Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 303

Li Sanjiang leaned forward, his buttocks dangling in the air, half-kneeling on the tile with circles drawn on it, looking at the boy sitting cross-legged in the opposite circle, waving his hands continuously.

Look at that focused gaze, that serious expression, and even those constantly changing hand gestures—one after another, without repeating a single movement.

Hey, I have to say, when my little Yuanhou does these tricks, he actually looks pretty good!
A sense of pride, knowing that someone had a successor, immediately welled up in Li Sanjiang's heart.

But Li Sanjiang quickly dismissed this thought and began to reflect on what he was actually thinking.

Is my line of work a good one? I can't possibly let my child follow in my footsteps, can I?

But as soon as these words of advice reached his throat, he swallowed them back down.

After all, you can really talk a good game about other people's kids tinkering with this stuff, but my own little Yuanhou has already been admitted to university and started his internship quite a while ago. So the kid is just smart and learned some things from when he was sitting with me during a vegetarian retreat.

Well, it's just a superficial effort, nothing to be taken seriously.

Right now, the child is doing it seriously. Even if he knows it's fake, he still wants to pray for himself and do his part. He'll just accept it and let the child feel at ease and happy.

Li Sanjiang patted his pocket, took out a cigarette and lit it. He unloaded all his burdens and just watched his great-grandson continue to work hard.

I don't know if it's because the light bulb on top is old, or because the smoke I exhaled didn't dissipate in time, or because my eyesight is failing, but my little Yuanhou looks like he's been illuminated.

Li Sanjiang licked his lips. This light is excellent. If I could have this kind of light when I go out to perform rituals in the future, wouldn't the master feel more at ease?
"Grandpa, matches."

"okay."

Li Sanjiang tossed the matchbox over.

Li Zhuiyuan pulled out a match, lit it, and then lit the yellow paper in his hand.

Li Sanjiang, with a cigarette between his fingers, pointed out, "Young Marquis Yuan, you can't light the yellow paper from the corner. It'll shoot up too fast, and you won't have time to react..."

Li Zhuiyuan slammed the yellow paper in his hand onto the ground.

"Snapped."

Li Sanjiang's eyes glazed over, and he leaned forward, collapsing onto the tiles and falling asleep.

Successful.

Li Zhuiyuan stood up, helped the half-asleep, half-conscious old man onto the bed, and covered him with a blanket.

After tidying up the room floor, refilling the old man's teacup with water, and cleaning the ashtray, Li Zhuiyuan returned to his room, picked up a washbasin, and went to the shower room outside to take a shower.

When I came out after washing up, I heard my great-grandfather snoring louder, as if his energy had returned.

After standing at the door for a while, Li Zhuiyuan returned to his room, got into bed, closed his eyes, and prepared to dream.

The dream came quickly. Li Zhuiyuan found himself back on a floating bed, but the black water below was receding, and eventually the bed became aground.

Looking around, the familiar Forbidden City environment seemed to have been soaked in black ink.

In his dream, Li Zhuiyuan covered himself with the blanket again and continued to sleep.

As dawn broke, the lights in the east room were already on.

After helping her granddaughter with her hair and makeup, Liu Yumei gently pressed her face against hers, looking at the two of them in the mirror.

After appreciating it, Liu Yumei said:

"Come on, let Grandma change your dressing."

As he took out the medicine box and was about to grab his granddaughter's hand, she pulled her hand back.

Liu Yumei didn't insist, saying, "Then take the medicine box up with you and let Xiao Yuan change it for you after he wakes up."

Ah Li pulled her hand back and presented it to her grandmother again.

Liu Yumei was amused: "You don't want to trouble Xiao Yuan, but you think it's okay to trouble Grandma?"

When she unwrapped the bandage, reapplied the medicine, and then bandaged it back up, Liu Yumei tied a neat knot.

Ah Li shook her head.

"Go, go, go."

Liu Yumei untied the knot and tied the same knot as Xiao Yuan.

Ah Li looked at the back of her hand in front of her, seemingly not very satisfied.

The same knot, tied by different people, just feels different.

Liu Yumei pretended not to see it.

After Ah Li pushed open the door and walked out, Liu Yumei turned to look at the memorial tablets on the altar and pointed to the direction Ah Li had left earlier.

On this offering table, everyone, regardless of whether they are Qin or Liu, is an elder of A-Li.

Therefore, this bitter smile cannot be a smile that only one person can have.

For Li Zhuiyuan, every day after returning home is filled with anticipation.

