Parallel World Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Parallel World Synopsis

"The desert rose", Ye Liuxi, and the brave desert guide, Chang Dong, join forces and travel deep into the desert to unravel the mystery of their origins and uncover the truth about their past.

The desert is full of crises and an invisible hand seems to be pulling them into the weathered Yu Men.

As they navigate with many forces, they deduce the truth from the mystery and learn about true love from the test of death.

The truth seems to be close at hand, but they are also caught in a larger conspiracy.

Parallel World Recap

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Outside Qingrang Town, where the population was sparse, a car sped by and stopped next to a woman standing beneath the hanging dead poplar trees. The driver used a dagger to cut the ropes, and the body fell to the ground with a thud, only to immediately stand up again. It was a young woman with a beautiful face, who, despite losing her memory, swiftly subdued the driver and found the missing artifact guardian in his car.

That evening, with the help of the woman, the artifact guardian reported the incident to the police. She only knew her name was Ye Liuxi. At the same time, Shen Mukun told He Xiaoyu about the strange and extraordinary experiences he had encountered in his travels, some true and some false, but among these stories, there were always experiences that left a deep impression on him.

Licheng, a city with a long history of culture, had ancient city walls surrounding its central area. Behind the Bell and Drum Tower, a street stretched out, filled with numerous small vendors and food hawkers. Ye Liuxi stayed in Licheng for several days and watched a shadow puppet show every night, three days in a row.

After the performance, Ye Liuxi approached the owner of the shadow puppet theater and inquired about his nephew, Chang Dong, but the owner seemed unwilling to discuss it in detail. Chang Dong had once crossed the Dabao Desert alone on a bicycle, and he was very familiar with desert terrain, earning him the nickname "Sand Rogue," which became well-known on the internet.

Later, an outdoor group called "Shan Cha" planned to traverse the four major uninhabited areas in the country, starting with the desert. They made quite a stir and specifically hired Chang Dong as their guide. However, shortly after entering the desert, the team encountered a rare sandstorm that led to their demise. Chang Dong was the sole survivor, while his girlfriend lost her life in the process.

The media quickly reported on the incident, questioning Chang Dong's insistence on pushing the team forward, which they believed led to their deaths. Suspicions from outsiders and the families of the deceased engulfed Chang Dong, plunging him into a spiral of self-blame and agony. The torrent of accusations was more relentless than the sandstorm, and it pushed him to the brink of suicide.

The owner brought Ye Liuxi to Chang Dong's memorial, but she showed little reaction and left an envelope behind before walking away. Once she was gone, the owner opened the envelope and found a photo of Chang Dong's girlfriend lying in the snow, stunned for a moment. Then, he rushed out of the shadow puppet theater to find Ye Liuxi, but she was nowhere to be seen in the bustling crowd.

Back at the shadow puppet theater, Ye Liuxi called the owner and revealed that she knew he was Chang Dong himself and gave him three days to find her. Ye Liuxi needed Chang Dong to guide her to Yumenguan, and Chang Dong wanted to bring back the bodies of his girlfriend Kong Yang and the other eighteen people. They needed to cooperate for mutual benefit.

For two whole years, Chang Dong had not dared to reveal his true identity, living under the guise of his uncle. Now, he had made the decision to set out and find his friend Fei Tang, who would help him contact the rich second-generation Qi Liu Hai to check the surveillance cameras and finally locate Ye Liuxi's whereabouts.

Chang Dong sat in a restaurant, observing the opposite side where a yellow car was parked next to piles of Hami melons. Ye Liuxi was wrapped in a military coat, wearing a cowboy hat, and casually selling melons.

In the hotel, Chang Dong received a service card and remembered what the restaurant staff had said about Ye Liuxi. He called for a call girl named Sunni to inquire about Ye Liuxi. Sunni mentioned that Ye Liuxi worked as a part-time driver and that recently, several call girls had been followed by a pervert, so they hired Ye Liuxi to pick them up after work.

That night, Chang Dong surprisingly didn't have any nightmares. He woke up, put on his coat, and went to find Ye Liuxi. He immediately pointed out that the scene in the photo was located at Hailongdui, wondering why Kong Yang's body ended up there, as it was far from E Tou Shapozi. Ye Liuxi clearly didn't want to discuss it further and left her phone number for Chang Dong, reminding him to be ready to call her anytime.

Fei Tang, who usually dealt in antique business, had a deep interest in these invaluable antiques. He unexpectedly discovered a connection between Ye Liuxi and the beast-headed yellow sheep and recalled Chang Dong looking for Ye Liuxi a few days ago, declaring that Chang Dong was his destined benefactor.

On the other hand, when Chang Dong finished repairing his car and came to find Ye Liuxi, he saw her helping a fat, sleazy man up to his room. Hearing others discussing the man's despicable behavior of drugging women, he hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to stay near the room to warn Ye Liuxi for safety reasons. However, to his surprise, Ye Liuxi wasn't in the room, almost making him think he had mistaken the person.

While Ye Liuxi was taking a shower in her hotel room, Chang Dong waited downstairs by the car. He looked up and noticed that the window on the second floor was wide open and had an uneasy feeling. He made a quick decision to climb through the window into the room and found a naked man tied up, unconscious. Chang Dong suddenly understood the situation, hesitated for a moment, and then picked up a bathrobe to cover the man.

Chang Dong confronted Ye Liuxi upstairs, accusing her of kidnapping a man, and things nearly escalated to violence. However, Fei Tang had already found Ye Liuxi's old van and discovered a perverted mask used to stalk call girls inside the car. In contrast, Ye Liuxi showed complete indifference to the man's fate, believing that he had brought it upon himself. Despite speaking softly, she slammed the door shut with obvious anger when she left.

Coincidentally, Ye Liuxi found Fei Tang behaving suspiciously near her van downstairs, and she directly pulled out a sharp watermelon knife from under the car seat. The blade gleamed brightly in the night, scaring Fei Tang, who cried out for help. When Chang Dong hurried downstairs, he saw Fei Tang kneeling obediently on the ground several meters away. He took responsibility for the situation, falsely claiming that he had instructed Fei Tang to investigate Ye Liuxi's identity. Ye Liuxi, somewhat sparing Fei Tang due to Chang Dong's face, gave them a mild warning.

Afterward, Fei Tang followed Chang Dong back to their room and honestly revealed his intentions. In recent years, his antique business had declined, and he was burdened with debts from running the shop. He had come to Ye Liuxi to earn money for his expenses. Since Fei Tang knew that Chang Dong intended to go to the desert with Ye Liuxi, he proposed to join them on the journey, promising not to cause trouble and offering mutual support.

Early the next morning, Chang Dong passed by a barbecue stall and saw Ye Liuxi, surprised to learn that she had multiple jobs. The barbecue grill was burning hot, with rows of skewers needing to be flipped, brushed with oil, and seasoned. Ye Liuxi handled the tasks effortlessly and efficiently, not missing a beat. The owner praised her highly.

Chang Dong discussed their travel plans with Ye Liuxi, considering that the entire Hailongdui area was larger than half of Fanlong City, with complex routes that could easily disorient someone inside. His suggestion was to plan the route carefully and ask Ye Liuxi to pinpoint Kong Yang's exact location. Ye Liuxi casually pointed in a direction, but Chang Dong could tell she was deceiving him. He quietly folded up the map, reminding her to meet at the Forward Bridge at four o'clock the next morning.

Ye Liuxi set off from the town at four in the morning and parked at the bridge. Initially, she could watch DVDs and listen to music in her car, but she gradually lost patience. Waiting from night to morning, she watched the sunrise in the east. After a while, she returned to the hotel in anger, seeking answers from Chang Dong. At that moment, Chang Dong was leisurely brushing his teeth and washing his face, seemingly teasing Ye Liuxi. He exposed that she didn't actually know the precise location, but Ye Liuxi quickly thought on her feet. With a sincere look in her eyes, she agreed to meet him at the Forward Bridge at four o'clock in the afternoon, promising to reveal more about herself.

Fei Tang rented a four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle for added supplies. With all preparations in place, the two of them set out to meet Ye Liuxi. She brought Chang Dong to the wilderness and casually pointed to a dead poplar tree. Chang Dong recognized it as a dead poplar tree due to its desolate appearance, standing alone in the barren sand. It reminded him of a saying he had heard: "Alive for a thousand years, dead but standing for a thousand years, and enduring even after falling for a thousand years." This great spirit seemed more like refusing to rest in peace.

Ye Liuxi extended her head into the hanging rope loop and described waking up hanging beneath the poplar tree. Her memories were fragmented, filled with eerie scenes from her youth. The one crucial piece of information that was missing from Ye Liuxi's memory and that Chang Dong desperately needed was whether she had been to Hailongdui and how she had encountered Kong Yang. Everything remained a mystery. However, she found a photo in the tattered bag and an invaluable beast-headed yellow sheep cup, estimated to be from the Tang Dynasty or earlier.

Chang Dong fully trusted Ye Liuxi's words, even though she seemed to have no value for him on this journey. Nonetheless, he decided to proceed to Hailongdui together. One was seeking answers about their origins, and the other wanted to uncover the truth about their past. They eventually chose to cooperate in a deep investigation. In gratitude, Ye Liuxi gave Chang Dong all the money she had earned from her temporary jobs in loose change, totaling around three thousand yuan.

Back at the hotel, Chang Dong pondered over what Ye Liuxi had said. Since she possessed items related to him, it indicated a connection between them. Chang Dong had initially planned to propose to Kong Yang during the desert expedition, but the accident had separated them. Fei Tang had a rough understanding of Ye Liuxi's ordeal and couldn't help but admire this extraordinary woman.

The three of them set out, initially with two vehicles, driving one after the other on a desolate road. Ye Liuxi was used to traveling alone, so she had her own way of doing things. She ate and slept differently from Chang Dong and Fei Tang, sleeping in her car at night and having simple meals during the day. When Fei Tang offered her some beef, she ignored him, displaying an arrogant attitude that left Fei Tang speechless.

Upon reaching a transit station, Fei Tang got the four-wheel-drive vehicle he had been eyeing. Chang Dong noticed that Ye Liuxi, wrapped in a military coat, was leaving the station. To his surprise, she was applying for a job as a meat chopper in the bustling market. She seemed to be working part-time everywhere they went. Ye Liuxi skillfully chopped meat with two cleavers, and Chang Dong couldn't help but tease her, reminding her to take a shower afterward to get rid of the smell. Ye Liuxi, unintentionally or not, took a rare shower on the way back.

Fei Tang, using the excuse of buying medicine, secretly searched Ye Liuxi's luggage but didn't find the beast-headed yellow sheep cup, suspecting that she might be carrying it on her person. Chang Dong, familiar with the area, located an equipment store to make purchases. Since it was the peak season for entering Darbo, tourists were everywhere. Some recognized Chang Dong, leading to gossip and even discreetly taking photos with their phones.

When Ye Liuxi saw this, she stepped in to defend Chang Dong. She gave the impertinent individuals a harsh lesson and then left with Chang Dong. Afterward, she reminded Fei Tang to advise Chang Dong not to go to the restaurant to avoid drawing attention and making enemies. However, Chang Dong refused to listen. As expected, relatives of the deceased from the earlier incident arrived, all of them imposing and furious. The leader among them wore an expression filled with anger and was on the brink of violence.

Previously, Ye Liuxi had suggested that Chang Dong hire her as a bodyguard for a fee, but he had rejected the idea. Now, she sat calmly on the side, watching the commotion. When Chang Ping suddenly called her and clenched his fists, asking her to intervene, Ye Liuxi demanded eight hundred yuan and proceeded to knock down several arrogant individuals, intimidating them into submission. Chang Dong explained that he was searching for the bodies of the deceased, and after some hesitation, the relatives agreed to give him a chance.

After resolving the situation, Chang Dong gratefully gave Ye Liuxi a thousand yuan, but she returned two hundred, insisting that eight hundred was the agreed-upon amount. Because of this, Chang Dong's opinion of Ye Liuxi improved further. They watched as she used a small pot to stew spare ribs outside, and Fei Tang spent two hundred to buy two bowls of soup to share. The three of them sat around a small stove, creating a warm atmosphere.

Chang Dong's plan was to head west directly. They bought tickets to enter Yumen Pass, rumored to be an important pass opened by Emperor Wu of Han on the Silk Road. However, Ye Liuxi found it somewhat dilapidated, merely a square structure built from yellow earth. Chang Dong believed that there might be another Yumen Pass that had been buried or eroded over time. Ye Liuxi speculated that if the sand and wind were to reshape it in a storm, the scene would be spectacular.

During the journey, Fei Tang was captivated by the scenery and wanted to stop to take photos, but Chang Dong seemed uninterested and maintained the speed, passing through without pausing. Frustrated, Fei Tang complained through the walkie-talkie, and Ye Liuxi, who was driving in the desert for the first time, realized the potential danger of her old car. She suggested switching cars with the experienced Chang Dong. He asked Ye Liuxi and Fei Tang to stay with the camping group while he made a trip to the Goose Head Sand Dune alone.

As night fell in the desert, the group's energy seemed endless. They played music, sang, danced, and later gathered around a campfire to chat. Ye Liuxi had originally planned to sleep early but was kept awake by the noise. She was about to go out and make a scene when she noticed Fei Tang among the group, surrounded by women of his age, and he was smiling with a certain affection.

With nothing else to do, they started discussing the Black Tea event, which had the highest death toll in recent desert expeditions. Many people were unhappy with Chang Dong's actions, except for the team leader who believed Chang Dong was not at fault. They blamed the negative publicity on the Weibo account of Shan Cha (Black Tea), falsely claiming that everyone had refused to go to Goose Head Sand Dune, which had tarnished Chang Dong's reputation.

As they spoke, the sound of a car engine revving suddenly filled the air. Fei Tang noticed that Ye Liuxi was driving towards the direction of Goose Head Sand Dune. The desert was eerily quiet, and Ye Liuxi began humming a folk song. It dawned on her that the lyrics of the song were strange, especially a line that went, "Yumen Pass, mysterious pass, one step out, blood runs dry," sending shivers down her spine.

After Ye Liuxi had been driving for a while, as they neared Goose Head Sand Dune, her car's tires became stuck in the sand. Despite her attempts to use the methods Chang Dong had taught her, the car remained unresponsive. She had no choice but to walk to find Chang Dong while wrapped in a red blanket. Luckily, she came across Chang Dong sitting alone on a sand dune. However, to her surprise, Chang Dong mistook her for Kong Yang, and she found it rather amusing. So, she leaned against the car and reminded him to open his eyes and recognize who she really was.

Chang Dong realized his mistake and didn't say anything more. He approached Ye Liuxi, who asked him why he was proposing to Kong Yang here. In truth, Kong Yang didn't like the desert and couldn't adapt to its climate. However, Chang Dong loved the desert, and she had chosen to come here to accommodate his preference.

If they wanted to camp at Goose Head Sand Dune, it was impossible for Chang Dong to do it alone. He had previously discussed the plan with the team, and the online rumors were all untrue. In reality, the team was helping Chang Dong brainstorm ideas for the proposal. The leader of Shan Cha thought that crossing the Four Great Desolation Zones would attract a lot of attention. If they simply proceeded without any incidents, they would lose the topic and attention. So, they decided to create topics, conflicts, and misunderstandings, making everyone believe that the guide and the team members were arguing. Finally, they would use the marriage proposal as a twist. However, the proposal was interrupted by a sandstorm before they could broadcast the message.

Because many of the deceased team members hadn't purchased travel insurance due to its high cost, their families couldn't receive compensation and had to share the search and rescue expenses. As a result, the families, motivated by self-interest or anger, blamed Chang Dong. Many "insiders" also revealed information that pushed Kong Yang into the spotlight and subjected her to online abuse even after her death.

Ye Liuxi listened thoughtfully and was curious about why Chang Dong had mistaken her for Kong Yang. However, Chang Dong refused to answer that question. Seeing Chang Dong's uncooperative attitude, Ye Liuxi got angry and complained. She remembered that she had something important to do and decided to be stubborn, making Chang Dong help her tow the car. Chang Dong had no choice but to agree.

Soon, the three of them arrived at the Darbo boundary marker. As was their custom, they placed two bottles of water by the marker, signifying that if they continued further, they would enter a desolation zone filled with various unknown dangers. Ye Liuxi's car had a flat tire, so they moved everything to Fei Tang's off-road vehicle. Fei Tang finally saw the beast-headed yellow sheep cup he had been longing for. However, because they were currently in the desert, they couldn't take any risks, so they had to rely on Chang Dong to safely get it out.

