Folklore: The baby starts the game, and the mother takes off her painted skin

Chapter 185 The World is in Turmoil [asking for monthly tickets]

Xu Zhao was shocked when he saw Situ Hong, the new dean, looking at him, and he even subconsciously thought of stepping out to do it himself.

If a Yin-nourishing God and a Yin-walking person attacked him face to face, there would be basically no way for him, a Yin-walking person who had gathered the five qi, to avoid it.

But fortunately, although Situ Hong's murderous intention fell on him, he did not take the next step.

Xu Zhao loosened his fist on the table, then glanced at Liu Bai, who was sitting in the main seat with his head down as if dozing off.

After gritting his teeth, he finally stood up and knelt towards Liu Bai.

"When I heard that the shopkeeper was coming, I thought of coming to Wuji Town to welcome him. The old shopkeeper said this when he saw that I was determined to come."

"If this is false, boss, you can use this knife to chop off my head!"

Xu Zhao was indeed a strong man. After he finished speaking, he took off the machete behind him and held it high in front of him with both hands.

Liu Bai had his head lowered, so he could naturally see what Xu Zhao was doing.

Looking at this subordinate who was eager to surrender, Liu Bai smiled and raised his hand as if to take the big knife.

Xu Zhao pushed it forward again, and when it was about to reach Liu Bai's hand, he suddenly snapped his fingers.

The index finger hits the scabbard.

"Zheng"

The blade and scabbard were nailed into the wall behind them. Xu Zhao and Li Shunbao were suddenly frightened.

"Don't worry, I don't have the habit of pointing a knife at my own people."

"Besides... I don't need a knife to kill you."

As Liu Bai was speaking, a huge black shadow appeared faintly behind him. Under the dim candlelight, the black shadow was wearing a ghost mask.

Seeing this, Li Shunbao, who was originally sitting nearby, quickly rolled off his chair and knelt in front of Liu Bai.

"This shopkeeper may look young, but he is very ruthless in controlling people!"

Li Shunbao was frightened. The moment Liu Bai summoned the Yin God, he really thought that Liu Bai was going to chop him with a knife.

And...why is the shopkeeper's Yin spirit like this?
Is this a Yin spirit or a Yuan spirit?

Not only Li Shunbao was frightened, but even Xu Zhao felt the same way, so they buried their heads in the ground and dared not raise them.

"Okay, get up. Who of you can tell me what's going on between this old shopkeeper and this old dean?"

The Yin Spirit behind Liu Bai seemed to turn into a ball of black liquid and flowed into the dark shadow behind him.

Xu Zhao and Li Shunbao looked at each other, and after a brief eye contact, they dared to stand up.

But this time when I sat down, I only dared to touch the chair with half of my buttocks.

The shopkeeper who did not show his power and the shopkeeper who did show his power can be considered as two different people. If they still cannot figure it out at this time, they will not be able to get the job of being in charge.

"Let me speak." Li Shunbao cupped his hands, then pondered for a moment as if organizing his words, and then said:
"The old shopkeeper's name is Li Da, and he is also a Yin-nourishing God. He has been immersed in this realm for decades.

Although it seems that he has lost the chance to nourish the Yang God, his strength should not be underestimated."

Liu Bai listened and nodded slightly, "Just tell me how he got to be the shopkeeper."

Xu Zhao followed up by saying, "He is Li Huamei's cousin. The two have had a very good relationship since childhood. So since Li Huamei was promoted to matchmaker, Li Da has come to Laolang Mountain to be the shopkeeper."

There were four matchmakers at the matchmaking meeting, including Shen Ruoruo.

Madam Tian was in charge of external attacks, Wu Ji was in charge of internal affairs, and later Shen Ruoruo was still doing odd jobs. As for the matchmaker that Liu Bai had never met, that was Li Huamei.

In the Matchmaker Association, he was in charge of many Yihonglou and matchmaker shops.

Or to put it more directly, he is in charge of the financial power within the matchmaking association.

In this way, it would make sense for him to assign the best Yin vein in the matchmaker association to his cousin to manage.

On the contrary, the matchmaker would definitely not care about these things. What she wants is someone who can get things done and do good things.

To my subordinates... Li Huamei would only ask, who in this hall has sued me?
"Where is the old abbot?" Situ Hong asked with a frown.

Logically speaking, the manager of Yinmai was arranged by Li Huamei, but this supervisor was actually the matchmaker's confidant.

But now it seems that this confidant is not close anymore?

"Master Supervisor, you may not know that this old supervisor is called Liao Kang." Li Shunbao said with a bitter face, "According to the rules of our matchmaking association, the shopkeeper and supervisor of each Yin vein are rotated every two years to prevent the two from being together for too long and conspiring to make money together."

