When Li Mu returned to the Blessings Hotel, Wang Zhen had surely woken up, and his mental state was very good. With the help of Bai Ru, he could already get out of bed and take a little walk.
By their side stood Wang Shiwu, who was immersed in great shock and ecstasy.
At this time, Wang Zhen and Wang Shiwu had calmed down slightly.
The whole family was anxiously waiting for Li Mu. When they heard the knock on the door, Bai Ru opened the door immediately and said, “Ah, Little Mu, you are back.”
Li Mu, carrying boxes filled with chicken soup and fish soup, entered the room. He looked at them and said, “Yes, I’m back. It seems that Uncle Wang has recovered well. Let’s have something to eat and gain some strength first. Then, we can take our time to discuss other matters.”
Li Mu had added in the soup some herbs that he had obtained in the Everlasting Heaven, which had a miraculous effect.
“Immortal Li… Thank you, Immortal Li. You saved my father. I…” Wang Shiwu rushed over in a surge of gratitude. With a thud, he knelt on the ground and was about to kowtow.
“Hey? Oh, no, no, no, I can’t let you do it…” Li Mu raised his hand, and a gentle force gushed out, lifting Wang Shiwu up in the air. Then, he said, “Shiyu and I are friends. If she knows that you kneel down to worship me, I guess she’ll rip my ears off when I get back.”
“Hell no! This guy might be my future brother-in-law. What nerve do I have to let him worship me?”
Wang Shiwu gazed at Li Mu with shock and gratitude.
He was a firm atheist, but the force that just lifted him up was really not something ordinary people could produce. It was like magic.
“I know you. You are Li Mu from Randengsi Village.” Wang Zhen said after he got to his feet. He was panting a little but in good spirits.
Back then, he was also a teacher working in the school that Li Mu attended. Although he had not taught Li Mu himself, he knew the kid. At that time, Li Mu was also a straight-A student. Adding that he was an orphan, many teachers in the school took extra care of this boy.
“Professor Wang, we meet again. How are you feeling now?” Li Mu asked with a smile, handing the chicken soup and fish soup to Bai Ru.
“I’m much better. Not only have I recovered, but I also feel like I’m several decades younger.” Wang Zhen had a very good personality and was elegant and open-minded. So, by far, he had not shown the slightest emotion of surviving a disaster.
Li Mu said, “I know that uncle, auntie, and Brother Wu are all dying to learn about Shiyu’s current state, so let’s talk about it now. In fact, when Shiyu came to Randeng Temple to see me, we took a walk to Mount Shaozu. All of a sudden, we encountered a mysterious space-time crack and were whirled into it…”
With a little embroidery, he told them what happened that year.
When it came to the part that Wang Shiyu was taken in by Lord Virtuous the Eighth of the Northern Song and became his adopted daughter, the Countess of a big empire, Wang Zhen and his family breathed a sigh of relief. Bai Ru held Wang Zhen’s hand tightly, and a big man like Wang Shiwu also could not help but burst into tears.
In the past few years, the family’s biggest nightmare was what happened to Wang Shiyu.
The kind of tormenting and suffering from neither seeing their daughter alive nor dead gave them both hope and despair. It was even worse than hearing the bad news about Wang Shiyu and plunging into devastation directly. In particular, every time when they woke up from dreams at midnight, they remembered that in the fresh dream Wang Shiyu was tortured and humiliated somewhere in the world. That kind of feeling was enough to make the strongest person collapse.
But now, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The miracle that Li Mu had displayed before had completely convinced them, though the whole thing sounded like an absurd myth or a supernatural fiction.
“Shiyu is now at the most critical moment of practicing her Cultivation Method. Since she couldn’t cut her practice short, she asked me to bring you a lot of treasures in the immortal world. When she finishes her practice and gets out, she will come to see uncle, auntie, and Brother Wu.”
As Li Mu spoke, he took all the gifts that Wang Shiyu had packed out of the storage space.
In addition to some magic herbs, elixirs, and jewelry, there were a lot of gold and silver utensils, as well as some simple warlock talismans and enchanted jade medallions. Those objects could build up one’s body and repel diseases if one wore them.
Given Wang Shiyu’s status in the Northern Song, it was easy for her to obtain those things.
When Wang Zhen and the other two saw Li Mu fished out so many things out of thin air, their eyes were blurred.
There was also a letter Wang Shiyu wrote to her family.
When Bai Ru saw the handwriting on the letter, she finally cried out loud. The handwriting was too familiar. After the whole five years, she finally saw her daughter’s handwriting again.
Tears welled up in Wang Zhen’s eyes as well.
Li Mu smiled, then, activated a jade medallion.
“There’s also a clip of what Shiyu wants to say to you.”