His punctual biological clock wakes him up at a fixed time; he turns his head and opens his eyes.

A-Li, dressed in green, was standing in front of the drawing table. The girl wasn't painting; she was preparing paints.

I came back yesterday, and everything was in a rush. I haven't even talked about the experience from the last wave yet, but I definitely will today. Then she'll start drawing.

Li Zhuiyuan sat up, and the girl turned to look at him.

This style of clothing is often not suitable for young girls because it is often cut in the same proportions as adult clothing, which makes young girls look older when they wear it.

However, Ah Li's clothes are all designed and custom-made by Liu Yumei herself, so this problem does not exist. She looks youthful and spirited, yet exquisite and beautiful.

Li Zhuiyuan remembered that during the wave of the giant fish Yu Xuzi, he had seen a portrait of the female dragon king from the Liu family. The clothes of the female dragon king in the painting were somewhat similar to what A Li was wearing now.

After washing up, the boy walked back. Ah Li was sitting on a rattan chair by the door, holding two cans of Jianlibao in her hand.

Li Zhuiyuan lay down on the rattan chair next to him, playing chess while recounting his experiences from the previous wave.

The game of chess ended with the door closing, and the previous story also mentioned the soup bubbling on Aunt Liu's stove:

"Time for breakfast!"

Li Zhuiyuan led A Li downstairs by the hand. They had just sat down and peeled a salted duck egg when they heard someone coming down the stairs.

"Ouch, ah~~~"

Li Sanjiang first stretched out a big yawn, then tilted his head back, made a series of noises in his throat, and spat out a powerful mouthful of saliva towards the outside of the dam.

Although she still leans forward when walking and can't straighten her back very well, her former energy has completely returned.

Aunt Liu: "Uncle Sanjiang, you look really good today. It seems your great-grandson's return is more effective than any magic pill."

Li Sanjiang laughed heartily and said, "Of course!"

After breakfast, Li Sanjiang wanted to go out for a walk. He hadn't been out for a while because he was staying home to recuperate, and he was really feeling restless.

Li Zhuiyuan stepped forward and advised, "Grandpa, you've just recovered, why don't you rest for a couple more days?"

Li Sanjiang shook his head: "It's not customary to lie down for too long in the village. If I keep lying down, someone will start asking if I need to prepare some yellow paper ingots in advance."

Li Zhuiyuan then accompanied his grandfather on a walk.

As the two walked from the side path onto the village road, they heard the sound of a tricycle behind them; it was Runsheng riding out.

"Lord Runsheng, are you going to Xiting to see the mountain cannons?"

"Yes, give my grandfather some more food, and the money he'll lose in the card game."

"Okay, go ahead, be careful on the road."

"Okay, Uncle Li."

Runsheng looked at Xiaoyuan, smiled, and then rode away on his tricycle.

Arriving at the village below Xiting Town, Runsheng could see the smoke rising from his own chimney from a distance.

Runsheng parked the tricycle in the yard, went into the house, lifted the stove lid, and saw sweet potato porridge cooking inside. There was no one behind the stove.

Runsheng checked the rice jar again; there was still rice inside, and salted fish and sausages were hanging from the rafters.

Grandpa Shan, who had finished tending the porcelain jars at his neighbor's house early in the morning, walked in through the small kitchen door while tying his trousers with a drawstring.

Upon seeing Runsheng there, he immediately took two steps back, hid behind the wall, quickly tied the waist rope, and tucked it into his pants before walking back in.

"Lord Runsheng, you're back."

"Yes, you're back, sir."

Grandpa Shan deliberately said loudly, "Hehe, I used to get heartburn from eating too many sweet potatoes. I haven't eaten them for a while now, and I've been eating refined grains every day. I'm actually craving them. I just happened to cook a lot, so let's have some together to soothe our stomachs."

They did cook a lot. In the past, during the busy farming season, villagers liked to get up early in the morning and cook a big pot of porridge. After the porridge cooled and solidified, they would use chopsticks to divide it into several pieces to serve as a set meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Of course, Grandpa Shan did this not because he didn't have time to work in the fields; he was simply lazy.

Runsheng ladled two bowls of porridge onto the table, put two pickled cucumber strips in his grandfather's bowl, cracked a salted duck egg into it, and lit an incense stick for himself.

Grandpa Shan went for a walk in the yard, shook his arms and legs, and said:

"Sigh, eating such fine food every day has made me less energetic than before. You know, people just can't enjoy life too much; if they do, their bodies become weak. I've been smoking soft cigarettes these days, but yesterday someone gave me a hard one, and damn it, I can't even get used to it! It cuts my throat, haha!"

