Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 382

The group set off, first passing through the town.

I passed by the shop where I had previously consigned "Zhou Yunyun wood carvings".

The boss, with a cup of tea in his right hand and a cigarette between his left, sat leisurely on the doorstep, basking in the sun.

It's clear he's in a good mood after completing a deal with no initial investment.

Upon seeing Lin Shuyou and Tan Wenbin approaching again, the shop owner greeted them warmly, speaking in a mix of local dialect and a bit of Mandarin. He essentially asked if they wanted to exchange contact information so they could come back for more good deals in the future.

Tan Wenbin went up and offered the boss a cigarette, and the boss also offered Tan Wenbin one. The two of them tucked the cigarette behind their ears and exchanged contact information.

Chen Xiyuan then asked Lin Shuyou curiously, "Isn't Zhao Yi supposed to be your best friend? Why did he carve Zhou Yunyun instead of Chen Lin?"

Lin Shuyou remained silent.

Chen Xiyuan patted her forehead, saying that she had been negligent. It was definitely Tan Wenbin who came out to investigate, and that meant that Zhou Yunyun would definitely be involved.

Lin Shuyou nodded.

Chen Xiyuan blinked.

She still felt something was off.

No logic, just a feeling.

Having heard so many bedside conversations since childhood, my sensitivity to such things is like someone with rheumatism being able to predict the weather.

Although Zhao Yi and Tan Wenbin had a good relationship, they weren't particularly close. Without that deep connection, it would be easy to offend someone by meticulously crafting their object of affection.

Unfortunately, now was not the time to sit on Grandpa Li's threshing floor, and she knew it was inappropriate to ask any further questions.

After Tan Wenbin rejoined the team, Li Zhuiyuan signaled everyone to continue their journey, and soon they left the town and entered the valley.

The valley is not majestic, and can even be described as somewhat "small," but once you enter it, if you follow a specific path, you will soon find that the surrounding mist is rising.

The purpose of this barrier is to prevent ordinary people from accidentally entering, but for those with some knowledge, it serves as a guide.

Throughout history, this kind of plot has frequently appeared in many supernatural tales.

It's like a woodcutter, hunter, or scholar walking through the mountains and forests, who might suddenly see a house, a secluded paradise, or two old immortals sitting there playing chess.

In fact, many such stories are not fabricated; they are simply due to exceptional luck or extraordinary inspiration that allowed people to traverse the maze and enter the territory of these martial arts families and sects.

The world is full of troubles and entanglements, and even slightly above-average martial arts factions will choose this semi-secluded way of living in order to cut off most of their karmic ties as much as possible.

It would be abnormal for someone like Zhao from Jiujiang to deliberately build a new house in the city.

Emerging from the fog, a suspension bridge came into view.

There is a stone lion on each side of the bridgehead, with patterns carved on it that appear to be cracked, but upon closer inspection, one can see the strict regularity of symmetry.

Above the bridgehead, there is a stone tablet with the words "Zhou Family Residence" written in the middle, and on both sides are carved birds with outstretched wings, lifelike.

Given the Zhou family's standing in the underworld, this kind of entrance arrangement can be considered low-key.

Li Zhuiyuan walked up to a stone lion, reached out, and touched its belly.

A faint red light flashed from the patterns on the lion's belly, then appeared at an extremely fast speed to the lion next to it, then quickly teleported to the stone tablet, and then followed the suspension bridge all the way inward.

Li Zhuiyuan waved, signaling to continue forward.

Runsheng and Lin Shuyou walked at the front, Chen Xiyuan accompanied Li Zhuiyuan, and Tan Wenbin brought up the rear.

Li Zhuiyuan: "There should be an assessment ahead. You should conceal your family's style."

Chen Xiyuan: "I don't mind."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I mind."

Chen Xiyuan: "Oh, okay."

After crossing the suspension bridge, an open space appeared in front of us, with steps leading up to the gate of the Zhou family mansion.

The ground of the open space was not soil or rock, but rather looked like it was covered with a layer of wooden flooring.

An old man, leaning on a cane, walked out surrounded by a group of young people.

"I apologize to everyone. My Zhou family has been closed to guests recently. We apologize for the inconvenience today and will make it up to you another day."

Tan Wenbin stepped forward and said:

"We came here at the invitation of Brother Zhao from Jiujiang to help the Zhou family overcome their difficulties. What's wrong? We can't even get through the door?"

The old man stroked his goatee, waved to the young man behind him to make way, and then gestured with his cane to invite him.

The Zhou family must have offered Zhao Yi good terms, so naturally there are requirements for the price to pay. Those who come to help should first inspect the goods and test their quality.

The group moved forward and stepped onto the wooden planks beneath them.

The next moment, a large hole appeared on both sides of the floor, and two large wooden hands reached out and slapped towards the center.

Runsheng and Lin Shuyou each spread out on one side. Runsheng used a Yellow River shovel to block one of the large hands, while Lin Shuyou successfully blocked the other hand with his double maces.

The ground beneath their feet began to sway, the wood like water, relieving the weight of everyone above them.

A wisp of black energy emanated from Runsheng's body, ensuring that he could still exert his full power.

Considering that Runsheng's "Qin Family Observation of Dragons Method" was easily recognizable by discerning people, Li Zhuiyuan specially made some disguises and improvements for Runsheng.

Transforming a simple Qi Sea into malevolent Qi is merely a change in form, yet it is enough to overturn the perceptions of most discerning people, because no one would expect that the Qin family would cultivate an aura that resembles that of a dead person.

On the other side, Lin Shuyou's feet moved in rhythm with the ground, as if walking on flat ground.

This is just a simple test, not a matter of life or death. If you can pass it calmly, that's enough.

Li Zhuiyuan and his two companions continued forward. The floor ahead was sunken, as if something was about to emerge, which also served as an obstacle.

Chen Xiyuan took a few steps forward and stepped down.

A series of "crackling" sounds immediately came from below, and then the ground flattened. This meant that the assessment item had been crushed to death.

The old man's eyes twitched.

If Runsheng and Lin Shuyou's performances could be considered an acknowledgment of each other's strength, then Chen Xiyuan's kick truly shocked the old man.

There was no need to try these roles anymore. The old man's face lit up with joy. He first tapped the ground with his cane to restore everything to normal, and then bowed solemnly.

"Thank you all for coming to save my Zhou family from dire straits. We will never forget your great kindness. Please!"

The journey continued smoothly until we reached the Zhou family's gate, which opened automatically.

The house was spacious, but it felt quite deserted because a large number of clansmen had been dismissed in advance.

They were led to the main hall, where they could see Zhao Yi sitting with an elegantly dressed old lady, drinking tea.

The old lady had gray hair and was clearly old, but her skin was as fair and tender as a child's. Her name was Zhou Ruiyao, and she was the current head of the Zhou family.

Below the two, on one side sat the Liang sisters, Xu Ming, and Chen Jing, while on the other side sat the Zhou family members, all of whom were quite old and had an extraordinary air about them.

The old man went into the house first and whispered something in Zhou Ruiyao's ear. Zhou Ruiyao smiled and nodded, then said to Zhao Yi:

"The helper that Young Master Zhao invited is indeed extraordinary."

Zhao Yi laughed heartily and said, "Old Madam Zhou knows what kind of reputation I, Zhao Yi, have in the martial arts world. How could someone who can get along with me and is willing to give me face by coming to help me be an ordinary person?"

Zhou Ruiyao: "Young Master Zhao still loves to joke around."

Zhao Yi: "Madam, let me warn you first, all my friends have rather bad tempers and are quite petty."

They came at my invitation, but your Zhou family set up a trap outside to assess them. No one would feel comfortable in that situation.

"Please rest assured, Young Master Zhao."

Zhou Ruiyao stood up and greeted Li Zhuiyuan and the others who walked in, saying:

"I apologize on behalf of the Zhou family for my previous rudeness at the gate. To express my remorse, I hereby request that all the offerings be doubled."

"Ahem..." Zhao Yi, sitting in the back, coughed lightly as a reminder.

Zhou Ruiyao: "Young Master Zhao's share is also doubled."

Zhao Yi cupped his hands and said, "Madam is very generous."

Tan Wenbin: "Young Master Zhao, we only came here because we were giving you face. So where exactly is this 'Li the Corpse Retriever from Nantong' you mentioned? We've never heard of him in the martial arts world."

