Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 462

"boom!"

The string on the instrument broke.

The music stopped abruptly.

If the banquet had been as quiet as still water before, now it felt like dark clouds were pressing down overhead and whirlpools were brewing beneath our feet, a final shudder before a storm.

While Xiao Yuange had his back to everyone, Tan Wenbin stood there, facing the entire banquet below.

An invisible red thread connects him to Brother Yuan, ensuring that Brother Yuan can synchronize with everyone's expressions, actions, voices, and even... emotions at the banquet through him.

The primary issue is to figure out: who are our enemies, who are our friends, and who can be developed from enemies into our friends.

The valuable time for observation is just this brief moment, because when Brother Xiaoyuan turns around, he will surely be greeted with smiling faces below.

The zither player's eyes were red-rimmed, and tears were faintly visible.

The zither that Ah Li specifically looked at must be no ordinary instrument.

Even if this guqin cannot compare to the jade flute in Chen Xiyuan's hands, it is still in harmony with the guqin player's heart and soul, and even resonates with her spirit.

It's highly unlikely that she would deliberately damage her most important weapon while on the waves; more likely, it's because her emotions were so intense that they exceeded a certain limit, and it wasn't that the music couldn't express it, but rather that she could only present it through the sound of broken strings and disrupted rhythm.

The woman clasped her hands together, her lips moving silently, as if she were conveying a message to her deceased relatives and elders.

Zhu Yiwen was closest to the table, holding two kitchen knives with a few drops of divine deer blood on them. Normally, he would never allow such high-end ingredients to go to waste and would definitely lick them clean.

But at this moment, even as the deer blood on the cleaver gathered downwards and dripped onto the ground, he showed no pity.

He killed the divine deer; there was blood on his knife. The Deer Family Village was destroyed by this young man on the stage, even though he didn't carry a weapon and his hands were clean.

Therefore, no one present was naive enough to believe that the boy would actually feel guilty about what happened in Lujiazhuang.

That phrase, "Sorry, I made a mistake," is the most blatant expression of disdain and mockery.

When the boy said he wanted to apologize to Lujiazhuang, everyone assumed that he was using Lujiazhuang as a starting point to raise the flag and incidentally introduce himself.

But after listening, everyone realized that the nature of the matter was not right.

Beside Zhu Yiwen, the water in the large pot was boiling violently with a "bubbling" sound.

He even planned to secretly retrieve Lu Jiu's head after the meal, make a braised deer head, and invite Runsheng over to join him, pouring the soul-stirring sauce over it~
Now, he has absolutely no such thoughts anymore.

When Tan Wenbin announced the rule that "whoever takes its head will get the deer's head," it meant that Lu Jiu's head was a sacrifice that the boy had already reserved in advance.

This is not a self-examination and accountability process for the Lu family; it is clearly a legitimate way to tell the deceased members of the Lu family who killed them.

At the same time, on behalf of Dragon King Qin and Dragon King Liu, they questioned the entire martial arts world about the humiliation and oppression they had suffered over the years.

Zhu Yiwen sniffed, his tongue unconsciously sticking out as he licked his lips.

Admittedly, dry-aged corpses were his favorite.

But if given the chance, he would also like to try some fresh, high-quality goods.

In this life, if you can't become the Dragon King, so be it; but don't neglect your own mouth.

Xu Mofan looked at the wine in his glass.

He did not participate in the power struggle among the heroes of Lujiazhuang.

At this point, it really seems there's no need to participate.

Xu Mofan glanced around, a faint smile appearing on his lips, thinking to himself:

While you were busy vying for the deer in the village, did you ever think that you had already become the laborers building that platform for that person, painstakingly constructing a splendid stage so that that person could stand above and, through your ears and mouths, proclaim to the world:
From this day forward, Dragon King Qin and Dragon King Liu return to once again vie for supremacy in the martial world!

Reaching out, he grabbed a handful of fried peanuts from the plate in front of him.

He now understood why his uncle had enjoyed eating peanuts so much during his last few days in Luoyang.

These peanuts were personally brought to him by that person. Haha, Uncle really had no regrets when he passed away.

Luo Xiaoyu's mouth opened so wide that it could hold a whole bowl of chess pieces.

Then, as his mouth slowly closed, the dejection and resentment he felt after his utter defeat in the town that day gradually dissipated.

He may have hidden his talents and kept his fame and fortune to himself, but the one on stage was the one who truly exerted immense pressure and ruthless control.

Putting himself in Luo Xiaoyu's shoes, if they were of equal status, he would never have tolerated it until now.

It's no wonder I felt so stifled during my youth.

Feng Xionglin touched his bald head.

Uncle, you deserve to be skinned alive.

You tried to bully the younger generation in the Yu family, but you ran into someone of a higher generation. Haha.

Wang Lin reached out and flicked the tongue sticking out of the deer head's mouth.

The shrewdness and cunning of the chubby boy vanished, but soon he returned to being the same chubby boy he always was.