"But this rule applies to other Yin veins. The Yin vein in our Old Wolf Mountain... Li Da and Liao Kang, these two old pigs, have been entrenched here for twelve years."

"Ah."

Liu Bai tapped lightly on the table with his fingers. At such a young age, he made such a calm and composed gesture, which seemed strange and normal.

"Okay, you two can go down first. I already know about this."

Liu Bai ordered them to leave, so as his subordinates, they naturally had no choice but to leave. They immediately stood up and said goodbye.

"Your knife."

Liu Bai pointed at the machete stuck on the wall and said.

"Yes, yes, yes." Xu Zhao said hurriedly, bending over, and then took back his machete from the wall.

With the big knife in his hand, at this moment, his energy and spirit seemed to have returned.

When they walk, they are more upright like pine trees.

Seeing this, Xiao Cao muttered in Liu Bai's mind, "Master, Xu Zhao's talent in sword training is quite good. He is almost able to hone his sword skills."

"But unfortunately, he is a wild man. The power of the knife lies in the person, but he has only practiced on the knife itself."

Little grass, little grass, small in size, with not much hair, but very knowledgeable.

Liu Bai silently took note of this matter without saying anything until he saw the two new subordinates close the door and leave... Then Situ Hong spoke:
"Sir, I think Matchmaker wants to use you to take back the Yin Meridian of Old Wolf Mountain... I wonder if my guess is correct."

Liu Bai took a sip of the slightly cold tea, then supported himself with his hands and sat cross-legged on the chair.

"You go on."

"From the time I spent at the matchmaker's meeting, I found that the matchmaker's meeting was a one-man show. She seemed not to care much about the affairs of the meeting, but in fact she saw everything, but she just didn't say it out loud."

Situ Hong thought and said, "Although I don't know why she has been tolerant of Li Huamei for so long, this time, she must want to take this opportunity to teach him a lesson."

Situ Hong only said this, but she had a meaning behind her words.

That means the matchmaker is using Liu Bai as a knife...

"So you really think that the matchmaker just wants to pressure Li Huamei?" Liu Bai smiled and shook his head, "I'm afraid that's not the case. She probably wants to get rid of Li Huamei directly."

"This……"

Situ Hongxing's eyes opened wide, and she seemed a little unconvinced.

"Sir, this... matchmaker association only has four matchmakers in total, and she is willing to just take one away?"

"This matchmaker... is a person of great courage."

Liu Bai spoke softly.

Judging from the previous discussions on this matter, the matchmaker had obviously guessed the power behind her. Otherwise, she would not have done such a servile thing.

But now that he has already lost face, why would he still use himself as a knife?

This doesn't make sense. Besides... the matchmaker wouldn't dare to do that.

How dare she use the person who just stole something from the royal family as a knife?

So the more likely scenario is that she is going to take action against Li Huamei. Once she captures Li Huamei, everything will be easy as far as the Yinmai is concerned.

If I can win her over, it will be even better for the matchmaker.

If I can't get it, the matchmaker will send someone over to deliver the Yin Meridian intact to me.

Now, the initiative is still in our own hands. Whether to go forward or wait is entirely up to us.

Besides... Liu Bai has not forgotten what the matchmaker said before she left this morning.

He gave two lanterns, one was put on his carriage, and the other was given to the old Zhang who had a lower Yin pulse.

That is the old steward who didn't come.

"Sir, I'll go see what they are talking about."

Xiaocao muttered to herself as she finished speaking, then got off Liu Bai while mumbling again.

“Won’t they find out?” Liu Bai was a little surprised. In his opinion, Xiaocao was just a wandering soul... Well, it had been with its mother for thousands of years, how could it be a wandering soul?
But that's what it looks like.

"Tsk, how can a tiny ant that gathers five energies find the trace of me, Master Xiaocao?"

The grass stood on the ground and spoke arrogantly, but when it was about to climb over the threshold, it stepped on empty air, cried "Ouch", and rolled out.

Situ Hong wanted to laugh when she saw it.

But I can only hold it in.

"..."

It was the same villa, but in a side room in the side yard. When Xu Zhao and Li Shunbao arrived, there was a dim oil lamp on the table. In addition, there was a pot of Shaodaozi in front of each of them, and a plate of peanuts was placed in the middle of the table.

"Brother Li, you know all the ins and outs of this association. Today, you should tell me what this association is planning now."

Xu Zhao crushed the peanuts with one hand, blew away the red peanut skins, and then threw them into his mouth. He then drank a sip of Shaodaozi and felt his whole body refreshed, so much so that the pressure he had just endured from Liu Bai was much less.

"Our current situation is basically considered surrender."

