Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 372

The familiar stream, the familiar trees, and the familiar curve of the steering wheel every time I turn from the village road onto the path leading home.

In the past, the path was just a dirt road. Cars couldn't drive in, and since they couldn't block the village road, they could only drive over a piece of farmland to tuck in half of their car body.

After the children bought the yellow pickup truck, Li Sanjiang spent money to buy stones, and then brought in Uncle Qin and Xiong Shan, two laborers, to widen the path and turn it into a gravel road.

From then on, cars could drive directly in and all the way to the dam in front of the house.

Recently, Li Sanjiang has been thinking about changing the gravel road to cement.

The reason why construction hasn't started yet is because the village chief said that the town government will soon organize the construction of cement roads for all villages, and then he can also pave his own path.

Repairing your own road is obviously not free; you have to pay for the materials yourself. You can also give the road workers a pack of cigarettes and a meal. But since the workers and equipment are readily available, it's still worthwhile.

Tan Wenbin drove the car to the dam, and everyone got out of the car and immediately smiled.

In fact, for everyone on the bus, even Li Zhuiyuan, this wasn't his real home. But every time they returned here, they felt more relaxed and comfortable than when they returned to their own homes.

Li Sanjiang immediately went to Xiao Yuanhou.

Two years ago, he could pick up the child without any effort at all.

Now, he has to first focus his energy in his dantian to lower his center of gravity before he can lift his precious great-grandson steadily with both hands.

Right now, I can still carry him.

When you can no longer carry your child, it's not because the child has grown up, but because you've grown old. In the eyes of elders, no matter how old a child is, they are still a child.

After putting Xiao Yuanhou down, Li Sanjiang walked up to Tan Wenbin, Runsheng, and Lin Shuyou in turn, patting their arms and kicking their calves to check their hair and bone structure.

There was no special welcoming ceremony, just one sentence:

"You've lost weight, eat more for dinner."

Li Zhuiyuan greeted everyone on the dam and in the kitchen, but neither Liu Yumei nor Aunt Liu pulled the boy aside to talk.

Even Li Sanjiang only hugged him briefly, because he noticed that when he picked up his great-grandson, his gaze was directed upwards towards the second-floor terrace.

The boy went upstairs.

While saying "I'm so thirsty," Tan Wenbin walked over to Liu Yumei and sat down on the chair next to her. He first made some tea, then put a piece of silver thread roll in his mouth. Next, he began to tell the "lies" that he had already made up on the way back.

Earlier, Tan Wenbin's extensive references and veiled criticisms, limited by his lack of knowledge of traditional culture, made Liu Yumei feel very uncomfortable.

Many times, Liu Yumei felt an urge to just vomit blood and tell her the truth directly, even if it meant she had to.

Tan Wenbin can now perform with incredible fluency, captivating and entertaining the elderly woman.

Although I have sources of information, their accounts are completely different from those of people who experienced it firsthand.

Furthermore, Liu Yumei knew that what she was hearing now was a unique perspective among all those who had personally experienced it.

Runsheng picked up a hoe and went to the field to pick up Uncle Qin.

Although dinner is in an hour, we still need to finish up the work in the fields for the day.

Lin Shuyou learned from Aunt Liu that the light near the porcelain jar was broken and the bulb hadn't lit up after being replaced.

Ah-you picked up the familiar tools and went to repair them.

He wasn't a graduate of that field, but in the electrical industry, you can become a master electrician by doing it all the time.

Li Zhuiyuan took a shower and changed his clothes. Then, while drying his hair, he sat down with A Li on the rattan chairs on the terrace.

Summer hasn't gone away, but autumn's hand has already quietly slipped into the bed, occasionally bringing a pleasant coolness at dusk.

The girl's eyes remained fixed on the boy, even though they were both lying on their respective wicker chairs, she was turned to the side and kept looking at him.

The boy was her balcony leading to the outside world, and every now and then this balcony would run out for a while on its own, and when it came back, it would bring her a different view.

Li Zhuiyuan recounted the events of the previous wave to A Li.

He never held back with girls, sometimes even revealing his selfish motives and less-than-honest calculations when dealing with things.

From the very first day they met, the girl displayed a magnanimity towards the boy that he had never anticipated.

She seemed to have known all along that the view outside the balcony was not only pleasant in spring, but also scorching in summer, bleak in autumn, and bitter in winter.

Just like when the boy blinded himself to retaliate and kill the dwarf father and son, the girl, upon learning this, first showed her dimples and rejoiced at the boy's success.

Li Zhuiyuan's narration was unhurried yet highly organized, and A Li listened quietly the whole time.

From my first arrival in Luoyang, to meeting Chen Xiyuan, from the hidden village to the Yu family ancestral home, and finally to the simple funeral of the two old people.

Li Zhuiyuan did not shy away from Chen Xiyuan's existence; in fact, he emphasized her presence in his description.

He even admitted that as his condition improved, the amount of suffering he had endured over the past year was nothing compared to the few days she had been by his side.

Furthermore, Li Zhuiyuan told A Li that Chen Xiyuan would arrive here as soon as possible, tonight, or as late as tomorrow.

The hospital's medical records and records would at most include a name, gender, and age. In addition, since Panzi and the others were all sent to the hospital by local state-owned factories, their contact address would definitely be that factory. How could the nurses' station registration possibly include their real place of origin, or even their specific township and village?

These were all filled in by Li Zhuiyuan.

The boy told Ah Li that he had no reason to kill Chen Xiyuan.

They could not kill each other, but they could not simply forget each other in the martial world.

It wasn't just because he hadn't yet received the "savings" from Chen Xiyuan.

The main problem is that someone like Chen Xiyuan, who is protected by the Heavenly Dao and possesses formidable strength, is far too likely to become another front for the Heavenly Dao.

On the surface, the rise and fall of the Chen family in Qiongya seems to be directly linked to the talent level of each generation of descendants. In reality, it is just like the old farmers who used to farm, relying on the weather for their livelihood.

Li Zhuiyuan himself was a knife used by Heaven to do dirty work.

Chen Xiyuan, on the other hand, is more suited to stand in the sunlight and become that pure and flawless hero.

