Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 119 - 105 Incubation (Part 1)_1

Chapter 119: Chapter 105 Incubation (Part 1)_1

Knowing that everyone was going to the temple festival and that not even a ghost’s shadow could be found in Tan Mountain Canyon, Feng Yi felt much more at ease.

However, given the importance of this event to him, he had to be cautious.

So, Feng Yi asked around at several local stalls and residences, and after receiving the same response from each, he had a plan in mind.

He even rented a bicycle and rode around the outskirts of Ji City.

The urban area of Ji City wasn’t large, and during the holiday period, there indeed were many tourists. Attention would surely be focused on the few temple festival areas.

Once he had his route set, Feng Yi returned to his hotel and turned in early, resting up and gathering strength.

The next day, when Feng Yi stepped out for food, he could see the thick festive atmosphere enveloping the whole of Ji City. In order to retain and attract more tourists, local authorities had indeed put a lot of thought into the festival.

Walking around, Feng Yi could hear people with out-of-town accents, discussing in groups of three or five where to go next, where to visit in the evening.

Most locals and tourists were satisfied with the Mid-Autumn Festival activities, and those who weren’t satisfied complained about not being able to enjoy the moon-viewing, a problem for which Ji City had no solution.

On Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather wasn’t very good; thick clouds filled the sky, there was no direct sunlight during the day, and the moon was obscured by clouds at night, disappointing those who had planned to photograph the moon.

But for most people, there had been too many Mid-Autumn Festivals without moon sighting anyway; one more wouldn’t hurt. As long as the festivities were lively and fun, that was all that mattered. Those who loved to be out and about would take a stroll with family, while those who preferred to stay put would watch live broadcasts at home, watch videos, enjoy evening galas, or admire the full moon in the clear night sky of other provinces and cities.

Feng Yi had neither the desire to casually stroll around nor to stay indoors surfing the internet.

More often, he appeared to be daydreaming, mentally preparing himself.

He was very nervous, uncertain about what he would encounter or what the outcome would be. With no previous cases to refer to and no one telling him what to do, he had to rely solely on instinct.

If his instincts failed him at a critical moment, then the outcome was unpredictable.

After eating his fill and sleeping through the afternoon, Feng Yi awoke to the fading daylight outside the window and began packing his things.

He had spoken to the owner of a nearby second-hand bicycle shop and said he would rent a bike again that evening. Besides dealing in second-hand bikes, the shop also rented bicycles to tourists from out of town.

Rental bikes came with too many restrictions and time limits, providing an opportunity for second-hand bike shop owners. They didn’t install trackers on their bikes, but a deposit was required, and one had to book in advance. On such a major holiday, with many looking to rent, failing to reserve ahead could mean the desired bike would be taken by someone else.

When he paid the deposit and reserved the bike during the day, Feng Yi didn’t show any identification or use electronic payments; he paid in cash.

That’s the advantage of such shops—there wouldn’t be too many records.

The evenings in Ji City at this time of the year weren’t actually very cold, and Feng Yi, who had endured nights on the plateau, found the temperatures here at night completely negligible. Perhaps because of the tension, he even felt hot enough to sweat.

Though he had sent his cycling gear back, there was no need for such extensive preparation for tonight.

Dressed in a windbreaker, pack on his back, Feng Yi stepped out of the hotel, ready to head over to the bike shop to pick up his rental.

However, after leaving the hotel, Feng Yi changed direction and returned to his room.

He changed into casual clothes, took off the windbreaker and donned only a lightweight zip-up hoodie, leaving his pack in the room along with his phone.

This scene reminded Feng Yi of school days when, before an exam, the invigilator would say, "Please hand in your phones and bags."

Feng Yi smiled to himself.

It did feel like the nervousness of heading to an exam, one more crucial than the college entrance examination—a test that could determine the direction of one’s life.

As for why he did this...

When he first left the hotel, he suddenly had a feeling, perhaps an instinctual message, that everything he was carrying was a burden.

So, dressed in lightweight clothes with just some cash in his pocket and leaving behind everything else, especially electronic devices, Feng Yi left the hotel without renting the bicycle.

By now, it had grown completely dark.

People who had finished their evening meals were gradually coming out, flocking towards the various event venues.

Feng Yi zipped his hoodie all the way up, partially covering his chin, put on his hood, and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Reaching the crossroads, Feng Yi detoured on the road leading to the outskirts of the city and started jogging towards the outside of town.

The city lights grew distant as Feng Yi’s pace quickened.

When the last streetlight vanished behind him, the presence of human life became scarce. Even during tourist peak season, there were few visitors during the day, let alone at night.

With no streetlights and the moon completely hidden by clouds, Feng Yi did not need any lighting. His night vision undisturbed, his constricted pupils clearly captured the images of the road ahead.

Tan Mountain Canyon had several entrances, and Feng Yi chose the one with the fewest people.

On both sides of the road were tall stone walls, the bare rocks covered sparingly with vegetation, giving off a stark and indifferent impression.

Farther away, houses clung to the cliff faces, and there were both temples and Taoist sanctuaries. Perhaps due to their remoteness and lack of fame, there were few visitors at normal times. These were likely the only few lights in the area.

On the recessed cliff face, dozens of meters high, reliefs of Buddha statues silently observed everything.