Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 313

The central area was affected by the battle and looked as if it had been continuously worked on by many bulldozers, making it extremely flat.

This made it take Lin Shuyou a long time to find a fertilizer bag at the edge of the ruins.

There was a hole at the bottom of the bag, so Ayou gathered it up and tied a knot.

Then, Ayou came to Xiaoyuan's side with the bag.

"Crash..."

First, empty everything out of your backpack and then transfer it into a broken fertilizer bag.

Then, Ayou carefully placed the broken pieces of porcelain one by one into his backpack.

The thought that these broken porcelain pieces could be incorporated into the talisman armor and used to make the two generals Zengsun work for him filled Ayou with an inexplicable and intense joy.

Although there is a nominal distinction between superiors and subordinates, and the boy has become a ghost general whose life and death are in Ayou's hands, Ayou has always given the boy a lot of authority, just like in the past. Therefore, the boy's emotions can also affect him.

The boy said, "Tsk tsk, what great materials! They're so lucky. I'm even a little jealous."

Lin Shuyou: "Then you go."

The boy said, "I won't go. They were just temporarily conscripted for corvée labor. I have an official position."

Lin Shuyou: "Do you really have to be this happy?"

The boy said, "God is having a great time. He just switched jobs and the old government office collapsed right afterward."

Lin Shuyou: "Are these porcelain shards really that valuable?"

Tongzi: "I'll tell you something taboo in secret: when that woman shows this blood porcelain to that person, she has no chance of surviving."

Lin Shuyou: "It was that woman who tried to kill Brother Xiaoyuan first."

Boy: "Yes, yes, yes."

Lin Shuyou's backpack was full, but he still hadn't finished packing the porcelain pieces, so he simply took off his clothes and spread them on the ground to continue packing the porcelain pieces.

Tongzi: "Actually, the old government office has not only collapsed, but it is also about to be swallowed up by my new government office."

Lin Shuyou: "So after this wave ends, do I still have to go back to Fujian?"

Tongzi: "Definitely. You can't handle it by yourself. I reckon that person will go back with you to the temple of the chief official you studied at when you were a child."

The Bodhisattva has been suppressed in the underworld by the Emperor of Fengdu. The officials and generals have not only suffered heavy losses but are also leaderless, making it a good time for reorganization.

Lin Shuyou's eyes lit up: "Reorganize?"

The boy said, "That person must have a plan in mind, but you can also make some preparations yourself."

Lin Shuyou: "I also want to learn how to have three eyes and write a book?"

The boy said, "Stop writing books and come up with some rules. Haven't you always wanted to make spirit mediums and spirits equal? ​​This is a great opportunity."

By what right do those spirits of the underworld have the right to be high above, swaggering and dominating the heads of spirit mediums? It's outrageous!

Lin Shuyou: "That's right."

The boy said, "Your master's and your grandfather's great fortune is coming."

Lin Shuyou: "Great Luck?"

Tongzi: "Do you think that person went to the main temple in Fujian to negotiate? A new emperor brings a new court. If the Bodhisattva is no longer here, then the main temple will naturally have to be replaced. Tell me, besides your family's temple, who else can take that position?"

Ah, the things in this world are really interesting.

The difference between annihilating an entire family and rising to power is just a kneecap.

When Lin Shuyou's grandfather and master came to Jinling to settle scores, if their knees had been even slightly sluggish or stiff when they passed by the Dragon King's house, the temple would have been destroyed.

Where is it now, when people are burning incense at home, the supreme position of the main temple is about to descend from heaven?

This is the foundation of the Dragon King family, and the reason why so many heroes of the martial arts world throughout history have longed to attach themselves to the Dragon King's family. Even a tiny bit of wealth that slips through their fingers is enough to transform a small lineage.

Lin Shuyou was a little embarrassed: "Is this okay?"

The boy said, “What’s wrong with that? Your grandfather and your master are good at judging things. They know how to be pragmatic and know their limits. Just the fact that they have kept your secret from being a disciple of the Dragon King for so long is quite remarkable. Anyone with a little bit of a temper would have been tempted to do so.”

Lin Shuyou chimed in somewhat sheepishly, "That's true~"

Tongzi: "In the end, it's all for your sake. Just think of it as you working outside and sending your monthly salary back to your hometown to build a house."

Lin Shuyou scratched his head: "That's a good analogy."

On the other side, Li Zhuiyuan sat there, bandaging the wound on his hand.

There were also bruises on his ankles, so Li Zhuiyuan applied some medicated oil to relax the muscles and improve blood circulation.

