"I'm sorry..." I apologized in a low voice, but my heart was still filled with joy.
Juhuashan was renowned as a land of martial arts, yet not a single skilled fighter could be found!
With my worries about the rear dealt with, I exited the stone cave. After this ordeal, I estimated the other seven demons should also be awake. However, judging by this bear demon, the rest of them were likely just as sluggish. Struggling to even exit the cave, let alone hinder me. The bear demon's ability to get out was thanks to the advantageous position of the coffin, allowing it to descend from upstairs.
I attached the rope to myself, and Zheng Bingbing hoisted me up. Shen Xingyue's call came in again. I figured I couldn't keep avoiding her forever. Looking down the mountain, Xingyao and the others were busy clearing out the temple's visitors, likely fearing the bear demon's potential rampage.
I swiped to answer the call but remained silent.
"You've got some nerve! Luring the tiger away from its mountain?" Shen Xingyue interrogated.
"This is called outsmarting Juhuashan," I chuckled.
"I'll give you one last chance. Release Mu Jige immediately, and I won't pursue this further."
"And if I refuse? What are the consequences?" I asked.
"Consequences... the consequences are beyond anything you can imagine! She'll eliminate everyone by your side! Including that girl!" Shen Xingyue was clearly trying to pressure Zheng Bingbing. Xingyao must have called her earlier, informing their senior sister that besides me, another beautiful young woman was involved in this rescue (tomb robbing) operation.
Hearing this, Zheng Bingbing shivered visibly and instinctively moved behind me, keeping her distance from the paper coffin on the ground.
"What makes you so sure she'll go on a killing spree once she awakens?" I inquired.
"And what makes you think she won't?" Shen Xingyue retorted.
"I don't know."
"Where are you taking her?"
"Am I stupid? Am I going to tell you..." Of course, I wouldn't tell her that I intended to take Mu Jige to the crematorium.
"Fine, you're brave. Let's see where you can run! But I must warn you: Mu Jige has broken free from her seal. At midnight tonight, she will awaken. If you don't want things to get out of hand, contact me before midnight."
"Can you control her?" I probed, thinking it was wise to keep a fallback option open.
"I can't, but those few can," Shen Xingyue said, referring to the other eight demons.
"Alright, I got it. We'll talk then." I said, hung up the phone, and immediately turned it off to avoid any further nagging from Shen Xingyue.
"Let's go, down the mountain," I said.
"Uncle... are you really a historian? You're not...?"
"A tomb raider?" I laughed. The truth was out, and there was no point in hiding it from Zheng Bingbing anymore. I concisely explained the truth to her in about a minute.
"Ah, so it's a rescue! Then I'm not afraid anymore!" Zheng Bingbing patted her chest. "Let's go! I'll carry this 'Yaoyao'."
"Let me do it. You help me tie it up," I said. What if Yaoyao woke up and bit Bingbing?
I slung the paper coffin onto my back. Zheng Bingbing helped me secure it with the rope. We quickly descended the mountain. I placed the paper coffin on the back seat, keeping watch over it while Bingbing drove.
"Uncle, where are we going?" Bingbing asked.
"The crematorium," I replied.
"Huh? Are you going to burn her? But didn't that sister say that at midnight, this 'Yaoyao' will wake up?" Zheng Bingbing even started to worry for Mu Jige.
What she said wasn't unreasonable. Previously, based on Yaoyao's clear instructions in her dream, my objective was clear: get her "body" out and take it to the crematorium, then buy a public grave to bury her. But after arriving in Fucheng, both Shen Xingyue and Song Lei's diaries informed me that Yaoyao was alive and had not died.
They all knew Yaoyao was not dead. How could Yaoyao herself not know?
Then why did Yaoyao still ask me to burn her?