Zhao Yi: "This is a remarkable person. He is narrow-minded, vindictive, greedy, and bloodthirsty. He likes to eliminate enemies without leaving any room for maneuver."

Tan Wenbin: "That sounds interesting. How did the Zhou family offend him?"

Zhao Yi: "The old lady and I discussed this for several days, but we couldn't find the reason. But they have indeed already taken action."

Zhou Ruiyao: "Everyone, please follow me."

Madam Zhou led everyone to the Zhou Family Ancestral Hall.

Inside the ancestral hall, candlelight shone brightly and numerous plaques were displayed. Logically, it should have been a solemn and clean place, but at this moment, all the ancestral tablets of the Zhou family were either moldy or covered with moss; none of them were in good condition.

Tan Wenbin: "Is this... a curse?"

Zhou Ruiyao nodded: "A few days ago, while I was fast asleep, I felt a sense of unease. When I woke up, I came to the ancestral hall and discovered this situation."

What you see before you is the scene after Young Master Zhao arrived and helped to lift the curse and improve the situation.

The situation back then was many times worse than it is now. The once peaceful ancestral hall was now teeming with snakes, insects, and rodents; all sorts of poisonous creatures appeared out of nowhere, either gnawing at incense and candles or entangled in the ancestral tablets—a picture of a family in ruins and disintegration.

At this point, Zhou Ruiyao closed her eyes, and two lines of tears streamed down her face.

"My Zhou family has always valued family traditions and disliked fighting in the martial world. Our ancestors were devoted to the research and development of mechanical arts. I never expected to suffer such humiliation."

I, an old woman, have truly failed my family and my ancestors…

Zhao Yi stepped forward, gently helped Zhou Ruiyao up, and comforted her:
"Don't worry, Madam. With me here, the Zhou family's calamity will surely be resolved. I've long disliked that Li from Nantong who retrieves corpses. This is the perfect opportunity. I'll make sure he dares to come, but he won't leave alive!"

Zhou Ruiyao nodded, her tearful eyes scanning the ancestral hall before her, which had not yet been restored to its original state:

"This person's viciousness is truly rare. He is not only cursing my Zhou family alone, but also my entire Zhou family clan and all my ancestors. This is clearly an attempt to sever the Zhou family's lineage."

Since that's the case, my Zhou family has no choice but to go all out and deal with it head-on!
"Please rest assured, Young Master Zhao, if my Zhou family can weather this calamity, and if you wish to rebuild the Jiujiang Zhao family in the future, my Zhou family will do everything in our power to support you. Whatever you need, we will grant it!"

Zhao Yi: "Madam, you are too kind."

Zhou Ruiyao wiped away her tears and looked at Li Zhuiyuan and the others: "It is my fault for being negligent. I have not yet inquired about your honorific titles?"

Zhao Yi: "Madam, those who can be my cronies are better off not mentioning this honorific title."

Zhou Ruiyao: "This..."

Zhao Yi: "They only want to get benefits from me, but they don't want to be burdened by my bad reputation. So, it's enough that they show up, isn't it?"

Zhou Ruiyao: "Since that's the case, then I will show my respect. Gentlemen, I have already ordered people to prepare wine and food. You have come from afar, so please enjoy and rest first. Because I dismissed my clansmen in advance, the feast is simple and meager. Please do not take offense."

"Don't worry, Madam, they'll understand." Zhao Yi looked up at Li Zhuiyuan and the others. "Everyone, please eat and drink well and rest. Although I don't know when Li from Nantong who retrieves corpses will arrive, I estimate it will be soon. Once he comes to make his move, I will call on you all to come and help."

After saying that, Zhao Yi helped Zhou Ruiyao out of the ancestral hall.

The two were very close, like a real grandfather and grandson.

The old man reappeared and led Li Zhuiyuan and the others to a separate courtyard, where a sumptuous feast had been prepared, and the rooms for them to stay were spacious and tidy.

The old man said, “If you have any other needs, please feel free to ask. As long as we can meet them, my Zhou family will do our best.”

Li Zhuiyuan: "On the way here, I saw a small courtyard filled with fallen leaves, overgrown and dilapidated, as if it hadn't been tended to for many years. May I ask why?"

The old man said, “That is the residence of a criminal from my Zhou family. He has been paralyzed and bedridden for many years. Apart from a daily meal of water, the old lady does not allow anyone to approach him.”

Li Zhuiyuan: "Can a criminal live in a separate courtyard?"

The old man said, “That criminal was once a direct descendant of the family. The old lady said that keeping him in the mansion instead of throwing him into the dungeon was to let him hear the noise outside while lying in bed, to let him experience the difference between cold and warmth, and to feel his heart and soul.”

Li Zhuiyuan: "Then, was he also moved away?"

The old man replied, "No, a sinner like me is unworthy."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Alright, you can go ahead and get busy."

"Enjoy your meal, everyone."

The old man left.

Li Zhuiyuan sat down at the table, looked around, and confirmed that there were no array formations or restrictions here.

The dishes on the table were indeed plentiful, but they were all home-style dishes. Truly exquisite dishes could only be made by chefs trained by the family for generations. The Zhou family simply did not have the means to do so at the moment, which was why Zhou Ruiyao asked for their understanding in advance.

"Brother Runsheng."

Runsheng spread his hands, and the Gu worms flew out, lingered on each dish for a moment, and then crawled back into Runsheng's sleeve.

"Xiao Yuan, it's non-toxic."

Li Zhuiyuan picked up his chopsticks: "Eat."

Chen Xiyuan only eats heartily when she encounters delicious food; otherwise, she has a small appetite.

After Li Zhuiyuan finished eating and put down his chopsticks, Chen Xiyuan couldn't help but ask:

"When will we do it?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Let's wait for Li to start retrieving the body from Nantong."

Chen Xiyuan: "Hmm?"

In front of the hall, a stream flowed down from the roof and then merged into the flowerbed path below. Li Zhuiyuan filled a basin with water and washed his hands and rinsed his mouth.

Chen Xiyuan: "This is the first time I've realized that revenge can be so simple."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Firstly, because I made a big fuss by alerting them; secondly, although Zhao Yi's reputation in the martial arts world isn't exactly positive, he's now a well-known figure; thirdly, Zhao Yi arrived quickly, and we followed up quickly as well, and the Zhou family had too many concerns, not only having to guard against the so-called Nantong corpse-retrieval Li, but also being wary of the spying from the martial arts world; fourthly..."

Chen Xiyuan: "What is four?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Fourthly, you almost ended up in the Luoyang Ancient Tomb Museum, so it's really not unjust."

Chen Xiyuan frowned slightly, then looked aggrieved: "Little brother, you're still saying I'm stupid."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm not as stupid as before."

Chen Xiyuan: "Is this a compliment...?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "He's much smarter than before."

Chen Xiyuan: "Hehe."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Come with me to that courtyard. I want to meet Zhou Yunfan's father."

That person was involved in the conspiracy against Uncle Qin.

There were restrictions in the courtyard, but this was not difficult for Li Zhuiyuan, who easily unlocked them and entered.

The place was overgrown with weeds and in a state of disrepair.

In the corner, there were also broken children's toys.

Zhou Yunfan's father secretly took the family's heirloom lamp and crossed the river. In the end, not only was he beaten by Uncle Qin and left paralyzed for life, but the heirloom was also smashed by Uncle Qin.

He has become a complete sinner to the entire Zhou family.

The way Madam Zhou punished him showed that she truly hated him to the core, and this hatred also involved Zhou Yunfan.

This forced Zhou Yunfan to leave the Zhou family at a very young age and go to the Ding family to seek resources and development. Although he went through many hardships, he actually succeeded.

It was just bad luck; in that wave at the Yu family, even though they chose to enter through the back door, they still ran into themselves.

Pushing open the door, a foul stench wafted out.

The room was empty except for a bed.

Lying on the inside of the bed was a man with half-white hair and a withered appearance, while on the other side of the bed were two bowls, one with a few grains of rice in it and the other half with muddy water.

He ate, drank, and relieved himself all in bed, and the servants weren't very quick to clean up, so not only the bed, but the whole room looked like it had been pickled.

Chen Xiyuan covered her nose. She disliked this environment, but when she saw her little brother, her expression remained normal, and even the corners of her mouth gradually curved into a slight smile.

Yes, this scene must be enjoyable for the little brother, right?

