Excessive ferocity due to caution

"no……"

No one could speak, but Xu Qing's eyes darted around, as if she had suddenly thought of something.

She immediately spoke:

"Thompson, I want to be in your group."

"I just had a sudden inspiration and thought of the sequel to this story, which I can tell you while I'm looking for that person..."

What happens next in this story?

Thomson's face showed little emotion.

Because he was no longer that interested in the story.

"If you want to be in a group with me, that's fine too. We can be a group of three."

Xu Qing was stunned for a moment:

"But if we do that... someone will be left alone."

"Being alone in such an environment is extremely dangerous!"

Thomson said:

"Then let's form groups of four."

Xu Qing glanced at Zhao Yi, and said unwillingly:

"But that would significantly reduce our efficiency in finding people..."

Thomson was slightly impatient:

"Let's continue our conversation after we find Yunxia!"

Xu Qing, who was good at reading people, sensed the slight impatience in Thomson's tone.

She didn't dare to really offend Thomson.

So she could only helplessly say:

"All right……"

Currently, reality is deviating somewhat from the story they told.

But this seems to be a good thing.

This means that reality doesn't always unfold according to the stories they tell.

Even if they were in a terrifying situation, or even if Zhao Yi framed them, they could still survive!

Thomson's choice, while disappointing to some of the other trial participants, also gave them hope!

They certainly didn't realize that reality didn't unfold according to their story because, in Thomson's case... their story had already been rejected.

After the group split into teams, each carrying a torch, they left the room in the dojo and headed to other places to search for Yunxia.

The pitch-black road and the desolate, empty dojo had a tremendous impact on everyone!

As they walked, the group called out Yunxia's name.

But whether it was because the rain outside was too heavy, or for some other reason, the trial participants could hardly hear each other's voices even when they were only a dozen steps apart.

It was cold and damp.

Damp.

After leaving the room where the portrait was enshrined, everyone felt a strong sense of unease, as if something might jump out from the dark corners around them at any moment...

Only then did they realize how important the brazier with its burning flames was.

Zhao Yi was paired with Thomson.

They weren't moving fast; they were more like taking a stroll than looking for someone.

The latter rubbed his hands together, his face beaming with excitement.

"Mr. Zhao, um..."

Zhao glanced at him and asked:

Do you have any cigarettes?

Thomson's eyes lit up, and he magically produced a pack of cigarettes from his person and handed it to Zhao Yi.

The latter lit a cigarette with a torch, put it in his mouth, and spoke in a strangely sinister tone.

"It's no fun just listening to made-up stories..."

"I'm going to tell you something real."

Upon hearing this, Thomson raised an eyebrow.

"The real thing?"

Zhao Yi turned his face and looked calmly at Thomson.

"Thompson, tell me honestly, when you last saw these gym leaders, weren't they already in pretty bad shape?"

Thomson remained silent for a long time after Zhao Yi's question.

"The Taoist priest... is very old."

Zhao nodded.

"Just as I guessed."

He paused, then looked around suspiciously before leaning close to Thomson's ear and speaking in a very low, suppressed voice:

"The Taoist priest you know... is very likely still in this Taoist temple."

Just one sentence gave Thomson goosebumps!

Unlike fabricated stories.

The owner of this dojo is someone Thomson actually knew when he was young.

Moreover, in Thomson's mind before his death, he truly believed that the nameless Taoist priest had ascended to heaven in the end.

Before he died, he visited the Taoist priest's temple, which was in the same state of disrepair as it is now.

He did not find the Taoist priest.

Later, the Taoist priest's disciple said that the priest had ascended to heaven in broad daylight.

Thomson has always firmly believed this.

But now, Zhao Yi tells him that the person he thought had ascended to immortality... has always been hiding in this Taoist temple!

"Mr. Zhao..."

Thomson tried to compose himself.

"You've seen what's going on with this dojo."

"Judging from the state of abandonment of the dojo, no one has lived here for at least several years!"

"How could the Taoist priest still be living here?"

Zhao Yi exhaled a smoke ring and suddenly blurted out:

"I never said that the Taoist priest was still alive..."

A damp, cold wind suddenly blew through the dilapidated corridor.

It was like something whispering in my ear.

biting.

Thomson shuddered violently and looked around suspiciously.

Zhao Yi's words reminded Thomson of the time he visited the Taoist priest many years ago.

But at that time, he went alone.

It was pouring rain, and it rained for many days in a row.

He lived in a dilapidated dojo and nearly starved to death.

Looking back now, if the Taoist priest hadn't died back then, wouldn't he have been hiding in a dark corner, secretly watching him?

The thought of this made Thomson feel terrible.

"Mr. Zhao, what evidence do you have?"

If the storytelling by the fire pit had previously been exciting, now Thomson was beginning to feel some fear.

In just a few words, he had completely immersed himself in the role!

Zhao Yi continued to lead the way towards the corridor stairs.

"Do you remember the room where the brazier was just now?"

Thomson nodded.

"I remember it very clearly."

Zhao Yi:

"There were many offerings placed on top, but they were all overturned..."

Thomson breathed a sigh of relief:

"Hi……"

"So that's what it is."

"Mr. Zhao, as you know, this is deep in the mountains and forests. Because no one is watching over the house, all sorts of small animals come here during the day."

"Especially rats and the like, they scurry around everywhere and inevitably knock things over..."

Zhao Yi squinted:

"I'm sorry, Thomson."

"I can tell you with absolute certainty... the offerings were definitely not spilled by rats or wild animals from the forest!"

P.S.: Second update.

Updates will resume at normal, mortal time tomorrow!

Goodnight, my darlings!