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Chapter 39

The old knife parked the car further away but in a spot that allowed him to observe the hotel entrance clearly. He relayed his observations to Xing Shen, “The car stopped in front of the hotel, but the driver hasn’t exited. It looks like they’re picking someone up.”

He added, puzzled, “Brother Shen, since you haven’t smelled anything, it’s not a terrestrial owl. What could the grasshoppers be reacting to?”

At that moment, the grasshopper remained silent, likely sensing that the distance was steady and the target was near. It clung to the right window, its thin back rising and falling with each breath.

Xing Shen replied, “I don’t know, but there must be a reason.”

Before the old knife could respond, Xing Shen’s phone rang. Initially reaching for his own phone, the old knife realized it was Xing Shen’s and quickly retrieved it from the armrest compartment. He glanced at the screen and said, “Brother Shen, it’s Uncle Jiang.”

Xing Shen nodded. “Pick it up.”

The old knife answered the call and handed the phone to Xing Shen. Although Xing Shen was adept at handling everyday situations, he struggled with using a phone due to his visual impairment. While he could answer calls, distinguishing the content on the screen was challenging, so he relied on others for assistance.

The old knife couldn’t hear the conversation, but Xing Shen’s expression indicated that the news wasn’t good. After hanging up, Xing Shen’s brows furrowed as he said, “Uncle Jiang informed me that the three people we sent to Nanba Monkey Head have lost contact.”

The old knife was taken aback. “What? When did this happen?”

Xing Shen explained, “We were supposed to have contact at eight in the morning and again at two in the afternoon. The last communication was at eight last night. When they didn’t check in this morning, I assumed it was a signal issue or equipment failure. But after missing the two o’clock check-in as well, it’s clear something’s gone wrong.”

The old knife was incredulous. “But there’s a dog family there. They’re supposed to provide the earliest warning if danger approaches. How could this happen so suddenly with no warning at all?”

Xing Shen’s face darkened. “What you might be dealing with isn’t a terrestrial owl but a ghost.”

“Ghosts?” The old knife’s face twisted with anger. Ghosts were insidious, like thieves, and nearly impossible to detect. Unlike terrestrial owls, which were easier to recognize due to their distinctive odor, or the insane and feral victims of ground owls, ghosts were indistinguishable from ordinary people and could strike without warning.

For thousands of years, ghosts had caused more destruction than ground owls. To make a comparison, demons were hateful, but traitors were even worse. Historically, the army could confront and ambush ground owls, but ghosts were another matter entirely.

The old knife’s anger boiled as he thought about the difficulty of dealing with ghosts in modern times. While ground owls could still be ambushed and dealt with, ghosts were almost impossible to confront without raising suspicion or causing widespread alarm.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hotel entrance, someone emerged from the lobby, greeted the driver, and opened the trunk to load their luggage. To an outsider, it might have seemed like an ordinary ride-share pickup—a common scene at any hotel.

But for the old knife, this simple act triggered a sudden realization, and he growled through gritted teeth, “Brother Shen, it’s that ghost, Yan Tuo.”

Yan Tuo had received a call and hurriedly packed his things before heading downstairs. Upon exiting the hotel lobby, he saw Xiong Hei waiting in a car, waving at him. Yan Tuo approached, stowed his luggage, and took his seat in the passenger side.

“Why the sudden move?” Yan Tuo asked.

Xiong Hei explained, “Sister Lin was concerned about you staying alone in the hotel. She sent me to pick you up and take you to Ah Peng’s place.”

Ah Peng was Xiong Hei’s younger brother.

Yan Tuo responded with a casual hum. Helping Lin Xirou with her affairs was challenging because she had no shortage of people. Her operations ran smoothly and systematically, making it difficult for him to make a significant impact. He had to ensure that his actions seemed natural and reasonable to avoid raising suspicion.

He knew he couldn’t afford to fail; every move had to be meticulously planned to blend in seamlessly. His goal was to integrate into Lin Xirou’s operations gradually, becoming as familiar to her as the air she breathed. He aimed to be so unobtrusive that she would see him as a regular part of her entourage rather than an outsider with ulterior motives.

Yan Tuo tried to remain passive in front of Lin Xirou, such as when he stayed in the car during a recent visit to a farm. In contrast, he engaged deliberately with Xiong Hei and others to gain their support and influence, whether intentionally or not.

Previously, Lin Xirou had sent him to stay on the periphery while her team went into the mountains, asking him to manage the logistics of picking up people.

