In an instant, I made up my mind to partner with Fei Fang but not right now.
Lacking in strength, I'll only be led by the nose.
"Where do we go after leaving Jian Yang? You decide!" I answered with a serious tone.
Jia Ying's eyes suddenly brightened, and she nodded in agreement, "Alright!"
Fortunately, the booth in this old tea house has soundproofing similar to what Mo Yousan used in his shop. Otherwise, our conversation would have been enough to shake the Underworld Realm.
Although I didn't answer the question openly, it was just that I was thinking, and agreeing to Jia Ying's request directly doesn't count as keeping her in the dark.
After all, she knows about my parents' situation. Perhaps she has also thought about these things, but because she thinks it's dangerous, she let me leave Jian Yang.
...
For now, I'll let Yu Xiu follow Jia Ying. Only then did I leave the old tea house.
On the streets of the Underworld Realm, there were plenty of people coming and going, all keeping their heads down and walking alone.
By the time I arrived at Xiu Yang Residence, the door was open, and there were quite a few people in the passageway. The person behind the counter had their abacus moving with a cracking sound.
Even across from the Underworld Realm, there were many guests sitting in the tavern, with the tall guy moving around to pour drinks for them.
Only one seat was empty.
That's the table that Fei Fang always sits at.
I walked straight into the tavern and sat down at that table.
Instantly, a guest nearby glared at me and said in a low voice, "Do you know whose seat this is? Don't you dare sit here! If you don't want to…"
"A bump!" The sound was dull, like a head hitting the ground.
The tall man's large hand, like a fan, was pressing down on the head of the person speaking.
The man struggled but couldn't even get a grip, and he had already passed out.
"Lord Luo, the master said that if you came and he wasn't here, I should close the shop and bring you to drink tea,"
My eyelids were fluttering wildly.
This tall man, who was still pouring drinks for people just a moment ago, was overthrown to the ground in just a sentence!
More importantly... Isn't there a rule in the Underworld Realm not to fight?
The other guests in the tavern looked at the tall man with extreme caution, none daring to speak as they stood up, left some money on the table, and quickly walked out.
The tall man stood up, his hand still gripping the unconscious person's head, dragging him out of the tavern and tossing him out with a casual flick.
The person's companions rushed forward and lifted him up. Then they sprinted away towards the other end of the street.
Although the crowd was dispersing, I noticed many gazes, all staring at me with a hostile intent.
In fact, I try to keep a low profile in the Underworld Realm to avoid attracting unnecessary attention and trouble.
And it turns out that this tall man, with just this one act, has shattered my usual caution...
The people gathered at Xiu Yang Residence are all formidable in strength...
He was the one who beat up that guy for me... and said that Fei Fang saw me... This is too high-profile...
"Lord Luo, please." The tall man returned to my side and made a polite gesture, inviting me.
Taking a deep breath, I followed the tall man out of the tavern and directly into Xiu Yang Residence.
The passage on both sides were boss's counters, and there was a small standing cabinet with drawers behind it.
People in simple clothes, dressed as the shopkeepers, were just looking at the tall man, as if afraid he would break something.
Those standing in the passage moved cautiously along the counter, making way.
At the end of the passage is a staircase. The layout on the second and first floor is similar, except that there are two shopkeepers at each counter. They stand still, but seem to be dozing off as if they're closing their eyes.
I walked through the passage on the second floor and reached the end.
Based on the layout, this should be the entrance on the first floor.
This room looks out onto the street outside.
Push open the door and step inside. The room is decorated in an extremely classical, tranquil manner.
The left and right walls, as well as the wall with the door, are all lined with cabinets. The items on display in the empty spaces come in various shapes and styles, appearing to be of considerable value. However, there are also some eerie items such as skulls of human heads and cenotaphs for bones…
By the window is a tea tray, exquisite and elegant.
The tall man walked over slowly; his size made handling the tea set seem like playing with a child's miniature toys. After that, he gestured for me to sit opposite the tea tray.
After I sat down, I waited quietly.
He brewed a pot of tea and poured me several cups. I drank them all.
I checked the time on my phone; half an hour had passed, and Fei Fang hadn't shown up.
The tall man didn't stop his actions, continuously brewing and pouring tea.
I drank at least thirty cups of tea in a row, and even the little teacups that can be bent with two fingers were somewhat over the limit.
Fei Fang still hadn't shown up...
Restlessness began to rise in my heart, but the tall man pointed in a certain direction.
I only then noticed that there was a very discreet door there!
I was thinking that Fei Fang must be inside, but the tall man said, "Toilet."
I: "..."
I heard a faint running water sound, and the tall man poured me another cup of tea.
"Can't drink anymore, don't pour more..." I tried to suppress my frustration.
I stood up and went to use the bathroom.
When I came out again, I saw Fei Fang!
The tall man stood respectfully aside, pouring tea for Fei Fang, and my cup of tea was full.
Fei Fang smiled and nodded, "Back so quickly. The Luo family always acts swiftly. I suppose you've succeeded?"
Tightening my throat, I heaved a sigh, and my mood somewhat calmed down.