Ever since Lao Tiantou came to Nantong, and A Li followed him to learn planting and pharmaceutical manufacturing, the team's drug supply has seen a simultaneous improvement in both quantity and quality.

In fact, normally speaking, let alone the Dragon King's family, any family with a bit of influence would provide some basic support to their members when they traveled to the river.

Few are like Li Zhuiyuan, who, despite sitting on a mountain of gold, still has to bring soil from outside to cover the gold and reclaim the land for planting.

After treating his injuries, Li Zhuiyuan opened a can of Jianlibao (a popular Chinese herbal tea brand).

He got up and walked towards the Taoist priest's corpse.

He squatted down, placed one hand on the Taoist priest's forehead, and held a drink in the other, taking a sip every now and then.

Torture and interrogation of living people is not only inefficient, but also prone to providing inaccurate information.

In comparison, Li Zhuiyuan preferred to ask about the corpse.

When the boy removed his hand, the Taoist priest's body began to decompose at a visible rate.

Li Zhuiyuan also obtained the information he wanted.

Their true purpose in this wave was to kill the Zhao family's eldest elder.

That is, the one who sent a visiting card to Grandma Liu back then.

The elder rarely left the Zhao family ancestral home in the mountains, so the best opportunity to strike was to assassinate him during the ancestral worship ceremony.

One of the clues that Qiu Huaiyu's team obtained from the waves was the evil deeds of the second wife.

That means that the other teams should be exposed for the misdeeds of the first, third, and fourth wives.

The evil deeds of the second wife are clear, but the evil deeds of the other wives should be a general term, referring to some kind of original sin of the Zhao family, to exonerate the people who went to the river.

Given the way Heaven sets the questions, it doesn't want to see everyone start a chaotic battle right from the beginning; it's best if everyone "takes their positions" first.

In the Taoist priest's memory fragments, there is a detailed explanation, or rather a reminder, of this wave from Qiu Huaiyu, who was the team leader.

Qiu Huaiyu said that on the surface, this wave was about killing the Zhao family's Grand Elder, but there must be other entanglements behind the scenes. The Grand Elder was probably just a pretext that was exposed.

This wave may involve a secret deep within the Zhao family, and since the Zhao family has produced a dragon king, that secret likely points to Zhao Wuyang.

Qiu Huaiyu also said that this time their opponent is the entire Zhao of Jiujiang. Everyone should not let their guard down and think that they have accomplished their mission by successfully assassinating the Grand Elder and surviving. Even if they have accomplished their mission, they will not be able to obtain all the merits that should have been bestowed upon them by this wave.

Li Zhuiyuan once again felt that Qiu Huaiyu was indeed an opponent worthy of serious consideration.

She and her team truly have no weaknesses.

But that's what it means to walk along the river.

People in the arena involuntarily.

The memorial tablets placed on the offering tables of the Qin and Liu families, aren't they all ancestral feuds between them?

Looking at it from another perspective, it is precisely because of these high-quality and high-level opponents that Jiang's journey is not boring, and the Dragon King's position can truly be respected by the masses.

Lin Shuyou had collected all the porcelain shards and was walking over with three small figurines in his hand:
"Brother Xiaoyuan, this was found under the porcelain shards."

Each little doll is only the size of a thumb, and the workmanship is exquisite, with a porcelain-like sheen.

Li Zhuiyuan used a similar tactic when he met Xu Yijin in Lijiang, but Qiu Huaiyu's method was clearly more sophisticated.

"Keep it, give it to Zhao Yi later."

"clear."

Tan Wenbin is very busy.

Although he had tried his best to protect the crime scene, the battle of formations between Xiao Yuan and the other party's leader, as well as the physical clash between Run Sheng and the zombie, still caused great damage to the scene.

Tan Wenbin had to wear gloves and pick up the scattered physical evidence and clues and put them back together, especially the plastic shed, which he had to rebuild.

It wasn't that he was deliberately trying to leave a mark for his own father, but rather that this lead to solving the case was something they had dug themselves, so they definitely needed to take basic precautions.

After finishing, Tan Wenbin jumped from the second floor.

The Taoist priest's body had completely turned into a pool of pus. Tan Wenbin touched the area around his kidney.

When the two were locked in their final battle, he never expected that the Taoist priest would use an astonishing technique—the Kidney-Nourishing Sword.

There are probably very few men in this world who could refuse such a sword strike.

Unfortunately, this sword technique can only be used when one's very essence is burned, and the Taoist priest can only use it once in his life.

