Chapter 147: Turning Face Faster Than Turning a Page

Su Yan ignored his pleas entirely. "If you are unwilling, then the training can end here."

"I... I... am willing." The last two words were practically squeezed out of Sun Mang's mouth.

"You are not allowed to take them off, except when bathing." Su Yan reminded him once more. Seeing his dejected state, she finally added, "Once you can bear the weight of these sandbags and move freely, I will teach you Talisman Manifestation."

Sun Mang's spirits instantly lifted quite a bit. "It's a deal?"

Su Yan: "It's a deal."

Night fell.

The Yuan family mansion remained brightly lit, an imposing sight that inspired awe and fear.

Yuan Jing stood in the garden where Li Zhou had met with his accident, watching Cao Meng set up a formation.

"Mr. Yuan, everything is prepared. As long as that thing appears tonight, we will be able to catch it! Please give your orders, Mr. Yuan; no matter what happens here tonight, no one else is allowed to approach."

Yuan Jing nodded in agreement. "I shall wait in the front hall for your good news."

Cao Meng sat cross-legged in the very center of the garden; every second felt exceptionally long.

"Brother, it's almost dawn."

Ma Chulong, Ma Chulan, and Wang Hui were hiding in a corner of a pavilion not far away.

Although Li Zhou's accident had occurred in the latter half of the night, once dawn passed, that menace could appear at any moment.

The three of them remained in a state of high tension for over an hour, yet the garden remained deathly silent, inside and out.

Ma Chulan could hardly hold on any longer and let out a yawn.

"Brother, could it be that the menace knows we've set an ambush, so it doesn't dare come out?"

Ma Chulong's expression was grim. "That possibility cannot be ruled out. Or perhaps Li Zhou did something last night that we don't know about, which caused that thing to manifest."

Seeing Ma Chulan's eyelids drooping, his tense nerves relaxed slightly.

"Go lean against the side and rest for a while."

After all, it was nearly two in the morning, the time when people are most exhausted.

However, Ma Chulan shook her head in refusal, forcing herself to stay alert.

"Brother Ma, I'm going to the latrine." Wang Hui truly couldn't hold it any longer, so he gave a greeting and left the pavilion.

"Brother, if tonight's operation fails, will we continue tomorrow?" Ma Chulan lowered her voice; she felt like they were just waiting for a rabbit to hit a tree, a slim hope.

Ma Chulong understood her meaning, of course, but he could only remain silent.

Another half hour passed like this.

Cao Meng maintained the same posture, motionless.

Ma Chulan stretched her stiff limbs, looking toward him with great admiration.

Does this Master Cao not get leg numbness?

"Why has Wang Hui been gone so long?"

Ma Chulong murmured, then looked toward the corner shrouded in darkness.

The latrine was just outside the garden; even if he had an upset stomach, he should have been back by now.

"Do you think he's tired and went back to rest?" Ma Chulan answered casually.

Ma Chulong's brow furrowed; he felt something was wrong.

There was no evidence to suggest that the menace would only appear in the garden.

At this thought, his breathing tightened.

"Little sister, stay here. I'm going to go check."

"Brother, I'll go with you."

"No need, I'll be back soon."

Having said that, Ma Chulong immediately stepped out of the pavilion to find Wang Hui.

The front hall.

Yuan Jing sat in his chair, half-asleep.

The flickering candlelight seemed to startle him, and he opened his eyes.

"What time is it?" he asked the servant standing beside him.

"Sir, it is 3:10."

"Is there still no movement in the garden?" An irrepressible fatigue showed on Yuan Jing's face.

The servant hurriedly shook his head. "Sir, would you like to return to your room to rest?"

Yuan Jing stood up and walked toward the door.

The servant did not dare say more, following closely at his side.

At that moment, a sudden commotion broke the tranquility of the great mansion, and soon someone came running over with a hurried expression.

"Sir, something has happened again."

...

Early morning.

After washing up, Su Yan intended to go out for breakfast.

But before she could even leave the room, Sun Mang came rushing in, carrying breakfast in a frantic manner.

"Su Yan, someone died at the Yuan house again! And the person who died this time is the one who ate with us the day before yesterday—they say his name was Wang Hui."

Sun Mang hadn't even caught his breath before he spoke impatiently.

Su Yan's expression changed slightly. "Something happened again so soon?"

Li Zhou had just met with an accident, and now Wang Hui was dead.

What on earth were Ma Chulong and the others doing?!

"Tell me about it! I was just out buying breakfast when I saw police cars heading there. Now almost everyone in the streets and alleys is talking about it." Sun Mang was also shocked, which was why he had rushed back so quickly.

"Su Yan, why is Mr. Yuan's house so sinister? In the past, it was only Mr. Yuan's wife who met with accidents, but now, it's everyone he has invited over."

Su Yan's eyes flickered; Sun Mang's words had served as a reminder.

"Oh no!" Sun Mang cried out boisterously again. "Brother Ma and the others are still at the Yuan house. Are they going to meet a grim end too? Su Yan, should we go warn them? At least tell them to get out of the Yuan house first?"

Su Yan remained silent.

"Su Yan, say something!" Sun Mang was sweating from anxiety, truly worried for Ma Chulong and his sister.

Su Yan's voice was somewhat heavy. "If you want to go tell them, then go."

Having received her consent, Sun Mang finally dared to act.

"Alright, I'm going now! Maybe the police are still there, so I can see what the situation is! Remember to eat breakfast, don't save any for me."

Once the room became quiet again, Su Yan walked to the window.

The reason she had chosen this inn was because it was only two streets away from the Yuan mansion.

And her room even offered a view of the entire Yuan estate.

At this very moment, the baleful aura above the Yuan house was almost condensing into a physical substance.

She truly could not continue to wait.

The Yuan Residence.

Sun Mang completely did not expect to be stopped by the Yuan family servants; he couldn't even enter the main gate.

"Don't you recognize me? Two days ago, it was your Mr. Yuan who specifically arranged a car to pick us up!"

"Sir, currently, no one is allowed to enter or leave without Mr. Yuan's orders."

"I am not 'anyone,' look at me more closely. I was indeed brought here by Mr. Yuan. If you don't believe me, go ask him! How about this, please help me call out someone named Ma Chulong. I'll just say a few words to him and then I'll leave, alright?"

Sun Mang tried to negotiate patiently with them, after all, lives were at stake.

But to his surprise, instead of reporting him, the other party's attitude turned extremely hostile and threatening.

"We are warning you one last time: leave this place immediately, or don't blame us for being impolite!"

Sun Mang's face became extremely unsightly.

How could these people turn their backs so quickly?

No wonder after such a major incident, Su Yan didn't want to come with him. If he really had to face this group of people who looked down on others, he would probably die of anger.

(End of Chapter)