After speaking, he waited a while, and seeing no response, Grandpa Shan walked into the house with some doubt:
“Lord Runsheng, did Mengmeng walk to the town's supply and marketing cooperative? The tricycle is still in the yard.”

Upon seeing the two bowls of porridge on the table, Grandpa Shan scratched his head, said "Oh," and then said:
"Mengmeng didn't come today, no wonder."

Grandpa Shan was like a student who had recently achieved good grades and was waiting for praise, but when he found that his parents hadn't come this time, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

After sitting down, he reached into his pocket and placed the money on the table.

The money wasn't much, but the bills were folded neatly, and the change was also stacked up, indicating that it had been specially arranged beforehand.

The cards were played and lost, but not all the money was lost, and the family still had enough food and drink. In the past, this was a significant improvement.

After picking up his chopsticks and taking a couple of sips of porridge, Grandpa Shan put them down again and said to Runsheng:
"Lord Runsheng, when you get back, tell Mengmeng that I have plenty of money and food this time..."

Grandpa Shan frowned and waved his hand, saying:
"No, you can't say that. That girl will think you're deliberately siding with me and that you're conspiring to deceive her."

After a pause, Old Man Shan asked again, "Did you bring any money, Marquis Runsheng?"

Runsheng nodded and took out two bills from his pocket. One was for daily expenses, and the other was much thicker, which was for money lost playing cards.

Grandpa Shan smiled, took the money, straightened it, and said:
"How about this, I'll go to the Marquis of Sanjiang's place in a couple of days to see that old geezer, and while I'm at it, I'll also buy some things for Mengmeng to take with me, so I don't go empty-handed."

Runsheng, what do you think Mengmeng likes? She definitely doesn't need me, this old man, to buy her clothes. Oh, and she likes snacks, so I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy her some of everything.

Zhang Sanhou goes to work in the city every day. I'm going to see him tonight and ask him to buy a few packets of hot pot base. That girl definitely loves that.

Grandpa Shan kept rambling on about his plans.

He never married in his life. When he took Runsheng back to raise him, he didn't really know how to be a good grandfather (father). Anyway, Runsheng was tough from a young age. If he fell or bumped into something, he would just rub it and get up. He never got sick. When they were hungry, the two of them would go hungry together. He would lie in bed and tell Runsheng stories, and Runsheng would fall asleep.

When Runsheng grew up, his appetite increased, so Uncle Shan just dumped Runsheng Hou with Li Sanjiang. That old man was good at making money and lived a comfortable life. Runsheng Hou could eat and drink well with him.

I thought I could finally relax, but in the end, I still couldn't escape the responsibilities I was supposed to bear.

Sometimes, Grandpa Shan really hoped that Runshenghou could be like the other young men in the village, forgetting his parents after getting married.

He made a living on his own, and no matter how tight his finances were, it was impossible for him to starve to death in the village and fields.

Unfortunately, Marquis Runsheng is a filial son, but Mengmeng doesn't care about him. He wants to send him alimony, and you just let him send it?

Fine, I'll give it to you... At first, Grandpa Shan was quite happy to receive it, but every time that girl came, she would indirectly criticize him.

Oh dear, when a daughter-in-law is brought home after someone has raised money for a dowry, she scolds her father-in-law at home, and most of the father-in-law doesn't dare to talk back. How much less can a poor man like me have the right to talk back? He can only lower his head and endure it.

At first, some people in the village asked me if I and Runsheng had bought a wife from a slave trader, otherwise what respectable woman would want to be with the Lu family?
The rumors died down after a while, not because the rumors stopped with the wise, but because the Lu family didn't have a damn money to buy a wife!
Li Sanjiang scolded him a lot for this, but he didn't take it to heart, until Mengmeng gave him money for losing the game and stopped scolding him.

This really embarrassed Grandpa Shan. After much painful reflection and endurance, he finally managed to achieve a surplus.

The point of trying to perform well is to prove that even if I can't help Runsheng, being a burden is fine... at least I'm not a bottomless pit of a burden.

"Master."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"Mengmeng won't be going back to Nantong for now. She's staying in her hometown of Shancheng for a while."

"A while... how long is that?"

"Two or three years, I guess."

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Shan was struck dumb, and sat up straight on the bench.

Even if you've never eaten pork, you've at least seen pigs run. Old Man Shan knows what it means for couples to be separated for two or three years. In fact, it doesn't even need to be two or three years; if they're separated for more than three months, it's practically a complete breakup.

