Da Xia, Nan Yue Province.
It was already 11:30 PM, but the night market in Nan Yue Province was still bustling. As one of the provinces known for Da Xia's eight major cuisines, it offered a variety of delicacies, with many nourishing soups being a specialty, and slow-cooked soups being a prominent feature here.
Just then.
Inside a nourishing soup restaurant.
"Slurp~"
Old Man Liu Shu held a bowl of old hen and wild ginseng soup in both hands and drank it:
"As expected of a nourishing soup, it's truly delicious. This old man likes it very much."
As he spoke, he seemed to recall something and couldn't help but chuckle:
"It's a good thing Zhang Wei isn't here. Otherwise, if he saw this old man drinking wild ginseng soup, he'd definitely tease me again."
With his words.
He glanced at the menu in the restaurant, contemplating whether to order all the soups there.
Since his trip to Xishuangbanna, Old Man Liu Shu had followed Zhang Wei's advice and continued his travels in Da Xia. During this period, he had visited two more cities and killed three Ghost Kings, accumulating some 'wealth' for Zhang Wei. Now, he had arrived in Nan Yue Province.
*Ding ding ding.*
A phone call interrupted Old Man Liu Shu as he was about to call the waiter to order more soup. He picked up the phone and saw it was Zhang Wei calling.
"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."
Old Man Liu Shu put down his soup and answered the phone:
"Zhang Wei, why are you still awake at this hour? You're only in your twenties, still growing. You should sleep early and wake up early. Is there something you need from this old man?"
"Old Man, I'm usually doing waist exercises or playing games at this hour, not sleeping. But I do have something to discuss with you. Where are you now?"
"In Nan Yue Province, at a shop specializing in slow-cooked soups. Should this old man send you the address?"
Old Man Liu Shu thought Zhang Wei wanted to come find him and sent the address first.
In response.
Zhang Wei spoke frankly:
"Old Man, I'm not looking for you. I received news that people from the Senluo Division are going to find you."
"Oh? The Senluo Division is looking for this old man?"
Old Man Liu Shu's kind smile changed, and his eyes became serious.
During his travels in Da Xia, besides sightseeing and killing Ghost Kings, he had also learned about the Senluo Division. He knew about the events in the Northeast and understood the power of the Senluo Division. Even though he considered himself to have a bit of skill, he couldn't guarantee his safety against the Senluo Division.
Is it because of Zhang Wei that this old man is also being targeted?
He thought about Zhang Wei being targeted by the Senluo Division and assumed he was also targeted because of it, saying:
"Alright, this old man understands. I will be careful in my actions recently and avoid being found by the Senluo Division."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Zhang Wei's voice immediately came through the phone:
"No, no, no, Old Man, you misunderstood. I said the Senluo Division is looking for you, and you absolutely must let them find you."
"Ah???"
Following Old Man Liu Shu's exclamation.
*Ding! Old Man Liu Shu is dumbfounded. Huh? Did I mishear, or did Zhang Wei say something wrong?*
*Host has obtained System Points +200.*
*Ding! Old Man Liu Shu is bewildered. Could it be that this old man has been spending money lavishly recently, and Zhang Wei can't stand it and is angry? Is he going to send me to my demise? It's not that serious, is it? I haven't spent that much.*
*Host has obtained System Points +220.*
System prompts also sounded.
Zhang Wei chuckled, thinking that the old man had been overthinking things lately. He quickly explained:
"Old Man, don't misunderstand. There's something I need your help with."
Following that.
Zhang Wei did not hide anything and revealed that Fatty, the Tailor, and Huahua were in the Senluo Division. They were his companions, currently undercover in the Senluo Division, and the Tailor was the Soul Summoning Banner. The Senluo Division wanted to use the Soul Summoning Banner to force Old Man Liu Shu to become one of them.
*Ding! Old Man Liu Shu is stunned and shocked. My heavens, has the Senluo Division... been infiltrated by Zhang Wei?*
*Host has obtained System Points +240.*
Thinking that he would soon be entering the Senluo Division himself, Old Man Liu Shu's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but murmur:
"This old man feels... that Zhang Wei's ghost back tattoo is more fitting to be called the Senluo Tattoo."
Afterward.
Old Man Liu Shu calmed his emotions, and a gleam flickered in his old eyes:
"Since it's Zhang Wei asking for this old man's help, I naturally won't refuse. It's just that my acting skills are a bit poor. Will I be exposed?"