Looking at the liquid, human-shaped traces left on the ground, Tan Wenbin smiled.

This Daoist Liuyun is quite interesting.

If we met someone in a different setting, we might be able to sit down and have a good chat.

Tan Wenbin took out a talisman and stuck it on the remaining traces. Blue flames ignited, turning the clothes and the last bit of residue into ashes. He then gently blew on it, and the smoke dissipated.

We need to clean it up properly, otherwise when my own father comes over and finds many corpses left behind, it will make the investigation more difficult.

When I walked over to Runsheng, he had already finished eating and was sitting there, one hand covering his stomach and the other holding a "cigar".

Runsheng ate until he was very full and satisfied.

He could feel the contents of his stomach digesting, and even the color of the fluid flowing down his body was changing.

Tan Wenbin: "Does the corpse poison have any effect?"

Runsheng shook his head: "You can have more."

Tan Wenbin: "You're really giving him face."

When the other party introduced himself as an "orphan," Runsheng also responded with "orphan."

Runsheng: "He knew I wanted to eat him, so he deliberately softened his body before he died to make it easier for me to eat him."

Tan Wenbin nodded: "Then we really have to give them face."

He took out a talisman and threw it over. Looking at the blue flames crackling and leaping up in front of him, he estimated that the remaining corpse energy could burn for quite a while.

“I’ve discovered a problem: my name isn’t appropriate to be called out in such a serious setting. I suppose when the old lady taught me, ‘shouting from the bow of the boat’ was originally a colloquial expression.”

"Ah."

"Runsheng, what do you think I should change it to?"

"A lackey of the sect."

"Alright, I asked the wrong question."

After confirming that everything had been cleared, Li Zhuiyuan deactivated the formation, allowing this area to reintegrate with the real world.

The moment the barrier's isolation effect dissipated, the cell phone rang.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, it's a three-eyed guy."

Li Zhuiyuan answered the phone.

We chatted for a couple of minutes, then hung up.

After walking a short distance, I came to the entrance of a small shop, where an orange cat was lying there sunbathing.

Runsheng glanced over, and the orange cat was so frightened that it scratched at the glass with its paws before tumbling down.

Runsheng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly suppressed his aura.

Tan Wenbin put his arm around Lin Shuyou's shoulder and walked to the counter, picked up the phone and made a pager.

Soon, the phone rang.

“Ah You, you answer, use your local dialect.”

"Brother Bin, why don't you just tell Uncle directly?"

"You have to pay attention to your table manners."

"Yes, that's right." Lin Shuyou nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.

Actually, this was just an excuse for Tan Wenbin. He mainly didn't want to appear too "mysterious" in his father's eyes.

Lin Shuyou answered the phone, and Tan Yunlong's voice came from the other end:

"Hello, this is Tan Yunlong."

Lin Shuyou quickly told Tan Yunlong the location where the body was found, speaking in a mix of dialect and Mandarin. He added at the end, "Did you understand?"

"Thank you, Lin."

"You're welcome, Uncle Tan."

After replying politely, Lin Shuyou was dumbfounded.

The phone hangs up.

Lin Shuyou: "It seems that Uncle Tan already knew it was me."

Tan Wenbin: "You were tricked out of your life by him."

Lin Shuyou: "Then..."

Tan Wenbin: "It's nothing, just a minor incident."

After waiting by the roadside for a while, Zhao Yi drove over.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Get in the car."

Zhao Yi slammed his fist on the steering wheel in dissatisfaction: "I haven't even gotten in the car yet, and you've already finished the job?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "We must be efficient."

Zhao Yi: "Fishing at a fixed location?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Mm."

Zhao Yi: "What's the quality of my fake second aunt's team?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Very tall."

Zhao Yi: "It's really rare to hear such an evaluation from you. If I were to face her, what would happen?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "If you face them head-on, it will be very difficult for you to win."

Zhao Yi: "It's alright, I'll wait for my little Jingjing to get up."

While driving, they summarized the information they had gathered from each other in the car.

After they finished talking, Lin Shuyou handed the three small dolls to Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi reached out and took them, smelling each one in front of his nose.

"Mmm, this tastes like my second aunt's."

"This is my second cousin, and this is another cousin from my second wife's side."

The second wife had many children, and in order to perform his dissolute act, the second master of the Zhao family had brought home many children born to his mistresses.

It seems that Qiu Huaiyu had already begun to take action against the second wife, but unfortunately, the father and son, Zhao Erye and Zhao Xu, were too fond of playing around and rarely came home, thus allowing them to survive a few more days due to their vices.