Zhu Qing turned her head and looked at Luo Yang sitting beside her:

"Brother, did you hear that?"

Luo Yang: "Sis, I'm blind, not deaf."

The white-robed monk's lips twitched, his clasped hands turned into a fist, and he involuntarily chanted with force:

"Buddha!"

Tao Zhuming: "His surname is Li. That old lady Liu handed over the inheritance of the two Dragon King families to someone with a different surname."

Ling Wuxing said: "This shows that the old lady is generous and that he is exceptionally talented."

Tao Zhuming: "What I'm giving is not only the inheritance, but also the position of head of both families."

Ling Wuxing said: "This shows that the old lady is more generous and that he is more talented."

Tao Zhuming: "This also shows that the Qin and Liu families really don't have many people left."

Ling Wuxing: "Yes."

Tao Zhuming: "People from outside the family, who are in charge of Dragon King Qin and Dragon King Liu, will not show any mercy when it comes to settling scores after the fact. They will only go all out to destroy us."

I wish I could leave immediately and send a letter home to ask if I had ever done anything outrageous or disgraceful.

I really envy you, your brother; at least you've put your mind at ease long ago.

Ling Wuxing turned to look at Tao Zhuming and greeted him with deep affection:
"Your mother."

The fact that the young man was able to set rules and stand on the stage before was because he demonstrated his rightful status through his abilities.

Now, the young man, blessed with the status of a powerful family, has brought even greater pressure to everyone present.

Walking along the river with lanterns is something for the younger generation.

Although Heaven does not impose specific restrictions on the age of those who light lamps, over thousands of years, people have figured out some patterns.

The younger the lamplighter, the greater their potential is unleashed on the river, and the richer their gains. Even considering that after the journey on the river ends, the Dragon King, upholding the will of Heaven, will suppress the martial world, Heaven also favors young talents.

No matter how young he was, he couldn't be so incredibly young. He wasn't a dwarf, an underage person, his body wasn't fully developed, and he hadn't formally practiced martial arts, yet he stood on the river with a lamp lit.

Moreover, he stood on a towering platform right in front of everyone.

Among top-tier martial arts factions, especially within the Dragon King's clan, there are no situations where "I watched you grow up" or "according to seniority, you have to call me uncle." The patriarch tacitly acknowledges that they are of the same generation.

It's not uncommon for the heads of families, clan leaders, and sect leaders to be grandparents or even older generations.

Now look what's happened! This group of young people were crossing the river when it turned out that the head of the opposing family was also on the river!

Everyone present felt instantly dwarfed by at least two generations when faced with this underage boy.

Li Zhuiyuan turned around and faced the crowd.

Command the Five Elements to stand up.

Tao Zhuming followed closely behind.

The others also slowly stood up.

Those whose families have a legitimate lineage and clear seniority have no way to avoid it; even those from small sects or even those from humble backgrounds who couldn't build such connections before grew up listening to stories of Dragon King Qin and Dragon King Liu.

No matter how much you struggle internally, no matter how unwilling or resentful you are, you have to stand up now.

If someone's butt is glued to the stool and they don't even need to stand up, the people standing around will remember them before the teenagers even notice them.

You think you're so high and mighty? Well, then everyone will collectively put you to the test and see if you can really sit still.

In short, some came first, some came last, some came fast, some came slow, but they all stood up.

Li Zhuiyuan began:

"I have already reflected on my actions in Lujiazhuang and promised to try my best not to repeat the same mistakes in the future. I hope we can all learn from this."

The boy's voice was calm and unembellished.

However, the overly oppressive atmosphere inside the venue made the sounds seem like thunder.

next moment,
Everyone in the arena bowed to the boy on the stage and said in unison:

"I will heed the teachings of my predecessors!"

……

The banquet is over.

Most people quickly left their seats and moved away from the barrier of Lujiazhuang. Even though they were still in the mountains and had no signal, everyone had their own way of sending out the message.

The vortex, which originated here, will soon sweep across the entire martial arts world.

Zhu Yiwen wrapped the two kitchen knives up and put them into the bamboo basket. He would keep these two deer-slaying knives.

The old servant hesitated, wanting to urge his young master to hurry up and deliver the message home.

Zhu Yiwen ignored it.

The old servant finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Young Master..."

Zhu Yiwen raised his hand to interrupt the old servant: "Stop talking nonsense. I can only take care of myself. Everyone here can only try to get a chance for themselves."

Accompanied by Sister Hua, Luo Xiaoyu walked towards the Lu Family Village Ancestral Hall, where the young man and his men had settled down after the banquet.

This was a place that was specifically chosen for a one-on-one meeting.

Runsheng sat on the threshold of the ancestral hall.

In the flowerbed opposite the ancestral hall, the woman playing the zither squatted there, burning paper money.

After the last bit of yellow paper in her hand had burned out and the incense and candles had also burned out, the woman with the zither stood up, walked to the entrance of the ancestral hall, and looked at Runsheng.

