In the middle of the shops lining the street, there was an alley leading inward, where many small guesthouses were located.

Stepping inside, one could see the guesthouse signs on both walls, squeezed and overlapping each other.

Every short distance, a narrow staircase led up to the second floor, which was where guests checked in. The ground floor also featured small massage rooms, each adorned with pink paper and colorful lights.

It was still early, and the sky hadn’t fully brightened. The massage rooms weren’t open yet; their roller shutters were down, obscuring the transparent glass doors inside.

However, one particular shop caught Li Zhuiyuan’s attention.

It had a display window only half a meter wide, revealing a few garments hanging inside. Four characters were pasted on it: “Yao Ji” and “Tailor.”

This appeared to be the storefront, but it had no door, only a small window locked from the inside.

Furthermore, it seemed to be a small section partitioned off from the already tiny shop next door, “Sister Hong’s Massage.”

An adult man couldn’t walk straight inside; he’d have to move sideways.

What attracted Li Zhuiyuan was the clothing displayed inside. Having seen Ah Li wear different outfits daily, the young man had become something of an amateur connoisseur in this regard. He noticed that the workmanship and material of the clothes here were very similar to what Ah Li usually wore.

The clothes Grandma Liu gave Ah Li were all designed by her and then sent to old shops outside for production; each piece was quite expensive.

But if this was also an old shop, it was perhaps a bit too hidden in plain sight.

Next to the tailor shop, there was a small staircase leading up. Li Zhuiyuan pointed and said, “Let’s stay here.”

The guesthouse sign read “Yao Family Guesthouse.”

On the second floor, behind a dilapidated counter, a man appearing to be about fifty, shirtless and wearing only shorts, was asleep.

His bed was made of several square stools pushed together, and a small window was open above his head. His loud snoring could be heard from the moment they started climbing the stairs.

“Boss, boss.”

Tan Wenbin woke the boss.

The boss rubbed his eyes, yawned, and then immediately got into character, forcing a smile: “Looking for a room?”

Tan Wenbin: “What else would we be doing if not looking for a room?”

The boss: “Looking for something else? I can arrange that.”

Tan Wenbin: “A room, do you have a standard room?”

The boss: “Each room can accommodate up to two people. Prices vary depending on whether it has a toilet or not, or a window or not.”

Tan Wenbin: “Two rooms, with windows and toilets, preferably adjoining. Do you have any?”

The boss: “Yes, but it’s too early. If you check in now…”

Tan Wenbin: “Charge us for two days.”

The boss: “Alright.”

After a quick registration, the boss led the four of them to their rooms.

Along the corridor, they saw an elderly woman walking with a cane.

“Mom, you’re up?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Wait a moment, I’ll show the guests to their rooms first, then I’ll get you breakfast.”

“You go ahead and do your work.”

The elderly woman was simply dressed and impeccably clean. A wooden hairpin was tucked into her coiled white hair.

This hairpin had once been worn by Ah Li.

Li Zhuiyuan could now confirm that this elderly woman was likely the owner of Yao Ji Tailor Shop downstairs, and furthermore, she had a connection to the Liu family.

Ah Li owned many clothes and accessories, which were regularly replaced. Therefore, this hairpin must have been given away by Grandma Liu.

For Grandma Liu to give away a hairpin once used by her granddaughter indicated a close relationship between her and the elderly woman.

The elderly woman seemed to sense something; she stopped, turned around, and looked at the young man.

Her gaze was like a measuring ruler.

Li Zhuiyuan felt as if he was being measured.

The elderly woman’s eyes showed confusion.

Li Zhuiyuan understood her confusion. Most likely, some of the clothes Grandma Liu had given him were also handmade by this elderly woman, and she recognized a familiar shape in his physique.

However, young people in their developmental stage undergo significant changes, and his clothes were only replaced seasonally, not as frequently as Ah Li’s. The elderly woman probably just found him familiar but couldn’t be certain.

The elderly woman shook her head, stopped looking, turned, and continued walking.

The boss: “These are the two rooms. Are they alright?”

The rooms weren’t large, the walls were somewhat discolored, and the floor tiles were a bit cracked, but they were very clean.

Tan Wenbin: “They’re fine. Let’s book them for five days initially. We won’t need anyone to clean during our stay.”

The boss: “Okay, I’ve noted that.”

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the window; it overlooked the outer street corner, offering a wide view.

