Corpse Recovery Diver

Li Zhiyuan, his face showing an expression of pain, said, "Old man, it's like this."

"How could you..."

Seeing the painful expression flash across the young man's face, Zhao Yi pursed his lips, decided not to continue, and turned to Brother Pang Jin: "Tell them for me, if they're unwilling to come in, they can just get lost right now!"

Brother Pang Jin: "Uh..."

Having said this, without waiting for Brother Pang Jin to relay the message, Zhao Yi got up and went out to call people himself.

If indeed someone who isn't thinking straight becomes tempted, even if I call them back, it'll disrupt team cohesion, making it difficult to lead.

Zhao Yi personally went out to call the people in.

Xu Ming and Sun Yan, Li Zhiyuan had met. One was skilled in Body Refinement, the other in Beast Control. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The masked woman, Li Zhiyuan glanced at her twice more, she should be a Gu Master.

Zhao Yi introduced, "Miaojiang Saintess, Mountain Girl."

Mountain Girl saluted Li Zhiyuan, waiting for him to return the courtesy after the gesture.

Li Zhiyuan raised the teacup, acknowledged her with a gesture, bowed his head, and took a sip.

The aura around Mountain Girl changed; she sensed the disrespect.

Zhao Yi reprimanded, "Step back!"

Mountain Girl stepped back, though she still held onto her emotions.

Zhao Yi apologized to Li Zhiyuan, "She's new and doesn't quite understand the rules yet. Don't mind her; without her Life Gu, I wouldn't be alive now."

Then, Zhao Yi addressed them, "Pay for the rooms and choose your own; we'll be staying here."

The three retreated.

Zhao Yi had interacted with people around Li Zhiyuan; he could sense a significant difference between the youth's team atmosphere and his own subordinates.

Originally having Grandpa Tian with him didn't feel like such a contrast, but now the elderly man everyone thought would hold them back and was deemed useless has gone home to retire, and Zhao Yi finds himself missing him.

"By the way, where are your people? Have they all gone out to work? You trust me enough to be here alone to face my entire team."

He said this, but Zhao Yi still felt the youth's people should be nearby, possibly hiding somewhere.

Because the youth had set up an array here, Zhao Yi's perception was compressed and blocked once he entered.

Li Zhiyuan: "Since we're on this topic, I'll be direct; do you still have some of those medicines you left me last time? Give me another batch in the same proportion."

Zhao Yi's eyes gradually widened, and he asked tentatively:

"So, your people..."

Li Zhiyuan pointed to the three rooms on this side and candidly said:

"All critically injured, laid low."

Zhao Yi's face began to turn red, and white steam rose from his head.

Then, he suddenly stood up and slammed a fist onto the tea table, breaking it into pieces, and shouted furiously:

"You fucking come again!"

...

Zhao Yi compensated Brother Pang Jin for the tea table.

Although Brother Pang Jin initially refused, claiming it was because the tea table was of poor quality.

The medicine, Zhao Yi provided.

Zhao Yi personally administered it to Run Sheng and the others.

Still, Zhao Yi's supply was not unlimited; it's a highly consumable item given the volume.

Just like every time Yin Meng traveled between Jiang, she spent considerable time and effort extracting toxins from the wild, Zhao Yi's medicine also required crafting.

Previously, Mr. Tian handled it, now he is bedridden at home but can still crush medicines.

Just as last time, Zhao Yi had no better solution for the poison Yin Meng was afflicted with, and simply took some heat-clearing and detoxifying pills to muddle through.

Li Zhiyuan wasn't surprised by this; even if Yin Meng herself tried detoxifying, there wouldn't be much she could do.

However, Zhao Yi suggested having Mountain Girl take a look at Yin Meng; Gu Masters are also skilled at detoxification.

But this suggestion was rejected by Li Zhiyuan.

He's willing to accept medicine pills from Zhao Yi but reluctant for Mountain Girl to interact with his companions.

In the youth's eyes, the Miaojiang Gu Witch was in an uncontrollable state; her mind was heavy.

Zhao Yi knew this as well; he also knew Mountain Girl liked him.

Though it wasn't an overwhelming love, Mountain Girl indeed had feelings for him.

Using this fact, he managed to have her leave the mountain village and followed him on his travels.

The two of them stood on the rooftop terrace, leaning against the railing, appreciating the surrounding scenery.

Zhao Yi was aware that last time in Guizhou, the youth genuinely had an issue, and this time it's real too.

But compared to last time, he's not as conflicted this time around.

To kill them and seize the second piece of broken jade held by the youth?

Why would he need two pieces of broken jade?

In the dead of night, with two searchlights, provoking more trouble and danger, is he trying to die quicker?

Ultimately, he'd still have to send a piece away, and perhaps the youth he killed was best suited for passing it.

In truth, with the broken jade in hand now, he should be planning for the next phase of being seated at the table.

Li Zhiyuan listened as Zhao Yi recounted the recent events outside.

For instance, who killed whom, who deceived whom, who teamed up only to later have a falling out...

During this period, Li Zhiyuan had been staying in a guest lodge, enjoying the unique peacefulness of Lijiang.

But outside, it's truly been a constant scene of blood and strife.

Most people, it was Li Zhiyuan's first time hearing their names, about their families, their sects; before he gotten a chance to meet and know them, they'd already perished.

After chatting, Li Zhiyuan headed downstairs to his room to set seals for the porcelain doll.

During that time, Zhao Yi led his team and left the lodge.

They needed to plan the escape routes for after acquiring the broken jade.

By eliminating the competition stage, designing the escape routes can be done more leisurely.