Runsheng remained silent.

At this moment, Tao Zhuming came out from inside, with a smile on his face.

He didn't feel any psychological pressure.

He had already asked his family if they had any grudges against the Qin and Liu families, and his family replied that they did not.

Tao Zhuming didn't care whether his family was deceiving him; he only cared about himself.

Since we are both from the same Dragon King family, we have a lot to talk about. We first exchange greetings, then start with stories of our ancestors, share some recent updates, and then discuss our visions for the future.

It has little nutritional value, but at least it's non-toxic.

After Tao Zhuming left, Runsheng glanced at the zither player and gestured for her to go in.

"Mu Qiuying greets the head of the Liu family."

Upon seeing Li Zhuiyuan, the musician immediately bowed deeply.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't stop her, but asked, "Did you have any family history?"

Mu Qiuying smiled and said, "My family has no clan or sect, just a village. But my ancestors once worshipped the Dragon King of the Liu family and traveled the river. After the Dragon King's lifespan ended, my ancestors returned to their hometown, built a village, and lived in seclusion."

After our ancestors, two more of my family's ancestors followed the Dragon King of the Liu family.

Mu Family Village produced three attendants of the Dragon King Liu Family.

In the past, this would have been considered a very close relationship.

However, after the decline of the Qin and Liu families, Grandma Liu even dismissed the outer sect members of both families, so these former allies would naturally no longer have any contact.

When you are powerful, you have friends all over the world; when you are in decline, you should not dwell on it too much.

They definitely have old feelings and respect for tradition, and they will stand up for you in crucial moments, but how should I put it, don't try to test them or beg them.

Even now, Li Zhuiyuan, having "witnessed" the Qin girl's reaction at the banquet, cannot be certain whether what she revealed was genuine affection.

But that's not important. What's important is that when she witnesses the Dragon King Liu's resurgence, her former ally status will bring her greater benefits, thus strengthening their alliance of interests.

Mu Qiuying: "After this wave ends, I will go back to the village and take my grandmother to pay respects to Madam Liu."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Okay."

Mu Qiuying: "Thank you for your kindness, Patriarch."

After saying these words, Mu Qiuying got up and prepared to leave. She knew that Li Zhuiyuan was very busy at the moment, and as "one of her own," she didn't need to waste too much time.

Li Zhuiyuan said, "Your zither is broken."

Mu Qiuying said apologetically, "My mind was in turmoil, and I pulled on the strings. Please rest assured, I will try my best to fix it and not delay your next instructions."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Put the zither down first."

Mu Qiuying took the zither off her back and held it up.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at A Li: "She is the granddaughter of Old Madam Liu, her surname is Qin, and her name is Qin Li."

Mu Qiuying: "Greetings, Miss."

A-Li opened her hand, and Mu Qiuying understood, handing over her guqin.

"Thank you for your hard work, Miss."

Ah Li nodded to her, sat down with her zither in her arms, took out her tools, and began to repair the strings.

Mu Qiuying glanced at A Li, then at Li Zhuiyuan, a smile on her face, but dared not ask any more questions, and bowed to leave.

Lin Shuyou nudged Tan Wenbin lightly with his elbow: "Brother Bin, her attitude changed so quickly."

Tan Wenbin: "Weren't your master and grandfather quicker to react than her back then?"

Lin Shuyou: "My master and my grandfather never expected me to light a lamp to compete for the Dragon King. They are different from me."

Tan Wenbin: "There is no difference. Three generations of my ancestors followed the Dragon King of the Liu family. When the Liu family declined, the Mu family could travel the world with lamps. Once the Liu family rises again, they are naturally in a suppressed position psychologically."

There was nothing that could be done about it; the family's glorious history was entrusted to the Dragon King Willow.

She either has to grit her teeth and choose to kill to prove her innocence, or she can simply let go completely and return to the family narrative.

The former is too difficult. If we had encountered her early on, she might have actually done that and become our most ruthless enemy in the early stages.

Now, she should accept her fate.

Lin Shuyou: "So that means we're on the same side?"

Tan Wenbin: "When the wind is favorable, yes."

Lin Shuyou: "It's so complicated."

Tan Wenbin: "Sigh, there's no way to return Xiao Yuan's lost zither to its rightful owner for the time being."

After Mu Qiuying left, Luo Xiaoyu came in, while Sister Hua remained outside the threshold.

Luo Xiaoyu didn't pay his respects or offer any further introductions. He first sat down on the ground in front of Li Zhuiyuan, set out the chessboard, placed the chess pieces, and asked:

"I have already figured out how to integrate the principles of formations with feng shui and weather, but I don't know if this path can lead to great heights, or if it is the right one."

Li Zhuiyuan picked up a white piece and placed it on the chessboard.

The formation on the chessboard immediately underwent a dramatic change, with the board expanding outwards continuously.

Luo Xiaoyu: "It's amazing that we've come this far."