After finishing his porridge, Runsheng rode his tricycle to the town's supply and marketing cooperative to buy groceries for his grandfather. When he returned, he found his grandfather still sitting on the bench, the bowl of porridge in front of him untouched.

Runsheng didn't know how to comfort people; he didn't have the brains for it.

So he went to the yard and started chopping firewood.

Actually, Runsheng didn't understand what dating meant. He wasn't even sure if he and Mengmeng were dating, nor did he know exactly when they started dating.

He felt that although Xiao Yuan and A Li were young, they were a perfect match. They were almost inseparable at home and could even sit on the terrace together, pointing at the stars in the sky while playing chess.

Even though Ah Li can't speak, it seems like they have endless things to talk about when they're together.

He had also witnessed how Tan Wenbin and Zhou Yunyun got together; they were high school classmates and later went on to attend the same university.

When Tan Wenbin was at home, he often mentioned his class monitor, who had a loud voice, a bad temper, and would often pick fights with him and tattle on him to the teacher, ending with the comment: "He's just not bad looking."

Then, they started dating, and they even met each other's parents. Everything fell into place naturally, and they were just waiting to graduate.

When Runsheng was working at the university, he saw many college couples. They were very natural and generous. Sometimes, even in front of many people, they would still do some intimate things.

After looking at many examples, Ke Runsheng still couldn't find a corresponding example for himself.

Runsheng didn't understand what it felt like to be moved.

Although he had seen Lin Shuyou on Lin Shuyou when Lin Shuyou was preparing to write a love letter to Zhou Yunyun.

But he didn't have this feeling when he first met Yin Meng at the coffin shop on Fengdu Ghost Street, and he still doesn't now.

It seems like one day, seeing her busy and sweating, I thought of handing her a jar of cool boiled water with patchouli leaves in it. When I saw her mouth was idle, I thought of finding her some snacks. When I saw that she liked spicy food, I added more chili peppers when I cooked. When I saw that she envied those female college students dressed in glamorous clothes, I gave her all my monthly bonuses so she could buy clothes.

Then, when Yin Meng saw that his clothes were worn out, she would buy him clothes. When everyone was injured, she would be the first to check on her own injuries. Naturally, she put herself first in everything. She even offered to accompany him to buy daily necessities for his grandfather.

There's no delicate touch like Xiao Yuan's, nor the beautiful memories of youth shared with Tan Wenbin; Runsheng only has a tacit understanding.

I will subconsciously treat you well, and you will subconsciously treat me well in return.

The feeling of "being moved" should be fresh and vibrant, but here it feels a bit rough.

It's rough, it hurts your hands, you can touch it, you know it really exists; it's not lively or fresh, which also means it's hard to spoil.

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

Runsheng neatly split the small wooden stakes one by one. When the firewood ran out, he had to split it again, and then he had to burn it again. This cycle repeated itself day after day.

Let alone passionate or tender love, most people's lives are actually quite uneventful and not very fulfilling.

Fireworks are beautiful, but usually only a few people set them off, while most people stand on the periphery and look up at them.

After chopping the firewood, Runsheng neatly stacked it against the wall.

He clapped his hands, turned around, and looked into the room.

But then they saw that Grandpa Shan was already in tears.

"Master, you..."

"Lord Runsheng, I have become a burden to you!"

"No, sir, it has nothing to do with you."

"If it wasn't because of me, what else could it be? You couldn't have argued with that girl Mengmeng, could you? I know you, it must be because of me. Just like what that Marquis of Sanjiang said, it's because I'm useless and I'm dragging you down so you can't live a proper life. Oh dear!"

"Sir, you think too highly of yourself."

Grandpa Shan: "..."

Runsheng scratched his head. He wasn't mocking his grandfather, but rather pointing out that Yin Meng couldn't return because of the Fengdu Emperor, and what did that have to do with an ordinary elderly corpse retriever from Nantong?

Runsheng interrupted Grandpa Shan's tantrums; he stopped howling and instead asked:
"She stayed in her hometown, so why did you go back to Nantong?"

"I will go pick her up, but I don't have the ability right now. I'll have to wait until I've made something of myself."

Grandpa Shan's face fell. Well, it was still because his family's conditions were too poor, and it was all because of himself.

“Lord Runsheng, why don’t you go to Shancheng again, plead and beg a little more? Girls are soft-hearted, maybe…”

"Sir, I can't grind anymore."

There are eighteen levels of hell lying across the way, and I can't get up there now.

