"When my soul first awoke here, I had a feeling that it might never awaken again. So, I used the last of my remaining strength to leave these insights in a certain place.
For those who awaken the Soul Seizing Technique, if they stumble upon it, their chances of progressing further will be quite high. But I didn't expect that your energy could gradually restore my soul. So for your actions this time, I will fully cooperate with you."
Lu Huan explained, surprised that her awakening was due to Lin Jiu's soul energy.
From Ma Xianhong's perspective, he saw Lin Jiu closing his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, his demeanor while performing the Soul Seizing Technique was completely different. It felt… it felt… just like someone he once knew!
Lin Jiu placed his hand on Ma Xianhong's head, this time channeling his soul energy to support Lu Huan's soul, allowing her to execute the Soul Seizing Technique.
"How is it?"
Lin Jiu's consciousness once again entered Ma Xianhong's soul, and this time, Lu Huan was with him.
"It's not going to work. The person who did this has a mastery of the Soul Seizing Technique that is at least on par with mine, if not superior. Either you strengthen your soul, or find someone with a deeper understanding of the technique to handle it."
Lu Huan shook her head. As talented as she was, the time she had was still too short.
Lin Jiu narrowed his eyes. Lu Huan was the only one who might have the chance to surpass that certain person in this field. If someone had learned of Lu Huan's existence and eliminated her beforehand, it wouldn't be surprising.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Lin Jiu had no intention of uncovering the truth, so he asked, "Is there any way to prevent his memories from being altered again?"
"Hmm... let me think. You can use your energy to create a false soul layer. If his soul is tampered with again, you can just dispel this energy layer." Lu Huan explained the principle, and Lin Jiu immediately understood.
This was quite similar to some of the subtle techniques he was currently studying in contract. With Lin Jiu supporting her, Lu Huan completed the operation, depleting his soul energy in the process.
"It seems I'll have to return to slumber. Who knows if this time will lead to my final dissolution."
Lu Huan sighed as she felt Lin Jiu's energy run dry and said her farewell.
Lin Jiu removed the Silent Soul Pearl and placed it back on the platform, then explained the two options to Ma Xianhong.
"Chief Ma, judging by your expression, you already suspect someone. Given your nature, it's probably best if you don't try to get in contact with them again."
Lin Jiu didn't mention the hidden safeguard he had placed on Ma Xianhong's soul, hoping it wouldn't come to use.
"I know…"
Ma Xianhong was downcast. It wasn't just the failure to recover his memories that troubled him. It was the realization that the only family he had left might be his enemy, the one responsible for erasing his memories. That was difficult to accept.
"Let's talk about it when we get back."
Lin Jiu, now completely drained of both magic and soul energy, didn't want to linger in enemy territory any longer.
...
Lu Ci: "Leaving already?"
Lin Jiu: "Yeah, no need to stay any longer. We've got things to take care of."
Ma Xianhong: "..."
Lu Ci stared at Lin Jiu for a moment and asked, "Are you also a successor of the Eight Mysterious Skills?"
Lin Jiu: "I'm not."
"Alright then..."
"Lu Clan leader, until we meet again."
Lin Jiu politely bid farewell as he left, showing no sign that he realized he had been an unwelcome guest.
"Judging by that artificer kid's expression, it seems the soul pearl didn't help him solve his problem."
"No need to dwell on it. From now on, if you see that knife-wielding guy, avoid him. Now go and put those Lu family brats through more training. Embarrassing!"
Lu Ci glanced at his bandaged but temporarily unusable left arm and ordered the person next to him.
...
"Leader Red, if you're not heading back to Biyou Village with me, then let's part ways here. Thanks again for everything. If you need anything in the future, just call me!"
Ma Xianhong tossed a metal ring to Lin Jiu, allowing them to communicate directly.
"I imagine the truth will hit you hard too. Take some time to calm down, Chief Ma."
Lin Jiu pocketed the ring, patted Ma Xianhong on the shoulder, and then watched him head for the airport. Lin Jiu himself went to the high-speed rail station and took the train back.
This trip could indeed be called a fruitful return: four soul crystals (small), the Soul Seizing Technique research records, and completing the second main quest, which would allow him to upgrade his soul level to Lv.7 and his swordsmanship specialization to Lv.10!
However, if he wanted to keep the Mysterious Mechanism Converts All Art, he would need to find a way to acquire another one of the Eight Mysterious Skills. As for Double Hand, it seemed following Lu Huan's storyline might lead to it, but that path was too troublesome and not an ideal choice.
Lin Jiu didn't plan to pursue Double Hand. After all, the Heaven Communicating Talisman Art from the upcoming Raten Taishō was still available.
There was only one week left until the Raten Taishō.
The contractors who joined the Express Delivery Company still hadn't managed to contact Zhang Chulan. This wasn't surprising. With Feng Baobao around, it was hard for those working under Xu San and Xu Si to get close.
However, these contractors hadn't joined the Express Delivery Company to get close to Feng Baobao or Zhang Chulan. Zhang Chulan was a crafty one, and they might end up being tricked into revealing what they wanted without gaining anything themselves!
As for Feng Baobao, although she was incredibly sharp, going after her, as Wang Ye had calculated, would be akin to targeting the protagonist of this derived world—something only someone with a death wish would consider. And on top of that, they couldn't even defeat her.
Most of these contractors had joined Quanxing instead.
...
"Hey, Black Fish, don't you think our plan is too risky? Shouldn't we prioritize completing the main quest first?"
"As they say, 'fortune favors the bold!'" the contractor called Black Fish replied with a grin.
"Recently, Quanxing hasn't been able to contact Lu Liang. Could something have happened to him?" someone asked with concern.
Black Fish thought for a moment before responding, "Perhaps other contractors are interfering, but since nothing major has happened recently, it shouldn't be much of a problem."
Soon after, Black Fish's confidence was shattered—they received a notice to assemble and break Lu Liang out of the Lu family.
"Damn! Who's the idiot that got Lu Liang trapped in the Lu family?"
Black Fish couldn't help but curse. Attacking the Lu family would be like marching to their deaths.
"Why don't we just refuse? Quanxing's whole appeal is freedom, right?" one of the contractors said nonchalantly.
Black Fish: "You've got a point. Let's just pretend we didn't get the message."
Those contractors in Quanxing chose to ignore the order. Of course, some who hadn't teamed up with this group chose to follow the message and gathered for the mission.
The ones who ignored it were likely to be sacrificed as cannon fodder by Quanxing's core members during the upcoming chaos at Longhu Mountain. Only those who managed to enter the inner circle would truly benefit from the organization's power.
"I remember that shameless guy infiltrated the Lu family. We can ask him for intel, though it might cost us."
Fei Jin, one of the contractors aiming to get into Quanxing's core, thought of a certain unsavory fellow.
Speaking of that live-in son-in-law, since Lin Jiu's rampage through the Lu family, he had come to Lu Ci's attention and was no longer the insignificant figure he once was.