For latecomers, the biggest cost is not actually moving forward, but rather the process of discerning and trying different paths.

If someone has stood there before you and clearly told you that this is the path you should take, then what follows becomes much simpler.

Li Zhuiyuan: "As for whether it is the right path, the direction you are facing is the right direction, and the path you are walking on is the right path."

Luo Xiaoyu put away the chessboard and pieces, tucked them under his shoulder, and solemnly bowed to Li Zhuiyuan as a teacher and student.

"I will remember your kindness in imparting knowledge and skills."

"The path of formations is not lonely."

Luo Xiaoyu relaxed and moved closer to Li Zhuiyuan.

Lin Shuyou's vertical pupils are about to open.

Luo Xiaoyu noticed this and said, feeling wronged, "I'm a formation master!"

Lin Shuyou's gaze fell on the chessboard that Luo Xiaoyu was holding under his armpit.

"Um...you're afraid I'll use the chessboard as a murder weapon? No, does anyone use a chessboard to commit murder?"

Lin Shuyou: "Emperor Jing of Han".

Unable to refute, Luo Xiaoyu took a few steps back, put down the chessboard, and moved closer to Li Zhuiyuan again.

"Brother, tell me, how have you managed to endure until now?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I didn't really hold back."

Luo Xiaoyu: "How could that be? Before this, I hadn't heard a word about you in the martial arts world."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Those who knew about it are all dead, so the news has died down."

Upon hearing this, Luo Xiaoyu's eyes widened as if struck by lightning, and he suddenly realized, "How could I not have thought of that!"

Seeing Luo Xiaoyu walk out looking lost and dejected, Sister Hua quickly went to help him up.

Luo Xiaoyu bent down, hugged the short Hua Jie, and cried, "Hua Jie, I regret it so much. My youth could have been so wonderful, sob sob sob."

Feng Xionglin arrived, taking out a long rubber band.

"This one is of better quality than my uncle's."

Lin Shuyou seemed to see another three-eyed person.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Given the circumstances of the Yu family at that time..."

Feng Xionglin nodded: "That's how the martial world is; those who kill will always be killed."

As long as people are open-minded enough, there is no problem that cannot be solved.

Li Zhuiyuan handed the rubber band to A Li, which could be used to repair the strings of the zither.

Zhu Yiwen walked to the door.

Runsheng gestured for him to go in.

Zhu Yiwen leaned close to Runsheng's ear and whispered, "I dug up the ancestral graves in Lujiazhuang and found a piece of top-quality grave meat. We'll enjoy it together tonight."

Runsheng nodded.

Zhu Yiwen left; he didn't go in.

There's also Xu Mofan, who used to guard the ancestral hall, but this time he didn't even come near this side.

He chose a high spot with a good view, lay down there, and ate peanuts one by one.

Wang Lin came in. He had just finished digesting a whole deer head by himself, and white smoke was still rising from his head.

"I came in to express my gratitude."

Li Zhuiyuan: "According to the rules, it should be yours. You're welcome."

Wang Lin: "I'm thanking you for following the rules."

After speaking, Wang Lin looked at A Li, who was repairing the guqin beside Li Zhuiyuan, and sighed:
"It wasn't easy, you suffered a lot."

Li Zhuiyuan: "We've already moved on."

Wang Lin laughed and said, "Yes, things will turn around after all."

The chubby boy is gone.

He was the most mysterious person there. His ability to walk across the river alone must have been due to more than just sleeping.

Luo Yang carried his younger sister in.

"My sister said she wants to meet you up close. She said you're good-looking, and you'll be even more beautiful when you grow up."

Li Zhuiyuan took out a notebook he had just finished writing and handed it over.

Zhu Qing took it, flipped through a few pages, and patted her brother's arm: "Brother, a cultivation technique, a technique suitable for both of us!"

Li Zhuiyuan once designed a symbiotic technique for Zhao Yi's Liang sisters.

This brother and sister are far superior to the Liang sisters in terms of twins, but they are slightly weaker in terms of technology. Although this notebook is not thick, it can help guide them in the future.

Giving this would inevitably harm Zhao Yi's interests, so Li Zhuiyuan also prepared a better one, which he would give to Zhao Yi when the opportunity arose next time.

Luo Yang: "We haven't admitted defeat yet, so it's a little embarrassing to accept this."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I don't care whether you admit defeat or not."

Luo Yang: "Thank you."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You're welcome."

People come in batches, and people leave batches.

Some readily lowered their heads, while others remained stubborn. But the act of being willing to come in was itself a prelude to bowing down.

Tan Wenbin knew that Xiao Yuan didn't like these kinds of social engagements.

But Tan Wenbin couldn't take over the initial steps of this kind of thing.

Tan Wenbin also understood more and more the words that Grandma Liu had once told him:
The Dragon King is destined to subdue an entire era.

As darkness fell, he ordered the Five Elements to return to Lu Family Village from outside.