While walking, Ye Liuxi accidentally scratched her leg on a salt crust. Chang Dong quickly carried her out and personally applied medicine and bandaged the wound, warming her heart. The three of them found a place with less blowing sand to camp and rest. Ye Liuxi intentionally showed off the beast-headed yellow sheep cup in front of Fei Tang, whose secret plans she had already figured out.

As evening approached, a sandstorm started, and the air was filled with the taste of sand and dust. Ye Liuxi woke up from a dream and found Chang Dong helping her close the tent door. She brought up the same question again, willing to trade her own secret for an answer, hoping for mutual honesty. Afterward, she handed her notebook to him, which contained information about what she knew and didn't know.

Chang Dong admitted that he had mistaken Ye Liuxi for Kong Yang because their body shapes were too similar, and he briefly thought he was witnessing a scene from the past. During the storm that year, an entire sand dune had been leveled, and the entire camp had been wiped out, with only Chang Dong surviving. However, before losing consciousness, he had seen a group of people, along with Kong Yang, crossing over a hill and slowly leaving. So, in his mind, these people should have been the spirits of his teammates.

Through this heartfelt conversation, Ye Liuxi's attitude toward Chang Dong changed, and she expressed a desire for them to get along peacefully from now on. The next morning, Chang Dong felt a sharp pain in his chest and kept having flashes of a mysterious woman and fragments of memories. He managed to crawl into Ye Liuxi's tent with his last bit of strength.

Ye Liuxi called for Fei Tang, and they quickly performed CPR on Chang Dong. Finally, his heartbeat slowly returned. Just as Ye Liuxi was asking Chang Dong if he had a history of heart problems, they heard eerie whistling sounds in the distance. Chang Dong's face turned pale, and he urgently told Ye Liuxi and Fei Tang to pack up quickly because they had encountered a band of desert raiders.

The car hadn't driven far when an unfamiliar convoy closely followed. Chang Dong had already considered several plans in his mind, and even though he had a good understanding of the desert terrain, driving into a dead end in this situation was unavoidable. At this point, Chang Dong had to get out of the car and talk to the other party. He instructed Ye Liuxi to stay in the car, not to show herself, and to ensure her safety.

Chang Dong raised a pack of cigarettes to show he had no ill intentions. The leader of the group was called Gray Eight, and upon hearing Chang Dong's reasonable approach, he didn't cause any trouble. Gray Eight ordered one of his men, Gap Tooth, to negotiate with him. Gap Tooth learned that Chang Dong was here to collect a body, thinking he was in this line of work, and in such cases, the deceased took precedence. Also, these cars didn't carry any valuable items, so as long as they weren't extremely wicked, they typically let them go.

Gap Tooth was ordered to search the car for some cigarettes and alcohol. Ye Liuxi didn't want to wait passively and decided to take the initiative. She leaned out of the window, asking about the situation. Clearly, her question caught them off guard. Gap Tooth glanced at Ye Liuxi a few times and hurriedly went back to report to Gray Eight. Shortly after, Gray Eight got out of the car and walked straight toward Ye Liuxi, smiling and addressing her as "Miss West." This puzzled Chang Dong and Fei Tang.

The convoy wound its way to a central tent in the Yadan landscape. Inside the tent, there was a light bulb, and the group of people surrounded Ye Liuxi, serving her food and drinks. Ye Liuxi clearly didn't recognize Gray Eight, but Gray Eight was already familiar with her name. He brought out an old photo album that included a picture of Ye Liuxi.

As it turned out, Gray Eight and his group weren't really highway robbers. They were a loose association of wanderers who relied on begging for a living. They had no intention of opposing the country and were particularly wary of powerful figures who frequented Darbo. They had an internal booklet that listed people of influence, so before they engaged in this line of work, they made sure to recognize faces to avoid unnecessary trouble.

After hearing Gray Eight's explanation, Ye Liuxi seemed contemplative. Chang Dong and Fei Tang hadn't expected her identity to be so mysterious and significant. Just as the conversation ended, the light bulb inside the tent flickered, and there was a strange hissing sound. These people depended on generators and electric lights, lacking practical emergency equipment. Chang Dong found it uninteresting and went to the car to get sleeping bags and mats.

The tent had a large communal sleeping area, with over ten people lying down. Though it wasn't very organized, there was a clear separation between men and women. Chang Dong had Ye Liuxi sleep against the edge of the tent, himself a little further away from her. Next to him was Fei Tang. Nobody seemed particularly sleepy, and they started chatting about strange occurrences in the camp. Fei Tang listened with some fear.

However, Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi didn't believe in these things. They laid down in their sleeping bags and closed their eyes to sleep. But in the latter half of the night, Ye Liuxi needed to use the restroom. For safety reasons, Chang Dong decided to accompany her out of the tent. As they got up, they saw the tent fabric gradually lighting up, like an old-fashioned movie screen displaying the silhouette of a camel caravan walking towards the top of the tent.

These images looked more like shadow puppets. Chang Dong quickly grabbed a lamp and shone it on the tent but found nothing unusual. The scene had already disappeared. If it hadn't been for Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi both witnessing it, they might have thought they were seeing things. Due to this, Ye Liuxi didn't dare to go to the restroom and had to wait until daylight to run out.

Early in the morning, the camp was filled with activity. There were pots, pans, and various utensils, and a large pot of porridge was cooking over the fire, along with freshly fried eggs. It was rare to see such a hearty breakfast in the desert. Chang Dong wanted to inquire about the strange events with Gray Eight, but he and his group didn't believe it at all. So, Chang Dong advised Fei Tang to quickly drive back to town, considering the dangers ahead, and not to follow him and Ye Liuxi anymore.

Fei Tang felt his heart sink when he heard this. He couldn't even eat, and he roughly calculated the loss he would incur when returning alone, having closed his shop and spent money. After bidding farewell to Gray Eight and his group, Chang Dong set off with Ye Liuxi, heading westward. They would pass through Hailongdui on the way from Darbo to Yingcheng, and the road to Hailongdui was even more treacherous and desolate. Ancient records described it as a place where ghosts and monsters roamed.

Although Chang Dong was searching for Kong Yang, he was prepared for the possibility that he might not find her. Once he entered the depths of Hailongdui, he placed a flag on a hill along the way. Ye Liuxi unwrapped the bandage on her injured leg. The wound was still bleeding, which made Chang Dong both angry and helpless. He pulled her down the hill, but as the blood dripped into the sand, it triggered a reaction.

Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong set up a makeshift tent and, with nothing else to do, started discussing their speculations. They believed that someone was trying to trap Ye Liuxi in a life-threatening situation. Over these days, Ye Liuxi had been working leisurely, wanting to see if those people would become impatient. So far, she hadn't discovered any clues, and whether their future would reveal the truth or lead into someone else's trap remained uncertain. The only thing clear was that the person behind it was the one getting anxious.

As they were speaking, a familiar convoy approached. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Fei Tang and Gray Eight's group. Chang Dong initially thought that Fei Tang had joined forces with Gray Eight. Due to the strong winds in the Hailongdui area, Gray Eight had used cars to encircle their camp, reducing the circulation of sand and acting as a buffer.

With nightfall, everyone retired to their tents. Chang Dong seized the opportunity to reprimand Fei Tang, angrily scolding him for getting involved with Gray Eight. Chang Dong believed it would lead to serious trouble sooner or later. Fei Tang understood Chang Dong's concerns but, driven by his emotions, responded sporadically, expressing that he had merely talked to Gray Eight and hadn't considered joining them. As he spoke, he became increasingly agitated and ended up lying on the ground, refusing to get up.

However, in the next moment, something mysterious suddenly grabbed Fei Tang's ankle and swiftly dragged him over ten meters away, stopping just in time. Fei Tang was left in a daze, nearly terrified out of his wits. Chang Dong carried Fei Tang back to the tent, trying to gather information from him, but Fei Tang, still not completely calm, provided disjointed responses, suggesting that something or someone had tried to drag him away.

Chang Dong thought back to the camel caravan images and Fei Tang's experience, concluding that something strange was happening in this place. He suggested leaving for the town overnight. However, Gray Eight felt that Chang Dong was overreacting, so he didn't heed Chang Dong's advice. Chang Dong could only comfort Fei Tang and tell him to rest while he and Ye Liuxi went to investigate the area where Fei Tang had been dragged.

Indeed, they found a roughly ten-meter-long drag mark in the same spot, indicating an enormous force at play. Otherwise, given Fei Tang's weight, the drag wouldn't have been so straight. To get to the bottom of this, Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong decided to use themselves as bait. However, they waited for a long time without any unusual occurrences, so they had to return to the car to rest.

Because of the events from the previous night, Fei Tang urgently wanted to leave the area, but Chang Dong was not ready to leave yet. He drew a detailed map for Fei Tang, instructing him to follow his tire tracks and flags from yesterday to exit. After Fei Tang left, Ye Liuxi was in an unusually good mood and chatted with everyone. However, Chang Dong interrupted her, much to her annoyance. She was certain that sooner or later, she would beat him to death unless he treated her like a deity.

Not long after, Fei Tang's car returned, and he stumbled out of it, pale and trembling. His lips had turned blue. He explained that the flags had disappeared, and the tire tracks had changed direction, suddenly stopping at a Yadan platform, as if it had been devoured by the platform itself.

Fei Tang had experienced two strange events in succession, leaving him extremely anxious. He kneeled beside Ye Liuxi, seeking her protection. Ye Liuxi reminded Fei Tang that if he wanted to survive, he needed to become stronger and couldn't rely on others for long-term survival.

As Fei Tang had described, Chang Dong found that the tire tracks had inexplicably disappeared, and there were many other tire tracks that didn't belong to the campsite. Ye Liuxi also shared her observations from earlier in the day. In the morning, Gray Eight's group had been grumbling, but they had returned at noon, seemingly excited, as if they had discovered a treasure.

Despite Fei Tang's timid and weak disposition, he was an expert in antique business, particularly skilled at determining the age and value of antiques. Many merchants were cunning and selfish, but he had fewer signs of a bandit. Gray Eight was surprised to learn of Fei Tang's abilities and decided to bring him into the tent privately.

In the middle of the night, Ye Liuxi noticed that Gray Eight's group was once again armed and hurriedly leaving the camp. This raised her suspicions. While Chang Dong checked the tire tracks, Fei Tang suddenly came and secretly showed them a photo from Gray Eight's phone. He explained that Gray Eight's group had found a coffin in the Yadan and wanted to excavate it.

Since it was harder to track footprints at night than during the day, Chang Dong easily climbed onto the top of the earthen platform to check all directions. He identified a location and hurriedly led Ye Liuxi towards it. During the journey, the two followed behind him, and Ye Liuxi couldn't resist teasing Chang Dong, but he just led her forward.

After about half an hour, the group finally reached their destination. They formed two teams of three, taking turns to dig into the earthen platform. They discovered a coffin embedded halfway into the platform. They immediately tied up the coffin tightly with ropes and used all their strength to pull it out. The coffin suddenly loosened at the end embedded in the earthen platform, and due to the force of their pulling, it nearly slipped out. Two people were knocked away and died instantly.

Even though there were casualties, their greed was not deterred. Gray Eight shouted to move the bodies aside and continued opening the coffin with his companions. At this moment, dust swirled around them, and faint sounds could be heard in the distance. Upon closer listening, it seemed like someone was softly singing. It felt very familiar to Ye Liuxi, and she suspected that the coffin might have some connection to her.

With this in mind, Ye Liuxi stepped past Chang Dong and boldly approached the coffin. Gray Eight, taken aback by the sudden appearance of someone, was initially frightened, but when he realized it was Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong, his heart sank, fearing they were there to claim a share.

Ye Liuxi made it clear that she had no interest in the coffin, easing Gray Eight's concerns. Just as everyone was preparing to continue opening the coffin, they unexpectedly witnessed an iron shovel thrown from a distance, smashing into the earthen platform nearby. Gray Eight fell to the ground, and they saw blood oozing from his neck, as he had already lost his breath.

Chaos ensued. Cook fled in fear, and the others quickly distanced themselves from the coffin. In contrast, Ye Liuxi slowly approached the coffin, hummed a nursery rhyme, and examined the coffin's structure. Although she couldn't explain why she was humming this particular song, she was confident that she could open the coffin.

Chang Dong attempted to stop her to no avail. He watched as Ye Liuxi opened the coffin, revealing several shadow puppets stacked inside, nearly as tall as humans, each with different appearances. The sight of shadow puppets filling such a large coffin left them puzzled. Chang Dong took some photos and then returned with Ye Liuxi to the camp. To their surprise, the car was already filled with sand, as if the sand had a life of its own, creeping inside.

After careful observation and examination by Fei Tang, they were able to confirm that they had found a Han Dynasty coffin in the modern desolate area of Yadan. However, the suspicious part was that the Han Dynasty coffin contained clothing from the Tang Dynasty. Ye Liuxi recalled the eerie nursery rhyme she had hummed the night before, with strange lyrics suggesting that these people didn't want to leave the Yumen Pass nor enter it, indicating they were most likely criminals turned into lost spirits.

Fei Tang couldn't make sense of it and chose to rest in the car. Chang Dong hesitated for a moment but eventually expressed his concerns to Ye Liuxi. He felt that she didn't seem like someone who had grown up in a normal society, as she was accustomed to solving problems through violence. In modern society, there were many ways to resolve issues, and violence should not be her first choice. Ye Liuxi listened attentively to Chang Dong's words, uncommonly refraining from arguing and accepting his advice.

After a sleepless night, Chang Dong drew a map of the Yumen Pass ruins. He believed that they had been making some assumptions all along, thinking that they lived in the inland area, where leaving the Yumen Pass meant going outside and entering it meant coming inside. However, if there was a group of people stationed outside the pass, their perspectives would be entirely different.

Ye Liuxi took a moment to digest this and then hurriedly got up to take the map. Based on the content sung in the nursery rhyme, she analyzed that these people were forced to leave the Yumen Pass for some reason, couldn't return for a long time, and had to make the desert their home. Fei Tang woke up and found that the tire tracks and flags that had disappeared earlier were all back, but Gray Eight and the others' bodies were nowhere to be seen.

The camp, usually lively, was exceptionally quiet today. Ye Liuxi, Chang Dong, and Fei Tang drove along the road, finally leaving that eerie desert behind. While Fei Tang was busy picking up stones, Chang Dong remembered the legends about Dalipo and everything they had encountered recently. He deduced that they had most likely entered another Haolongdui, which he tentatively called "Haolongdui No. 2." All the strangeness and horror had occurred in Haolongdui No. 2, and perhaps Kong Yang and her team's bodies were also here.

Although Fei Tang couldn't obtain the mythical beast's Yellow Goat Cup as he wished, he still managed to find a bag of decent-quality Gobi jade. Chang Dong instructed Fei Tang to return directly to Yingcheng along the road, where he would supply the necessary resources and stay in touch. Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi needed to return to Hailongdui.

As evening approached, Hailongdui was quiet and still. Chang Dong carved leather, occasionally casting a sidelong glance, while Ye Liuxi, bored, flipped through old, yellowed books. She couldn't help but strike up a conversation with Chang Dong. Suddenly, they heard a strange sound outside the tent. They looked out with the available light and saw the cook, who had run away in fear since the incident with the coffin. He was now completely scared.

Through the cook's fragmented words, they learned that he had been back to the place where the coffin was kept. The cook repeatedly muttered the words "下沙子" (down the sand), which left Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi puzzled. In an attempt to prevent the cook from running around, Chang Dong wanted to tie him up with a rope. However, Ye Liuxi didn't take it seriously and knocked him unconscious with a single chop.

That night, as Chang Dong connected recent events related to wind and sand, he realized that there might be a connection. Especially Ye Liuxi's ability to attract sandstorms, which made him speculate that she might be from inland. Ye Liuxi listened thoughtfully to Chang Dong's words, and that night she dreamt of being abducted by a mysterious group of people.

However, all the information about Yumen Pass came from legends. Chang Dong, with Ye Liuxi, searched every corner of Hailongdui, comparing it with Kong Yang's photos. There was a nagging voice in his head, reminding him of two distinct worlds. The cook was there throughout, repeatedly uttering a few phrases: "下沙子" (down the sand), "一条线" (a straight line), "掌勺" (the cook), and "打伞" (holding an umbrella). It was challenging to make sense of these keywords.

