"Hahahaha!"
His father laughed heartily, his mirth echoing around the blacksmith shop.
Cao Erzhu, struggling to lift his hand, realized that the handshake pattern embedded in his energy reserve had been expelled alongside the release of his Penetrating Divine Senses.
"Dad, what's so funny?"
After a long bout of laughter, his father finally settled back to the ground. With a shift of his gaze, he indicated, "Take a look for yourself."
Cao Erzhu glanced down and saw an intricate circle of patterns beneath his feet. The patterns, filled with complex and sharp designs, portrayed themes of violence, intimidation, authority, punishment, anger, madness, and fear.
Cao Erzhu was stunned. The patterns were extraordinarily beautiful, a hundred times more impressive than the handshake pattern.
He examined the design carefully, finally reading aloud, "This is a death order and mission. It's a Lightning-type Power Upanishad Formation!"
"Father, did I succeed?" he asked, a mixture of accomplishment and uncertainty in his voice.
Cao Erzhu scratched his head, feeling a strange blend of satisfaction and normalcy. Despite his dull aptitude and the countless times he had angered his father, he had succeeded in the end. In a world where geniuses were commonplace, merely putting in half the effort could lead to mastering such formations.
"Yes, you succeeded," his father said casually. "But remember, don't let anyone else see this. It can be used for possession and is quite valuable."
Cao Erzhu pondered his father's words. The mention of possession made him think of the uncle's intentions. "That uncle's pattern…"
"Yes, he wanted to take possession of you, including your God Punishment Tribulation and Lightning-type Upanishad," his father muttered.
Cao Erzhu fell silent, gritting his teeth. He had once thought that uncle was a good person.
"But he said he hugged me before…"
"Before I picked you up from the streets as a child, you were hugged by everyone. Besides, people lie, don't they?" His father sneered, clearly not fond of the subject.
Though Cao Erzhu was certain he wasn't actually picked up, his father's treatment of strangers was different from his family.
"That uncle…"
"Don't call him uncle. In the future, if he tries to get close to you, ignore him. Don't talk to him or interact with him. He's not a good person."
For once, his father was in a good mood and spoke more than usual without scolding. After Cao Erzhu's made an 'Oh' sound, his father continued, "Also, if you encounter similar patterns in the future, avoid them. You're not smart enough to handle them and could be easily killed."
"Oh!"
"I'm giving you a month off. Go up the mountain. I don't want to see you for a while."
"Oh… What?" Cao Erzhu was taken aback. "What about the blacksmith shop?"
"Just close the door," his father said, closing his eyes, clearly done with the conversation.
Cao Erzhu felt he had recovered about 70-80% of his energy. He stood up, packed his bag, and prepared to leave.
There was no need to tidy up; it was common for his father to send him away. Though he would miss the cooking for a month, he was sure his father would survive on wine.
"Creak."
As the wooden door was about to close, a booming voice resonated across the backyard.
"In these turbulent times, avoid talking to strangers, especially those who seem friendly. Remember to bring more venison when you return."
"Oh, and the bad guys?" Cao Erzhu asked hastily.
"Hmm?"
"Oh, it's nothing, nothing at all."
Cao Erzhu quickly closed the door and stepped out onto the street.
The dark clouds had cleared, and it was still snowing. The cold weather felt refreshing, the snowflakes falling gently on his body.
It was winter already. His father had been cooped up for too long, still thinking it was autumn. How silly!
As for not speaking…
Cao Erzhu was already skilled at keeping quiet. Having not spoken to anyone for over ten years, he had perfected the art of pretending to be mute whenever he met strangers on his mountain trips.
He recalled his father's advice, "There are many people outside, and even more bad ones. Silence is the best way to avoid trouble."
His mood lightened, and he walked off with renewed energy.
"Hey!"
He greeted neighbors who were out early. They were friendly and cheerful.
"Erzhu, going up the mountain again? Abandoning your alcoholic father?"