A video was projected on the wall from the jade medallion. Cladding in the Purple-ribbon Holy Robe, a girl looking like the Fairy of Ninth Heaven appeared in the projection as if she were having a video chat. But of course, her words were recorded before Li Mu left the Divine Land.
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In Randeng Temple.
“He can’t have escaped, can he?” The middle-aged black-faced Taoist stood under the big parasol tree at the gate with impatience, looking out at the mountain road in the village at the foot of the mountain.
“There’s no escape for him. All the routes in and out of the whole Baoji City have already been sealed off. The three great families in the northwest, as well as our Flowing Cloud Temple, the Labrang Monastery by the Summer River, Mount Kongtong, and even one of the seven sects, the Star Observing Sect have all sent people here… The entire Baoji City has already become a tight dragnet. Even a bird can hardly get out of the net. How can that little guy escape?”
The horse-faced Taoist assured him confidently by his side.
After leaving Mount Maiji, the people of the Flowing Cloud Temple drove for another hour. Speeding up all the way regardless of the speed limit, they finally arrived at Randeng Temple at noon.
However, they ran into the black-clad man carrying a box and the hot girl who had arrived long before. After a brief confrontation, the two parties quickly reached an agreement.
An invisible large dragnet had spread out in Baoji City.
According to their plan, they would first catch Li Mu, then, interrogate him together. The information Li Mu might spill would be shared within the two parties.
“By the way, the beauty with the red lips we saw just now is really stunning. She is an absolute knockout.” The middle-aged black-faced Taoist abruptly changed the topic and clicked his tongue.
The horse-faced Taoist looked across at once and yelled, “Do you want to die? That’s a member of the Li family on Mount Hua. If you gossip behind their back, you won’t even know how you’re going to die.”
The middle-aged black-faced Taoist priest looked embarrassed and Way, “Do we Flowing Cloud Temple fear the Li family? Senior fellow apprentice, you are being too careful. I heard that the black widow of the Li family has countless…” Before he finished his words, a gun fired with a bang. The middle-aged black-faced Taoist was shot in the knee and fell to the ground with a howl.
10 meters away, the beautiful woman with red lips gently blew the barrel of her gun, the Super Red Falcon. She smiled and said to the two Taoists, “Sorry, I missed it…”
The Super Red Falcon ranked fourth among the most threatening pistols in the world. That shot almost blasted the middle-aged black-faced Taoist’s left knee, leaving only the skin and flesh linking his thigh and shank. Next to him, the horse-faced Taoist was too frightened to do anything.
The gunshot startled everyone inside or outside the Randeng Temple.
Footsteps sounded.
“If you have any problems in the future, feel free come to me. My phone number is…” Li Mu left his phone number and turned to leave.
Up to the point that they went back to the hotel room after seeing Li Mu off, Wang Zhen and his family were still immersed in great excitement.
Now they were finally convinced that Wang Shiyu was really alive and might return one day.
All of that was like a dream.
Looking at his parents who were lost in exhilaration, Wang Shiwu heaved a long sigh of relief.
He couldn’t wait to share this news with his girlfriend, Su Yutong.
But the moment he took out his phone, he thought of the words Director Su Hanwei told him and felt hesitant.
In the end, he gritted his teeth nonetheless and dialed the familiar number.
However, the response on the other end of the line was the busy buzz. No one answered the phone.
After three or four calls that did not get through, Wang Shiwu’s handsome face was slightly murky.
“Director Su, this is Fan Zu’ang, Deputy Commander of the strategic support department.”
In a seemingly ordinary khaki minibus heading for Randeng Temple, Su Cuo, who was dressed in sleek military uniform, introduced a young man sitting in the back row to Su Hanwei in a businesslike fashion.
Su Hanwei was a little nervous.
He never expected that the famous military official was actually so young, just about 30 years old. He had thick short hair, a square face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a distinct facial outline. He appeared to be very dignified with the air of soldiers’ unique perseverance and fortitude.
“Salute, Chief.” Su Hanwei made a not very standard military salute.
Fan Zu’ang gave him an exceedingly standard military salute in return. Then, he said with a smile, “Director Su, this is not a formal occasion. I came here just to find someone. It’s a private trip, so I didn’t inform the local institution. And I’m sorry to trouble you, Director Su.”
“This is what I should do.” Su Hanwei was still quite tense.
Fan Zu’ang said, “Director Su, you’ve been working in Baoji City for 15 years. Have you heard that there was a Master Li who once lived in Randeng Temple? Did he adopt an orphan named Li Mu?”
Su Hanwei racked his brain for a while and hastily said, “There was such a person. He was very famous in the villages and counties around Baoji City. He made a living by examining geomancy and holding wedding ceremonies and funerals… In the north of Shaanxi Province, people in the country liked to do such things. It’s just an expression of their wish for good luck, not anything like superstition. As for this Li Mu, I can also recall him. He was a very smart boy. But five years ago, he mysteriously disappeared. The villagers in Randengsi Village even reported this to the police. The local bureau also sent people to look for him. Unfortunately, they never found the boy.”