Zhao Yi laughed and said, "Hehe, this doll's disguise effect is even better than our faces. Mr. Li, is the production method to put porcelain into flesh and blood and then fire it?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "The effect is best when it is implanted into the body while the person is still alive."

Zhao Yi: "No wonder."

Lin Shuyou, sitting in the back row, quietly observed Zhao Yi's expression.

It's hard to imagine that someone could remain so calm when faced with their own family members being treated like pigs being casually taken out and slaughtered.

As they approached the "Zhao Mansion," Zhao Yi turned the car into an alley and stopped it.

Zhao Yi pointed to the restaurant outside the car and said, "This restaurant serves very authentic local dishes. Let's go try it."

Tan Wenbin gestured for Lin Shuyou and Runsheng to get out of the car with him and go inside to order food.

Li Zhuiyuan remained in the passenger seat.

Zhao Yi: "Hey Li, tell me, wouldn't it be better if I were still out there traveling the river, unaware of this, and then one day, after I've finished my journey, I suddenly find out that the Zhao family has been wiped out?"

Li Zhuiyuan remained silent.

Zhao Yi: "They wanted me dead when I was born, and they wanted me dead when I left the river. Now, they've made me come back to witness the demise of my Zhao family. Shouldn't I burn incense and kowtow to thank them properly?"

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the lake view in front of him.

Zhao Yi: "I originally thought it was the same, but there is still a difference between cleaning up and eliminating things yourself and having someone come to your door with a knife to help you clean up."

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a bottle of water from the car, twisted off the cap, and took a sip.

Zhao Yi: "The general direction of the plan remains the same, but I would like to make some changes to the details, is that alright?"

Li Zhuiyuan glanced at the local bottled water brand; the taste was a bit strange.

Zhao Yi handed over the three dolls and a mask that belonged to Zhao Xu.

Li Zhuiyuan accepted it and put it in his pocket.

Zhao Yi: "Ha, you surnamed Li, I'm still not reconciled."

Li Zhuiyuan reached out, opened the car door, and got out.

When I turned around, Zhao Yi was gone from the driver's seat, but the car keys were still there.

Upon entering the restaurant, Tan Wenbin had already ordered the dishes. Since Runsheng wasn't hungry, he ordered much less than usual, but the owner still had to push two square tables together to barely arrange the dishes.

Li Zhuiyuan ate the normal amount, and the rest went into the stomachs of Lin Shuyou and Tan Wenbin without being wasted.

After a fight, you get a big meal; that feeling is truly delightful.

After paying the bill, everyone returned to the car.

Li Zhuiyuan handed the two dolls to Runsheng and Lin Shuyou.

"Hold it, draw a drop of blood on it, and then don't resist."

Runsheng did as instructed, and soon the doll in its hand began to melt, gradually covering its body. At first, it had obvious porcelain-like edges, but after a series of wriggling movements, it was completely smoothed out.

Runsheng transformed into the appearance of Zhao Yong, the eldest son of the second wife.

Zhao Yong was already tall and strong, and Qiu Huaiyu probably chose him because he was preparing him for the zombie in her team.

Lin Shuyou also followed suit.

After a while, Lin Shuyou became Second Aunt.

Lin Shuyou: "Huh?"

Tan Wenbin put his mask back on, then found two bottles of purified water in the car and poured them on his face, transforming himself into Master Zhao once again.

Lin Shuyou really wanted to ask if he could change his role, but he was too embarrassed to ask.

Tan Wenbin reassured them, "When we go to the ancestral home in the mountains to pay respects to our ancestors, the couple from one branch of the family will bring two children of the next generation. The number of people is fixed, and there must be one Cui Xinyue among them."

Lin Shuyou nodded, then, as if remembering something, asked, "What about Three-Eyed? Doesn't that mean he doesn't have a spot?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Zhao Yi has his own methods." Lin Shuyou: "Oh, I see."

Although, Ayou didn't know what the method of the three-eyed man was.

Tan Wenbin turned around, stretched out his hand, and pointed at Lin Shuyou's face:

"Brother Xiaoyuan, could you change Ayou's face a bit? Add some bruises or handprints or something."

"can."

And so, the family of four returned to the Zhao mansion.

After passing through the front hall, we entered the outer residence of the Zhao family.

Master Zhao was still radiant, holding the hand of the young man born to his mistress.

After that, Zhao Yong remained silent, which was very much in line with his usual image.

As for the second wife, she had bruises around her eyes and red marks on her face, clearly indicating that she had been slapped.

