Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 77 Preparations Before the Second Exploration

"It was nothing," Chen Anran said, sitting down on the sofa opposite her.

Zhao Mengmeng raised her head, her bright eyes gazing at Chen Anran with curiosity and a hint of admiration: "Um... are you really not a reincarnation of an Arhat? I saw you glowing, and what that bad guy said..."

Chen Anran chuckled and shook his head: "No. That was just the power of a magical artifact, borrowing the demon-subduing essence of a Buddhist Arhat." After thinking for a moment, he added: "I've studied a variety of things, and currently I mainly practice Taoist methods."

"Oh..." Zhao Mengmeng nodded as if she understood, but the admiration in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest. To her, whether it was an Arhat or a Taoist priest, the power Chen Anran displayed was no different from the "immortal" she had imagined.

She hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage and asked, "So... are you going to clean up the leftover stuff at the hospital tomorrow? Is it dangerous?"

"The remaining yin and filth need to be purified to prevent new troubles from arising in the future."

"Can my friend and I go along and take a look?" Zhao Mengmeng blurted out, then realized she might have been presumptuous and quickly waved her hand, "We won't cause trouble! We just want to know more... and with you here, I'm not afraid at all!"

Chen Anran looked at Zhao Mengmeng's expectant yet somewhat apprehensive eyes and pondered for a moment.

It wouldn't hurt to take them to see it. After all, last night's incident has forcibly opened these young people's awareness of the "other side" of the world. Simply avoiding it might lead them to risk their lives again due to their ignorance.

"Okay," Chen Anran thought for a moment and said, "but the process might be very tedious and boring."

"Even if it's boring, we still want to go," Zhao Mengmeng said excitedly. "I'm going to tell them right now! They'll be overjoyed!" She practically jumped up and ran excitedly towards the door, but halfway there she remembered something, quickly stopped, turned around, and bowed respectfully to Chen Anran. "Thank you, Master Chen! I won't disturb your rest any longer. See you tomorrow!"

Watching Zhao Mengmeng run away like a happy little deer, Chen Anran smiled helplessly.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Zhao Mengmeng, Wang Rui, Zhang Hao, Li Ming, and Sun Wei were already waiting in the hotel lobby, looking very energetic. They were all fully equipped with powerful flashlights, hiking boots, and some even had makeshift gas masks, clearly well-prepared for their "adventure."

When Chen Anran came downstairs and saw their setup, she couldn't help but smile: "We're going to clean up, not to rob a tomb."

The group smiled sheepishly, but insisted on bringing the "equipment" for peace of mind.

He was just joking with them, but when the words "tomb raiding" were mentioned, Chen Anran sighed inwardly.

I wonder what's going on with Third Senior Sister now, and whether her new role as a "tomb raider" is going smoothly...

Zhao Qiming and Wang Anxi arrived early as well. Upon learning that Chen Anran was taking the children back to purify the remnants, they were somewhat worried, but mostly trusting. Zhao Qiming specially prepared a spacious van and repeatedly instructed Zhao Mengmeng and the others to completely follow Master Chen's arrangements.

The other wealthy individuals had already left Lincheng last night, as their business empires couldn't be without their leaders for too long.

Zhao Qiming was the same. When he met Chen Anran, he held Chen Anran's right hand tightly with both hands and said solemnly, "I entrust my daughter to you, Master."

Chen Anran felt something was off about what he was hearing.

After that, Zhao Qiming left and returned to Guangzhou.

The group boarded the van, with Wang Anxi personally serving as driver. After the car started, he discovered that the address Chen Anran had given was not the abandoned hospital on the outskirts of the city, but a rather famous food street in the center of Lin City.

"Master Chen, aren't we going to that abandoned hospital?" Wang Rui couldn't help but ask first, his face full of doubt.

Zhang Hao, Li Ming, and Sun Wei exchanged bewildered glances, while Zhao Mengmeng, though puzzled, firmly believed that Master Chen had his reasons.

Chen Anran leaned back in his comfortable chair, his gaze sweeping over the gradually bustling street scene outside the window. He said leisurely, "What's the rush? Yin energy is most active at night, and it's also easiest to attract and purify. During the day, yang energy is abundant, and many things are hidden away, making the effect much more difficult. Going at night will solve the problem once and for all."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips, and patted his stomach: "Besides, aren't you hungry getting up so early? That shop's rice noodle rolls and congee are amazing, this is the perfect time to go."

"Eat...eat?" Zhang Hao pushed up his glasses, his mind a little blank. They had come with the tense feeling of participating in a "supernatural event," and they had brought all their equipment, but their first stop was a breakfast shop?

Li Ming muttered to himself, "I thought immortal masters were all like deer, living off the wind and dew, untouched by worldly concerns..."

Chen Anran, with his sharp ears, chuckled upon hearing this, "Who says cultivators can't eat? With the spiritual energy recovering, we shouldn't miss out on delicious food. Only by filling our stomachs can we have the strength to work."

These words carried a down-to-earth and carefree tone, instantly easing the tension in everyone's hearts.

Zhao Mengmeng chuckled and nodded quickly, "Master Chen is right! I'm hungry too! And I know that restaurant; it's super popular online, but I've never had a chance to go!"

"Really? My senior sister took me there."

Zhao Mengmeng blinked. "Master, you have a senior sister?"

"Not only are there senior female students, but also junior female students."

Seeing that Chen Anran had made up her mind, Wang Anxi naturally had no objections. He turned the steering wheel, and the car merged into the traffic, heading towards the food street.

Upon arrival, the shop was small and simply decorated, but a short queue had already formed outside, and the rich aroma of rice and meat wafted through the air. Chen Anran, familiar with the place, found an empty table in a corner and sat down, then called the group to order.

Wang Rui, Zhang Hao, and the other rich kids who usually only go to high-end restaurants were now sitting at a slightly greasy table, looking at the simple handwritten menu, their feelings were somewhat complicated. But seeing Chen Anran's calm and composed expression, they had no choice but to do as the Romans do.

When the steaming hot rice noodle rolls, tender and smooth congee, and crispy fried dough sticks are served, the subtle feeling is instantly dispelled by the deliciousness after the first bite.

"Mmm! Delicious!" Wang Rui's eyes lit up, and he didn't care about his image anymore, so he started eating it in big bites.

"This porridge is so delicious!" Sun Wei exclaimed softly.

Zhao Mengmeng sat next to Chen Anran, sipping her porridge, but her eyes kept glancing at him. Watching him enjoy ordinary food so naturally, so completely different from the celestial master who was bathed in golden light and whose words carried the weight of magic last night, this strange contrast made her perception of Chen Anran more concrete and closer to him.