Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 459

"We've arrived in Yuxi."

Old Zhai opened his eyes and looked out the car window.

This is a gentle and peaceful city.

Mr. Zhai had been here before, working and living here for a period of time.

By today's standards, if you come here with the intention of a short trip, you might find it somewhat bland. But if you stay a little longer, you'll find that you don't want to leave.

Mr. Zhai said to his staff, "Call Xiao Yuan."

The old man's eyes slowly narrowed again.

He was very tired, not only because of his recent busy work schedule, but also because his insistence on paving the way for young students had attracted a lot of criticism and pressure.

Some say he abused his seniority and broke the rules, others say he misused personal relationships and acted recklessly, and still others say that Li Zhuiyuan was his illegitimate grandson.

Although he quite liked hearing the last criticism, and he really wanted it to be implemented.

But this kind of thing is extremely draining for an old man's energy. Since he set off for Yuxi, he has been unable to stop feeling sleepy. The closer he got to Yuxi, the more drowsy he became.

"Old Zhai, we can't get through to Team Leader Xiao Yuan. He probably doesn't have a signal there."

"Xiao Yuan should be in the mountains. Let him get busy first. You organize everyone to settle down and tell them to get some rest. Once the work officially starts, there won't be any time to slack off."

"Okay, Mr. Zhai."

The bus drove towards the guesthouse.

We passed through a town where a temple fair was being held.

Nowadays, with the increasing convenience of information exchange, local folk cultures are also absorbing and integrating. The single temple and shrine narratives based on villages are gradually failing to meet people's daily cultural needs.

The most obvious change is that people are eager to see more deities at events like temple fairs, even if the mythological stories take place thousands of miles away from their homes. As long as the deities are famous enough and their expertise is relevant, they can be used.

For example, strange things have been happening frequently in the area recently, causing widespread panic. Some elderly people say that this is because the gates of the underworld have cracked, allowing little ghosts to escape.

At today's temple fair, the portrait of Fengdu Emperor is painted the largest and most eye-catching, held high and hung on a bamboo frame. People hope that this great emperor who governs the underworld in mythology can come to the local area and get rid of these troublesome little ghosts.

After seeing the portrait, Old Zhai felt even more depressed.

After checking into the guesthouse, he was helped into his room. When his entourage saw his condition, they wanted to ask a doctor to take a look, but Old Zhai refused, saying that he would be fine after a good night's sleep. He also instructed Xiao Yuan to wake him up immediately if there was any news from his place.

After Mr. Zhai fell asleep in bed, the accompanying staff left the room and closed the door.

The sun is setting.

Old Zhai's shadow stretched longer and longer, eventually reaching the window.

The shadow slowly rose, resembling the gentle appearance of Elder Zhai, yet also appearing solemn as if wearing a crown.

Several taxis were parked in front of the guesthouse, waiting for passengers.

There were customers waving for a car ahead, but the first car in line didn't start and drove up.

The second taxi driver got out of his car, a cigarette dangling from his lips, pointed to the first taxi, and smiled at his colleagues behind him:
"This guy must be asleep."

When he reached the window of the first taxi, ready to wake the driver, he found that the driver wasn't asleep. Instead, he seemed possessed, sitting stiffly in the driver's seat with a blank stare, muttering the same sentence over and over:

"If you treat him well, he will treat you well in return..."

Outside the guesthouse, bonfires were lit at the temple fair, preparing for the most lively festivities of the evening.

"Huh...huh...huh..."

A sudden gust of wind blew the fire basket over, and many sparks flew wildly toward the various images of gods and Buddhas, igniting them all.

There were many villagers around, but it was really difficult to put out the fire in this situation. The statues were all solemn and dignified, so it was inappropriate to pour water on them, and it was even more inappropriate to tear them down, put them on the ground, and beat or stomp on them to extinguish the fire.

When all the other gods and Buddhas turned to ashes, everyone was astonished to find that only the largest statue of the Fengdu Emperor remained untouched by the fire, standing there intact, gazing into the distance.

The organizers of the temple fair weren't actually believers themselves, but like wedding officiants, when things went wrong, their first instinct was to try and salvage the situation. So, someone immediately shouted:

"The Great Emperor has appeared, here to catch the little devils!"

……

The wave is coming, the wolf is coming.

The three wolf packs gradually merged as they approached their destination.

They moved together in a tacit understanding, looking out for each other while also being wary of one another.

Those who follow the path of physical martial arts are in front, swordsmen and knife-wielders are on the side, and those who are delicate and weak, such as sorcerers and array masters, are behind.

The number of people involved was considerable, comparable to the wave that the Yu family had formed.

In fact, the number of lamplighters in the Yu family's wave should have been larger. The main reason was that Zhao Yi had formed an alliance early on. This alliance was too ruthless in its actions. On the way from Jiujiang to Luoyang, they would fish whenever they had free time. The Luoyang Ancient Tomb Museum was the last place they went, clearing out those who were not qualified to be on the stage in advance.

This time, because the second wave of local talent was far superior to the first wave, and because Lin Shuyou had already started his campaign in the town, and with a mysterious team exerting a superior influence, everyone was less inclined to engage in internal strife.

The mountain road ahead narrows, creating a necessary route for normal travel.

