After a remote engagement with Zhong Qi, Yan Shouyi's expression finally calmed down.
The red string connecting his and Ding Li's little fingers ignited spontaneously, burning to ashes. Da Feng Novel
Ding Li, no longer under Zhong Qi's control, became completely still, reverting to a normal corpse, and a thoroughly cold one at that.
"What did Brother Yan just do?" Long Feicheng asked, full of curiosity.
Old Jin sighed, "The techniques of a Lu Ban descendant are indeed formidable. That soul-tracking fuse just now likely inflicted considerable damage on the opponent. If they're still alive, they must be spitting blood and cursing profusely."
Yan Shouyi opened his eyes, silently took out his phone, and opened the map. After a brief check, he said,
"That corpse herder is on the top floor of Dong Sheng Building."
Long Feicheng slapped his thigh, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's grab our gear and charge over there! This corpse herder is utterly wicked; I can't wait to eliminate him!"
Old Jin scoffed, "By the time we reach Dong Sheng Building, the other party will have long vanished without a trace."
Yan Shouyi replied, "We'll go later. As long as we can find some trace they left behind, San Yuan can track their hiding place by their scent!"
Although San Yuan was in the form of a wooden bird, it possessed a human soul and intellect. The Yin Wood Soul Locking technique had also endowed it with many special abilities.
Grandpa had sealed San Yuan within the wooden bird, hoping San Yuan could assist Yan Shouyi when necessary.
In the courtyard, Ding Li's contorted corpse was particularly striking. Old Jin said worriedly, "Compared to that corpse herder, dealing with this corpse is the more troublesome issue, isn't it? Even if you know a police officer, having this body here will likely cause trouble."
"This is not an issue."
Yan Shouyi took out a Taoist talisman and tossed it towards Ding Li's corpse. The talisman floated in the air and finally landed on Ding Li's back, sticking tightly as if glued.
"Thirty-six Heavenly Spirits, Supreme Great Dharma King. Emperor Yan tears the ghost's blood, bestowing upon me the status of true emperor.
Seven Generals, Eight Yuan Lords, drive away disaster and misfortune for me. True Qi transforms into thunder and fire, the Old Master subdues the celestial flame."
Boom!
As soon as the incantation was finished, a bolt of heavenly lightning struck from the clear sky, hitting the talisman on Ding Li's back precisely!
The talisman instantly began to burn, transforming into a fierce blaze that illuminated the entire small courtyard. Ding Li's corpse also turned to ashes in this inferno.
Truly, it was burned to the point where not even a cinder remained!
Ding Li should not have been here in the first place. Even if he went missing, the police would not suspect Yan Shouyi and the others.
This operation was truly carried out without anyone knowing.
Long Feicheng was startled by this move, his eyes shining with brilliance, "Brother Yan, this move feels even more powerful than the Palm Thunder. Can I learn it?"
"This incantation is called the Heavenly Thunder Fire Control Spell. It is a divine art recorded in my Lu Ban Book. You can learn it, but you must bear the consequences yourself," Yan Shouyi replied.
Upon hearing that it was a technique from the Lu Ban Book, even if Long Feicheng desperately wanted to learn it, he had to reconsider.
Old Jin was also speechless with shock at the techniques within the Lu Ban Book. However, he showed little envy. This was because he was also a practitioner of ancient medicine, and a doctor from the Qi Huang sect. His aspirations were not in subduing demons and monsters; healing the injured and saving lives was what he yearned for and took pride in.
After disposing of Ding Li's corpse, Yan Shouyi decided to take everyone away first. The remaining matters could be handled by Xia Zhi and Meng Guohui.
Xia Zhi knew that Yan Shouyi dealt with supernatural affairs, which ordinary people could not manage. Meng Guohui also had his own ways of dealing with things. Therefore, what happened tonight would most likely be resolved with minimal consequences.
However, Meng Guohui would absolutely not give up on avenging the fox spirit. Similarly, Yan Shouyi was unwilling to let the despicable corpse herder go.
Thus, just as Xia Zhi was about to arrive, Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng rode on Old Jin's rickety motorcycle, chugging back to the city.
Old Jin was particularly righteous and insisted on sending the two back to Shang Hang Art School. A journey of a full thirty kilometers, it managed to make Yan Shouyi and the others' behinds sore.
