The man in ancient costume did not answer but took out a short sword from his sleeve and handed it to Yu Daochen. "Kang Long Jian is not on me. Use this to manage for now."
Yu Daochen took the short sword and examined it closely. It was entirely black, with an incredibly sharp blade. Wasn't this made of Soul Suppressing Stone?
"This is made of Soul Suppressing Stone," Yu Daochen said, his eyes shining as he looked at the short sword.
The man in ancient costume nodded. "That's right, it is indeed made of Soul Suppressing Stone. I got it from Old Huo."
Upon hearing that it was from Old Huo, Yu Daochen suddenly remembered that he still needed to help him find the female ghost. It had been almost three months, and he hadn't even started looking.
"Don't interact with that guy anymore," the man in ancient costume said.
"Who are you talking about?"
Yu Daochen was a bit confused about who this person was referring to.
"The guy who was talking to you just now," the man in ancient costume glanced at Yu Daochen.
Yu Daochen then realized who he was talking about. "Brother Liao?"
The man in ancient costume let out a soft snort. "Asking the obvious."
After saying that, he walked towards the backyard.
Yu Daochen watched the man in ancient costume head towards the backyard, shook his head helplessly, and lay down on the rocking chair, falling asleep.
Xu Yaya was sleeping in the room in the backyard, and Qiang Zi's fiancée was using the attic room upstairs. Therefore, he could only make do with the rocking chair for the night, though he was used to it.
"Brother Yu, wake up, it's time to eat." A woman's voice sounded.
Yu Daochen yawned and opened his eyes halfway. He saw that Xu Yaya had already prepared the meal.
"What time is it, Xiao Ya?"
"It's already half past twelve, Brother Yu," Xu Yaya said with a smile.
Yu Daochen stood up and stretched. He had returned at four o'clock last night. He glanced over and saw that Xu Yaya had already brought the dishes to the front shop.
He sat down on a chair by the table. Xu Yaya placed a bowl of rice in front of Yu Daochen. "Brother Yu, when did you get back?"
"Three thirty in the morning," Yu Daochen said, picking up a piece of braised pork and putting it in his bowl, then taking a couple of bites.
"Have there been any customers in the shop these past few days?" Yu Daochen asked, his mouth full of braised pork.
Xu Yaya thought for a moment and began to speak. "It seems like two people came to the shop, but you said you weren't here and didn't need to receive guests, so I told them to come back in a couple of days."
Yu Daochen nodded. When he left, he had instructed Xu Yaya to tell any customers to come back in a couple of days.
After eating, Yu Daochen, as usual, lay on the rocking chair and closed his eyes to rest. The dishes naturally fell to Xu Yaya to clear.
*Beep beep*
As Yu Daochen was lying there, his phone suddenly rang.
Yu Daochen took out his phone and saw that it was Old Biao calling. He pressed the answer button, and Old Biao's voice came through. "Master Yu, I have some leads on the person you asked me to find."
Upon hearing that Old Biao had leads, Yu Daochen said happily, "Really? Is it reliable?"
"Master Yu, don't you trust me to do my job?"
Old Biao's lewd voice came from the phone.
When he was still in Yulin, Yu Daochen had called Old Biao to ask if he knew anyone familiar with the Greater Khingan Range. After all, he had never been there, let alone knew where Yin Chen Valley was. The Greater Khingan Range was not like small mountains; it would take at least ten days to half a month to walk from the outside into the depths of the forest.
Yu Daochen rolled his eyes. This guy messed up nine out of ten times.
"But I'm leaving tomorrow," Old Biao added.
Yu Daochen nodded. It just so happened that he had something to do today, and he would leave directly tomorrow. He didn't know what was happening with Qiang Zi. If that guy really met with an accident, then Su Qing, who was lying upstairs, would truly be entrusted to him.
"Oh, right, Old Biao, have you found any news about the ghost I asked you to find?" Yu Daochen remembered the task Old Huo had given him and asked again.
There was a pause of several seconds on the other end of the phone before he replied, "Not yet. We haven't received any information about the ghost you mentioned here."
Yu Daochen nodded. Jiangdu was so vast, finding a ghost was no different from searching for a needle in a haystack.
"Alright, then keep an eye out for me."
Old Biao on the other end of the phone grunted. "No problem, I'll keep an eye out for you."
After chatting casually for a few more sentences, Old Biao mentioned that someone would come to the shop tomorrow and hung up the phone.
Yu Daochen went to the market to buy some things he would need for tomorrow, then began his冥修 (ming xiu - meditation/cultivation).
Time passed quickly. When Yu Daochen opened his eyes and came to the front shop, it was already six o'clock in the afternoon. The sun was lingering on the mountaintops, dyeing the surrounding sky red. The setting sun shone into the shop, casting its light on Yu Daochen's pale face.
A moment later, Xu Yaya came to the front shop with dishes. "Brother Yu, dinner is ready."
Yu Daochen nodded and sat down on a chair by the table.
"Brother, do you want some?" Xu Yaya suddenly called out towards the backyard entrance.
Yu Daochen turned his head in confusion and saw that the man in ancient costume was standing at the backyard entrance at some unknown time.
The man in ancient costume shook his head. "No."
Then he looked at Yu Daochen. "I'm going out."
Yu Daochen nodded and instructed, "Be careful on your way."
The man in ancient costume grunted and walked towards the door.
Author's Note:
I apologize, my dears. I was supposed to have a burst of updates, but I suddenly came down with gastroenteritis and wasn't feeling well. I'm sorry, but rest assured, a burst of updates is definitely coming tomorrow.