"Hey! Erzhu! Remember to bring some wolf meat this time. I'll buy it at market price…"
"Wolf meat isn't very tasty," Cao Erzhu mumbled.
"Just bring it. Your tiger skin last time was a great deal!"
"Meat! Er Zhu, bring as much as you can. And your knife is really useful!"
"Anything useful," Cao Erzhu nodded, though he quickly retreated as more people called out, hastening his pace to leave.
He reached a small mound outside the village entrance, looking back at Changde Town. It seemed like a tiny mountain village compared to the heavy snow-covered mountains.
"Let's go!"
Cao Erzhu tightened his bag on his shoulder, turning to face Qingyuan Mountain. His eyes gleamed with eagerness.
"Let's test my speed first!"
"Yes, compared to that snowflake… I would have perished before climbing the mountain."
Boom!
A thunderous sound reverberated across the snowy ground. Cao Erzhu's entrance into the mountain was as swift as the falling snow, thanks to the Penetrating Divine Senses that protected him from death.
He came to an abrupt halt, pinching his arms and looking alarmed. "Oh no, I forgot to put on more clothes. Uncle Qian froze to death in the mountains on a snowy day…"
At the foot of Qingyuan Mountain, north of Changde Town, a market bustled with activity despite the harsh weather. Zhu Yike had navigated through the elements, making detours and taking various routes, ultimately arriving in this area. Li Fugui had indicated that something important was located in this market.
Fortunately, Zhu Yike had successfully bypassed the soldiers who were intercepting others and managed to evade tight defenses.
"We're here," Zhu Yike announced as he stood in front of an animal pelt shop. He turned to Aunt Xiang, "You and the others go in first. I need to find someone. Stay close to the shop and don't wander off."
Dongdong and Ah Yao, still lagging behind, followed the instructions. The group of four consisted of one man and three women, which made them stand out on the street, so they moved in a line to avoid drawing too much attention.
Zhu Yike led Aunt Xiang inside the shop. He rapped on the counter and addressed the old shopkeeper.
"I'm here to withdraw money."
The old shopkeeper, clad in coarse linen and leaning on a walking stick, squinted at Zhu Yike. His movements were slow and deliberate.
"No, no," the shopkeeper said, shaking his head. "I don't remember you. You haven't deposited any money here."
Zhu Yike noticed the word 'Heaven' carved into the shopkeeper's walking stick and said, "Flowers bloom in wealth."
The shopkeeper paused, then slapped his forehead in recognition. "Ah, I remember now. You consigned three tiger skins here a month ago. I'm getting old and forgetful."
"Please follow me," the shopkeeper said, tottering towards a door behind the counter.
Zhu Yike followed him without hesitation, passing through the counter and into the back room. Aunt Xiang, who couldn't use her spiritual senses, had no idea what was happening and couldn't hear the conversation.
Meanwhile, Aunt Xiang looked around the shop, glancing at the animal pelts. Ah Yao eventually joined her, also selecting from the pelts.
When the old shopkeeper closed the door and removed his face mask, Zhu Yike's eyes widened in shock.
"Li Fugui?" he exclaimed.
The old shopkeeper's face, with its red lips and unblemished complexion, was unmistakably familiar. Li Fugui was a figure Zhu Yike knew well from their time on Abyss Island, where he had been an adviser to Feng Xiaose and was now a spy for Lord Shou.
"I almost didn't recognize you with this disguise and your hidden spiritual source," Zhu Yike said, impressed. "You're quite the intelligence operative!"
Li Fugui, now revealed, slapped a bounty on the table with a scowl. "Is this how you save people?" he snapped, his demeanor stern. "Your Golden Gate Stealing Technique was far too blatant!"
"Are you not afraid of death? Hallmaster Dao's Divine Secret is incredibly powerful. I've warned you repeatedly to be more careful. Your mistakes are glaringly obvious. Are you rushing to reincarnate?"
Zhu Yike, sitting down and crossing his arms, seemed indifferent. He kicked out with his leg as if aiming a whip kick at Li Fugui. "So, were they rescued or not?"
