CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51: AWAY FROM HOME, RELYING ON BROTHERS

This method can only catch loose cultivators, and the efficiency is rather low.

Trying to trace the leads to clear out the stronghold becomes exponentially difficult; once a gecko loses its tail, the investigation might take several months—after all, the priority for such cases isn’t particularly high.

And it’s unclear whether the system acknowledges this method.

Lin Li thought about it and decided to put it aside for now, following the original plan to bike to a relatively remote area of Xiling Town to see if the system could give him any notifications.

Opening the Wicked Map, he picked a direction that seemed remote in Xiling from his memory and biked there.

Sometimes Lin Li really feels like the system is like a frigid lady; he’s already up and pedaling, yet it gives him no response, not even a peep.

Lin Li was getting exhausted from pedaling.

Lin Li recalled a saying, success comes from hard work afterward.

So true.

So maybe tomorrow and today, let’s just rest and talk about it the day after tomorrow.

With this thought, Lin Li biked past an intersection. When his brain finally reacted to what his peripheral vision caught, he suddenly pressed the brake, leaving a faint black mark on the cement ground with the bicycle wheel.

Just now... did I see an... old friend?!

Lin Li quickly turned around, returned to the intersection, and changed direction. Once he found that back figure, he accelerated immediately, going around a drainage ditch and stopping his bike right in front of the person.

Seeing that somewhat familiar face, if it weren’t for the inappropriate setting, Lin Li would’ve shouted excitedly.

Menma, I finally found you!

However, unlike Lin Li’s emotions, the other person was startled by the sudden appearance of a bicycle blocking the way, taking two steps back and cursing: "What the—how do you ride a bike like that! Your dad’s back home planting loquat trees, go check on him!"

Lin Li raised an eyebrow.

This guy’s swearing skills are something; he’s both a warrior and a scholar. I should note down that last sentence to use on Bai Bufan later.

Forget it, use it on Wang Yuezhi instead; Bai Bufan might not understand it with his literary skills.

"Bro, it’s me!" Lin Li called out sincerely.

The other person was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, pausing his insults and scrutinizing Lin Li, who was wearing a school uniform and riding a bicycle, his expression gradually relaxing: "Oh—~~"

Lin Li also smiled, making things easier.

"—Who the hell are you?" The person’s tone suddenly changed, turning hostile on the spot.

Lin Li: "..."

Didn’t recognize me, are you some kind of a dam or something?

"You’re still a high school student, right? I don’t know many people your age. Stop trying to form ties with me. If you know me, what’s my name then?" The other’s attitude wasn’t particularly friendly.

"I actually don’t know your name." Lin Li admitted.

"Luckily I’ve been vaccinated against rabies, otherwise I’d have to run. Move out of the way." Saying so, the other person started to walk to the side, seemingly intending to bypass Lin Li.

Lin Li remained calm, believing that their bond would tighten once the other recognized him, so he turned to the man preparing to pass by him, trembling and tearfully said:

"The Light Noble Toilet by Daming Lake, the bottle of miracle oil you didn’t finish, the salute the police couldn’t stop, our past memories, have you forgotten them all——"

The man’s footsteps suddenly stopped.

In a few seconds of silence and quietness, the man slowly turned his head mechanically and incredulously, looking at Lin Li with surprise.

Lin Li responded with the same surprised look.

He reached out his trembling finger: "Is it... you?"

"It’s me!" Lin Li nodded heavily.

The man before him was the one he encountered in the toilet last Friday, narrowly escaping being caught!

"It really is you! You are..." The man said excitedly, intending to call Lin Li by name, but then remembered he never knew it, quickly correcting himself: "·Bro·!"

"It’s me, I’m bro, and you are my... ·bro· too!"

Lv Xiucai once said, names are just a code. One bro for a lifetime. Lv Ziqiao also said, just call someone not known "producer". Therefore, Lin Li nodded heavily, joy overflowing.

At this time, both of them became known as bro.

"Bro!"

"Bro!"

The two fools in the eyes of passersby began calling each other bro like this.

"Sorry, bro, it’s not that I don’t consider you a bro; it’s just when you suddenly put on clothes, I really didn’t recognize you." After calling each other bro seven or eight times, the man apologized to Lin Li.

"..."

Lin Li stepped back half a step: "Bro, I don’t think we’ve ever been frank, I’ve always had my clothes on."

Could it be that he mistook me for another bro, if this guy plays both sides, Lin Li needs to start planning a retreat strategy now.

The butt is more important.

"Oh, sorry, sort of what I meant. I generally don’t remember men’s faces; you changed clothes, couldn’t recognize you, that’s it." The man explained, patting Lin Li on the shoulder.

Now that could be understood.

Then the man asked curiously: "Little bro, how come you’re already out? There’s still quite a while before fifteen days, right?"

Lin Li shook his school uniform: "Big bro, I’m only seventeen, plus I’ve some connections inside, so I wasn’t detained even for a day, just got released."

Someone in the Demon Suppression Bureau wants to be my dad, if that isn’t connections, what is?

"Oh, that makes sense. No wonder you were the one wearing a mask that day; I was wondering if you were some key figure." The man suddenly realized.

Lin Li was speechless.

I actually am a key figure since without me, this entire capture operation wouldn’t have existed.

"That’s great, seventeen, really nice, being inside is boring; if you can avoid it, better not go through that. Seeing you’re okay, I’m genuinely happy for you, bro!" The man patted Lin Li’s shoulder again, this time more sincerely.

This emotion wasn’t faked.

The friendship between men sometimes occurs very strangely.

Two complete strangers can even bond over a few mutual headlights flashes on the highway, running a hundred kilometers together in companionship, understanding the pursuit, and lamenting parting with horn honks as one exits the highway.

Especially with this little bro in front of him?

To think, they two might have shared the same path, and this isn’t something mere bros can describe; they’re akin to brother-in-laws.

As for what path they’re on, characterized by blending in, it’s nothing grand.

"Pleased to see you, but I have business to attend, let’s part ways for now?" The guy said.

"Fate brought us together, bro, shall we get a midnight snack?" Lin Li immediately suggested.

"Better not, really got something to do, but we’ll meet again by the rivers and lakes, let’s chat next time." He waved his hand, politely declining and kept walking.

The things he still wanted to know, how could he let him leave like this?

"Bro, it’s my treat!" Lin Li shouted loudly.

Time = Distance÷Speed.

Then reversing time = Speed÷Distance!

Right now the formula unfolds, time rewinds!

The man reversed his path, coming back into gaze with Lin Li:

"Now that you mention it, you’re right, meeting indeed holds fate."