We cannot kill them, partly because there is no reason to kill them, and partly because we are unwilling to kill them;

On the other hand, if you cut up the gloves that Heaven has prepared for use, wouldn't that force Heaven to find a new pair of gloves to cultivate?
The correct approach would be to keep her there, letting her occupy the spot and enjoy the resources while deliberately not using her.

Although Chen Xiyuan had already told herself that if they met on the waves one day and were on opposite sides, she would take the initiative to light the lamp a second time.

But this was not enough for Li Zhuiyuan.

There are too many unexpected events that can be intervened in, and too many special circumstances that can be guided. This is what the river is best at, and it is all-pervasive.

Therefore, we should deal with such existences.

The best way is... to train the hawk!
Endure until you are completely convinced, until you have no more obsessions, until you are completely free of any possibility of being threatened.

To add such deep scheming to someone's pure emotions is despicable and vile.

However, Li Zhuiyuan had no choice. If he didn't consider these things comprehensively and meticulously, the most tragic situation would occur in the future.

Besides, it wasn't his doing. Langhua arranged for Pan Zilei and the others to stay in the same hospital room as Chen Xiyuan's student's brother, so that Chen Xiyuan would meet him. This was actually a setup.

A pure adversary poses less of a threat, while a betrayal by a former friend is the most damaging.

If he didn't change his mind, he and Chen Xiyuan would both become destined puppets controlled by Jiang Shui's strings.

Therefore, Chen Xiyuan had to come to Nantong, and I also had to go to the Chen family in Qiongya.

Moreover, to achieve the best results, Chen Xiyuan had to come to Nantong secretly on her own initiative, and she had to ask him to go to Qiongya after repeated requests.

There's a very simple way to undermine the will of those in power: pretend you don't know anything, and then... keep escalating and doubling the measures.

Since you, Heaven, intend to bait me in advance for later use, then I will remove this bait from the hook, chew it up, and swallow it!

Li Zhuiyuan turned to look at the girl beside him.

Though silent, it seemed to speak: Ah Li, do you think what I did was dirty?
Ah Li stretched out her hand and pointed in a direction. That was where the bearded man's house was, and also where the peach grove was located.

The girl had no concept of "dirty or clean" when it came to the boy.

The environment in which she "lived" from childhood was actually like the Yu family ancestral home, which was plagued by evil spirits and chaos.

She understood better than most people in the world what filth was and just how filthy it could get.

In the boy's earlier statement, the girl only heard him say that the registration form only listed Siyuan Village, Shinan Town.

The girl didn't speak. When the boy wasn't around, she was used to being alone and quiet, but she could sense the sounds and changes around her.

For example, since she moved in here, she has heard the names of several teams and households many times.

Ah Li knew that if the boy didn't write these things down, and didn't write down his great-grandfather's name, then anyone who came to this village would definitely go straight to that peach grove.

Li Zhuiyuan: "I have no intention of doing that."

After a pause,
The boy continued, "She's not Zhao Yi; she's not that thick-skinned."

Admittedly, having Chen Xiyuan go to the peach grove first, get beaten up by Qing An, and then negotiating for her release would further solidify this favor.

If it were the old Li Zhuiyuan, he would have done this; otherwise, he would have been in great pain.

But even the slightest emotional relief from the initial recovery was enough to change the boy's rigid and inflexible approach.

The purpose of scheming is to counteract the influence of the hand in the sky, not to view everyone around you as mere numerical values ​​that can provide you with value.

The young man didn't want to see Chen Xiyuan covered in wounds.

He didn't want Sister Chen to get hurt, if conditions allowed.

Ah Li nodded. Unable to speak, even her own grandmother sometimes had to ask her repeatedly and ponder her words, but the boy in front of her understood her at a glance.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Although I am now a demon in my heart, I have always looked down on the original body in my mind, and I also look down on Li Lan."

They always see themselves as the only smart people in the world, and everyone else as stupid, but that's not the case.

What Li Lan wants now is her real son, and she believes that only my true form is worthy of her.

But the truth is, when 'they, mother and son' recognize each other, there will inevitably be one who is relatively less intelligent, that is, the fool.

You may be smart, but others aren't stupid either. Having this kind of thinking is sick and needs treatment.

The boy's gaze fell on Grandma Wang Lian, who was going in and out of the kitchen, helping to bring out the food.

"Chen Xiyuan is not stupid."

She is very perceptive.

I don't want to say anything about exchanging sincerity for sincerity.

All my calculations must be based on the premise that she can still understand and accept my actions when I explain them to her later, or when she suddenly realizes the truth on her own.

Otherwise, I would be handing a knife to Heaven, allowing Heaven's intentions to succeed.

Ah Li grasped the boy's hand; she could sense the invisible weariness emanating from him.

Crossing the river is inherently difficult, but his river has been more difficult than anyone throughout history.

Li Zhuiyuan: "After dinner, I'll accompany you to the herb garden in front of Big Beard's house to pick up the medicinal herbs and plants we planted together."

I will bring the tent from my backpack. If she comes late tonight, or has to wait until tomorrow, you should come back first. I will stay in the peach grove alone tonight.

When she enters the peach grove, she'll probably be startled at first, but that's about it. Just take it as a joke between friends.

She probably wanted to play a joke on me, to scare me.

……

People upstairs and downstairs were all talking about it.

Li Zhuiyuan's side has finished and has entered the summary and discussion phase.

Meanwhile, Tan Wenbin downstairs had only finished a third of his story.

This was mainly because Liu Yumei would interrupt and ask questions, pointing out certain key points and prompting Tan Wenbin to provide further explanation.

The keyword the old lady mentioned most often was Chen Xiyuan.

When Liu Yumei first heard "Chen Xiyuan of the Chen family in Qiongya", a look of reminiscence appeared in her eyes.

One of her closest friends from her youth married into the Chen family in Qiongya.

At that time, she repeatedly begged herself to make an appearance, even if it was just from a distance, standing on a building to look at the scenery, or boating on the lake, leaving behind a faint green silhouette.

I was in a dilemma at the time. Although I was extremely annoyed by the Qin family's old dog's persistent pestering, I still restrained myself from having any connection with others.

When the old dog was young, he had a bad temper. He liked to knock out the loudest fly around him, put it in a burlap sack, and throw it into the latrine.