During dinner, Chang Dong received a call from Fei Tang, who shared his luxurious life at a hotel in the city, taking baths and drinking wine. Fei Tang promised to deliver a batch of supplies to them. Currently, Chang Dong had a vague idea that Ye Liuxi's blood could attract sandstorms. He decided to drop some of Ye Liuxi's blood onto a sand dune, and it indeed caused a subtle change.

After the sand dune churned and the sandstorm gathered, resembling a miniature tornado, Chang Dong was surprised. He immediately thought of an old saying about Darpo: "风头水尾" (headwind and tailwind). They believed that both wind and water had lives, and wherever the wind raged most was called "风头" (headwind). It seemed that Ye Liuxi's blood could summon "风头" (headwind).

As the sandstorm intensified, the cook, frightened, sought refuge in the car. Soon, the peculiar sand transformed into a "snake" and attacked Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi. Fortunately, they had closed the car's windows and doors in time, watching as the strange sand dissipated into the sand dunes. Chang Dong realized that they had entered Hailongdui No. 2. He immediately drove to the location of the coffin, searching for the bodies of Gray Eight and the others.

However, the platform had undergone significant changes. The location of the coffin that night, the positions of the people, and the arrangement of Gray Eight and his three companions' bodies had been completely restored. There was no trace of injuries or excavation. Even their satellite phones lost signal.

So now it seemed clear that Ye Liuxi was indeed from inland and could be the key to unlocking Hailongdui No. 2. Ye Liuxi closed her eyes, and an image of being abducted by a mysterious group of people flashed in her mind, along with a glimpse of her childhood, following an unknown young man. She quickly regained her composure.

The next morning, the wind and sand had subsided considerably. Chang Dong used a drone to survey the surroundings from a higher vantage point, about two to three hundred meters away. They could now see an aerial view of the area and spotted a Sema Road leading to a tomb. Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi reviewed their plan, believing that if they stayed where Gray Eight had died, they would eventually witness the disappearance of Yumen Pass.

Chang Dong decided to dig up the shadow puppet coffin first and took a break after a while. Ye Liuxi asked Chang Dong to shield her from the wind and couldn't resist teasing him. However, when she got up, her legs were numb, and she couldn't move. Chang Dong massaged her legs to help alleviate the symptoms. At this moment, something unusual happened with the shadow puppet coffin, and the surrounding sandstorm began to coalesce in mid-air.

In an instant, the sand and wind rapidly gathered, suspended in the gray-black chaotic sky, gradually forming a huge sandball. A strand of fine sand tilted down, making Ye Liuxi recall a few words that Jiang Zhan often repeated while holding the ladle. Combined with the situation, she deduced that the members of the Gray Eight were buried under these sands. Before Ye Liuxi could think it over carefully, she noticed a subtle change in the light and darkness in front of her. Chang Dong, alert, looked ahead and saw that the sandball seemed like an eye, turning towards them to launch an attack.

Soon, the sand wrapped around Chang Dong's left leg, making it difficult for him to break free and causing him to fall to the ground. Seeing this, Ye Liuxi drew her knife and moved in for an attack. At a critical moment, Chang Dong pushed himself up, taking Ye Liuxi with him, hiding behind a dune, narrowly avoiding disaster. As the wind subsided, Chang Dong realized that Ye Liuxi had been about to strike his left leg. Unable to contain himself, he reminded her that in similar situations in the future, she should try to protect her physical integrity, as he didn't want her to end up with a lifelong disability.

As the day gradually brightened, the Yumen Pass was completely closed, and the shadow puppet coffin platform disappeared. Chang Dong planned to go back to the city to find a hotel to rest, but to his surprise, Ye Liuxi had found a part-time job in this hotel, "Tiankangdehe," and was tidying up the rooms. They both ended up in the laundry room and started chatting while the washing machine was running. Chang Dong was curious about why people from two different worlds were connected like this, and Ye Liuxi felt that if she had to have a connection with someone, she could reluctantly accept that it was Chang Dong.

Fei Tang was responsible for delivering the ladle to the address left by the Gray Eight, which turned out to be a chess club called "Tiankangdehe." He thought it would be a simple delivery, but he was unexpectedly detained on the spot. Upon receiving the news, Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi rushed to the chess club and met the owner, Liu Qi, who was also known as "Qiye."

Liu Qi's personality was much more steady compared to the Gray Eight. Their relationship could be described at best as fellow townsmen, but he had a different purpose for seeking Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi, which was related to the shadow puppet coffins. At first, Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong were wary, thinking he was just after their money. However, Liu Qi suddenly mentioned that he had seen a shadow puppeteer who operated a cargo cart in his early years, which piqued their interest.

Over the years, Liu Qi had never been able to forget this incident. He vaguely remembered that there were a total of nine cargo carts, each with nine shadow puppet figures. Whether it was a coincidence or had some connection, he was eager to find out. Liu Qi straightforwardly proposed a deal – he would provide the money, and Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi would help him retrieve the body of Gray Eight and solve the mystery of the shadow puppet figures. If they found the cargo cart with the shadow puppets, the contents would be divided among them.

Liu Qi had an old-fashioned way of doing things and insisted on having dinner together. Since they had reached an agreement, all the details were ironed out at the dining table, making it easier to build rapport. Afterward, Liu Qi introduced them to two people, Ding Liu, his goddaughter, and Gao Shen, his capable bodyguard. Both were young people with completely contrasting personalities.

According to Liu Qi's plan, Ding Liu and Gao Shen would accompany them into the pass and serve as assistants when necessary. Fei Tang didn't want to stay behind and insisted on following Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi. Seeing Ye Liuxi's face, Liu Qi agreed to let him come along.

However, Ding Liu looked down on these three individuals and planned to sow discord between Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi, starting with getting closer to Chang Dong and disrupting their relationship. On the way to Hailongdui, Chang Dong thought carefully about the events that had happened earlier. He believed that Sima Dao was likely the route to enter the pass and had a significant connection to Ye Liuxi, even if she was an insider, her identity was definitely not simple.

Three cars traveled together, and although they were close, there were clearly two separate groups. Fei Tang sat in the car reading a book, Chang Dong, as usual, opened the puppet box to set up the shadow puppets, and Ye Liuxi stood nearby, her gaze occasionally drifting towards Ding Liu, who was not far away. She pretended to be engrossed in her phone but frequently glanced at Chang Dong.

During the journey, Ye Liuxi noticed that Ding Liu was paying special attention to Chang Dong. So, she got up to find Fei Tang, looking out the window to observe the situation outside. As expected, Ding Liu feigned innocence and moved closer to Chang Dong, striking up a conversation under the pretext of drinking water. Unfortunately, Chang Dong showed no interest, and his straightforward nature made the atmosphere very awkward. Even Fei Tang could see that Ding Liu was interested in Chang Dong.

However, Chang Dong wanted Ye Liuxi to find an opportunity to incapacitate Ding Liu and Gao Shen, not wanting them to get into trouble or become a burden. Ye Liuxi felt it wasn't necessary, and if things turned out that way, they wouldn't be able to explain to Liu Qi. Moreover, Gao Shen appeared to be a skilled fighter, and Ding Liu had been guarding for Liu Qi for three years, indicating that they were more capable than they seemed and could be useful when needed.

To ensure everyone's safety, Chang Dong decided to retrieve the bodies of the Gray Eight during the daytime. They quickly unearthed three corpses, and Ding Liu called Liu Qi to arrange for their retrieval. Afterwards, they set off for Sima Dao. Chang Dong explained the significance of Sima Dao to Ye Liuxi; it was the only path to reach the tomb and, at its end, was the burial site of the Emperor and Empress, a crucial point for entering Yumen Pass.

After a while, they spotted another earthen platform in the distance. Chang Dong instructed everyone to get out of the car, and then he rammed the car violently into the platform. As the dust settled, the platform partially collapsed, revealing a shadow puppet coffin. Although it was still a style from the Han Dynasty, the content this time was different; it depicted a general yearning for his deceased wife. An occultist claimed to be able to reunite the couple's spirits but only allowed them to see each other through a curtain.

Legend had it that in ancient times, there was a period when evil spirits roamed the desert. A sorcerer traveling through the desert stumbled upon a strange entrance in the depths of the sands. It appeared to be a dead-end, but beyond it was another world, perhaps the source of the mysterious and malevolent creatures. Later, the sorcerer learned to control these mystical creatures and used them to manipulate people's hearts and gain favor with the powerful. However, when the Great General failed to summon back his deceased wife, he blamed the sorcerer. He decided to banish the sorcerer and those who practiced dark arts into this peculiar space, sealing the entrance and preventing them from ever returning to the human realm.

After they lifted the coffin lid, they saw nine shadow puppet figures inside, but this time, they were dressed in Ming Dynasty attire instead of Tang Dynasty attire. Fei Tang noticed that there were a few characters on the coffin lid, and some of them were unrecognizable. Chang Dong closed the coffin lid, recalling what the fortune teller had said. The story of the Ghost Camel Brigade had been passed down for hundreds of years, perhaps since the Han Dynasty. There might have always been a passage between inside and outside Yumen Pass.

That evening, Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi saw numerous ghostly lights rising towards the Yadan land, gradually fading into thin smoke. This indicated that this was likely the entrance to the interior of the pass. Ye Liuxi asked Chang Dong if they would leave Yumen Pass if they found Kong Yang and the others' bodies, and although Chang Dong gave a resolute answer, it filled her with an unusual sense of reluctance.

The next morning, Fei Tang finally deciphered the characters on the coffin lid: "Flow West Bones, Hope East Soul." Combining this with Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong's names, they suspected a connection between them. Soon, Ding Liu and Gao Shen returned in their car and, upon hearing their plan to enter the pass, agreed without hesitation.

Before sunset, everything was prepared. Chang Dong drove along the path towards the Yadan they had seen the previous night. Ye Liuxi suggested taking the wheel and reminded everyone to hold on tight, then she stepped on the accelerator and drove straight into it. The anticipated collision did not happen; their cars seemed to enter another dimension. The sound of the wind instantly disappeared, and everyone was left in a state of shock, their heavy breaths echoing in the strange space.

The road into the pass resembled a canyon, with strange beasts roaring on either side of the rocky walls. As they continued driving forward, they encountered a terrifying humanoid creature that climbed onto the car's window. Ye Liuxi didn't hesitate and drove straight through at full throttle, quickly leaving the creature behind until they reached a safe spot.

Outside the car, tranquility reigned, and in the car's headlights, they couldn't see the end of the desert. Everyone took a rare moment to rest, and Ye Liuxi seized the opportunity to teach Fei Tang a technique to increase his courage in three steps, which immediately had an effect, making him braver than before. Chang Dong, witnessing this, couldn't help but smile, as not interfering had become their unspoken understanding.

Once again, they set off in the car, with Chang Dong having a clear destination in mind. The journey went relatively smoothly, and they soon arrived at a desolate village in the desert. However, the atmosphere in the village was eerily quiet, putting Chang Dong, Ye Liuxi, and the others on high alert. Chang Dong held a torch high and led the way into what seemed to be a courtyard with signs of recent activity.

Just as they were about to approach, figures emerged from the haystacks and rooftops. Almost simultaneously, Ye Liuxi and Gao Shen grabbed an elderly man and a young boy, while a young girl began kicking, pinching, and hitting Fei Tang relentlessly, leaving the young man in his early twenties struggling to defend himself.

The girl realized that Ye Liuxi meant no harm and introduced herself along with the names of the elderly man and the boy. The girl was named A He, the boy was called Shu Tiao, and the elderly man made a living as a fortune teller and was named Lao Qian. All three of them were locals from inside the pass, and there were no language barriers when communicating with Chang Dong's group.

Chang Dong had a rough idea and instructed Ye Liuxi to release them, allowing the three to rush out of the door. They quickly returned, and A He opened a trapdoor and led them into a tidy underground chamber, indicating they had been living there for some time. As A He explained, the village had been hit by an epidemic over a decade ago, leading to its abandonment. A He, Shu Tiao, and Lao Qian had sought refuge in the village to escape a calamity. However, they unexpectedly encountered humanoid creatures covered in sand, which they temporarily referred to as "sand people."

Although the sand people appeared lifeless, A He could confirm that these individuals had died not long ago before being transformed into sand by the Golden Ants. These ants, resembling regular ants, were only found near the shifting sands of the Yadan. They crawled into a person's body through the ears and turned the person's body into a sand-like, otherworldly creature.

In addition to this, the sand people had highly sensitive noses and could track scents. Once their sticky secretions touched a person, they would cling to them for days and nights, and if they suffered any harm, they would summon their companions for revenge. Ye Liuxi recalled the sand people they had encountered when driving and discussed with Chang Dong about masking their scent. Ding Liu quickly took out some perfume.

Upon hearing that the sand people were not afraid of pain and could reproduce, Chang Dong's mood suddenly became complex. He walked into the courtyard alone and gazed at the night sky in contemplation. Ye Liuxi followed him and, after everything they had been through, Chang Dong began to question the scientific beliefs he had held. These events were difficult to explain with science, and the inside and outside of the pass seemed like two parallel worlds. If Kong Yang and his team were inside the pass, they were highly likely to have turned into sand people.

Seeing Chang Dong's inner turmoil, Ye Liuxi offered to intervene and resolve the situation if needed, reassuring him that she wouldn't want to appear as a sand person in front of her boyfriend either. After a moment of hesitation, Chang Dong decided to entrust Kong Yang to Ye Liuxi if she were to encounter him before him.

Hearing Chang Dong's decision, Ye Liuxi readily agreed. The two returned to the underground chamber, and everyone prepared to rest. A He offered her sleeping space, letting everyone arrange themselves. She adjusted the cotton wick on the kerosene lamp to keep just enough light not to hinder sleep. The sleeping spaces were arranged in pairs, with two straw mats placed side by side—one against the wall and the other on the outside. Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong both found themselves in the corner, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. At the same time, a large number of Golden Ants crawled out of the shifting sands, and the female corpse lying nearby gradually transformed into sand, slowly crawling to its feet.

Lao Qian hadn't rested yet and remembered A He's reminder to be polite to guests, so he initiated a conversation with Fei Tang. The sleeping arrangements weren't far apart, and their voices could be heard if they spoke too loudly. Fei Tang felt it was only fair to engage in some small talk since they were guests in someone else's home, so he responded casually. However, when Lao Qian mentioned "exterminating monsters within the Yu Men," he suddenly became more alert, catching the attention of the others.

Hundreds of years ago, the Grand General sought to eradicate demons and monsters, entrusting the task to the Taoist priests. They drove these creatures into the Yu Men Pass and sealed the entrance. From that point on, inside and outside the pass became two separate worlds. However, when the Taoist priests and the Yu Lin Wei entered the pass, they were surprised to find that these creatures had originally come from inside the pass, often referred to as "inside-pass monsters."

The Taoist priests and the Yu Lin Wei took control of Hei Shi City inside the pass and spent many years learning how to enter and exit the pass. However, aside from the rulers, ordinary people from inside the pass had no way to leave. Chang Dong was puzzled by this information and began to suspect that Ye Liuxi's identity might be connected to the rulers.

That night, Ye Liuxi dreamt of a young girl who had lost her parents, carrying a sickle as she tracked a mysterious man. There was something peculiar about the golden scorpion on her left shoulder. She woke up in the early morning, and A He was already busy fetching rice from a sack to prepare breakfast for everyone.

Supplies were not abundant inside the pass, and they had been living off the generosity of others. Ye Liuxi felt a bit guilty, especially considering they were more mouths to feed than one or two. She woke Chang Dong, and although he woke quickly, his mind was still lagging behind. He was half-submerged in weariness and grogginess, his voice sounding low and hoarse, which left Ye Liuxi somewhat stunned. Chang Dong neatly folded his own blanket and was about to go out, but Ye Liuxi deliberately messed it up several times, forcing him to help her fold it properly.

Despite appearing uneventful the previous night, they had encountered a terrifying event unknown to others. The car's tires had been chewed through by the sand people, and the car's body was covered in the dried prints of their hands and feet. It was unclear how many sand people had climbed all over it. Chang Dong quickly assessed the damage and formulated a plan to make up for it. Luckily, they had spare tires in the car, and the contents inside were undamaged. Fei Tang retrieved supplies and placed them in the underground chamber. He also handed a few pieces of chocolate to A He and the others to try. Lao Qian had a hidden agenda in mind.