"It's fine, it's fine. Old Man, you just need to pretend to be controlled. Besides, Brother Fatty and the Tailor will be assisting you."
"Alright, then this old man will try his best."
"Then I won't disturb you anymore, Old Man. You can start preparing. I think the Senluo Division will find you soon."
When the call ended.
Old Man Liu Shu stopped ordering soup and stroked his white beard, contemplating:
"How should this old man act when the time comes? It's a headache. This old man has only watched opera, not TV dramas. I hope I don't mess it up."
...
The next day.
Around midnight.
Nan Yue Province, on a street near a night market.
Old Man Liu Shu was strolling through the night market as usual. Halfway through, he sensed a ghostly aura, and judging by its intensity, it was at least at the Ghost King level.
Without overthinking.
He followed the ghostly aura to this street. As soon as he entered, he sensed something. He looked up and surveyed the deserted street, which was now filled with an eerie chill.
"Ghost Domain?"
Old Man Liu Shu frowned.
At that moment.
With a meow, three figures emerged from the deserted street ahead.
Upon closer inspection.
The newcomers were two men and a cat. One was a胖子 (pàng zi - fatty) holding a blood-red banner, a young man wearing reading glasses, and a plump tabby cat.
"Just as you said, Fatty, Old Liu Shu is addicted to killing Ghost Kings. He was lured here as soon as he smelled the Ghost King's aura."
As he spoke.
The bespectacled man pushed up his reading glasses and addressed Old Man Liu Shu, who was trying to break through the Ghost Domain:
"Hello, Old Liu Shu, the one in front. Let me introduce myself. I am from the Senluo Division. You can call me Glasses. Beside me is Otaku, and this is Huahua. Don't struggle, Old Liu Shu. This is a Ghost Domain created by Otaku using the Soul Summoning Banner, a national-level ghost artifact. You cannot break through it."
After speaking.
Without any warning, Glasses suddenly attacked, appearing before Old Man Liu Shu in an instant. The eyes beneath his reading glasses emitted a bloodthirsty chill. He spread his fingers and pressed them towards Old Man Liu Shu's chest.
His attack was swift and terrifying.
It was so fast that ordinary people could barely capture it with their eyes. The power was so immense that just by extending his hand, the buildings in this Ghost Domain, which formed the deserted street, were shaking, as if this place were about to collapse under his palm.
However.
Old Man Liu Shu still reacted. Without any hesitation, he raised one hand from his cane-holding grip and met the attack head-on.
*Boom!!!*
The earth trembled.
With their palms colliding as the center, it was as if a meteorite had fallen from the sky, unleashing a monstrous impact. Rolling waves of energy swept in all directions.
The booming sound exploded like thunder during a typhoon.
In an instant.
This street caved in, and everything around it, including buildings, flowers, and trees, turned to dust. Even those further away were overturned and cracked. The bustling deserted street was reduced to ruins at this moment, all because the two of them had exchanged a single palm strike.
Their collision was as quick as it was over, happening in less than a blink of an eye.
Then.
Glasses grinned and, without saying anything further, leaped back to Fatty's side, excitedly saying:
"As the rumors say, Old Liu Shu, you are very strong. You truly live up to your reputation of being three to four hundred years old."
After testing Old Man Liu Shu's strength and deeming him worthy of becoming a member of the Senluo Division,
Glasses, while praising him, did not forget to state his purpose. Just like when he invited Huahua, he bowed slightly and invited Old Man Liu Shu to join the Senluo Division.
Then.
Glasses saw.
Facing his invitation, Old Man Liu Shu frowned, a hint of anger on his kind face. He gripped his cane heavily and struck the ground, creating a dull thud like that of a cauldron. The already sunken ground sank several more meters.
"You expect this old man to associate with scoundrels like you? Do you think this old man would agree?"
Old Man Liu Shu roared.
His voice was so loud that it made the surroundings rumble.
At this moment.
Glasses, whose attention was focused on Old Man Liu Shu, did not notice that this action by Old Man Liu Shu caused Fatty and Huahua beside him to exchange glances, seeing the meaning in each other's eyes.
They were communicating silently.
"Holy crap, didn't Zhang Wei say Old Liu Shu couldn't act? Isn't he acting pretty well? Where's the Oscar statuette? Hurry and present it to the old man."
"Meow~ Old Liu Shu is acting really well~"
...
(PS: The third update is here. An extra update for the Qixi Festival for all the readers! Wishing all readers a happy Qixi Festival!)