Tao Zhuming leaned against the inscription, a blade of grass between his teeth, and said, "If we don't go in now, it will be too late."

Ling Wuxing: "I have no intention of going in."

Tao Zhuming: "It seems your family wasn't lying to you."

Ling Wuxing: "Did your family lie to you?"

Tao Zhuming: "It's bound to have some dirt on it, how can it be completely clean?"

Ling Wuxing: "I have some new information that I just heard from my family. Something has happened to the Dragon King Ming family. The Great Emperor of Fengdu has taken action against the Dragon King's family, and the Dragon King's spirit in the Dragon King Ming family has been extinguished."

Upon hearing this, Tao Zhuming glanced in the direction outside the mountain gate, clearly having made a connection to something.

"Wait a minute, shouldn't the adopted son of the Fengdu Emperor be Zhao Yi from Jiujiang?"

At this moment, someone rushed in from outside, most likely a servant sent out by the lamplighter to communicate with the family.

Tao Zhuming: "What are the Ming family doing? This time the news leaked so quickly, they couldn't even suppress it?"

Ling Wuxing: "The Great Emperor has issued a decree, which all ghosts must obey. It is a public announcement to the world, and it cannot be kept secret at all."

Tao Zhuming: "Oh ho."

Ling Wuxing: "If this entire martial world treats the Qin and Liu families the same way it treats the Ming family..."

Tao Zhuming: "The Ming family is finished."

Ling Wuxing: "I suspect that he has already taken action to retaliate against the Dragon King's faction, even though he has not yet become the Dragon King."

Tao Zhuming: "His identity hasn't been fully revealed yet?"

At this moment, Tan Wenbin's voice spread outwards from the Lu Family Ancestral Hall:
"Have you all rested enough? It's getting late, we should get going."

The banquet ended, but the guests remained; everyone was still waiting for the next instructions.

At that moment, everyone began to organize their teams, pack their bags, and set off to leave.

There were no orders to obey, nor were there any marching formations, but there was a sense of order and discipline.

After almost everyone had left Lujiazhuang, the white-robed monk appeared alone at the entrance of Lujiazhuang.

The white-robed monk clasped his hands together and began chanting scriptures, but he stopped as soon as he started.

He turned his head slightly and saw the boy walking out from behind.

The white-robed monk said, "Benefactor, I saw that you were busy this afternoon, so I did not bother you."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Thank you for your consideration."

The white-robed monk said, "My Buddhist name is Yasheng, and I am the sweeper of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda at Qinglong Temple."

Li Zhuiyuan: "It sounds like a good job."

The monk Yayoi said, "That's right. I have been dull since childhood and have not been able to attain enlightenment for a long time. So I was assigned to the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, where the demons inside taught me the profound meaning of Buddhist scriptures."

Li Zhuiyuan: "They are all good teachers."

The monk Yayoi said, "They are the other side of Buddha."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Did Qinglong Temple send you to light the lamp and travel across the river this time?"

Qinglong Temple is a lineage comparable to the Dragon King's residence, with relics of holy monks and the spirit of the Dragon King residing within.

However, such a lineage would be very careful in selecting each generation of those who would light the way across the river, considering not only their talent but also their character.

It is difficult to obtain the position of Dragon King, but as long as one can come down from the river and return to the temple, one's strength and status will surely advance by leaps and bounds. If one's character is not firm and returns after lighting the lamp, it is easy to sow the seeds of great trouble for one's own family lineage.

Li Zhuiyuan asked this question because he could sense that the monk Yayoi did not possess the qualities of a great and virtuous monk.

The monk Yayoi said, "Of course they wouldn't choose me. I secretly lit the lamp myself. Sure enough, according to the rules of the river, I soon met the rightful lamp-lighter of this temple, and I sent him ahead to the Western Paradise."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded, skipping the topic, and asked, "Everyone has left, what are you doing here?"

The monk Yayoi said, “Although this place has been cleaned up, the lingering resentment of the souls remains. The destruction of the Lu Family Village was unjust and tragic. You have said that this was a mistake. I am prepared to perform a ritual to help those who have made this mistake. May Buddha have mercy.”

Li Zhuiyuan: "Since it was my mistake, why should I trouble others?"

Monk Yayoi: "Benefactor, do you also perform rituals for the deceased?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I know a little."

The monk Yayoi said, "Your considerations are thorough. In that case, it seems that I, this humble monk, have been overthinking things."

The white-robed monk stepped back, giving the mountain gate to the boy.

Li Zhuiyuan faced Lujiazhuang and formed a hand seal.

The monk Yayoi felt a sharp pain in his eye, and then a ghostly gate appeared and crashed down, shaking his consciousness and forcing him to take two steps back.

Li Zhuiyuan pushed his palm forward.

"Squeak..."

A dull groan of friction rang out, and the gates of hell slowly opened.