Soon, a sandstorm rolled in, obscuring the sky. A He, Shu Tiao, and Lao Qian all disappeared from sight. Chang Dong sensed that something was amiss and eventually discovered that the stove had been blocked by Lao Qian. It was clear that he intended to put them in danger. An onslaught of sand people descended upon them, and Chang Dong climbed onto the roof. The situation in the courtyard was clear from above. He instructed Gao Shen and Ye Liuxi, who were the most skilled, to take the center, acting as shields for each other. Ding Liu hid in the shadows and provided cover fire, and even Fei Tang, unusually courageous, faced the sand people in battle.

After a chaotic and intense battle, most of the sand people were eliminated, and the Golden Ants scattered and fled. At this moment, a figure rushed towards Chang Dong. She had long, disheveled hair, wore a tattered red dress, had a frighteningly thin neck, and wore a delicate necklace. It was none other than Kong Yang, the girl Chang Dong had recognized, with the necklace he had given her as a token of their love. Chang Dong immediately recognized her as Kong Yang but hesitated to act until the very last moment when he snapped her neck and knelt beside her, overwhelmed with grief.

Gao Shen and Ding Liu gathered some fuel and, under Ye Liuxi's orders, set it on fire in the stove. Soon, cries and pleas for mercy were heard from below. Ye Liuxi didn't actually want to take their lives but wanted to make these greedy beings suffer a bit. Lao Qian, A He, and Shu Tiao crawled out of the underground chamber and huddled in front of Ye Liuxi. Shu Tiao still had traces of chocolate sauce around his mouth, which made Ye Liuxi feel both disgusted and amused. She grabbed A He's hair, pretending to push her into the fire, causing A He to scream in fear. Even Fei Tang, who rarely displayed courage, found it unbelievable, and without thinking, he tried to intervene, scolding Lao Qian and the others for their ingratitude. Lao Qian took full responsibility, admitting that they were trying to steal their belongings to survive. Seeing that a sandstorm was approaching, they decided to take a gamble that the sand people would follow the sandstorm to their location.

The immediate priority was to burn these sand people as quickly as possible; otherwise, leaving a scent behind would attract more retaliation. Ye Liuxi understood that Chang Dong wanted to give Kong Yang a proper burial but was torn. Nevertheless, she followed Lao Qian's method to deal with the situation. Shu Tiao cleaned up the courtyard, while A He and Lao Qian dragged the sand people outside. When it was Kong Yang's turn, Chang Dong scolded Lao Qian not to touch her.

As the sandstorm passed through, the sky gradually turned yellow. Ye Liuxi stood alone on the rooftop, looking toward Chang Dong not far away. She observed him as he dug a grave using a military shovel, lining it with branches, shrubs, and weeds, arranging Kong Yang and her teammates' bodies neatly. After Chang Dong had preserved their belongings, he doused their bodies with gasoline. The billowing smoke and flames distorted Chang Dong's silhouette.

Fei Tang, Ding Liu, and the others were contemplating their next steps. They couldn't stay here indefinitely, so they had to decide whether to continue forward or backtrack out of the pass. Chang Dong was still carving leather puppets of Kong Yang and her teammates in a side room. Ye Liuxi didn't go to visit him, knowing that it wouldn't make a difference, so she let him have some quiet time alone.

Ye Liuxi carried a knife and went to find Lao Qian. While sharpening the knife, she questioned him, which left him pale and bewildered. Lao Qian truthfully explained the origins of the sand people, tracing it back to a creature named "Yan Zhong." This creature was greedy and bloodthirsty, with a penchant for licking the salt secreted from the Liusheyadan. It would awaken every few decades or even centuries, causing nearby villages to suffer each time.

Initially, Yan Zhong would disguise itself as an outsider entering the village, but gradually, the villagers started to disappear. It had an incredible ability to adapt to its surroundings and could easily change its facial appearance, making it difficult for people to recognize. After a period of activity, it would return to Liusheyadan to sleep, and the Sand Mounds and Devouring Water Marshes would become its guardians.

Because ordinary people couldn't approach it, Ye Liuxi was puzzled by the existence of the sand people. She suspected that someone was regularly feeding corpses into Liusheyadan. Over the next two days, they remained in the same place for rest and recovery. Ye Liuxi continued her "game," while Lao Qian, A He, and Shu Tiao nervously faced her questions. Any slight mistake would result in point deductions and, ultimately, death.

After a few rounds, Ye Liuxi noticed that Lao Qian provided the most information. However, he was just a fortune-teller, and whenever he faced a question he couldn't answer, he would suggest going to the market. Rumor had it that the market was protected by Heishi City, and they used wind power for electricity. Locals could control and transport exotic creatures to cultivate crops. The primary currency was gold foil or barter, which piqued Ye Liuxi's interest.

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Ye Liuxi finally entered the side room where Chang Dong had been sitting blankly in a corner. He had lost weight and grown some stubble on his chin due to neglecting his appearance. Chang Dong had dreamt of an endless desert road with Kong Yang sitting beside him in a car, wearing the same crimson dress he had remembered. Kong Yang persuaded him to forget about her, as only by forgetting could he start anew. Life was a journey of thousands of miles with numerous travelers, some adding color to the scenery while others casting shadows. He needed to stand atop the mountains, witnessing the grandeur of the world, and not become fixated on a single sand dune.

For this reason, Chang Dong, with Ye Liuxi's company, gathered the courage to leave the side room. He shaved his face, looking refreshed, and sat beside her outside, gazing up at the clear sky. Under the same sky, their shadows were sometimes distant, sometimes close, and eventually overlapped gently, like a tender embrace. Ye Liuxi accompanied Chang Dong to the underground chamber. The sunlight hadn't reached inside yet, providing some shade. Chang Dong had been treated well for three days, and now it was time for him to gather his spirits and consider the next steps for the future.

Chang Dong slept soundly for a long time, one full day and night. When he woke up, he saw Ye Liuxi lying beside him. He groggily opened his eyes, intentionally messing up the blanket that he had already neatly folded. However, this time Chang Dong didn't insist on his compulsions, and he tried to convince himself to accept Ye Liuxi's appreciation for the beauty of disorder. Ye Liuxi responded with a contented smile.

After a joint discussion between Fei Tang and Ding Liu, they unanimously decided to head to the market. They couldn't afford to return from the pass empty-handed. Ye Liuxi looked at Chang Dong, and when he expressed his intention to go along, she finally smiled. Chang Dong then began to work on repairing the vehicle, with Gao Shen assisting in fixing the tires. Fei Tang suggested that Lao Qian could help, but Ye Liuxi rejected the idea, fearing their involvement might not be trustworthy.

When the vehicle was almost ready for the road, three maps were handed over. Although Shu Tiao didn't know many characters, the drawings were detailed enough. Chang Dong carefully compared the maps and planned the route. Since the roads between markets were desolate and dangerous after dark due to the presence of exotic creatures, Ye Liuxi suggested they find a place to stay before sunset, with the Red Flower Tree Nightclub being their first choice.

After discussing these matters, Ye Liuxi urged everyone to pack their things and prepare for loading. She instructed Fei Tang to move everything from the underground chamber. Since A He and the others had been ungrateful, they needed to face some hardship and learn the meaning of self-sufficiency. Fei Tang was clearly reluctant but secretly sought help from Chang Dong. Chang Dong hinted that they might lose some things in the rush of the journey. This made Fei Tang realize the situation, and before leaving, he handed two bags of rice to A He.

Finally, the vehicle left the deserted village. However, beyond the village lay an endless desert, with occasional sand dunes but no clear directions. Not to mention any red flower trees or other vegetation. Just when everyone was starting to lose patience, they suddenly saw an aurora in the sky ahead, and at the end of it, they faintly spotted a red light. As they approached, they discovered it was indeed a red flower tree, and an old beggar stood in front of it. He had a rooster hanging from his waist, and the rice he scattered didn't fall to the ground; it all went into the rooster's mouth.

Ye Liuxi had heard that someone would come to collect the tree at sunset and lead guests to the nightclub, so they guessed he was the person responsible for collecting the tree. The old beggar introduced himself as Li Jin'ao and claimed to be a performer of shadow puppets in the market. He led everyone to follow the aurora and soon saw people waiting to receive them.

Although the Red Flower Tree Nightclub wasn't very large, it was bustling. The guest rooms were packed tightly, with several dozen in total. The central part of the circular area was both a dining room and an activity area. Chang Dong had Ye Liuxi wear a mask, concerned that she might encounter her enemies from inside the pass. Once they arrived, they walked directly into the inn.

Behind the front desk sat a middle-aged woman with plain features and a cold tone. She warned them not to move around recklessly after eleven o'clock; otherwise, they would be responsible for any consequences. Chang Dong chose a large room on the second floor. After all, it was safer for everyone to stay together. Even if there weren't enough beds, they could sleep on the floor, and nobody would be too particular about it.

After settling their luggage, the five of them went downstairs to order noodles. They overheard Li Jin'ao trying to please the woman at the front desk, hoping she would let him perform more shadow puppet shows. The woman seemed annoyed and indicated that letting people like Li Jin'ao stay for free was already quite generous, so she wouldn't pay him extra to perform.

However, actions spoke louder than words, and Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi exchanged glances. They asked Li Jin'ao to perform, and the first act was "Calling Spirits." Li Jin'ao had prepared minimal props. As he played the clay flute, a group of fireflies resembling ghosts appeared behind the curtain. Gradually, they transformed into two people, the Grand General and his wife.

Ye Liuxi realized that Li Jin'ao was no ordinary person. She instructed Ding Liu to order more dishes and some wine, planning to get him drunk and extract some information. Li Jin'ao enjoyed himself immensely and became quite tipsy, readily sharing that his family had been a generation of shadow puppeteers from inside the pass. They had controlled the puppet troupe for generations. Besides, Li Jin'ao revealed the true story behind the Grand General's banishment of the puppeteers and exotic creatures. It was entirely different from the stories they had heard before.

As it turned out, the Grand General missed his wife and unexpectedly discovered that the figure behind the curtain was composed of shadow puppets created by Little Bite. He became furious and later found out that Little Bite and the puppeteers' extraordinary skills originated from a mysterious desert area. Fearing that the puppeteers might possess more formidable skills that could undermine his rule, he banished the puppeteers, their extended families, the exotic creatures, and even the Feathered Guards responsible for escorting them, all into that magical space. This gave rise to the legend of "Exiling Demons and Puppets to the Jade Gate."

Everyone also wanted to inquire about the origin of the puppet troupe, but Li Jin'ao refused to reveal any more information. He was completely drunk and was escorted back to his room by Chang Dong. While he was inebriated, they went to take baths, leaving Fei Tang in the room, keeping an eye on their belongings. During this time, Chang Dong kept feeling a shadow lurking, but Gao Shen remained oblivious. Surprisingly, when Ye Liuxi finished her bath and headed back, she was shocked to find that Chang Dong was quietly following her with a mysterious smile on his face.

When they returned, Chang Dong was silent, buried in luggage, and his behavior was extremely strange, alerting Ye Liuxi. Just as Ye Liuxi was about to take action, the real Chang Dong entered from outside the door. The real and fake Chang Dongs faced each other, and the fake one turned into a shadow of sand and drifted away, disappearing instantly.

Although this phenomenon was too bizarre and hard to explain scientifically, the experienced group of people remained calm, discussing it casually and preparing to rest. Suddenly, they heard cries from outside. Chang Dong and Gao Shen quickly went out to check and found Li Jin'ao chasing a rooster named "Zhenshanhe" running around the room.

While Zhenshanhe was very brave, it was terrified of scorpions, and tonight it was acting unusually, indicating the presence of someone with a scorpion symbol inside the Red Flower Tree Inn. Furthermore, Li Jin'ao explained why there was a fake Chang Dong – it was a "Twinborn" creature that could mimic humans and be controlled by them. It enjoyed spreading false information and sowing discord.

As for the so-called Scorpion Eye organization, it was originally founded to counter Blackstone City. Only those with Scorpion Eyes could raise giant scorpions, killing without a trace. Li Jin'ao had heard that the leader of the Scorpion Eye organization would draw a scorpion on the corner of their eye before each killing. Two years ago, they had hung over a hundred Feathered Guards in the Hu Yang Forest outside of Hu Yang City, displaying their ruthless methods.

Upon hearing this, Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong fell into silence. Many clues seemed to align with Ye Liuxi's situation. Others hadn't noticed anything unusual and listened to Li Jin'ao's story about an event from over twenty years ago when the "Nanmuo" phenomenon occurred. Six stars of Nanmuo appeared in the sky, confirming the prediction of the Silver Snake and breaking the Jade Gate.

Since it was still some time until dawn, those who wanted to sleep continued to do so. Li Jin'ao was a bit frightened and didn't dare go back to his room alone. Chang Dong didn't mind; after all, the room was large enough, and accommodating one more person and a rooster was not an issue. Ye Liuxi fell asleep after a while, and she pulled Chang Dong into the closet to talk. They both had their own thoughts about what Li Jin'ao had said. In any case, Ye Liuxi's identity was either related to the Feathered Guards or the Scorpion Eye organization.

However, the closer they got to the truth, the more difficult it became, especially since the truth seemed to be manipulated or deliberately hidden. Ye Liuxi had initially thought she might have relatives or friends who would inquire about her, but she felt like an abandoned orphan with no one to turn to. While they were talking, Chang Dong suddenly signaled Ye Liuxi to stay quiet. He opened the closet door and saw Zhenshanhe eavesdropping outside. Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong pretended to discuss killing the rooster and eating its meat, and Zhenshanhe, seemingly understanding human speech, turned and ran away.

The next morning, Li Jin'ao found Zhenshanhe hanging upside down under a table in the lobby. Ye Liuxi threatened him that either the man or the rooster had to die since the rooster had eavesdropped on their conversation. In the end, Li Jin'ao sadly offered the rooster to save his own life. Gao Shen believed that Zhenshanhe perfectly matched his grandfather's description of the Exorcism Great Rooster, so he suggested keeping it, as it might be useful in the future. Ye Liuxi thought it made sense and readily agreed to spare the rooster's life.

Soon, they packed their luggage and prepared to depart. They tied Zhenshanhe to the luggage rack on the car's roof. The five of them set off once again into the desert, continuing their journey. On the other hand, Li Jin'ao was heartbroken over losing his beloved rooster. Coincidentally, he saw an inn employee about to deal with a batch of roosters, and he wanted to pick one out and buy it. At this moment, a staff member accidentally broke a bottle, creating a loud noise. The flock of roosters panicked, with one exception: a rooster that remained calm in its cage, displaying the composure of Zhenshanhe. Li Jin'ao immediately chose this one and named it "Zhensihai."

In the desolate and uninhabited desert, a solitary figure appeared, and it turned out to be the frail man who had stayed at the inn. He approached them and asked for directions, but in reality, he was signaling the giant scorpions to attack. Zhenshanhe had already fainted in fear, and even Fei Tang had been injured in the eyes. The back seat of the metal car was in chaos. Ye Liuxi drew her sword and attacked the scorpions, while Chang Dong subdued the man. After a chaotic battle, Ye Liuxi finally killed the giant scorpion. In contrast, Ding Liu was injured during the struggle with the man, with a piece of a knife handle lodged in her head.

Initially, Ding Liu had not reacted until she saw the image reflected in the car window, with a knife handle protruding from her head. She instantly lost all her strength and almost collapsed. Gao Shen rushed over to catch her. The group drove to the nearby Yellow Earth City, urgently inquiring about the location of the hospital. However, the so-called hospital was more like a run-down clinic with very outdated medical facilities.

After a doctor's examination, it was determined that Ding Liu had suffered severe brain damage, and her condition was critical. The knife handle needed to be removed urgently. However, the doctor did not have enough confidence and suggested that they should go to Blackstone City. The journey to Blackstone City was far, taking about three or four days, which was not feasible given the urgency of the situation. At Gao Shen's earnest request, the doctor reluctantly agreed to perform the surgery immediately. The worst-case scenario ranged from mild symptoms like unconsciousness and speech impairment to more severe ones like paralysis or even death.