Grandpa Shan stopped drinking the porridge, went into his bedroom, lay down on the straw mat, facing inward, with his hands behind his head and his legs curled up.

"Sir, everything's ready, I'm heading back now. I still have things to do with Uncle Li."

Grandpa Shan raised his hand, waved it, and then put it back.

Runsheng rode away on his tricycle.

After lying there for an unknown amount of time, someone outside called out, "Uncle Shan, Uncle Shan, time to play cards! Come on, let's play cards!"

Grandpa Shan didn't react at first, so the person outside moved from the main room door to the bedroom window and shouted into the room through the screen:
"Uncle Shan, what are you sleeping for so early in the morning? Let's play cards!"

Grandpa Shan suddenly jumped up, his eyes red, and shouted at the people outside the window:

"Playing cards, playing cards, you dead man's cards! I'm never playing cards again!"

……

After his morning walk, Li Sanjiang felt much better, but the pain in his tailbone was even worse. "Ouch!"

When he sat down, Li Sanjiang cried out in pain, but when he looked at Xiao Yuanhou, he immediately held back, afraid of being blamed.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't scold him. After letting his grandfather lie down on the rattan chair on the terrace, he went back inside to get him a pillow and put it under him.

In this way, Grandpa could prop his head up with his right hand, hold a cigarette in his left, and chat with the villagers walking across the wheat field while enjoying the scenery.

Often, neither of them can understand what the other is saying, but since there's nothing important to discuss, the purpose of chatting might just be to get through the conversation.

Li Zhuiyuan went into his room, where A Li was standing behind her desk, already drawing.

Without the intrusion of the lazy dog ​​and the main body, the composition of this wave is very simple.

Li Zhuiyuan had already discerned the outline of the background: he, insignificant as he was, stood on a platform, with the enormous and majestic Emperor Fengdu before him.

Considering the need for collection and viewing of this painting, the head of the Fengdu Emperor will not appear in the painting. At the top of the scroll is a gray cloud and the Emperor's neck is vaguely visible. The Emperor's feet can be drawn below, but the Bodhisattvas below are replaced with golden light.

Ultimately, it all comes down to Li Zhuiyuan.

In the past, recording the journey along the river in a scroll didn't require such trouble; those that could be painted on the scroll were basically killed by Li Zhuiyuan.

The young man is currently unable to obtain these two statues.

Ah Li continued drawing, while Li Zhuiyuan walked to his desk, bent down, and pulled out a copy of "The Righteous Path to Subdue Demons" from underneath.

The boy had memorized almost all the books he had read, but Wei Zhengdao liked to write books on parchment paper. The feeling of flipping through the pages was incomparable to memorizing the contents; the fragrance alone was enough to make one feel intoxicated.

Wei Zhengdao was proficient in all the arts, while Li Zhuiyuan was focusing on the chapter on talismans and armor.

Li Zhuiyuan used to think that the talisman armor was not cost-effective. First, its production process was very complicated, and the materials were even more difficult to gather. Second, this thing required "spirit" to control and was isolated from the outside world.

In other words, after Li Zhuiyuan unfolds the talisman armor, he must find a powerful spiritual entity to enter it and let it control him. During this time, he also loses control of the spirit and cannot directly infuse power into the talisman armor.

Not to mention that the prerequisite for using the talisman armor is that the caster needs to have a deep understanding of puppetry.

All these constraints combined mean that this talisman armor is no longer just useless... it's only suitable for being used alone in specific situations.

Now, Li Zhuiyuan has found this dish of vinegar.

When not in use, the three sets of talisman armor can be stored in a small box, about the size of three decks of cards, making them very suitable for carrying around.

This is perfect for "adding and subtracting two generals".

Once the talisman armor is produced, it becomes a puppet on its own. Then, by summoning the two generals of increase and decrease, it is as if it has three guards that it can summon and dismiss at any time.

Wei Zhengdao wrote down the production process in detail, and Li Zhuiyuan was confident that he and A Li could quickly overcome the difficulties, except for the materials...

Currently, the only way for Li Zhuiyuan to obtain high-end materials is through the ancestral tablets specially made by Aunt Liu at Grandma Liu's behest.

However, obtaining the complete materials for crafting rune armor in this way is almost impossible, unless one has a large family treasury that allows them to freely choose the original or alternative materials.

Fortunately, Li Zhuiyuan had already reserved this treasure trove.

Li Zhuiyuan first took out a blank sheet of paper and analyzed and dissected the production method in Wei Zhengdao's book. When he was halfway through, he heard the sound of a tricycle coming up the dam outside, and Runsheng even rang the tricycle bell.