Seeing one's own family's enemy living such a miserable life must be very satisfying.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the bedside, but there was nowhere to sit, and he didn't dare to sit down.

The man on the bed turned his head and slowly moved his gaze upwards, landing on Li Zhuiyuan's face.

His failure was not static.

Li Zhuiyuan could sense that there was still a lingering, active energy in the area of ​​his spine.

This anger will continue to torment him, preventing him from recovering.

Unless another member of the Qin family is found and the Qin family's Observation of Dragon Technique is practiced to an extremely high level, this energy cannot be safely extracted. Otherwise, forcibly dispelling this energy will cause the man to die violently along with the other person.

Given Uncle Qin's personality... he certainly didn't do this on purpose to torment him.

Uncle Qin was barely clinging to life when he managed to fight his way out; he must have been completely out of control at the time.

So, it wasn't that Uncle Qin was deliberately targeting him. He played an insignificant role in that ambush back then, and Uncle Qin probably didn't even give him a second glance.

However, he retained his hatred for Uncle Qin and passed it on to his son, which ultimately led to his son's death.

Zhou Tingfeng: "Who are you...?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Do you hate it?"

Zhou Tingfeng: "Whom do you hate..."

Li Zhuiyuan looked around.

Zhou Tingfeng: "Who exactly are you...?"

Li Zhuiyuan remained silent.

After a long silence, Zhou Tingfeng finally spoke: "I hate it, I hate the Zhou family, I hate how unfair the family has treated me, I hate how the family has treated me like a cripple and an abandoned child!"

Li Zhuiyuan: "That's more like it."

Zhou Tingfeng: "It's been much quieter outside these days. Tell me, has something happened to the Zhou family?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Mm."

Zhou Tingfeng: "Did the Zhou family provoke someone they shouldn't have?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "More or less."

Zhou Tingfeng: "Hehehe... Hahahaha..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "There's something you know."

Zhou Tingfeng: "What is it?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Your son is dead."

Zhou Tingfeng's eyes widened: "What!"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Didn't they tell you?"

Zhou Tingfeng: "Yunfan, Yunfan... how could he, how could he!"

Li Zhuiyuan: "It seems I really didn't tell you."

Zhou Tingfeng: "Who exactly are you...?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I am an assistant invited by the Zhou family to defend against the enemy."

Zhou Tingfeng: "Then why did you come here? Why did you come all this way to see me?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I wanted to take a look, so I came to see."

Zhou Tingfeng: "Are you really here to help the Zhou family?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "What do you think?"

Zhou Tingfeng: "I want the Zhou family to die! I want the Zhou family to suffer the same fate as me—to collapse and rot!"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Perhaps, it's not far off."

Zhou Tingfeng: "Thank you."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You're welcome."

Chen Xiyuan thought her little brother would inflict some torture on the guy lying on the bed, but after saying those words, he turned around and prepared to leave.

"Leaving now?"

"You like it here? Don't you think it smells bad?"

"That was not what I meant."

As Li Zhuiyuan and Chen Xiyuan reached the door, they heard the sound of a bowl shattering on the floor behind them, followed by the sound of a tattered sack hitting the ground. Zhou Tingfeng, like a writhing lump of mud, fell off the bed. He laboriously reached forward and pointed at Li Zhuiyuan:
"Tell me, tell me, what's your last name? What's your last name?!"

What would you like my last name to be?

"I hope your surname is... Hehehehe, I keep telling them, it's not my fault, it's really not my fault, they just didn't see how terrifying that guy really was."

I don't know if all people from such families are like this, but no one really expected that such a person could be raised in that family of orphans and widows...

I wish you had that last name. I wanted them to experience the despair I felt back then, so they could understand me. It really wasn't my fault; they really can't blame me!

I'm waiting, I'm waiting to see, I'm waiting to see, hahahaha!

Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the house.

Inside the room, Zhou Tingfeng, lying on the floor, was still murmuring, "Fan'er... my Fan'er..."

After leaving the courtyard, Li Zhuiyuan strolled around the Zhou family residence for a while.

In terms of architectural aesthetics, the Zhou family's house is far inferior to the Zhao family's house in Jiujiang, which I had visited before.

You could spend a whole day exploring the Zhao family's mansion in Jiujiang and never get tired of it, while the Zhou family's mansion was just a facade.

The entire Zhou family compound is essentially a large government agency. Generations of Zhou family members have lived within this agency, with the architectural style being merely a slight modification to the original design.

The symmetrical rockery, the symmetrical flowers, the symmetrical trees, even the pebbles in the stream, all strictly adhere to the number of mechanisms. It's too precise, which makes it seem uninteresting.

As Li Zhuiyuan walked through it, his mind would instinctively begin to deduce and analyze, making it seem as if he were constantly doing a test.

"Let's go back."

"Okay, sure." Chen Xiyuan raised her arm and sniffed it. "I want to go back and take a shower. The smell in that place just won't go away."

Back at his assigned residence, Tan Wenbin was squatting in front of a small artificial hill, doing research with paper and pen.

He was a polymath; after following the boy around, he read all sorts of books and became proficient in everything but unskilled in everything.

Lin Shuyou lay on the corridor railing, holding a twig in his hand, looking at the murals above.

Runsheng sat on the threshold of the living room, smoking a cigar.

Actually, everyone has nothing to do.

Relaxing before a tense moment is the most boring thing.

When Li Zhuiyuan returned, everyone turned their attention to him, waiting for Brother Yuan to give the order to get started.

But Xiao Yuan only said one thing: "Call me when it's time for dinner."

Afterwards, Li Zhuiyuan went into the room, lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to sleep.

Chen Xiyuan took a shower and changed her clothes, which made her feel much better.

She now also has a backpack, which Tan Wenbin prepared for her. It's the same style as their backpacks. Tan Wenbin told her that this is a perk for other teams.

Chen Xiyuan was overjoyed to receive the gift, holding it in her arms and smiling brightly.

Backpacks aren't expensive to begin with, and even expensive designer bags wouldn't be much to Chen Xiyuan, but the emotional value embodied in this bag is extremely high.

Unlike the others whose backpacks were filled with various equipment and materials, Chen Xiyuan's bag was stuffed with Jianlibao (a popular Chinese herbal tea brand) except for a few pieces of clothing.

After taking a shower, she wanted to find her little brother to get a drink, but he was asleep. So she went out into the yard and made four "plop" sounds, giving each of them a can.

Chen Xiyuan squatted down next to Tan Wenbin and asked, "Can you understand it?"

Tan Wenbin: "It's like a female classmate in school; I know her name."

Chen Xiyuan: "And then?"

Tan Wenbin: "Then if I beckon to her, she won't come for a walk on the playground with me, but will roll her eyes at me and ask who I am."

Chen Xiyuan: "This is actually not complicated."

Tan Wenbin looked at Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Xiyuan gestured a few times with her finger towards the small artificial hill in front of her.

"Buzz!"

The artificial mountain cracked open, spewing out puffs of white smoke that smelled fresh and pleasant.

Chen Xiyuan: "This smoke can repel mosquitoes and is harmless to humans."

Tan Wenbin: "The other team is indeed the other team. I studied it for a long time and only recognized that it was a mosquito coil, but I didn't know how to open the box."

Chen Xiyuan: "I don't understand mechanical arts either, but I have something similar at home."

Tan Wenbin: "I see."

Chen Xiyuan: "But I rarely use it. If I find mosquitoes when I'm sleeping at night, I turn on the domain and squeeze all the mosquitoes in the room to death, and then it's quiet."

"really."

Tan Wenbin lowered his head and waved his hands back and forth at the artificial hill, following the steps he had calculated in his notebook.

"Buzz!"

The artificial hill has been successfully closed.

But the mosquito coil didn't go out, and white mist kept escaping from the gaps, while bubbles kept churning in the small pond.

Chen Xiyuan: "I heard that you and your boyfriend were high school classmates?"

Tan Wenbin: "Mm."

Chen Xiyuan: "That must be so romantic, you two were dating in high school?"

Tan Wenbin: "No, I pursued her for three years in high school, but she ignored me. Later, after we went to university in Nanjing, I continued to pester her and even threatened to kill myself. Finally, she had no choice but to temporarily agree to date me."

Chen Xiyuan: "Although I know what you said is false, I like this story."

Tan Wenbin: "Then let me edit it properly, and then we can chat about it slowly?"

Chen Xiyuan: "Okay."