But she couldn't resist his persistent pleas, saying that if she, as the strategist, couldn't lure the person out, then that young master Chen would no longer trust her.

She said she had already cast her fishing rod and only needed her sister to help her prepare a fishing spot.

In the end, the fish surnamed Chen could not escape the experienced angler.

The subsequent mentions were Liu Yumei's attempt to hear about Chen Xiyuan's talent and character.

The Chen family has always had a very upright family tradition. Chen Xiyuan is a typical member of the Chen family, and she must have been well taken care of by her grandparents.

Finally, Liu Yumei sensed something was amiss.

That's the girl from the Chen family; she seems to be getting too close to my Xiao Yuan.

Liu Yumei didn't think that the Chen family girl had any other inappropriate thoughts about her Xiao Yuan. The girl's use of "little brother" meant that she really regarded Xiao Yuan as her younger brother.

The old lady wasn't worried about her own Xiao Yuan, nor was she worried about her granddaughter A Li.

First, Xiao Yuan is still young;
Secondly, Xiao Yuan's temperament is not only superior to his peers, but also, in front of her, he will act like a "shy and reserved" junior. In reality, the boy is already a big tree that can shelter Liu Yumei from the wind and rain.

To be honest, Liu Yumei sometimes sensed the tolerance and doting affection her ancestors had shown her back then through Xiao Yuan.

Furthermore, the way Xiao Yuan and her own A Li get along... Liu Yumei felt that even if she and that old dog had lived happily together until now, their harmony probably couldn't compare to that of the two little ones right now.

But now, the little brother in Chen Xiyuan's eyes will grow up.

The flames of the future can be scalding, so it would be best to extinguish them in advance.

Liu Yumei didn't want her daughter to repeat the mistakes of her grandparents.

The best way would be to let that girl from the Chen family see Xiao Yuan and her Ah Li together with her own eyes, so that this impression and perception would be fixed thereafter.

Unfortunately, my Ah Li can't go out yet.

If only we could invite that girl from the Chen family to our home.

Aunt Liu stood alone at the kitchen door, looked up at Xiao Yuan and A Li sitting together, and ate sunflower seeds for ten minutes.

Then, I had to put the remaining sunflower seeds back in my pocket, go back to the kitchen, pick up the spatula, and start cooking.

After dinner was ready, Aunt Liu called out:

"Dinner's ready!"

Aunt Liu invited Aunt Wang Lian to stay for dinner, but she had been busy until now.

Wang Lian firmly refused this time, saying that she had to go back to cook for her family, and ran down the dam with the bag of free steamed buns.

There is no distinction between high and low, noble and lowly, but individual circumstances differ.

The secret to how those with worse conditions can consistently benefit from those with better conditions is: never try to take advantage of others.

Li Zhuiyuan led A Li downstairs, and as they descended the stairs, the boy continued to explain to the girl.

He had calculated the time it would take to get here from Luoyang. Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou had been traveling without stopping, so Chen Xiyuan couldn't have arrived too early. Therefore, he and A Li were able to finish their dinner on time.

As the boy said earlier, there are no absolutely intelligent people in this world.

Furthermore, due to his age, he doesn't usually drive, and has never actually worked in a related industry.

Therefore, Li Zhuiyuan was also unsure of the terrifying potential that an experienced taxi driver could unleash when constantly stimulated by stacks of cash.

Dinner was plentiful, and following the Li family's tradition, a separate dining area was set up with bowls instead of plates.

Runsheng lit the incense, but instead of sticking it directly into his rice bowl as he had done in the past.

In the past, he always did this. He could not only finish the meal by himself, but he would also ask for more rice and dishes.

But today, he felt that doing so was a waste of food.

Lin Shuyou reached out to grab the steamed buns. He really liked the steamed buns here; they were filled and flavorful, and could be served as a dish. Just like before, he reached out with one hand and grabbed three large steamed buns.

Originally, these should all have been mine. One steamed bun is just a matter of a few bites, and three steamed buns are just a warm-up for my mouth. I didn't even break a sweat.

This time, he placed the other two steamed buns in front of Runsheng and Tan Wenbin respectively, while he only held one in his own hand.

The three of them, including Tan Wenbin, picked up their chopsticks, somewhat hesitant.

Teacher Chen's teaching results were remarkable. Under Chen Xiyuan's "heart-to-heart" guidance, the three of them were forcibly put into a "low-metabolism" state through physical means.

This state allows them to elevate their control and perception of their own bodies to a new level. In addition, the conditions for achieving this state are extremely painful and difficult, so all three of them want to maintain this state for as long as possible, so that they can have more time to experience and understand it.

However, if they do not actively get rid of this state, their current food intake will be no different from that of an average person of their current height and weight, and they may even eat less than others.

Li Sanjiang loved the lively atmosphere at home and enjoyed the constant, loud chewing and swallowing sounds.

As people get older, their appetite naturally diminishes, but every time those three eat together, the food in front of him seems to become even more delicious. Watching them eat makes him feel better and more appetite-stimulating.

I took a sip of wine.

Ok?
The commotion today seems to have been less intense.

These three rascals, after going out more often and meeting more people, have actually learned to be polite, haha.

Li Sanjiang usually drinks only one cup of wine a day, and no more.

After finishing this glass of wine, Li Sanjiang picked up his rice bowl and prepared to eat formally.

Unexpectedly, Tan Wenbin, Lin Shuyou, and Runsheng all put down their chopsticks at this moment, each one looking somewhat guilty and ashamed.

"I'm stuffed."

"So full."

"I've got it."

Li Sanjiang subconsciously stood up, looking at the large bowls of food in front of each of the three of them that had hardly been touched, and the tower of steamed buns behind Lin Shuyou that had hardly shrunk.

With a "clatter," the chopsticks in my hand fell to the ground.

Li Sanjiang shouted in shock and worry:

"What's going on? Is there another outbreak of mule plague?"

……

Old Tian was pedaling his tricycle, with Liu Jinxia sitting in the back.

Beside Liu Jinxia's feet were several bags of cooked vegetables, including pork head meat, chicken legs, as well as cold kelp salad and vegetarian chicken.

"You bought too much."

Old Tian said, "Xianghou has sprained his ankle, so it's definitely inconvenient for him to cook. Take these back with you and Xianghou and Xiaocuihou and you can make do with a meal tonight."