The servants in the outer quarters had long been accustomed to this.

In the past, Master Zhao and his wife often had earth-shattering arguments, but they would quickly reconcile in the end.

It can only be said that the personas that Master Zhao and Cui Xinyue had deliberately created to conceal their shortcomings had greatly reduced the difficulty for Tan Wenbin and the others in playing their roles.

Like a victorious general, Master Zhao led his family back to the second courtyard.

Next, we can quietly wait for the ancestral worship ceremony the day after tomorrow.

The next morning, Li Zhuiyuan woke up early according to his biological clock.

Upon arriving at the lobby, Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou sat at a round table and ate breakfast.

Each house has its own courtyard, which is an independent system. Once the servants are dismissed, you will not be disturbed.

Runsheng was still not hungry and sat on the side without eating breakfast.

Tan Wenbin remarked, "It truly lives up to its name as zombie meat; it's just so hard to digest."

Li Zhuiyuan ate a little, and the rest was divided up by Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou, neither of them were full.

Tan Wenbin: "It tastes good, but the portion is so small, it's only enough to feed sparrows."

Lin Shuyou: "Wouldn't it arouse suspicion if we ordered breakfast again?"

Tan Wenbin: "If you smash the bowl, just treat it as a quarrel between husband and wife, and have it delivered again from outside."

Lin Shuyou: "Good idea."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Runsheng, come for a walk with me."

Runsheng: "Okay."

It's perfectly reasonable for an illegitimate child to be shown around the house by his older brother as soon as he enters the family, so he can get familiar with the surroundings.

Li Zhuiyuan had no intention of testing or observing the other three households; Zhao Yi had already finished those tasks. He was genuinely there to appreciate the architectural aesthetics of the Zhao family mansion.

The Zhao family's outer residence is a replica of their ancestral home in the mountains. Nowadays, old houses that still exist are either poorly maintained or simply rebuilt by later generations. It is very difficult to find one that is truly authentic.

Jiujiang has always been a place rich in culture. Things that truly have a cultural foundation will stand the test of time and will not become fashionable or outdated.

As they strolled around, Li Zhuiyuan and Runsheng naturally ended up at the Zhao Family Ancestral Hall.

Ancestral halls have always been the central area of ​​ancient buildings. The Zhao Family Ancestral Hall has flying eaves on both sides and a low arch in the middle, which is designed to resemble a roc waiting to take flight. As soon as you step onto the stairs, you feel a strong sense of oppression.

The restrictions and formations here are the most numerous in the entire house, though of course, they can't compare to the old houses in the mountains.

Stepping over the steps and entering, you see an offering table carved with a coiled dragon, seemingly riding the rain and mist. The dragon is slender at the top and wide at the bottom, with a memorial tablet placed alone at its head: Zhao Wuyang.

The remaining stage focuses on the direct descendants of the Zhao family throughout history.

Apart from the entrance, the three walls are neatly decorated with paintings and offering tables, and there are also inscriptions recording his life and deeds.

Li Zhuiyuan circled the dragon and scanned it. The Zhao family members from all generations who could be displayed here were all considered "important figures," but even after Mei Yi's evaluation, he still couldn't see what made them seem like important people.

Being good at business is a good thing, but if one is only good at business, although one can keep the family from falling into ruin, one will ultimately lack that grand and majestic spirit.

In the end, I still felt that the only real person in the entire ancestral hall was Zhao Wuyang, whose portrait was placed on the dragon head.

But Zhao Wuyang belonged to that generation of the entire martial arts world. The reason he was placed in the Zhao family ancestral hall was simply because his descendants shamelessly tried to associate with someone of the same surname.

Grandma Liu's altar is narrow and simple; she just squeezes it in wherever she lives.

Even the cracked and dilapidated offering table in Ah Li's dream had a scale that the Zhao Clan Ancestral Hall could not match.

The true essence of our ancestors doesn't need to be displayed through towering structures or magnificent gold and jade.

What people truly respect is not even the name on the memorial tablet, but the story behind that name.

Li Zhuiyuan took out three incense sticks, lit them over the candle, and offered them to Zhao Wuyang.

Footsteps sounded behind me, very light, yet deliberately held back, as if intentionally testing the hearing of the person inside.

Li Zhuiyuan pretended not to notice and silently completed the incense offering procedure.

"That's right. Although he was born away from home, he knows to offer incense and pay respects to his ancestors when he returns home. He is a sensible child."

The person who walked in was Zhao Shan'an, the head of the Zhao family and the father of the fourth branch.

