Ma Xiong looked at the self-assured Lu Zong with a touch of bewilderment, asking, "Lu Zong, are you that confident you can rescue her?" Lu Zong returned the bewildered look with an even more bewildered expression, replying in a tone that suggested profound mystery, "Of course I'm confident, because all my confidence rests entirely on you. Don't let me down."

Ma Xiong fidgeted, realizing why Lu Zong was so sure—he'd set this up for him. Helplessly, he decided he’d just have to play it by ear, though he felt utterly cheated. He was the one saving the day, yet all the subsequent gratitude would undoubtedly be heaped upon Lu Zong. Such was the persuasive power of language, much like that sketch by Zhao Benshan at the Spring Festival Gala, Donation. Regardless of the quality, the plot showed money donated by two people, yet only Zhao Benshan, playing the widower, reaped all the fame.

Ma Xiong managed a helpless chuckle, lamenting the increasingly vulgar atmosphere of the world. Yet, helplessness was all he could muster as a defense, knowing that one man’s strength couldn't possibly overcome the power of love. He gave a wry smile, beginning to formulate a strategy. Suddenly, he recalled something his grandfather had mentioned long ago, something he’d also seen in a book, dating back only a few years. Ever since Ghost Blows Out the Light by Tianxia Bachang swept the internet, he had paid close attention to the Sixteen-Character Feng Shui Secret mentioned within it. He vividly recalled his grandfather showing him a book with the exact same title, where some of the feng shui layouts and illusionary mist formations described matched what was in Ghost Blows Out the Light. At the time, he even wondered if his grandfather's book was the second half of the secret text, as Tianxia Bachang claimed to only possess half, the rest having vanished. Could his grandfather's volume be the missing conclusion?

The thought sparked excitement within him. Though he didn't have the book on him, nor could he guarantee finding it later, it was enough. He had once been fascinated by a passage concerning a spatial secret technique involving mist formations and had studied it closely. The memory remained sharp, and he was now certain that what they were facing was precisely that spatial secret mist formation technique.

The so-called spatial secret mist formation technique involved using dark arts to disrupt the rationality of space, arranging it into arbitrary shapes. This caused space to slowly curve, and without the control of spatial tension, the bending became random. Consequently, a person's localized space could shift, altering their position. If Lu Zong was taken as the fixed point, then relative to him, Han Chong had vanished into thin air, drifting into another, completely unrelated space, which explained why Ma Xiong couldn't see her. However, sound transmission relied on air, allowing them to hear Han Chong clearly. Now, he also understood why the three of them had seen different visions moments ago: the intense spatial drifting caused varied perceptions.

Yet, one point continued to trouble Ma Xiong: why was it that every time he looked, he saw nothing, and the second time, nothing again? Lu Zong saw the exact same space every time. There was only one explanation for this bizarre phenomenon: someone was deliberately interfering, manipulating the space. Every layer of this space seemed to be under someone’s control.

Ma Xiong shared his theory with Lu Zong, who regarded him with admiration. "Ma Xiong, I never realized you knew so much. Truly impressive, a real master." Ma Xiong just laughed dismissively. "Nothing, just a piece of cake."

However, Lu Zong hadn't formed a good impression of Ma Xiong at all. His praise was merely a tactic, hoping that by flattering Ma Xiong, even greater miracles would surface, leading to more active thinking and abundant inspiration. This flaw wasn't unique to Ma Xiong; across the world, among the Chinese male population especially, this tendency to use flattery to unlock benefits and ideas was quite common.

Lu Zong anxiously asked, "So, how do we get Han Chong into the same space as us, so we can see her?"

Ma Xiong asked Lu Zong with a slight hesitancy, "Lu Zong, do you remember how we managed to transition from one space to the next, the one we were in before?"

Lu Zong nodded, then looked at Ma Xiong with disbelief, questioning, "No way. Are you suggesting Han Chong should crash into that thing? The chance of success is slim. I worry for her, even if you don't."