There was a shed set up, a bonfire lit, hot water boiling on top, and many disposable paper cups placed on a flat stone below.

Runsheng focused on chopping wood and tending the fire, while Lin Shuyou was in charge of brewing tea.

Tea was Grandma Liu's staple food when she was at home.

In the past, Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin would occasionally drink it for free, but because it was too expensive, they would basically not take it.

Last time Li Zhuiyuan took A Li to Fengdu, while making preparations, A Li put a box of tea into her backpack.

It turns out that when A-Li was born, Liu Yumei set aside a tea mountain and registered it under A-Li's name. It wasn't for A-Li's future journey across the river, but it was essentially a form of dividing the family property in advance before A-Li went across the river.

Now everyone felt less burdened. When they went out, each person carried a box of tea in their bag. Even Runsheng, who couldn't appreciate tea, could pinch a pinch and chew on some peony tea to refresh himself while on night watch.

The wolves stopped as soon as they saw the tea stall.

In a multi-team setting, the biggest taboo is to act unconventionally, because this could make you a target for everyone else.

The short woman in front of Luo Xiaoyu whispered:
"So flamboyant."

Luo Xiaoyu yawned and said, "There are array stakes buried under the tea stall, ready to be used for escape at any time."

The short woman said, "Oh, it's all just for show."

Luo Xiaoyu: "You only dare to put on this act if you're absolutely certain you can escape. Sister Hua, you're getting more and more extreme lately."

Sister Hua: "I'm not trying to comfort your wounded heart."

Luo Xiaoyu: "Okay, okay, okay."

Sister Hua: "What are you going to do?"

Luo Xiaoyu: "I'm thirsty, let's go get a cup of tea."

Everyone's attention first focused on the tea stall, and then finally fell on the "three leading wolves".

However, Xu Mofan, Zhu Yiwen, and Feng Xionglin are the ones who least understand the current situation.

They were forced to act according to the other party's plan, but when things were almost done, the other party suddenly appeared at the most crucial moment.

There's nothing we can do; plans can't keep up with changes. And what can we do when there really is a deer in Lujiazhuang?

Tao Zhuming and Ling Wuxing were the first to step forward.

As members of the Dragon King's family, they naturally held a special position within the wolf pack. The fact that the three lead wolves were able to so effectively lure the pack over was undoubtedly due in no small part to their meddling.

Upon seeing Tan Wenbin standing in front of the tea stall, the two exchanged a glance and then walked over.

Upon entering this area, they sensed an array below, but the two paused only slightly before leaving their subordinates behind and entering together.

"Brother Tan, I've missed you dearly since we parted ways with the Yu family."

"Brother Tan, do you still remember the two of us?"

Tan Wenbin: "How could I forget? Whenever I heard Tianjin crosstalk playing on the radio on the wall when I was at home, I would immediately think of the two of you."

"Haha, Brother Tan is right!"

"Haha, Brother Tan is witty."

Neither of them was angry, because that was what they both thought, and they both liked this way of getting along.

Competition within the Dragon King's clan is fierce. Those who qualify to light the lamp and travel the river in this generation are the most outstanding members of the family. Among those with the same surname, there are often few true friends.

When you're out and about, it's quite enjoyable to meet someone of similar status and taste, someone whose temperament is on par with yours. You can really enjoy the back-and-forth banter and each other's words.

There's no other reason than being lonely for too long.

Tao Zhuming: "Brother Tan, you seem to be gaining more and more confidence. I imagine you've had a good catch on the river recently?"

The Five Elements Command: "When the wind rises and the waves surge, we should ride the wave and be one step ahead of others. We should strive to do better."

Last time at the Yu family, Zhao Yi was in charge of command, Chen Xiyuan was in charge of the battle, and Tan Wenbin at most showed a humble yet assertive attitude.

The setup and the opening joke today clearly indicate a high-handed attitude.

Tan Wenbin: "It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. Knowing that you fellow practitioners in the martial arts world have worked hard to eliminate evil and protect the righteous path, I specially prepared tea here to welcome you and help you relax."

The tea was served.

Tao Zhuming and Ling Wuxing each caught it, and out of the corner of their eyes, they both looked past Tan Wenbin and toward the boy and girl sitting deep inside the tea stall.

Seeing Tan Wenbin standing outside to greet guests, while the boy and girl sat inside, confirmed their previous suspicions.

The person who lit the lamps for this team was definitely not Tan Wenbin.

As for the girl, it was the first time I had seen her. Although she was dressed in relatively modern mountaineering clothes, she had an innate classical temperament.

This really seems to be influenced by Zhao Yi from Jiujiang. At a young age, he used his "male beauty" to seduce people, attracting daughters from unknown sects and families to follow him and help him travel in the martial arts world.

As they pondered their thoughts, the two sipped the tea from their paper cups.

With just that one bite, their eyes locked, and they quickly exchanged glances out of the corner of their eyes.

Tao Zhuming: Damn it, I was tricked by that Zhao Yi from Jiujiang!

Ling Wuxing: No wonder the Dragon King Chen family girl appeared with them when she was in the Yu family!
The Dragon King's household may not necessarily live a life of extravagance and debauchery, but even if they are low-key, the sliver of something that flows from under their fingernails is something that no amount of real money can buy on the market.