"It would be great if the new shopkeeper could take down that old pig Li Da... but we have to be prepared for the worst."

"It shouldn't be the case. No matter what, the new manager was sent by the leader. Although Li Da values ​​money more than his life, he won't do such a thing."

Xu Zhao took another sip of the liquor and said, "I definitely don't dare to fight him head-on, but I'm afraid he might be using some shady tactics behind the scenes."

"After all, it's just like he said. The evil spirits in Shanyin, or the assassins from the Paper Umbrella Society, or even the two from the Laba Sect... As long as there are Yin beads to earn, there is nothing that can't be done."

"And if the new shopkeeper really died, there would be no evidence. Would the master still turn against that person for a dead person?" "Don't forget that although that person was only a matchmaker, he still had that kind of relationship with the matchmaker after all."

At this moment, the two of them closed the door and naturally talked in whispers.

"Brother Xu, what you said makes sense." Li Shunbao rubbed his round belly and said, "But even so, Brother Xu, didn't you come down the mountain to take over the new manager anyway?"

After hearing this, Xu Zhao put the wine bowl he had just picked up back on the table.

Li Shunbao also realized that he had said the wrong thing and was about to change his words, but Xu Zhao had already shaken his head.

"My second brother came to Old Wolf Mountain with me. If it weren't for Li Da's greed... my second brother would have gathered the five energies by now."

After saying this, Xu Zhao no longer had any desire to drink. He just held the machete in his arms and played the pipa, breaking the strings with each hand.

"This knife was given to me by my second brother. I have been waiting for this opportunity for ten years. I will not miss it again."

After Xu Zhao finished speaking, he sat up straight, turned his head and looked at Li Shunbao beside him, and asked, "Brother Li, don't you want to talk about yourself?"

"What can I say?" Li Shunbao sneered, "I just feel that the advantages of reincarnation are too great in this world, and we have to change it."

"Li Da's talent is just average. It was completely helped by his matchmaking cousin who gave him good things. Otherwise, he would be just a piece of material that gathers five energies."

Xu Zhao listened and shook his head.

"Brother Li's words are too exaggerated. Don't take them seriously."

"Then say smaller?"

"it is good."

Li Shunbao picked up the wine bowl and drank the spicy Shaodao in one gulp. Then he patted his belly and laughed:
"I'm so annoyed with him, and I can't do anything about it, so I'll just have to beat his mother!"

After hearing this, Xu Zhao's eyes lit up, and he filled each of their wine bowls and clinked glasses with them.

"Done!"

"Come on, do it!"

"..."

"They are two wonderful people. At least they are real when they are alive."

After listening to Xiaocao's story, Liu Bai also said something with emotion, then turned over and continued to sleep.

"No, sir, how can you sleep? This is an evil spirit and it's the Paper Umbrella Society. Aren't you afraid?" Xiaocao squatted on the mattress behind Liu Bai and pushed him hard.

Liu Bai was too lazy to pay attention and started snoring.

……

Deep in Laolang Mountain, inside an enclosure made of wooden fences, rows of wooden buildings are lined up.

By late at night, the sounds of wolves howling and tigers roaring filled the mountains.

In the darkness, there seemed to be ghostly shadows looming outside the fence. Most of the houses were dark, but there was a dim light inside the wooden building at the deepest part of the fence.

It’s not that there is someone in the room, but because there is a hole in the room.

The mine under this Yin Vein was arranged here, so it followed the rules left by the ancients.

There must be a perpetually lit lamp in front of the entrance to the Yinmai Cave. Otherwise, the pearl divers who go down to the Yinmai Cave will not be able to find the way back.

Finally, he got lost in this Yin vein and became a confused ghost.

At this time, below the cave entrance, in one of the branches of the Yin Vein, under the dark green rock, were sitting two Yin walkers.

Both of them have the strength of the Yang Yin God, and are also the manager and supervisor of this Yin Vein.

The one wearing the blood-stained shirt is the shopkeeper Li Da, and the one wearing the black shirt is the abbot Liao Kang. They are both sitting here with ugly looks on their faces.

"Let's take a step back, Lao Li. Let's go back. With the relationship with Lord Li, we won't die."

"Stay here and fight stubbornly...you know the matchmaker's temper." Liao Kang was still persuading.

Li Da listened and slapped his thigh, "Fuck, take a step back and the more you think about it, the angrier you get!"

"That woman, if our Li family hadn't taken her in, how could she be where she is today? Oh, now she's fine, she's made a name for herself, and she's put our Li family aside."

"Haha." Liao Kang just smiled bitterly.

At this point, he had nothing but regret. He regretted why he could not resist Li Da's test and embezzled the Yin beads.