Miss Chen shifted her gaze to Runsheng and asked Tan Wenbin softly, "How did Mengmeng and Runsheng get together?"

Tan Wenbin: "Runsheng's family was poor, and he never had enough to eat when he was young. He usually helped his grandfather occasionally retrieve corpses and herd cattle. One day, the cattle knocked down a tombstone in front of a grave, and Mengmeng happened to be lying inside. That's how she met Runsheng, and the two gradually developed feelings for each other."

Little did anyone know that Mengmeng was actually a princess of Fengdu Hell. When the Emperor of Fengdu learned of this, he captured Mengmeng and imprisoned her in the eighteenth level of hell. Only on the night of the full moon could two lovers secretly send messages by burning paper money.

Chen Xiyuan took a big gulp of Jianlibao: "Vice Captain, we need to add some variety to this too, I love to hear it."

Tan Wenbin: "Okay, okay."

Chen Xiyuan: "What about Ayou?"

Tan Wenbin: "Ah You, don't let his honest appearance fool you, he's actually a womanizer who goes on countless blind dates every year."

A few days ago in Nanjing, Tan Wenbin drove Ayou to the school where Zhou Yunyun was studying.

Before he helped Zhou Yunyun move, Ayou and Chen Lin sat facing each other in a coffee shop. When he passed by again after the move, he found that Ayou and Chen Lin were still in the same position.

Finally, Zhou Yunyun said that after the two sat in the coffee shop for an afternoon, Chen Lin said that she had sprained her ankle and asked Ayou to carry her back to her school dormitory.

This is when a girl takes the initiative to create opportunities for intimate contact.

Upon hearing this, Ayou immediately took off the person's shoes and socks, put the person's feet in his lap, and massaged and adjusted their bones.

Lin Shuyou, who was lying under the corridor, turned his head and looked in this direction.

Tan Wenbin picked up a small pebble from the pond in front of him and threw it at Lin Shuyou.

"Look at you, and then look at Zhao Yi, that guy can even handle an old lady!"

Li Zhuiyuan took a long nap and was not woken up until dinner was delivered.

After washing up, the boy sat down at the table.

As usual, the poison was tested by the Gu worms. After confirming that there were no problems, everyone started eating.

After the meal, Li Zhuiyuan asked Tan Wenbin to take out some money and put it under the plate.

Afterwards, Li Zhuiyuan sat on the threshold, leaned his head against the doorpost, closed his eyes, and continued to doze off.

Runsheng, who was sitting next to him, stubbed out the "cigar" he had just lit.

It's already dark, and the moonlight is enchanting tonight.

Tan Wenbin called Lin Shuyou and Chen Xiyuan over, and the three of them went up to the roof and played a game of Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game).

until,

"boom!"

A loud bang shattered the tranquility of the night.

The old man from earlier that day, covered in blood, ran over and shouted:

"Li, the body retriever from Nantong, is here! He's here!"

Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes and stood up.

The people on the roof tore off the strips of paper from their faces and fell down.

Old man: "Ancestral hall, ancestral hall, we can't hold on any longer! He's going to kill, he's going to kill the old lady! Quick, go save her, save the old lady..."

After saying this, the old man's neck tilted to the side, and he lost his life and died.

Tan Wenbin went up to check and confirmed that the person was completely dead.

Chen Xiyuan exclaimed in astonishment, "Li from Nantong who retrieves corpses has infiltrated us, so who are we?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Let's go, let's save the Zhou family from this disaster."

As the group walked out of the courtyard, they saw many bloodstains and corpses along the way.

Tan Wenbin selected several bodies for examination and confirmed that they were undoubtedly from the Zhou family, because the Zhou family members all practiced mechanical arts and had fixed calluses on specific parts of their hands.

During the day, Zhou Ruiyao took everyone to the Zhou Family Ancestral Hall.

At this moment, the flower beds on both sides in front of the ancestral hall were in a mess, with traces of fire. The floor tiles leading to the ancestral hall were also full of cracks and bloodstains.

Inside the ancestral hall, the sounds of fierce fighting could be heard, and screams of agony were incessant.

Zhou Ruiyao: "Li, the Corpse Retriever, what did my Zhou family do to offend you that you have to be so ruthless towards us?"

A man's voice said, "What have you done to offend me? Ha, go ask the King of Hell."

Li Zhuiyuan waved, signaling them to enter the ancestral hall.

Runsheng and Lin Shuyou led the way, one in front and one to the side. Chen Xiyuan took the initiative to get closer to Li Zhuiyuan, while Tan Wenbin turned around, looking behind him as he backed away.

Once everyone had entered the ancestral hall, the previous commotion and fighting instantly fell silent.

"boom!"

The ancestral hall gate slammed shut.

"Hu! Hu! Hu!"

A series of eerie winds blew in, first swirling around the perimeter, then rising upwards, finally creating hollow sounds and resonance at the top.

This means that the interior of this ancestral hall is frighteningly tall.

"Buzz!"

The red lights were lit, and a series of lamps appeared on the surrounding walls, illuminating the entire area.

There was no offering table, no candles, no memorial tablets; what stood before everyone was a huge statue of Maitreya Buddha.

This Maitreya Buddha differs from traditional Buddhist images; it shows no compassion whatsoever, but rather exudes a sinister and ferocious aura.

In front of the Maitreya statue, there were shadow puppets with severed limbs and remains on the ground. The sounds of the previous fighting and talking were all made by them.

On both sides of the wall, there are recessed holes, similar to the layout of the Longmen Grottoes, but instead of Buddhas, all sorts of people sit inside.

These people all had their eyes closed, and there was no trace of human life about them.

A rope was used to lower a person down from above, which stopped at the chest of the Maitreya Buddha. It was Zhou Tingfeng.

"Hehehehe..."

Zhou Tingfeng let out a chilling laugh.

"Trying to attack my Zhou family...you're courting death!"

Behind Zhou Tingfeng, Maitreya Buddha raised his hand, and the corpses on both sides of the wall also raised their hands and made the same gesture.

In an instant, a dense, chilling aura spread out.

In particular, there is an opening between the eyebrows of Maitreya Buddha, inside which is a chair, and a corpse is sitting on the chair.

The corpse was dressed in a kasaya (Buddhist robe), wore a Buddhist hat, was skin and bones, had a grotesque and twisted face, and its skin was an eerie red. The corpse's right hand was also raised.

A gash appeared between Zhou Tingfeng's brows, and blood dripped continuously. An invisible wind carried the blood and clung it to the corpse.

The corpse sitting in the chair jolted.

The enormous Maitreya Buddha slowly stood up.

The corpses in the pits in the surrounding walls all stood up.

Chen Xiyuan looked down at her little brother beside her. She subconsciously wanted to say something, but then subconsciously swallowed the nonsense back down.

We seem to have fallen into a trap?

Hanging in mid-air, Zhou Tingfeng, ignoring the blood still streaming down his face, looked down at Li Zhuiyuan and the others, and asked:
Do you know where this is?

Ha ha……

This is the central hub of my Zhou family's organization.

This large Maitreya statue is the core of the protective array that my Zhou family ancestors painstakingly created for our family!

The pits on both sides contain the remains of my Zhou family ancestors. Before they died, they voluntarily transformed themselves into puppets, which were then further modified by their descendants and preserved here.

It is so that it can be activated at critical moments to defend the Zhou family against enemies and protect the Zhou family's heritage!

Today, this is where you will meet your end!

The loud noise at night, and the so-called "Li from Nantong who retrieves corpses" storming in, were all staged by the Zhou family. The old man deliberately used his death to send a message.

The purpose was to lure Li Zhuiyuan and the others here by exploiting their curiosity.

The Zhou family secretly altered the layout of two buildings in the house. When they entered, the burnt flowerbeds and the destroyed, blood-stained tiles in front of the ancestral hall were there to prevent Li Zhuiyuan and others, who had visited during the day, from noticing the difference in the surrounding environment.

At this moment, Zhao Yi's voice came from outside the ancestral hall:
"Hahaha, didn't expect that, did you? It's someone surnamed Li!"

At this moment, Zhao Yi was still carefully supporting Zhou Ruiyao. After Zhao Yi laughed, the old lady also looked up, smiling at Zhao Yi as she looked at him.

Zhao Yi: "Li, you can only blame yourself for giving too little. The old lady is truly generous. She is willing to give me everything she has, including herself."

