held aloft continued its downward trajectory towards Tan Wenbin.
"Thud!"
Tan Wenbin splayed his legs, and a crater was gouged into the ground between them. Officer Tan had narrowly escaped losing the peaceful retirement he envisioned, spent with his grandchildren.
The White Crane Boy didn't even spare Tan Wenbin a glance, turning directly to face Run Sheng. He lifted his foot, then kicked backward. Run Sheng was yanked by the force, losing his balance once more, and stumbled forward. The White Crane Boy actively closed in. The instant they clashed, the White Crane Boy lunged with a punch towards Run Sheng's chest. Run Sheng seized the opportunity to turn sideways, dodging the blow, then slammed his shoulder hard into the opponent's chest. The collision was solid; even a cadaver would have been knocked over by such an impact, yet the White Crane Boy remained utterly unmoving. Furthermore, the opponent reached out, gripped his waist, and lifted him single-handedly.
Tan Wenbin, still sprawled on the ground, felt the world had become utterly absurd. *My god*, Run Sheng had actually been lifted like that!
"Thump!"
Run Sheng, once lifted, was slammed onto the ground. The White Crane Boy lifted his foot and aimed a stomp at Run Sheng's face. Run Sheng crossed his arms, blocking the kick, but veins bulged on his face, clearly indicating he was exerting his utmost strength.
During the stalemate, movement came from behind him. The White Crane Boy turned to see Yin Meng flying towards him with a kick. He evaded the blow by tilting his head, but Yin Meng’s legs wrapped around his neck, leaving her hanging upside down on him. For an ordinary person, such a chokehold would be lethal, even a corpse would be toppled, yet the White Crane Boy remained perfectly still.
Tan Wenbin, spurred by the sight, rose to his feet and pulled various powders from his pockets. However, the thought that the Returning Home Net had been useless against his opponent meant this individual wasn't an evil spirit, rendering his arsenal of tools entirely pointless. In the end, he could only grab the Seven-Star Hook again, and, shouting, charged at the opponent, thrusting it like a spear. The White Crane Boy reached out, seized the Seven-Star Hook, and halted Tan Wenbin’s charge.
At this moment, he stood alone, his foot on Run Sheng, his hand restraining Wenbin, and Yin Meng draped over his shoulder. One against three, yet he showed no sign of being at a disadvantage.
Run Sheng called out, "Hold him off! This state of his won't last much longer!"
Yin Meng and Tan Wenbin gritted their teeth and continued to press their attack. The White Crane Boy's vertical pupils shifted to the young man, who had been standing a considerable distance away since the start of the fight. He was a vile ghost-raiser, and the most dangerous individual on the field.
The White Crane Boy changed his single foot from a stomp to a powerful kick, sending Run Sheng flying backwards, his back scraping against the ground for a long distance. Yet, even as he was kicked away, Run Sheng's freed hands quickly balled into fists, fiercely pounding the opponent's lower leg! The White Crane Boy’s upper body lurched violently, flinging Yin Meng away to land hard on the ground. Finally, the White Crane Boy looked at Tan Wenbin, who was still grappling with him, holding the Seven-Star Hook.
The White Crane Boy took a step back and released his grip. Tan Wenbin, still holding the Seven-Star Hook, stumbled forward before falling to the ground.
The White Crane Boy's vertical pupils once again fixed on Li Chuiyuan. As he lifted his foot, a sharp pain shot through his calf, and his entire body convulsed momentarily. Even the vertical pupils in his eyes were gradually receding. Lin Shuyou's calf was injured, having been specifically targeted by Run Sheng moments ago.
Run Sheng climbed to his feet, recalling Xiaoyuan's words during lunch: that the opponent had many tricks and would be difficult to handle. He could now truly feel it; the opponent's previous state was simply inhuman. Fortunately, his time was up.
However, after a brief spasm, the White Crane Boy reached into the sides of his cloak, pulled out two incense sticks, and inserted them into the crane crown atop his head. "Guide the path, clear the way, drive out evil and dispel misfortune." The incense spontaneously ignited, emitting a strange fragrance. Simultaneously, the White Crane Boy's entire demeanor returned to full power; his gaze, which had been on the verge of scattering, once again sharpened into deep vertical pupils.
