Within the Imperial City of the Imperial Mausoleum, Lin Zitong rode her steed, Treading Snow, with Lian He and Tao Hua Ying floating behind her, galloping down the wide streets.
“Miss, there’s no more movement from the Mercury River…” Tao Hua Ying said worriedly.
Lin Zitong, astride Treading Snow, lowered her gaze slightly, then her eyes became more resolute. “He used a Buddhist sealing technique, sealing himself and Huo Ban within the bronze coffin. Judging by the situation, it should be successful.”
Lian He couldn’t help but bite her lower lip. “It may have been successful, but the General is also sealed inside.”
“The seal is only temporary, and I know how to break it,” Lin Zitong explained. “But before we break the seal, we must find a way to deal with Huo Ban.”
As Lin Zitong said, the seal was only temporary, meant to delay Huo Ban.
The tacit understanding between Lin Zitong and Yan Shouyi needed no words to communicate. The moment Yan Shouyi decided to use himself to seal Huo Ban, Lin Zitong already knew what the next step should be.
She observed Huo Ban, discerning from his subtle expressions that there was still something in the Imperial City that he feared.
And now, finding that entity was akin to finding a sharp sword capable of defeating Huo Ban!
“In this direction!”
Lin Zitong summoned Hei Chuan Lu and instructed him and Tao Hua Ying, “You two search the vicinity, don’t miss any details. Notify me immediately if you find any clues!”
“Yes, Miss!”
“Hai!”
The two spirits understood the importance of time and immediately dispersed to search nearby.
Lian He couldn’t help but ask, “Princess, what about me?”
Lin Zitong’s tone softened slightly. “Your soul is consumed with use. It is not yet time for you to act. Return to my body to preserve your soul.”
But Lian He shook her head. “Perhaps now is the crucial moment?”
“Don’t you wish to see Princess Yu Shu again?” Lin Zitong asked her. “I am merely her reincarnation, and you wish to see the true princess.”
Hearing this, Lian He finally chose to compromise, transforming into a wisp of ghostly energy and returning into Lin Zitong’s body.
Lin Zitong continued to ride Treading Snow, searching the area.
Although the Imperial City was not as vast as the Inner City, it was still too large for just three people to search inch by inch.
Moreover, even though Huo Ban was temporarily sealed, Lu Huai, Empress Afang, and Chu Wu still existed in the Inner City. If their situation there concluded, it would be Lin Zitong’s turn.
Thus, time was still of the essence. Lin Zitong raced against the clock, searching within the Imperial City.
However, the Imperial City was immense. After searching for nearly half an hour, Lin Zitong found nothing.
The seemingly luxurious palaces were actually empty, let alone containing anything that could instill fear in Huo Ban.
Lin Zitong couldn’t help but ponder: what could possibly make Huo Ban afraid?
Was it an object, a magical artifact, or perhaps… a person?
As Lin Zitong was contemplating, a palm-sized paper effigy suddenly descended from the sky, blocking her path.
Lin Zitong’s heart sank. She instinctively assumed it was Chu Wu.
But upon closer inspection, the paper effigy before her was entirely different from Chu Wu’s. Its craftsmanship felt familiar, more like… A Gong?!
A flicker of joy flashed across Lin Zitong’s face. With a wave of her hand, the paper effigy on the ground floated to her, speaking in a human voice:
“Sister-in-law.”
Lin Zitong exclaimed in surprise, “A Gong? Is that you? How did you get here?”
The paper effigy raised its small hand to explain, “We received news of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum’s collapse and rushed over. Later, on the surface, we encountered Li Genmiao’s subordinates and a group of Ghost Kings. It was Senior Li Zhongxi who turned the tide and held them back, allowing us to enter the Imperial Mausoleum.”
Lin Zitong understood. Li Genmiao’s subordinates were Chu Wu and his group, and the so-called Ghost Kings were Shi Jing and Yu Jinhong.
It seemed A Gong and the others entered the Imperial Mausoleum after Chu Wu.
A Gong asked confusedly, “Where’s Brother Yan?”
“He…”
Lin Zitong opened her mouth, but ultimately decided to withhold the full truth for now. “He is currently in great trouble, and I am trying to find a way to help him.”
A Gong quickly replied, “We encountered Chu Wu in the Inner City. He was fighting two zombies. Luo Ning told us not to interfere. He Xiping suggested we take a detour into the Imperial City, and on the way, we met the expert team that entered the mausoleum with you.”
“Are Professor Liang and the others alright?” Lin Zitong asked.
“They are all safe. To prevent them from being caught in Chu Wu’s crossfire, we brought them into the Imperial City.”
If it were before, Professor Liang and the others entering the Imperial City would have been a suicide mission. But now, with Lu Huai and Empress Afang in the Inner City, the Imperial City had ironically become the safest place.
Lin Zitong’s heart suddenly stirred, and she asked again, “Where are you now? I’ll come find you!”
The little paper effigy flew directly onto Treading Snow’s head, beginning to guide Lin Zitong.
Lin Zitong gripped the reins and, under the paper effigy’s guidance, arrived at a secluded palace.
Based on her understanding of the Imperial City’s layout, this should be Qin Shi Huang’s hậu cung.
Upon reaching the gate of a courtyard, the little paper effigy instantly turned into a ball of fire and turned to ashes.
Lin Zitong understood then that A Gong and the others were within this courtyard.
Before she could dismount, her many companions pushed open the door to greet her.
Long Feicheng, A Gong, Luo Ning, Wang Jiwang, He Xiping, Zhao Yiyao, Weng Qianxiang – the entire team was there.
If anyone was missing from the team, it would be Old Jin, who was still with Qin Ye at the Small East Gate, looking after Ma Xingping.
Luo Ning, seeing her sisterly friend, also showed a joyous expression and quickly beckoned Lin Zitong to dismount.
“Quick, come inside!”
Lin Zitong dismounted and stowed Treading Snow. Seeing her companions, she was suddenly overcome with emotion, her eyes involuntarily reddening.
Long Feicheng quickly said, “Oh my, sister-in-law, what’s wrong? Did Brother Yan do something to wrong you?”
Lin Zitong was a strong woman, and a very intelligent one at that. Long Feicheng felt that if they were in a palace drama, he wouldn’t survive three episodes under Lin Zitong.
An intelligent strong woman wouldn’t easily shed tears, would she?
Long Feicheng felt there must be something wrong!
Zhao Yiyao glared at Long Feicheng and quickly took Lin Zitong’s hand to comfort her. “What happened?”
Lin Zitong shook her head, hastily wiping away the tears about to fall from the corner of her eyes, and briefly recounted the events at the Mercury River to everyone.
Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly astonished.
The bronze coffin in the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum contained not Qin Shi Huang, but Huo Ban?
Huo Ban, a descendant of Lu Ban from over two thousand years ago, had reappeared in the world, and had apparently planned for a long time to possess Yan Ge’s body?!
But this was not what concerned them the most.
What they cared about most was Yan Shouyi, who had sealed himself and Huo Ban together using the Demon Subduing Divine Seal, and his current condition – was there still a chance for him to be rescued?
Lin Zitong said softly, “There must be something in the Imperial City that can restrain Huo Ban. As long as I find that thing, I can break the seal and kill Huo Ban!”