Li Fugui dodged the kick, his frustration growing. "Is this how you save people?"
Zhu Yike, glaring with a sneer, retorted, "Do you know who you're talking to?"
Li Fugui was taken aback. "Have I mistaken you for someone else?"
Zhu Yike's anger flared as he raised his leg and kicked the table. "You're talking to the number one hero of the First Hall of Sins! The second-in-command of the First Pavilion in the Sky, appointed personally by Lord Shou!"
"You're talking to a man who risked his life to complete Lord Shou's mission. But remember, it's not your mission, Li Fugui. You're talking to a loyal frontline soldier!"
"You should show some respect," Zhu Yike said calmly.
Li Fugui was momentarily taken aback, but a sneer curled on his lips, which he quickly suppressed. "This was Lord Shou's intention."
Zhu Yike's anger flared. He slammed the table, stood up, and shouted, "I think this is your intention, Li Fugui! You're addicted to issuing irrelevant orders and trying to boss me around!"
"Even through the communication bead, you've been trying to control me. Do you really think you can order me around when we meet face to face? Who do you think you are?"
Zhu Yike grabbed a teacup and, with a swift flick of his fingers, made it disappear. Instead, a pair of red underwear appeared in his hand.
"Yo, you like triangles? Still in your zodiac year? Be careful with your words and deeds during your zodiac year!"
The room fell into an eerie silence. The clattering of the teacup was replaced by the awkward rustling of the underwear.
Li Fugui's face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and rage. His eyes widened, and his outstretched hand trembled.
"Good! Good! Good!" Li Fugui seethed. "How dare you steal my underwear? You really have a death wish!"
He wailed, rubbing his tear-filled eyes. "Lord Shou! Look at what Zhu Yike did!"
Lord Shou?
Zhu Yike's eyes darted around the dingy room, but there was no sign of Lord Shou.
Li Fugui had hinted that Lord Shou might be present, but given the recent battle with the Holy Emperor, it was likely that Lord Shou was still recuperating. A spatial shift would have been more practical.
"You tricked me?" Zhu Yike's fury erupted. "This sissy Li is crying like a baby! If I don't teach him a lesson today, does he really think he can rule just because Lord Shou isn't here?"
"That's enough!"
Suddenly, a voice resonated from within Li Fugui's body. The voice came from an array formation embedded in the room.
"It doesn't matter if it's a black cat or a white cat, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat."
"Zhu Yike isn't weak, and Li Fugui is also a talented member of the First Pavilion in the Sky. Why are you two fighting?"
Li Fugui lowered his head respectfully. "Yes, Lord Shou."
Zhu Yike was dumbfounded, pointing at Li Fugui with incredulity. "Lord Shou is in you? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"Lord Shou?" Zhu Yike called out again, his voice trembling.
"Give him back his underwear first," came the voice from within Li Fugui. It sounded both amused and commanding.
The realization hit Zhu Yike like a ton of bricks. Li Fugui had been wielding Lord Shou's authority as if it were his own. He had been a fox borrowing the tiger's might.
Zhu Yike, suppressing his frustration, returned the underwear with a scowl. He would remember this grievance well. How dare Li Fugui hide behind Lord Shou's authority and scheme against him?
"Give him the items first," Lord Shou's voice interrupted, returning to seriousness. "The people have already been brought here. There should be no further issues."
"Yes," Li Fugui responded, relieved to get back on track. He began retrieving items from his spatial ring.
The first item he produced was the jade talisman given by Lord Shou, which allowed passage through the Apricot Realm.
"Ah, I really didn't want to return this," Li Fugui muttered to himself, handing it over reluctantly.
Meanwhile, on the bustling streets outside, Dongdong approached a shop with a sign reading "Ugly Pig Hide Shop." She hesitated for a moment before pulling out a command token from her chest—a Jade Capital City Southern Zone gate City Leaving Token.
She glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, before entering the shop, ready for her next move.