"By the way, when you used to observe a vegetarian fast, shouldn't you have eaten at the host's house before returning?"

Liu Jinxia: "I have no appetite today."

In the past, those who observed the vegetarian meal, the funeral procession, and relatives who came to help with the arrangements would have a few extra tables set up after the first and second rounds of meals were finished, so they could eat and then leave.

But that's too late.

Besides, I'm here to work and eat, not as a relative of the host, so there's no reason for me to bring someone else along.

Thinking that Old Tiantou was still lying in his tricycle by the canal, waiting for her to finish her vegetarian meal and take her home, Liu Jinxia felt bad about keeping him too long and making him stay up late without food or drink.

It wasn't dark yet, and there were many people coming back from get off work and from the fields on the village road. Liu Jinxia was a little embarrassed at first and buried her head. But then she thought that she was only so-so in the village anyway, and she was only useful when she needed something. Why should she care about other people's opinions?
Then he raised his head again, quite confidently.

She still doesn't plan to find a partner, and Old Tian understands her meaning. But that doesn't mean they can't be friends. They can occasionally help each other out in life. In this respect, they are both very open about it.

Old Tian rode his tricycle to Liu Jinxia's doorstep, and helped her get off.

Liu Jinxia: "Come inside. There's too much cooked food. I'll set some off for you to take home and eat."

Old Tian: "Have you forgotten? I have someone who cooks for me."

Liu Jinxia didn't say anything. She said that after a few days, once Xianghou's foot had healed, she would have him cook some dishes and send them to Old Tiantou.

She doesn't cook it herself not because she's afraid of being misunderstood, but because her cooking skills are only at the level of being able to cook food properly.

At a young age, Xianghou took on all the cooking duties at home. This was not because Xianghou was particularly sensible from a young age and wanted to help his mother with housework.

It was only on one occasion, when Xianghou was invited to Li Lan's house, that he ate a simple home-cooked meal prepared by Cui Guiying at Li Weihan's house. Xianghou, who had never had any playmates since childhood and never visited other people's homes for meals, realized for the first time that his mother had been wasting food all along.

After Xianghou returned home, he asked his mother.

Liu Jinxia also had a point, arguing vehemently:

"It's all because your mother is lucky. As soon as she married into the family, her in-laws left as if in a race."

After saying goodbye to Lao Tiantou, Liu Jinxia walked up to her own dam. The light was on under the balcony of the side house.

When Liu Jinxia walked over carrying several bags of cooked vegetables, she stopped right there.

Xianghou, her own daughter, was happily playing jump rope with Cuicui.

……

After the meal, Li Zhuiyuan first gave Tan Wenbin a blueprint, asking him to take Ayou and Runsheng to the Taoist temple later to make some advance arrangements for the evil magic.

The boy carried his backpack, while Ah Li carried a small tool basket each, and headed to the bearded man's house.

On the way, they ran into Old Tian, ​​who was returning from Liu Jinxia's house.

Old Tian invited the two of them to ride in his tricycle, but Li Zhuiyuan declined. He had just returned and wanted to walk around with A Li for a while.

Without daring to offer any further advice, Old Tian rode back by himself.

As soon as I got to the dam, I saw Benben sitting in his crib, patting his hands incessantly, his little head swaying from side to side in some kind of rhythm.

Old Tian looked up and saw a colorful halo above the peach grove, like a fading rainbow. He could vaguely hear a rustling sound.

He didn't know what had happened, only assuming that the person under the peach grove was in an unusually good mood today.

Old Tian picked up Benben, who was still clapping along to the rhythm, making "oh~ oh~" noises.

"Hehe, why are you so happy today?"

Benben was puzzled for a moment, seemingly not understanding why Old Tian was asking that question.

He followed the clear rhythm and sang "Oh~ Oh~" twice more, but saw that Old Tian was still unmoved.

Benben ignored it and continued to immerse himself in the exquisitely beautiful melody that made his soul feel like it was floating.

Old Tian affectionately patted the child's head: "Hehe, this child, he's been grinning like an idiot all day."

The cruelest thing in the world is that some people, even when they're old and frail, are no match for a baby still suckling from a bottle.

And perhaps the greatest tenderness in the world is that he himself is completely unaware of it.

Xiao Yingying had just returned and was setting up the offering table, opening and placing the newly bought wine jars one by one.

As the candlelight flickered and swayed, the wine jar on the offering table quickly lost all its aroma.

One jar after another, the speed at which they were "drinking" was twice as fast as before.

Moreover, there is no sign of it stopping.

Xiao Yingying didn't understand why things were like this today, but she knew that if she didn't replenish the wine in time, the wine she had just bought today would not be enough.

She walked over, took Benben from Old Tian's arms, and asked Old Tian to go out and make another trip to buy more wine before the town's wine shops closed.

Old Tian immediately got to work, hopped on his tricycle, and drove off.

Let alone taking advantage of the shop being open, even if it were closed, he would pry the door open, leave the money, and take the wine with him.

The man under the peach grove has a terrible temper. If you cut off his drinking when he's having a great time, who knows what will happen next?

Even someone as intelligent as our young master was once hung up and whipped beyond recognition in the peach grove by that person!
Xiao Yingying put Benben back in the crib, then went over and continued to place the new wine jars on the table.

She didn't go out to buy any more because it was night.

Under the protection of the peach grove, she was able to be different from the other dead beings. Not only was she not tormented by being a dead being, but she was also able to appear in front of people as a normal person.

But she is, after all, an evil spirit. During the day, she has strong yang energy, so it doesn't matter if she goes out. But at night, she has strong yin energy. If she goes out, those whose luck is declining may get nightmares and fall ill if they come into contact with her.

At this moment, Li Zhuiyuan and A Li arrived here.

Xiao Yingying turned her head and saw that the two of them did not seem to have any intention of going up to the dam, but were both facing the peach grove.

Benben, who had been happily agreeing with everything in the crib, immediately fell back and pretended to be asleep after noticing Li Zhuiyuan's appearance. Only his little chubby legs were still kicking in rhythm, as if he were swimming in his dream.

On the way, there was no sign of it, but once you entered the bearded man's territory, there was a dazzling rainbow above and heavenly music like a tidal wave in your ears.

