Jing Minghe just wanted to catch up on some sleep, but he was rudely awakened by hunger.
The moment he opened his eyes, he sensed someone beside him. Without thinking, he swung a punch.
The other person didn't dodge. Instead, they easily caught his fist and then pinned him to the table.
A low voice echoed from behind Jing Minghe, "Awake now?"
"Chi Hao?"
Chi Hao let go. Jing Minghe got up, rubbing his arm. "Why are you in my room?"
"Bringing you food." Chi Hao turned and leaned against the table.
"Food?" Jing Minghe saw a few biscuits on the table. "Where did you get them?"
"Beat up that old man from the ancestral hall and made him deliver them."
"..." Jing Minghe's hand, reaching for the biscuits, froze mid-air. "Can food from that old man be eaten?"
Chi Hao let out a barely audible chuckle. "Eat up, it won't kill you."
Jing Minghe was just joking. He was starving, his stomach gnawing at his back. He grabbed a biscuit, stuffed it into his mouth, and asked Chi Hao, "Where are Sister Youmi and the others?"
"They're resting."
Jing Minghe nodded and pushed the sachet and jumping beans he had set aside earlier towards Chi Hao. "Take a look at these."
The sachet was open. Chi Hao glanced at it and immediately understood Jing Minghe's intention. He picked up the sachet, poured out its contents, and a slight smile curved his lips. "You think there's a connection?"
Jing Minghe nodded.
"Then let's try it," Chi Hao tapped the table. "No need for Youmi to do individual consultations, it's a waste of time."
"Hmm?" Jing Minghe was confused. "Why? Do you have a better plan?"
Chi Hao rested his hands on the table, looking down at Jing Minghe.
Just as Jing Minghe was about to press further, he saw Chi Hao smile. This smile was different from his usual ones; it was quite pronounced and gave him a chilling sensation.
"Jing Minghe," Chi Hao's smile vanished, and his entire demeanor turned cold. "I ask you, if you have an irreconcilable hatred for someone, is it more satisfying to kill them yourself or to let them die at someone else's hands?"
Jing Minghe understood Chi Hao's implication. "You want to lure them to the back? It won't be that simple."
Chi Hao shook his index finger. "It's not simple. You and I will go catch them. Youmi and the others will go prepare for the ritual."
"Ritual?" Jing Minghe couldn't help but think of it.
The altar behind the archway, the seven big crimson lanterns, the incurable cysts on the seven brothers of the town mayor, and the seven candle-like slots in their hands, along with the seven candle wicks he found in the sachet.
But he hadn't figured out how to use these things yet.
Seeing Chi Hao's confident demeanor, he was very curious. What did Chi Hao know that he didn't?
Chi Hao didn't offer much explanation, only saying, "Once you're full, we'll set off. Come with me to catch them."
"What about these things?" Jing Minghe pointed to the slots and the sachet on the table.
Chi Hao tied the seven candle wicks from the sachet to the seven slots, then tied up the sachet and handed it to Jing Minghe. "Give these to Youmi and the others. You keep the sachet on you."
"Why?"
Though he questioned it, Jing Minghe dutifully took the sachet and put it in his pocket.
As Jing Minghe stood up to leave, he heard Chi Hao add, "Bring the costume too."
Jing Minghe asked as he walked, "What for? Is it for fighting?"
"You'll wear it."
Jing Minghe stumbled, almost falling face first. He turned to look at Chi Hao, his gaze falling on the dan actor's costume, several sizes smaller than his own. "What is this? Me wearing it? Are you sure?"
"Sure."
"No, wait..." Jing Minghe took a deep breath, his expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Brother Chi, Big Boss Chi Hao, Mr. Chi, you're joking, right? That thing? If you just try it on, can I even fit?"
"Of course."
"Of course my foot!" Jing Minghe walked over and shook out the costume. "If I can wear this, from now on, you're my dad. I'll guarantee I'll hit wherever you point..."
Jing Minghe's words stopped abruptly. He looked at the costume in his hand, then at Chi Hao. He walked over to Chi Hao with the costume and asked very seriously, "Big Boss Chi, tell me the truth, did you switch this out? This isn't the one from before."
"What do you think?"
"Definitely not! If it is, I..." Jing Minghe suddenly understood something. "Chi Hao, you don't mean... you want me to..."
Jing Minghe really didn't want to say what he was thinking at that moment.
Chi Hao took the costume from Jing Minghe's hand and slapped it onto him. "Baby, thank you for your hard work."
Baby?
Jing Minghe's mouth twitched, his features contorting. He had always thought Chi Hao found the sachet after he finished talking with the town mayor's son. It seemed he had underestimated Chi Hao.
Fortunately, Chi Hao wasn't entirely unreasonable. He explained a bit more than usual, "You're smart, so you should know that it's best if we keep him alive. Given that premise, the chance of catching him is too slim. It's faster to trick him. Besides, with midnight approaching, those two will also respawn."
Jing Minghe naturally understood what Chi Hao was saying. The town mayor's son alone was already difficult to deal with. If they acted tonight without selecting, the two big guys and Old Man Hu might all appear. Escaping might be possible, but catching them?
Fine, it was simply impossible!
Jing Minghe hesitated for a moment before finally compromising. "Alright."
Chi Hao was pleased. "Excellent."
Jing Minghe casually crumpled the costume in his hand and hugged it to his chest. He raised his fist towards Chi Hao's retreating back, making a punching gesture.
Chi Hao opened the door and walked out, his voice low. "If you want to fight, I'm always ready."
Jing Minghe lowered his fist, chuckled, and caught up to Chi Hao. "Teammates should get along. Always fighting isn't proper, is it?"
"Heh."
Hearing this cold chuckle, Jing Minghe silently made a mental note against Chi Hao.
The two found Youmi, Yue Yang, and Guo Wei. Chi Hao gave Youmi the items and told them to go to the altar to prepare, while he and Jing Minghe headed directly to the town mayor's house.
As they got close, Chi Hao stopped and had Jing Minghe change into the costume.
Since he had agreed, Jing Minghe didn't waste any more words. In a flash, he put on the costume.
Jing Minghe patted his sleeves. "Don't say it, it actually fits quite well."
"Mm, let's go."
The two entered through the side door and indeed found the two big guys waiting behind it.
Chi Hao pushed Jing Minghe aside. "I'll hold them off. You go find the town mayor's son."
"Okay."
Jing Minghe agreed and prepared to leave, but then he saw the figure standing behind the round table during the selection not far away.
Seeing Jing Minghe freeze, Chi Hao followed his gaze and said, "Hurry up. That thing will help us wake up the town mayor and the others."