"Ah Li, I'm going out for a bit."

Ah Li nodded and continued to focus on drawing.

Li Zhuiyuan went downstairs and got into Runsheng's tricycle. Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou also pushed out a tricycle. They had several old tricycles for delivering goods to the family.

Runsheng rode his bike down the dam, followed by Lin Shuyou on his bike with Tan Wenbin on the back. Tan Wenbin was holding a book and reading it intently.

Lin Shuyou shouted anxiously, "Brother Bin, you can't watch now, you can't watch!"

Knowing where he was going, Lin Shuyou simply stood up and pedaled hard, instantly increasing the bike's speed.

Tan Wenbin shifted his attention from his book and noticed that Runsheng and Xiaoyuan were already behind him, growing smaller and smaller. He then looked at the rapidly passing scenery on both sides and the creaking sound of the tricycle under its unbearable weight.

"Ah You, are you crazy? Riding that fast! In our current state, we could really get hit and killed by a car!"

"Then you're not allowed to read anymore!"

"Okay, okay, I won't watch anymore, I won't watch anymore."

Tan Wenbin put down his book.

The car's speed dropped sharply.

"Brother Bin, we're good brothers, how could you secretly work hard behind my back?"

"You're a genius, and I'm mediocre, so I definitely have to start early."

"That's true, but no, that's not what I meant."

Tan Wenbin: "By the way, Ayou, how's it going?"

"There are too many classes, it's so hard. Just memorizing isn't enough, you also have to understand. Bin, what about you?"

"I've almost finished looking at it."

"So fast? Brother Bin, do you have any study secrets? Teach me!"

"Ah You, you also came through the proper college entrance examination. Do you think there are shortcuts to learning?"

"Sigh, I know I don't..."

There are no shortcuts to learning, but there are shortcuts to exams.

"Ok?"

“When I was in Fengdu, I asked Lu Yi to ask my classmates for the exam syllabus drawn by the teacher. The package arrived when I got home.”

"Brother Bin, how could you do this? You got the exam syllabus but didn't tell me!"

“After I drew the scope myself, I put the package in your coffin. You didn’t even look at it and just used it as a pillow.”

Lin Shuyou: "..."

"Hey, Ayou, did you know that I'm still the class monitor? I'm still the class monitor of our class."

During the election this semester, I wasn't even there, yet I still won by a large margin, while the original branch secretary was voted out and replaced.

"That's not surprising. Your classmates all believe in your abilities, Brother Bin."

"What ability do you think you have? I'm not even at school, so what ability can I possibly demonstrate?"

"It's because Lu Yi still keeps the old rules: classmates get discounts when they buy things at the store, and there are free drinks after PE class. Also, materials and sponsorships for class activities are sourced from our store."

"Forehead……"

Two tricycles rode to the riverbank.

Generally speaking, people from Li Zhuiyuan's side would choose the same fixed spot when they came to the riverbank, which was the spot where Xue Liangliang jumped into the river.

As soon as Li Zhuiyuan came down, he noticed that there was an array blocking the view of the shore not far away.

The boy walked over, reached out and pried open the doors on both sides, and a wooden door appeared.

Opening the wooden door reveals a small warehouse layout inside.

Parked were: a silver-gray sedan, a white van, a yellow pickup truck, a small van, and a large truck.

The large truck also carried five bicycles and five motorcycles.

The license plates were already installed, and all the documents were placed in the driver's seat.

When Tan Wenbin came in and saw this, he couldn't help but exclaim, "As expected of my Brother Liang, so magnanimous!"

Tan Wenbin felt that even his own father would be envious and want to ride that motorcycle for a try.

Runsheng stood outside the door and looked at the small red coffin floating on the river. He turned his head and looked at it.

The coffin seemed unfamiliar to Runsheng, so it emitted a cold aura towards him.

When Tan Wenbin came out, the chilling aura immediately dissipated, and the coffin submerged in the water.

A moment later, a curtain appeared on the river, revealing the figure of Lady Bai.

She wasn't wearing traditional clothing, but rather the clothes she wore when she accompanied Xue Liangliang to Fengdu, which had a blend of classical and modern, dignified and sexy feel.

No wonder Engineer Luo gave Xue Liangliang a serious warning back then; even if a woman like that is pregnant, she is enough to make most young men unable to resist her.

Bai Jia Niangniang bowed to Tan Wenbin.

After Li Zhuiyuan came out of the door, the bow immediately changed to a kneeling bow.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't stop her. The young man knew that she must have felt the merit she had received from escorting Xue Liangliang to Fengdu after returning.