Inside Lu Family Village, the remnant souls of the Lu family members who had just died violently were drawn out from all directions and forcibly absorbed into the Gate of Hell.

The last to enter was Lu Jiu, whose soul had been reduced to a head, which stared at Li Zhuiyuan with terrified eyes:
"You are so vicious! You have already slaughtered all the members of my Lu family and avenged your family, but now you won't even let the dead go. You are simply blaspheming the Dragon King's clan!"

Li Zhuiyuan's fingertips trembled slightly, and Lu Jiu's soul was drawn from the gates of hell into his palm by the young man.

"It is you who secretly do bad things behind people's backs, kick them when they are down, and devour them. Why do you have the nerve to ask me to continue to be upright and honest?"
I'm just treating you the way you treat me, what, you can't accept that?

The rules have changed.

死，
For me, this is merely the beginning of revenge.

With a casual toss, the boy's spirit was swept into the gates of hell.

With a gentle clap of his hands, the gates of hell dissipated.

The gloom and resentment within Lujiazhuang were completely dispelled, revealing the tranquil and clear mountain forest at dusk.

Li Zhuiyuan turned around and looked at the monk Miyo.

"Young monk, how was my ritual for the deceased?"

The monk Yayoi took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, and smiled slightly:

"There should be a place for you, benefactor, on the top floor of the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda of Qinglong Temple."

Runsheng appeared behind the monk Yayoi.

Li Zhuiyuan walked to the side of the monk Miyo and patted the monk's arm:

"If one day you tire of the fighting and strife on the river and wish to go ashore and return to peace and quiet, please do not forget to inform me."

Whether it was targeting Uncle Qin on the river or pressuring and coercing the Qin and Liu families on the shore, Qinglong Temple was always involved.

In the account book, Aunt Liu used every rhetorical device imaginable to curse the bald monk there.

The monk Yayoi frankly said, "I haven't decided yet. I still hold a heart that yearns for Buddhism, hoping that one day I can become a saint, or perhaps, when I return to the temple, the temple gates will be open to welcome me back from my worldly experiences."

Although the monk killed the current leader of Qinglong Temple, he still wanted to gain the orthodox recognition of Qinglong Temple.

Despite the pressure from Li Zhuiyuan, he still refused the boy's suggestion to act as an inside agent to overthrow Qinglong Temple.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Indeed, this is what a normal person would think."

Yayoi monk puts his hands together:

"My Buddha is merciful."

The monk's forehead was radiant with a Buddha-mark, and his entire body was enveloped in golden light.

Its aura became more refined, and its Buddhist and Taoist levels were significantly elevated.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Little Master, are you using me as a whetstone to sharpen your mind?"

The monk Yayoi said: "All things have their own causes and conditions, and all sentient beings can comprehend them."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Then let me help you, young master, polish it a bit more?"

The monk Yayoi said, “Amitabha. This humble monk has gone from demon to Buddha, while you have gone from human to ghost. Our thoughts are different, and our paths are different. You have gained a moment of enlightenment, which is already a blessing from the Buddha.”

As if a prophecy had come true, wisps of ghostly energy suddenly appeared in the already clean surroundings, gathering and converging towards Li Zhuiyuan.

Neither side actually made a move; Runsheng stood behind the monk, and the monk didn't have a chance to attack.

But the debate over the path and beliefs has already begun.

Moreover, it was the monk who struck first.

He concluded that Li Zhuiyuan had gone from being a human to a ghost, and in this way, he limited Li Zhuiyuan's future development.

Li Zhuiyuan faced the monk, clasped his hands together, recited the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, and said in a deep voice:
Where is Buddha?

next moment,
The boy's left cheek is that of Sun Baishen, who is compassionate and kind; his right cheek is that of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who is compassionate and merciful.

Sun Baishen had no choice but to bet on Li Zhuiyuan.

The Bodhisattva had already endured several levels of hell and glimpsed the dawn. This was the most urgent and positive time for him. Stimulated by the actions of the Fengdu Emperor and summoned by the young Buddha's chant, he was even more willing to exert himself than before.

The mark between Li Zhuiyuan's eyebrows flickered, its radiance several times that of the monk Miyo. The Buddha light behind the boy was even stronger, and it had already become a golden wheel turning.

The monk Yayoi looked astonished, his mouth slightly agape.

He believed that he had transformed from a demon to a Buddhist, and only through great perseverance and suffering did he gain the recognition of Buddhism.

But this young man before us is vying for favor within the Buddhist community!
The golden light of the Buddha almost engulfed the boy.

The boy's voice came from inside:

"Young monk, it seems your Buddha favors me more?"

"Crack!"

Something shattered in the eyes of the monk Yayoi, gradually turning red, and demonic patterns emerged between his brows, while demonic energy flowed around his body.

"Buzz!"

The golden staff hidden in the monk's robe fell to the ground.

This is a ritual implement he obtained after killing the current lamplighter of Qinglong Temple.

