After burying the bones, Young Master Liu drew several more Soul-Guiding Talismans, tossing them out one by one until he reached the edge of the forest. By the time the sun set and the gloom in the woods thickened, the woman's spirit should be able to follow these talismans out of the illusionary array.

When he emerged from the woods, Fan Debiao was already pacing with impatience, blurting out, "Is it all done!"

Young Master Liu smiled. "Done. And I even found some medicine!" With that, he mashed the grass stems into a pulp and applied them to Su Yougui’s hand.

Su Yougui mumbled groggily, "Oh, it’s really cool. This snake wasn't cooked hot enough..."

Fan Debiao was so angry his eyes welled up with tears. "When we get back, I’ll boil two pumpkins just to stuff you! See if you’re always starving!"

Walking away from Mount Pusa, he looked back, and a flood of complex feelings washed over him.

Young Master Liu said, "Big Brother Fan, I think this matter has escalated a bit. How do you think we should report this to the higher-ups?"

Fan Debiao, panting from carrying Su Yougui, heard Su Yougui occasionally moan, "Don't want the snake head!" and other times, "Is the snake belly cooked yet?" Anger boiled inside him, but he replied, "We'll report that this damned bastard was an enemy agent who poisoned Huang Peng. And the rest of you, say the exact same thing!" Saying this, he thought that with a death involved, it probably wouldn't be so easy to smooth things over. The few of them huddled together to discuss the exact narrative until they were all aligned before heading back.

Young Master Liu was stunned by this. "What if the higher-ups don't believe us? After all, Ge Shuanwa isn't here; that's a hole in the story!"

Fan Debiao glared. "If anyone doesn't believe it, I’ll take them to that cave, dig out everything inside, and let’s see how they explain that!"

By the time they reached the construction site near noon, the workers, seeing them return, gathered around, peppering them with questions. When they saw Huang Peng’s blackened body, the workers were so terrified they scattered. Fan Debiao asked, "Tell the Engineering Department people to come. Are they all here?"

A worker said, "We went to fetch them this morning, but they said they won't be here until evening."

Fan Debiao considered it, shook his head. "We can't wait. Huang Shitong, you and I will pull a flat cart together, and we'll go to the Engineering Department. We need to clarify this matter. You're Huang Peng’s younger brother. What you say, they’ll trust more!" Huang Shitong nodded tearfully.

As these men were talking, Wei Fuguo, the man who had led Young Master Liu and the others there, suddenly spoke up. "Hey, Young Master Liu, that educated youth staying at your place came looking for you early this morning, saying it was urgent!"

Hearing this, Young Master Liu immediately broke into a cold sweat and anxiously asked, "Did he say what it was about? Where is he?"

Wei Fuguo replied, "He’s in the barracks, said he had to tell you personally!"

Young Master Liu turned, looking anxiously at Fan Debiao. Fan Debiao nodded once. "I’ll go back to the barracks with you. I still need to find a vehicle and people to take Su Yougui to the hospital!" After quickly arranging matters at the site, he, Huang Shitong, and a few fellow workers headed back to the barracks area.

Tian Guoqiang was already pacing by the entrance of the shack. When he spotted Young Master Liu from afar, he immediately sprinted over, but then his face paled upon seeing the blackened corpse. Not knowing what trouble had befallen his family, Young Master Liu anxiously dragged Tian Guoqiang aside to inquire. Tian Guoqiang gave him a sidelong glance and said, "It's actually nothing major!"

Young Master Liu’s eyes were bloodshot as he roared, "Nothing major? Then why are you running over here so early? Hey, there’s a bicycle too—did you ride that here? Where did you get a bike?"

Bicycles were absolute rarities back then. The few workers who weren't working that day gathered around the bike, touching it here and there as if they’d stumbled upon a Teletubby. Even seeing a Ferrari now wouldn't elicit such attention.

Tian Guoqiang chuckled. "It belongs to Captain Fan, hehe!"

Young Master Liu scoffed. "Hey, you young rascal, you've got ambition but still lack substance—hurry up and explain things clearly!"

Tian Guoqiang said, "It's not about our family; it’s Captain Yang who has an issue. He lent me this bike."

Young Master Liu was surprised. "Why would he need me?"

Tian Guoqiang replied, "He said you need to go back home!" Young Master Liu instantly panicked. "That old dog wants to fight me again?"

