“Yes, yes, yes!” Cao Yanhua nodded frantically, even exercising his “shareholder” authority. “Uncle Zheng, thanks for watching the place during renovations. I’ll give you a bonus! We’ll definitely be back for the opening!”
The car finally rolled out of the ancient city. Leaning back in the rear seat, Cao Yanhua sighed, “I feel like a big shot now — juggling a hundred things, run off my feet.”
Then he got distracted: “Hey, Little Luo, my rich sister and her friends are treasure hunting. That third cursed slip might be near where they’re digging. If we could snag some gems while we’re at it…”
He elbowed Yi Wan San. “I heard there are loads in those treasure wells — rose diamonds, cat’s-eyes, amber… We could open a karaoke bar next to Phoenix Tower when we get back.”
Yi Wan San gave him a look. “You’re way too optimistic. You think this is a vacation? Chubby, get serious. This could cost us our lives.”
Mu Dai’s group had left early and flown, while Luo Ren’s crew drove. Even without breaks, they’d arrive more than a day later.
Near dawn, Cao Yanhua noticed how tired Luo Ren looked and volunteered to take the wheel — swearing he had a license.
Luo Ren was skeptical but exhausted, so he let him try. The driving wasn’t great, but the car moved, which was good enough.
“I’ll nap for a bit,” Luo Ren said. “Switch back later.”
Yi Wan San offered to sit in the front so Luo Ren could stretch out more comfortably in the back.
Driving through Guizhou’s rugged terrain meant constant bumps. Luo Ren couldn’t sleep at first — Cao Yanhua kept talking to Yi Wan San, suggesting he learn martial arts, then telling him to learn to drive. Eventually, the chatter acted like a lullaby, and Luo Ren dozed off.
No one knew how much time had passed when the car suddenly jolted violently. Luo Ren was almost thrown to the floor, grabbing the door in time. Yi Wan San, who’d been nodding off in the passenger seat, was jerked forward — if not for his seatbelt, he would’ve gone flying.
Daylight had broken.
Yi Wan San shouted, “Cao Chubby! Can you even drive? Are you crazy?”
Still groggy, Luo Ren sat up, hearing Cao Yanhua’s voice trembling on the edge of tears:
“I hit someone, Yi Wan San… I hit someone!”
Oh, crap.
Luo Ren’s heart tightened. Without thinking, he pushed open the car door and got out.
The wind was strong, blowing sand and dust into his face so he could barely open his eyes. After a pause, he forced them open and looked around.
It was a dirt road, with bare, barren hills on both sides. Maybe because it was still early, there were no other cars—looking both ahead and behind, theirs was the only vehicle in sight.
Yi Wansan had also gotten out, running back and forth to check. After a moment, he frowned and said in puzzlement, “There’s nobody here.”
That snapped Luo Ren to attention—there was no one around, no blood, just a single skid mark in the dirt. He went around to the front of the car. The hood gleamed without a single scratch or dent.
Cao Yanhua was still sitting in the driver’s seat, face pale as a sheet, his whole body trembling.
“Maybe you imagined it,” Yi Wansan muttered.
Something clicked in Luo Ren’s mind.
Strong wind, dusty road… the gusts had kicked up a cloud of dirt…
Cao Yanhua could see things in the dust!
Luo Ren walked over and patted him on the shoulder. “Fatty Cao, you didn’t hit anyone. There’s nobody on the road. If you don’t believe me, get out and see for yourself.”
Cao Yanhua looked up, still doubtful, legs trembling as he gripped the car door for support and stepped out.
The wind picked up again. In front of them—nothing but rolling sand and dirt. Behind them—more of the same.
Luo Ren smiled to reassure him. “Relax. You didn’t hit anyone.”
Cao Yanhua let out a long breath of relief, but as he recalled the scene in his mind, his face turned even paler.
“What did you see?” Luo Ren asked.
Yi Wansan chimed in from the side. “Yeah, Fatty Cao, you’re practically made of ‘earth.’ Last time you saw that ‘immortal pointing the way’ in a broom’s dust cloud—what was it this time? Was it the Rain-Clearing Lady again?”
Cao Yanhua glanced at Luo Ren with a guilty expression.
“What is it?” Luo Ren asked, puzzled.
In a low voice, Cao Yanhua said, “It was the little master… the younger little master… Brother Luo, what I saw coming toward us was her.”
—
As they’d agreed yesterday, the driver came to pick them up early in the morning. Remembering Luo Ren’s instructions to “drag things out as much as possible,” Mu Dai subtly hinted to the driver to slow down.
The driver, thinking she was worried about his driving skills, boasted about his many years on the road. “Don’t worry. Even if I drive faster, it’s no problem.”
Mu Dai used Old Man Yan as an excuse. “No, it’s just that we’ve got an elderly person with us, so please go slower.”
The driver understood and began driving steadily—so steadily that everyone started to get drowsy.
That was when Luo Ren’s call came in.
“I’m fine,” Mu Dai said. Then with a small laugh, “Of course I’m riding in the car—there’s no other way to get there. Why?”
Luo Ren didn’t want to scare her, so he stayed silent for a moment before saying, “Don’t stand in the middle of the road. Always keep an eye on the cars, and if one’s coming, get far out of the way. Got it?”
That was basic common sense—so why was Luo Ren being so serious about it?
After hanging up, Mu Dai was quiet for a while before asking Old Man Yan, “Grandpa, when we get to Sizhai, will we still have a long drive ahead of us?”
Before he could answer, the driver burst out laughing.
“Sizhai? Miss, once you get past Sizhai, there’s hardly any road left. If you can find a tractor, a mule cart, or a motorcycle, you’re lucky. In some places, you’ll have to rely on your own two feet—there’s no such thing as riding the rest of the way.”
Meow meow On TPH Chapter 26.1