This time, Yan Tuo stayed on the periphery, but Lin Xirou had sent someone to pick him up and take him to Peng’s place. Although Peng wasn’t a core figure, he was closer to the secret than Yan Tuo. This was progress for Yan Tuo, but it meant he had to be even more cautious.

As the car started, Yan Tuo cracked the window to enjoy a glimpse of the blue sky. Today, he had added Nie Jiuluo’s friend to his list, and Lin Xirou had also arranged his pickup. While these seemed like trivial matters, it had taken him seven years to reach this point.

Xiong Hei was in high spirits, one hand on the steering wheel, the other tapping his thigh rhythmically while humming a tune. Yan Tuo glanced at him and asked, “Is Lu Xian also at Peng’s place?”

From his observations, “Peng’s place” seemed like a logistical and backup area, and Lu Xian was frequently seen in his circles. Given Lu Xian’s presence, Yan Tuo suspected there would be confrontations and injuries at the “front.”

Xiong Hei confirmed, “He’s just with you.”

He also noted that his younger brother’s role was more peripheral, while Lu Xian and Yan Tuo were of similar age and backgrounds, both coming from universities and sharing common experiences.

Yan Tuo continued, “Tomorrow is the eighth. Are we really going to return that cripple to them?”

Xiong Hei sneered, “What do you think?”

Yan Tuo replied, “I don’t think so.”

Xiong Hei slapped his thigh. “Of course not. The kidnappers need to collect a ransom to return the hostages. We haven’t even mentioned any conditions yet. The eighth leader is crippled, and using his brain, he knows it’s impossible.”

Yan Tuo asked, “What conditions do you want to mention?”

Xiong Hei’s lips were tight, but he hinted, “It depends on what Sister Lin decides… Oh, wait a minute, this is interesting.”

He suddenly focused on the side mirror, his lips twitching slightly. Yan Tuo noticed and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xiong Hei replied, “There’s a car following us. I’ll change course.”

Instead of continuing straight, Xiong Hei turned the car onto a winding road, avoiding the main route and opting for a less-traveled path.

After about fifteen minutes, Xiong Hei’s expression darkened as he watched the rearview mirror. Yan Tuo, observing his demeanor, realized something was amiss. “Is there a stalker?”

Xiong Hei gestured to the mirror. “I didn’t pay much attention at first, but this car has been tailing us. I remember it changing lanes and overtaking us earlier. Why is it still following?”

Yan Tuo speculated, “Could it be after me? I’ve been seen by people and made a few appearances.”

Xiong Hei dismissed the idea. “No, they followed me first. But Yan Tuo…”

He tapped on the GPS display. “This area is remote, with reeds and abandoned villages. We’ll pretend not to notice the tail. I’ll drop you off here and continue driving. If the car follows, I’ll send you Ah Peng’s address, and you can head there. If not, I’ll come back. It’s easier to handle things in this area. Do you have a gun? If not, I can lend you one.”

Yan Tuo sighed internally, realizing things were escalating again. He nodded, “Alright, let’s proceed.”

In the distance, a pool of dry reeds lay cold but not fully frozen. A few thin ice sheets floated on the water’s surface. Further out, dilapidated houses stood, scattered haphazardly, most with collapsed roofs. The twilight of evening merged day and night.

The old knife’s unease grew as he bluntly told Xing Shen, “This type of operation is easier in urban areas with cars, roads, and people serving as natural cover. On these rural roads, it’s like looking for lice on a bald head—far too conspicuous.”

He suspected the other party might already be alert. The safest option now was to overtake quickly and leave without a trace, avoiding both conflict and exposure. However, he and Xing Shen were reluctant to do so. With Hua’s sister-in-law dead, the lame father missing, and the three-person team from Nanba Monkey Head lost, the situation was dire.

The old knife’s throat felt dry as he asked, “Brother Shen, what’s the plan? We can’t just follow them indefinitely. If they’ve noticed us, it’s a dead end.”

Xing Shen inquired, “What’s the situation?”

The old knife described the scene: “It’s dark, there’s no one around, just reedy countryside and a few abandoned houses. Brother Shen, are you thinking of a direct confrontation?”

He felt uncertain. While his nose was keen, his fighting skills were limited. He could handle ordinary people but felt inadequate against someone who drove the car. A one-on-one confrontation seemed daunting.

Xing Shen said, “Are you afraid? Aren’t there grasshoppers?”

The old knife was cautious. “Brother Shen, I’ll contact Uncle Jiang to see who is closer. In case we miss, having multiple backups is always better.”

Xing Shen snorted, “There’s no guaranteed victory in this world. You can consider it.”

As he spoke, Xing Shen leaned down, placed one hand on the back of the grasshopper’s neck, and muttered something into its hooded head.