Tian Guoqiang hurried to explain, "No, he even wrote a letter intended for the construction site leadership." He pulled a letter sealed with the commune's stamp from his chest. Young Master Liu took it and saw it was a request for leave addressed to the site management, stating there was a commune affair that required Young Master Liu to return home and handle it, serving as official proof.

Fan Debiao looked at it, unsure of the nature of the problem, but seeing that Brother Tian had ridden all the way out early that morning, he surmised it must be urgent. He said to Young Master Liu, "You go back first. I’ll handle the paperwork formalities when I return tonight. You head back now!" Young Master Liu repeatedly expressed his thanks. He and Tian Guoqiang then headed toward the dike, pushing the bicycle.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Tian Guoqiang said, "Young Master Liu, I’ll cycle you there!" Young Master Liu was envious, his eyes practically glowing. "You can ride a bike now too, that's really something!"

The moment he sat on the bicycle, comfort brought tears to his eyes. Sitting on such a high-class contraption was wonderful; how he wished he owned one! Having slept poorly all night, sitting there actually gave him a dizzying, sleepy sensation.

Tian Guoqiang pulled two items from his pocket and handed them back to Young Master Liu. Upon taking them, Young Master Liu realized they were two salted duck eggs! These were delicacies usually reserved for when someone was gravely ill. Young Master Liu’s eyes were practically green with hunger. He took them, and without even fully peeling the shell, shoved them into his mouth. While swallowing, he mumbled, "Are these from our Yanzi? Have you eaten yours? If not, take one!"

Tian Guoqiang smiled. "Captain Yang Baosan gave them!"

Young Master Liu, who was swallowing the egg, immediately choked. "What? He gave them... Ugh, my head! You still haven't clearly explained what’s going on at home!"

Tian Guoqiang grinned mischievously. "Captain Yang is having bad luck. There's been quite a stir at his house these past few days!"

Young Master Liu was curious. "What kind of stir?"

Tian Guoqiang lowered his voice and whispered conspiratorially, "I heard... his house is haunted!"

Young Master Liu’s ears perked up. "What? He smashed every mountain temple and Bodhisattva shrine within hundreds of miles. A person who handles immortals more effectively than this—what ghost dares to cause trouble at his place?"

Tian Guoqiang sighed. "Young Master Liu, you’ve been away, but the commune has been permeated with gloom these last few days. Late at night, going outside gives you chills! Not even dogs dare to leave their homes after dark!"

Young Master Liu was momentarily bewildered. "I’ve only been gone for a few weeks. How could things at home get so hectic? Could it be that I was here suppressing those evil things?"

When he returned home and asked his mother, Wang Chunhua, it was confirmed that the production team had been in a state of near chaos these past few days, with many people afraid to go out. Wang Chunhua then smiled. "Captain Yang was afraid I might get angry, so he brought seven eggs from our house!"

Young Master Liu cheered. "Seven? Oh, that’s quite a bit. Our family considers three a good haul in a month!"

Wang Chunhua said, "I boiled them. Your father and I each ate one, and I sent two to Xiaoyan. I figured you might be eating poorly at the site, so I had Guoqiang bring you three. I hope he didn't overfeed you!"

Young Master Liu shuddered. "How many?"

Wang Chunhua replied, "Three!"

Young Master Liu roared, shaking his voice out, "Tian Guoqiang, you little brat, get over here!"

Having exhausted himself the day before, and seeing that Yang Baosan still hadn't come looking for him, Young Master Liu visited Ma Xiaoyan's house for a while, then washed his face and feet before collapsing into a deep, profound sleep. Finally, he slept soundly.

He didn't know when, but Wang Chunhua woke him. Opening his eyes, he saw it was completely dark. "That Captain Yang came looking for you. He’s been sitting in the main room for a while!"

Hearing this, Young Master Liu quickly put on his clothes and hurried out. Having a cadre wait for him—Young Master Liu genuinely didn't have the nerve for that!

"Oh, Captain Yang, I... I really lose track of time when I sleep. Oh, I truly didn't expect you to be here so early!" Young Master Liu plastered a smile on his face, yet felt a secret thrill inside, thinking, 'So there really is a time when you have to beg me! The skills my Master taught me are actually proving useful!'