Tomb raiding: Today is another day I don't want to go home.

Chapter 98 Persuading to Retreat

Can I know why?

Xie Lianrui sighed slightly and asked Yan Huai, "Why is Mr. Yan so fixated on this smell?"

"Because under its cover, I once witnessed the disappearance of a bloodline totem, so I guessed that this scent has a special meaning for the people of that bloodline, or even... can be used."

As Yan Huai spoke, he kept his eyes fixed on Xie Lianrui across from him, not missing a single emotion on the other's face, including the dejection that followed the shattering of his faith...

"If I'm not mistaken... the bloodline totem that Mr. Yan mentioned is the phoenix."

"Yes, their surname is Wang."

Although Yan Huai never revealed his hatred for the Wang family, if Xie Lianrui and the Wang family were not enemies, he would definitely ask Yan Huai how he knew these things and what his purpose was.

But Xie Lianrui wouldn't, Yan Huai was quite certain.

Since its inception, Taoism has regarded the pursuit of immortality as its highest belief, which is different from the greed and fanaticism of the Wang family. Perhaps it is precisely because of this that Taoism is called Taoism, while the Wang family can only be the Wang family.

Of course, there's another point: Xie Lianrui chose the former...

That's why Yan Huai and Black Glasses, who were watching the show from the sidelines, didn't disturb Xie Lianrui, who was deep in thought.

After a long pause, they all received an answer that wasn't really an answer.

"Mr. Yan...you should go back!" Xie Lianrui slowly stood up and bowed, his usually gentle and kind words suddenly carrying a hint of pleading.

"I have said what I needed to say. As for the past, let it end here..."

Yan Huai didn't feel resentful upon hearing this. He nodded his thanks, then lowered his eyes and stood up. His outstretched hands naturally picked up Zhang Qiling from the recliner, and he politely said goodbye, "Sorry to bother you."

Like Yan Huai, Hei Yanjing also knew that he couldn't get anything more out of Xie Lianrui, so he followed closely behind and deliberately scooped a cup of soy milk from the styrofoam box as he turned around, making Xie Lianrui's eyelids twitch.

"Old Xie, Blackie's gone~ I'll come see you again next time!"

"...Take care, everyone!"

The two departing footsteps were still very light and steady. Yan Huai was in front, and Black Glasses was behind. But when they reached a rockery, Yan Huai suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Black Glasses almost burped.

Yan Huai turned his head and opened his mouth, but he couldn't describe the feeling that had just occurred to him. He just felt that... he should go back and say something to Xie Lianrui.

I want to start something.

Black Glasses glanced at Yan Huai, who was carrying Zhang Qiling back to the backyard, with a puzzled look. He took a sip of soy milk through his straw—even the mute wasn't left behind? What's the point of going back?

Thinking this, Black Glasses still followed along with the concern of an old father, and then he heard Yan Huai's voice not far away.

"Master Xie, if you ever find out which place smells like you, don't go there."

why?

Black Glasses subconsciously looked up at Xie Lianrui under the morning sun, but the old figure was somewhat blurry. He squinted again, and it was still the same, except that Xie Lianrui seemed to be smiling.

"Thank you for your warning, Mr. Yan. I also wish Mr. Yan and this young man Zhang all the best."

Upon hearing this, Yan Huai, who should have shown a happy expression as Black Glasses imagined, frowned deeply. A golden glint appeared at the corner of his eye, as if he had seen something ominous...

So much so that on the way back, Black Glasses walked on Yan Huai's left the whole time, without taking a few steps ahead like he had on the way there, and without being nonchalant or making jokes.

“I saw a dark red shadow floating behind Xie Lianrui. That’s what he looked like after he died. Evil spirits entered the world prematurely. He should find that place soon.”

Yan Huai's voice has always been deep and captivating, but perhaps because his blank and clean-cut appearance when he had a buzz cut was so deeply ingrained in people's minds, he now seems to have a more aloof and arrogant air about him.

"Was it done by the Wang family?" Black Glasses casually tossed the empty soy milk container into the plastic trash can, his tone revealing no deeper meaning.

"Ah."

"Sigh~ Now that we know, Blackie has no reason not to pay for this life!"

Yan Huai paused slightly and turned to look. Zhang Qiling in his arms also turned around, her toes accidentally brushing against the corner of the black-eyed man's leather jacket, leaving a little white dust.

But Black Glasses didn't care whether you were careful or not. He just looked at Yan Huai's conflicted expression and said quietly, "One kick and you're out eight hundred!"

Yan Huai didn't react at first, but when he saw the white ash on the leather jacket, he couldn't help but grin: "Is that what you call a kick?!"

"What Blackie says goes!"

Yan Huai sneered, then immediately picked up Zhang Qiling and deliberately wiped it a few more times, making the white ash cover an even larger area...

Black Glasses' lips twitched slightly. He raised his hand and slapped Zhang Qiling's leg away, then moved his body to the side, distancing himself from Yan Huai and his wife: "Five strokes, four thousand, offset by fifty yuan, you still owe me three thousand five!"

"..." Yan Huai glanced at the man with black glasses speechlessly, and chuckled, "What? Are there discounts on the last four items?"

"Tch! Who do you think you are to give me a discount?" Black Glasses sneered, then quietly slipped a few steps forward. "The money for the soy milk and fried dough sticks came from the mute, fifty yuan."

"!?"

Black Glasses' words shocked Yan Huai for sixty-three thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine years. How could this guy say such a thing? No wonder he was so "generous" just now. So you can't just throw your money away like that, huh?

"you you you……"

"Tsk, this is your business, is there a problem with me spending your money? No problem at all!"

Yan Huai stared at Black Glasses' nonchalant attitude for a long time, speechless. This guy stole and cheated, but in the end, he managed to absolve himself of all responsibility. He was practically a descendant of the Pixiu bloodline—shameless and stingy to the extreme…

"No!" Yan Huai said firmly.

"Hey~ Yan Xiaohuai, let me remind you, those who owe me money never end up well!"

"Oh, then I'll give it a try." Yan Huai stared nonchalantly at the two lenses of Hei Yanjing's sunglasses, neither willing to concede to the other.

until……

"I came from the mountains with orchids, planting them in my little garden, hoping they would bloom early~ Young man, move aside, I'm sweeping away the dust! I check on them three times a day, but the flowering season has passed, and not a single orchid bud has appeared~"

The cleaning truck slowly drove along the main road from the direction of the black-eyed man, with the melodious "Orchid Grass" music playing from the stereo, creating a very pleasant atmosphere.

"cut!"

"cut!"

Yan Huai and Black Glasses rolled their eyes at the same time, and squeezed to the left side of the road together. Zhang Qiling was also protected in front of Yan Huai, with a sleeve covering his mouth and nose.

The dust on the ground was stirred up by the broom along the edge of the cleaning truck, flying wildly into the air, but eventually falling back onto the shovel underneath. It enjoyed its last moments of freedom, and then, it found its home...