Tan Wenbin: “Brother Xiao Yuan, what should we do next?”

Pan Zi and his group’s “wave” had connected with Chen Xiyuan, continuing the thread.

There was currently no lead on Sun Caijuan’s “wave” from Lin Shuyou’s side, and it was uncertain whether it was real or fake.

The most important “wave,” from Zhao Yi, had not yet contacted them.

Li Zhuiyuan: “We just finished eating. Let everyone rest for a bit. Even if we don’t look for trouble, trouble will likely find us soon enough.”

Tan Wenbin: “Alright, I’ll go inform them now.”

After informing them, Tan Wenbin lay down on the spring bed and stretched comfortably.

In previous “waves,” everyone had raced against time under Brother Xiao Yuan’s leadership to seize the initiative. This time, it was surprisingly leisurely.

As the sun rose, the downstairs area gradually became livelier. Massage rooms usually opened in the afternoon, with evenings after dinner until late night being prime time. However, most people were already up by this hour.

Although he couldn’t see, Li Zhuiyuan could hear sounds from the Yao Ji Tailor Shop downstairs.

Many women brought their clothes to the elderly woman for mending.

The elderly woman was skillful; her needlework was quick and steady, mending clothes and trousers rapidly. She also chatted kindly with the women, who were of varying ages, and occasionally let out hearty laughter.

At that moment, Li Zhuiyuan looked up towards the northeast. A strange dark cloud hung above that area, disturbing the geomantic weather.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Time to get up.”

The location was in the suburbs of Luoyang. Tan Wenbin drove them there, and as they neared their destination, the car stopped, and everyone got out.

Such a clear commotion would undoubtedly attract more than just their group, so there was no need to rush forward recklessly.

Walking forward, slowly approaching, they saw a large billboard at a street corner. Below was an advertisement for wine, while above it read, “Welcome to Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum.”

Lin Shuyou: “Is this museum literally what it sounds like?”

Tan Wenbin: “I once saw a brochure about it. It seems they transport materials from excavated tombs and reconstruct them inside the museum at a one-to-one scale.”

Lin Shuyou: “So there’s more than one tomb then?”

Tan Wenbin: “There are many tombs inside. You can even wander through individual tomb chambers during your visit.”

Lin Shuyou: “That sounds really interesting. I envy the elementary school students here; they have such a great place for spring field trips.”

A downhill road led to the museum entrance, flanked by a commercial street. However, the commercial atmosphere wasn’t strong; there weren’t many shops to begin with, and even fewer were open, mostly selling local snacks.

Clearly, the museum wasn’t very popular, and the number of tourists was sparse.

Runsheng’s gaze fell on a nearby small stall selling souvenirs like copper coins. What caught his eye was a set of palm-sized shovels, packaged in a plastic bag, resembling small toys.

After some bargaining, Tan Wenbin bought them and handed them to Runsheng, saying, “Since we’re here, take them back as a souvenir.”

Runsheng touched them and said, “I thought they were plastic.”

Tan Wenbin: “Plastic doesn’t feel good.”

Runsheng: “But plastic burns better.”

Tan Wenbin: “Are you planning to burn a set of Luoyang shovels for Mengmeng, hoping she’ll dig them out herself from the underworld?”

Runsheng: “Just wanted to let her know where else we’ve been.”

Tan Wenbin was about to say something more when his expression suddenly tensed. He said, “Brother Xiao Yuan, she’s here too.”

The unique atmospheric phenomenon here wasn’t hidden from anyone, so it was normal for Chen Xiyuan to be drawn to it.

There was a considerable distance between the two parties; Li Zhuiyuan and his group were still on the street below, while Chen Xiyuan was already at the ticket gate above.

Tan Wenbin: “Why do I feel like she’s also waiting for trouble to find her, just like us?”

Lin Shuyou: “She’s probably confident because of her strong abilities.”

Tan Wenbin patted Lin Shuyou’s shoulder: “A-You, you’ve improved.”

Lin Shuyou: “Huh?”

Tan Wenbin: “Nothing.”

He couldn’t stare at her from a distance for too long, so Tan Wenbin shifted his gaze and looked back a few moments later.

“Huh, she’s gone?”

After passing the ticket gate, there was still a long flight of stairs to climb. Unless Chen Xiyuan used her special movement techniques, she couldn’t have disappeared from sight if she moved like a normal person.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Someone has set up a formation inside the museum.”

