Along the way, San Hu and Yu Daohen chatted intermittently.
The village was about two hours away from the shop, but with less traffic at night, San Hu arrived at the shop entrance in about two hours.
Yu Daohen opened the car door and got out. "Brother San Hu, why don't you come in and sit for a while?"
San Hu pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled slowly. "No, Master Yu. I still need to find a cemetery tomorrow."
Yu Daohen nodded. "Then I'll trouble you, Brother San Hu."
San Hu waved his hand. "Don't mention it, Master Yu."
After a few more polite words, San Hu turned the car around, stepped on the accelerator, and the white van drove away.
Yu Daohen watched the white van until it disappeared from his sight before turning back to the shop entrance. He took out his key, inserted it into the lock, and turned it gently, then pushed open the wooden door with a heavy shove.
Creak.
The wooden door was pushed open. As Yu Daohen was about to switch on the power.
"Why are you back so late?"
A voice came from the side. Yu Daohen jumped, his hand gripping the Kang Long Jian loosening slowly. "Why did you come out of the well without my permission?"
As he spoke, Yu Daohen pressed the power switch.
A man in ancient costume was sitting on a chair by the tea table. "Do I need your permission to come out?"
Seeing that Xu Yaya was not there, Yu Daohen asked, "By the way, where is Xiao Ya?"
Normally, this little girl would have waited for him to return.
"It seems she went to help because the shop was short-handed," the man in ancient costume said, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.
Yu Daohen felt something was wrong. If this little girl were to leave, she would at least call him. He took out his phone and found that it was dead.
But speaking of which, he had never been to that Western restaurant before. He must go and see it when he had time.
"Take this with you. You can't take it off, whether you're sleeping or bathing," the man in ancient costume said, taking a necklace from his sleeve and throwing it to Yu Daohen.
Yu Daohen caught the necklace and examined the purple crystal on it. "What is this?"
"Evil warding stone!"
As soon as the man in ancient costume finished speaking, he turned into a wisp of white smoke and drifted into the backyard.
Yu Daohen hung the necklace around his neck, feeling a bit helpless. He hadn't asked for its name, but for its function.
Yu Daohen put the Kang Long Jian and his backpack in the counter and walked towards the house in the backyard.
Entering the house, he first charged his phone and then went to the bathroom to take a cold shower.
He turned on the shower, and cold water flowed down from his head. Yu Daohen slowly relaxed his body. Those in this line of work always put their lives on the line, and their nerves were constantly taut.
After the cold shower, Yu Daohen lay on the bed. He turned on his phone and saw that Xu Yaya had eight missed calls.
Yu Daohen placed his phone on the pillow. Xu Yaya should be asleep by now. She probably called him because she wanted to help at the Western restaurant. He would go to the Western restaurant tomorrow to check it out.
Touching the purple crystal on the necklace, Yu Daohen became more curious about the function of the evil warding stone. After thinking for a moment, he picked up his phone, found a number, and dialed it.
If he asked that guy, he probably wouldn't bother with him. He could only ask someone else.
"Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off. Please try again later."
Yu Daohen muttered, "What is this Qiangzi doing? Why has his phone been switched off for the past few days?"
Ever since he obtained the spirit pearl last time, Zhang Xiaoqiang's phone had been switched off. He didn't know what that guy was up to.
Yu Daohen placed his phone on the table. This time, carrying the coffin had exhausted him.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, his phone suddenly rang.
Yu Daohen was a little confused. It was so late, and he was the one calling others. Why was someone calling him?
He picked up his phone and saw that it was Zhang Xiaoqiang.
Yu Daohen pressed the answer button. Before he could speak, Zhang Xiaoqiang on the other end of the line said, "Master Yu!"
Yu Daohen frowned. Hearing Zhang Xiaoqiang's tone, it seemed like something had happened. "Qiangzi, did something happen?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before he spoke again. "I can't explain it clearly over the phone. I'm in Yunnan now!"
"Where in Yunnan? I'll come find you!" Yu Daohen said directly.
There was silence on the other end of the line. Yu Daohen knew that given Qiangzi's personality, he wouldn't call him unless he encountered insurmountable difficulties.
"Stop talking nonsense. You know my strength, don't be so hesitant. Tell me where you are," Yu Daohen said.
Zhang Xiaoqiang on the other end of the line hesitated for a moment and then said, "Lijiang, Yunnan!"
Yu Daohen grunted. After a few casual words, they hung up.
Yu Daohen put down his phone and sighed. He had just resolved one issue, and another one had already come up.
The next morning, Yu Daohen got up early to pack his things.
"Are you going on a long trip?" the dragon fish in the fish tank poked its head out and asked.
Yu Daohen nodded, then took three sticks of incense from the drawer and placed them in front of the jade pendant.
Zhang Jingyi in the jade pendant rarely spoke.
"Don't worry, I've already called Xiao Ya. She'll feed you."
As he spoke, Yu Daohen put on his backpack, hung the Kang Long Jian on his lower back, and prepared to leave.
"Where are you going?"
At some unknown time, the man in ancient costume was already standing at the entrance of the backyard.