Chapter 002: Telephone

Under those circumstances, the only reasonable explanation is that the group of people who arrived at the Fatai Temple earlier were also after this item, and they had taken it away before anyone else could.

This item may be hidden at the end of a cave near the Fatai Temple. Cao Shi discovered that the item was already missing, so he decided to withdraw his team first and then find a way to fully track down the group ahead based on the clues he could find. Up until this point, the entire team was still safe and sound, but the incident occurred on the way back from the cave.

This state of confusion lasted only a few seconds before the individuals fell into a complete coma. When they awoke again, they found themselves lying outside a cave. A few of them were in good physical condition, and none of their belongings were lost. However, out of the thirteen-member team, including Cao Shi, only five remained, while the other eight were nowhere to be found

The doubts and fears in my heart persisted for several minutes, until the old man asked for water, at which point I came to my senses and nervously brought the cup over

I believe I understand the old man well; he is the kind of person who can take things up and let them go. Therefore, after the major failure at Fatai Temple, he has not mentioned that matter again. However, a sudden phone call has made the old man restless once more

"Eighth Master." Because Cao Shi was wearing a mask, his voice sounded a bit muffled: "The matter... the matter has been messed up."

Eighth Master, the brothers have all done their utmost, but...

The old man's hand trembled slightly, and his gaze suddenly became much dimmer

Due to the lessons learned from the mountaineering team and the previous experience with Xue Longtou, Cao Shi did not plan to camp overnight near Fatai Temple. He intended to seize the opportunity to obtain the items and then withdraw quickly. However, the presence of those who arrived before them cast a shadow over the entire operation, creating an atmosphere of unease and distraction that made it difficult for anyone to remain calm.

The old man did not overly blame Cao Shi; although he had a bad temper, he was quite rational. The failure of the action at Fatai Temple was not due to other factors, but rather to the group that had arrived there earlier. This group of unknown individuals obtained the same information through different channels and acted first, taking away what the old man had been eagerly anticipating. Although no one had seen them, it could be confirmed that this group was quite bold.

The old man interrupted Cao Shi, glanced at the five people, then fixed his gaze on Cao Shi and asked: "What about you? Still wearing masks, are you too ashamed to show your faces?"

Cao Shixin felt quite uncertain, for at the Fatai Temple, no one could guarantee what would happen in the next moment. It was already considered a stroke of luck that five out of the thirteen in their group had survived; if they stubbornly continued to search, any unforeseen incident could leave them without anyone to return and report.

That item has already been lost, and the Fatai Temple has also lost all significance for the old man. As for the strange occurrences that happened there several times, we do not need to investigate them. Although I am very curious and eager to know the mysteries behind them, some matters can only be contemplated.

Although I did not hear the specific content of the confidential discussion, I learned some details afterward through various inquiries

The words spoken by my companions earlier have provided me with ample psychological hints, causing my heart to feel tightly wound, fearing that I might suddenly encounter something I cannot accept. However, the demeanor of Cao Shi and the others is quite normal, standing before the old man with utmost propriety. The only aspect that feels incomprehensible is that these five individuals are completely wrapped up, wearing gloves, masks, and hats.

However, what brings me a slight sense of comfort is that on Cao Shi's face, which is difficult to look at, the eyes still reflect the past. The gaze emanating from those eyes is still reminiscent of former times. His appearance has become quite terrifying, yet he remains the Cao Shi of old.

This is about all that I know

Nevertheless, regardless of the circumstances, the tasks that need to be accomplished must continue. The old man had received very accurate information this time, and the specific location where the items were hidden was precisely correct. However, it was only at the last moment that Cao Shi and his team discovered that the items were missing

Since Cao Shi set off, the old man's thoughts have been entirely focused on them, or rather, entirely on that item at the Xixia Fatai Temple. Therefore, despite the chilling undertone in the words of his companions, the old man still resolutely decided to meet Cao Shi immediately

"Take off your shirt, let Eighth Master have a look." Cao Shi swiftly removed his mask

It was a little past nine in the evening. After our three vehicles exited the city, we drove southwest. I completely forgot what Cao Shi had instructed earlier and asked, "Old Cao, where are we going?"

My thoughts differ from those of the old man; he is distressed over the loss of that item, while I am relieved that Cao Shiping has returned safely. However, his condition remains concerning, as the five of them have visited the hospitals in Jiangbei and the provincial capital several times without identifying any cause for the skin peeling.

Although he was unaware of the specific whereabouts and intentions of these individuals, Cao Shi felt extremely uneasy. He urged the team to quicken their pace, hoping to reach their destination sooner. The further they advanced, the clearer the traces left by the group ahead became; however, they still did not discover any sign of their presence.

