He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 853 Bronze Mirror

Long Tian slowly closed his eyes, sitting cross-legged on the bluestone platform in the center of the cave. A faint silver glow gradually emanated from his body, like flowing moonlight. The remaining spiritual energy flowed slowly through his meridians like a mountain stream, gently repairing the delicate veins torn by the forced activation of the Dragon-Seeking Compass. That time, in order to locate the Dragon Slayer's trail, he had almost risked his life—although the Dragon-Seeking Compass was a treasure of the Dragon Clan, it could not withstand such overdraft. More than 90% of his magical power was instantly drained, and his dantian still ached as if it had been repeatedly crushed by a blunt instrument.

His brow furrowed slightly. He knew better than anyone that Long Shishen was no ordinary person. That fellow had been hiding in the mortal realm for thousands of years, weathering countless storms during that time. His methods were undoubtedly unpredictable and bizarre, and he might even have already surpassed his former level. If he didn't recover to his peak condition as soon as possible, let alone taking him back to the Dragon Clan to face punishment, he might even have difficulty protecting himself. This game concerning the future of the Dragon Clan was fraught with peril; every step was like walking on thin ice, and the slightest lapse in concentration could lead to utter destruction.

While Long Tian was recuperating, Long Shishen was hiding deep within He Yuzhu's soul, like a frightened trapped beast, his mind in turmoil. He truly hadn't expected that even though he had concealed himself so well, almost indistinguishable from an ordinary person, Long Tian's Dragon-Seeking Compass had still managed to find him. The magical artifact's sensing power was a hundred times stronger than rumored; it was as if it had eyes, relentlessly pursuing him.

Thinking of Long Tian's temperament—always a man of his word, unyielding and ruthless—if he were truly captured and taken back, all the crimes he committed in the past would be settled, old and new, and he'd be lucky to escape with his skin peeled off. How could he not panic? He huddled in the gap of his soul, sensing the faint but steady mortal aura within He Yuzhu's body, and for a moment, he didn't know what to do—to escape, he feared that any movement would reveal his tracks, allowing Long Tian to track him down; to stay, he feared that Long Tian would eventually come knocking, leaving him with no way to escape. This dilemma made him so frustrated that he wanted to scratch himself.

He Yuzhu was completely unaware of this, only occasionally feeling a heaviness in his head, as if it were filled with lead. Some fragmented memories were shrouded in a thick fog, impossible to recall. But he didn't take it to heart, assuming it was just from being too engrossed in helping his master manage sect affairs lately, exhausting himself. He rubbed his throbbing temples and then forgot about it, continuing to happily go to the restaurant to cook and greet customers every day, living a peaceful and uneventful life, completely oblivious to the fact that he had become the center of a power struggle between two powerful figures.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. In the cave where Long Tian was meditating, the silvery light grew increasingly intense, almost solidifying and enveloping his entire body. From a distance, he looked like a piece of white jade bathed in moonlight. This recuperation was different from the past. He not only needed to repair his damaged meridians, but also to push his magical power back to its peak—otherwise, how could he have the confidence to confront Long Shishen? If that guy put up a fight, he had to be absolutely certain he could suppress him and couldn't give him any chance to retaliate.

"Brother, how are you recovering?" Long Jiao walked in carrying a bowl of jade liquid imbued with the essence of morning dew. Looking at Long Tian, ​​who was surrounded by a radiant aura, her eyes were full of concern. She had collected the jade liquid from the back mountain at dawn, and it was said to be extremely beneficial for restoring spiritual power.

Long Tian slowly finished his cultivation, the silver light around him receding into his body like a tide. He opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance in them disappearing in an instant before turning into a calm smile: "Don't worry, I've fully recovered. Besides, I still have a few treasures I've got hidden away. Dealing with a Dragon Slayer will be a piece of cake." He patted the storage bag at his waist, from which came a few soft humming sounds, clearly indicating that it contained many powerful items.

Long Jiao had always trusted her brother's abilities, and upon hearing this, she nodded emphatically, subconsciously tightening her grip on the dragon-patterned jade pendant at her waist—the "Mysterious Water Shield," a treasure of the dragon race, capable of forming an indestructible shield in times of crisis. "Brother, let's set off now, lest something goes wrong and he gets away again."

Long Tian stood up, straightened his slightly wrinkled robes, and carefully tucked the Dragon-Seeking Compass into his sleeve: "Let's go."

Before they finished speaking, the two figures blurred into two streaks of light, one silver and one purple, piercing the silence of the cave and speeding towards the small town where He Yuzhu was. In less than half an hour, they landed at the entrance of an alley outside a house with blue bricks and tiles.

Looking at the crisscrossing alleys before him, with their winding bluestone paths and varying courtyard walls, Long Tian couldn't tell which way was which for a moment. He asked Long Jiao beside him, "Do you know which courtyard the person is in?"

Long Jiao peeked into the alley, her nose twitching as she tried to catch a whiff of familiar scent, but all she could smell was the earthy aroma of cooking oil and vegetation. She shook her head somewhat embarrassedly: "I can only sense that the general direction is in this area, but I can't say for sure which house it is."

Long Tian wasn't surprised and waved his hand, "It's alright, I was prepared." He took out a palm-sized bronze mirror from his sleeve. The mirror surface was as smooth as water, reflecting the two figures. The edges were engraved with intricate dragon patterns, which, upon closer inspection, seemed to be slowly moving. "This is the 'Soul-Chasing Mirror.' As long as the other party's aura has lingered nearby, it can reveal and locate them, making it more accurate than the Dragon-Seeking Compass."

Long Jiao looked at the bronze mirror, then at his bulging sleeves, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Brother, how many treasures do you carry? You always manage to pull out something new, it's like magic."

Long Tian smiled, lightly tapped the mirror with his fingertip, and infused it with a wisp of spiritual power: "The dragon race has a history of ten thousand years, so it must still have some resources. Come on, let it take you to find someone."

Suddenly, the bronze mirror shone with a soft golden light. This light was unlike the ostentatious brilliance of gold and silver artifacts; rather, it resembled jade that had been sedimented for millennia, containing an ancient and powerful force, its gentle warmth revealing an undeniable weight. The previously blurry reflection in the mirror rippled like a stone thrown into a lake, and the scattered light spots danced on the surface for a moment before gradually coalescing into a clear image—a figure dressed in a coarse cloth jacket was reflected within.

The dusty cloth was speckled with oil stains, as if the man had just walked away from the stove. He carried a worn bamboo basket, a hemp rope haphazardly tied to its rim. Inside, half a bright green cucumber with its blossoms and thorns protruded, along with a few scallions covered in dirt. He walked slowly, his cloth shoes making a soft "tap-tap" sound on the bluestone pavement, heading deeper into the alley, towards the lane where He Yuzhu's house was located.

Long Tian leaned down and stared at his reflection in the mirror, his brows gradually furrowing.