"Old Liao, don't be so rude. You know what kind of person that bitch Matchmaker is."

"You are the abbot of Old Wolf Mountain. Do you really think you can survive if you go back?"

"Since Matchmaker has decided to attack Old Wolf Mountain, will she still show some mercy? Besides, what kind of mercy can she show to you?"

Li Da looked at him with disdain and sneered. It had been more than ten years. How could he not know what kind of person Liao Kang was?

Just a weakling.

As long as you put a little pressure on him, he will immediately give in.

Just like now, Li Da just said this and Liao Kang's face changed immediately, and the expression on his face changed from cloudy to bright.

“That’s right…” Liao Kang’s bitter smile turned into a sneer, “Old Li, you can still survive if you go back, but if I go back… I’ll really be dead.”

"Well! I wonder what arrangements you have made, Old Li? If we add the two of us, we should be able to take it down."

Seeing that Liao Kang finally gave in, Li Da smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Wouldn't it be better if we did this earlier? We two brothers have been together and have been through so many ups and downs over the years."

"I believe it will work this time."

After they finished talking, the two of them moved closer together, like two evil spirits whispering.

"My brother passed the news to me two days ago. After I got the news, I asked someone at the Paper Umbrella Association to distribute paper umbrellas. The people I invited should have arrived by now."

"It should be the nourishment of the Yang God, right?" Liao Kang asked tentatively.

"That must be it." "Things have come to this point. As long as we can get things done, it doesn't matter if we spend a few more Yin beads."

Li Da looked as if he was sure of victory.

Liao Kang asked again: "How many?"

Li Da stretched out his left hand and raised his middle and index fingers. "Two."

Liao Kang added: "I have saved a lot of blood beads over the years. How about I give some more and we can gather four Yang Shen paper umbrella people. Will that be safer?"

"They will go up the mountain tomorrow. Don't you think it's too late for you to say this now, Lao Liao?"

Looking at Li Dakai's slightly mocking eyes, Liao Kang felt annoyed again, regretting why he didn't make a decision earlier. Otherwise, the chance would be greater.

"Then... do you have any other arrangements?"

"Yes, we have also invited an old immortal who has been in the process of patrolling. He has also been in the process of casting his body for a long time. He will seal the place when the time comes to stop the soul from escaping."

"What about Laba religion?"

When talking about this, Liao Kang's voice became much lower.

"Laba Sect? If you collude with them to murder your own brothers, and the matchmaker finds out, you will be skinned alive." Li Da deliberately raised his voice.

Liao Kang was so frightened that he shivered, but after he came to his senses, he asked again, "Did you collude with them?"

Li Da looked at his frightened expression, and although he felt contempt in his heart, he did not show it on the surface.

After all, according to Li Huamei's prior arrangement, if it wasn't the last way.

Then I can find a scapegoat.

"Of course it's collusion." Li Da spread his hands. "It's already this time, why should we differentiate between each other? The most important thing is that we two brothers can survive."

"That's right, that's right."

Liao Kang nodded repeatedly and said, "Luckily you are here, Lao Li, otherwise I really don't know how to deal with this matter."

"It's okay. I have you, Lao Liao, silently supporting me from behind. That's enough."

Li Da patted his shoulder again, and then said, "You should go back and rest for a while. It will be a fierce battle tomorrow morning."

"Good good."

Liao Kang bent down and nodded.

Seeing his responsive look, Li Da lost interest in talking and immediately turned to go to the main vein of the Yin Meridian, then followed the shiny stone steps that had been trampled on and climbed up to the fence on the ground.

Liao Kang stayed here the whole time until he heard Li Da had pushed open the wooden door on the ground. Only then did he feel at ease to come out of this branch, and then went about thirty feet deep. After passing two branches, he entered the third branch.

He went deeper and deeper, and finally at a corner, he saw a... skeleton.

This skeleton was wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat on his head, and was sitting among the rocks on the ground.

Like a fisherman who died here of old age.

When Liao Kang arrived here, he squatted beside the skeleton and whispered a few words.

As he finished speaking, the skeleton's mouth moved slightly, making a "clicking" sound as its jaw opened and closed.

This was obviously not the first time that Liao Kang had communicated with this skeleton, so even so, he understood what the skeleton meant. He nodded and said "yes" a few times, then bowed and said goodbye.

In the empty Yin vein, two deep blue ghost fires suddenly ignited in the eyes of the dead skeleton.

Like it had... eyes.

-

(The side dishes for dinner are here, and there will be more in the evening. Please give me a monthly ticket.)

　Thanks to book friend 20220315192340327 for the 2000 points reward, and thanks to Xu Qingan for the 566 points reward

　　
　
(End of this chapter)