Song Lei!
My university classmate! He actually went to save Yaoyao too?
"You mean all those more than a hundred 'Ye Bu Shou' were actually there to rescue people, but they were eliminated?" I asked, a chill running down my spine.
If that's the case, it's like the Calabash Brothers saving their grandpa, one after another getting taken down?
Four hundred years, and over a hundred lives lost?!
Xingyao looked terrified, not daring to answer. He bowed deeply to me, said "I beg the benefactor to think twice before acting," and then drove back.
A fine drizzle began to fall from the sky. I hadn't brought an umbrella, but a bus heading back to the city happened to arrive, so I got on with the other passengers.
On the way, I booked a hotel on my phone. Half an hour later, I arrived at Fucheng Bus Station, took a taxi to the hotel, and settled in for the time being.
I locked the room door, took a shower, and my mind cleared up considerably. Sitting at the writing desk, I used the hotel's notepads and a ballpoint pen to sort out all the information about Jiuxian Cave and Yaoyao from a month ago until now. There were many clues from my dreams, and I treated them all as real, regardless of their veracity.
After over an hour of reviewing, I'd outlined the following 10 key points:
1. Yaoyao's real name is "Mu Jige," a person from over four hundred years ago. Judging by her name, she wasn't Han Chinese but Manchu, meaning she was from the Later Jin dynasty.
2. Yaoyao's identity might be that of a female warrior or a sorceress, with not to be underestimated combat power. When the demons said she had committed too many sins, they were likely referring to her going berserk and killing during the great battle between the Ming and Qing dynasties that took place at Jiuxian Cave Mountain.
3. Although four hundred years have passed, Yaoyao is not dead (the underworld would not accept her). She is sealed within Jiuxian Cave by eight demons, in her living form.
4. For four hundred years, Yaoyao may have been guiding people to rescue her in some way. However, without exception, those who tried to save her were killed at Jiuxian Cave and buried there.
5. The function of Hanyin Temple is twofold: firstly, as Monk Xingyao stated, to deter pilgrims seeking blessings; secondly, to conceal the fact that the "Ye Bu Shou" were killed. The graves I saw last night were not an illusion; perhaps the temple can mask their presence during the day.
6. Besides the Eight Immortals, there should be another organization responsible for sealing Yaoyao, acting as their subordinates or assistants. This is the true power behind Hanyin Temple, at least including Master Jingkong and the qipao-clad woman Shen Xingyue. As for Xingyao and Xingchen, they might just be doing odd jobs.
7. With my current strength, it's impossible to rescue Yaoyao. I can't even deal with Shen Xingyue alone, let alone those eight demons. Last night, when I arrived at Jiuxian Cave, the eight demons were relatively polite and didn't try to kill me. This might be because my golden light protection was still active, and they couldn't kill me, only drive me away.
8. The old Taoist priest who gave me the golden light charm must be a formidable figure. If I want to save Yaoyao, I'll likely need his help.
9. Besides seeking external help, I also need to find ways to learn more about Yaoyao and Jiuxian Cave. Only by understanding the whole story can I resolve the problem effectively.
10. The last point, and the most crucial one, is that although I deeply desire to save Yaoyao, I must remain rational. Before attempting a rescue, I absolutely must clarify one thing: should Yaoyao be rescued?
To put it in a child's terms: is this Mu Jige a good person or a bad person?
Of course, good people should be saved. But what if she's a malevolent entity? As Xingyao said, she committed so many sins. What if I release her, and she goes on a rampage again, harming living beings? Wouldn't I be an accomplice to evil?
From a spring dream to these ten points, the problem has become increasingly complex.
However, with my thoughts clarified, I felt much more relaxed. There was no longer so much confusion in my heart. I just needed to take it one step at a time.
I stretched, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtains. The rain outside had stopped at some point. White clouds dotted the sky, a rainbow hung high, and the sun shone brightly, as if it were a good omen...