Zhao Yi had met him and concluded that... he was a fake.

This person is the most noteworthy.

Because the other four families could bring their wives and children to the ancestral worship ceremony, it meant that the entire group could blend in.

Zhao Shan'an did not remarry. In name, he was the leader of the ancestral worship ceremony, but in reality, he could only go alone.

Therefore, it is highly likely that this imposter was traveling alone across the river.

As time went on, without exception, everyone who traveled the river alone became very powerful.

Zhao Shan'an was, after all, the current head of the Zhao family, and his strength should be the strongest among the outer quarters. Yet, he was still quietly eliminated.

Moreover, this guy was very confident, observing his "four sons" while leisurely preparing for his "own" birthday banquet.

Zhao Shan'an walked up to Li Zhuiyuan and reached out to touch the boy's head.

In an instant, his gaze sharpened, and a brief aura swept over him.

This was the test that Zhao Yi had mentioned.

Li Zhuiyuan did not use the Zhao Family's Original Technique to respond; he made no response whatsoever.

The biggest flaw is that an illegitimate child who was just brought back from outside has already mastered this technique.

Zhao Shan'an released his grip and asked, "Child, have you suffered any hardships out there?"

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head, pretending to be introverted and afraid to speak much since he had just arrived.

Zhao Shan'an: "Now that you're back home, forget about everything that happened outside. This is a new beginning for you."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

Zhao Shan'an raised his head, looked at the memorial tablet at the dragon's head, and sighed:
"Our ancestor was a truly remarkable figure. He came from humble beginnings but rose to prominence in the martial arts world. He was not only a role model for the Zhao family, but also for generations of martial arts practitioners."

Even without Zhao Yi's reminder, Li Zhuiyuan already knew that this family head was an imposter.

Because his recent reflections almost perfectly matched Li Zhuiyuan's previous thoughts.

The perspective from which they all stand is that of someone outside the Zhao family, observing Zhao Wuyang.

Zhao Shan'an: "Unfortunately, the descendants have been disappointing. For generations, they have not only failed to replicate the glory of their ancestors, but also produced very few outstanding individuals who could sail on the river."

Li Zhuiyuan timidly said, "My brother told me that there is a young and important figure in our Zhao family who is out there."

A smile appeared on Zhao Shan'an's lips.

"Yes, your cousin, Zhao Yi, my grandson Yi'er, he is on the river right now. He is the most promising genius in the Zhao family in the past hundred years."

"When will Brother Zhao Yi come home?"

"It's still early, it's not time for him to go home yet."

“My brother said that when Brother Zhao Yi comes home, our Zhao family will be completely transformed.”

"That's very true, but while he's working hard outside, those of us who stay at home can't just sit idly by. We should try to come back and see a completely different Zhao family, haha."

The last laugh was tinged with amusement.

Because it's really funny, when Zhao Yi comes home from the waves, he'll find that his hometown has been cleaned up by the same group of people who also traveled the river.

Just thinking about this scene is hilarious.

"But is Father inside?"

A greeting came from outside; the person who came was Zhao Heming, Zhao Yi's nominal father.

This is a handsome middle-aged man, impeccable in both appearance and temperament, like a figure from a traditional Chinese ink painting.

Zhao Yi's ability to live off a woman is inherited from him.

As soon as Zhao Heming entered, he bowed to Zhao Shan'an.

"As expected of my father."

Zhao Shan'an stroked his white beard and asked, "He Ming has arrived."

“Father, I dreamt of our ancestors last night, and I came here this morning to offer incense to them.”

"Our ancestors have shown their power, proving that your Yi'er has made great progress, which is truly a blessing for our Zhao family."

"Yes, now that Yi'er is away, I, as his father, can't do much to help. I can only pray to our ancestors for protection."

Li Zhuiyuan thought to himself: If Zhao Wuyang really does return in spirit form, he will certainly not let the Zhao family go, but he will definitely not let you go either.

Two imposters are putting on a traditional version of fatherly love and filial piety, interspersed with topics about their ancestors, which makes Li Zhuiyuan, as an observer, feel a deep sense of irony.

If it weren't for Liu Yumei's decades of hard work and support, would the same conversation have taken place in front of the ancestral tablets of the Qin and Liu families?
Zhao Shan'an and Zhao Heming offered incense to Zhao Wuyang one after the other.

Seeing that there were already three burning incense sticks above, Zhao Heming asked, "Who is up so early?"

Zhao Shan'an pointed at Li Zhuiyuan: "The second son's wife."

Zhao Heming: "He looks very unfamiliar."