"Hey, don't blame me for not being fair to you as your brother. It's just that you're getting more and more outrageous these days, daring to do all sorts of taboo things. I can't keep messing around with you like this."

As he spoke, Zhao Yi turned his head to look at Old Madam Zhou.

Zhou Ruiyao: "Young Master Zhao's taste is truly unique. I am old and cannot withstand Young Master Zhao's torment. Please have mercy on me."

Zhao Yi: "Madam, you are right. I, Zhao Yi, have always been a person who cherishes beauty. It is not easy to gain your trust. Previously, it was your puppet who spoke to me. Now that I have finally sold these guys to you, they are finally willing to show their true faces."

"Come, let me smell it."

Zhao Yi brought his face close to Zhou Ruiyao's neck and sniffed it carefully.

Zhou Ruiyao: "Young Master Zhao, how is it?"

Zhao Yi nodded and exclaimed, "It smells so good! Indeed, the difference between a puppet and a real person with warmth is like heaven and earth. I can't wait any longer."

Zhou Ruiyao: "Why is Young Master Zhao in such a hurry? Anyway, the night is long, and there is plenty of time."

Zhao Yi: "This is how I always do things!"

"puff!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhao Yi's hand pierced through Zhou Ruiyao's chest.

His palms were jet black, covered in dragon skin, making them virtually indestructible.

Zhou Ruiyao's body trembled, blood kept spilling from her mouth, and her life force was visibly slipping away.

"You...you...you actually..."

The Zhou family members standing around all faced Zhao Yi, their eyes filled with anger and ferocity.

Zhao Yi flicked the blood off his hands and said, "The core of the protective array inside is with you, right? If you die, the array inside should stop working."

Zhou Ruiyao's eyes flashed with sarcasm: "Young Master Zhao... are you so certain that I am who I am?"

Zhao Yi looked down at the blood that had accumulated on the ground and the fragments of organs that were constantly flowing out of his chest.

“You are a living person, you can never be a puppet.”

Zhou Ruiyao: "I am alive... but my name is not Zhou Ruiyao... my name is... Zhou Ruixin... aren't there twins next to you too... I am my sister's twin... younger sister."

Zhao Yi: "You two sisters are really willing to go to such lengths."

"With the annihilation of your entire family imminent... what is there to be reluctant about... I feel sorry for Young Master Zhao... to have exchanged flirtatious glances with this old woman for so long... Young Master Zhao, you must be heartbroken to death by now..."

Zhao Yi released his grip, and Zhou Ruixin's body fell to the ground.

“Young Master Zhao, why bother?” Zhou Ruiyao’s voice came as she walked in from outside the courtyard.

However, Zhou Ruiyao was accompanied by a dignified-looking middle-aged man.

As the two of them walked in, a group of figures wielding long swords flew down from the wall and landed, each exuding an extraordinary aura.

Even if the Zhou family, a powerful clan, had members who studied swordsmanship, it would be impossible for them to gather so many powerful swordsmen. Moreover, the clothing worn by these swordsmen was completely different from that of the Zhou family members.

Zhao Yi: "The Ding family?"

The middle-aged man beside Zhou Ruiyao spoke up: "That's right, I am Ding Qinglin, the head of the Ding family in Hegu!"

Ding Qinglin let out a cold snort: "Hmph, these young people nowadays, what a grand gesture, what an arrogant temper! Daring to curse two families at the same time, do they really think there's no one left in the martial arts world!"

Zhao Yi from Jiujiang?

You may have a great reputation in the martial arts world, but you still underestimate us old guys.

The tactics and schemes you're using now are laughably petty in our eyes, yet you yourselves are so smug about it.

First cast the spell, then break it; once you gain their trust, call upon your friends from the martial arts world to help defend against the enemy...

Do you really think we're just naive kids in the martial arts world?
Instead of calming down and thinking it over properly,
If we were truly that foolish, how could the Zhou and Ding families have remained standing in the martial arts world for so many years without falling?

As Ding Qinglin was speaking, another figure appeared behind him and Zhou Ruiyao—the owner of the handicraft shop in town.

At this time, the arrangement was that Li Zhuiyuan and others were inside the ancestral hall, while Zhao Yi and others were in the courtyard outside the ancestral hall.

The Liang sisters stood on either side of Zhao Yi, Xu Ming stood in front of Zhao Yi, and then a short figure took the initiative to stand at the very front.

Looking at Chen Jing, Zhao Yi felt very comforted.

That's the good thing about honest kids. Although in his heart, his "Brother Yuan" is the person he admires the most, he also knows who his current boss is.

Zhao Yi has always been very open-minded. A Jing is willing to die ten times for someone surnamed Li, but only once for herself. There is a difference in the degree of emotion, but in reality, there is no difference at all.

However, looking at the Zhou family members who had already summoned their puppets in the courtyard, and the Ding family members who were wielding long swords and exuding a fierce aura, he was quite surprised.

Zhao Yi then felt a sudden toothache.

The best and brightest of the Zhou and Ding families are all here; the pressure they face is immense.

Even a large number of ants can kill an elephant, let alone these wolves, which are not ants.

Zhao Yi gently pushed the Liang sisters aside and then pressed down on Xu Ming's shoulder, signaling him to squat down.

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Yi pointed to Zhou Ruixin's still-warm body on the ground and waved to Zhou Ruiyao, who was standing with Ding Qinglin in the distance:
"Madam Zhou, you've misunderstood. I discovered that this fake wasn't the real you, and I thought that cunning Li had used some kind of trick again, so I simply decided to kill her without hesitation."

"It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! My heart and my stance have always been on your side, Madam. You must believe me!"

Zhou Ruiyao: "Everyone says that Young Master Zhao acts without any scruples, and today I have truly witnessed it. Even now, Young Master Zhao still dares to try to argue back."

Furthermore, I also heard what Young Master Zhao said when he killed my sister.

The key to the central array of my Zhou family is not on me. Even if Young Master Zhao could kill me now, the central array would still continue to operate.

Because my youngest son, who has become a sinner in the family, is inside at this moment.

He sacrificed his mutilated body and life, never to see the sun rise again. This central array will continue to operate until dawn.

I really have to thank Young Master Zhao, and also those people inside, for actually giving my good-for-nothing son a chance to atone for the sins of the family.

What's even more ridiculous is that the person inside actually went to visit my son in the afternoon, just to see how he made a fool of himself.

You young people...

They truly look down on this martial arts world!

"Ugh."

Upon hearing this, Ding Qinglin sighed. According to seniority, he was a generation younger than Zhou Ruiyao, and Zhou Tingfeng was his in-law.

Ding Qinglin: "Tingfeng, you've suffered for so many years."

Zhou Ruiyao: "He deserves it, he brought it on himself."

Ding Qinglin: "It's a pity that we still haven't heard from Xiang'er and Fan'er. In the past, even if they didn't come back after each trip, they would at least contact their families. I'm really worried..."

Zhou Ruiyao: "If it's there, it's there; if it's gone, it's gone. In the worst case, you lose a daughter, but I lose a gifted grandson."

What happened to the Yu family was not a secret among the major powers, especially the survivors of those top powers, who deliberately reported the situation of the Yu family.

However, Zhou Yunfan's style of doing things was quite secretive and extreme. Before entering the Yu family, he did not meet with the people in Zhao Yi's alliance. When he entered the Yu family, he also went through the back door.

Then, not only was he killed, but the old men who had attacked him and his gang also died. Therefore, in the reports about the Yu family, there was no mention of his group at all.

This meant that even their families only felt that the long period of no contact had led them to suspect something was wrong, but they were unaware that the news of their actual death was true.

It's not uncommon for someone to disappear suddenly without a trace while traveling the world, leaving no trace of their body. Only time will tell.

However, from the conversation between Ding Qinglin and Zhou Ruiyao, it can be inferred that the fact that the two children were able to get together and that Zhou Yunfan was able to marry Ding Luoxiang was actually a tacit understanding shared by the elders of both families.

Zhou Tingfeng was a sinner in the family. As the clan head, Zhou Ruiyao could not favor this son, nor could she continue to protect this grandson. However, this grandson was exceptionally talented, so she simply suppressed and neglected him to temper his character before handing him over to the Ding family.

In this way, they can give an explanation to the rest of the Zhou family, prevent their precious daughter from being tarnished, and Ding Qinglin can also find a son-in-law with amazing potential.