Tan Wenbin: “So what about us?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Let’s go in later. More people should enter, so let them go first. That will also give me some time to break this formation.”

The young man pointed to a noodle shop ahead and asked, “Are you full?”

Lin Shuyou: “Yes, we are.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Then let’s have another bowl of paste noodles to aid digestion.”

The noodle shop was very simple, just a tin shack, but it was close to the museum’s main entrance.

After sitting down, Tan Wenbin ordered three bowls of paste noodles.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a head of garlic from the small table and began peeling it.

Lin Shuyou: “Brother Xiao Yuan, let me peel it.”

Li Zhuiyuan didn’t respond, but the garlic skins he peeled began to spin on the small table. His gaze remained fixed on the museum ahead.

It turned out Brother Xiao Yuan was breaking the formation.

Lin Shuyou got up, took another head of garlic from the adjacent table, and peeled it with his hands beneath the table, afraid that the garlic skins he peeled might interfere with Brother Xiao Yuan.

“Here are your paste noodles!”

The boss brought the noodles over.

Runsheng lit an incense stick, picked up his chopsticks, and began eating the noodles. Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou followed suit. Eating this on a hot summer day was truly appetizing.

Lin Shuyou shared the garlic he had peeled with everyone, and immediately, slurping sounds filled the table.

The first bowls were quickly emptied, so Tan Wenbin asked the boss for three more.

As they ate, everyone’s attention was on Brother Xiao Yuan’s hands. The garlic skins grew in number, arranging themselves in patterns, at one moment resembling yin and yang, at another, the eight trigrams.

Li Zhuiyuan spoke: “Someone inside sensed I was deciphering the formation, and he’s changing it.”

Lin Shuyou: “Is that person’s formation very strong?”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded: “Yes, quite excellent, he’s made great progress.”

The young man’s fingertips moved even faster, and the floating garlic skins seemed to take on the texture of flowing water.

Li Zhuiyuan pressed his palm down gently. With a “snap,” the garlic skins scattered, dissolving into fine powder.

The peeled garlic in his hand was distributed in batches into his companions’ noodle bowls, nothing wasted.

“Alright, I’ve grasped the basic operating logic of his formation. Let him keep changing it.”

Lin Shuyou looked up at the sky, his vertical pupils slightly widening.

Deep within the dark clouds overhead, they continued to churn, indicating that the opponent was still changing the formation. But Brother Xiao Yuan was no longer playing along.

After finishing the second bowl of paste noodles, Tan Wenbin indicated he couldn’t eat anymore, as he had eaten too much that morning. However, when he asked Runsheng and Lin Shuyou, neither replied.

So Tan Wenbin asked the boss to make four more bowls.

Lin Shuyou: “Brother Bin, am I eating too much?”

Tan Wenbin: “It’s fine. You and Runsheng can eat as much as you want. The more you eat, the better the disguise. After all, you can’t fake an appetite.”

Lin Shuyou finally couldn’t eat anymore. Runsheng, after eating one more bowl than Lin Shuyou, also put down his chopsticks.

Tan Wenbin said to Li Zhuiyuan: “Brother Xiao Yuan, I just heard footsteps. There were five groups of practitioners. Counting those who might have concealed their footsteps, I estimate about eight groups just went inside.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Alright, it’s time for us to go in too.”

Tan Wenbin went to pay the bill, and then the four of them walked towards the museum like ordinary tourists.

Tan Wenbin, returning after buying the tickets, looked puzzled. As he handed out the tickets to everyone, he whispered to the young man, “Brother Xiao Yuan, I think the ticket seller is a bit strange.”

Li Zhuiyuan: “They’re puppets. Not just at the ticket counter, but the staff at the ticket gate too.”

Tan Wenbin: “So, this is a trap?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Do you know what kind of puppetry this is?”

Lin Shuyou: “What kind?”

Tan Wenbin: “Nuo opera puppetry?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Yes.”

Lin Shuyou: “Brother Bin, besides books on formations, have you also been reading about puppetry recently?”

Tan Wenbin: “Because we don’t know any other type of puppetry, and Brother Xiao Yuan wouldn’t ask unless it was this one.”

“Wait a minute, Nuo opera puppetry…” Lin Shuyou slapped his forehead. “Three-Eyed!”