I took out the small package wrapped in the bamboo paper from Yinshan, approached the tea tray, and handed it to Fei Fang.
Fei Fang didn't take it directly but instead pulled out a pair of gloves from under the tea tray.
The white cloth gloves were densely covered in symbols.
After he took it, the package suddenly jumped violently with my eyes.
Fei Fang's hand quickly inserted into the package, and it returned to its normal state.
"It seems you have a very powerful anti-supernatural item on you. You can keep this heart like this?" Fei Fang's gaze was intense.
My heart slightly contracted, but I didn't respond.
Fei Fang opened the paper package, revealing the corpse heart.
Previously, the corpse heart was black-red in color, but now it had a texture like jade or stone.
Fei Fang's eyes lit up again and he murmured, "Do you know that this corpse heart should have been at Xiu Yang Residence long ago? Years ago, Xiu Yang Residence issued a notice for a master to raise a hundred corpses' hearts. Wu Zhongkuan from Qi Village took this notice, but within a few years, he died."
"However, luckily for me, I took it back this time. The corpse heart is actually better than I expected. Perhaps the corpse mountain and flesh forest retracted before it was taken down?"
"That's great, very good. Your strength far exceeds my imagination. I thought you would carry a large coffin."
Fei Fang's words caused my expression to change slightly.
The "corpse mountain and flesh forest" were actually intentionally used to nurture the corpse heart?
Was it still the task taken by Wu Zhongkuan?
If the "corpse mountain and flesh forest" hadn't retracted, would this heart have been the size of a coffin?
I didn't elaborate much; I simply said, "Apart from the underground master, I also want something else."
"Oh?" Fei Fang still carefully examined the corpse heart. He looked at me with a glance, saying, "Go ahead, say what you want. Simple requests, I'll fulfill them. If it's troublesome, it won't work."
"Of course, since you and I are working together, I can offer quite a few benefits." Fei Fang's words did not sound at all arrogant; they were very normal.
"Black leather concealed pouch." I said.
Fei Fang's hand clearly shrank slightly, gripping the corpse heart tightly.
The corpse heart, resembling jade, seemed to twitch again, as if in pain.
"Rightly asked by the head of the Guangsi Division, right?" Fei Fang said in a mysterious tone, and his look at me was slightly strange.
I couldn't explain it, but I felt something was off.
"Do you know what the black leather concealed pouch is used for?" Fei Fang suddenly asked.
I shook my head.
"To raise ghosts," Fei Fang replied.
"I can have someone send it to the Guangsi Division. You're requesting an item, which means you owe me a favor. The value of this item is not less than the underground master's body from a disembowelment."
"Now, you can still back out," Fei Fang said.
"After thinking for a few seconds, I replied, 'The head is waiting outside the commercial street. You don't need to send it to the Guangsi Division.'"
"I am curious, how did a ruthless, profit-driven, and extremely shrewd head of Guangsi Division convince you to help him? You should know that the Luo family has had the most cooperation with Guangsi Division in the past, and they take the biggest share of the profits. The previous Incarnation of Xiu Yang Residence was ready to act when Guangsi Division ran away first." Fei Fang asked me again.
A suffocating feeling rose in my heart.
Why do so many people say that the headman has ghosts?
Although this is not everyone, but the Yellow Uncle of City God Temple, Maurice San with his profession of collecting corpses, and Fei Fang...
already count as the top three in their respective fields...
I haven't even mentioned Mengying...
The headman in front of me seemed to be doing very well...
I also believed Mengying's words, that they were friends with benefits, and it was best to reduce contact...
But Fei Fang's words felt like the final straw that broke the camel's back.
The discomfort I had earlier became more intense.
"It seems that either Wu Yong has changed his nature or he has better disguised himself. You are a very cautious person, and you were on your guard with me, but you agreed to do this thing for him."
"I do hope that he has changed his nature, but I would still advise you that once a mountain, always a mountain."
"Xu Jin, you go and deliver the black leather concealed pouch."
Fei Fang glanced at the tall man.
The tall man nodded, slowly walking out.
Suddenly, the room was left with only me and Fei Fang.
"Wait." Fei Fang suddenly called out to Xu Jin again.
"Warn Wu Yong that unless the Ro Xian Shen actively seeks him out, he must not seek out the Ro Xian Shen himself. Otherwise, Xiu Yang Residence will pursue him to death."
Xu Jin nodded before continuing to leave the room.
My expression changed again.
"Is the problem with him that serious?" I asked Fei Fang in a hoarse voice.
Fei Fang smiled and replied, "I'm not sure, haven't I said that he might have changed or might be even better at disguise? I just don't want him to come to you. But you can go see him if you like. But I warn you, it's best not to. Wu Yong's cunning is recorded in Xiu Yang Residence, and anyone who knows about it has died."
"Mmm, before completing our cooperation with me, I don't want any accidents to happen to you. So, you'd better not go see him."
"I'll give you something."
Fei Fang took out another item from under the tea tray, a wooden pendant about two finger-widths long and two fingers wide, resembling a box...