It is not just music; it contains the vicissitudes and decay of life, as well as the vigor and prosperity of youth.

The two sentiments not only did not conflict, but rather harmonized into an ultimate complement, making the listener unable to help but be deeply immersed in them, unable to extricate themselves. Ah Li turned her head and looked at the boy holding her hand beside her.

Li Zhuiyuan nodded and said:

"Well, she's here."

Li Zhuiyuan let go of the girl's hand, put down his backpack and basket, and walked alone towards the peach grove.

This wave of events brought me new insights into some of Wei Zhengdao's past.

In addition, he had deliberately kept things that could make Qing'an happy, such as canned food that could be opened whenever needed.

But it seems that it is no longer necessary at present.

I still vividly remember Zhao Yi's screams when I came in to pick him up last time.

However, the current situation inside shows that Chen Xiyuan is receiving completely opposite treatment to Zhao Yi back then.

Fortunately, after leaving the Yu family, Zhao Yi had to go back to rest the troops and treat Chen Jing's injuries, instead of heading straight for Nantong. Otherwise, if he had seen this scene, he probably would have been so angry that he would have found a peach tree and rammed his head into it.

After Li Zhuiyuan entered the peach grove, Benben raised his head, sat up, and continued to twist his body.

Ah Li walked onto the dam.

Benben stiffened for a moment, turned his head, and secretly peeked at the woman in the red dress.

He can clearly perceive who likes him and who doesn't. He also likes others and enjoys being liked.

There is one and a half exceptions.

One was that older brother, whom he liked very much. But when he tried to make the older brother like him based on his past experience, he could see a deep-seated disgust and rejection in the older brother's eyes.

The other half is this older sister.

When the older sister is tending the herb garden alone, she doesn't notice anyone else. But when she comes with her older brother, she only ever sees him.

Ah Li sat down on a stool next to the crib, her posture dignified, listening to the music.

Nearby, Xiao Yingying, who was still busy replacing the wine jars, saw this scene and, with her memories of her past life still intact, her eyes revealed a hint of envy.

She once performed in a cheongsam on the dam of the bearded man's house. She felt that she was very similar to the one on TV. She was also elegant and fashionable.

But upon seeing this person, the natural and effortless elegance that she felt made Xiao Yingying realize that what she saw on television was also an imitation.

Benben was still wriggling his body. He knew that his older sister didn't like him, but she didn't hate him, so he could relax a little. However, he stopped making "oh~ oh~" noises.

Unlike his godmother who had water in her ears and Grandpa Tian who had hearing loss,

The older sister could hear this pleasant sound just like me, so I couldn't disturb her.

Upon entering the peach grove, what appeared before Li Zhuiyuan was an indescribable air of elegance and charm.

The captivating rhythm has become tangible, creating a vibrant new life in this already idyllic place.

Inside the wooden house, the sound of a zither drifted through the air, and the people of Qing'an were inside.

Outside the wooden house, Chen Xiyuan closed her eyes and played the flute, completely absorbed in the music.

The greatest joy in life is to have a true friend.

Both of them are tone-deaf, but despite the long age and generational gap between them, they are perfectly in sync in terms of rhythm.

Both Qing An and Chen Xiyuan were captivated by their lifelong passion and interests.

Li Zhuiyuan stood still, without saying a word.

No one dared to disrupt this rhythm at this moment.

However, Li Zhuiyuan was also very curious about how Chen Xiyuan had arrived so quickly. There were no direct flights from Luoyang to Nantong at the moment, and transferring in other places would only take longer.

What the boy was more curious about was how the two of them managed to play the zither and flute together.

This suggests that Chen Xiyuan came to Nantong not to find him, nor for the old lady, but specifically to visit Qing'an.

In the history of the Chen family, was there anyone who had a past relationship with Qing'an and had met Wei Zhengdao?

Inside the wooden cabin, the sound of drinking could be heard from time to time.

There was also a wine jar at Chen Xiyuan's feet.

Each time, the two sides would take turns, and the side that could pause would lift the wine jar, drink it down, and then join in again.

Since Li Zhuiyuan started standing here, he has seen Chen Xiyuan drink wine no less than twenty times.

Once she opens her mouth, the wine in the jar will flow out on its own, and she only needs to open her mouth to drink it automatically.

Her face was already red, but she became even more carefree and had even more fun.

This wine originated from the offering wine that Xiao Yingying bought, but when Qing An absorbed it, it was equivalent to undergoing a round of essence purification.

Even those who know how to sober up wouldn't dare to be reckless in front of this kind of alcohol, let alone the two of them, who are now aiming to really drink and get really drunk.

Finally, the ensemble came to an end, much like life itself. It is precisely because it will end that we cherish and treasure the beautiful moments we have had.

The music stopped, the flute music ceased.

Inside the wooden house, Qing'an's laughter rang out: "Hahahaha, that was awesome!"

Chen Xiyuan: "Hahahaha, I'm having a blast!"

The difference is that Qing'an doesn't get drunk; his pain is real, and those faces are like maggots clinging to his bones, constantly tormenting him.

Chen Xiyuan... fell forward.

Just as Li Zhuiyuan was about to step forward to help her up, he saw peach blossoms falling from all around, carpeting Chen Xiyuan in front of him, causing her to stumble and fall.

She was drunk, so drunk she was completely unconscious.

When Li Zhuiyuan walked up to her, Chen Xiyuan was rambling incoherently:
"As expected of the old lady, she actually..."

The speed of crisis perception surpassed the speed of thought. Without thinking, Li Zhuiyuan used the action of helping Chen Xiyuan up to cover her mouth with his right hand.

After interrupting her drunken ramblings, the young man finally came to his senses and spoke:

"See, I didn't lie to you, did I? I told you long ago that my old lady lives in a good place, and the music master you've been searching for is right here."

Qing'an: "I'm very happy."

Li Zhuiyuan: "That's good."

Qing An: "You little rascal, you always manage to come up with something new."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Of course."

Qing'an: "In a few days, there will be a peach tree with a few peaches hanging there, getting in the way. Can you pick them for me and share them?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Yes."

Qing'an reached out and removed the pole supporting the wooden window, closing the window.

Li Zhuiyuan is strong enough to carry an adult without any problem, and he carried Chen Xiyuan on his back in Luoyang last time.