At this moment, demon heads emerged from the bottom of the ritual implements that should have symbolized the majesty of Buddhism, their expressions ferocious and grotesque.

The monk Yayoi kept taking deep breaths, trying to suppress this demonic transformation, but with each breath, a low, demonic growl came from his throat.

He was struggling, as if standing on the edge of a cliff, one step forward like a Buddha, the next like a demon from the abyss.

Beside him, Ah Li, who was sitting on a rock and making the final repairs to the guqin, stopped what she was doing, looked up, and looked at the monk.

The color in the girl's eyes gradually faded.

A great fear was being inflicted upon the monk Yayoi.

It's like a giant hand slowly gripping me, ready to drag me into the abyss at any moment.

The monk Yayoi looked at Li Zhuiyuan with pleading eyes.

The golden light around Li Zhuiyuan dissipated, and the boy returned to normal.

Ah Li looked away and continued repairing the guqin.

The monk Yayoi staggered, the demonic markings on his face disappeared, and he was drenched in cold sweat.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Young master, please reconsider my previous suggestion."

The monk Yayoi looked pained: "I want to become a Buddha, I want to become a Buddha..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "If there are no Buddhas in the temple, then everything in the temple is Buddha."

The monk Yayoi stood there stunned for a long time.

When he regained consciousness, the boy and the others had already left, and a thick file bag had been placed inside his monk's robe.

The wolf pack that had left the village earlier did not go far, stopping at a stream area outside Lujia Village to wait for their next move.

The return of the monk Yayoi brought a sigh of relief to everyone.

One of the main reasons why everyone is willing to follow the rules is that the person in question is also willing to follow them.

The monk Yayoi walked up to Ling Wuxing.

The monk did not open the document bag, which was addressed to Ling Wuxing.

Tao Zhuming leaned closer and asked curiously, "The letter I sent you is so thick?"

Even the Five Elements were completely baffled.

He opened the file bag, revealing a large stack of various categorized forms.

The table is very formal, but there are notes below the text, and the conversion methods are also indicated.

Tao Zhuming pulled out a form, held it in one hand, and used the other hand to draw around, saying:
"It's so long and so big, is that person planning to build the new ancestral home of the Dragon King's clan here?"

Ling Wuxing took a deep breath, took a few steps forward, stood on the rock, and shouted to everyone present:

"Those who know formations and understand feng shui, come over here to make observations; those who are good at divination and fortune telling, come to the middle to fill in the data; those who know nothing at all, come here to light torches, make marks, and climb mountains and wade through rivers..."

Our seniors required us to

Tonight, we must collect all the geographical and hydrological data for this area!

……

Li Zhuiyuan chose to stay overnight at a private residence with his men.

The house is located on a hilltop, and the owners are a couple with two children. Several hunting rifles are hanging on the wall.

The male homeowner is the mountain guardian of this area, named Yang Hu. He is responsible for monitoring fires and keeping an eye on poaching and illegal logging.

This family lives a very hard life, which means they are in great danger.

If you can turn a blind eye, you can still get a share of the money as a form of filial piety. Not accepting these things means you have to be on the front lines at all times.

The hostess brought out some cured meats from her home and warmly welcomed the guests. The two children gathered around the pot, sniffling and sucking their fingers.

Tan Wenbin wanted to pay, but the male homeowner, Ah Hu, refused firmly because when they first met, Tan Wenbin introduced himself and his team as a surveying team.

Ah Hu felt that since they were all government employees, he should be responsible for entertaining them.

Another reason Li Zhuiyuan chose to stay here was because there was a cell phone signal.

Although the connection was unstable, it was still possible to make a call.

Li Zhuiyuan used his mobile phone to contact Elder Zhai and discuss the matter.

After dawn, Master Zhai will lead his team into the mountains. Li Zhuiyuan said that he will have the mountain guard, A Hu, meet him and act as a guide. He will also have A Hu pass on the preliminary data he has surveyed to Master Zhai. He will not stay here to wait, but will go to the next engineering survey point in Ailao Mountain first.

Mr. Zhai was somewhat dissatisfied with the boy's decision. He felt that the boy's behavior was too impulsive, hasty, and undisciplined. However, based on his trust in the boy's past performance, Mr. Zhai still agreed.

Lin Shuyou, who was sitting outside the tent, said with some concern, "Old Zhai's tone sounds like he's a little angry."

Tan Wenbin: "That's because Mr. Zhai didn't see how detailed the data we were about to give him was."

Immediately afterwards, Tan Wenbin said to Ah Hu, "Brother Ah Hu, there are two groups of people coming in total. You'll have a lot of work to do as their guide."

Ah Hu: "It's nothing, it's what I should do."

There's a stipend for the project, which the guides can receive, and Ah Hu wouldn't refuse it.

Dinner was served. Tan Wenbin put his arms around the two children and told them to ignore their mother's glare and eat as much as they wanted.

After the children had eaten and drunk their fill, Tan Wenbin personally coaxed them to bed. After they fell asleep, he left the money in their pockets.

