Cold sweat broke out all over my body instantly, and I stared at them with all my might.
How did these two damn things manage to follow me?
I left the City God Temple with the same caution and care as Tako. I didn't feel followed at all.
There's a saying that goes, "If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear from the ghost knocking on the door."
Although I haven't done any bad deeds, I guess I'm just cursed with misfortune.
Being watched like that makes it hard not to feel guilty...
My body became tighter and tighter, and I couldn't help but break into a thin sweat on my forehead. Suddenly, they flew higher, moving towards a more distant direction, the gray mist surrounding them grew thicker and thicker, until they gradually disappeared into the night.
Coincidence?
Are they coming out to do something else and just happened to encounter me?
Or perhaps, they noticed something strange about me in some way?
I stood frozen for quite some time before I finally regained my composure.
As I was about to continue walking forward, in the distance, the double flashing lights flickered twice, and a white sports car roared up, stopping beside me.
The car window rolled down, and Tako's cute face was still tightly compressed.
"Get in."
"How did you come back?" I calmed down slightly.
"I'll take you with me, so you can die faster and save me the trouble of worrying about it," Tako said, giving me a disdainful look with her white eyes.
I smiled and got into the passenger seat.
"You can still laugh?" Tako's expression was one of sheer disbelief.
"No, it's because I think you're more genuine now. Before, no matter your aura, expression, or speech, there was a deliberate and provocative demeanor about you. Now it's different," I replied honestly.
"Real? Deliberate?" Tako's gaze shifted at me slightly, as if she hadn't expected me to distinguish between them so clearly.
"Before we go, I have something to tell you," she said softly, and her eyes showed a hint of tenderness.
"I have to admit that, at your age, you already master several schools of ninth-flow arts and have a very sharp eye. I thought you were really a blank sheet of paper and therefore not enlightened," she admitted.
"I didn't expect you to have seen through some things."
"But you're really too impatient and overly confident. The danger of Plague Ghosts is completely different from blood hatred. If you hadn't died that day in the villa, it's because she was your mother, or perhaps you have some kind of ace up your sleeve, but none of that stands a chance against a Plague Ghost."
"You still have deep enmity with Sun Dahai and Sun Zhuo, don't you? According to my investigation, your father has disappeared without a trace, and there are also great secrets in the Luo family. For a butler's daughter, you risked your life. Who will avenge you?!"
"Tako's persuasion became more and more intense, and she didn't seem much older, giving off a kind of compassionate vibe."
Her actions actually instilled in me a glimmer of trust and warmth.
Rationally speaking, such emotions shouldn't be present towards someone I've only met a couple of times.
But she fits the two words perfectly, sincerity.
I speculate that Tako might have some sort of scheme or manipulation planned, but in front of me, she is absolutely sincere and devoid of insincerity.
"Thank you," I said, my tone softer and more sincere.
"So, what can be done and what cannot be done, you understand now?" Tako said, a slight smile on her face.
"I understand. However, the two things are not conflicting." I replied honestly.
"Ro Xian Shen, I really want to throw you out of the car..." Tako bit her lip tightly, her face flushed red.
"I added, 'I think it won't be the Plague Ghosts that make me foolishly risk my life.'"
Tako furrowed her brows slightly and said, "Huang uncle has confirmed that..."
I interrupted her, saying, "That's just his judgment. The change in the earth's energy is indeed a sign that something from ten years ago was overlooked, but if the Plague Ghosts really want to target the City God Temple, why wait for ten years? Why would they first cause the earth's energy to tremble and alert the temple, and then something happen?"
"I think that's also a separate issue. The fire at the City God Temple was caused by someone else."
"And the Plague Ghosts feed on ghost energy, is it meaningful to choose more ferocious ghosts to eat?"
I spoke very quickly.
Tako nodded only now, and the confusion in her eyes gradually increased. Clearly, she believed what I said to be true.
"That's the crux of the matter, if so many ghosts were taken away by Jiwen, why not move those two demons?" I asked Tako.
Tako immediately explained, "Those are not ordinary evil spirits; don't you even know about Siye?"
I shook my head.
Tako bit her lips again before continuing, "Siye, the Erbaishen, the patrol ghost of the City God Temple, wanders around at night, appearing next to any injustice and informing the City God, recording it in the books."
I narrowed my eyes, "Siye, so bizarre. I only knew the City God Temple as a boundary area. It seems that this is just the tip of the iceberg."
However, I was also very clear-minded and continued, "Your point is that the Plague Ghosts are not Siye's match? Then since Siye can sense the changes in the earth's energy, it should be able to detect it, unlike the Plague Ghosts that can swallow Siye's ghost energy. They wouldn't keep it around!"
My words came out resoundingly.
Tako was completely captivated by my words.
"Seems like it might actually have some merit? Let's go back and tell Huang uncle." Tako quickly replied, starting up the car.
"Let's not find him yet; it's meaningless. We should first figure out what the situation really is," I said, indicating for Tako to drive into the city.
At this moment, Tako's attitude towards me is completely different.
There's no longer the earlier irritation, but instead, a more intense curiosity.
As we drove deeper into the city and there were more cars on the road, I instructed Tako to stop the car and I got out.
Tako was slightly confused and asked me what I was going to do by getting out.
I told her honestly that I needed to go back and prepare, and I wanted to figure out this matter. It's not going to be that simple.
But after I get to the bottom of it, I'll be in touch with her at any time.
Tako nodded and said, "I can drop you off, right?"
"No, thanks." I declined politely.
Although my trust in Tako has increased, I don't want any third party to know about my residence in the city village, besides Tang Quan and me.
Tako, deep in thought, finally stopped the car by the side of the road. After I got out, she drove away.
By the time I returned to the old Tang family mansion, the moon had already disappeared into the clouds.
Tang Quan stood stock-still in front of Tang Qianqian's altar within the house, with white smoke constantly swirling around, even the courtyard seemed to be hazy.
On the table, there was a dirty wooden box that was tightly sealed, as if it had just been dug out of the ground.
The woman wasn't in the yard anymore, and there was a mound of earth under the peach tree.
Tang Quan wavered and turned around, seeing me and tremblingly called out, "Master."
I walked quickly into the hall and spoke first, "Tang uncle, Tang Qianqian is fine temporarily."
It was clear that he had almost reached his breaking point after waiting for me all night.
"Did you find her, Master?" Tang Quan asked carefully.
"By tomorrow night when it's dark, Tang uncle, you can rest assured that I will definitely find her," I said decisively.
Tang Quan's expression became much more stable.
Then, he turned his head towards the wooden box on the table.
