To be on the safe side, he pulled Uncle and Senior Brother Qin into the water, and immediately saw Wang Xueqi swimming over.
Wang Xueqi was pushing a ray fish bionic robot, floating over with two oxygen tanks, handing the tanks to Wen Yan, but keeping her distance and not daring to get too close.
The yang energy on Qin Kun was completely different from Wen Yan’s—if she got close, she’d feel uncomfortable.
Qin Kun attached the respirator to the oxygen tank and handed it to Wen Yan, but Wen Yan shook his head, swam over to Wang Xueqi, and the moment he touched her, he instantly felt the stifling sensation in the water vanish.
"Senior Brother Qin, this is Wang Xueqi—she’s always the one helping to guide us. Previously, she wanted to guide you too, but your yang energy was too strong, so she didn’t dare get close. Senior Brother Qin, do you want to try and see if you can get the water ghost domain’s rules to cover you?"
Qin Kun nodded, suppressed his yang energy, and after Wang Xueqi touched him, he shook his head, indicating it didn’t work.
Wen Yan felt a bit disappointed. Looks like his guess was right—you really have to enter from the water ghost domain for it to work.
Then Wen Yan glanced at Wang Xueqi again.
"How are you feeling?"
"Pretty good, I don’t feel any urge to pull him into the water now."
"That’s good." Wen Yan let out a sigh of relief.
"So Senior Brother Qin, are you going back to the chemical plant?"
Qin Kun shook his head.
"Then to the chemical plant domain?"
Wen Yan thought for a moment, then looked at Wang Xueqi.
"Do you still have the three helmets I asked you to keep earlier?"
"Yes, just wait a moment."
Soon, Wang Xueqi came back from the dark waters, holding a white helmet in her hand.
"Senior Brother Qin, this is a helmet from the chemical plant domain. The ones wearing the white helmet are inspectors. Once inside, you won’t be attacked by the zombies or wraiths there. Senior Brother Qin, be careful though—don’t go too deep all at once."
Qin Kun took the helmet, put it on, and gave Wen Yan an OK gesture.
"Senior Brother Qin, how about this: you go back first and give them a heads up. Wang Xueqi is a good girl, really kind—she can lead you. Otherwise, it’s easy to get lost here. But please, could you all keep this a secret?"
Wen Yan pulled Wang Xueqi over. Wang Xueqi nodded; she had wanted to guide them before, just didn’t dare get too close.
He escorted Qin Kun up to the water’s surface at the chemical plant, then was taken back to the water ghost domain by Wang Xueqi.
Dawn was coming—he had to head back.
The Scorching Sun Department’s operations were still steadily ongoing. Even if he went over, he wouldn’t be of much help for now, so better to head home first.
Returned to the water ghost domain’s surface by Wang Xueqi, he carried the little zombie on his back, led Uncle out, and Sparrow Cat quickly flew over, landing on his shoulder.
"What were you doing for so long? It’s almost dawn."
"Let’s get out. It’s so big and dark down there, I almost got lost. That beauty snake’s gall bladder was pretty effective—if I ate another, would it still work?"
"Eat what? They’re practically extinct by now, running into one is sheer luck."
"Can they be farmed artificially?"
"I’m just a cat! How would I know!"
Lady Lie stood to the side with a respectful expression. Hearing this, she thought for a moment and said,
"I heard that the Scorching Sun Department did want to try before, but they could barely catch any alive. If Young Master Su wants, my young lady can help ask around."
"No need, I was just saying. Time’s about up, let’s go."
"Take care, Young Master Su. My young lady said, you’re welcome any time—you can call whenever."
Wen Yan left the lawn with three boxes. Lady Lie gazed after Wen Yan’s silhouette fading into the darkness and finally breathed a small sigh of relief.
She was really afraid he wouldn’t accept the gift. If he didn’t, there’d be nothing to talk about.
On his side, Wen Yan carried the gifts back to the stone beach. Just as the sun was rising, he returned to the basement.
Uncle still stood there with eyes closed. Wen Yan didn’t rush to leave. First, he lit three sticks of incense, bowed to Uncle, and respectfully placed the incense in the burner.
"Even though there was a bit of a misunderstanding this time, I still want to thank you for your protection, Uncle. I understand your caring intentions. Don’t worry, I can feel it—it’s almost time. That Fake Mo Zhicheng will be found soon."
This time, Uncle took the initiative to protect him. Even though Uncle didn’t say a word and seemed to still lack spiritual intelligence, Wen Yan could sense everything.
Once Uncle was settled, he brought the little zombie and Sparrow Cat to the first-floor living room.
He fed the little zombie some yang energy, then opened the three boxes.
"If you want these things, you’ve at least got to tell me what they are, right? Now that I’ve got them back, you’re so young—don’t you go turning mysterious on me."
The little zombie whimpered and acted cute. Wen Yan ignored her, staring at Sparrow Cat.
Sparrow Cat wore a long-faced look.
"Why are you looking at me? I never should’ve let on I understand what she says."
"She said the Chunjun Mace was once used by the Sixteenth Ancestor of Fuyu Mountain."
"Huh—not related to the Thirteenth Ancestor?"
"No idea. She only knows it was the weapon of the Sixteenth Ancestor and thinks having you try it might suit you."
"So it’s for me then..." Wen Yan suddenly realized. He picked up the Chunjun Mace. It weighed about five or six jin—quite hefty to swing. He tried channeling his own yang energy into it, but nothing happened.
Thinking again, he added a bit of the Scorching Sun Blessing. In an instant, the copper-rusted Mace’s patina fell away in a flash as one talisman mark after another appeared. Over the four blades and eight faces, a huge number of marks reemerged.