There are many famous teas in the world, and the best teas are in high demand but priceless. But this kind of tea is in demand but not available.

This tea has a unique flavor that can only be cultivated in ancient and mysterious places. There is indeed a suitable place to grow it in the world of martial arts: the ancestral home of the Dragon King.

Moreover, even within the Dragon King's clan, only the elders of noble status are qualified to enjoy this privilege. The younger generation cannot enjoy such a privilege unless they specifically request it.

At this point in time, in this environment, only someone with a brain fart would use such a hard-won, high-quality tea here, just to pretend to elevate their status.

Tao Zhuming held the cup in one hand, raised the other hand towards Li Zhuiyuan, and looked at Tan Wenbin: "Won't you come and get to know me?"

The Five Elements followed the same action: "Should we at least make some contact?"

Tan Wenbin: "Soon, but it's not time yet."

Tao Zhuming: "It's really quite mysterious."

Ling Wuxing: "I'm getting more and more excited."

The two had already mentally sifted through the forces of their own sect again and again, trying to find the corresponding position, but they had all failed. The main reason was that the boy was not a dwarf, and his age was real. They couldn't understand why any sect would send an underage child to light a lamp and walk the river.

Moreover, the way they left was so frightening.

The two were now certain that the group that had taken on all the tests and attempts to kill the Little Hell King in town that day was the group in front of them.

Tao Zhuming deliberately spoke loudly: "Brother Tan, since you've arrived so early, have you encountered a group of people acting in a high-profile manner? Are you heading forward?"

Tan Wenbin: "We saw them and even fought them. Those people were indeed arrogant, but they were also really not to be trifled with. We didn't get the upper hand."

Ling Wuxing raised his voice as well: "Have they succeeded in getting the divine deer from Lu Family Village?"

Tan Wenbin: "They did cause a ruckus, but it seems they haven't succeeded yet. The Lu family village is a powerful clan, and they're not so easy to deal with."

Tao Zhuming: "Then why is Brother Tan waiting here instead of taking it first?"

Tan Wenbin: "This is a divine deer, which cannot be obtained by force and will naturally belong to the one who is destined to receive it."

Ling Wuxing: "Brother Tan, you don't want it?"

Tan Wenbin: "We don't want it."

Tao Zhuming and Ling Wuxing retreated, holding disposable paper cups. They didn't believe it was a trap; they thought the divine deer was just a bait.

After retreating into the crowd, the two continued drinking tea while setting up a protective barrier to communicate via secret sounds:
Ling Wuxing said, "This is clearly a deliberate attempt to shift the blame. What family has a grudge against the Lu Family Village?"

Tao Zhuming: "You're asking me? Why don't you go back and ask your elders if they've ever worn deerskin gloves before?"

Ling Wuxing: "My elders?"

Tao Zhuming: "My elders have mentioned this Lu Family Manor to me. It is a place where some top-tier martial arts forces keep their servants. This means that my Tao family is not among them."

Ling Wuxing: "How can this prove that my Ling family is among them?"

Tao Zhuming: "There are only so many top forces in the martial arts world. Statistically speaking, since my Tao family is no longer here, your Ling family is most likely still here."

Ling Wuxing frowned, then nodded and said, "That makes sense."

Tao Zhuming: "You'd better hope that this is something that's used up and then destroyed, to cover up the truth."

Ling Wuxing smacked his lips.

Tao Zhuming: "If we're going to seek revenge... this Lu Family Village is probably just the first step."

Xu Mofan stepped forward to drink the tea. He drank it the most decisively. After finishing, he glanced at the bottom of the cup, put down the paper cup, and turned to walk back.

He couldn't taste the flavor inside, and being on this river, he felt tasteless too.

Zhu Yiwen not only drank the tea, but also put the tea leaves in his mouth, leaving the empty paper cup in his hand. While chewing, he smiled at Runsheng, who was tending the fire.

After drinking half a cup of tea, Feng Xionglin poured the remaining half onto his head, looked up to check if the cup was empty, and then, while touching his bald head, said, "I thought those two families were already willing to lower their standards enough, but I didn't expect you to be the real scoundrels."

The white-robed monk stepped forward, took the tea, sipped it, and said, "It has a similar flavor to the tea from the tea fields under the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda of my Azure Dragon Temple."

Luo Xiaoyu stepped forward, took the tea, and after tasting it, said, "This is good tea. I used to play the fool and be a good-for-nothing, so I could never afford to drink this kind of tea. Sigh, what a waste of my youth."

A woman carrying a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) stepped forward to drink tea.

A-Li's gaze fell on the guqin on the woman's back.

Li Zhuiyuan gently patted the back of the girl's hand.

Among those who tested me that day, one of them entered using the feng shui aura formed by the morning glow, which I managed to neutralize; it must have been her.

But this was just a test, not a complete falling out. Li Zhuiyuan wasn't the type to go to great lengths to seize anything good he saw; he always wanted to do things in a legitimate way.

However, the waves are treacherous, and even the strongest person cannot guarantee that something unexpected will happen.

Who can guarantee that Ah Li's long-lost guqin won't be returned to its rightful owner soon?
When other people come to drink tea, the young men and women sitting inside don't react, but when it's my turn, they all look at me, and the young man even smiles at me in a friendly way.