Fei Tang couldn't open his eyes due to his eye injury, so he sat in the front passenger seat. Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong pulled the weak man from the rear compartment, taped his mouth shut, and left him in a small, rundown house. Zhenshanhe had not yet awakened, and Fei Tang was worried it might have been scared to death by the giant scorpions. Ye Liuxi sprayed some water on it, and it immediately sprang to life, jumping around.

Fortunately, the surgery went relatively smoothly, and the doctor successfully removed the knife handle. Ding Liu was still in a critical condition, and whether she would wake up depended on her. The doctor examined Fei Tang's eyes and assured him that he would recover with some extra sunlight. Ye Liuxi didn't know how to comfort Gao Shen and sat in the backyard, staring blankly at the moonlight. Suddenly, she understood Chang Dong's feelings of losing loved ones and friends.

Later, Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong went to the rundown house to question the weak man about why he had attacked them. He admitted that he had been tempted by the sight of the metal car and supplies, giving in to his greed. The weak man hadn't expected this group to be armed, and he marveled that even the leader of the Scorpion Eye, Jiang Zhan, didn't have such things. Ye Liuxi wanted to eliminate the weak man, but Chang Dong didn't want to kill him, so they decided to lock him in the rundown house for now.

That night, Ye Liuxi dreamt of the scene of her parents' murder, with the culprit being Yan Zhong. In the moment of crisis, a golden scorpion appeared and saved her. When she woke up, the room was filled with sunlight, and the whole city appeared sandy yellow, particularly glaring. Gao Shen stayed by Ding Liu's bedside the whole time, his eyes bloodshot, and his chin had grown stubble. He gazed at Ding Liu affectionately and attentively, hoping for her swift recovery.

Chang Dong checked a map of the area near Yellow Earth City and took Ye Liuxi to the market to buy gasoline. They entered a shop that was a corridor full of mirrors, and each time someone passed by, animal forms were reflected in the mirrors. Ye Liuxi took a liking to a fine black knife with a shiny blade and a handle made of the same material, twisted and intertwined like vines, seemingly grown naturally on the blade.

Since this knife was the prized possession of the shop, the owner was reluctant to sell it unless Chang Dong traded it for his wristwatch. Ye Liuxi knew that Chang Dong's wristwatch was quite valuable, even as a limited edition outside the pass, let alone inside. So she decisively declined the shop owner's suggestion.

The two of them couldn't buy gasoline there, so they sat at a tea stall and tried to figure out an alternative solution. Chang Dong used the excuse of going to the restroom to go back and exchange his wristwatch for the knife. Ye Liuxi saw this happen and was deeply moved by Chang Dong's gesture. In order to convince Ye Liuxi to accept the knife, Chang Dong explained that she could use it to protect everyone's safety. Indeed, Ye Liuxi accepted the knife and carefully examined its blade.

While they were having tea, Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong overheard the patrons at the adjacent table whispering and discussing how the Scorpion Eye members had suffered a defeat in Yellow Earth City and were sure to face heavy punishment when they returned. Some held different opinions, suggesting that Jiang Zhan, the cunning leader of the Scorpion Eye, was probably deliberately misleading the enemy, and rumors had it that he had infiltrated Blackstone City. It seemed that, after a thousand years, there might be another Beast Head upheaval.

Hearing this, Ye Liuxi's expression turned grave. It was evident that when these people mentioned "Beast Head," they were likely referring to the Beast Head Yellow Ram. As expected, the tea drinkers argued back, saying that their family had contacted the Silver Snake, and the Beast Head Yellow Ram had not appeared yet. After the eradication of the Beast Head leader Li Wangdong by the Daoists and Feathered Guards, the treasure, the Beast Head Yellow Ram, had mysteriously disappeared and its whereabouts remained unknown. It was rumored that the reappearance of the Beast Head Yellow Ram would bring great chaos. Chang Dong intentionally asked the tea drinkers about the relationship between the Scorpion Eye and the Beast Head, and everyone felt that the two organizations were very similar, sharing a sense of eerie similarity.

On the way back, Chang Dong asked Ye Liuxi if she had hidden the Beast Head Yellow Ram well. Ye Liuxi hadn't realized it yet, but she quickly remembered that she had left it in the car. Fei Tang's eyes had started to recover, so while Ye Liuxi went out to look for the Beast Head Yellow Ram, he sneakily examined the new knife she had brought back, only to be caught red-handed by Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong.

A few years ago, Blackstone City launched an attack on Scorpion Eye. Jiang Zhan and his beloved were nearly separated by life and death. After the two narrowly escaped, they secretly developed their power with the intention of revenge. They considered Blackstone City and Long Zhi as sworn enemies. Now, Jiang Zhan has already deployed a plan. The Scorpion Eye's leader, "Qing Zhi," refuses to come out, claiming to avoid alerting the enemy, thus concealing his own secrets.

Ye Liuxi asked Chang Dong for help in making a belt that could hold a knife. Chang Dong, following her instructions, began sketching and drawing, then went to the car to fetch a tape measure to measure Ye Liuxi's waist. Seizing this opportunity, Ye Liuxi asked Chang Dong when he would confess his feelings. Chang Dong hesitated, acknowledging that he has feelings for Ye Liuxi but feared that confessing would lead to a point of no return.

In Chang Dong's view, Ye Liuxi has not fully recovered her memory. If she had a lover in the memories she has not regained, and that lover is still alive, then is there a place for him in their reunion story? Upon hearing this, Ye Liuxi fell silent for a moment, suddenly became angry, casually tossed away the tape measure, turned around, and went back to the room, startling Zhenshanhe, who soared into the sky.

At this moment, Gao Shen excitedly ran to inform Ding Liu that she had awakened. Everyone rushed into the room. After a detailed examination by the doctor, Ding Liu's condition was mostly stable, and she just needed a follow-up examination in Blackstone City. Ye Liuxi and Fei Tang sat by the bed chatting with Ding Liu, while Gao Shen, watching Ding Liu's cheerful demeanor, couldn't help but shed tears.

The night was unusually quiet. Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong tossed and turned, unable to sleep. One turned to the wall, leaving their back to the world; the other lay flat, staring blankly at the ceiling. There was only a thin layer of paper between them, but their memories were like shadow puppets, projected onto the paper, repeatedly replaying, making people nostalgic yet uneasy.

The next morning, Ye Liuxi took the initiative to exchange accommodation with Gao Shen, stating that as a woman, it would be more convenient for her to accompany Ding Liu. Gao Shen had no objections, organized his belongings, and moved into the three-person room, warmly welcomed by Fei Tang. However, Chang Dong seemed pensive and emotionally subdued.

Ding Liu was somewhat surprised by Ye Liuxi's arrival and chatted with her excitedly, mentioning her entanglement with Gao Shen. When Gao Shen's father was seriously ill, Ding Liu took care of him. To repay the kindness, Gao Shen voluntarily became a bodyguard. During this time, Ding Liu, a young girl in love, inevitably developed a bit of a crush on Gao Shen, but Gao Shen completely ignored her.

Later, Gao Shen's attitude changed drastically. Ding Liu accidentally learned that he had been arranged by his godfather to be her future husband, causing her to doubt his true feelings and even see him as dull and weak, gradually losing interest. However, Ye Liuxi thought that Gao Shen was sincere and righteous; he might not have figured out certain things even for himself.

In the quiet of the night, the weak man received a message from the scorpion, broke free from the ropes, left the broken house, and collaborated with the people outside. Qiniang grass emerged silently, covering the entire city, almost half of the people wrapped in wild grass, suffocating and dying. The sound of Zhenshanhe woke everyone up. They found Qiniang grass approaching menacingly, and had to do their best to dodge. In a critical moment, Chang Dong and others rescued Ye Liuxi and Ding Liu.

Soon they flipped over to the rooftop, found an opportunity to jump into the car. Although the car sped away, Qiniang grass relentlessly pursued. Seeing this, Fei Tang poured gasoline and ignited it. However, these wild grasses seemed to be given life, crazily chasing, creating a straight fire path.

Behind the car, flames soared. The car, like a released giant beast, roared towards the city gate. Others were severely knocked unconscious, but Chang Dong struggled to maintain consciousness. Vaguely, he saw a car not far away, and the door emblem was a camellia with branches, reminding him of the black camellia. However, before Chang Dong could ponder this, he had already fallen into a coma.

The raging flames swept through the entire yellow earth city. Outside the city, a metal-clad vehicle was parked. Ye Liuxi woke up first, hurriedly waking up the still unconscious Chang Dong. However, Chang Dong briefly lost consciousness and did not recognize Ye Liuxi in front of him. He even called out Ye Liuxi's name, only remembering that her waist was slim.

Ye Liuxi was momentarily stunned, then helped Chang Dong up and placed his hand on her side to prove that she was indeed Ye Liuxi. Chang Dong looked at her with a sense of uncertainty, his vision getting darker. Almost their lips touched, and he fainted unexpectedly.

Fortunately, everyone was unharmed. They found a temporarily safe and open place to rest. Each person had suffered some minor injuries, and even Zhenshanhe had his neck wrapped in bandages. What happened last night was clearly premeditated. Even though the yellow earth city was far away, they could still sense the gloom and lifelessness, turning the original yellow earth into a desolate gray covered with wild grass, and a layer of fiery red from the flames, making the entire city look like a huge burial mound.

Ding Liu was the last to wake up, but she seemed as if in a trance, feeling that her time was running out. Suddenly overwhelmed by sorrow, just as she was about to burst into tears, Ye Liuxi quickly came over to comfort her. A rooster crowed nearby, and everyone followed Zhenshanhe's gaze. The man walking towards them from a distance turned out to be the long-unseen Li Jin'ao.

However, Li Jin'ao carefully examined the metal-clad vehicle and became increasingly familiar with it. He suddenly stopped, feeling annoyed at the narrowness of the road with his enemies. However, he had to force himself to continue forward, concealing his inner panic with a sincere smile. Li Jin'ao informed Chang Dong and others about the origin of the Qiniang grass and apologized for the fire caused by Fei Tang, realizing the danger of the situation.

Chang Dong became interested in the "Ancient Monster Frame" as Li Jin'ao described it. Through his explanation, Chang Dong learned that it was both an ancient book and a framework containing harmful mythical creatures. Over time, it had fallen into disrepair, leading to some oversights. "Ancient Monster Frame" is usually divided into three volumes: the upper volume records non-harmful monsters useful to humans, the middle volume contains mythical creatures that won't actively harm people but are still dangerous, and the lower volume consists of mythical creatures causing chaos in the world, such as the Qiniang grass and the Yan Zhong.

Considering that the people from Scorpion Eye would come to reclaim the city soon, everyone, following Li Jin'ao's advice, continued their journey and took Li Jin'ao along. Chang Dong asked Li Jin'ao about the way to enter Blackstone City, and it involves having a customs document or something that can prove one's identity. For example, Li Jin'ao carries a Fashi token, and using the Li family's influence would naturally allow him entry into the city. Ye Liuxi knew that barging in was impossible, and the immediate priority was to forcibly obtain some customs documents. Everyone agreed on this.

Chang Dong drove around the yellow earth city and arrived at a relatively large Red Flower Tree Inn. Inside, it was lively. Ye Liuxi continued to wear a mask to avoid encountering enemies. Fei Tang learned self-defense techniques from Ye Liuxi. After a few rounds, he felt he had grasped the essence. Since speed is the key to all martial arts, he decided to practice speed diligently.

After dinner, everyone had their own activities. Chang Dong went to repair the car, and after taking a shower, Ye Liuxi approached. Having experienced numerous life-and-death situations, their feelings had deepened. Chang Dong no longer evaded, bravely facing his emotions. The prolonged and deep kiss ended, and Ye Liuxi lay on the bed, unable to hide her smile. Ding Liu noticed and, pleasantly surprised, saw the woman she liked and the man forming a couple, genuinely happy for them.

Late at night, the water bag near the luggage fell to the ground and quietly moved forward when no one was around. Fei Tang woke up in the middle of the night, got up to drink water in the outer room, completely unaware of the unusual movement of the water bag. On the other side, Jiang Zhan woke up from a nightmare, with scattered fragments lingering in his mind, deepening the hatred buried in his heart.

Chang Dong woke up to find the car keys placed inside a water bag, which belonged to the frail man. Quickly, they sought out Li Jin'ao, who immediately recognized that the water bag contained the Siamese Twins. Just then, Fei Tang entered the room, and with two Fei Tangs present, everyone's attention turned involuntarily to the silent and reserved one.

Indeed, the imposter Fei Tang was completely exposed, transforming into the frail man from Scorpion Eye. Li Jin'ao acted promptly to subdue him. Ye Liuxi handed the water bag containing the Siamese Twins to Fei Tang, and Li Jin'ao reminded them that raising the twins would require some time and occasional feeding with fruits. Once raised, the twins could be used to their advantage.

Considering that the Red Flower Tree Inn was no longer safe, everyone prepared to pack up and leave, but they were ambushed by poisonous smoke in the car. Unaffected, Ye Liuxi effortlessly subdued the attackers with three or four moves. The leader recognized Ye Liuxi as Qingzhi, so Ye Liuxi took advantage of the situation, ordering him, as Qingzhi, to prepare five customs documents.

With an estimated two days' journey remaining to Blackstone City, they spent almost the entire day on the road. By late afternoon, they arrived at a new location, gradually approaching a large lake that appeared dark blue in the twilight. At the ferry crossing, food was placed on an altar, and a signboard above read "Welcome Gate." Surprisingly, a scene of a dragon drawing water appeared on the distant lake.

To ensure everyone's safety, Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong planned to take a detour, but they ended up returning to the original location. Unable to proceed, they had to stop and rest. Ye Liuxi sat by the lake, chatting with Chang Dong. She mentioned that the leader of Scorpion Eye, Jiang Zhan, had the same tattoo as her. Chang Dong reassured Ye Liuxi not to worry, as tattoos don't necessarily signify anything. Many families or factions might have similar tattoos, and it only indicated that Qingzhi's identity was not simple.

While Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong were teasing each other, they suddenly saw a gatehouse emerging from the lake, slowly approaching them. Chang Dong called for everyone to get in the car, accelerated, and entered a village named Welcome Village. On the street, a small number of tourists were seated. The two masked women approached and demanded Ye Liuxi and others to show their customs documents, escorting them to an underwater interrogation room.

Ye Liuxi and the others followed the instructions, and Ye Liuxi removed her mask. The person behind the scenes sighed when they saw Ye Liuxi's true appearance, like seeing an acquaintance. The water women asked Chang Dong where they lived in the market and the name of the Yulin guard chief. Chang Dong had no idea, unable to provide an answer. The water women concluded that these people had forged the customs documents and ordered them to be given the water ordeal.

Just as the order was given, the lake water seemed to come to life, forming a water column and pulling Fei Tang away. Ye Liuxi swung her knife at the water woman, who transformed into a puddle of water. The person behind the scenes ordered them to be released, and Fei Tang narrowly escaped. He angrily questioned why he always suffered in such situations.

The remaining two water women took the exploration team to check into the inn, preparing a table of food. Everyone's tense nerves instantly relaxed. Fei Tang noticed that every time they encountered a crisis, Ye Liuxi's anger seemed to resolve it effortlessly, as if her emotions could influence the outcome. Ye Liuxi remained silent, and Chang Dong seemed thoughtful.

Although some unpleasant events occurred last night, after a night's rest, the hospitality in Welcome Village was well-arranged. Fei Tang was thinking about ways to make money but couldn't find a starting point. Ye Liuxi considered that if Welcome Gate was so powerful, it indicated that Blackstone City's influence should not be underestimated.

As the car approached the water curtain wall, everyone clearly felt submerged in water. The view included fish and grass, but the car remained dry. Soon, the car emerged from the lake, and not far away stood a sign indicating that Blackstone City was 400 kilometers away. Passing through a barren land, Chang Dong left a marker on a dead tree, guiding Li Jin'ao to meet with them.

After a night of long-distance travel, everyone settled at the Red Flower Tree Inn within the Blackstone City's vicinity. With some free time, Fei Tang casually fed fruits to the Siamese Twins. Ye Liuxi thought it might be interesting to keep this exotic creature. If they found it boring, she suggested letting it transform into a performance for Chang Dong. They waited in the inn for a full two days, finally meeting Li Jin'ao, who informed them about the existence of Water Eyes in Welcome Village.