But back then Chen Xiyuan was seriously injured and unconscious, and now she's drunk. If I carry her on my back, I might not be able to control her mouth, and she might start talking nonsense again.

The boy roughly deduced that Qing'an knew one of the Chen family's ancestors, and based on the timeline, it was highly likely that he was the earliest ancestor of the Chen family, when the Chen family's territory was not yet fully established and was in its initial stage.

But Chen Xiyuan clearly didn't recognize Qing'an. The "old lady" she just mentioned... must have been referring to Qing'an as the old lady.

Qing An is a person of aloofness, pride, and self-admiration. If he knew that Chen Xiyuan had mistaken him for an old lady, he would absolutely not accept it and would regard it as a great humiliation.

At that time, not only will Chen Xiyuan's fate be grim, but Li Zhuiyuan will also be implicated and hanged along with her.

Since the "back" position was not feasible, Li Zhuiyuan had no choice but to stand directly in front of Chen Xiyuan, grab her head with both hands, press his fingers against her mouth, and pull her outwards.

Fortunately, given his size, it wasn't too abrupt for him to carry people like that.

From Qing An's perspective, having never practiced martial arts, even if he had some strength, he wouldn't bother to discern the power level of an ant.

As for dragging along by her legs, that would seem more appropriate, but Chen Xiyuan's legs are too long, making it even more inconvenient.

Anyway, once we leave the peach grove area... no, once we leave the bearded man's territory, we can't give her a chance to speak.

Inside the wooden house, Qing'an swept her long hair back with both hands, letting her black and white hair cascade down.

His arms, the back of his head and neck covered by his hair, were covered with countless tiny faces, each the size of a fingernail, making different expressions.

Qing'an didn't take it to heart and continued to enjoy the lingering charm of the ensemble performance.

He remembered asking Wei Zhengdao why he didn't actually fight Chen Yunhai.

Even if Wei Zhengdao is too lazy to fight, he can just pick one of them at random.

Wei Zhengdao replied that he was not full and could not beat Chen Yunhai.

This answer surprised Qing'an. It seemed to be the first time that Wei Zhengdao had given such a clear assessment that he "couldn't beat him".

In the past, no matter how powerful the opponent was, even if he couldn't defeat them head-on, Wei Zhengdao could always defeat them in the end by using various methods.

Wei Zhengdao did not answer his second question.

There was no need to answer, because in Wei Zhengdao's view, even in a one-on-one fight, they were no match for Chen Yunhai.

Su Luo brought over a cup of tea and placed it in front of Qing An.

Qing'an took the tea, smelled it, and took a sip.

I remember asking Wei Zhengdao again, since you know this guy is troublesome, why not just kill him?

The story of Chen Yunhai being captured and released three times reflects his straightforward personality; in the end, he chose to admit defeat and let go.

If he considers this the greatest humiliation of his life and goes back to work hard and vows revenge, wouldn't that add a great uncertainty to his future?
Wei Zhengdao shook his head and said, "Even if we can kill this person, we shouldn't."

When he asked himself why, Wei Zhengdao didn't give a direct answer, but instead asked himself a question in return:
"Chen Yunhai is good at making clouds and seas."

Qing'an

Where do you usually see this sea of ​​clouds?

……

The process of pulling Chen Xiyuan out of the peach grove was more difficult than Li Zhuiyuan had anticipated.

People who practice martial arts have strong physiques, so even if the boy only pulls her head and neck to move her whole body, there is no need to worry about her dislocating her joints.

But she was truly drunk.

While others get drunk and act crazy, she gets mad.

As Li Zhuiyuan dragged her along, he felt the weight on his body suddenly increase several times over and then decrease several times over every few steps.

The ground in the peach orchard was soft, even damp;
Along the way, the boy left behind a series of footprints of varying depths.

The shallow ones don't even have a clear pattern on the soles, while the heavy ones go all the way up to the calves, like planting rice seedlings.

When Li Zhuiyuan finally dragged Chen Xiyuan out of the peach grove, the boy was completely exhausted.

But that's not all. Next, they have to transport her home; they can't just leave her at Big Beard's house.

Otherwise, tomorrow or the day after, once she's completely sober, she'll probably just push open the window and shout at the peach grove, "Good morning, Madam!"

However, her domain is constantly opening and closing; its scope is small, but its impact is significant.

Old Tian, ​​who had already left money and returned after stealing the wine, was quick-witted enough to come and help.

As soon as he got close, he felt a sudden weight on him and knelt down with a thud, kowtowing directly to Miss Chen.

Li Zhuiyuan had no choice but to use his own methods to seal Chen Xiyuan's body and soul.

Finally, she calmed down.

Li Zhuiyuan plucked a tender, smooth branch from the nearest peach tree, wrapped it around Miss Chen's mouth, and tied it in a knot at the back of her head.

That way, even if she talks nonsense while drunk, she can only "woo woo woo".

Still feeling uneasy, the young man took out a sealing talisman and stuck it on Miss Chen's forehead.

Li Zhuiyuan clapped his hands and instructed Old Tian to push the tricycle over.

Without letting Old Tian touch her, the young man personally carried Chen Xiyuan onto the tricycle.

Ah Li stood to the side watching, showing no intention of going forward.

Xiao Yingying thought it meant that men were not allowed to touch her, so she took the initiative to come over and offer her a helping hand.

As a result, she stopped in her tracks when Li Zhuiyuan gave her a look.

Li Zhuiyuan's refusal to accept help from others was not because he was concerned about the proper conduct between men and women. People in the martial arts world don't have so many outdated rules.

The main issue is that Chen Xiyuan wasn't seriously injured and unconscious, but rather drunk.

She was familiar with him and used to him, so his contact and approach did not trigger her instinctive vigilance. After all, when she was injured, it was Li Zhuiyuan who helped her clean her body and apply medicine.

But if an outsider touches her, she might be triggered and perceive it as a threat. In that case, the seal she set up would be completely ineffective in suppressing her.

If Chen Xiyuan were to touch Xiao Yingying's body, it would likely trigger an unpredictable stress response, and it would be quite possible that she would be instantly killed.

The reason Ah Li didn't come over to help was that she had already seen through this.