The woman carrying the zither was a little surprised, so she nodded in response.

Although I don't know what kind of etiquette this is, wolves also have a group effect; once the person in front starts drinking, the people behind follow suit.

Among the people behind, two groups caught Li Zhuiyuan's extra attention.

One of the group members was a fat man who carried his own backpack and pots and pans. He was a solo river traveler who loved life. He had a gentle and cheerful smile. As if he was deliberately trying to get a bargain, he drank ten cups of tea in one go and even asked Tan Wenbin for some tea leaves.

Tan Wenbin gave it to him, and he thanked him happily, making sure to mention his name when he expressed his gratitude: Wang Lin.

Judging from his accent, it sounded a bit like Chen Xiyuan's. Tan Wenbin asked:

"From Qiongya?"

"Oh, from Hainan."

Do you know the Chen family?

"Those are high-class families, hehe, we can't afford to associate with them."

After he had drunk his fill and taken his things, seeing that the group wasn't in a hurry to leave, he simply found a spot with dense grass, lay down, and went to sleep.

Many people nearby turned their gazes toward him, not because of his sleeping posture, but because when he closed his eyes, all his vital energy vanished, as if he were dead.

Looking at the relaxed expression on his face, the fat man passed away peacefully.

The other pair was a man and a woman who addressed each other as "brother and sister," but their faces clearly showed that they were not related by blood.

The older brother is blindfolded, and the younger sister has no legs. She is carried on her brother's back and gives him directions. She also reaches out to take two cups of tea, feeds them to her brother first, and then drinks them herself.

This brother-sister duo is so classic that Tan Wenbin couldn't help but ask a few more questions, learning that the brother's surname is Luo and his name is Luo Yang, and the sister's surname is Zhu and her name is Zhu Qing.

The two jokingly referred to themselves as the "burdens" brought by their parents in their blended families.

This brother and sister, who were not related by blood and had different surnames, reminded Li Zhuiyuan of the Liang sisters who were with Zhao Yi.

However, the Liang sisters are twins who practice the Twin Secret Technique. This brother and sister do not have any prerequisites, yet they can achieve a stronger synchronization of soul energy than the Liang sisters.

It can only be said that this world is never short of outstanding people. It is only because Li Zhuiyuan's team is now a level above its competitors in terms of overall strength that every group here is a powerful competitor worthy of analysis and vigilance.

Since they weren't going to compete for the deer, they might as well be generous and wait until everyone had had their tea and greeted each other before stepping forward, holding up a cup of tea, and saying to everyone:
"I have heard that the Deer Family Village has committed heinous crimes, imprisoning the divine deer and sacrificing the local blessings to benefit themselves. This is truly an act that arouses the wrath of both gods and men. We, the righteous ones, should uphold the principles of Heaven, save the divine deer from its suffering, and restore the blessings to the local area."

Hereby, I make this promise:

We will not participate in this trip;

We will heal the wounded, quell the robberies, and suppress the unrest!
If anyone breaks this promise, you may all join together to attack him!

The meaning is very clear: not only do they not want the sacred deer in Lujiazhuang, but they are also responsible for logistical and medical support.

The phrase "If there is chaos in our town" is a guarantee of order. It means you can fight and take things, but don't be too ruthless or kill without any bottom line. We will be watching and acting as the referee.

When everyone heard this, they all looked thoughtful, but actually they were embarrassed to frown.

Tao Zhuming: "What does this mean? Is the flag only half-raised?"

Ling Wuxing: "You're treating everyone like fools. It's like publicly asking you idiots to help me settle a personal score."

Although most of the people present were young, those who had reached this point and were all part of this wave of change were outstanding young talents.

If people were still somewhat skeptical about the existence of the divine deer in Lujiazhuang before, now their beliefs have completely reversed.

Tao Zhuming: "What if they didn't think we were fools?"

Ling Wuxing: "Oh no, there really is a divine deer in Lu Family Village!"

The tea stall remained in place, while the wolf pack continued their advance.

Wang Lin, who was sleeping, was the last one to wake up. When he opened his eyes, he was alive again.

He got up, carrying his heavy baggage, and caught up with the group. When he passed the tea stall again, he stopped and drank all the remaining tea.

Wiping his mouth, Wang Lin glanced at A Li and said, "I had a nightmare, it scared me to death."

After leaving those words, Wang Lin ran away.

Tan Wenbin, hands on his hips, remarked, "There are so many interesting people in this world."

Lin Shuyou: "They would probably find us more interesting."

Tan Wenbin: "Very philosophical."

The protective barrier of Lujiazhuang is right there.

After reaching their destination, the large vehicle stopped again.

Xu Mofan was unsure how to proceed. Zhu Yiwen looked at Feng Xionglin, who was admiring his hairstyle in the mirror.

Tao Zhuming stepped out of the group and approached the barrier stone tablet. He gently patted the tablet with his palm and said in a deep voice:
"Tao Zhuming, the current successor of the Dragon King Tao family, along with fellow martial arts practitioners, has come to visit Lu Family Village!"

The sound definitely got through, but no one responded immediately.

The longer the wait, the stronger the special significance became in the eyes of the onlookers.

Things that were thought to be nonexistent actually become more likely under this "insecurity."