Water Eyes were like "remote cameras," aquatic creatures shaped like water, existing in male and female pairs. Even if separated by thousands of miles, they could communicate seamlessly. What the female Water Eye observed, the male counterpart would instantly receive, leaving no room for omission.

The next morning after breakfast, everyone set out, driving towards Blackstone City. Outside the city gate, several cars were parked, each bearing a banner with a flying bird flag. One car drove up to them, and an old man stepped out, leaning on a black iron cane, calling Ye Liuxi's name very familiarly.

In the ensuing conversation, they learned that the old man was named Zhao Guanshou, the leader of Blackstone City and one of the top figures in the Yulin Guard. The city gates of Blackstone City closed at sunset and opened at sunrise, making no exceptions for anyone. The cars entered through a side gate. The streets were spacious but devoid of people, with no shops along the street, only towering black walls. Zhao Guanshou led them to the museum.

At Ye Liuxi's request, Zhao Guanshou allowed Chang Dong and the others to follow, but Li Jin'ao was stopped outside. Inside the museum, they first encountered a map over two meters tall, detailing the topography of various cities within the region. Zhao Guanshou explained and answered Chang Dong's questions, narrating the origins of Sima Dao and the Shadow Puppeteer.

Next, they saw a large and square portrait stone with six seal characters written on its side, saying "Liuxi Bones, Eastward Soul." It could be read forwards or backward, but it was closely related to Ye Liuxi in any case. Zhao Guanshou then took them to a massive bronze relief mural, stating that it depicted the chaos caused by the Beast Head. Rumor had it that when the Nandou Star reached a still point in the sky at noon, there would be major unrest in the Guannei region. At that time, the Shadow Puppet secret technique would malfunction, and the entire Shadow Puppet camel caravan would be paralyzed. Only the person born on the next day of Nandou Star's appearance would appear simultaneously with the Beast Head Yellow Sheep, freely entering and leaving the Yumen Pass.

Over a thousand years ago, an anomaly occurred when a farmer gave birth to a male infant named Li Wangdong. As he grew up, Li Wangdong established the Beast Head organization within the Yumen Pass, attempting to overthrow Blackstone City's rule and seeking external help to save the people inside. He financially supported the Li clan lords outside the pass with gold, borrowing an army of one hundred thousand.

Unfortunately, Li Wangdong's plan to lure the enemy out of the pass was betrayed by the clan lords, and he was nearly killed outside the pass. Seeing the Beast Head organization falling apart, Li Wangdong knew the situation was dire. At the moment when the Nandou Star set, he took his own life with a drawn sword. The Li family's sorcerer revived the Shadow Puppeteer and reestablished the Shadow Puppet camel caravan, facilitating trade between Blackstone City and the outside world, restoring order within the pass.

The Li family received information that after the Nandou Star appeared, a female infant was born in a village north of the flowing sands of Yardan. Since her birth, no Shadow Puppeteer inside the pass could stand up. Neither Li Wangdong nor Ye Liuxi could be killed by the people inside the pass; only those outside the pass could do it. Therefore, Zhao Guanshou did not want another Beast Head chaos and was grateful to find Ye Liuxi in time. He brought her back to Blackstone City, enrolled her in the Yulin Guard, and allowed her to freely transport goods through the Yumen Pass.

However, not long after, the chaos of Scorpion Eye occurred, led by Jiang Zhan. In Zhao Guanshou's eyes, the momentum of the Scorpion Eye organization seemed like another Beast Head. Soon, Huyang City fell and became the nest of Scorpion Eye. The Li family's sorcerer predicted three times: the first predicted the Nandou Star breaking the Yumen Pass, the second predicted the calamity "West of the Yumen Pass," and the third also indicated going west of the Yumen Pass. It was both a calamity and an opportunity, meaning Ye Liuxi was both a bearer of catastrophe and a solver of problems.

Afterward, Ye Liuxi was ordered to infiltrate Scorpion Eye undercover, but her cover was exposed, and Jiang Zhan ordered her to be hanged outside Huyang City as a warning. Although Blackstone City had spies in Huyang City, rescuing someone from prison was not an easy task. Zhao Guanshou sought out the leader of the sorcerers, Long Shen, discussing a rescue plan.

The City Soul appeared on the stone platform, and Zhao Guanshou explained to Ye Liuxi the origin of the City Soul and the detailed process of the Long family controlling it. Due to the strong counterforce of forcibly moving the city gate, Ye Liuxi lost her memory. Fortunately, the Beast Head Yellow Sheep guided her back into the Guannei region, and as soon as she returned, Blackstone City would immediately receive the message.

Fei Tang wondered why Blackstone City had to summon Ye Liuxi back; they could let her live a good life outside the pass. Zhao Guanshou explained three reasons: first, to revive Ye Liuxi; second, as the prophecy indicated, "West of the Yumen Pass" was the key to resolving the calamity; third, Ye Liuxi had to return to the Guannei region to revive the Shadow Puppeteer and eliminate the threat of the Scorpion Eye organization.

Zhao Guanshou took everyone to a showroom built based on the internal structure of the Ancient Monster Frame. The stored items inside were harmless or had minimal harmful effects on exotic creatures. There were various portraits and detailed descriptions of different exotic creatures along the way. When they reached the portrait of Yan Zhong, Zhao Guanshou provided more detailed explanations. Chang Dong raised the buried questions in his heart: who took a photo of Kong Yang, and who drove the car with the Camellia logo away.

Originally, Zhao Guanshou didn't want to answer these two questions, but at Ye Liuxi's request, he reluctantly revealed that two years ago, Scorpion Eye went to the Flowing Sands of Yardan, forcibly opened the Ancient Monster Frame, and released exotic creatures to attack Blackstone City. Although they failed in this battle, a small piece of the Ancient Monster Frame collapsed. This meant that the sandstorms were caused by exotic creatures, and the members with the Camellia logo were innocent, wrongly implicated and had their bodies fed to the sand mounds by Scorpion Eye, who took their cars.

Chang Dong did not doubt Zhao Guanshou's answer; after all, everything he said made sense. Cars were scarce resources inside the pass, and it was convenient to seize the opportunity. Chang Dong thought he was unlucky, believing he encountered a naturally occurring sandstorm, but ended up carrying the blame for two years, losing his loved one. Sensing Chang Dong's low spirits, Ye Liuxi, feeling his emotions, took the initiative to hold his hand and offer silent comfort.

After everyone finished visiting the museum, Zhao Guanshou had someone escort them to rest and arranged for the Yulin Guard to protect them throughout. Fei Tang found the newcomer somewhat familiar, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be A He. It was only later that Fei Tang realized A He was from Blackstone City, feeling both shocked and indignant. He used to have some compassion for A He, but now, remembering being manipulated by her, he felt a bellyful of anger with nowhere to vent.

The accommodation for Chang Dong and the others was a detached courtyard, fully equipped with a main hall and a side hall. Ye Liuxi and the others didn't have much emotional fluctuation, but Li Jin'ao was like an old lady entering a grand view garden, excitedly unable to sleep. He never thought that one day he would be treated as an honored guest by the leader of Blackstone City.

Li Jin'ao gossiped about Zhao Guanshou having a golden toilet in his study, representing supreme authority. Ding Liu found it disgusting, Fei Tang was still upset, and Gao Shen, standing silently on the side, remained expressionless until Ye Liuxi entered from outside. Ding Liu took Ye Liuxi to the terrace, pointing to Chang Dong not far away, expressing her thoughts that he now seemed like a lone wolf, licking his wounds alone, which was heartbreaking.

Subsequently, Ding Liu tactfully stepped back, leaving space for Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong to be alone. Ye Liuxi knew that whenever Chang Dong was in a bad mood, he would stay alone, looking into the distance with vacant eyes. So, she chose to sit beside him, embracing and comforting him, and the two looked at the same sky, as if there was no longer a distinction between Guannei and Guanwai.

After careful consideration, Ye Liuxi decided to give up the vast lands for Chang Dong and accompany him to leave the Yumen Pass. However, Chang Dong still found some things suspicious. Regarding Zhao Guanshou's words, he was half-believing, half-doubting. Right now, he just wanted to know why he was the only one left alive in Camellia, and Ye Liuxi, understanding that this was a knot in Chang Dong's heart, promised to help him uncover the truth.

Meanwhile, Zhao Guanshou immersed himself in deep memories. In the past, they exerted all their efforts to find the person with the Liuxi Bones. Long Zhi, the Miss of the Long family, suggested allowing Yan Zhong to massacre villages to find the true Liuxi Bones. Zhao Guanshou hesitated, considering the lives of hundreds of people, but Long Shen, the head of the Long family, strongly supported the plan, ordering the cruel scheme to be implemented.

Since then, every time Yansheng visited a village, a bloody massacre unfolded, leaving no local residents alive. The Feather Guards and the Qian family members followed closely behind, ultimately ignoring the presence of Ye Liuxi. They could only confirm that Nanmuo Xing was still in the mid-heavens, indicating that there were still remnants of Liuxi's bones nearby.

Early in the morning, Fei Tang practiced knife skills in the courtyard, seemingly making some progress under Ye Liuxi's guidance. A He brought people to deliver breakfast, briefly explaining the situation in Blackstone City to Ye Liuxi. During this, Fei Tang, with his eyes fixed straight ahead, continued to provoke A He, like a needle against wheat, insisting on exchanging a few words. However, in Ding Liu's eyes, the two of them seemed like a bickering couple, destined to eventually spark the flames of love.

After breakfast, the group went out for a stroll. Unlike the night before, Blackstone City was particularly lively during the day, with open gates, bustling crowds, and each district having its own market based on the residents' living standards, offering a variety of shops. Excited, Fei Tang had long wanted to explore the antique street. Ding Liu, passing by a photography studio, suggested taking a group photo, while A He was ordered by Fei Tang to stay outside.

On the other side, Li Jin'ao roamed around and, seeing a diviner showcasing a golden net game not far away, hurried over. The person, noticing Li Jin'ao with the Li family diviner plaque, showed disdain, mocking them verbally. Through the conversation, it was revealed that they were from the Long family, currently the most influential family.

Once, there were four families controlling Blackstone City within the pass: the Li family, skilled in manipulating shadow puppets, responsible for material transportation and distribution; the Long family, dealing with demons and having the ability to resurrect; the Qian family, adept at divination; and the Zhao family, protectors of the Yulin Guard. However, after the shadow puppets failed, the Li family's power suffered a significant blow and gradually faded from the four major families. Even though Li Jin'ao was a descendant of the Li family, he still faced contempt from the Long family.

After taking photos, everyone split up to explore. Fei Tang chose the antique street, while Gao Shen accompanied Ding Liu to look at accessories. Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong took advantage of the photos not being developed yet to stroll along the river, discussing Ding Liu and Gao Shen. In fact, Chang Dong held a high opinion of Gao Shen, appreciating his loyalty and stability. He already regarded Ding Liu as his wife, but Ding Liu was still young and in a dreamy age, surely hoping for a hero to save her from danger among thousands of people. So, Ye Liuxi felt sorry for the two of them and insisted on matchmaking them.

After a whole day, Fei Tang unexpectedly made a good deal, saying he had negotiated with the antique shop owner for old items. He was smiling from ear to ear, grateful that the trip was not in vain. Initially, Ding Liu wanted to go with Fei Tang, but she had a follow-up examination the next day, feeling regretful about it.

That evening, Zhao Guanshou sent people to invite Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong. The two followed him to meet with the Qian family's old lady and had the silver snake foretell the success or failure of Ye Liuxi's return. The old lady asked the silver snake to suck a drop of blood from Ye Liuxi's finger, divining three hexagram words: the premonition "old friends meet again," the interpretation "meeting on the gold mountain again," and the remedy "the dragon flies to wash the vermilion bead."

The first and second hexagram words were easily understood, indicating that Ye Liuxi and Jiang Zhan would become enemies, meeting again on the gold mountain. However, the meaning of the third hexagram word was puzzling, and the old lady refused to reveal more. With this ambiguous and inconclusive statement, Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong left the Qian family. Even though Chang Dong wasn't clear about the meaning of "the dragon flies," he noticed that Zhao Guanshou seemed surprised when hearing the third hexagram word.

After Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong left, Zhao Guanshou chatted with the old lady. Since Ye Liuxi's incident two years ago, the currency inside and outside the pass had basically been cut off, and he could no longer find dissolving blood essence. The remaining stock was all in the Long family's warehouse, and, despite being the leader of Blackstone City, he was still subject to others' control. The old lady sighed, acknowledging Zhao Guanshou's martial arts skills but lamenting his current situation. However, Zhao Guanshou had high expectations for Ye Liuxi, believing she could be the key to changing his fate.

The next morning, as usual, Fei Tang got up to practice his knife skills. From the corner of his eye, he noticed someone coming in with breakfast. Just as he was about to throw a cold glance, he realized it wasn't A He inside, feeling somewhat disappointed. On the other hand, a doctor from inside the pass checked Ding Liu's hair, dripping medicine on her scalp to alleviate pain and assuring her that her hair would grow back soon. Gao Shen took this opportunity to give Ding Liu the hairpin he had bought, making her heart flutter.

Today's breakfast was relatively abundant, and Fei Tang ate eagerly, completely oblivious to the exchanged glances between Ye Liuxi and Chang Dong. With their gestures, Gao Shen mustered the courage to speak up. Everyone thought he was about to confess, but to their surprise, he declared that he wanted to dissolve the engagement with Ding Liu. He had noticed that Ding Liu wasn't interested in him and felt that there was no need to force this relationship.

After breakfast, Fei Tang went out alone, heading straight to the antique street. He noticed A He following him, supposedly for protection. Fei Tang tried to divert A He, but she followed him into a store. The shop owner showed him old items, and while he was distracted, they locked him and A He in a room. The two struggled to get out but were eventually overpowered and fainted by the mist.

Fei Tang and A He were locked in the dungeon, surrounded by darkness. Despite being angry and shocked by the shopkeeper's betrayal, they had deduced that the mastermind behind this was likely the Scorpion Eye organization, probably targeting Ye Liuxi. Just as Fei Tang advised A He to be flexible and maintain a good attitude, they heard sounds from outside. At the end of the stairs stood two figures, a man and a woman, gradually approaching.

Seeing the two open the prison door, Fei Tang instinctively guessed that they were Jiang Zhan and Qing Zhi. Compared to Ye Liuxi's heroic appearance, Qing Zhi seemed especially charming. Although she asked a few questions gently, each question concealed a murderous intent, and any carelessness could lead to a dire situation.

In such a situation, Fei Tang had no choice but to honestly answer. Jiang Zhan seemed somewhat impatient, urgently offering the Beast Head Golden Ram as a bargaining chip for Fei Tang's life. Fei Tang's crisis was temporarily averted, but A He was in danger. Jiang Zhan's men restrained A He and, with his own hands, cut off her tongue. The scene was gruesome.

At the same time, Zhao Guanshou brought several photos to Chang Dong and the others, showing images of Fei Tang and A He on the antique street. The crowded market provided an ideal cover for covert photography and made it easier for someone to be quietly abducted. Chang Dong suspected an insider around Zhao Guanshou. Zhao Guanshou suspected two people, A He and Li Jin'ao. However, Chang Dong vouched for Li Jin'ao, clearing his name of suspicion.

The news of Fei Tang's disappearance weighed heavily on everyone. Li Jin'ao was astonished, believing that A He, in the hands of Scorpion Eye, was undoubtedly dead. Unexpectedly, A He was returned by Scorpion Eye. The group surrounded A He, eager to know what had happened. Before A He could respond, her expression suddenly changed. She greeted Ye Liuxi with extreme unfamiliarity, as if she were recounting someone else's words, or someone else was using A He to communicate.

Everyone was surprised. Zhao Guanshou promptly explained that A He's voice had been replaced by Jiang Zhan. This replacement, similar to water eye, allowed the person controlling A He to manipulate her speech. Ye Liuxi suddenly realized and straightforwardly questioned Jiang Zhan about Fei Tang's whereabouts. Jiang Zhan requested Fei Tang in exchange for the Beast Head Golden Ram. Ye Liuxi agreed, warning him to ensure Fei Tang's safety.

Later, Ye Liuxi had Ding Liu and Gao Shen take A He to rest. Chang Dong, uninterested in dealing with Zhao Guanshou, directly confronted him, exposing his surveillance in the deserted village, and the elaborate reception for Ye Liuxi, including the divination with the Wu Zi Heavenly Sign. It was evident Zhao Guanshou had his own calculations, hoping Ye Liuxi would be honest.