Next, Li Zhuiyuan pushed the tricycle, carrying Chen Xiyuan home. A Li walked side by side with Li Zhuiyuan, but her eyes were turned to the side, looking at the woman in the vehicle with a talisman pasted on her forehead, who looked like a sealed zombie.

Grandpa has already gone back to his room to sleep, and Uncle Qin and Aunt Liu are also in the room.

After Li Zhuiyuan pushed the tricycle onto the dam, he pushed it all the way to the door of the east house.

The most suitable place for Chen Xiyuan to stay is in front of the old lady.

Before knocking on the door, Li Zhuiyuan first untied the twig from Chen Xiyuan's mouth.

Knock on the door, and it opens. Liu Yumei, dressed in a white nightgown and draped in a silver cloud-shaped shawl, stands in the doorway.

She knew that Xiao Yuan had taken her granddaughter out, and she wasn't worried at all even if they came back a little late. But she didn't expect that after the two children went out, they would push a woman in a wheelchair and bring her to her.

The woman's face was mostly covered by the talisman. Liu Yumei raised her hand, and the talisman was blown away by the wind. After spinning in the air, it turned into ashes.

The woman's youthful face was clearly visible.

Before Li Zhuiyuan could explain, Liu Yumei spoke up:

"That girl from the Chen family?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Yes, she came to Nantong to visit you, Grandma."

Liu Yumei glanced at Li Zhuiyuan but didn't say anything.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm drunk and afraid I'll cause trouble, so I'm asking you to take me in temporarily, Grandma."

Liu Yumei nodded, stepped forward, and reached out her hand. The old lady didn't seem to make any specific movements, and her palm didn't even seem to touch Chen Xiyuan. In any case, Chen Xiyuan was lifted up and taken into the room by the old lady.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't remind the old lady of any precautions because it wasn't necessary.

The east wing is a single-story house with two bedrooms and a living room. One of the bedrooms is used by Ah Li to store her collection of Xiao Yuan's items, and it's crammed full.

Liu Yumei had no choice but to "drag" Chen Xiyuan all the way to her and her granddaughter's bedside.

With a slight tremor in his palm, all the dust and mud on Chen Xiyuan's body dissipated.

Liu Yumei placed her on the bed.

"This child is quite pretty."

His features were almost identical to those of his close friend from back then.

This is why Liu Yumei recognized her identity immediately.

Liu Yumei placed her palm above Chen Xiyuan's body and gently stroked her from head to toe.

The seals placed on Chen Xiyuan by Li Zhuiyuan have all been removed.

Of course, this is also because Li Zhuiyuan placed the seal very carefully, and for Old Madam Liu, breaking it was no big deal.

Having regained her freedom, Chen Xiyuan's domain has been opened once again.

However, before the newly opened domain could take effect, it was forced back into the body by an invisible force.

Liu Yumei: "You brat, are you trying to break my bed?"

Unable to open a domain, Chen Xiyuan could still spout drunken nonsense:

"Madam...you are so amazing...I really admire you so much..."

Liu Yumei reached out her finger and gently flicked Chen Xiyuan's forehead.

"Oh, you really take after your grandma, so sweet-talking."

Turning around, Liu Yumei found the door closed, but A Li hadn't gone inside.

"It hasn't been that long since we last met. Haven't these two kids had enough fun yet?"

Li Zhuiyuan certainly didn't have enough fun, and what he did was rather wicked.

"Brother Xiao Yuan," Tan Wenbin said, smoking a cigarette as he stood at the entrance of the dojo, "everything is ready inside."

"Okay, Binbin, you should go back and rest."

"it is good."

Tan Wenbin didn't ask himself why he couldn't stay; he simply left and went back to lie in his coffin.

Li Zhuiyuan and A Li entered their own dojo.

Previously, Tan Wenbin, along with Runsheng and Lin Shuyou, had already prepared the materials they needed.

Considering that his most abundant resource at present is various kinds of monster materials, the evil magic that Li Zhuiyuan first plans to try is related to this.

"Ah Li, thank you for your hard work."

Ah Li smiled, squatted down, and began to give the roughly processed monster hides, tendons, bones, horns, and other materials their final fine treatment.

Li Zhuiyuan was originally capable of doing this job as well.

However, he was still somewhat exhausted from dragging Chen Xiyuan out of the peach grove, especially from his hands, and was unable to accurately carve the patterns.

Fortunately, although physically exhausted, he was full of energy and it wouldn't affect his experiments with the evil magic.

Li Zhuiyuan laid the three books out in front of him.

One of them is a volume of Wei Zhengdao's "The Righteous Path to Subdue Demons," which records the evil spell he was about to try—the "Three-Phase Beast Grudge Curse."

Even if you already know the content, reviewing the textbook again before a quiz can help calm your mind.

This is nominally an evil art, but in reality it is somewhat similar to crafting evil artifacts.

The required materials include many demonic beasts, but the main element must be a sufficiently powerful and pure soul. A curse is used to connect the soul with the demon and its close relatives, and then the demon's resentment is used to tear it apart, bringing out its violent and ferocious side. Then, an object is found to seal it, and when it is used, it is activated, like releasing a demon from its cage.

Li Zhuiyuan has already prepared the sealed items, and has temporarily prepared five array flags, but he probably won't need that many.

The evil of this curse lies in the fact that it affects the relatives of the "raw material," especially the nephews and nieces who have the strongest yang energy.

The causal relationships of curses are inherently serious, and the backlash from curses that don't know who will ultimately be implicated is even more severe. Especially given Li Hongsheng's identity, he will ultimately be involved with people from the Xuanmen sect, and the other party is the Bixia sect, which has a Taoist lineage.

In the past, Li Zhuiyuan would never have tried this evil art, but now, the young man is eager to give it a shot.

Since you, Li Hongsheng, can shamelessly poison other families' younger generations in the Yu family's ancestral home, then you must be able to understand why your own family's younger generation is being poisoned.

The second book was a wordless book. When Li Zhuiyuan turned to the first page, the woman inside had already prepared to hand over Li Hongsheng's pure soul.

Just then, the woman in the cage in the book saw Ah Li next to her. Ah Li seemed to sense something and also turned to look in this direction.

