As he crawled into the Thunder Realm, the Lightning Power gradually enveloped him.
The events occurring in the western part of the village went completely unnoticed by the villagers, as most were in the mountains gathering oak leaves.
Even children could handle this kind of work, so naturally entire families would participate together.
As for why Jiang Manman left, it could be said that no one cared at all. They were all busy earning income for their own families—how could they spare any concern for her?
Only Wang Guihua was filled with anxiety, fearing that Jiang Manman might go to their house and take away their bicycle.
Thus, she dared not stay home for long whether leaving early or returning late, and certainly didn’t dare seek out her sister-in-law Manman proactively.
She was terrified that Jiang Manman would show up at their house and ride off with their family’s only bicycle.
The only one who came to check on Zhang Manman and Tang Changsheng was their good nephew Tang Yumin.
He came for two consecutive days, only to find Jiang Manman’s house empty. Villagers also claimed they hadn’t seen them.
Everyone assumed Zhang Manman’s wealthy husband had returned, meaning she would no longer need to work or report for collective labor.
As for food, she could simply buy Food Stamps from others or purchase grain directly at the Black Market.
Around 1979, regulations weren’t particularly strict. She recalled that in another three or four years, Food Stamps and various other coupons would no longer be used.
The two children had already reached the late stage of the first level of Qi Training.
Their injuries had fully healed. After Jiang Manman woke up and regulated her meridians, she began guiding the two youngsters in drawing Qi into their bodies.
During her cultivation period, the two children had been nourishing their bodies in the Spirit Spring, making it much easier to help them draw Qi into their bodies now.
Truly worthy of their exceptional Single Spiritual Root aptitude. After drawing Qi into their bodies, thanks to the abundant Spirit Energy in the Spirit Spring and their young age free of distracting thoughts, they directly advanced to the late stage of the first level of Qi Training.
As for the situation in the Thunder Realm, Jiang Manman took a glance and saw only a massive egg formed from condensed Lightning Power.
A Thunder Egg?
The Refreshing Heart Glass Tower was a treasure she had claimed as her own.
In principle, she should be able to easily control and clearly perceive everything within the Refreshing Heart Glass Tower.
Yet she knew nothing about what was inside the Thunder Egg.
Never mind—it was likely just Tang Changsheng cultivating inside the Thunder Egg.
Since he wouldn’t finish cultivating anytime soon, she might as well let him continue. Jiang Manman had the two children cultivate first in the third-level Spirit Spring.
She herself went to the Blazing Sky-Burning Hell to examine the memories of those two individuals.
Now at the seventh level of Qi Training, she was considered to be in the Mid-stage Qi Cultivation.
She could easily master any Magical Arts used during the Mid-stage Qi Cultivation.
Considering she originally had a Fire and Wood Dual Spirit Root before it mutated into a Wind and Thunder Dual Spirit Root, she was naturally highly proficient in Fire and Wood elemental Magical Arts.
At that moment, she was above the Blazing Sky-Burning Hell, extracting the memories of the two individuals from earlier.
The first memory she extracted was that of the young man whose head had been severed by a single sword strike.
Starting from his birth, the place he lived, his parents—all the way until the young man joined an organization.
The leader of that organization possessed abilities beyond ordinary humans.
Based on the young man’s memories, it couldn’t be confirmed whether their leader was a jackal Demon.
But one thing was certain: the organization’s leader was definitely not human.
This time, they had come to Lianshan Village under the pretext of purchasing oak leaves.
However, the leader didn’t come to Lianshan Village but waited for them at a stronghold near the supply and marketing cooperative.
It seemed their village wasn’t the only one affected.
Other villages must have also experienced missing children.
The younger man’s memories were quickly scanned by Zhao Yunshu.
The middle-aged man’s memories were longer, as he had joined the organization earlier and committed more misdeeds.
Her pair of twins had actually become special targets.
Although the World of Cultivation considered Soul-searching too sinister a Magical Art, she found it extremely convenient.
From the middle-aged man’s memories, she learned the organization’s leader was called Chai Shiba.
He had spotted them when she took the two children to the supply and marketing cooperative to shop last time.
Therefore, he specifically instructed the middle-aged man to capture her two children at all costs.
Chai Shiba—in her opinion, he ought to be called Jackal Shiba instead.
She waved away the cluster of memories belonging to the middle-aged man.
She had the two children continue practicing the Spirit Energy circulation technique she taught them inside the Dimension.
Meanwhile, she exited the Dimension alone and was just about to head to the supply and marketing cooperative. As she pushed the door open and stepped out, she saw her nephew Tang Yumin entering the courtyard.
“Third Aunt? Where have you all been? Why haven’t I seen you for days?”
Jiang Manman’s mind raced as she replied:
“Ah! Your Third Uncle fell ill the other day. We took him to see a doctor along with Tangxin Tangyuan.”
“To see a doctor? Did you go to the town medical team?”
“No, it was an old traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who said your Third Uncle needs gradual recuperation. I left him and the two children there and came back to fetch some things before returning. Did you need us for something?”
Tang Yumin relaxed upon hearing her explanation.
“Then where is Third Uncle receiving treatment? I’d like to visit him.”
How could Jiang Manman possibly produce his Third Uncle? The man was still a ‘Thunder Egg’!
“No need. That old doctor lives deep in the mountains and prefers quiet without disturbances. The children and your Third Uncle are perfectly safe there. I’m going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things now. Would you like to come with me?”
Tang Yumin didn’t suspect anything unusual.
“Alright, I’ll go with you. Are you buying many things? I have my bicycle—I can give you a ride.”
Jiang Manman agreed. To reach the supply and marketing cooperative quickly, she couldn’t afford to hesitate.
As they passed by the Educated Youth point, Tang Yumin went inside to get his bicycle. Sun Zhiqing spotted them.
Even though she knew she had wrongly accused Jiang Manman last time, seeing them together now—and likely assuming Jiang Manman would ride on his bicycle to the cooperative—she pushed her own bicycle out and called:
“Comrade Tang Intellectual Youth, is Aunt Jiang going to the supply and marketing cooperative? I’m heading there too. I can take her with me! After all, you’re a man, and men and women should maintain propriety. It wouldn’t be good if people started gossiping.”
Jiang Manman glanced at her, a slight smile curling her lips as she said:
“Sun Zhiqing is right. Since she’s willing to take me, I’ll ride with her to the supply and marketing cooperative. It makes no difference.”
Hearing this, Tang Yumin could only say:
“Fine then. Sun Zhiqing, you take my Third Aunt. Let’s all head to the supply and marketing cooperative.”
“Sure! No problem!”
Sun Zhiqing was delighted. It was rare for Tang Yumin to speak to her, let alone ask for her help.
She happily agreed and had Jiang Manman sit on the back of her bicycle.
She carried Jiang Manman while Tang Yumin rode alongside them, cycling toward the supply and marketing cooperative.
Jiang Manman’s actual destination wasn’t the cooperative, but a noodle shop next to it.
Members of that organization were currently hiding in the backyard of the noodle shop, where eight kidnapped children were being held in one of the rooms.