Indeed, a few days after returning home, Lady Bai felt a warm sensation flowing through her body, and even her previously shallow belly began to move noticeably.

After Lady Bai finished expressing her gratitude and stood up, Li Zhuiyuan said, "I need to borrow your Bai Family Town for a while."

"Baijia Town warmly welcomes you."

Lady Bai sank down.

A series of white lanterns appeared beneath the water's surface ahead, their phantom images visible.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Runsheng, you stay upstairs and watch the car. I'll take Bin and Ayou down."

Runsheng: "Okay."

Li Zhuiyuan walked into the water. When the water level was above his head, he did not feel any chest tightness or discomfort, because there were two rows of Bai family goddesses holding lanterns standing under the water.

Upon seeing Li Zhuiyuan, they all knelt down.

Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand and pointed ahead, signaling them to hurry up and lead the way.

Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou followed. Although they didn't have to hold their breath in the water, they still couldn't talk.

As they walked down the riverbed, the two looked left and right, feeling as if they were tourists retracing Xue Liangliang's path from years ago.

When the archway of Baijia Town appeared in front of the three of them, Lin Shuyou looked at the scene inside, turned his head and gave Tan Wenbin a thumbs up.

Tan Wenbin nodded in agreement.

They weren't nervous because they had long since passed that stage, but back then Xue Liangliang was just an ordinary person.

From an ordinary person's perspective, Xue Liangliang inexplicably arrives in this place, enters this eerie and terrifying town, and somehow manages to climb into a coffin and complete their wedding night...

With such courage and drive, Brother Liang is truly a genius!

After entering the archway, the feeling of being in the water completely disappeared, as if I had come to the ground and could speak again.

Lin Shuyou kept looking at the residential buildings on both sides. All the doors were open, but not every household had the Bai family goddess inside. However, in all the households that did, the Bai family goddesses who were originally sitting inside like ghostly figures in photographs were now kneeling at the door to show absolute respect.

"Brother Bin, the architecture here is so beautiful and delicate. Nantong isn't lacking in tourist attractions..."

Tan Wenbin reached out and grabbed Lin Shuyou's hair, pulling it back to try and bring him to his senses.
"Ah-you, have you been reading too many professional books lately? Is this some kind of occupational hazard?"

"Hehe." Lin Shuyou chuckled a little embarrassedly, then said with some regret, "It's a pity, there are obvious signs of renovation, the old and new don't match."

"Isn't that obvious? Have you forgotten who came down here before?"

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Xue Liangliang's wife and said, "I just need to take advantage of the environment in Baijia Town. You may leave now."

"Yes." Lady Bai gave a slight curtsy, then waved her hand and said, "Close the doors and windows, and strictly forbid anyone from peeping. Anyone who disobeys will be torn apart and have their soul scattered!"

In an instant, all the doors and windows in the town were shut.

Xue Liangliang's wife also stepped back and left.

The entire town suddenly felt empty and utterly silent.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Let's set up the formation and plant the flags."

"understand!"

"understand!"

Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou went to plant the array flags. The workload was not much, because Li Zhuiyuan was already trying to master some of the array formations in Baijia Town to coordinate with them.

After everything was arranged, Li Zhuiyuan pointed to an area in front of him and said to Tan Wenbin:
"Tan Wenbin, go inside."

"Yes, boss!"

Tan Wenbin stepped forward.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't rush to start the attack. Instead, he looked at Lin Shuyou beside him, his gaze deep, and said:

"Watch carefully."

Lin Shuyou: "Understood!"

Li Zhuiyuan turned to Tan Wenbin, opened his right hand, and blood mist first filled his palm, then a blood-porcelain-colored array flag appeared.

The boy grasped the battle flag and flicked it gently.

"Crashing... crashing..."

The blue bricks on the ground detached one by one, strung together to form three shackles, all of which were stuck to Tan Wenbin's body.

Li Zhuiyuan: "It will hurt a little."

Tan Wenbin nodded vigorously, a smile on his face.

The battle flags in his hands fluttered as the young man said in a deep voice:

"Get out here!"

"what!!!!!!"

Tan Wenbin was in so much pain that he knelt on the ground and cried out in agony.

This isn't just a little pain; it's like having your soul pulled out!
Soon, a giant white centipede emerged first, its enormous phantom landing on one side, followed by the blue ox, which landed on the other side.

