"Heh heh," the old man's eyes flashed sharply before he chuckled awkwardly, "That makes some sense."
"Give me a bag."
Tao Bai grabbed a copy of Vista Watching the World and several newspapers—Kuangxi Daily, Southern Metropolis Daily, Contemporary Life, and Liucheng Daily—stuffing them quickly into the bag.
"Ten yuan and seventy cents."
"Keep the change."
Tao Bai tossed down a brown banknote and strolled away, bag in hand.
The kiosk owner watched Tao Bai's retreating figure, then pulled out a small phone book. He flipped to a familiar number, picked up the receiver, and dialed....
Late autumn in Liucheng brought short days and long nights.
Just past four o'clock, the sun was already preparing to set.
Stacks of straw piled up in the fields after the autumn harvest.
In the distance, someone was burning straw, thick smoke billowing with its distinctive scent.
Several kilometers away, cooking smoke curled from village homes. Inside the wood shed of a mud-brick house, a boy of seven or eight stood on tiptoe, pouring water from a bright red plastic dipper into a large iron pot.
He then sat on a small stool, fiddled with the dying embers, and used blackened tongs to prop up the logs.
Creating space for the flames to spread.
He then picked up a bamboo bellows, puffed out his cheeks, and blew vigorously into the fire.
After walking along the country field ridges for half an hour, Tao Bai arrived at a deserted spot on the outskirts of Liucheng.
Autumn winds swirled fallen leaves across the ground.
The rustling of red cloud-patterned shoes on withered foliage mingled with the fluttering of his crimson robe.
Tao Bai slowly turned to face the wind, its gusts sweeping his dark hair back.
"You've followed me this entire way,"
Tao Bai said calmly.
"What might be the meaning of this?"
"Throw us a few bucks to spend?"
"How much do you want?"
"All of it."
Tao Bai gave an almost imperceptible snort.
"You want over five million?"
"Of course!"
Declared the leader.
"The more the better!"
Echoed another.
"You have over five million in cash on you?"
The third man eyed Tao Bai suspiciously.
Tao Bai chuckled at this.
"Why would BenZuo joke with the likes of you?"
"Let's get out of here."
The man turned and strode away.
"Third Brother... what's that supposed to mean?"
The leader asked.
"Sir, we can't be bothered with this freak. One less person means more money for us."
The other six watched Third Brother leave without much concern, not even a word to stop him.
"Pick up two bills each. If you don't want to leave after taking the money, then stay."
Tao Bai pulled a stack of bills from his pocket and casually tossed over a dozen red notes.
Fifteen eyes watched him scatter the cash, yet none bent to pick it up.
Instead, their gazes grew even more intense.
The real treasure was what he held in his hands—
That bulging red robe concealed over five million...
By now, greed had completely clouded the minds of the eight men.
They didn't even stop to think—how many pounds would five million yuan weigh?
A man wearing a black eye patch, his face twisted in a vicious grimace, waved a folding knife in his hand.
"Throwing change at beggars?"
"Fourth Brother's right."
"Yeah, we're no beggars."
"Cash, bank cards—hand over everything of value!"
Another chimed in.
Taobai's gaze swept over them, his tone gentle as he pleaded,
"Think of your parents, wives, and children.
Two hundred yuan is more than enough for a windfall.
Take some money home.
Don't get blinded by greed.
Don't ever do this kind of murderous robbery again."
"Brothers, after this job, each of us gets sixty or seventy thousand! Our chance to strike it rich is right here!
Anyone who wants to back out, get lost!"
"Fourth Brother, cut the crap. Let's do this!"
With that, several men charged at Tao Bai, knives raised.
Moments later, their souls were drawn into the Blood-Link Mill.
The sensation of flesh and bone being pulverized by the relentless grinding of the Blood-Link Mill filled the eight souls with bitter regret.
The Qiankun Gourd absorbed their malevolent energy, while the crimson flames consumed their physical bodies.
...
At five minutes to five in the afternoon, Old Wang pulled his navy blue security uniform tighter around himself, rubbing his hands and exhaling sharply—
The late autumn wind of northern Guicheng cut like a knife across his face, unbearably harsh.
Old Li, coming in for the shift, pedaled hard on his bicycle, a plastic box nestled in the basket.
Old Wang caught the scent of snail noodles from a distance.
"Got held up an hour this afternoon, bro. I'll come an hour early to take over tomorrow."
Old Wang grunted a response through his nose, then pointed to the last page of the logbook:
"The light by the wall near Building 12 is out. Check it out when you get there."
Old Li signed while replying, "Got it. You head back to home, I've got this covered."
...
Night had fallen completely, with only the occasional chirp of insects.
Usually, wild boars, muntjac, and other animals would appear on the hillside near the village at night;
It was rarely as quiet as it was tonight.
But perhaps sensing the aura of the Wind-Devouring Bug crouching beside Tao Bai, those animals had all become cautious.
Tao Bai reclined on a long, slender tree branch, flipping through newspapers and books in his hands.
For an ordinary person, lying on a branch like this after dark would be difficult—
Not only could they not read, but one wrong move could send them tumbling down.
In seven years, the changes in this world could truly be described as earth-shattering!
Military, economy, automobiles, modes of transport, technology, electronic products...
Every field was advancing at breakneck speed.
The country known as the leader in economy and technology, America, was changing even more with each passing day.
"Interesting. I'll go see it for myself if I get the chance."
This place wasn't like the Immortal Realm, yet it offered entirely different landscapes and sensations—
Well worth exploring.
How exactly was the Tao family wiped out seven years ago?
Few knew the Tao family's true address, and Shen Bing was one of them.
Nine years ago, they met through business dealings and fell in love.
A year and a half later, Tao Bai took her to the Tao family estate, where they pledged their marriage on the spot.
Another half-year passed before I was dragged into a dark room...
All these crucial details pointed subtly toward his fiancée, Shen Bing.
Was it really her?
Had she been carrying out some mission all along, using our relationship merely to gain my trust?
How long must she have been planning this?
Could it be that something belonging to the Tao family had long been coveted by cultivators?
Why did I have absolutely no recollection of this?
Tao Bai tossed the Vista magazine behind his head as a pillow, his thoughts racing.
It looks like I'll have to make another trip to the White Cloud Villa.
Around ten o'clock that night, Tao Bai returned to the security booth.
"Hey, old man, just asking about something."
Tao Bai said, handing a pack of Zhenlong Shengshi (True Dragon Prosperity) cigarettes toward the guard booth.
Old Li took it, his eyes lighting up instantly.
"Zhenlong Shengshi! How much did you pay for these?"
"Someone gave them to me."
Hearing this, Old Li—a seasoned smoker himself—
Couldn't help but regard Tao Bai with newfound respect, though a flicker of suspicion crossed his mind.
Late at night, dressed in a Taoist robe...
Could someone have hired a Taoist priest for a ritual in the neighborhood?
"Ask away."
Old Li lit the cigarette, drew a deep drag, let the smoke linger in his lungs, then exhaled slowly.
He smacked his lips and said.