Zhou Ruiyao raised her hand, preparing to order the killing of Zhao Yi and the others.

Zhao Yi immediately called out and asked:

"Madam Zhou, Patriarch Ding, why don't you ask why that Li guy inside is specifically targeting your two families? Why don't you ask why I, Zhao Yi, am willing to help?"

Zhou Ruiyao's hand fell: "Kill!"

Ding Qinglin: "Kill!"

The Zhou family members released the puppets in their hands, and one after another, humanoid and beast-shaped puppets roared out.

The Ding family members, each radiating a chilling aura, pressed forward simultaneously.

Clearly, it wasn't that Zhou Ruiyao and Ding Qinglin didn't want to know the real reason, but rather that they feared their guess being confirmed.

Zhou Ruiyao knew who had crippled her son and who had shattered the Zhou family's heirloom.

Logically speaking, in the competition for the Dragon King's family, it's not like they can't die; losing or dying is perfectly normal.

However, the methods her son used back then, and the scheme he devised, clearly broke the rules. As a result, those top-tier forces that were far stronger than the Zhou family who were actually plotting the scheme also shared the consequences. Among them were members of the Dragon King's faction.

She was angry at her son for being so foolish as to become someone else's henchman; she was even angrier at those top powers for not going all the way and finishing the job so that those two powerful families, though teetering on the brink of collapse, could still hold on until now.

Even if the Dragon King family is in dire straits, it is still the Dragon King family. Zhou Ruiyao had heard many stories about that old lady surnamed Liu when she was young, and had even lamented that they were both women, so why could that lady be so unrestrained, so free-spirited, and marry the person she wanted to marry, while she herself had to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of the continuation of the family.

She was truly afraid that one day that old lady, who was just as old as she was, would come to the Zhou family's door with a sword, seeking revenge for her scheming back then.

You should know that in history, the Liu family once had a Dragon King who would settle scores on the river and bring them to the shore!
The name of Li, the corpse retriever from Nantong, has absolutely no connection to those two establishments, whether it's the place name, his profession, or his surname.

But precisely because they are completely unrelated, it is easier for people to make that association.

Zhou Ruiyao was truly afraid that these were people from the Dragon King's family, and she had no choice but to use the Zhou family's central command, which possessed the strongest killing intent, to trap and kill that group of people!
Ding Qinglin's mindset was similar to Zhou Ruiyao's. He knew what Zhou Tingfeng had done back then, and he was also aware that accepting Zhou Tingfeng's son as his son-in-law was already a provocation against the Dragon King's family.

If it were a normal Dragon King's family, he would have already chopped off Zhou Yunfan's head and sent it as a congratulatory gift. But it was precisely because of the current state of the Qin and Liu families that he held onto this hope. He valued his son-in-law's potential too much. He truly saw in his son-in-law the hope that the Ding family could reach the Dragon King's family.

Those outside dared not ask, but Zhou Tingfeng inside did:

"Now you can tell me what your last name is, right?"

Li Zhuiyuan walked towards the large Maitreya statue, which was also towards Zhou Tingfeng.

From inside the pit walls on both sides, puppets made by generations of Zhou family ancestors jumped down and attacked this side.

The Maitreya statue in front of them was constantly making various movements, controlling and guiding these mechanisms built by the ancestors of the Zhou family over the generations.

Runsheng, wielding a Yellow River shovel, rushed forward to block the boy. He swung the shovel three times in a row, knocking some of the mechanical puppets away, but the remaining force was still strong, forcing Runsheng to retreat.

For a long time, he had never felt such strain in terms of absolute power.

Lin Shuyou and Tan Wenbin, relying on their agility, blocked the mechanical puppets that were trying to bypass and attack Xiao Yuan. Although it was effective, they immediately had the same feeling as Runsheng: continuing at this high intensity was definitely not going to work!
These mechanical puppets are not the kind of dead that resurrect in swarms. Dead groups are easy to deal with; you can kill a whole bunch of them. But these are different. Each one of them can deliver a fatal blow if you are careless for even a moment. If you are surrounded by them, you are really not far from death.

Chen Xiyuan opened her domain and followed the boy's instructions. She did not use the Qiongya Chen family's domain too strictly, but instead actively integrated the color fluctuations of her domain into the dim candlelight.

She first rushed to Runsheng's side to help him out of the predicament, giving him a chance to catch his breath. Then she went to Lin Shuyou and Tan Wenbin's side and knocked away the puppets next to them.

But as more and more Zhou family ancestor puppets on the pit walls awakened, jumped down, and joined in, even Chen Xiyuan felt a sense of ominous despair.

Because the first batch of mechanical puppets that were activated already had a self-destructive aura emanating from their bodies.

"boom!"

One of the mechanical puppets self-destructed, blasting open Runsheng's air barrier. The other mechanical puppets followed suit, launching attacks in various ways. Once they could get close enough, they would soon start self-destructing as well.

"boom!"

Lin Shuyou had just smashed the head of a mechanical puppet with his golden mace when it exploded, making it impossible to avoid.

Lin Shuyou, who was blown to the ground, slammed his mace into the ground before his body hit the ground, bounced up again, and knocked away another mechanical puppet that was trying to rush towards Brother Xiaoyuan.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The three puppets clinging to Runsheng exploded. Fortunately, Chen Xiyuan activated her domain in time, helping Runsheng retreat and weakening the power of the explosion.

Ke Runsheng was still covered in blood.

Even Chen Xiyuan felt a sweet taste in her throat.

Little brother, if this continues, we'll really be dying very soon!
The Zhou family's protective array has a major drawback: its effective range is limited to within the Zhou family's residence and cannot extend beyond it.

Therefore, it cannot be used as a means of external attack, but it is perfect for protecting the family. This means that anyone who wants to invade the Zhou family will have to pay an extremely terrible price.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Explosions continued to be heard, but the blast radius was not large in order to increase the explosive power.

Even with Chen Xiyuan's continuous efforts to put out the fire, the flames were growing larger and larger. Moreover, more mechanisms made by the Zhou family ancestors within the pit walls were activating.

Tan Wenbin wanted to burn with blood, Runsheng wanted to open his chakra to the fullest, and Lin Shuyou even held a handful of talisman needles in his hand, the number of which he himself did not know.

If we take out our most treasured items, we can hold out for a while longer. But now, we really can't hold on any longer.

But their resolute will was suppressed again after a voice arose in their hearts.

Li Zhuiyuan finally reached the foot of the Maitreya statue.

This isn't a matter of distance; rather, it's about the fact that you always need time to analyze and contemplate the core of someone else's organization.

Thanks to the "Qi Family Annals" and the mechanical arts he inherited from Zhou Yunfan's memories, the young man's mechanical arts skills have already reached a very high level.

Zhao Yi was well aware of this, because he had been to his own training ground and witnessed firsthand how he used mechanical arts to teach his subordinates.

Moreover, Zhao Yi also knew that next, after bringing back the materials, Li Zhuiyuan would need to upgrade his dojo. This meant that the current level of mechanical arts displayed in the dojo was far from the full extent of Li Zhuiyuan's abilities.

Plans can never keep up with changes.

This is also why Zhao Yi's role has never been replaced; he truly has the skill to play blindfold chess against himself.

There are so many ways to send messages, yet they insist on carving Zhou Yunyun's image and displaying it in that shop, where the letter paper is even decorated with heart patterns.

He was joking with Lin Shuyou, which also meant that his own rough plan with him had become a joke.

In front of the suspension bridge, Li Zhuiyuan patted the lion's belly. The light was directed inward, indicating that the Zhou family's mechanical array was now entirely facing inward.

This is a classic case of... luring someone into a trap.

At that time, Li Zhuiyuan was certain that the old plan was abandoned and Zhao Yi had a new plan.

Of course, it's also possible that Zhao Yi discovered a better method and deliberately revealed flaws in his acting to let the other party see through them.

This is indeed a simpler method, allowing the other party to voluntarily deliver themselves to the front of their own central strategic array.

This action is tantamount to handing over one's sharpest knife to one's enemy, a robber.

It's really simple.

Li Zhuiyuan looked up and clapped his hands.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

A series of sounds, similar to unfastening buttons, emanated from the Maitreya statue from top to bottom.

Hearing the sound, Zhou Tingfeng, who was dangling in mid-air, immediately realized what had happened, and his expression changed instantly:
"How...how is it possible!"