At the entrance of the Lu Family Ancestral Hall, Lu Jiu looked incredulously toward the mountain gate.

"They arrived...so quickly?"

No, this is not possible.

He had trapped the shadowy figure who came to give the order in the secret chamber of the ancestral hall, but the forces behind the shadowy figure could not possibly send the gift while simultaneously preparing to destroy his own sect.

This doesn't make sense... Logic?

Lu Jiu first looked at the location of the Divine Deer prison, then suddenly looked up at the sky.

Although he lit the lamp for the purpose of exchanging coins, he had also traveled on the river and had experienced that mysterious and profound feeling.

"Did the river destroy my Lu Family Village?"

Lu Jiu couldn't understand why, although the things done by the Lu family in the past generations were not clean, and could even be described as dirty, they were far from being judged by the Heavenly Dao as evil, requiring the river water to be drawn here.

If we're going to lead them, we should first lead them to the Living Valley in the Ailao Mountains, not far from Lujiazhuang.

The villagers came to report that they had been unable to find Elder Shi and could only seek advice from Lu Jiu, who held a prominent position in the village.

In the current village, the Divine Deer is nearing completion, and preparations are underway for the deer-sharing ceremony for all members of the Lu family. Lu Family Village is truly in a precarious position, possessing a treasure that invites trouble. Lu Jiu pondered for a long time, his gaze falling on another elder with considerable seniority:
"Open the door to welcome guests, you go and greet them."

With a long, trembling sound, the barrier around Lu Family Village was activated.

If an outsider identifies himself as a member of the Dragon King's faction, the main gate must be opened to welcome him, thus creating a formal exchange between the internal environment and the outside world.

"Shh! Shh! Shh!"

Among the wolf pack,
Some use divination and fortune telling, some can discern feng shui, some can sense the flow of energy, some use formations to absorb energy, and some use magic to verify...

Various methods emerged one after another, dazzling the eye, truly a case of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their unique abilities.

The Lu family village did not light lamps for generations. Although Lu Jiu had experienced and witnessed the turbulent battle of his generation, he lit lamps again and went ashore after that battle. It was already quite remarkable that he could guess that the river was pushing him. It would be unrealistic to expect him to be more perceptive.

Therefore, he did not know how strong the current wave was, nor did he know how much those who traveled the river were forced to rise with the tide.

Of course, Lujiazhuang itself did not actually have the conditions to be drawn over by the river alone. In terms of severity and culpability, there were many places that ranked ahead of Lujiazhuang, and the river could not take care of them all. However, it was unavoidable that some people abused their power for private gain during this period.

The barrier gate had been open for less than twenty breaths. Before the Lu family members, who came out to greet them with warm smiles, could even leave through the main gate, a series of confident voices came from the wolf pack.

"The inner hexagram indicates great fortune; auspicious omens have descended upon the world!"

"The weather in the village is favorable, and the scenery is exceptionally beautiful!"

"Blessed by fate, waiting for the right time to rise!"

"The formation is in perfect harmony; it is truly divine!"

The divine deer is inside, and it had just left its cage and moved around inside, leaving behind a lot of energy that cannot be completely eliminated in the short term.

Zhu Yiwen stared in disbelief at the copper coins he had scattered on his folding fan.
"What...what does this mean? What's going on here?"

Xu Mofan didn't understand deduction, and Feng Xionglin beside him was a meticulous but also a martial artist. The two of them couldn't figure it out, but the firm judgments coming from behind made them understand the situation.

Feng Xionglin looked at Xu Mofan, and Xu Mofan also glanced at Feng Xionglin.

These three alpha wolves are the ones most confused.

If you're fake, deliberately setting a trap to force us to lure people here, then it makes sense, and everyone can understand.

If there really is a divine deer here, why do you still need to suppress and coerce us? What exactly does that mean?
Is it really necessary to go to such lengths? Even if you just pluck a deer hair and shake it, it would be far better than the three of you deceiving and instigating with thousands of words.

As if struck by a thought, Feng Xionglin, taking advantage of the surrounding chaos, mouthed something to Xu Mofan and Zhu Yiwen:

"Do you have writing on the bottom of your cups?"

Among the wolves, some began to look back towards the direction of the tea stall.

The previous doubts were dispelled by the facts, and everyone began to think about the promises that Tan Wenbin had made earlier.

The old man from Lujiazhuang who came out to greet them keenly sensed that the atmosphere ahead was unusual.

There were far more people than I had imagined, and the way they looked at me—or rather, at what was behind me—was filled with a peculiar meaning.

Cold sweat streamed down the old man's face.

He felt as if he were surrounded by wolves.

"Hahahaha!"

At this moment, a powerful laugh echoed from within the barrier, resounding like thunder and bringing with it the aura of a powerful being.

A fist, a fist hard enough, slightly suppressed the greed that was gradually rising in the eyes of the wolves outside.

Following this was a warm invitation:
"Welcome, esteemed heroes of the martial world, to the Deer Division Conference of the Lu family!"

……

Tan Wenbin: "Sigh, the scene that Brother Xiaoyuan was most worried about has still happened. I was afraid that there was a clear-headed and capable person in Lujiazhuang who was willing to sacrifice his own flesh to feed the wolves."

Lin Shuyou: "Afraid that a three-eyed person will emerge from Lu Family Village?"