Fan Zu’ang glanced at Su Cuo and gave an inconspicuous nod.
Everything could be linked up now.
Before coming here, the military department had certainly investigated Li Mu’s personal file first. It was no difficult task. After chatting with Su Hanwei, it was indirectly confirmed that there was indeed a man named Li Mu. And the time for his disappearance matched Li Mu’s previous confession.
“Chief, are you here to look for Master Li?” Su Hanwei kindly reminded him, “Three years ago, Master Li left Randengsi Village. It’s said that he went to travel around the world. So, perhaps he is not there anymore.”
“No, it’s Li Mu that I’m looking for. But if I can also meet Master Li, it will be the best.” Fan Zu’ang replied with a smile.
“Uh, looking for Li Mu? For what? He’s back now?” Su Hanwei asked without thinking.
Su Cuo shot a look at her younger brother and said reproachingly, “Don’t ask things that you shouldn’t know.”
Su Hanwei was staggered at that remark. He quickly nodded and muttered, “Yes, yes, yes.”
He had been afraid of his elder sister since he was a child. 30 years had passed since they last met. So, he was astonished to see that his elder sister was still so young, exactly like she was 30 years ago. She had not grown old at all. If her expression, appearance, and tone were not exactly the same as the Su Cuo 30 years ago, Su Hanwei would really buy that the woman in front of him was actually his elder sister’s daughter.
“You are that Li Mu?”
At the gate of Randeng Temple, dozens of people dressed in different clothes stood in a row, looking up and down at Li Mu, who had just arrived.
He was finally back.
Some of them were already out of patience.
Numerous eyes were cast on Li Mu, studying him, surveying him.
His height and physical proportion made their eyes immediately light up. He looked more robust and dexterous than ordinary people. Dressed in a black sports suit, he seemed energetic and full of life. But that was how far his appearance brought him. Overall, he could just be considered a fairly brilliant college student, and no one could see anything special about him.
Some of the eyes revealed a trace of disappointment.
Some people shook their heads, as though regretting their extravagant operation.
Such an ordinary person was not noteworthy at all in their eyes.
“Where is your grandfather? Where is his hiding place?” A middle-aged man in a Tang suit demanded rudely.
“Kid, spit it out. What did your grandfather send you back for?”
“Where did he hide the dragon skeleton?”
The dozen people started to bombard Li Mu with a million questions.
Li Mu’s eyes swept over those people and felt a little disappointed.
They were just a group of small potatoes.
Logically speaking, the old faker should not have felt threatened and left Randeng Temple because of those people.
“Little brother, don’t be afraid. Tell me, where did your grandfather go, honey?” With a charming smile on her face that could make countless innocent men’s hearts thump, the beauty with red lips came over and said, “As long as you tell me, I will teach you how to ‘shoot’, okay?”
As she waved her fair hand, the Super Red Falcon elegantly rotated between her fingers like an obedient top. Her tone was filled with seductiveness.
Some people sneered, waiting to see how this young man would make a fool of himself.
The charm of the black widow was well-known in the country. Many famous figures had prostrated beneath her miniskirt and worshiped her. They were head over heels for her and could not extricate themselves from the intoxication. The attractiveness of a mature knockout was not something that a young man like Li Mu, who had little experience in relationships, could resist.
However, to their shock, there was no change of emotion on Li Mu’s face, which was still as calm as a frozen lake.
“Why are you looking for my grandfather?” Li Mu inquired, gazing at the red-lipped stunning beauty with composure.
The stunning woman obviously did not expect such a reaction from the young man.
She was a little surprised.
Therefore, she got closer to the boy with a tempting smile. Her breath smelled like orchid, and her plump body and fair skin constantly lured men to do something illegal. She said softly, “Little brother, why are you so cold to me? Am I not beautiful? Well, I’m looking for your grandfather because I want to make a deal with him…”
Before her voice faded—
Li Mu had already turned to look at others with disappointment and impatience, saying, “Here are three questions. I will only ask you once. Seize the opportunity. First, what is the dragon skeleton? Second, why are you looking for my grandfather? Third, who asked you to find my grandfather?”
“You brat, how dare you question us instead? Idiot, haven’t you figured out the situation yet?” The horse-faced Taoist of the Flowing Cloud Temple stepped out. Staring at Li Mu, he raised a hand, and a beam of light shot out.
A flying knife flew out and swept past Li Mu’s ear before piercing into a wooden pole behind him, sinking into it the width of three fingers. The end of the broadsword buzzed for quite a while. The power of that attack was comparable to a gunshot.
“You’d better answer our questions honestly. Otherwise, next time, the flying knife will hit your left eye.” The horse-faced Taoist said insidiously.
