Reverse flow of the Yellow Springs

Chapter 156 Daughter
"The price?" Li Yelai asked, "What exactly do you mean?"

“It depends on the type and the needs.” Jing Lin pulled out a teapot and several rather beautiful teacups from somewhere, and while brewing white mountain tea for everyone, he said, “These strange things also have many names: demons, monsters, ghosts.”

Everyone nodded; these were indeed the so-called ghosts and monsters.

The Dao Lao Gui that Li Yelai had seen was actually a kind of living corpse containing a deadly poison.

The black zombies encountered within the branch of the Ember Church were similar beings.

It is a ghost born from a corpse under certain special circumstances or circumstances, or even from some kind of evil ritual.

The records of the Night Watchers reveal even more bizarre entities, some of which can trap their targets in strange, unsettling spaces, even if bodyguards are right next door. They can also harm their targets without anyone noticing.

However, psionicists are natural enemies to these purely spiritual beings, and psionic energy is extremely effective against them!
Compared to the immortal beings of the Void Realm, these ghosts and monsters are merely extraordinary beings with slightly more unique abilities.

This put everyone at ease.

"And we learned in the Forbidden Zone Immortal Ruins that there is another rather peculiar phenomenon," Jing Lin said, handing a cup of tea to Li Yelai. "It is called 'Return' by the Forbidden Zone."

"Return? Ghost?" Li Ye pondered the pronunciation of the two words. "By the way, do you still have connections with the forbidden zone?"

“Not everyone can escape the calamity fog. Those humans who were devoured, along with their descendants, were controlled by the order of the forbidden zone, developed their own civilizations, and became part of the forbidden zone. But we can infiltrate it to investigate,” Jing Lin said. “As for what you mentioned, Gui and Gui, there is indeed such a saying.”

“Things that can return after death are called ‘returners’ or ‘ghosts.’ In more detail, we call these kinds of ghosts ‘returners’.”

"They walk between reality and dreams, varying in strength and appearance, including handsome young men, gentle women, and ferocious strongmen. But they all abide by transactions and contracts."

“So I think that someone among the residents in the vicinity has made a deal with the returnee. Now, the returnee is coming to collect the price.” Jing Lin suggested, “You’d better check and see if anyone in this area has had any good luck recently.”

"Good luck?" Li Yelai's ears twitched. "Can a returning person bring good luck?"

If it were really possible, then Li Yelai would have to capture the Returnee to suppress his own misfortune.

“My good luck here is just a general term, like making a lot of money at a casino, suddenly getting promoted and becoming rich, or suddenly escaping danger,” Jing Lin said. “Moreover, judging from the scenery in the dream, the returning person’s goal is to get married, and the price is very likely to be a girl. This is a clue.”

Li Yelai nodded. Indeed, at least a certain range can be determined.

Jing Lin continued, "Similar situations have occurred in villages and towns near Yaoqing Giant City, with many people seeing strange things in their dreams. After investigation, it was learned that a group of scavengers in that village were unlucky and were unexpectedly hunted by supernatural creatures in the abandoned city while scavenging for supplies."

While fleeing for their lives, they encountered the Returners and, after negotiations, agreed to pay a price to survive the hunt by the extraordinary creatures.

Afterwards, the returning ones will collect their reward, having first alerted those nearby in a dream. This signifies that they will take the payment.

After experiencing three bizarre dreams, several children disappeared from the village. They were all children of those who had been rescued.

"They actually traded children?" Everyone frowned. Even if it was to help them escape, shouldn't they at least offer up their own children?

Yes, there are indeed heartless parents in the world who don't care whether their children live or die.

But surely not all of them are like that? Such scum are still a minority.

"It was later learned that they originally intended to renege on their debt."

Jing Lin smiled and said, "After all, we were all about to die. Who would think about the price we would have to pay later? It was only after I survived that I finally calmed down and thought about it, wanting to refuse to pay the price, or at least find another kind of price to pay."

"So they made a lot of preparations, spending a lot of money to hire a wild psionicist with the third awakening, and preparing a lot of firepower at the settlement. You know, scavengers, in their spare time they scaveng, and occasionally they act as bandits or caravan guards. They did prepare quite a lot, several machine guns, intending to forcibly interrupt the returnees' transactions."

