Welcome to the Bizarre Games

Chapter 168 Reminder
"I am here--"

Out of habit, Lu Xiuyuan responded first, but Zhou You gently patted his shoulder and then took over the conversation.

"Excuse me, we have something to attend to here. Please wait a moment."

The novice monk outside the door paused for a moment, then continued.

"But the host..."

"—I said, wait a minute."

The sounds outside the door stopped.

Then Zhou You turned to Lu Xiuyuan and said.

"Then, Chief Escort, let's continue. What happened before?"

Lu Xiuyuan looked at Zhou You as if he didn't recognize him, and then said in a low voice.

"I don't know if it was just my imagination, but I saw it at the time."

He recounted what he had seen and heard, and after listening, Zhou You fell into deep thought.

He had heard of this before.

In the script of Tai Sui, his master—that is, the Poisonous Old Taoist—once said that this state is the disease of separation of soul, which is usually caused by the separation of the two souls, 'Corpse Dog' and 'Hidden Arrow', from the body. This can also explain why Zheng San Dan's state is so weak—anyone who loses two of their three souls and six spirits will become like this.

But then a question arises—how exactly did he lose it?

Zhou You frowned and fell into deep thought.

Was it an accident caused by evil spirits or a ritual performed on him...? And why did he suddenly disappear afterwards? Could he have been murdered?
However, just as he was thinking, Lu Xiuyuan suddenly spoke up to remind him.

"Um...Master, the abbot seems to be waiting for us."

Zhou You exhaled a breath of stale air, and then said.

"Let the young monk come in. Perfect timing, let's go ask the abbot if he saw anyone on his side."

The door opened, and a handsome novice monk stood outside. Upon seeing the two, he clasped his hands together and bowed.

"Excuse me, has the Master finished his business? If it's not too much trouble, please come with me. The Master would like to discuss with you all the matters concerning your descent from the mountain."

He spoke calmly and slowly, showing no trace of the resentment he felt from being rejected and waiting. He was as peaceful as a highly accomplished monk who had attained enlightenment for many years.
-
Half an incense stick later, in the lecture hall.

"disappeared?"

The host, Liao Chen, also looked completely astonished.

Then he scratched his bald, wrinkled head and said.

"There aren't any wild animals or anything like that in these mountains. How could a grown person just disappear like that? Have you searched the surrounding area?"

—The same words, the same rhetoric, and upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyuan's eyes immediately dimmed.

However, he still held onto a sliver of hope and said to Chen.

"Abbot, I just wanted to ask if you could ask the monks in the temple to help search? After all, our escort agency only has this many people in total, and there's a child with him, so we really can't search too far."

Abbot Liao Chen still had that kind and benevolent look—Zhou You had never seen him show any other expression since they met—and then answered gently.

"It's alright. I'll give the order to the novices in the temple to go and look for them. If we really don't have enough manpower, I can also call on the monks who are fasting and practicing in the back mountain to come and help you look for them."

Lu Xiuyuan was so moved that he didn't know what to say. He hesitated for a long time before finally managing to utter two words.

"Host."

Liao Chen simply waved his hand.

"No need to mention this small matter. Chief镖头 Lu, you've done me a great favor, so I have to repay you somehow. Oh, right, I almost forgot, I actually have a serious matter to discuss with you all."

Lu Xiuyuan replied gratefully, "Please speak, Master."

Liao Chen said with a smile.

“Chief镖师 Lu, didn’t I say before that we would clear the roads in our temple once the rain stopped? In previous years, the rain might have continued for a while, but thanks to the Bodhisattva, the rain has lessened considerably in the last few days. Although it hasn’t completely stopped, at least we can get to work. So I’m informing you, Chief镖师, that you can go down the mountain in another two or three days.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyuan was overjoyed.

He had been worried these past few days, fearing that the esoteric sects would catch up with him, but now he unexpectedly had the opportunity to leave ahead of schedule.

But then, something else occurred to him, and a sorrowful expression returned to his face.

“Master, I appreciate your kindness, but we need to find Zheng Sandan first before we talk about anything else. After all, I'm the one who brought him out here. Whether he's alive or dead, even if he's just a corpse, I have to bring him back.”

Liao Chen seemed somewhat surprised, but in the end he nodded understandingly.

"We've known each other for so many years, and I understand what you mean, Chief Escort. Here's what we'll do: I'll send people to look for it right now. Anyway, the temple and the back mountain aren't that big of a place; they should be able to find it no matter what."

But suddenly, a novice monk pushed open the door and whispered something in the abbot's ear.

Russian qing.

Liao Chen suddenly smiled and then said to Lu Xiuyuan.

"Looks like we don't need to. Congratulations, Chief Escort, we've already found the person you were talking about."
-
It only takes a cup of tea.

It is still the lecture hall.

Lu Xiuyuan was furious and started cursing loudly.

"Where have you run off to, you little bastard! Do you know how much effort the entire escort agency has put in to find you?! I'm about to vomit blood from worrying so much because of this little mess of yours!"

Right in front of him, Zheng Sandan, covered in mud and dust, revealed a simple and honest smile.

"Chief镖师, I'm so sorry, I felt terribly unwell last night, so I thought I'd go for a walk in the back mountain to clear my head. But who knew the path would be so slippery? I lost my footing and fell into a pit. And that pit was so deep that I couldn't climb out by myself. Just now, a hermit monk happened to pass by and pulled me out."

Since the other party had said that, Lu Xiuyuan couldn't say anything more. In fact, he was more pleased than angry.

Now that the person has been found and the road is almost open, the opportunity to escape is just around the corner, so how could he not be happy?

Looking at this scene, Na Liaochen's smile grew even more benevolent. He waved his hand, signaling the novice monk who had brought the message to leave first, before addressing the crowd.

"Now that the person has been found, I still need to make arrangements for clearing the road, so I won't keep you any longer. Please go back."

Lu Xiuyuan quickly said a few polite words, then pulled Zheng Sandan out. Zhou You looked at the two figures, seemingly lost in thought, but in the end he just shook his head slightly, picked up his sword, and followed them.

But at that moment, Liao Chen suddenly spoke again.

"Master Zhou, please wait a moment."

Zhou You turned around and gave a calm smile.

"Abbot Liaochen, is there anything I can help you with?"

The monk's face flickered in the candlelight as he slowly opened his mouth and spoke.

"Actually, it's nothing serious. I just wanted to remind you that the nights haven't been very peaceful lately. Please be careful and remember to keep your doors and windows closed and don't wander around aimlessly."

After saying this meaningful sentence, Liao Chen closed his eyes and remained silent.

Zhou You looked at that expressionless face, frowned, and then bowed.

"Thank you, Abbot. I, the Taoist priest, am..."

"got it."

(End of this chapter)