Zhao Guanshou kept his lips sealed, and after a moment of silence, he admitted that he wanted to use Ye Liuxi to eliminate Jiang Zhan, take over Scorpion Eye, and formally integrate it into the Yulin Guard to eliminate a hidden threat. However, Ye Liuxi didn't express her stance immediately. Zhao Guanshou wasn't in a hurry for her answer, stating that if they collaborated, it would be mutually beneficial.

After Zhao Guanshou left, Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi approached Li Jin'ao to inquire about the "voice replacement" matter. Li Jin'ao shared all the information he knew without reservation. According to the "Ancient Demonic Framework," the tongue had a main and auxiliary function. The main tongue could be used directly, while the auxiliary tongue needed to be placed in someone's mouth to speak. Usually, it repeated the words of others. Additionally, Li Jin'ao revealed techniques for cutting the tongue and more details about voice replacement.

Chang Dong immediately thought of something and went to find A He, exposing that, before Jiang Zhan cut her tongue, she had already been subjected to tongue-cutting by the Yulin Guard. As expected, A He, with teary eyes, admitted that she had been selected and had her tongue replaced since childhood, responsible for gathering and conveying information. At Chang Dong's request, she detailed their experiences in the dungeon.

Ye Liuxi consulted Li Jin'ao about Jiang Zhan and unexpectedly learned that he had been a slave in the Golden Mountain. Anyone entering there would be branded on the ankle. Coincidentally, Ye Liuxi had a vague mark on her ankle. That night, Ye Liuxi lay in Chang Dong's arms, and both of them had heavy hearts.

Chang Dong, based on the clues he had, reconsidered Ye Liuxi's identity. Jiang Zhan aimed to establish the Scorpion Eye organization to counter the Yulin Guard. The only leverage he had was control over the scarce resources in Blackstone City, which required Ye Liuxi's assistance. So, if Ye Liuxi and Jiang Zhan formed an alliance to create the Scorpion Eye together, they might become Zhao Guanshou's biggest concern.

Jiang Zhan obtained information from Fei Tang about Ye Liuxi and her relationship with Chang Dong. Adhering to the principle of acting submissive if unable to fight, Fei Tang truthfully answered each question. To his surprise, he discovered that Ye Liuxi was Jiang Zhan's woman, and there were some unresolved matters between them.

Ding Liu felt deeply for A He's plight, caring for her meticulously. A He was moved and felt guilty, admitting that she had once exchanged the Beast Head Golden Ram under the orders of Blackstone City when they were in the deserted village. Although Ding Liu was shocked, she didn't blame A He, recognizing that what had happened was beyond their control.

Early the next morning, while others were still asleep, Ye Liuxi went alone to meet Zhao Guanshou. Pretending to be skeptical and then feigning a misunderstanding, she aimed to eliminate any distrust and secretly observed the layout of his study. Zhao Guanshou, the leader of the Yulin Guard, was skilled in his youth despite his current disability due to illness. Stealing something from under his nose was exceptionally challenging.

A He persuaded Ye Liuxi to be cautious, emphasizing that Blackstone City belonged to the Yulin Guard. Ding Liu, dissatisfied with A He defending the Yulin Guard despite the harm she had suffered, couldn't help but reprimand her. Chang Dong, upon hearing this, left the room with Ye Liuxi, expressing that even if A He joined the Yulin Guard, it would be beneficial for their cause.

Curious about why there were no locked items in Zhao Guanshou's study, Ye Liuxi asked Chang Dong to bring Li Jin'ao. Through him, they learned about a mystical beast called "Sky Thief." This creature recognized both owner and residence. Although it had limitations, it was practical. It would envelop stolen items in a thin film that was invisible and odorless, gradually shrinking them until they disappeared.

Because of this, retrieving the Beast Head Golden Ram was extremely challenging and highly dangerous. Ye Liuxi suddenly came up with a plan, thinking of Fei Tang's frequently kept twin children. She decided to use them to infiltrate Zhao Guanshou's study. Jiang Zhan once again controlled A He to convey a message, requesting Ye Liuxi to bring the Beast Head Golden Ram and the substitute tongue precisely to the Soul Mountain Gate at the Golden Mine at midnight tomorrow.

To expedite the retrieval of the Beast Head Golden Ram, Ye Liuxi took the twin children to see Zhao Guanshou. Ostensibly, she requested a map of the Golden Mine, but in reality, she instructed the twins to mimic Zhao Guanshou's behavior. That night, Ding Liu and Gao Shen, disguised as Zhao Guanshou, successfully entered the study and obtained the Beast Head Golden Ram. Unexpectedly, the Sky Thief was triggered, and the twins sacrificed themselves to allow Ding Liu and Gao Shen to escape safely. Originally thinking the twins had sacrificed themselves, they were overjoyed to discover that the twins had revived.

Gao Shen and Ding Liu brought back the Beast Head Golden Ram along with a magazine from Chang Dong's early years. Everyone found it strange that Zhao Guanshou had collected magazines featuring Chang Dong. Chang Dong, who initially thought he might be implicated, realized that the situation was more complex. It seemed someone had long been setting him up, leading to the attack on the mountain tea team and encounters with Ye Liuxi, Gao Shen, Ding Liu, and others, gradually guiding him to Blackstone City.

Ye Liuxi reassured Chang Dong not to overthink it, changing the subject by having everyone admire pictures of Chang Dong in his handsome youth. Caught off guard, Chang Dong hurriedly hid the magazine. In the middle of the night, Gao Shen noticed a strange sound in Ding Liu's room. Investigating, he discovered that Qing Zhi was controlling A He to talk to Gao Shen. Qing Zhi warned him about the parasitic flower residing on Ding Liu's wound. Currently, the flower only occupied Ding Liu's body at night, but once it blossomed completely, Ding Liu's body would become mere fertilizer.

Angry, Gao Shen questioned Qing Zhi's motives. Qing Zhi stated that she could save Ding Liu, but it required Gao Shen to help her kill someone. After the conversation, Jiang Zhan and Qing Zhi dispatched people to set traps at the Soul Mountain Gate, patiently awaiting Ye Liuxi's arrival. Qing Zhi, seeing that Jiang Zhan was determined to put Ye Liuxi in a deadly situation, felt a complex mix of emotions, as she was Long Zhi, the true enemy of Jiang Zhan.

The sky was getting brighter, and Gao Shen stood in the courtyard lost in thought, the words conveyed by the substitute tongue echoing in his ears. To save Ding Liu, he needed to kill someone on her behalf. Sensing Gao Shen's unusual emotions, Ding Liu approached him. Gao Shen tried to persuade her to stay, but Ding Liu insisted on accompanying the team to the Golden Mine.

Breakfast felt awkward; A He, unaware of the situation, felt out of place and left quickly after finishing her porridge. Chang Dong knew that Gao Shen cared for Ding Liu, but he believed it was safer for her to stay with them rather than be alone.

In Chang Dong's plan, he and Ye Liuxi would enter the mine, while Gao Shen and Ding Liu stayed outside to prevent any interference from Zhao Guanshou and provide support if needed. Gao Shen wielded dual cudgels, and Chang Dong left a pistol for Ding Liu, instructing her to show weakness in front of others and use surprise when necessary.

During the conversation, Zhao Guanshou came over to notify them of their departure. Ye Liuxi took the opportunity to suggest that Li Jin'ao visit the Ancient Monster Exhibition in the museum. Zhao Guanshou readily agreed, considering Ye Liuxi's influence. Considering the mystical nature within the mine, Chang Dong decided to bring a chicken as a talisman and borrowed the most powerful Town the World from Li Jin'ao. Before leaving, Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi returned to their room to pack, exchanging playful banter.

The convoy set off, taking a different route than before, heading directly towards Blackstone Mountain and the Golden Mine. Zhao Guanshou briefly checked the gate records, which detailed information such as identity and citizenship numbers. The insignia of the Long family caught Ye Liuxi's attention.

Chang Dong found it somewhat careless that the Long family could bypass inspections, and A He explained that Zhao Guanshou and Long Shen nearly had a falling out over the sandstorm in Huyang City. Due to their strained relationship, the Yulin Guard often turned a blind eye to the Long family's activities. Despite this, Ding Liu suspected that Jiang Zhan might be hiding within the Long family, but A He decisively denied this.

On the way to the Golden Mine, everyone learned about A He's background, and they felt sympathy for her experiences. Before long, the convoy approached the Golden Mine, and in the distance, they could see a brownish-yellow stone face, the legendary Jin Ye's face. However, today, blood was flowing from its seven orifices, indicating an imminent earthquake.

The convoy didn't linger and quickly arrived at the Soul Mountain Gate, guarded by Yulin Guard. Sounds came from all sides, and silver fireballs shot up like signal flares, exploding after reaching several dozen meters in height. At this moment, A He suddenly changed, speaking with Jiang Zhan's tone, guiding Ye Liuxi to meet him inside, and instructing Fei Tang to report their safety to everyone.

Zhao Guanshou double-checked if Ye Liuxi wanted to enter. Ye Liuxi was determined, and Chang Dong, with a reassuring tone, stated that winning a fight depended on seven parts skill, two parts luck, and one part timing. Even if the situation seemed fixed, there was a chance for a counterattack.

With preparations complete, Ye Liuxi led a group of Yulin Guard, following the footsteps of Town the World. Simultaneously, Long Shen hurriedly arrived with the Yulin Guard. With a command, he ordered them to kill all the guards outside, catching the people at the Soul Mountain Gate completely unaware.

Gao Shen and Ding Liu sat in the car, observing the situation. Ding Liu checked the magazine; there were only a few bullets left, offering minimal protection. Gao Shen advised Ding Liu to return safely no matter what happened. Ding Liu, slightly surprised, smiled and assured him that everyone would return safely without any accidents.

The group proceeded cautiously, with Zhen Sihai in the lead, followed closely by Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi, and A He bringing up the rear, with the Feather Guards at the bottom. However, as they ventured further, the surroundings grew darker, and faint goat cries could be heard. A gust of sinister wind blew in, and the lamb tied at the corner disappeared without a trace.

Once again, A He's voice echoed from behind. However, this time, the one conversing with Ye Liuxi turned out to be Qingzhi. Her words were full of mockery, still describing Ye Liuxi as a counterfeit constantly seeking to replace others. Ye Liuxi, recognizing no information about Qingzhi in her memory, disregarded her identity and retorted without mercy.

As the words fell, the mountain cave suddenly broke open, showing signs of collapse. Everyone followed Zhen Sihai and ran forward. Finally, at the edge of a cliff, they discovered a goat's head. Zhen Sihai still wanted to leap forward and attack the giant snake, almost falling into the abyss. Fortunately, Ye Liuxi, with quick eyes and hands, caught Zhen Sihai, and Chang Dong promptly pulled Ye Liuxi to safety.

As the snake head lowered, revealing a stone platform on the opposite cave wall, dozens of people were standing there. The man in front was Jiang Zhan, tall and thin, with a stern demeanor. Next to him was Qingzhi, dressed in a black robe and a hood. Fei Tang's limbs were bound by iron chains, suspended in mid-air. Jiang Zhan proposed to trade with Ye Liuxi, asking her to personally hand over the yellow goat head.

At the same time, Ye Liuxi and Jiang Zhan walked towards a wooden bridge spanning the two cliffs. Jiang Zhan seemed uninterested in the yellow goat head, looking at Ye Liuxi with a cold and stern expression. He accused her of pretending to be weak to gain sympathy, but in reality, she infiltrated Scorpion Eye and led the Feather Guards to besiege Huyang City. All the members of Scorpion Eye, including the elders, were hanged. He vowed never to forget this scene and swore to personally avenge it.

Listening to Jiang Zhan's words, and seeing him take out a blood-stained hemp rope, Ye Liuxi suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Even Fei Tang and others found it unbelievable. When Ye Liuxi calmed down, she reminded Jiang Zhan not to forget the trade. However, to everyone's surprise, Jiang Zhan swung the iron ruler and shattered the yellow goat head, declaring that he would kill Ye Liuxi today to avenge Huyang City and sever the lifeline of Blackstone City.

At this moment, the mountain gate shook, and the sound of approaching vehicles rumbled. Zhao Guanshou turned around and found that the incoming people were none other than Long Shen. Ding Liu immediately recognized the driver as the frail man from Scorpion Eye, and Zhao Guanshou reacted almost simultaneously. The two groups clashed almost instantly. After all, the Feather Guards were well-trained and did not fall into disarray, ensuring the stability and safety of the temporary "command post." Zhao Guanshou even personally killed Long Shen, only to find out that he had transformed into a watery fish.

On the other side, Jiang Zhan gave the order, and four crossbows were raised, iron chain heads attached to arrow tails. With a pull of the mechanism, arrows with shiny iron chains whizzed through the air, ambushing everyone. Ye Liuxi and Jiang Zhan engaged in close combat, and the battle immediately heated up. After several rounds of fighting, Ye Liuxi launched a fierce attack on Jiang Zhan. Seeing this, Qingzhi shot an arrow at her right leg. Ye Liuxi fell off the wooden bridge, but her left leg promptly caught a rope. Chang Dong quickly rescued Ye Liuxi, not noticing a drop of her blood falling into the abyss.

Gao Shen hastily took Ding Liu and hid in a mine cave. However, Ding Liu, affected by the parasitic flowers, gradually weakened, losing consciousness. The frail man took the opportunity to kill Gao Shen and Ding Liu. Unexpectedly, Qingzhi suddenly appeared and shot the frail man dead. Because of this, Gao Shen recognized Qingzhi as the person he talked to that night, hesitated for a moment, and took her handgun.

In an instant, the giant snake rose from the ground. Chang Dong held Ye Liuxi tightly, taking the opportunity to rush towards the snake and escape danger through it. The giant snake thrashed wildly, its head like a swinging hammer, directly charging at Fei Tang. A loud noise echoed, and halfway up the mountain, Jin Ye's face burst open. The huge snake head emerged and disappeared without a trace.

Everyone was shocked by the scene. Zhao Guanshou ordered them to stand their ground. Qingzhi cast a spell and ignited a fireball. A fire dragon creature leaped up, and the Feather Guards guarding the mine cave died tragically. Not long after, Fei Tang woke up and saw the giant snake lying in front of him. Zhen Sihai stood on the snake, desperately trying to break free from the ropes.

Jiang Zhan struggled to climb up, seeing Chang Dong waking up hazily. The two engaged in a fierce fight, and eventually, Jiang Zhan knocked Chang Dong unconscious with a stone. Just as Jiang Zhan was about to approach Chang Dong to kill him, Ye Liuxi suddenly shouted at Jiang Zhan. Taking advantage of his unpreparedness, she drew out a long knife and instantly severed Jiang Zhan's arm. At that moment, Jiang Zhan's memories surged like a torrent, flashing like a revolving lantern. The woman who once ordered the massacre of Scorpion Eye had changed. It turned out to be Qingzhi, the former Ye Liuxi. But now, Ye Liuxi was the real Qingzhi.

Jiang Zhan tightly gripped the iron ruler, a murderous intent rising within him. With a swift step, he charged towards Ye Liuxi, the iron ruler sweeping horizontally towards her throat. Ye Liuxi, unable to use her injured leg, leaned backward to evade. She retaliated by thrusting a broken arrow towards Jiang Zhan, further provoking him. Just as Jiang Zhan was about to throw Ye Liuxi into the water behind her, a furious roar from Fei Tang suddenly echoed from behind.

Chang Dong woke up abruptly and desperately restrained Jiang Zhan, preventing him from causing harm to Ye Liuxi. In response, Jiang Zhan delivered a heavy blow, leaving Chang Dong unconscious. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Liuxi drew a long knife and swiftly cut off Jiang Zhan's left arm. He fell to the ground, one hand supporting his body, his eyes fixed on Ye Liuxi. In his gaze, there was a strange mix of joy and the helplessness of an irreversible fate, but no trace of hatred.

Before Ye Liuxi could react, Jiang Zhan burst into tears, shouting to her, "Qingzhi, live well." In an instant, he fell into the golden pool. Unable to reach him in time, Ye Liuxi wiped away her tears and turned to check on Chang Dong. However, in the next moment, Jin Ye gradually regained consciousness, and she and Fei Tang helped Chang Dong run outside.