Zhao Shan'an: "I brought it home yesterday, and it caused quite a commotion."

Zhao Heming: "My second son has brought quite a few children home over the years, and he's finally brought home a promising one."

As he spoke, Zhao Heming untied a jade pendant from his waist.

Li Zhuiyuan originally thought this was a gift to him, but he immediately realized that he had misunderstood.

Zhao Heming placed the jade pendant in front of Li Zhuiyuan and asked with a smile:

"Did you see anything inside this jade?"

Li Zhuiyuan stared intently. At first, he saw flashing green dots in the jade pendant, then he saw flowing light and shadow, then he saw the operation of the Zhao family's original technique, and finally he saw through the jade pendant and saw the faint Buddhist light that had just flashed in Zhao Heming's eyes.

If I can see through things quickly enough, you won't be able to see what you want to see through my eyes.

This jade pendant was originally used to test the aptitude of the family's children. Seeing the green dot meant they had the aptitude, seeing the light and shadow proved they had good talent, and seeing the Zhao family's original technique meant they could be considered geniuses.

However, Zhao Heming did not expect the young man in front of him to be so talented. He did not immediately look into the young man's eyes. When he did look, he found that the young man's eyes were empty except for the jade pendant.

Zhao Heming sighed, "Alas, what a pity, his talent is mediocre."

Zhao Shan'an comforted him, saying, "You've already produced a Yi'er, so you should be content. One shouldn't be too greedy in this world; cherishing blessings is the only way to ensure longevity."

Zhao Heming: "My father's teachings are correct."

Although Li Zhuiyuan looked puzzled and didn't know what this meant, he could tell that he seemed to have disappointed the person in front of him. He lowered his head helplessly, pushed off with his toes, and kept pulling the fingers of his left hand with his right hand.

Just now, when Zhao Heming was testing himself, Zhao Shan'an was looking at Zhao Heming.

Li Zhuiyuan suspected that Zhao Shan'an must have also noticed that faint ray of Buddha light earlier.

Is Zhao Heming a Buddhist?

The Bodhisattva had left a trick up his sleeve in Jiujiang Zhao. Although the Bodhisattva has now been suppressed in the underworld, Buddhism is not limited to the Ksitigarbha lineage.

It's not surprising that other Buddhist monks who traveled the river discovered what the Bodhisattva had left behind and came to Jiujiang to ride this wave.

Zhao Shan'an: "How is your husband's health?"

Zhao Heming: "Thank you for your concern, Father. Cui'er's health is still the same. It's mainly because she's been thinking too much about her son and has been chanting scriptures and praying for blessings every day, which has depleted her vital energy."

Zhao Shan'an: "Yi'er's return home is still a long way off. She can't stay like this forever; it's not good for her health."

Just then, a hurried report came from outside:

"Master, master."

The person ran to the threshold of the ancestral hall and paused for a moment:
"Master, Third Master."

Zhao Shan'an: "Why are you in such a panic? You have no manners."

"Young Master is back! Young Master is back!"

The Zhao family has an eldest son, but he cannot be called the eldest son. The only eldest son of the Zhao family is Zhao Yi, born to the third branch of the family.

Most families of a certain caliber distinguish themselves based on talent and ability, rather than clinging to that nonsense about seniority and legitimacy.

With his head down, Li Zhuiyuan could see the hands of the two people in front of him.

Upon hearing the report, Zhao Heming's hand clenched involuntarily, a subconscious defensive gesture.

Zhao Shan'an rubbed his fingertips together, a mixture of anticipation and excitement in his eyes.

Zhao Yi is back.

He didn't enter the Zhao family under Zhao Xu's identity, nor did he intend to disguise himself. This time, he entered the Zhao family in his true form.

Over the past two days, the more he learned about the Zhao family's current situation, the stronger his inner struggle and contradictions became.

He could sever unnecessary emotional ties and treat Jiujiang Zhao as a normal member of the group with great ease. That's exactly what he did at first: hide his identity, infiltrate the group, and use his status as a member of the Zhao family to gain convenience and privileges, plotting to get the biggest share of the spoils from this rotten flesh.

But the more he continued in this manner, the more difficult it became to suppress the anxiety that lurked in a corner of his heart.

This feeling reached its peak yesterday when Li Zhuiyuan told him that the river-walker who infiltrated the Zhao family was really strong.

Li Zhuiyuan noticed this, so after Tan Wenbin and the others got out of the car, the boy sat in the passenger seat for a while longer.

In the car, Zhao Yi did all the talking, and Li Zhuiyuan didn't respond at all.