The old knife was focused, first sending a location pin, then quickly sending a voice message to Jiang Baichuan to update him. At the same time, he sped up to catch up with the car in front. Just as he sent the message and looked up, he saw a situation unfolding: the car had stopped on the side of the road, and Yan Tuo had gotten out.

He hurriedly informed Xing Shen, “Yan Tuo got out of the car. It looks like he’s going to move separately. What should we do?”

Xing Shen replied, “What do you mean, separately? Stay together.”

The old knife’s resolve hardened. He slammed the accelerator and sped forward, but before he could make a move, another vehicle abruptly cut off his path.

The encounter was swift, leaving only the faint glow of ice flakes in the reeds and the headlights of the two cars, which remained off, making the scene tense and silent, like two predators ready to pounce.

Xiong Hei hadn’t anticipated that his plan would be thwarted so abruptly. He was initially amused but then anger surged within him. He turned to Yan Tuo, who stood by the car door, and said, “Yan Tuo, you go first. I’ll handle things here.”

Yan Tuo responded softly, “Brother Xiong, let’s stick together. We’ll advance and retreat together.”

Xiong Hei insisted, “You’re in the way. It’s fine if I get hurt, but you’re not in the same position. If something happens, Sister Lin will blame me again. Hurry up. When I turn on the lights, use the cover to act swiftly. We’ll meet later.”

Yan Tuo didn’t argue further and reminded, “Brother Xiong, make sure to use your gun.”

Meanwhile, in the old knife’s car, Jiang Baichuan’s call came through. The old knife answered immediately.

Jiang Baichuan’s voice was urgent. “Xing Shen? Don’t act until you understand the situation.”

Before he could finish, the opposite car roared to life, its headlights blinding. The old knife had no time to react before a loud crash sounded as his car was rammed. The collision, with full force, sent his car skidding towards the reeds.

Jiang Baichuan shouted, “Xing Shen! Old Knife!”

The old knife’s phone fell under the seat, and there was no time to respond. He gritted his teeth, trying to start the car, but it was either too damaged or just unable to start after the collision. The tires spun idly.

Feeling the heat and sweat pouring down his spine, the old knife heard Xing Shen’s voice, “Don’t panic. Let’s appear weak and make him come to us.”

In the north, darkness fell early, and the temperature dropped swiftly. The wind made it feel colder, and even the dogs preferred to stay in their nests.

Nie Jiuluo opened the takeaway she had received and took out a box of needles. This was something she had asked the delivery person to bring along.

The box, filled with needles, made a clinking sound as she shook it. These needles were becoming rare, and in a few years, they might even become antiques.

Nie Jiuluo took a needle, examined it, and then carefully pricked the base of her thumb. A small bead of blood formed at the needle’s tip.

Satisfied, she smeared the blood over the needle’s body, then put the root of her finger into her mouth to suck on it. She then pulled out the dagger she had brought and used the needle to sharpen it, moving it back and forth on the blade.

After sharpening for a while, she inspected the needle closely. Yan Tuo had asked her if there was a way to make the dog’s teeth stay asleep longer. This needle was the answer.

With the eighth day approaching, it was best to hand over the items to Yan Tuo tonight. She placed the needle on the table, picked up her phone, and prepared to send a message with a “burn after reading” tag.

In her friend list were two contacts: “that head” and “small role.”

As she was about to send the message, her phone shook with two incoming messages from “that head.”

She opened the first one: a screenshot of a location with a red circle around it. She recognized the place on the map—it was within an hour’s drive from the city.

The second message read: “Nie Er, Xing Shen encountered the other party here and is currently out of touch. You are the closest, act quickly!”

The third message followed: “Urgent! Priority is to protect Xing Shen.”

Nie Jiuluo tossed her phone aside, ran her hands through her hair, and quickly prepared herself. It was her turn now.


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An Owl Rising From The Green Soil

An Owl Rising From The Green Soil

Love On The Turquoise Land (Drama)
Score 8.0
Status: Ongoing Type: , Author: , Artist: Released: 2020 Native Language: Chinese
Over two thousand years ago on a deep night, Xu Fu* set sail to the eastern seas in a treasure ship to search for immortality, but few people knew that at the same time, a group of black-turban soldiers secretly entered the vast and dense Nanbao forest… A millennium later, the dark legend continues to slowly grow in the shadows. Xú Fú: Qin dynasty court necromancer and was tasked by Qin Shi Huang to look for the elixir of life between 219 BC and 210 BC. He never returned after departing on his second mission in 210 BC.

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