This incident occurred very suddenly and is somewhat difficult to describe. According to several parties involved, they found themselves inexplicably slipping into a semi-comatose state while walking, experiencing issues with both consciousness and sensory perception. They could not hear any sounds and felt no light from illumination tools, as if they were being tossed around inside a massive black bubble.

However, the mysterious object at the Xixia Fatai Temple had an unusually strong allure for the old man. Despite the harsh conditions set by the other party, he secretly cursed under his breath and still agreed to make the deal.

After much consideration, Cao Shi gritted his teeth and prepared to return to Jiangbei with the four surviving individuals. The next day, all five of them noticed changes in their bodies without exception; large patches of skin peeled off from their bodies, which, although not particularly painful, created a bizarre condition that could drive a person to madness. Fortunately, these individuals had conducted numerous transactions under the old man's guidance, and their psychological resilience was significantly stronger than that of ordinary people. After several twists and turns, they finally returned to Jiangbei

Yuan Mountain

Under the bright lights, I clearly saw that the outer layer of the stratum corneum of these five individuals had completely disappeared, exposing their dark red skin granules to the air. Due to the loss of the stratum corneum, their eyebrows and hair were reduced to just a few sparse strands, resembling a rabbit that had just been skinned. If this were to happen to an animal, it would not be particularly frightening, but when it occurs to a human, it becomes an entirely different matter, utterly disgusting and bizarre. I involuntarily took a step back, my heart racing. The situation brought me not only nausea but also intense psychological fear. Just imagine, several people you are very familiar with suddenly transforming into something neither human nor ghost; it is something that is hard for anyone to accept. If it weren't for the old man being present, I would have certainly howled like a wolf and jumped out the window in panic.

I have always been preoccupied with the words spoken by my companion, leading to numerous speculations in my mind about what exactly is going on with Cao Shi. At the same time, I had prepared myself mentally, but when they took off their shirts, my head nearly exploded

The old man wore a stern expression and said nothing, while the others dared not speak. After a few minutes, he ordered the bystanders to leave, keeping only Cao Shi behind, and I was also driven out. The two of them had a private discussion in the study for two hours, and there is no doubt that they were discussing the details of the recent operation at the Fatai Temple.

To be honest, I only wanted to satisfy my curiosity and have a fleeting glimpse, with no other intentions. My greatest fear was that Cao Shi would not believe me and would confront the old man. However, he did not say much; he just looked at me and allowed me to get in the car, instructing that once we arrived, I was only permitted to observe and not to speak recklessly

In ten minutes, five individuals, including Lian Cao, appeared before us

The five individuals before me, although still resembling humans, appeared utterly unrecognizable as such once they shed their clothing. To put it more aptly, they resembled five snakes that had just shed their skins.

The caller refused to reveal his identity; he only said one sentence that firmly captivated the old man's soul. He stated that the item from Fatai Temple was in his possession and that he wanted to make a deal with the old man.

Cao Shi's team consisted of a total of thirteen individuals. The old man was determined to obtain this item, so the entire plan was meticulously arranged, and the timing of the operation was chosen very appropriately. At that time of the year, the natural climate near Fatai Temple was relatively the best of the entire year. However, as the team approached their destination, Cao Shi sensed something amiss, as they discovered several very fresh signs of human activity, indicating that someone had already ventured here before them

The old man had been waiting for over a month, but when Cao Shi finally stood before him, he surprisingly remained calm, gripping his cane in silence. The room instantly fell into a deep silence, and in the end, it was Cao Shi who could not help but speak first

According to Cao Shi, the primary task now is to search for the eight missing companions. However, the remaining four individuals were filled with trepidation; after a brief and reluctant inspection of the nearby area, they suggested retreating.

Once the National Day holiday was over, all the stalls and shops became busy again. The old man's mood seemed to improve a bit; he spent his days in the study reading books and tending to the plants. Aside from personally checking the accounts, he entrusted almost all business matters to Cao Shi and me. Of course, I was only responsible for some minor transactions, while the major affairs still had to be handled by Cao Shi.

At that moment, I felt a bit excited. Since a transaction was to take place, the real item would surely be revealed. I just needed to find a way to participate in the transaction to witness what it truly was. However, I was unsure whether the old man would allow me to take part in the transaction. To achieve my goal, I devised a small trick. Without obtaining the old man's consent, I directly approached Cao Shi before the transaction began, claiming that I had already informed the old man and was going with him to negotiate with the other party.

What was utterly unexpected was that Cao Shi and the others' strange illness actually healed without medication. Two weeks after returning from Fatai Temple, several of them began to grow new skin from their armpits, palms, and soles, and the growth rate was remarkably fast. By September, they had almost completely returned to normal, which can only be described as a pleasant surprise. I felt genuinely happy for him from the depths of my heart

The matters that followed were handled by the old man without my knowledge. Neither party is aware of what agreement was reached, but I heard from Cao Shi that the other party's conditions were extremely harsh, causing the old man to break his cane in anger