Hearing Lu Zong's immediate response, Ma Xiong could only shrug and reply with a tone resigned to necessity, "Then I have no other option. Can you forget how hard we struggled just to escape that place? You know firsthand how harsh the environment was. If the two of us grown men could barely withstand it, what about this girl?"

At this, Lu Zong’s brow furrowed. It seemed Ma Xiong had successfully persuaded him. He gritted his teeth. "Fine, let's do it. Ma Xiong, you tell her what to do. I can't bear to."

Ma Xiong nearly fainted. Every time a rotten task needed doing, he was the one left to execute it; Lu Zong, meanwhile, couldn't stomach it. He glanced at the utterly opportunistic Lu Zong, shook his head in resignation, but realizing it was unavoidable, relented. "Forget it. We’ve met once; you might lack conscience, but I still have mine."

He addressed the empty air before him without reserve. "Han Chong, can you see us now?"

Han Chong instantly replied, "Yes, I can see you, but I can't reach you at all! I see you right there, but I can't touch you or walk up to you. I’m exhausted!"

Ma Xiong secretly rejoiced further. This meant Han Chong was facing the exact same situation he had, closely mirroring his grandfather's descriptions. Han Chong had truly encountered an expert this time. He immediately spoke with excitement to Han Chong, "Han Chong, listen to me. Look at us. Do you sense a slight haziness, as if there's a membrane or barrier separating us? Look closely; that film is very thin. If you don't pay attention, you'll overlook it. If you ignore it now, you'll never have the chance to be reborn as a human, because that membrane is crucial to you. Without it, we could easily reach you, and your life would be tarnished because of it. One could say that judging the worth of a young woman is directly related to this membrane. You..."

At this point, Lu Zong cleared his throat forcefully, causing Ma Xiong to immediately fall silent. He realized he had strayed off topic again; whenever the subject of membranes came up, he tended to ramble. Han Chong remained silent, likely blushing crimson.

Ma Xiong quickly changed the subject. "Alright, let’s prepare. Han Chong, face straight ahead. See that thin film in front of you? Ram straight up into it. Don't worry, you'll be by our side very soon."

Han Chong asked in a surprised tone, "Really? Are you telling the truth? Will it hurt when I hit that thin film?" Ma Xiong answered without hesitation, "It will sting a bit at first, maybe even draw a little blood, but soon you'll get hooked. You’ll experience something akin to ascending to the heavens, floating in ecstasy—a feeling that will leave you utterly intoxicated, making you crave it again and again. And that’s not all; when you..."

Lu Zong again detected Ma Xiong’s tangent and coughed loudly, the sound so jarring that he felt his own throat turn dry. He rubbed his throat before it eased.

This time, it was Ma Xiong’s turn to blush, a color as deep as a ripe apple, momentarily stunning even Han Chong across the divide. Ma Xiong, however, was also embarrassed; the words he’d uttered were undeniably crude. He felt his own cheeks burn, but such vivid descriptions could only come from experience. Lu Zong looked at Ma Xiong with evident disdain. Ma Xiong felt overwhelming shame, but to maintain his masculine façade, he burst out, "What? Is it shameful? Let me tell you, it’s only shameful for a woman to lose her first time. For a man to still be a virgin at twenty—that’s shameful! Do you understand?"

Lu Zong nodded. "I understand, I understand. But I don't want to debate this with you now. I just need you to say something useful, like how to get Han Chong back here safely. I’ll be grateful."

Ma Xiong realized he had completely forgotten the focus of the conversation and quickly steered back. "Oh, I’m sorry, I got too absorbed and excited just now. Alright, let's return to the topic. Han Chong, just aim and charge toward that direction. You’ll find that the moment you open your eyes again, we’ll be right beside you, guarding you. We’ll be waiting for your arrival on this side of the membrane. Once you pierce through it, you’ll gain a chance at rebirth—a spark of life reignited in the mortal realm by a soul."

Lu Zong asked, "Han Chong, Ma Xiong described it so vividly. Did you understand what he said?"

Han Chong nodded slightly. "I think I understood something else." Lu Zong asked foolishly, "Oh? You understood something else? Heh, are you interested in sharing? I quite enjoy listening."