Both the centipede and the green ox were bound by shackles made of green bricks, yet even so, when facing Li Zhuiyuan, one stood tall with its long body erect, and the other with its limbs straight.

The third one to emerge was a two-headed python. It landed behind Tan Wenbin and immediately coiled its body. Instead of landing on top of the small hill, its two heads extended downwards, touching the ground.

Finally, the Blood Ape emerged, appearing before Tan Wenbin. As it emerged, its momentum remained undiminished, causing the brick shackles binding its body to ripple violently.

Without this restraint, the blood ape might have charged directly at Li Zhuiyuan.

This was a disaster deliberately sown by the Emperor. Under the guise of reward, the Emperor bestowed power upon them, allowing them to grow rapidly.

From a certain perspective, the fact that they didn't immediately launch a rebellion against Tan Wenbin was already a sign of respect, considering their past relationship.

Of course, it was also because Li Zhuiyuan himself was not injured or unconscious, and stayed by Tan Wenbin's side the whole time, which prevented them from choosing the most ruthless and blatant way to rebel.

The centipede wiggled its dense antennae, and the blue ox exhaled heavy breaths. Their demands were clear: they could continue to stay inside Tan Wenbin's body, but the allocation of authority needed to be renegotiated.

The blood ape pounded its chest, making a loud "thump thump thump" sound. Its crimson eyes swept over everyone present, and finally, it looked upwards. What it wanted was freedom!
Deng Chen remained silent, keeping himself prone with his posture as low as possible.

It seems to be the most obedient, but by letting the three heads cause trouble without stopping them, Tan Wenbin's eyesight has recently deteriorated to the point where he needs to wear reading glasses, which is enough to show that it is not so obedient after all.

It has fears, and it is also clear-headed, so what it thinks is to let the radicals cause trouble at the front, while it pretends to be innocent and moderate at the back. Anyway, it will also get a share of the gains made by the radicals, and there is no risk involved.

Tan Wenbin noticed this as well, so when Li Zhuiyuan asked, he specifically said, "Deng Chen is very well-behaved."

Looking at the four spirit beasts before him, he was filled with emotion, realizing that things had come to this.

You know, back then, they were all eager to be docile and obedient, and extremely grateful.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Do you think I'm here today to negotiate with you?"

The boy waved the battle flag.

The Twelve Edicts of Fengdu—The Gates of Hell Open Wide.

A phantom image of a ghost gate appeared behind Li Zhuiyuan, and a terrifying pressure descended.

The centipede bent its body, the green ox slowly lowered its front hooves, and even the blood ape stopped roaring.

Their current audacity stems from the Emperor's gift to them.

But the emperor at that time did not know that he would be coerced into acknowledging the legitimacy of the emperor's successor.

Therefore, since it was a calamity sown by the Great Emperor, Li Zhuiyuan, as the Great Emperor's successor, naturally had a way to resolve it.

"When that pig wanted to devour the four of you, I killed the pig and saved you, preventing the final act of elimination. This is one act of kindness."

It was I who protected that photo studio, preventing martial arts practitioners from approaching, and I also set up a spirit-gathering array to help you recover. This is my second act of kindness.

"You are permitted to enter Tan Wenbin's body, share in the profits from Jiang's merits, and in a mere ten years, you are granted your freedom. This is the oath you made with Tan Wenbin, and this is the third act of kindness."

Seemingly sensing the hostility in the boy's words and anticipating the possible consequences, the two-headed python immediately extended its head forward, wanting to gently rub against Tan Wenbin.

When radicals are about to be suppressed, so-called moderates have to step in to smooth things over, or at least clear themselves of any involvement.

The Twelve Edicts of Fengdu—Four Ghosts Lift the Sedan Chair!
"Boom!"

The blood ape was violently slammed to the ground, its blood being rapidly drained; the blue ox's four hooves broke off, leaving it paralyzed on the ground; the centipede's body was violently compressed, and a large number of its tentacles fell off.

The two-headed python's heads were pressed tightly together, rubbing and colliding violently, constantly deforming themselves.

The boy pointed at them, and karmic fire rose from their bodies, each one emitting a heart-wrenching cry as they were already in extreme pain.

"Crack!"

The gates of hell opened a crack, and four pitch-black chains shot out from within, piercing their bodies one by one, wreaking havoc, binding and knotting within their spirits.

Li Zhuiyuan slowly raised his head, his tone devoid of any emotion:

“We gave you equal opportunities to be human beings, but you didn’t know how to cherish them, and you’re not used to it.”

Well,

From this day forward, you will all be giving me...

Be a dog.

(End of this chapter)