"Unfortunately, those who return always keep their deals and promises. Or rather, those demons have certain limitations, otherwise they cannot harm others at will. But if a contract is made, they will take the reward regardless of whether the other party begs or struggles."

"So, one night, when a large number of people were on high alert at the gathering place, the returnees arrived as the third dream ended."

However, most people did not see the returnees. Only those who had entered the dream witnessed them enter the unguarded defenses, pass through gate after gate, and take the children away right before their eyes.

“You mean,” Li Yelai frowned, “that those who haven’t entered the dream can’t see the returner? And you mentioned an empty alley. Can I assume that those who have entered the dream were also briefly taken away?”

“It does seem so at the moment. Wait a moment, I remember one of my clansmen participated in the investigation.” Jing Lin first made a phone call to get a more detailed analysis from the manor before saying, “That dream is more like a mark. All those marked will enter the intersection of dream and reality.”

"A ghost realm?" the detective frowned.

“Yes, in the terminology of your Third Border City, it should be called the Ghost Realm. A space that is both real and unreal, created by ghosts and monsters.” Jing Lin replied, “So, the settlement’s defenses were completely ineffective. Because most of the guards had never entered the dream world, and the same was true for the psionicist who was invited at a high price. Those who were pulled into the Ghost Realm could only watch helplessly as the children were taken away.”

This made Li Yelai and the others frown deeply. The Ghost Realm was such a troublesome thing.

In this way, if no one in the official forces enters a dream state, there is no way to stop the returnees.

"You mean after three dream prompts, they'll take the reward?" Li Yelai frowned. From the heavy cavalry's intelligence, he knew that at least two dreams had already occurred.

In other words, after the next dream, the other party will take a girl away?
However, because they had never entered the dream realm, they were unable to even enter the ghost realm and thus unable to resolve the issue of the returning soul.

“That makes sense.” Jing Lin took a sip of tea, thought for a moment, then poured it out and said, “Speaking of which, we can’t drink tea anymore.”

“Indeed.” Li Yelai also poured out the tea.

The others also realized what was happening. They wanted to deal with the returnees and protect the woman who had been traded.

That requires entering the Ghost Realm, and to enter the Ghost Realm, one must first enter the Dream Realm and be marked by the other party.

Then they would have to settle down nearby.

I hope to enter the dream world in the next two days.

In this way, they can enter the Ghost Realm when necessary.

Li Yelai then immediately contacted the branch office to inform them of the situation.

"I see, I'll request backup right away!" Upon learning of the situation, the liaison officer immediately reported the intelligence and contacted the nearest processing team or other official forces to enter the area. Whether they slept in their cars or made do on the rooftop, the goal was to get as many people as possible into the dream world.

"We need to be quick; it's almost midnight." Li Ye checked the time; it was 7:20. In a few hours, people would be asleep. He had to make the most of the time. Tonight might be the third dream, and he needed to get as much official power as possible into the dream.

"You can sleep here tonight. I have rooms available," Heavy Cavalry said. "Shadowflow and I will sleep in the bedroom, and the three of you gentlemen can sleep in the living room or the second bedroom."

Everyone nodded; this was indeed the most convenient way.

Jing Lin laughed and said, "Speaking of which, this is the first time I've spent the night at a girl's house." "I thought all the young masters from your spiritual families were partying every night?" The detective looked at Jing Lin in surprise.

“There are such people, but I’m a psychic. I can’t indulge my desires too much. What if I become corrupted?” Jing Lin explained, “What about Night General?”

“This is also my first time spending the night at a girl’s house,” Li Yelai nodded in response.

"Huh?" Jing Lin's face showed surprise, then he looked at Li Yelai with suspicion, glancing down suspiciously, and said, "Aren't you stronger than me? You can smash a hunting bug with one punch. What's wrong with you?"

Li Yelai was completely confused. What necessary connection did this have with physical strength?
The heavy cavalryman looked slightly embarrassed: "This is the first time I've invited a friend to stay at my house."

It was rare to see the heavy cavalryman's usually expressionless face show such an expression, so everyone joked around for a while.

Immediately, they quickly prepared their equipment. Li Yelai and Jing Lin went downstairs to bring the equipment from the car back up.

Meanwhile, the Heavy Cavalry and Shadow Stream prepared dinner. The group planned to eat something light and then go to sleep, hoping to enter a dream world.

