The afternoon meeting had significantly fewer arguments, moving at a quick pace, and by dusk, it ended directly, without staying up late.
Three days later, there was another grand assembly. The attendees were numerous and of notable identities, requiring a formal report, and everyone unanimously recommended Luo Tingrui to deliver it.
Luo Tingrui hosted a gathering, inviting not only his four students but also Mr. Zhai and his students, choosing a local renowned establishment to enjoy hotpot.
After the meal, everyone strolled around Ghost Street together.
Stopping by a fan shop, where the fans were exquisitely crafted, Luo Tingrui suggested buying each of the children a fan as a souvenir.
However, the number of fans he liked wasn't enough for everyone, so Luo Tingrui only bought for Mr. Zhai's students, asking the shopkeeper to engrave their surnames, wishing them bright futures.
Mr. Zhai did not refuse and allowed them to accept the gifts. Later, passing by a jade store, Mr. Zhai bought a jade pendant for each of Luo Tingrui's students and personally hung them, wishing them to be as virtuous as jade.
The jade wasn't of high quality and wasn't expensive, including processing fees. If it were truly precious or costly, even if Mr. Zhai were willing to gift them, the children wouldn't dare to accept.
Without intending to visit every shop, everyone prepared to return.
Li Zhiyuan asked Lin Shuyou to accompany everyone back to the guesthouse first while he and Tan Wenbin detached from the main group.
The hustle of the night market was nearing its end, half of the stores on Ghost Street were ready, and the remaining half were preparing to close.
Li Zhiyuan didn't walk up Ghost Street but rather downward.
The reason those two Divination Children came to Fengdu wasn't very significant; they followed "clues" to rid Mr. Zhai of his possession by evil spirits, viewing their actions as a service to the community.
As they walked, Tan Wenbin laughed.
Initially, Li Zhiyuan didn't ask why he laughed, but after walking further, Li Zhiyuan finally opened up:
"Brother Bin, why are you laughing?"
"Ah You was talking to me about last night, asking why Brother Xiao Yuan wasn't willing to help that shop owner.
I said, if Brother Xiao Yuan helped so easily, wouldn't all your past hardships have been in vain?"
Li Zhiyuan: "Hehe."
Tan Wenbin: "Brother Xiao Yuan, your reluctant cooperation with me is so amusing."
Li Zhiyuan: "I am trying."
Tan Wenbin: "I can feel it, and indeed, you've accomplished it."
Li Zhiyuan stopped walking because they had reached the very bottom dock, a very spacious pier.
The last time Li Zhiyuan left Fengdu, he boarded a ship from here.
At this moment, standing on the steps, gazing at the distant river surface, there were a few ships sailing over there.
In a trance, there seemed to be a boy standing at the stern of one of the ships.
The former self leaving, looking back, seeing oneself having returned to Fengdu again.
Li Zhiyuan didn't believe in such twists of fate, but had to admit, it really fit the Mental Realm.
The dock only had ships carrying goods and people, no leisure boats, but Tan Wenbin found a small boat, negotiated a price with the boat owner, and asked him to take them on a tour across the river.
The engine roared, spewing black smoke, a bit suffocating.
Li Zhiyuan crouched at the stern, his gaze fixed upon the river beneath.
The myriad ghosts march up to Fengdu, presumably using the water route.
Trying to switch people after they've come ashore is clearly unrealistic; it'd be best before they land.
Tan Wenbin chatted with the boat owner, who said that last night there was a big fog here again. Previously, there hadn't been fog like this here. It wasn't as dense nor lasted as long. In the past half year, the occurrence of big fogs has become more and more frequent.
"Splash!"
Boat owner: "I'll stop the boat, go check if it's your nephew!"
Tan Wenbin immediately ran to the stern where Brother Xiao Yuan was indeed missing, licking his lips, he shouted:
"He's still here, it's fine, keep going."
Li Zhiyuan jumped into the river.
Usually at times like these, the boy liked to cling onto Run Sheng's back because Run Sheng was better at swimming, but among normal people now, Li Zhiyuan's swimming skills were outstanding.
Though never trained in martial arts, he had long mastered the breathing exercises of the Qin's蛟 Observation Method and quickly adapted once in the water.
His body slowly sank until he touched the bottom, stirring up a bit of muddy silt.
Turning around, first facing the dock direction, then adjusting his position based on the guidance from Ghost Street's line.
The underwater environment is complex, easily causing disorientation, but for the boy, these aspects posed no problem.
Once he confirmed his location, Li Zhiyuan advanced outward.
Gradually, he sensed a clearly distinct resistance ahead, different from his surroundings.
The boy explored with his palms, quickly grasping its rhythm before swinging his arm to rip open an invisible seam.
After stepping inside, he found tall columns standing before him, with chains draping from them, covering the riverbed thickly.
On land, these chains should be used for tethering livestock or slaves, but here, they seemed meant for binding ghosts.
Rows of black stone chairs and tables lined the sides, slick and unoccupied, polished by long-occupied ghosts, the color deeply dyed by ghost energy.
Now, it wasn't time yet, but once it truly became lively, Li Zhiyuan could imagine both sides must be filled with dignified Yin Cha and teams of homage-paying ghosts from all regions, "alighting" here, waiting for approval to go ashore, pass through Ghost Street, enter Ghost Gate, and then make their way to the true Fengdu.
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