Tan Wenbin patted Ayou on the shoulder: "I've noticed that you've been speaking more and more succinctly lately."

Lin Shuyou: "Hehe."

Tan Wenbin: "Tsk, they've really been appeased for now."

Lin Shuyou: "Are they really that civilized?"

Tan Wenbin: "Because everyone knows that if they fight over it, most people will end up with nothing. If they follow the proper order, everyone can get a small piece of venison and a cup of venison blood."

No wolf is immune to greed, yet wolves are also very cunning.

Lin Shuyou: "Then what should we do?"

Tan Wenbin: "It's alright. Brother Xiaoyuan asked me to leave coordinates on the bottom of those three's water cups beforehand. They saw them while drinking tea and knew what to do."

Lin Shuyou: "So, we now have three more foreign teams?"

Tan Wenbin: "Barely... that could also be used to describe it."

Lin Shuyou: "But wouldn't that be a bit unfair to Three-Eyed?"

Tan Wenbin almost laughed when he heard this, and said, "Hehe, then let's break it down further and include civil servants, public institution employees, contract workers, and labor dispatch workers?"

Lin Shuyou: "Those three-eyed people should be very happy."

Tan Wenbin was about to say something more, but before he could finish, he immediately looked intently into the distance.

Chaos erupted. The situation, which had been brought under control, suddenly descended into chaos, and the chaos was complete.

Tan Wenbin: "It seems that our three external team members... cough, three contract workers have a strong desire for permanent positions."

The coordinates at the bottom of the cup are the three back doors of the barrier left by Li Zhuiyuan in Lujiazhuang.

As the lead wolves in the early stages, Xu Mofan and his two companions already attracted extra attention. When the three of them suddenly set off, not to storm the main gate of Lu Family Village, but to the side, and entered the barrier with almost no effort, the entire wolf pack became completely agitated.

No one could sit still anymore; everyone either rushed towards the front door or followed them towards the back door.

The people of Lujiazhuang began to instinctively try to stop them, and as soon as they tried to stop them, a fight broke out, and blood was drawn. The first life was quickly lost.

The wolf pack entered their most instinctive state; they "firmly believed":
This is driven by the river. They are following the river's guidance. This Lu Family Village must have committed sins. This divine deer needs them to save it. As for what they will gain next, that will be their own opportunity brought by walking along the river!

Tan Wenbin walked back to the tea stall and said:

"Brother Xiaoyuan, it's already started over there."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded: "Let's go try our luck at the lottery."

Considering the subsequent establishment of the flag here and the upcoming Valley of Living People, this promise must be kept.

Li Zhuiyuan led his companions to the main gate of Lujiazhuang, but did not go any further inside.

Compared to the divine deer he had witnessed, Li Zhuiyuan desired more the elusive opportunity of the Great Emperor to intervene.

Admittedly, the strength of the strike will be determined by the Emperor's own will when he makes the actual move.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't expect the Emperor to be extremely furious and to display the same thunderous power he had shown when he dealt with the family behind Meng Gui.

After all, the forces that can use Lu Family Village as a front are all extraordinary, and there might even be the spirit of the Dragon King within their families.

Even if it were just a gentle breeze, Li Zhuiyuan would be willing to complete the more difficult Valley of Living People in exchange for the Emperor's chance to make a move.

The destruction of Lujiazhuang and his own rise to fame were a declaration of a new beginning.

The wisp of wind fanned out by the Emperor's hand was meant to show those high and mighty beings behind the scenes that I now have the ability to mobilize resources and make them feel my presence.

Only then can they begin to imagine how the Dragon King Qin and Dragon King Liu would settle this score with them when they returned.

The outcome of revenge is important, but the process of revenge must be savored and enjoyed.

Runsheng set up the prefabricated supply.

The portrait of the emperor was unfurled, facing the Lu Family Village.

Li Zhuiyuan, holding three incense sticks, began to offer sacrifices to the Emperor of Fengdu.

The blood and fire inside Lujiazhuang made the outside world seem exceptionally quiet.

Apart from Ah Li standing beside the boy, Run Sheng and the other two formed a triangular formation for defense.

Lin Shuyou stood alone at the back, forming an inverted triangle; Runsheng and Tan Wenbin stood at the front, with Tan Wenbin keeping a close eye on the inside. If any wounded wolves came out, they would have to go and help them treat them; if the people from Lujiazhuang escaped, they would have to send them to reunite properly.

The clashes and killings inside continue.

The Deer Clan's overall strength was undeniable, and they also had the advantage of terrain. However, the quality and discipline of the Wolf Pack were simply too high. Before the Divine Deer appeared, they did not fight amongst themselves, but instead tacitly targeted the Deer Clan.

You can see the reckless charge of the warriors, the elegance of the swordsmen, the decisiveness of the spearmen, and the deadly killings of the feng shui masters. You can also see chess pieces falling to the ground, shattering the array formations and restrictions within the Lu Family Manor.

As Tan Wenbin watched, he let out a long sigh. At first, he was somewhat unaccustomed to the ruthlessness and decisiveness that Grandma Liu occasionally revealed.

But after experiencing many trials and tribulations, he gradually realized that he, who once thought he had seen through the ways of the world, was too naive.

