Chapter 36: A New Guest in Yan Garden

After crossing the boundary, Shuisheng returned to Fengmen Island. The teleportation point was still random, this time depositing him among the rocks on a hillside. According to their agreement, everyone from the Yan family was to reconvene at the pier.

With no one else around, Shuisheng examined the drop of vital blood he had extracted from the Ice Warden’s brain. Even a light probe revealed the immense energy contained within. He used his "Water Pearl" to maneuver the droplet across his wrist.

It was truly curious, using one drop of water to control another.

Before the thought could fully form, the vital blood was suddenly drawn toward the Water Pearl, merging with it instantly. Moments later, a drop of blood separated from the pearl—it was the same droplet, yet the power and aura it once held had vanished without a trace.

"Too tough for the main course, so you had a light afternoon tea instead?" Shuisheng mused.

The Water Pearl returned to his body, hiding within his palm. He felt a sudden influx of new information in his mind. Upon careful inspection, he was stunned: the added knowledge was the cultivation method for the "Frost Technique."

Indeed, it was the very technique the Ice Warden had used to freeze everyone. By absorbing the information contained within that single drop of blood, the Water Pearl had successfully copied it.

This was a powerful immortal skill—or rather, an esper ability. With practice, it would be extremely useful in combat.

The Water Pearl itself appeared to have grown by about half its original size after absorbing the energy from the blood.

As Shuisheng once again sensed the power of the Water Pearl, he grew deeply suspicious of Old Master Yan’s motives. Many books warned that a man who possesses a treasure invites trouble; such a powerful object was clearly a rare and precious item, though its origins remained a mystery. He decided that for now, he must keep its extraordinary nature hidden and not easily disclose it to others.

He also had no intention of telling the Yan family about the corpse of the Ice Warden Hawk inside the boundary-stone space. Since Ni Ximei was dead, no one in the Yan family knew of it anyway. He had risked his life to obtain it, so who could stop him from selling it for his own gain?

He descended to the shore and met the Yan family group at the pier, then boarded the boat to return to Ting’ao Town. Among the Yan family guards, three others had died alongside Ni Ximei. Their four frozen corpses were placed on the boat, and as the others looked upon them, a heavy gloom settled over everyone, even though such scenes were merely the harsh reality of the esper world.

Shortly after disembarking, cell phone signals returned. Yan Tong made a call from the pier to Ni Ximei’s husband, Chen Tao, to inform him of the situation and urge him to arrive as soon as possible. An hour later, Chen Tao arrived with two sickly children and several relatives. Looking at Ni Ximei’s pale, motionless face, which still held a peaceful expression, Chen Tao’s eyes reddened, though he fought hard to hold back his tears.

"Chen Tao, we are deeply sorry about Ni Ximei," Yan Tong said, filled with guilt. "The conflicts in the world of espers are truly brutal. That is why every member must sign a death waiver when joining the guard detail..."

"I understand," Chen Tao replied, his voice unexpectedly calm.

"The funeral arrangements will be handled properly by the team..." Yan Tong began, but Chen Tao interrupted him.

"No need. Her family will handle the funeral. You don't need to trouble yourselves," Chen Tao said with a tone of finality. "I will find a time to come and collect her personal belongings from the guard station."

Yan Tong fell silent.

Nearby, Yan Ruobing and Wen Fengxian were observing the scene. Yan Ruobing called Yan Tong over.

"Her family life is difficult, and she sacrificed her life for the Yan family’s interests in this battle. Ensure that the compensation, insurance, and all stipulated subsidies are delivered to her family as quickly as possible to provide them with some comfort. Do the same for the other three," she instructed.

"Don't worry, Eldest Miss, I will handle it immediately." Having worked with Ni Ximei for many years, Yan Tong took this responsibility to heart.

"This is her weapon," Yan Tong said, handing Ni Ximei’s barbed vine to Chen Tao. "It was harvested from an alpine esper plant and can be sold for a good price at an esper shop. The barbs are poisonous, so be careful when handling it."

Chen Tao took the item and, with his relatives, loaded Ni Ximei’s body into a hired vehicle. Once the doors closed, Shuisheng heard the sound of painful wailing from within.

"It seems the relationship between those two wasn't as bad as it appeared," Wen Fengxian remarked.

"Relationships between men and women are quite complex," Shuisheng blurted out instinctively.

Yan Ruobing shot him a glare.

"You're an expert now?" Wen Fengxian mocked. "You're just a child—what do you know of such things? Have you ever experienced it?"

"I haven't experienced it, but I read a lot," Shuisheng replied. "Emotional stories, novels, dramas, movies... don't they all play out like that?"

Wen Fengxian was left speechless.

The families of the other three fallen guards arrived one by one to collect them. Only one man had no local family, so Yan Tong took him back to the guard station to await his relatives' arrival from out of town.

"Eldest Miss Yan."

After dealing with the casualties of his own team, Lu Xingzhou, Deputy Section Chief of the Combat Enforcement Division of the "Heavenly Court" organization in Fuling City, approached.

"Eldest Miss, here is the distribution agreement we just finalized for the Ice Warden’s equipment. There are six copies in total, one for each party," he said, handing over a folder. "Please have the Yan family review it, and if there are no issues, you may sign."

Yan Ruobing opened the folder to find six copies of the contract, complete with photographs of the Ice Warden’s equipment, descriptions of their quality and performance, and the distribution plan. It also included a schedule for the upcoming auction, inviting all parties to attend.

In this short time, the "Heavenly Court" organization had managed to print all these documents at a local shop; their efficiency was truly remarkable.

She gave it a cursory glance and handed the contract to You Fengtian. "Uncle You, please take a look."

The latter scanned the pages briefly. "It’s acceptable. It generally balances the interests of all parties fairly."

Yan Ruobing signed each copy, kept one, and returned the other five.

"Eldest Miss, let’s head back and report the situation to the Master from the car," Wen Fengxian said. Since the signal had been restored, she had received several calls, two of which were from the Master. Clearly, he had been worried once he learned they had entered the other world.

Yan Ruobing’s phone had also received several calls, including one from her father, but she had no heart to return them yet.

"Very well, let’s go," Yan Ruobing said.

The Yan family convoy split into two parts: Yan Ruobing’s motorhome and You Fengtian’s private car traveled together, while the guard vehicles and the hearse trailed some distance behind.

After departing from the Ting’ao Town pier, they drove along the coastal highway, reaching the urban center of Fuling City in fifty minutes.

Fuling was a coastal city with pleasant scenery and a developed economy. With a population of over four million, it ranked fourth in the Nanning Province in terms of total economic output. It was also a premier seaside tourist destination, well-known both within the borders of the Eastern Hua Nation and abroad.

Yan Ruobing rested in the lounge of the motorhome, while Shuisheng was left in the workspace, which was filled with books.

Perhaps the Eldest Miss felt a bit weary, for the journey was silent.

Through the window, Shuisheng curiously observed this city—close by, yet one he had never visited before. Skyscrapers, exotic architecture, and vibrant streets—images he had only ever seen on the TV or in newspapers at the village chief's house—were now laid out vividly before his eyes.

The convoy made two turns at different intersections before arriving at a garden-like estate by the sea. The main entrance featured the antique architectural style of the Eastern Hua Nation, with yellow tiles and vermilion doors; the gate was adorned with rings held by animal-head knockers and neatly arranged copper studs. Above the gate hung a blue plaque with the inscription: Yan Garden.