When they finally got off, both were holding their behinds, watching the detestable Old Jin leave.
Passing classmates thought that Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng had gone out to take on some special job.
Long Feicheng said, holding his rear, "Brother Yan, I'll make a special trip to Old Jin's place tomorrow and secretly smash his motorcycle, alright?"
Yan Shouyi calculated with his fingers, "Tomorrow's fortune is quite good. There's no time to delay. I also don't want to suffer the torment of Old Jin's motorcycle anymore."
At this moment, the resentment the two felt towards Old Jin's motorcycle even surpassed their resentment towards the Bai family and the corpse herder.
Yan Shouyi sighed, "President Meng just suffered a fatal injury. Although he had the fox spirit's help, it will likely take ten days to half a month for him to wake up. Our money..."
"Yeah, we can't get the money for now." Long Feicheng's face immediately fell.
He had been planning to buy a second-hand Porsche to show off at school after getting the money.
Yan Shouyi's plan to buy a necklace also fell through.
The two supported each other as they walked into the campus, and from a distance, they saw a graceful figure standing elegantly by the fountain.
Long Feicheng cupped his fists towards Yan Shouyi, "Brother Yan, my brother will take his leave first."
"Scram, scram, scram." Yan Shouyi shook his head. At critical moments, Long Feicheng was completely unreliable.
Holding his behind, he limped over to Lin Zhitong.
Lin Zhitong, wearing a mask, glanced at Yan Shouyi, "Did you and Long Feicheng go sell your butts?"
Yan Shouyi: "..."
"Cai Wei told me that you and Little Long went out to work and earn money to give me a gift. So, where is my gift?"
Lin Zhitong's eyes held a hint of teasing, but more anticipation.
Yan Shouyi suddenly realized that Lin Zhitong's eyes were a bit like the fox spirit's. Her eyes were bright, seemingly containing the vast expanse of the starry sky.
In an instant, the scenes that had unfolded that night flooded Yan Shouyi's mind.
The words of the fox spirit washed over Yan Shouyi like a tide.
"The next life is too far away; I only seize the day."
"Loving someone for twenty years isn't enough, and a lifetime is too short..."
"Five hundred glances in the past life, exchanged for a chance encounter in this life. I used a thousand glances to exchange for this moment of stopping before you."
Noticing Yan Shouyi spacing out, Lin Zhitong became a little annoyed, "Big dummy, what are you spacing out about? Have you really become foolish?"
Yan Shouyi snapped back to reality, looked at Lin Zhitong, his eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness and determination.
"The gift, I already prepared it."
Yan Shouyi took out the wooden watch he had meticulously carved from his satchel.
The wooden watch had a delicate dial and a slender strap, clearly a lady's watch.
This wooden watch, from the very beginning, was made by Yan Shouyi for Lin Zhitong.
The hands on the watch ticked softly, minute by minute passing by. Yan Shouyi, unwilling to wait, placed the wooden watch on Lin Zhitong's wrist.
"Does it fit well?" Yan Shouyi asked.
Lin Zhitong's eyes trembled slightly. She raised her hand to examine the wooden watch carefully, then replied with a smile, "I like it very much."
"As long as you like it."
Perhaps unaccustomed to this atmosphere and situation, Yan Shouyi felt a sense of unease. His usual "scattered" self didn't know how to stand or where to put his hands or where to look.
Everything felt so unnatural, so unfamiliar. A strong urge welled up within him, an urge he didn't know how to release.
Suddenly, Lin Zhitong took a step closer, stood on her tiptoes, and gently kissed Yan Shouyi on the cheek.
In that instant, all of Yan Shouyi's awkwardness, unfamiliarity, and discomfort vanished.
In their place came an unprecedented calm.
"As a return for your gift, you're not allowed to wash your face tonight!"
Lin Zhitong said, then hopped away cheerfully. Such bouncing steps were previously only seen from Lu Caiwei.
Feeling the lingering warmth and fragrance on his cheek, Yan Shouyi smiled involuntarily. As he watched Lin Zhitong's figure recede, he shouted loudly:
"Stinky girl, wait for me!"
The "stinky girl" replied, "I can't wait! You'd better marry me tomorrow!"
Yan Shouyi stood rooted to the spot, smiling foolishly.
He had finally been brave for himself.
The next life is too far away; I only seize the day.