For thousands of years, the essence of this martial arts world has never changed:

A battle for supremacy!

"boom!"

There's a reason why Feng Xionglin can't grow hair on his head: he was the first to discover the underground prison in the village.

But he was punched and sent flying.

Even though the Feng family had cultivated their bodies since birth, possessing a body of copper skin and iron bones, they were still smashed by a single punch, leaving them splattered with blood and in a sorry state.

If it were anyone else, taking that punch would probably kill them instantly.

After landing, Feng Xionglin spat out a mouthful of blood, pointed at the person standing at the cage door, and shouted:
"This is a powerful evil spirit, everyone be careful!"

The appearance of this powerful figure further extended the time the wolf pack could coordinate their attacks.

A high-quality wolf pack can form its own system even without guidance, with warriors blocking the way, swordsmen and spearmen providing support, sorcerers following behind, and formation masters setting up grand formations.

They were elites, forged and nurtured by the Heavenly Dao in the form of river water, and now Li Zhuiyuan was using them to deal with his enemies.

Lu Jiu stood at the cage door, her eyes somewhat dazed.

At that moment, he felt as if he had returned to those days.

He had witnessed a similar scene before, but back then, he was standing on the opposite side, in the middle of a group of people, while that person was standing in his current position.

These young people in front of him were a generation younger than him. He was absolutely confident if they were fighting one-on-one, but when they joined forces, he felt a deep sense of despair.

The punch that sent Feng Xionglin flying was actually weakened. It wasn't that he deliberately held back, but rather that his courage crumbled at the thought of the scene he was about to face.

Now, he finds it hard to imagine how the Qin family member back then could still have the spirit to keep throwing punches when surrounded by a much larger group of people, all of whom were his peers.

All I remember is that when I appeared behind him while he was fighting others, and punched him in the back, he coughed up blood, his back bearing deep burn marks. When he turned to look at me, he screamed almost frantically:

"I can't lose, I can't lose!"

Lu Jiu remembered that look for the rest of her life.

He took a punch from his opponent, who was already severely injured, and was sent flying. The Qin family members, who had been gathering momentum, displayed the same imposing presence as their ancestors.

However, after his punch landed, the Qin family members, who had no time to stop and heal, would continue to suffer from the fire poison in the following days, causing their vital energy to weaken more and more.

That punch was the entire meaning behind Lu Jiu's lighting the lamp.

"Can I...lose?"

The roar of the formation crashed down on Lu Jiu. Lu Jiu raised his hand to block it, but his gaze was still unfocused and he couldn't be resolute.

Tao Zhuming glanced at the fat man in the corner. The fat man had his eyes closed and was hiding in the corner, seemingly playing dead.

But he could tell that it was that guy named Wang Lin who had successfully disturbed Lu Jiu's mind, preventing Lu Jiu from gathering his fighting spirit until now.

Just then, Tan Wenbin's voice came from outside the mountain gate.

Tan Wenbin:
“We will not take the divine deer, but we will establish rules according to our promise.”

Whoever takes this man's head will receive a share of the deer's head!

This is blatant exploitation, instigation, and encouragement, but it doesn't affect the fact that once the words are spoken, the intensity of the offensive instantly multiplies several times over!
Luo Yang carried his sister on his back and moved quickly, waiting for an opportunity to grab the head.

Zhu Qing said, "Brother, the blood of the Lu family on the ground is flowing backwards towards the Lu family ancestral hall. Someone is using the blood of the Lu family as a sacrifice."

Luo Yang: "Are you the only one who noticed?"

Zhu Qing: "No, many people should have noticed, but they pretended not to see it."

Luo Yang: "I am blind."

Outside the mountain gate, Li Zhuiyuan's sacrificial ceremony began.

"In the name of the young lord of Fengdu, I request the Great Emperor to inspect this matter!"

There was no movement.

The sacrifice appears to have failed.

Even Li Zhuiyuan hadn't expected that while he could accept the Emperor's perfunctory attitude, the Emperor wouldn't even be willing to do that.

Is it because there happens to be existing cause and effect in Lujiazhuang at this time?
This cause and effect was so strong that even the Great Emperor decided to break the contract and refused to participate.
What if, once I take action, I will directly confront the entity behind this cause and effect?

Just like when he faced the giant tortoise, the Emperor vanished just as easily.

Li Zhuiyuan stood behind the offering table, his expression calm.

That's how business is. Even if you've agreed on something, if you know you'll suffer a huge loss later, you might as well just break the contract.

A cold wind blew, and the portrait turned.

With Tan Wenbin watching over the front, Runsheng could relax a bit. He glanced back at the offering table behind him.

The portrait of the emperor on the small altar gradually changed.

The beard that should have been present in the portraits of the emperor gradually disappeared at this time, and his image became more and more feminine, more and more like a yin-meng.

Just like last time in Nantong, the Emperor didn't take action; it was Yin Meng who stepped forward to help.

If it were Mengmeng who came out, there would be no need for this. Li Zhuiyuan acknowledged Mengmeng's feelings, but Mengmeng couldn't create the breeze he wanted.

Li Zhuiyuan reached out, intending to break the three incense sticks in the incense burner and end the sacrificial ceremony.

Having destroyed the Lu Family Village, I'm using this opportunity to establish my reputation and gradually achieve my original goals. But when it comes to things we only dream of, we must be prepared for disappointment.

