The Eternal Way

"Are you going to let me go?!" Shen Shuibei looked at Young Master Zhu in surprise.

"Not letting you go, but rather sending you with my messenger to find Luo Fu Niangniang and tell her that the Witch God Mountain is willing to accept her and bear the pressure from the Tang Dynasty," Young Master Zhu explained.

"Oh... but I have one more question, Esteemed Diviner..." Shen Shuibei hesitated. "I heard that originally, all of Baiyue wore animal skins. Why are you all wearing Tang Dynasty clothing now, and even the latest styles?"

This time, she didn't get an answer because Young Master Zhu's expression changed, and he angrily waved his sleeve.

*Bam!* Shen Shuibei felt as if her head had been struck by a hammer!

Then, she felt her soul forcibly detached from her body. Everything around her became blurred and uncontrollable, as if she was falling without form, becoming a spirit.

The surroundings were filled with indescribable howls; wooden floors and walls offered no resistance.

Suddenly, it felt like she was bound by ropes and pulled back.

She saw strange scenes flash by, everything seemed distorted.

Then, she saw the Avici Hell.

Five hundred yojanas of the burning hell emerged, where hellish beings wandered amidst fierce fires, boiling and cooking human bodies, causing countless souls to cry out in agony.

However, these hallucinations did not last long. Soon, she was dragged back into her body.

Her heart still pounding, unable to speak.

Shen Shuibei clutched her chest, feeling nauseous.

"I've engraved a mark on your soul that only the Witch God Mountain lineage knows. This mark also serves as a letter, containing the message I want to convey to Lady Luo Fu."

"This thing has no tracking function, so you can rest assured. If I wanted to find Lady Luo Fu, I could simply take you back and use you as a sacrifice for divination," Young Master Zhu explained, though his face still looked somewhat grim.

"Then, my messenger is that person." Young Master Zhu walked to the window and pointed at Li Qi below.

Without waiting for Shen Shuibei's reaction, he vanished instantly.

Leaving the rabbit demon bewildered in place.

---

Li Qi was sleeping soundly.

Honestly, he rarely slept this well. After eating his fill and drinking enough, sleep was very comfortable.

Besides, he had spent two days and nights running mostly through mountain paths, utterly exhausted. It was perfect to finally rest.

After all, no one could run a marathon for two days and nights and still sleep poorly.

However, while sleeping, he suddenly felt someone nearby.

Almost instantly, Li Qi rolled over and got up!

He still had 992 Great Deer Wu Zhu coins on him! Even when sleeping, he dared not be completely unconscious.

But after getting up, he turned to look and almost fell to the ground, nearly tripping.

Because standing before him was the young scholar who had appeared in the Lìzhuàng Gang!

"Shh, don't shout. It's late at night, shouting would disturb people and attract others," Young Master Zhu put a finger to his lips and whispered.

Li Qi was startled but quickly calmed down.

This young scholar could casually bestow divine inheritance and techniques. Now, he had silently appeared before him...

He had no chance of resisting this person, so there was no point in struggling.

Moreover, appearing by his side at night couldn't be just out of boredom; he must have some request or plan involving him.

What could such a big figure possibly want from a poor boat puller like him?

To such a person, what might truly interest him... would probably be the identities of Outer Path item and Outer Path person.

Thinking of this, Li Qi felt a chill but stood still, awkward yet alert.

Though he knew vigilance was useless.

However, since this person hadn't killed or abducted him immediately, it meant he still had value for conversation. To gain the upper hand in the conversation... he needed to understand what the other party wanted from him or needed him to do, and then... even if he didn't try to haggle, he could still gain something.

At least... prevent this big shot from developing murderous intentions towards him, right?

Li Qi thought helplessly.

"My surname is Zhu, you can call me Young Master Zhu," the young scholar introduced himself to Li Qi.

Li Qi immediately bowed deeply: "Little one greets Young Master Zhu. Since you seek me out at this hour, surely there is an important matter. I will certainly comply and be at your service!"

"Hmph, you're quite smart, much better than that ungrateful woman earlier," Young Master Zhu smiled, his previously grim expression easing a bit. "You guessed correctly; I indeed have something to ask of you. But before that, there's one thing I need to tell you."

"Do you know, you're about to die," Young Master Zhu said with a smile, patting his palm.

Li Qi's heart skipped a beat but soon calmed down.

If the other party mentioned his imminent death, it likely meant there was some unknown danger approaching, possibly life-threatening.

However, since Young Master Zhu had already acknowledged he had something to entrust to Li Qi, mentioning his impending death clearly indicated this big shot intended to intervene and solve the problem, likely asking Li Qi to repay his favor by completing the task.

Li Qi immediately bowed low: "Master! My life is insignificant, unworthy of regret, but I fear delaying the important matters you wish to entrust to me..."

Young Master Zhu nodded approvingly: "Although I know your sincerity is limited, it shows you're intelligent. Do you know that the incident at Lìzhuàng Gang was orchestrated by me, targeting the Outer Path item and person. Do you know why I did this?"

"Although it happened suddenly, given its significance, I've been pondering day and night, trying to piece together the clues... but your plans are too grand, and I am like an ant facing a mountain, able to see stones and trees but not the whole mountain..." Li Qi respectfully replied, though somewhat hesitant.

"I believe you have the ability to infer the whole picture from a glimpse. Let me give you a few clues, and you can deduce the situation yourself. If you can't do that, it will be difficult for me to entrust you with the task," Young Master Zhu said.