The Maitreya statue sat back down, and one of its large hands stretched downwards, coming to Li Zhuiyuan.

The boy stepped onto the palm of the Maitreya statue, and the palm moved upwards.

In this process, it was inevitable that he would get closer to Zhou Tingfeng.

"No, no, impossible! How could you know how to use mechanisms? How could you know how to use mechanisms!"

The "ability" here refers to surpassing him in the skill of mechanical devices, and being able to unlock and control the central mechanism of his house in a short time.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Simply mastering mechanical arts is a narrow path; combining mechanical arts with formations and feng shui is the true easy way out."

Zhou Tingfeng's eyes widened.

Li Zhuiyuan wasn't trying to answer his question. The boy's answer was essentially telling a high school senior that as long as he got full marks in every subject, he could choose any university he wanted.

To Zhou Tingfeng's horror, as a genius of mechanical arts from the previous generation, he saw a terrifying prodigy.

After witnessing Li Zhuiyuan demonstrate his understanding of the new version of the Liu Family Qi Observation Technique, Liu Yumei immediately made a decision to pass on the Shuanglongwang Sect's inheritance to him.

Only a truly worldly genius can truly understand what this child's existence means.

Since then, Liu Yumei has never uttered the word "marry into the family" again, either verbally or in her heart.

Give him time, give him to grow, and he will become more and more terrifying. He might even use your area of ​​expertise to defeat and crush you, bringing you a deeper level of despair.

The Maitreya statue depicts one hand continuing to lift the boy upwards, while the other hand waves downwards.

"Boom!"

With a sweeping motion, the mechanical puppets were cleared away, giving his companions below a brief respite.

Chen Xiyuan's hand holding the flute was dripping blood, but her attention was entirely focused on the little brother above her.

With a bleeding hand, he reached into his pocket, pulled out some sunflower seeds, and popped them into his mouth.

No wonder the little sister likes to draw the scene of her little brother walking on the river. Oh dear, she, as the older sister, also loves to look at it.

Unfortunately, the little brother is still too young. If he were an adult and taller, he could also go and paint.

Zhou Tingfeng suddenly realized something and roared:
"Even if you break through and control the central authority, so what? My blood has already merged into the Buddha, and I have already sacrificed my remaining life."

Therefore,
You're still going to die here today!

Below, all the mechanical puppets that had jumped down from the pit wall were collectively exuding an aura of impending self-destruction.

A terrible storm is brewing, and it will be enough to reduce everything inside this large building to dust.

Li Zhuiyuan was guided by the Maitreya statue's hand to the space between his eyebrows, making him level with the Buddha's corpse sitting there.

The Zhou family made puppets of their ancestors by a clever trick.

Since the person is dead and not alive, there is no real taboo to speak of.

However, being alive and being dead are two different concepts. So many puppets made from the corpses of the deceased after special treatment will be accompanied by the growth of resentment in their existence and use.

In this way, over time, the central mechanism would become unusable. However, if it were to be cleaned and replaced every so often, not to mention the cost, the Zhou family itself would not have enough time to produce so many good talents as raw materials.

Moreover, any normal family hopes that its heritage can become richer and its foundation can become stronger.

Therefore, the other members of the Zhou family here could all understand that it was "voluntary," except for one person who was forced, and that was the Buddha sitting in the center of the Maitreya statue's brow.

He is the central figure within the entire system. All system commands must pass through him to be purified before they can be used to control the system and remove any resentment.

Even Li Zhuiyuan had to marvel at this ingenious move.

As Zhou Tingfeng said, anyone else would indeed be unable to stop it and would surely die, because the order had already been issued. Even if the central mechanism was destroyed, all these numerous Zhou family ancestral mechanical puppets would still follow the previous order to complete the task.

But for Li Zhuiyuan, this was an extremely simple matter.

A corpse sitting in a chair... or a corpse that was killed, forcibly confined here, and unable to be reborn after death.

Ordinary people would harbor resentment if treated this way, let alone the Buddha, who would be tainted by such a defilement of his faith.

His resentment was so intense that it could be clearly seen in the corpse's expression.

The Black Book Secret Technique—this is the kind of target I like best.

You don't even need to modify his memory. You just need to ignite the remnant spirit within him to awaken it. Even the most compassionate Buddha in life will instantly transform into an angry Vajra and kill all the Zhou family members in front of him!
However, considering that his own people were here and Zhao Yi and the others were outside, Li Zhuiyuan still had to keep some control over the Buddha.

We can't let him wake up and attack indiscriminately. The boy is here for revenge, not to die together with his enemies.

Therefore, Li Zhuiyuan put his hands together in prayer.

Close your eyes, then open them.

From Zhou Tingfeng's perspective, the young man instantly became solemn and dignified, with faint rays of Buddhist light flowing behind him.

Next, an even more unbelievable scene unfolded: the Buddha sitting on the chair between the eyebrows of the Maitreya statue actually opened his cloudy, grayish-white eyes and put his hands together in prayer.

next moment,
Li Zhuiyuan and the Buddha said in unison:
"Amitabha."

Below, all the Zhou family ancestral mechanical puppets that were on the verge of self-destruction froze, and the aura of self-destruction subsided.

Runsheng wiped the blood off his face, Tan Wenbin gritted his teeth and tore off the clothes that were stuck to his flesh and blood, and Lin Shuyou set his own bones.

With a "crack," it was incredibly crisp.

In the past, the spirits did not cherish the time when they descended, which caused the spirit mediums to have frequent health problems. Over time, they became skilled at healing themselves. Therefore, when the officials and generals faced those who came to the temple to pray for blessings, they would easily solve their minor ailments.

Tan Wenbin: "No wonder you were doing bone setting for Chen Lin, you're so professional?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuyou's face immediately turned red, redder than the bloodstains on his face.

Li Zhuiyuan turned around and faced the tightly locked door.

On both sides of the pit, the puppets of the Zhou family ancestors, which were originally falling down one by one like dumplings being dropped into a pot, are now jumping down in batches.

Soon, they all landed. The area below was large, but once they were all standing there, the space actually felt somewhat cramped.

Li Zhuiyuan raised his right hand, and the Buddha statue behind him, located between his eyebrows, made the same gesture as the boy.

All the puppets of Zhou family ancestors turned around and faced the gate.

Uniform and orderly, with orders strictly followed.

Even if the Zhou family members themselves controlled their own ancestors, they could not do so with the same ease as the boy.

Zhou Tingfeng had already anticipated what would happen next, and he couldn't accept it, not only in terms of the outcome, but also in terms of ethics...

Li Zhuiyuan: "This afternoon, I will fulfill your request. I will make the Zhou family collapse and rot in front of you, and let the Zhou family members witness the terror and despair you once experienced."

Trust me, they will understand you and forgive you very soon.

The last time Zhou Tingfeng saw him was that member of the Qin family, who fought alone in a desperate situation for a long time, covered in blood and with his bones exposed, yet he still managed to beat and destroy those who attacked him one by one.

This time, Zhou Tingfeng witnessed an even more terrifying scene.

Zhou Tingfeng: "You... your surname is Qin?"

Li Zhuiyuan remained noncommittal.

Zhou Tingfeng: "Qin Li is yours..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "My uncle."

Zhou Tingfeng: "You're from the Qin family...no wonder...you're here to seek revenge on behalf of your uncle...on behalf of the Dragon King's clan...he must...hate me a lot..."

Li Zhuiyuan:
"you misunderstood.

If it weren't for the coincidence that your son encountered me while traveling along the river, and that he deliberately provoked me, he would have been killed by me.

I had no idea you existed.

My grandmother only cares about the top figures in the underworld who were behind the scenes and truly orchestrated this whole affair; she doesn't care about the Zhou family at all.

Zhou Tingfeng: "No... impossible... impossible... absolutely impossible... He hates me so much... that's why he deliberately left that energy in my body... leaving me paralyzed for life!"

Li Zhuiyuan:
"impossible?

Ha, otherwise, why do you think your Zhou family has survived until now?

Because back then, you were just an insignificant nobody mixed in with the crowd.

My uncle simply smashed your Zhou family's treasures and sent you flying, without even giving you a second glance.

When you returned home seriously injured and confided in the old lady, you never mentioned your name or family.

Believe me, if you were to go begging at my doorstep looking like this...

My uncle would take pity on you and bring you a bowl of rice, then tell you to eat slowly and not to choke.

