This method could only catch scattered cultivators, and the efficiency was quite low.
If he wanted to follow the vine to find the melon and clear out strongholds, the difficulty would increase geometrically. Once they cut off the tail like a gecko, just the investigation alone might take months—after all, this type of case didn't have particularly high priority.
And he didn't know if the system would recognize this approach.
After thinking it over, Lin Li decided to shelve it for now and stick to the original plan—ride to more remote areas of Xiling Town to see if the system would give him some notifications.
Opening his immoral map app, he selected a direction that seemed relatively remote in his memory and rode off.
Sometimes Lin Li really felt the system was frigid. He was already standing up and pedaling hard, but it gave him no reaction at all, wouldn't even make a sound.
Lin Li was getting tired from pedaling.
Lin Li remembered a saying: success comes from hard work the day after.
Well said.
So tomorrow and today, why not just rest and talk about it the day after tomorrow.
Thinking this, Lin Li rode through an intersection. When his brain finally processed what his peripheral vision had seen, he slammed the brakes. The bicycle wheels left a faint black mark on the concrete.
Had he just... seen an... old friend?!
Lin Li quickly turned around, returned to the intersection and turned, and after finding that figure, immediately accelerated again. Making a drainage ditch turn, he stopped his bike sideways in front of the person.
Seeing that somewhat familiar face, if the setting weren't inappropriate, Lin Li really wanted to shout excitedly.
Menma, finally found you!
However, unlike Lin Li's emotions, the other person was startled when a bicycle suddenly appeared blocking his path. He jumped back two steps and cursed: "What the—you—driving a bicycle like that! Your dad's at home planting loquat trees, you should hurry home and check!"
Lin Li raised an eyebrow.
This guy's cursing skills were impressive—both martial and literary. He'd remember that last line to use on Bai Bufan later.
Actually, he'd use it on Wang Yuezhi instead, since Bai Bufan's literary cultivation might not understand it.
"Buddy, it's me!" Lin Li called out earnestly.
The other person paused his cursing and carefully examined Lin Li in his school uniform on a bicycle. His expression gradually relaxed: "Oh~~"
Lin Li also smiled. Things would be easy to handle now.
"—Who the hell are you?" The tone in the other person's voice instantly changed, transforming on the spot.
Lin Li: "..."
Didn't recognize him. What was with that "oh" then?
"You're still a middle school student, right? I don't know many people your age at all. Don't try to claim brotherhood. Since you recognize me, what's my name?"
"I really don't know your name." Lin Li was at a loss for words.
"Good thing I already got my rabies shot, or I'd have to run now. Move aside, don't block the road." Though he said this, the other person was already moving to the side, apparently preparing to go around.
Lin Li wasn't panicked. He believed in the bond between them—once the other person recognized him, it would be completely locked in. So Lin Li turned to look at the man preparing to pass by him, and said with trembling tears:
"That bottle of miracle oil you didn't finish using in the Light Earl restroom by Daming Lake, the salute that even police couldn't stop—have you forgotten all our precious moments together?"
The other person's steps instantly stopped.
In several seconds of silence and quiet, the man somewhat mechanically and incredulously slowly turned his head, looking at Lin Li with surprised eyes.
Lin Li responded with the same gaze.
He tremblingly extended his finger: "Is... is it you?"
"It's me!" Lin Li nodded his head vigorously.
The man in front of him was the one he'd encountered in the restroom last Friday, who had luckily escaped without being caught!
"It really is you! You are..." The man was somewhat excited, originally planning to call out Lin Li's name, then realizing he had no idea what it was. After choking on his words, he immediately followed up: "Brother!"
"It's me, I'm brother, and you're also my... brother!"
Lu Xiucai once said names were just code names anyway. One call of "brother," brothers for life. Lu Ziqiao also said to call strangers "producer." Therefore, Lin Li nodded vigorously, joy overflowing from his expression.
At this moment, both their names were collectively called "brother."
"Brother!"
"Brother!"
Two big fools in the eyes of passersby began calling each other "brother."
"Sorry brother, it's not that brother doesn't consider you brother, it's just that you suddenly put on clothes and brother really couldn't recognize you." After shouting "brother" seven or eight times, the man said somewhat apologetically to Lin Li.
"..."
Lin Li stepped back half a step: "Bro, we've never been honest with each other—I was always wearing clothes."
Could it be the other person mistook him for another brother? If this guy swung both ways, Lin Li needed to start planning escape routes.
His butt was more important.
"Oh oh, sorry, what I meant was similar. I generally don't remember men's faces well. You changed clothes and I couldn't recognize you—that's what I meant." The man patted Lin Li's shoulder, explaining.
This was understandable now.
Then the man asked more curiously: "Little brother, how are you already out? There's still a long time until fifteen days, right?"
Lin Li shook his school uniform, "Big brother, I'm only seventeen, plus I have some connections at the station, so I didn't spend a single day inside and was released."
Having someone in the Demon Suppression Bureau wanting to be my dad, if that is not connection, then what is?
"Oh oh, no wonder. I was wondering why you were the only one wearing a mask that day. I thought you were some key figure." The man had a sudden realization.
Lin Li was speechless.
He really was a key figure—without him, there wouldn't have been this arrest operation at all.
"Pretty good. Seventeen years old, really good. Detention is really boring. If you can avoid staying, naturally it's better not to. Seeing you're okay, brother is truly happy for you." The man patted Lin Li's shoulder again, his tone even more relieved.
This emotion really wasn't fake.
Friendship between men sometimes just emerged strangely.
Two complete strangers might even accompany each other for hundreds of kilometers on the highway just because they flashed their hazard lights at each other a few times, tacitly chasing and overtaking each other, reluctantly honking farewell when one exited.
What more for him and this little brother in front of him?
You had to know, they were very likely people who'd walked the same path—this couldn't even be described as just brothers, they could be called sworn brothers.
As for what path could be described with "walked"—naturally not a bright one.
"I'm happy to see you, but I still have things to do. Shall we part here?" But that was about it, the other person said.
"Meeting is fate, bro. Let's grab some late-night snacks together?" Lin Li immediately suggested.
"Let's skip that. Brother really has things to do. We'll meet again if fate allows—let's talk next time." The other person waved his hand, politely refusing, then continued walking forward.
He couldn't let him leave without finding out what he wanted to know.
"Bro, I can treat!" Lin Li turned and shouted loudly.
Time = Distance ÷ Speed.
So reversing time = Speed ÷ Distance!
At this moment the formula activated, time rewound!
The man retraced his steps, then returned to facing Lin Li:
"Come to think of it, you're right—meeting really is fate."
(End of Chapter)
Menma - Character from anime "Anohana," used as affectionate nickname
Daming Lake - Famous lake in Jinan, China, often referenced in memes
Lu Xiucai - Character from sitcom "My Own Swordsman"
Lu Ziqiao - Character from sitcom "iPartment"
Loquat trees - Reference to classical Chinese literature about missing someone