Chapter 105: Growing Suspicions

Gu Zhiheng had long anticipated the group's opposition. While the area was indeed dangerous, he merely intended to investigate, not recklessly charge in. His goal was to approach the epicenter of the incident to cast a divination, hoping to discern what had transpired. If that proved impossible, he would promptly withdraw and regroup with the others.

He was simply too curious about the site; his primary objective was to determine if it had any connection to Gu Mojian. If not, they could ignore it, as it had nothing to do with them—a quick glance would suffice. However, if Gu Mojian were involved, he would be compelled to take action.

"Stop looking at me like that; I know what I'm doing and I have my limits." Why was it so impossible to get through to these people? He couldn't be bothered with them anymore. Once they arrived, he would go regardless; they couldn't stop him. He found it frustrating that they always used the "it's for your own good" excuse. But his abilities were no longer what they once were; he could handle things on his own now. He didn't see the forbidden zone in Yecheng District as particularly dangerous—it was no worse than the forbidden summit of Mount Wumei, and he had survived that just fine. As long as one could take a beating, nothing was truly insurmountable. With his current physique, he could not only endure a beating but potentially dish one out in return. Unless his opponent’s cultivation far exceeded his own, he had the chance to fight and win, so there was no need for Mo Han and the others to worry.

"I said no, and I mean no. Are you even listening to me anymore? Do you think I can’t control you now?" Chu Xingran raised her hand and slapped Gu Zhiheng on the back. This guy really had grown wings and become headstrong. In the past, he followed her word, but now he ignored her and even talked back.

"Ouch... don't hit my face! Can't we just go together?" Gu Zhiheng was speechless. She was truly his older sister; that slap felt like she wanted him dead. It was pathetic—no matter how powerful he became, in Chu Xingran’s eyes, he would always be the child she raised herself. To her, he was just a rebellious, disobedient brat. If not for the sake of his pride, she might have truly laid into him.

"If you disobey me again, I’ll break your legs. You didn't have a rebellious bone in your body when you were little!" She landed another slap, leaving Gu Zhiheng feeling deeply aggrieved.

"Stop with that pitiful look. You were the one being disobedient and unreasonable. Try acting without consulting me again and see what happens." Everyone in the vehicle remained deathly silent, none daring to interject. Gu Zhiheng was firmly under Chu Xingran’s thumb, and the others didn't even dare to breathe loudly, stealing only occasional glances at the pair. Qingxiu was even more timid, cowering in Chenyuan’s arms, afraid to look at them. After all, the one being scolded was her master; if her master didn't dare to make a sound, she certainly wouldn't.

Following Chu Xingran’s outburst, the rest of the journey was quiet. She knew she hadn't given Gu Zhiheng much face, but since everyone in the car was "one of their own," she didn't worry about it.

"We’ll reach the forbidden zone in about half an hour. These talismans can save your lives in a pinch; keep them close," Gu Zhiheng said after a long silence, finally offering a compromise. "When we arrive, Big Brother, you come with me. The others stay outside. We have a thirty-minute time limit." He gave his instructions and then turned to his phone, ignoring whether the others agreed or not—he was simply informing them. He sent a message to the family group to report he was safe, checked on Jun Lu'an’s recent status, and, seeing all was well, put his phone away.

Suddenly, the car screeched to a halt. Inertia threw everyone forward, and they looked outside with suspicion.

"We’re still over two hundred meters from the forbidden zone, but the car can't move forward. It seems there’s a barrier," Liu E explained to Gu Zhiheng before stepping out to investigate. Barriers were not supposed to exist in the secular world; for one to cover such a large area was a clear message that the end of science is metaphysics.

"It’s a barrier. Except for me and Liu E, none of you can enter," Gu Zhiheng said, poking his finger through the transparent boundary; his finger passed through with ease.

Seeing Gu Zhiheng ignore the barrier, the others tried as well, but everyone except Liu E was blocked.

"If there’s nothing we need inside, we’ll be right back. Don't worry," Gu Zhiheng waved, pulling Liu E through the barrier.

The interior looked identical to the outside, with nothing unusual to the naked eye. If there was anything to note, it was that the place was heavy with yin energy; a living person would feel a sense of death and a chilling creepiness. Gu Zhiheng was familiar with this sensation—it felt just like his family’s ancestral hall; coming here felt like coming home. However, he detected no wandering spirits, not even a trace of aura. Gu Mojian couldn't possibly be here.

"There’s nothing here we’re looking for, let’s go—" Before Liu E could finish, he saw Gu Zhiheng squatting and digging into the dirt with a dagger. Was there something special about the soil?

"There are no spirits, but there is something else. Come help me, and once we get it, we’re running!" Gu Zhiheng dug vigorously. If he wasn't mistaken, there should be a head-of-family jade token underneath. He didn't know which family it belonged to, but once it was in his hands, it belonged to him.

Yet, he remained suspicious. The barrier was clearly protecting what was inside, but a single jade token hardly justified such a grand display. He had checked: for a hundred or two hundred meters underground, within the entire barrier, there was indeed nothing but that one token. Was it really worth such an elaborate setup? It seemed overly wasteful—was this just "wealthy and willful," or was it a display of high-level arrogance?

Regardless, his purpose was to see if there was a link to Gu Mojian, and since there were no clues, they might as well take the item and leave.