The boy knew that Zhao Yi wasn't hoping for advice; he just needed time to process things out before making his decision.

Seeing the excited and happy people in the house spreading the news, Zhao Yi smiled.

This feeling was something I didn't have when I came in as "Zhao Xu".

The person he was concerned about is now in Nantong and is safe.

But the person he admires is still at home, in the highest position in the house, looking down at him.

Watching myself disguise myself and enter the house, watching myself scheme and plot, watching myself constantly going in and out, all for the sake of gaining a small profit.

Sometimes, even Zhao Yi couldn't tell which one was the real him.

Just like before, he was manipulated by the man surnamed Li several times, and the man surnamed Li was certain that he dared not gamble and could not afford to lose.

He lowered his head, picked up a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled.

Li, from this day forward, can you still be so sure that I, Zhao Yi, can't afford to lose?
Amid cheers from the people inside, Zhao Yi walked inside.

The Fengdu Emperor's entire clan was granted titles and honors, the Bodhisattva had a backup plan, there were other families eyeing the throne, and the eyes of those above were watching from above.

They were all extraordinary figures, pushed here by the river, and all remarkable river travelers, each one ridiculously strong.

But the gods above and the people below seem to have forgotten that Jiujiang was once home to a Dragon King!
The Zhao family is filthy, and I've long been prepared to clean it up. I'll be the one to cut out the rotten flesh.

If it's completely rotten, rotten to the core, then I should be the one to dig up the old tree roots and set the fire myself!

In front of the Dragon King's tablet,
There's no place for you bunch of guys to frolic and dance!

Zhao Yi's sudden return alarmed the entire Zhao family. According to tradition, all the core members of the Zhao family in the outer residence had to be summoned.

A family banquet to welcome him and cleanse him of his travels was thus set out.

The first wife and her husband, who claimed to be ill and never left their home, came; Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou from the second wife's family came; the "parents" from the third wife's family came; and the elderly couple from the fourth wife's family, who had been in seclusion, also attended.

There was no head seat; to be precise, Zhao Shan'an and Zhao Yi shared the head seat position.

Outside the door, those of the third generation were not qualified to sit at the table, but many of Zhao Yi's peers crowded at the door, wanting to witness the current status of this genius in the family.

Among them, there were naturally many imposters. The "parents" were sitting inside, and they wanted to see what the Zhao family's genius, who had gone across the river but suddenly returned home, was up to. They also wanted to confirm whether the other party had discovered the changes in the Zhao family.
Li Zhuiyuan was not qualified to sit at the table; he stood at the door, being pushed and shoved around.

Well, he's not afraid of being squeezed, since he's an original model and he's not afraid of his mask breaking.

At the dinner table, Zhao Heming and Chen Cuier from the third branch of the family were the most awkward, just like parents who were so happy and excited that they didn't know what to do with their hands and feet when their beloved son suddenly returned.

Sitting at the dinner table, Lin Shuyou looked at Zhao Yi with great shock. So this was the Chief Seat he had been longing for, and the confident person who could calmly face all the elders in his family.

Zhao Yi stood up, raised his glass, and addressed the entire table:

"Come on, it's rare for our family to be together, let's drink to this!"

The entire "family" at the table raised their glasses and drank together.

It was a rare reunion. The whole family was having a welcome banquet, and apart from myself, there wasn't a single person with the surname Zhao.

As Zhao Yi finished his drink, he glanced at Li Zhuiyuan standing outside the door out of the corner of his eye.

Their eyes met.

……

In the mountains, at the Zhao family's ancestral home.

The large, dimly lit room, devoid of sunlight, contained only a grand armchair and a coffin, making it appear quite empty.

An old man sat in a grand chair, his face covered with brown spots.

An oil lamp sat on the old man's lap. It was empty of kerosene, but the faint flame was still burning.

It... it is burning out its last bit of lifespan, and then it will lie in its coffin and fall into a deep sleep, never to be seen again until it is awakened.

At this moment, the old man slowly opened his eyes, and the candlelight on his lap flickered.

"Kachacha..."

A sound of opening came from very high above, and the short Second Elder appeared, carrying a white lantern.

Looking down from here, it's as deep and dark as a tomb.

“Boss, I thought you were gone, so I came here to seal your coffin and close your grave.”

From the grand master's chair below, the Grand Elder's hoarse voice rang out:

"I just had a dream."

"What dream?"

"The same dream as last time."

I dreamt about it again...

Two dragons flew side by side over Jiujiang.

(End of this chapter)