But just as the boy's hand touched the three incense sticks, his brows furrowed, revealing a rare look of confusion and bewilderment on his face, and he hesitated to pinch the incense sticks.

Tan Wenbin's ears twitched, and he turned around with some curiosity. On the altar, the portrait of the Great Emperor had been transformed into Yin Meng wearing an imperial robe and a crown.

Well, it's not going to work this time.

Tan Wenbin turned his head to look at Xiao Yuan, who was standing behind the portrait.

Ok?
Why does Brother Xiaoyuan look like that?
Even if the Emperor broke the contract and didn't take action, given Xiao Yuan's personality, he would never be so disappointed as to lose his composure.

So, what happened?
Feeling utterly bewildered, Tan Wenbin decided to look away and continue focusing on the situation at Lujiazhuang ahead. This turn of his head caused his snake-like eyes to unconsciously sweep upwards.

Tan Wenbin's head stopped turning, his snake eyes wide open, as if he had seen something unbelievable.

"big big big……"

Above the small offering table, the pitch-black night sky seemed to be parted and stirred.

This is the night sky, but it is also the lower edge of the Emperor's black and gold imperial robe.

He has come.

A small portrait, too small to fit, too small to contain.

At this time, the Great Emperor
Standing in the sky.

……

Ming family.

Ming Qinyun's face was very pale.

When she first heard her subordinates' report, she could hardly believe it, thinking it was an absurd joke.

But when she left the council chamber and came to the pond, she saw it with her own eyes and confirmed that it was indeed true.

There are eighteen stone beasts around the pond, each a rare treasure of its time. They form an array to separate the inside from the outside.

In addition, the water in this pond is also rootless and can cleanse negative karma.

With multiple safeguards in place, we ensure that the consequences of what happens here cannot spill over.

At this moment, through the clear surface of the pond, one could clearly see rows of chairs at the bottom, filled with members of the Ming family.

They were acting on Ming Qinyun's orders to urge Lujiazhuang to probe Qin Liu's family.

Now that the goods have been delivered, the person should get to work.

The room was packed with people because they didn't want Lujiazhuang to realize that the mission was launched by a single entity.

However, none of the Ming family members sitting in the chairs can get off.

Their consciousness was sent through the array here, but it was locked there and they could not escape.

If a forceful action is taken, it will cause serious damage to the souls of the Ming family members at the bottom of the pond, destroying their very foundation.

"Hahahaha, they've rebelled, they've rebelled, they've really rebelled!"

Mingqin's melody mingled with silver hair.

She was already mentally exhausted from dealing with the probing from the outside world, and she was burning with anger. Seeing this scene made her furious.

The former servants dared to openly detain their master.

A crimson glint appeared in Ming Qinyun's eyes: "Pass down the order, I want to wipe out the entire Lu Family Village, from top to bottom, leaving not a single chicken or dog alive."

no no!
First, let the Star-Calculating Pavilion deduce the fate of everyone in Lu Family Village. The fact that Lu Family Village dared to do this means that at least one person in the village thinks they can escape the wrath of my Ming family.

"Ha, I'll show him how naive he is! I'll show him what the true power and influence of the Dragon King's family really are!"

The order was given.

Inside the Ming family's ancestral home, in an attic, everyone put down their work, took out their abacuses, and began to deduce the results.

A short while later, the person who had left earlier rushed back.

Ming Qinyun glared at him: "What's wrong?"

"Reporting to Madam, the results are in."

"So fast?"

"No, it's that the fate of the Lu Family Village is dissipating one by one; the Lu Family Village is facing annihilation!"

Upon hearing this, Ming Qinyun felt no joy at having her desired task done for her; instead, her expression turned solemn.

She had just urged the Lu Family Village to take action against that old woman, and now the Lu Family Village is facing annihilation. How could there be such a coincidence in this world?
"Gurgling, gurgling, gurgling..."

Bubbles rose and churned on the surface of the pond.

Ming Qinyun stared intently and saw that the Ming family members sitting underwater were all surrounded by black mist.

"How dare you! Who is this fool who dares to pursue karma to my Dragon King Ming family!"

"boom!"

The pond surface exploded, and terrifying black mist surged upwards, transforming into a thick, dense black curtain.

At the same time, in the Ming family ancestral hall, the spirits of the Dragon King manifested one after another, instinctively protecting the family from invasion.

The black and white light and shadows create a contrast in mid-air.

At that moment, almost all the Ming family members inside the ancestral home raised their heads and looked upwards.

Ming Qinyun's face turned extremely ugly.

Since the other party has not retreated even now, it means that it knew before it made its move that it would be facing the spirit of the Dragon King.

Mingqin Yun:
"Who are you? How dare you?"

……

Fengdu County.

As night fell, it started to rain, and lightning flashed across the sky.

Thunderstorms are rare during this season, and even rarer is seeing lightning without ever hearing thunder.

"Boom boom boom!"

Suddenly, the thunder that had been building up for a long time burst forth all at once, and the night sky was filled with incessant thunder.

From the depths of the void, a majestic voice echoed in all directions, carried by the thunder:

"All ghosts, heed the decree! Receive the imperial edict!"

(End of this chapter)