The Evil Book couldn't possibly be deliberately targeting Ah Li, but her evil nature is sometimes just like an ordinary person's breathing; anyone who sees her will be affected.

In the past, when Li Zhuiyuan looked at her, there were never any outsiders present to watch together.

When she tried to back down, she found it was too late; the damage had already been done.

Then, a terrifying scene appeared in the woman's field of vision, making her retreat back into the painting in fear.

She failed to frighten Ah Li. Ah Li glanced at her and then continued to finish the last carving in her hands.

On the contrary, the woman was shaken by Ah Li's mental power and fell into Ah Li's "dream".

After a long while, the woman regained her senses and collapsed onto the cell floor.

She realized that in front of the boy and those around him, she was practically a new kind of evil brat.

The third book was blank, more like a black hardcover notebook.

This was Li Zhuiyuan's first serious experiment with sorcery, and he planned to make his own study notes, writing down the process and his insights.

With a little time before the start, after reviewing the content about the "Three-Phase Beast Curse" in the "Record of Subduing Demons with the Righteous Path," Li Zhuiyuan picked up a pen and wrote down the experimental objectives, steps, and other fixed format in his notebook.

Just as Li Zhuiyuan finished writing and put down his pen, A Li also completed the final carving of the patterns.

"Ah Li, wait for me outside. If I confirm my guess, we can play together next time."

Ah Li nodded and walked out of the dojo.

Li Zhuiyuan's gaze narrowed slightly, and he spread out his hands, beginning to replicate the evil curse recorded by Wei Zhengdao.

First, Li Hongsheng's soul was extracted from the blank book by Li Zhuiyuan and injected into the prepared monster materials. Then, the boy began to proceed step by step according to the procedure.

Only through personal experience can one truly realize just how practical and concise Wei Zhengdao's descriptions are.

Li Zhuiyuan encountered no difficulties whatsoever; everything went incredibly smoothly.

But halfway through, in the boy's vision, when three black threads appeared on Li Hongsheng's soul and spread outward into nothingness, a strong warning suddenly rose in the boy's heart!

Not everyone who uses evil magic can have such a feeling; the deeper one's cultivation and the greater the entanglement, the stronger the sensation.

Many so-called evil practitioners continue practicing until they suffer karmic retribution and die, without ever realizing that they are practicing evil arts.

If you were to describe this feeling in detail, it would make you feel panicked and uneasy, as if you were terrified that the sky would collapse and crush you to death.

Li Zhuiyuan had experienced a similar feeling before. It was a kind of divine connection, a subtle reminder that things could not continue and that he had to turn back as soon as possible, or else he would suffer the consequences.

In the past, Li Zhuiyuan had touched upon the rules a few times, but after only realizing the slightest difference, he immediately understood and corrected his words and actions. After thoroughly understanding the rules, he has always maintained the habit of ensuring that his every move can withstand the scrutiny of the Heavenly Dao.

This time, Li Zhuiyuan did not stop; instead, he intensified his efforts.

As this evil spell continued to progress, the warning signs in Li Zhuiyuan's heart grew stronger and stronger, and he even experienced auditory hallucinations like thunder!

The boy was fearless and relentless!
Finally, the final step arrived. Li Hongsheng's soul, enveloped by the beast's wrath, was cut into three pieces by Li Zhuiyuan and each piece was injected into one of the three black array flags.

On each of the three battle flags, a twisted and ferocious face appeared.

The Three-Phase Beast's Curse is complete!

The moment it was completed, the intense warning in the boy's heart, so strong it seemed to melt into water droplets, vanished instantly, like ice and snow under the scorching sun!
This process of pushing one's inner anxiety to the extreme and then quickly calming it down made the boy involuntarily raise his head and bite his lip to prevent himself from uttering a comfortable tone that trembled with his soul.

When he lowered his head again, a smile appeared on the boy's lips.

That's right, I guessed correctly. The merit was right above my head. The karma caused by my use of evil magic was offset by the merit that nominally belonged to me but which I couldn't actually use!
Others who walked the river received cash directly as a reward for their merit, but for me, it was deposited in a savings account under my name. The savings bank was always closed, so I couldn't go in to collect my merit, but I could directly deduct the corresponding amount for compensation.

After the successful demonstration, a new guess arose in Li Zhuiyuan's mind:
If compensation can be deducted on my behalf, then if I use up all the money in my savings account in the future, will I still be able to make a certain amount of overdraft?
This idea is risky, because Li Zhuiyuan doesn't know what the consequences of not being able to repay the debt in time are. It could very well make him no longer in the safe zone of Feilang, after all, this is owing the Heavenly Dao merit!
Most importantly, there should still be a lot of merits that are unusable under one's own account.

For the time being, we can't use it all up; we simply can't use it all up.

Li Zhuiyuan put away the three array flags. He could give one to each of Runsheng, Tan Wenbin, and Lin Shuyou. In any case, he had already paid for the "money" to buy these things, and it was Tiandao who paid for it on his behalf.

The boy picked up his notebook and began writing down the follow-up parts of the experiment.

After writing the last sentence, the boy put down his pen and capped it back on.

Just then, Li Zhuiyuan's gaze swept to the last sentence of the page of "The Righteous Path to Subdue Demons": in Wei Zhengdao's book, every dead, evil cultivator, and great demon in every volume has a fixed way of dying.

Li Hongsheng is dead. The evil magic performed using him as raw material was offset by his own merits, which were both his own and not his own.

The system is stored, managed, and deducted on behalf of Heaven, and the entire process never involves the individual.

If you change your perspective, you can understand it as: there is no such thing as merit, since you have never seen it and you don't have it.

He himself didn't know it was evil magic; he thought it was a righteous sect's technique.

He practiced and used it, but Heaven didn't hold him accountable, and everything went smoothly.

Does that mean that what I did was permitted by the righteous principles and social norms?
What I just did was not a heretical or evil path, but clearly the righteous one.

Li Hongsheng's soul was not destroyed by evil magic, but was cleansed by the glorious righteous path.

Ah,
You deliberately withheld the merits I was entitled to, trying to annoy me first; so why can't I retaliate and annoy you in return?
Li Zhuiyuan removed the pen cap again and drew a short line below the completed experimental record.
It was written:

Li Hongsheng,

It was destroyed by the righteous path.

(End of this chapter)