"No, stop him!"
Run Sheng let out a low growl, like a charging bull, ready to rush forward no matter how many times he was knocked down. But swiftly, he halted. He saw Xiaoyuan had already opened his eyes and raised his left hand towards him, signaling him not to approach. Run Sheng sighed inwardly, feeling useless and realizing that ultimately, he still had to rely on Xiaoyuan.
In reality, Run Sheng had underestimated himself; for an ordinary person to exchange blows with the entranced White Crane Boy was already an extraordinary feat. Run Sheng's physical prowess was undoubtedly beyond ordinary comprehension, but his self-taught methods ultimately couldn't compare to their orthodox techniques. Fortunately, all this would change with Li Chuiyuan’s official entry; soon, true Qin family members would arrive to train him.
The White Crane Boy, having re-established his fuji state by lighting incense atop his head, now walked directly towards Li Chuiyuan. Li Chuiyuan did not evade; instead, he actively walked towards the White Crane Boy, simultaneously pressing an inkpad with his right hand and drawing a pattern on his own face. The White Crane Boy approached Li Chuiyuan, raising his fist, ready to strike down the ghost-raising evil person. At that very moment, the white in Li Chuiyuan’s eyes receded, replaced by an impenetrable black.
He looked up at the White Crane Boy. The White Crane Boy's fist froze. He gazed at the young man before him with confusion, as he sensed a familiar aura emanating from him. It was as if he was facing one of his own comrades-in-arms, and specifically, the one with the worst temper.
Among the Guan Jiang Shou, the most renowned are the Zeng and Sun Generals. These two generals were originally malevolent spirits who plagued the human world but were later subdued by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, becoming his personal protectors. General Zeng famously split into two entities, meaning the commonly referred to "Zeng and Sun Generals" are, in fact, three individuals. The White Crane Boy, also known as the "Guide Boy," typically leads the procession at temple fairs, often followed by the Zeng and Sun Generals.
Li Chuiyuan simply maintained eye contact with the White Crane Boy. The White Crane Boy continuously tilted his head, utterly confused and perplexed. He couldn't comprehend why the evil-doer he intended to kill had, in the blink of an eye, transformed into one of his own kind.
When Li Chuiyuan came to university, he brought three sets of books from his great-grandfather’s home; one of them was the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra. After arriving at university, he had many obligations, but in his leisure time, Li Chuiyuan would read. The very first book he delved into was the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra. Even during lunch break today, while Tan Wenbin was studying his professional texts, Li Chuiyuan was still engrossed in it. It was akin to, before an exam, casually flipping to a random page and staring blankly at it, only to enter the examination hall, receive the paper, and find that very topic appearing as a major question.
Thus, precious time slipped away.
The incense on the White Crane Boy’s head burned rapidly, finally extinguishing. The fuji ritual concluded, and the divine possession was lifted.
"Thump…"
Lin Shuyou collapsed to his knees, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. He appeared utterly weak and dispirited. Evidently, while Run Sheng had been thoroughly battered by the White Crane Boy earlier, Run Sheng’s own attacks had still inflicted injuries, which had merely been suppressed during the fuji state.
"Snap!"
Li Chuiyuan snapped his fingers, and the black around his eyes receded, returning to their normal appearance.
Lin Shuyou struggled to lift his head, looking at the young man who was wiping red marks from his face with his sleeve. "Why… why would you enter a trance?"
The one who was confused wasn't just the White Crane Boy who had descended earlier; Lin Shuyou himself was utterly baffled. What he didn’t know was that earlier that morning, an elderly woman named Liu was even more bewildered than he was.
Li Chuiyuan asked, "What are we here at university for?"
"To… to study?"
"Precisely. I just read a bit more."
[38 seconds ago] Chapter 1207: 大会失控
[8 minutes ago] Chapter 1206: Challenge the Level
[9 minutes ago] Chapter 1330: Ephemeral Starry Journey
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