The pervasive smell of burnt flesh filled the air, and at the edge of the cliff, the Golden Feather Guards had already arrived, shuttling back and forth with stretchers. Long Zhi threatened Gao Shen with Ding Liu's life, ordering him to shoot Ye Liuxi. In the end, Gao Shen couldn't bring himself to do it, enduring the pain of his injuries, he hugged the unconscious Ding Liu and shouted for medical personnel. Fei Tang sought a familiar figure and finally found the surviving A He in a corner.

Due to the falling of the Head Parasite Flower on Ding Liu's head, she woke up immediately, opening her eyes to see Gao Shen lying not far away. At the same time, Zhao Guanshou instructed Ye Liuxi to stay and recover while he returned to Blackstone City to reinforce and guard against a possible counterattack from Scorpion Eyes. Fei Tang thanked Ye Liuxi several times for saving his life, eager to kneel down and express his gratitude, but Ye Liuxi quickly intervened.

A convoy moved out in an orderly manner, bright lights shining like polished arrows, whistling through the dark Gobi Desert. At the checkpoints, the guards smartly let them pass. Zhao Guanshou and Long Zhi were in the car. With Jiang Zhan now dead and Scorpion Eyes on the brink of destruction, Long Zhi decided to spare Ye Liuxi's life for a few more days, waiting for her to find another Yellow Goat, the replacement for the Head.

Chang Dong's injuries were not serious; he woke up shortly after a brief unconsciousness. However, Gao Shen's condition was not optimistic, causing Ding Liu to feel nervous and distressed. Since Jiang Zhan, the main tongue, was gone, A He lost her ability to speak on behalf of Ding Liu. Fei Tang optimistically assured her that they would find a replacement in Blackstone City. A He smiled upon hearing this.

Ye Liuxi took the initiative to visit Chang Dong. Seeing him unharmed, she finally felt relieved and sat silently by the bed, bowing her head. Chang Dong sensed that Ye Liuxi was not in a good mood and inquired about the reason. Only then did he learn that it was related to Jiang Zhan. Ye Liuxi mentioned how Jiang Zhan, after having his left arm cut off, seemed like a different person. She speculated that he might have been deceived and lost his memory. However, physical memory is more resilient than mental memory, like how she could naturally draw the tail of a scorpion at the corner of her eye.

It was for this reason that Ye Liuxi would shed tears when Jiang Zhan died and develop a sudden fear of the memories that showed no signs of recovery. Chang Dong understood that Ye Liuxi was afraid of making a mistake and regretting killing a close friend with her own hands. However, what had happened was irreversible, and the only important thing was to live in the present.

Two years ago, Huyang Cheng fell completely, and the Scorpion Eyes organization quickly rose, becoming the biggest threat to Blackstone City. To undermine Scorpion Eyes from within, Long Shen, after much consideration, decided to send his daughter Long Zhi to infiltrate the Gold Mine Mountain, assuming the identity of Ye Liuxi, a slave who would meet Jiang Zhan. Long Zhi owed Jiang Zhan a life-saving favor and gained his trust, forging a bond between them. She then seamlessly became an undercover agent for Scorpion Eyes, ultimately bringing about their catastrophic downfall.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Chang Dong's body gradually recovered, but Gao Shen's condition worsened rapidly. Due to the limited medical conditions at the gold mine, the doctor was helpless. Ding Liu, anxious and on the verge of collapse, rushed into Ye Liuxi's tent, discussing the urgent need to return to Blackstone City or seek treatment elsewhere.

Early the next day, a group prepared to depart. Fei Tang took charge of driving Chang Dong's off-road vehicle, and the mine provided two additional vehicles. One was like an ambulance, with two stretcher beds for Chang Dong and Gao Shen. The other was a transport truck carrying dozens of Feather Guards, supposedly dispatched by Zhao Guanshou to protect Ye Liuxi's safety along the way. Ye Liuxi inquired about Jiang Zhan's situation, confirming that there were no remains in the golden pool where he fell.

Ye Liuxi sat in the front passenger seat of the off-road vehicle, with Fei Tang now driving instead of Chang Dong. A He and Zhen Sihai sat behind. Fei Tang, sensing a somewhat oppressive atmosphere, casually mentioned Zhen Sihai, bringing smiles to A He and Ye Liuxi. As the car descended the mountain road, in the solemn winter morning fog, the once brownish gold mine appeared somewhat dark gray. Along the way, uncollected corpses with twisted postures, arrows and knives embedded in them, portrayed the futility of their intense struggles in life—no matter how intense and resolute in life, in death, all is quiet.

The convoy entered Blackstone City, and Ye Liuxi went straight to find Zhao Guanshou. However, the Feather Guards intercepted her, claiming that Zhao Guanshou was in a meeting. Zhao Guanshou and Long Zhi took refuge in an inner room, and he personally came out to negotiate. While Ye Liuxi was preoccupied with finding help for Gao Shen, she paid no attention to the unusual meeting. Zhao Guanshou promised to send the best doctor in Blackstone City.

After Ye Liuxi left, Long Shen and Long Zhi came out of the inner room, continuing the unfinished conversation. Zhao Guanshou asked Long Zhi about taking Jiang Zhan away without permission, suspecting her of having feelings for him. However, Long Zhi denied this and revealed her left wrist tattoo, admitting that Ye Liuxi's real name was Ye Qingzhi, the true leader of Scorpion Eyes. Two years ago, Long Zhi erased Ye Liuxi's memory with the Kyuei Dragon and posed as Ye Qingzhi to control scattered members of Scorpion Eyes. The real Ye Qingzhi became the disappeared traitor.

Long Zhi chose to disclose the truth to Chang Dong, not out of a sudden sense of conscience but to make him aware of the circumstances of Mountain Tea's death. According to Long Zhi, when Ye Liuxi forcefully opened the ancient demonic frame, causing a storm that led to Mountain Tea's death, it was she who ordered feeding Mountain Tea's body, turning all of them into sandmen.

Chang Dong suddenly realized, and Long Zhi chose him to kill Ye Liuxi. Only if Ye Liuxi died at the hands of someone from outside the region could she disappear forever. However, Chang Dong didn't completely believe Long Zhi. He thought that the death of Mountain Tea wasn't something that could be concluded in just a few words, and he would not become a tool for Long Zhi to use against Ye Liuxi.

In the meantime, the Feather Guards forcefully took A He away, dragging her with a bad attitude, claiming that there were suspicions surrounding the mine, and they needed to question her. Chang Dong proposed to go together, but unfortunately, he was refused. Instead, he was informed to meet Zhao Guanshou alone. In the office, Zhao Guanshou and Long Zhi had been waiting for a long time. Chang Dong belatedly realized that Long Zhi was the undercover agent in Scorpion Eyes.

Long Zhi didn't deny it, intentionally revealing the tattoo on her left wrist. She admitted that Ye Liuxi's real name was Ye Qingzhi, the actual leader of Scorpion Eyes. Two years ago, Long Zhi erased Ye Liuxi's memory with the Kyuei Dragon and posed as Ye Qingzhi to control scattered members of Scorpion Eyes. The real Ye Qingzhi became the disappeared traitor.

However, Long Zhi shared the truth with Chang Dong not out of a newfound conscience but to make him aware of the circumstances of Mountain Tea's death. According to Long Zhi, when Ye Liuxi forcefully opened the ancient demonic frame, causing a storm that led to Mountain Tea's death, it was she who ordered feeding Mountain Tea's body, turning all of them into sandmen.

Chang Dong suddenly realized, and Long Zhi chose him to kill Ye Liuxi. Only if Ye Liuxi died at the hands of someone from outside the region could she disappear forever. However, Chang Dong didn't completely believe Long Zhi. He thought that the death of Mountain Tea wasn't something that could be concluded in just a few words, and he would not become a tool for Long Zhi to use against Ye Liuxi.

In reality, Ye Liuxi's forceful exit from the borders was merely an attempt to grant freedom to the people inside, liberating them from the oppression of the four major families. However, she encountered a formidable opponent in Long Zhi. It is precisely because of Long Zhi's presence that the once audacious Ye Qingzhi has become more tender, with Chang Dong adding a sense of concern to her life. She gradually learned the concepts of love and respect.

Long Zhi is aware of Jiang Zhan's feelings for Ye Qingzhi. However, Jiang Zhan's emotions toward Ye Qingzhi are intricate, with one aspect indisputable – his unwavering loyalty to Ye Qingzhi – a sentiment not subject to anyone else's interference.

For outsiders, the existence of Qing Zhu is a secret, known only to Jin Xie and a few close guards. Taking advantage of the laxity of the Feather Guards, Jiang Zhan led a group to seize the goldsmith factory, making Ye Qingzhi very angry. She believed that such actions would bring even crazier retaliation from Blackstone City.

To ensure everyone's safety, Ye Liuxi decided to activate the Bogu Yao Frame in advance. However, they only had one beast head of a yellow goat, and Jiang Zhan felt it was too risky. Yet, Ye Liuxi emphasized that everyone had their own roles, and regardless, she had to give it a try.

On that day, Ye Liuxi forcibly activated the Bogu Yao Frame, causing the Yu Men Gate Avatar to leave the body, creating a massive sandstorm disaster outside the gate. All members of Shan Cha perished, except for Chang Dong, who survived thanks to Long Zhi's life-saving technique.

As they spoke, Long Zhi pulled out a silver string from her sleeve. With a slight pull, Chang Dong immediately felt uncomfortable and fell to the ground in pain. Instead of continuing, Long Zhi explained why the Long family held the leading position among the four major families. It was because they mastered two unique skills: Long Teng Hu Xiao, powerful enough to dispel demonic formations, and the control of the Silver Silkworm, capable of reviving the dead with a pluck of the strings.

The Silver Silkworm was a demon beast inside the gate that only produced a one-meter-long silk in its lifetime. After spitting out the silk, it died, and the silk, called Heartstring, was the natural container for the Silver Silkworm's heart. After the Silver Silkworm died, the Long family would cast its body into a silver chain, hiding the strings. Long Zhi used the Heartstring to extend Chang Dong's life for three years.

Since the Heartstring could only prolong life for three years at a time, it meant that Chang Dong's time was running out. To continue living, he had to obey Long Zhi's orders, or he would turn into a pile of bones. As Chang Dong listened to Long Zhi's words, his heart was in chaos, recalling the events of the past two years: the sudden sound of the wind bottle in the camp, Kong Yang's long skirt, the overwhelming cursing of teammates, and his acquaintance and love with Ye Liuxi.

At that moment, these scenes seemed like shadow puppets in a theater, crowded on a two-yard curtain, colors overlapping, drumbeats chaotic, dialogue mixed, and it was hard to distinguish which act it was. Suddenly opening his eyes, the familiar roof and the voice of Ye Liuxi made his heart complex and varied. On the other side, Zhao Guanshou believed that Chang Dong would not harm Ye Liuxi. Just like Gao Shen, who was unwilling to kill Ye Liuxi, he ended up being stabbed multiple times by the Feather Guards and severely injured.

The doctor carefully examined Ding Liu's head and found that she had once hosted a parasitic flower. Although the main body had been eaten by Zhen Si Hai, there were still some residual roots inside. Fortunately, it was not a major issue. Knowing that the process of pulling out the roots might be painful, Ding Liu still asked the doctor to clean up the remaining roots of the parasitic flower.

Years ago, Ye Liuxi was sent to the gold mine as a slave and met Jiang Zhan, who was of similar age. In this almost suffocating and desperate environment, the two relied on each other and helped each other. Jiang Zhan taught Ye Liuxi to read and write, and in return, Ye Liuxi taught Jiang Zhan martial arts. Later, Jiang Zhan even helped Ye Liuxi steal the key to the gold pool, allowing her to bathe regularly.

Compared to Jiang Zhan's conservatism and weakness, Ye Liuxi couldn't hide her ambition, vowing to leave the gold mine and dominate the gate. Suddenly, Jin Ye appeared, facing the huge golden python. Ye Liuxi not only wasn't afraid but actively approached and touched it. Jin Ye entered a cave, and Ye Liuxi, with Jiang Zhan, followed and discovered a lot of gold inside. The stone wall was engraved with the six characters "Liu Xi Bone, Wang Dong Soul," and a parchment wrote that there was a passage below the gold pool to escape the gold mine. The scene shifted, and Jiang Zhan gradually woke up, bound by iron chains, lying in an unfamiliar room.

Long Zhi needed to cultivate the Heartstring and specially came to the gold mine to select a person, and at a glance, she chose Jiang Zhan. Ye Liuxi appeared at a critical moment, creating chaos with firecrackers. Taking advantage of the confusion, she took Jiang Zhan away. Following the instructions left by Li Wangdong on the parchment, they smeared the saliva of Jin Ye all over their bodies, effectively preventing the flesh from rotting into bones in the gold pool. The two successfully escaped from the gold mine and arrived at the welcoming lake outside Blackstone City. Ye Liuxi heard that Huyang City was the most chaotic and decided to develop her own influence there.

When Jiang Zhan woke up next to Long Zhi, he suddenly remembered what had happened before. In anger, he grabbed her neck and questioned her sharply. Seeing that Jiang Zhan still cared about Ye Qingzhi, Long Zhi felt very unhappy. She opened Jiang Zhan's hand, warned him to stay calm and rest here, and revealed her real name, Long Zhi.

Since Chang Dong learned the truth, he could only try to avoid Ye Liuxi as much as possible to prevent her from noticing anything unusual. However, Ye Liuxi stayed outside the door, and the two inevitably would meet. Ye Liuxi noticed that Chang Dong suddenly became pessimistic. She comforted him, saying that even if there was no road, he could create one with his own legs. She reminded Chang Dong to speak openly and honestly about anything, no matter the consequences.

Now that the Scorpion Eye incident is over, the long journey of the West Expedition team has come to an end. Fei Tang, with thoughts of antiques inside the gate, urged A He to visit the antique street more often in the future. He asked her to help preserve any old items needed and also wanted Ye Liuxi to help find Zhao Guanshou to get a pair of substitute tongues. He planned to attach one to A He, leaving the main tongue for her. This way, she could still speak without being controlled. Ye Liuxi readily agreed, exposing the hidden affection between the two.

Upon learning that they were leaving the gate, Li Jin'ao nervously reminded them that bloodshed would follow every step they took outside the gate. Chang Dong explained that they were outsiders, and Ye Liuxi was the legendary Liu Xi Bone, not affected by entering or leaving the gate. Hearing this, Li Jin'ao suddenly realized. Following Chang Dong and Fei Tang's suggestion, Ye Liuxi agreed to take Li Jin'ao and A He with them for a stretch.

After breakfast, a convoy left the city in a grand formation. Chang Dong took the opportunity to talk to Ding Liu, posing a hypothetical question about what she would do if her loved one accidentally killed her family or friends. Ding Liu chose to uphold justice without hesitation, unable to forgive a murderer, even if it was unintentional. Chang Dong did not continue questioning and lay on the stretcher, feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.

To take care of the injured, the vehicle did not travel too quickly. On the first day, they didn't pass through the Welcome Gate but stayed at the Red Flower Tree Inn where they had stayed before. The innkeeper had never seen such a grand scene, panicked, and even dared not take their money. After a few nods and bows, he disappeared, essentially letting them manage the huge inn on their own.

Li Jin'ao performed a shadow play for everyone. Ye Liuxi rarely saw Chang Dong smile, and Chang Dong invited her, Fei Tang, Ding Liu, and others into the room. He earnestly and solemnly recounted Ye Liuxi's background and the disaster caused by opening the Bogu Yao Frame, leading to the death of all Shan Cha members.

From beginning to end, Chang Dong repeated Long Zhi's words, only concealing the matter of the Heartstring. Therefore, if the Feather Guards wanted to kill Ye Liuxi, they needed to use the hands of outsiders. They would also try to threaten Chang Dong, Ding Liu, or Fei Tang to submit. The urgent task was to leave the gate as soon as possible and proactively break this situation.

Considering Gao Shen's unstable condition, it would be too conspicuous for all five of them to leave the gate together. Chang Dong had a plan: he would negotiate with Long Zhi, while Ye Liuxi took advantage of the situation to bring Fei Tang, Gao Shen, and Ding Liu out of the gate. Ye Liuxi knew that this plan was very dangerous. Chang Dong reassured her with a smile, telling her not to worry and to remember to come back and save him in time.

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