Lin Shuyou took a step back and looked at the museum before them.

So, the one who set up this place and previously competed in formations with Brother Xiao Yuan was Zhao Yi?

Tan Wenbin: “Since the external team still hasn’t contacted us, does that mean we should pretend not to know them even if we see them?”

Li Zhuiyuan: “Yes, let’s go in.”

Although they knew the staff at the ticket gate were puppets and not real people, the lazy lounging in the shade and the impatient details of taking and tearing tickets were portrayed vividly.

Walking up the steps and entering the museum, a faint earthy smell permeated the air, and the temperature dropped sharply.

This wasn’t the effect of a formation but rather the natural cooling property of tombs, which also bring a sense of tranquility. Of course, they had already entered the formation’s range the moment they stepped onto the stairs.

Upon entering, they first saw a guide map. Following the directions inward, they could see numerous stone steles.

Further inside, past a sub-hall, they reached the tomb area.

Along the way, they hadn’t seen anyone else apart from their own group.

Although the number of tourists here was small, many groups had entered earlier, and since the entrance and exit were both at the main door, they hadn’t seen anyone leave.

In the tomb area, many dimly lit lamps hung, some blue, some green, some red. Some lamps clearly had poor connections and flickered incessantly.

This was likely not due to lax maintenance by the management but was intentionally done. Cultural institutions of this kind were struggling financially and needed to find ways to generate revenue, so deliberately creating a spooky effect was one such method.

Two rows of tomb entrances appeared before them. Each entrance had an iron plaque displaying information about the tomb chamber and its occupant.

There were single tombs, joint tombs for couples, and even tombs for couples with a concubine.

This gave the impression of walking down a road in a small village, with residences on both sides, each with a different number of inhabitants.

Tan Wenbin: “Living off the mountain by the mountain, and off the water by the water. Is this also a way of saying our ancestors are providing for us?”

There were simply too many tombs underground; enough to excavate and build a museum, allowing children to play in an ancient tomb theme park.

There were no ropes blocking the tomb entrances, allowing free entry. Inside, when specific tomb chambers were reached, there would be a railing, but no one was watching, so rule-breakers could even lie down inside.

However, the danger here was high. Everyone just looked; no one actually ventured inside. The space was too confined, and if any accident occurred, it would be easy to suffer consequences.

But Li Zhuiyuan still stopped before one tomb entrance. The plaque stated it was a joint burial tomb for three people: the male owner, his principal wife, and a concubine.

The tomb owner’s surname was Lin, the principal wife’s was Chen, and the concubine’s was Bai.

After seeing this plaque, Tan Wenbin’s mouth twitched involuntarily.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Let’s go inside and take a look.”

Runsheng squeezed in first, having to bend and stoop. Lin Shuyou and Tan Wenbin, who followed, did the same, but Li Zhuiyuan, walking in the middle, didn’t need to.

Once inside the tomb chamber, the space widened, allowing adults to stand upright.

There were three coffins inside. Logically, the tomb owner and his wife should have been side by side, with the concubine alone on one side, or the tomb owner’s coffin central, his wife’s to the side, and the concubine’s outside.

Here, however, all three coffins were squeezed together in the main burial position, packed tightly and perfectly aligned.

It was as if they wouldn’t let go even in death, continuing to vie for the man even underground.

Li Zhuiyuan placed his hand on the middle coffin.

This tomb chamber was the eye of the entire museum’s formation, and this coffin was the core of that eye.

The young man’s knuckles tapped on the coffin lid above. “Creak!”

“Creak.”

“Creak!”

Continuous creaking sounds emerged. The entity inside was trying to lift the coffin lid, but because the wives and concubines on either side were pressed too tightly, its repeated attempts failed.

Finally, with a “bang,” the coffin lid shattered from the middle.

Amidst a cloud of dust and smoke, Zhao Yi sat up from inside. His eyes were cold, and a mocking smile played on his lips.

Li Zhuiyuan: “Who are you?”

Zhao Yi: “I am Zhao Yi of Jiujiang, the one you’re looking for.”

As he spoke, Zhao Yi looked up and shouted, “You all have your own affairs to attend to. I’m idle anyway, so I’ll personally deal with this group.”

Immediately afterward, Zhao Yi lowered his head and looked at the young man standing before him: “It’s laughable. What kind of brat, barely old enough to grow hair, is trying to dabble in the martial world?”