In an instant, Zhou Tingfeng's eyes turned ashen.

His body was destroyed that day, but his spirit died today.

Li Zhuiyuan disliked spending so much time rambling on with a dying person.

But he will tell Uncle Qin, Aunt Liu and Grandma Liu about what happened today when he has the chance in the future.

Therefore, he should talk more now so that he will have enough to talk about and make everyone laugh when they sit on the dam at his great-grandfather's house to cool off on summer evenings.

However, that's enough for now; we can't continue talking about it.

Zhao Yi outside is really on the verge of collapse.

because of him,
They're already calling them "ancestors."

……

"Roar!"

Chen Jing let out a roar and charged out like lightning.

Zhao Yi raised his fist, his entire body covered in black dragon skin, each punch containing terrifying power, while the Liang sisters protected him and helped him deflect the attacks.

Xu Ming stood still, summoning vines to provide all his companions with the best defense and healing he could.

On Zhao Yi's side, it seemed like he was taking the initiative to attack, but in reality, he was still on the defensive.

People are afraid of death, especially when they feel victory is within their grasp. No one wants to become cannon fodder on the eve of victory. Therefore, both the Ding family and the Zhou family in the front row fought somewhat timidly. The more you wanted to fight desperately, the less willing they were to trade places with you.

Of course, this period of benefits only lasts for a short while.

Soon, as blood was drawn between the two sides, anger flared up. Furthermore, the heads of both families were watching, putting considerable pressure on them.

In short, Zhao Yi's side immediately became very uncomfortable, with everyone suffering injuries.

Zhao Yi: "Hey Li, I told you from the start not to do this kind of thing. Why can't we just come and ambush you every night, kill a few today and a few tomorrow? Damn it, you just wouldn't listen to me!"

The pressure continues; the other side has a numerical advantage.

Chen Jing was covered in blood, some of his own and some of his enemies'. His speed was getting slower and slower, and his strength was gradually failing.

Zhao Yi: "Li Zhuiyuan, I really can't hold on any longer!"

Chen Jing roared, disregarding the fact that his wounds were reopening, and charged towards Zhou Ruiyao and Ding Qinglin, who were standing on the steps in the distance. This forced the two experts who were besieging them to be distracted and return to their aid, relieving the pressure on Yi Ge and his group.

Zhao Yi: "Brother Xiao Yuan, we really can't hold on any longer!"

After a series of charges, Chen Jing actually broke through the layers of obstacles and arrived in front of Zhou Ruiyao.

Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared in front of Zhou Ruiyao. It was a mechanical python that coiled around Chen Jing. Ding Qinglin drew his sword and thrust it out, leaving a large hole in Chen Jing's body.

Chen Jing was no longer able to charge forward, and coupled with the successive injuries, he instinctively began to retreat.

The Liang sisters joined hands and charged forward despite their injuries; Zhao Yi himself emitted black mist and suddenly burst into the crowd; Xu Ming took the opportunity to bind Chen Jing with vines and pull him back.

Zhao Yi and the Liang sisters also quickly retreated. They planted the array flags and, in conjunction with the tree stumps that Xu Ming had arranged as instructed, activated the array.

However, this formation could not provide protection for long. When the surrounding people launched an attack together, it collapsed completely in less than ten seconds.

At this moment, Chen Jing was too weak to stand up, Xu Ming was so exhausted that his face was ashen, and the white clothes worn by the Liang sisters were now covered in blood.

Liang Yan: "Boss, we'll clear the way for you, you go out alone!"

Liang Li: "Don't worry about us, just go out!"

Zhao Yi: "There are formations outside, and the formations here are all facing inwards. Even if I can break out of here, I can't get out of the house."

Immediately, Zhao Yi shouted again:

"My little ancestor, if you don't come out soon, you'll be the one to bury your child!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The gate, which had been sealed tightly, suddenly opened, and a terrifying shockwave and a chilling aura burst forth.

This scene caused all the experts from the two families who were besieging Zhao Yi to instinctively retreat.

Zhou Ruiyao: "What's the panic? The thieves inside have been executed. My son Tingfeng has finally done something for the family."

Ding Qinglin: "What are you standing there for? Clean them up! So many people attacked, and they still managed to hold out for so long. It's shameful!"

The two experts responded in unison, but just as they were about to step forward, they saw the woman descend, sweep her flute across the ground, and break all the swords of the Ding family members in front of her.

Runsheng and Lin Shuyou stood on either side of her. One of them pressed forward, forcing the other back. Behind them, Tan Wenbin was terrified, causing the Zhou family members to lose control of their puppet.

The addition of a new force has helped Zhao Yi's precarious situation to recover.

Ding Qinglin: "Why were they able to come out alive? How come the central government of your Zhou family couldn't kill them?"

Zhou Ruiyao: "It doesn't matter, we outnumber them, we can wear them down."

Ding Qinglin: "Do you know how many of us will die?"

Zhou Ruiyao: "Then what are you going to do? Are you going to let them leave? Did you hear what Zhao Yi just shouted? He said he would attack outside and kill several people every day. Can your Ding family stand for that, or can my Zhou family stand for that?"

Also, guess whether they're still on the river?
If we don't take advantage of them attacking us first, we have a legitimate reason to fight back. If we let them leave alive, no matter how badly they are injured, as long as they survive a few more waves, they will become even more terrifying!
kill! "

Ding Qinglin: "Kill!"

Li Zhuiyuan stepped out from the threshold, dragging a mushy body in his hand.

Seeing Li Zhuiyuan's figure, Zhao Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had to admit that at times like these, only someone with the surname Li could give him a real sense of security.

In addition, Zhao Yi also saw a dense array of lantern-like eyes gradually appearing behind Li Zhuiyuan.

"Ancestor, it seems that I was not destined to die. I just managed to hold on until you came out."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I'm sorry, I could have come out earlier, but I talked inside a little longer."

Zhao Yi licked his bleeding lips: "It's my duty. Your words are important, Ancestor. It's my fault for not being able to hold on for long enough, which prevented you from having a proper chat."

The wounds have been inflicted, the blood has been shed, it's time to reap the rewards. We can't act impulsively, we must endure it for now and get the benefits first!
Li Zhuiyuan: "When we get back, I can give you a copy of the 'Code of Conduct for Traveling Along the River'."

Zhao Yi: "Hey Li, you're being too polite. I'm doing this for you willingly, not for such a trivial thing."

However, we're currently surrounded. Shouldn't you address our immediate life-or-death situation first?

Li Zhuiyuan raised his arm and pointed forward.

The next moment, a huge number of Zhou family ancestral mechanical puppets rushed out and launched a frenzied attack on the Zhou and Ding family members in front of them. If they encountered any obstacles, they would not hesitate to self-destruct.

Screams echoed, creating the most melodious tune; plumes of blood mist bloomed, like the most dazzling fireworks.

Originally intended as a protective mechanism to safeguard the Zhou family, it has now become the most ruthless weapon used to slaughter members of the Zhou family.

Ding Qinglin: "Why did this happen? Why did this happen!"

Zhou Ruiyao: "It's over...it's over...the Zhou family is finished..."

Li Zhuiyuan sat down on the threshold, reached out, grabbed Zhou Tingfeng's hair, and kindly straightened his head so that he could witness the tragic end of the Zhou family.

Back then, the Qin and Liu families' fighting forces collectively perished, and the spirits of the two families' Dragon Kings also dissipated.

Grandma Liu also dismissed the servants of the Qin and Liu families, and she faced the same pressure.

Even so, you still wanted to cut off Uncle Qin's travel route across the river, severing the only possibility of revival for the Qin and Liu families at that time. When it was time to step forward and sacrifice, you weren't there; but after they had sacrificed themselves, you were really keen to scheme against the orphans and widows behind their backs.

You want to eat my family's bloodline? Then I'll show you what it really means to eat a bloodline that has no descendants.

"I have good news for you. You are not the only one, and your Zhou family is not the only one. I will not let any of the people and families involved in that incident go."

A glimmer of light appeared in Zhou Tingfeng's desolate eyes, and a sickly smile appeared on his face, with a disgusting trickle of saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Li Zhuiyuan:
"Tonight is just the beginning."

---

2 words updated!
I owed 1,000 words yesterday, and made up for it with 10,000 words today.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let's call for monthly votes again and show the dragon the effect!

(End of this chapter)