After so more questioning, Hejian Youzhen indeed couldn’t provide much detail; he only knew that his grandfather had been brainwashed into joining a cult and then disappeared without a trace.
Afterward, the police frequently ca to his father for questioning, leading to his father’s complex feelings toward his grandfather.
On one hand, there was attachnt to family ties; on the other, his father resented his grandfather, feeling that it was the latter who ruined his life, leading to a lifeti of misfortune he could never escape.
"What’s your grandfather’s na?" Takagi Reina asked.
"His na is Hejian Zhongxiong, and my father’s na is Hejian Zongyilang," Hejian Youzhen sighed as he replied.
"Do you know about your father Hejian Zongyilang buying offerings and going to the Youjian Mountain Tunnel to pay respects?" Yang Xiao pursued further.
"No... I didn’t know."
Seeing Yang Xiao’s subtle expression, Hejian Youzhen quickly corrected himself: "No, what I an is I know he buys offerings or sothing, but... but I don’t know where he goes to pay respects."
"He usually leaves at night and won’t let follow. Every ti I ntion it, he gets very angry and loses his temper, so... I dare not ask again."
"What about the timing? You must know the day or ti period, right?" Takagi Reina pursued.
"I... I don’t rember, truly don’t rember." It was clear that discussing these matters frightened Hejian Youzhen greatly.
Among the clues provided by Hejian Youzhen, the ntion of a cult appeared, and Yang Xiao instinctively linked it to the Black Buddha Mother Sect symbol that had appeared in the station photo.
It seems that Hejian Zhongxiong, Hejian Youzhen’s grandfather, was likely a follower of the Black Buddha Mother Sect, and the source of the current mission is connected to these inhuman beasts.
But this also showed Yang Xiao the terror of the Black Buddha Mother.
Hejian Youzhen’s grandfather, Hejian Zhongxiong, is a follower of the Black Buddha Mother, and according to this world’s tiline, he joined the Black Buddha Mother Sect at least 60 years ago.
And converting to the real world, it must have been at least ten years earlier than that.
This ans that over 70 years ago, the Black Buddha Mother Sect already existed, and the Black Buddha Mother herself had already made a na for herself then.
Calculating this, the Black Buddha Mother must be quite old, at least a hundred and twenty years.
Among the Angel Envoys alive, the Second Demon Uncle that Yang Xiao has t is the oldest and most senior; he’s even older than the old dean or Old Clan Leader of the top martial academy in the world like Ru Lin Academy.
In terms of seniority, this Black Buddha Mother is at least on par with the Second Demon Uncle and likely even higher.
It truly is a monstrous figure, and Yang Xiao suspects this person is currently the oldest among the holders of the Innate Nine Treasures.
Perhaps... the strongest as well, though this is just his conjecture.
anwhile, Yang Xiao’s greatest internal worry had a resolution; fortunately, the thing he feared most did not happen.
The station mark wasn’t aid at him; it was originally part of the mission, and the Black Buddha Mother’s followers won’t infiltrate the Nightmare World to hunt him down.
And it makes sense; similar infiltration abilities only his most revered sister possesses. After all... he is among the holders of the Innate Nine Treasures.
Given enough ti, Yang Xiao will undoubtedly beco one of the top figures in the world.
Moreover, Jiushan Cangxuan had personally promised him that the curse from the Half Compassion Purple Body Buddha had been neutralized, so theoretically, he had no reason to be attacked.
Seeing that no more information could be obtained, Yang Xiao asked if Hejian Youzhen’s family had preserved any of his grandfather’s relics.
But all he received was Hejian Youzhen shaking his head repeatedly, "Nothing left, nothing at all. Over the years, your people have co many tis, and the house was thoroughly searched. Even if there was anything, it would be gone now."
Indeed, Yang Xiao was also a mber of the Patrol Defense Office, and when it ca to cults and supernatural events, their investigative style is direct and forceful, never leaving any trace behind.
From what Hejian Youzhen said, Yang Xiao could confirm that those who ca for his father Hejian Zhongxiong weren’t ordinary police but professionals dressed in police uniforms.
Their role is similar to the investigative team of the Patrol Defense Office, a special squad that handles such matters.
"Wait, you all hold on!" Suddenly, Hejian Youzhen seed to have thought of sothing and rushed upstairs.
Experience told Yang Xiao that the target must not be out of their sight at this mont, or what reappears may be unpredictable.
Yang Xiao, Takagi Reina imdiately chased after him, and Xiao Lin Zhengyan pulled Yamamoto Chunai closely behind them.
The four of them followed Hejian Youzhen to an attic upstairs, dark and damp, with so old-fashioned items piled up. Hejian Youzhen rummaged through them and eventually found a black, worn-out suitcase.
The suitcase was dust-covered, clearly untouched for a long ti.
After clearing the dust with his hand, Hejian Youzhen opened the suitcase, revealing so old yellowed newspapers and a few books inside.
While searching through the old newspapers, he quickly found an old envelope. Opening it, there were three photos inside.
The photos were obviously aged, black and white prints. The first photo showed a young man in black clothing, wearing leather boots.
The young man had decent features, bearing so resemblance to Hejian Youzhen, indicating that this person was likely his grandfather Hejian Zhongxiong.
The second photo also showed Hejian Zhongxiong, a bit older in this shot, but now lacked any of the youthful charm from before; instead, his facial expression was shadowed, with a pervasive sinister aura.
The next was the third photo, and at the sight of it, Yang Xiao slowly furrowed his brows, taking a deep breath.
The place was very familiar to him; it was Youjian Mountain Station, identical to the station background on the script box.
But the shadow of Hejian Zhongxiong no longer appeared in this photo, accurately speaking, there was no one at all, the station was empty, but the sign where the Youjian Mountain Station placard originally should be was replaced with another sign.
The sign had no extra words, only the solitary number "14."
The sign appeared to be wooden, the color humid and dull, and the "14" was scarlet, as if painted with a thick brush dipped in blood.
The strong contrast between the two, along with the bold composition, was startling against the backdrop of the empty, silent station.
"Where did these photos co from?" Yang Xiao asked Hejian Youzhen, for the latter had just ntioned all clues and evidence were taken away.
"Don’t misunderstand, I didn’t intentionally hide them, it’s... it’s from earlier while sorting through my father’s belongings, I inadvertently found them in the wardrobe compartnt, I haven’t had a chance to submit them," Hejian Youzhen quickly explained, intent on distancing himself from the matter.
"Where’s the wardrobe?" Takagi Reina imdiately asked.
Hejian Youzhen then led them to the adjacent room, where they saw an old wardrobe as tall as a person.
Yang Xiao and Takagi Reina worked hard checking the wardrobe thoroughly, but unfortunately, aside from the now empty compartnt, nothing else was found.
It wasn’t too early by then, so Yang Xiao and the others prepared to leave; they naturally took the photos while heading downstairs.
Hejian Youzhen was quite sensible, not only did he not obstruct them, but kept insisting that he was voluntarily cooperating.
Before stepping out the door, Yang Xiao paused, glancing back at the apprehensive, nervous Hejian Youzhen and the old, decrepit house, "How much do you owe them?"
Hejian Youzhen montarily froze, then lowered his head and softly said, "About 2 million, I... I’ve paid back so, now it’s about 1.5 million left."
"Here’s 200,000, we agreed on this earlier," Yang Xiao handed over the prepared cash. "Take care, Mr. He Jian, thank you for cooperating, sorry for the disturbance."
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