Ah Li fixed the zither, lay down in her sleeping bag, and looked at the boy in the sleeping bag next to her.

Li Zhuiyuan was looking at the wordless book.

He had the woman retrieve Aunt Liu's accounts regarding Qinglong Temple.

When the monks of Qinglong Temple were sniping Uncle Qin, they left a Buddhist mark on Uncle Qin's body.

When Aunt Liu was treating Uncle Qin's injuries and taking out the Buddhist seal, she inevitably got brushed against it. Immediately, a strong sense of killing intent rushed into her consciousness, as if she were the incarnation of a righteous monk and everyone in the family were evil demons who had to be suppressed and killed!

This Buddhist seal is incredibly insidious; it hopes that even if Uncle Qin manages to escape the encirclement, he will kill everyone in his family once he returns home…

Fortunately, the Qin family had a strong tolerance for these spiritual techniques.

That's how the tragedy was averted.

Looking at all this, even Li Zhuiyuan couldn't help but feel a pang of admiration, wondering how Grandma Liu had managed to endure all these years.

Fortunately, she's about to start being happy.

Li Zhuiyuan placed the blank book between his and A Li's sleeping bags.

The wordless book gently turns its pages, making a soft, crisp sound that helps boys and girls fall asleep.

As dawn broke, the Five Elements were commanded to arrive.

He made no attempt to conceal himself, appearing openly before Lin Shuyou, who was on night watch, and handed over the thick file folder.

"Should I go call Brother Xiaoyuan?"

"No need, I'll go over there first. If anything happens, just let me know."

After Tan Wenbin got up, Lin Shuyou handed him the file folder.

"Brother Bin, that guy really doesn't want to meet with our Brother Yuan alone."

"Avoiding private meetings and formal discussions is the only way to always leave room for maneuver."

Being too smart doesn't seem like a good thing.

"How can you be so sure that they haven't been behaving themselves in front of us while secretly contacting Zhao Yi?"

Tan Wenbin walked outside into the courtyard and lit a cigarette.

The smoke twisted and rose in one direction. Tan Wenbin opened his snake eyes and looked down, seeing a headless White Impermanence wandering aimlessly in the forest below.

When Li Zhuiyuan woke up and was washing up, Tan Wenbin reported the news he had just received.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, the young lord of Little Hell has sent word that he has obtained the two Yama seals and plans to hand them over to us tonight. He also wants to discuss with us how to launch a coordinated attack on Living Valley."

"Okay, let's go meet him."

……

Even Li Zhuiyuan had to admit that compared to the earthy atmosphere of Fengdu, the natural landscape of the Ailao Mountains had a more hellish feel.

Even though we're only on the outskirts right now, the eerie atmosphere is already quite strong.

The agreed meeting place was in a river valley, surrounded by water and with towering valleys and dense forests on the outside.

When Li Zhuiyuan and the others arrived, Sun Xi was already waiting there.

Standing beside him were the shrunken Black Impermanence and the headless White Impermanence, while sitting beneath him was the mangled body of a mudfish.

As Li Zhuiyuan approached, Sun Xi remained seated, not coming down to greet him, but calmly watching the approaching youth and others.

When the two sides get close enough,

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

In an instant, ghosts howled and wolves howled all around, and a chilling wind swept through, obscuring even the stars overhead.

Within the pool of water, nine enormous Yama statues slowly emerged.

This proves that Sun Xi's previous statement that Yama had perished in the previous round through collusion between insiders and outsiders was false.

Sun Xi: "You look down on me, don't you? Even after knowing my background, I still chose to recognize a thief as my father? Don't you think I'm cold-hearted and emotionless?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Me too."

Sun Xi: "I'm sorry."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Me too."

Sun Xi raised his hand, ready to give the final order to attack.

Li Zhuiyuan also raised his hand.

From the dense forests on both sides of the valley, powerful auras were revealed.

Tao Zhuming, Ling Wuxing, Xu Mofan, Zhu Yiwen, Feng Xionglin, and everyone else, along with their respective teams, all emerged from the forest.

Sun Xi, whose physical body was that of a puppet, froze even more upon seeing this scene.

In the previous wave, those who lit lamps were manipulated by him, and he easily wiped them out, causing heavy casualties.

Sun Xi originally thought that this wave might change a little, but the changes wouldn't be too big, at least not to such an outrageous degree.

He knew that the Lighters in the second wave were generally stronger. If they could be organized and disciplined, what a terrible result that would be for the Valley of the Living, no, for him, who had already left the Little Hell's home ground and was now surrounded here.

Sun Xi shouted almost frantically:
"I will not lose, I cannot lose! I am the future master of Hell, I am the young ruler of the Underworld!"

Li Zhuiyuan spoke softly, in a voice only he and Sun Xi could hear:
"Me too."

---

I've rested well; there will be another chapter tomorrow during the day!
(End of this chapter)