As for who made the deal with the returnee, that can only be investigated later. Let's focus on rescuing the person first.

Li Yelai and Jing Lin took two large wooden crates and a long box from the car downstairs.

These are Li Yelai's and Jing Lin's armor, as well as Jing Lin's psionic weapon.

Jing Lin's curse prevents him from relying on his abilities to fight continuously. As a psionicist with the Spirit Eye path, blindness is almost fatal.

Therefore, his close combat skills are also quite good; he has put in special effort to improve them.

Previously, the three-pointed dagger that Li Yelai obtained was actually one of Jing Lin's backup weapons.

"I see you're a spearman too. Want to practice sometime?" Li Yelai looked at Jing Lin's long box, which contained a dragon-headed spear.

“Alright.” Jing Lin nodded, then said, “I checked within the family, and the person who contacted your sister was indeed my great-aunt, Jing Jing’s subordinate. But I don’t know yet why she did this.”

“Then investigate thoroughly, but remember this: if anyone dares to lay a hand on my sister, I won’t show her any mercy just because she’s your relative,” Li Yelai said seriously. “She’s my only family.”

It's laughable that someone with four senses would show no mercy to someone with six senses.

But Jing Lin nodded seriously; he didn't think there was anything funny about it.

The more I interacted with Li Yelai, the clearer I became about Li Yelai's strength and potential.

Ark voters, border city scouts, official causal weapons
If Jing Jing really angers him, she won't benefit at all!

This is not Yaoqing Giant City. Although Jing Jing is a captain-level powerhouse, do you think the authorities are afraid of a captain-level powerhouse?

Even if the patriarch, Supreme Martial Lord himself, came to Border City No. 3, he would not antagonize the authorities.

What exactly is Jing Jing trying to do?
“I will convey your message truthfully,” Jing Lin replied. “I do not wish to antagonize you.”

“Me too,” Li Yelai said.

The two then carried the large bags and packages up the stairs with remarkable ease. Neither of them was physically strong, and lifting the boxes was exceptionally effortless for them.

But at the gate of the heavy cavalry's house, they saw a woman dressed in fine clothes.

The woman had a beautiful face and resembled the heavy cavalry.

But it is more mature and has a unique charm.

At that moment, the woman shouted at the heavy cavalry inside the room: "You heartless ingrate!"

Then, he turned and left, almost bumping into Li Yelai and Jing Lin.

The woman had a fiery temper and seemed about to unleash a torrent of abuse, but upon seeing that Jing Lin was dressed in expensive designer clothes, she forced herself to remain silent, gave the two a stiff smile, and headed for the stairs. The clatter of her high heels echoed down the stairs.

"What's going on?" Li Yelai and Jing Lin were somewhat taken aback.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh," the heavy cavalryman replied. Although her pretty face remained expressionless, Li Ye could tell that she was truly exhausted and disappointed.

Later, Li Ye learned that the woman he had just spoken to was actually the mother of the Heavy Cavalry, or at least she used to be. She now had a new family.

They came here intending to take the heavy cavalry away from here to live with new families. They've heard the other family is wealthy.

It seemed like a beautiful scene, but the woman had no good intentions.

This woman even locked the heavy cavalryman in the same room with him in order to please her stepson.

Although Heavy Cavalry has a blank expression and looks like she's underage, she's undeniably a beautiful girl.

At that time, if the neighbors hadn't come to their door, the heavy cavalry would probably have suffered a loss.

Her becoming a psychic was inextricably linked to the stimulation she received from that family.

Currently, they are unaware that the Heavy Riders are psionicists and official handlers.

If they found out, I wonder if they would kneel down and kowtow?
Li Yelai thought maliciously.

Meanwhile, the woman came downstairs and took the arm of a somewhat overweight middle-aged man.

"That ungrateful wretch refuses to come," the woman said in a low voice.

"That's a real pity." The middle-aged man recalled the appearance of the heavy cavalryman and said with some regret, "Well, since we've already registered our marriage, your daughter is my daughter too."

"And I plan to arrange a marriage for my daughter."

"Great, great! Are the other party's conditions good?" the woman asked, her eyes lighting up.

"Very good," the middle-aged man chuckled softly. "Besides, he saved my life."

(End of this chapter)